Episode Summary
Fang Kun's investigation into a looter's pit at Bailuyuan leads him to believe a major Han Dynasty tomb is nearby, but his efforts are hampered when he clashes with local officials and gets put on probation. His superior, Zan Maochang, assigns him a seemingly unrelated task to teach him a lesson about thorough research. Meanwhile, tomb raider Mu Jianhui, frustrated by failed digs, pressures Guanshan Dashi, who eventually leads them to the tomb of a Tang Dynasty princess, revealing his actual, research-based methods. Zan Maochang shares a personal story with Fang Kun, emphasizing the importance of meticulousness in archaeology, leading to a moment of understanding between them.
Spoiler Alert
Our main man, Fang Kun, has been busy at Bailuyuan, snapping photos and chatting with the local old-timers. He's got a hunch that the recently discovered looter's pit isn't quite right for the outer burial pits of a Han Dynasty mausoleum like Dou Ling. Back at base, Luo Qing and the team relay a crucial tip from Yan Xiaowu: there's a distinct scent of cypress wood wafting from the pit. This detail clicks for Fang Kun – cypress wood means a high-status tomb, and the occupant must have been someone seriously important.
Just as Fang Kun is gearing up for a deeper dive, Luo Qing drops a bombshell: the local government plans to fill in the pit. Fang Kun, never one to back down when history is at stake, rushes to stop them. This leads to a heated showdown with Ma Chaoyue from the district government, which escalates into a full-blown scuffle, landing Fang Kun in the local police station. As you can imagine, his superior, Zan Maochang, is absolutely livid. Fang Kun passionately tries to explain the potential major archaeological find, but Zan Maochang is past listening. Qi Dacang steps in to mediate and privately asks Fang Kun what's really going on. Fang Kun, ever the bold one, drops his bombshell theory: the tomb might belong to none other than Emperor Tai Zong of the Han Dynasty!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the law, Mu Jianhui and his crew are having a rough time. After digging two pits, all they've unearthed is a handful of common copper coins – a total bust. Furious, Mu Jianhui has Guanshan Dashi dragged in for a "please explain." Guanshan Dashi tries to play it cool, saying, "Finding treasure in a pit is like gambling; it's all down to luck." But Mu Jianhui's enforcer, Pao Shou, isn't buying it and pulls a knife, making things a lot less philosophical.
Visibly shaken but trying to maintain his composure, Guanshan Dashi, who still hasn't actually located that elusive third pit, is forced to lead Mu Jianhui's gang on another search. He even puts on a show, explaining his supposed "dragon-vein locating" technique involving "observing, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse" – classic charlatan stuff. Soon enough, he points to a new spot for them to dig.
Back with our archaeologists, Fang Kun gets slapped with a disciplinary probation for the fight but is still dead set on investigating Bailuyuan. Guo Shilin informs him that Zan Maochang has assigned them a new project: a study trip to Duling Village to research "the relationship between Duling Village and Duling." Luo Qing, ever supportive (or maybe just wanting to keep an eye on Fang Kun), volunteers to go with him, and Fang Kun reluctantly agrees.
Night falls, and Mu Jianhui's men have been digging for ages at Guanshan Dashi's designated spot, but there's no sign of a tomb chamber. Guanshan Dashi tries to stall, claiming that large tombs naturally take longer to find. Pao Shou, however, has run out of patience. He has Guanshan Dashi tied up and straps explosives to him, giving him a ten-minute ultimatum: find the tomb, or go boom. Under this rather persuasive pressure, Guanshan Dashi finally cracks and spills the beans: the tomb is actually that of Le'an Xian Zhu, the granddaughter of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty.
It turns out Guanshan Dashi's whole "observe, listen, question, and feel the pulse" routine was just a smokescreen. His real method for finding tombs? Pretty much the same as the archaeologists: hitting the books, studying historical records, and talking to locals to pinpoint potential locations. Shortly after his confession, Mu Jianhui's men break through to the tomb entrance. They heave open the stone door, revealing a sizable tomb chamber packed with valuable artifacts. Guanshan Dashi begs Mu Jianhui to keep his actual, less mystical tomb-finding methods a secret. Mu Jianhui, delighted with the haul, agrees and, in the process, learns the tricks of the trade himself, becoming a more well-rounded (and dangerous) tomb-raiding leader.
The next morning, Fang Kun, Luo Qing, and Guo Shilin arrive in Duling Village. Their investigation reveals that the village was originally called Douling Village, but the name got corrupted over time due to local accents, and it has no actual connection to the real Duling historical site. The lightbulb goes on for all three: Zan Maochang's assignment was a lesson in disguise, a warning against jumping to conclusions and a reminder of the critical need for rigorous verification in archaeology.
During lunch, Fang Kun grumbles about Zan Maochang "wasting" their time. Zan Maochang doesn't argue but instead takes them on a field survey. They pass by a previously excavated tomb, and Zan Maochang shares a personal story from his younger days. Back then, he was as impulsive as Fang Kun. Due to a lack of thorough knowledge of historical records, he misidentified rhino bones found in a burial as ordinary wild ox bones, nearly rewriting history by mistake. Although his seniors on the archaeological team didn't reprimand him harshly, Zan Maochang has carried the guilt ever since, knowing his "assumption" almost buried a precious piece of history.
Through this anecdote, Zan Maochang drives home a profound point: the true purpose of archaeology is to restore the authentic face of history, to fill in the gaps left by written records, and to piece together the fragments of the past. The trio is deeply moved, finally grasping the deeper meaning of their work. That evening, after Fang Kun finishes writing a self-criticism report, he bumps into Zan Maochang in the courtyard, and the two take a walk, a silent understanding passing between mentor and student.
