Episode 23 recap: Du Xiaowan Abducted on Her Wedding Night
In Episode 23, Mo Qianzhi is eager to solve the case, so he rushes everyone to the crime scene to examine the body. When Yan Xing takes a look, she realizes that the victim's head has been severed. The primary suspect is the victim's younger brother, who had a heated argument with him before his death, making him a strong suspect. Yan Xing ponders the nature of the wound, concluding that the killer must either be highly skilled or harbor deep hatred for the victim. It seems more likely that a master was involved.
At that moment, Pan Chi arrives. He has been commissioned by the victim's family to investigate the case. When he and Yan Xing meet, they quickly strike up a discussion, showing a surprising rapport. Shen Du, observing from the sidelines, feels a pang of jealousy and interrupts, saying, "Okay, that’s enough for today; I’m hungry and need to eat." He then pulls Yan Xing away, leaving her confused.
Shen Du claims he’s starving and wants Yan Xing to prepare a medicinal dish for him. Yan Xing laughs, saying, "I just examined a corpse, and you want me to cook for you?" Shen Du, unfazed, replies, "It’s fine, I’m not picky." With no other choice, Yan Xing starts cooking, but sneaks out to meet her pen pal.
At their meeting place, Yan Xing exchanges a secret signal, only to be surprised when a man—Pan Chi—shows up. She’s taken aback, and Pan Chi is curious why she assumed he was a woman. It turns out that during their correspondence, Pan Chi casually used floral stationery, leading Yan Xing to think he was female. He explains he had been drinking and just grabbed what was on hand, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Realizing it was all a misunderstanding, they share a laugh and move on.
Upon returning, Yan Xing finds Shen Du in a foul mood. Just then, someone outside starts beating a drum, claiming that Miss Du Xiaowan has gone missing on her wedding day. Shen Du and Yan Xing rush over and learn that Du Xiaowan vanished right after the ceremony with Li Zimo.
The officiant, Xu Jize, is also brought in for questioning. Looking flustered, he claims he saw someone abduct Du Xiaowan and chased after them but lost track. He then unexpectedly discovered a body in a well. Shen Du rushes to the well and, indeed, finds a corpse alongside a unconscious Du Xiaowan. Xu Jize defends himself, saying he only wanted to save her and didn’t have time to call for help.
Mo Qianzhi presses for any witnesses or evidence, but Xu Jize shakes his head. Frantic, Li Zimo vows that he won’t let this incident sour his relationship with the Du family and just wants to find the real culprit as soon as possible.
What started as a wedding has now turned into a tragedy, leaving everyone in shock. Yan Xing watches the scene unfold, her mind racing. She recalls a book on Western Regions that Pan Chi sent her, which features a curved knife matching the victim's wounds, and decides to investigate further.
As for the unresolved tension between her and Shen Du, she thinks it might be best to set that aside for now; solving the case is the priority.
Comments(Episode 23)