Episode 12 recap: The Trio's Nocturnal Exploration of the Jishan Hall.
Zhuo Lanjiang and Pan Yue disguised themselves and went to Jishan Hall. When they saw Gu Yong, they immediately said they wanted to buy Pan Yue's life. Although Gu Yong felt that the two were familiar, he didn't think much of it. Zhuo Lanjiang even took out five hundred taels of silver at once. Pan Yue continued speaking, saying that Jishan Hall could kill people in the way they wanted, but Gu Yong said it would require additional payment.
Zhuo Lanjiang then took out another five hundred taels of silver. Pan Yue stepped forward and said he wanted to die in the same manner as the victims of the Lantern Festival case. Gu Yong's expression immediately changed. Pan Yue took the opportunity to tear off his disguise, revealing that the person in front of them, Gu Yong, was fake. The Jishan Hall had purchased duplicate clothing and shoes for both Gu Yong and his imposter.
In a fit of anger, the fake Gu Yong called many people to surround them. Pan Yue and Zhuo Lanjiang tore off each other's disguises, revealing the real Gu Yong. Gu Yong told them that he had no connection to the Lantern Festival case or the Evil Jiao. He claimed that his tendons were severed over a decade ago, and he had never used a sword since then. The only remaining member of the Gu family was his son, Gu Shan, but he had died five years ago. Pan Yue and Zhuo Lanjiang decided to leave but were stopped by Gu Yong. According to Jishan Hall's rules, they couldn't leave without paying with their lives. Gu Yong pointed his blood sword directly at Pan Yue but was stopped by Zhuo Lanjiang.
Gu Yong's words were flawless, and it seemed that Pan Yue had already anticipated this. Suddenly, they saw Mrs. Gu in the courtyard, who came out in a frenzied state, claiming that Gu Yong was the murderer. The servants explained that she went mad after her son's death. The two of them returned to the county yamen together. Gu Yong's right hand was disabled, but the killer used their right hand, so Gu Yong's suspicion could be temporarily ruled out.
Yang Caiwei and Zhuo Lanjiang seemed intimate in their behavior, and Pan Yue found it strange. A Ze believed that Pan Yue was genuinely concerned about Yang Caiwei and that he truly liked her. If Yang Caiwei agreed to become the gang leader's wife, things would become uncertain.
Yang Caiwei wanted to meet Mrs. Gu, but it wouldn't be easy for Zhuo Lanjiang and the others to infiltrate today without alerting anyone. However, Zhuo Lanjiang had seen a backdoor today that should provide an entrance. When Pan Yue heard this, he asked Zhuo Lanjiang to protect Yang Caiwei's life, and the most crucial part was to delay Gu Yong.
Zhuo Lanjiang was the most suitable candidate, but this meant that only Pan Yue would take Yang Caiwei inside. At night, Zhuo Lanjiang, Yang Caiwei, and Pan Yue split up. Suddenly, a dog emerged from a dog hole, startling Yang Caiwei.
Zhuo Lanjiang held Gu Yong back while Yang Caiwei and Pan Yue discovered that Mrs. Gu had been continuously fed medicine by Gu Yong and had been pretending to cook, behaving strangely. Zhuo Lanjiang mentioned something related to the Four Great Families, apologizing for the events of the day and offering his own privately stored wine as an apology.
Mrs. Gu headed to the backyard but was dragged back by the servants, as Gu Yong had forbidden her from going there. Yang Caiwei and Pan Yue explored further and found a mechanism in the backyard, opening a hidden door. It seemed like a dungeon inside, and once they entered, the back door closed automatically.
The marks on the walls and the wounds on the Lantern Festival victims were identical, and there were even broken iron chains on the ground. Gu Yong reminded Zhuo Lanjiang not to get entangled with the county yamen, as it would bring trouble in the future. Zhuo Lanjiang probed to see if Jishan Hall had any hidden secrets, but Gu Yong denied it once again. Yang Caiwei discovered bloody handprints on the floor of the dungeon, suggesting that a living person had been imprisoned there.
Upon witnessing this scene, Pan Yue was reminded of unpleasant childhood memories and suddenly experienced a splitting headache. Yang Caiwei recalled how Pan Yue was always called a "bastard" by others when he was young, and how he almost strangled a young master from another family. In a fit of anger, Pan Yue's father had tied him up in the dungeon. Perhaps the sight before him triggered deep-seated fears within him.
At that time, it was Yang Caiwei who had broken in and rescued Pan Yue. Now, Yang Caiwei began to sing that childhood nursery rhyme, attempting to awaken Pan Yue's consciousness.
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