Episode Summary
The official investigation into Zhang Yunli's death is corruptly closed as a suicide, forcing a disillusioned Tang Zhenyun to seek help from Xia Mo. After a moving encounter with the victim's grieving brother, Zhuque Hall's matriarch, Gao Ying, has a change of heart and forms an alliance with Tang Zhenyun and Xia Mo. They identify two more victims connected to Zhuque Hall and begin a secret investigation. As the team gathers clues, the opulent but sinister Zhuque Hall hosts a beauty pageant, where its leader, Gao Susheng, subtly warns Gao Ying against any interference.
Spoiler Alert
Rosefinch Episode 13: An Unlikely Alliance Forms
When detective Tang Zhenyun returns to the station, he is harshly reprimanded by his superior, Shen Lian, who officially removes him from the Zhang Yunli case. Moments later, Shen Lian takes a call from Gao Ying and his tone shifts entirely, becoming sycophantic as he discusses her brother Gao Fei's involvement. He assures her the case will be closed, officially ruling Zhang Yunli's death a traffic accident resulting from suicide. Furious, Tang Zhenyun confides in the forensic examiner Xia Mo, revealing that the victim had a Qingzhu Gang tattoo. They both suspect her death is secretly tied to the powerful Zhuque Hall.
Meanwhile, Gao Susheng slaps his son, Gao Fei, for his foolishness in causing an accident right in front of the police station. The incident is smoothed over only through the intervention of his daughter, Gao Ying. It's clear Gao Susheng has vastly different expectations for his children, placing all his trust in Gao Ying. He tasks her with representing Zhuque Hall and consoling the victim's family. When Gao Ying visits the Zhang residence with compensation money, she finds Zhang Zhiqiu clutching his sister's ashes, utterly devastated and unwilling to accept the police's conclusion.
As Gao Ying leaves, she is confronted by Xia Mo. The sounds of heartbreaking cries from within the house seem to echo the world's darkness and despair. The experience deeply affects Gao Ying, causing her to break down in tears later as she recalls the fates of other women like Hong Xiu and Zhu Yuhe. That night, she makes a pivotal decision. She goes to 25 Huian Li and agrees to join forces with Xia Mo and Tang Zhenyun to uncover the truth.
Gao Ying provides them with all the case photos, revealing two new victims in addition to Hong Xiu, Zhu Yuhe, and Zhang Yunli. The new faces are Liu Shuangzhu, an employee at the Yongfeng Department Store, and Zhou Yuqin, a Pingtan folk singer. Both were photographed before Hong Xiu's murder and had connections to Zhuque Hall. Xia Mo's brother, Xia Yingqi, joins their cause, heading out to the Pingtan society and the department store to gather clues.
The new allies work together, digging through police archives. They discover that Zhou Yuqin was reported missing two months prior under the pretext of "marrying up," while a movie ticket stub for "A Marvelous Romance in a World of Dust" is found in Liu Shuangzhu's locker. At the same time, Zhang Zhiqiu takes his sister's ashes to various newspaper offices, hoping to pressure the police department. Tang Zhenyun is sent to stop him but feels a pang of guilt when confronted by the grieving brother. After being consoled by Xia Mo, Zhang Zhiqiu finds their residence late at night, pleading for their help.
That same evening, the Zhuque Hall is alive with the glitz and glamour of the "Twelve Golden Hairpins" beauty pageant. Gao Susheng observes from the head table alongside powerful figures like Tang Boju and Yang Zhezhi. Shen Lian's attempts to curry favor are met with a cold shoulder from Yang Zhezhi. During the competition, a contestant named Shen Ruchun feigns a fall to successfully capture the attention of a man named Song Shi. In a quiet moment, Gao Susheng instructs Gao Ying to ensure the pageant proceeds without a hitch, his words carrying a veiled, deadly threat against anyone who dares to interfere.
