Episode Summary
The investigation into Shen Ruchun's suspicious activities leads to a secret, luxurious mansion. There, the powerful Commander Zhao Jin forces twelve young women into a deadly "script game" for his own amusement, which results in a murder that is swiftly covered up.The episode concludes as Xia Mo, having snuck onto the property in a car trunk to investigate, is discovered when the trunk is opened to transport the victim's body.
Spoiler Alert
Rosefinch: Episode 19 Spoilers - A Deadly Game
After returning from Zhuque Hall, Xia Mo informs his sister and Tang Zhenyun about Shen Ruchun's strange and concerning behavior. The three of them conclude that the person who harmed Shen Ruchun is very likely the real mastermind behind the serial murders. To chase down this lead, Xia Mo asks his brother, Xia Yingqi, to secretly follow Shen Ruchun, a task that makes Tang Zhenyun worry for his safety.
Meanwhile, Shen Ruchun is at the pinnacle of her film career with a new movie just released. She has a tense run-in with Gao Yue at a film studio, where Gao Yue arrogantly declares her ambition to star in the first-ever sound film. Shen Ruchun cryptically remarks that if she could do it all over again, she would willingly give up her "Movie Queen" crown.
For two consecutive nights, Xia Yingqi tails Shen Ruchun. He discovers that she gets into Gao Fei's car each night, blindfolded, raising immense suspicion. At the same time, Gao Susheng takes Gao Ying to a secret mansion, also demanding she wear a blindfold. Gao Ying quietly tries to memorize the route, an act Gao Susheng notices but doesn't prevent. Upon arrival, Gao Ying is stunned by the opulent estate, which is filled with powerful and influential figures, including the likes of Tang Boju.
Led by Gao Susheng and Song Shi, Gao Ying is brought to a second-floor reception room where she meets Commander Zhao Jin. With him are Shen Ruchun and Sun Mei. After praising Gao Ying, Zhao Jin orders Gao Fei to bring in twelve girls from Zhuque Hall. He forces them to participate in a "script game" while having the entire event filmed.
The twelve girls, referred to as the "Twelve Golden Hairpins," are each given props for the game. They are unaware that one of the prop swords is real and has been sharpened. Zhao Jin watches coldly as the game devolves into a fight for survival, culminating in a tragedy where Xu Jing accidentally kills Qian Yun.Faced with the bloody scene, Zhao Jin remains completely unfazed, while Gao Ying holds the dying Qian Yun in her arms, feeling utterly powerless.
Zhao Jin feigns anger, scolding Song Shi for his lack of oversight and ordering him to handle Qian Yun's family. Gao Susheng then warns the eleven surviving girls, bribing them with gold bars to ensure their silence and to claim the death was merely a filming accident. Afterwards, Gao Susheng places the survivors under house arrest in a private residence, putting out a story that they are in closed training for a new film. Zhao Jin is pleased with this arrangement and plans to give Gao Ying a special task the following day.
In a desperate move, Xia Mo hides in the trunk of Gao Fei's car, attempting to infiltrate the mansion, despite Fu Ying's warnings not to act recklessly. The episode ends on a cliffhanger: as Gao Ying orders men to move Qian Yun's body, they open the trunk and discover Xia Mo hiding inside.
