Episode Summary
The investigation into Liu San'niang's murder intensifies, with suspicion shifting from Xu Luan to Lin Xiong, and ultimately to a supposedly deceased Li Fengchun. Secrets are revealed, including Lin Xiong's impotence and his arrangement with Liu San'niang. A ghostly visitation leads to the discovery that the culprit is a living, limping Li Fengchun, who is captured after a trap is set.
Spoiler Alert
This episode dives deeper into the murder of Liu San'niang, with the investigation shifting suspicion onto multiple characters.
Luo Shu and Qi Menglin's investigation leads them to believe that Lin Xiong murdered his wife, Liu San'niang, and framed Xu Luan for the crime. They present their findings to Magistrate Han Muzhi, urging him to reopen the case. Chen Meiqing, the magistrate's advisor, strongly objects, fearing it will anger their superiors, as the previous magistrate who initially handled the case (and potentially wrongly convicted Xu Luan) has since been promoted. Qi Menglin suspects Chen Meiqing's involvement in the original, potentially coerced, confession. However, Chen Meiqing claims he was merely following his superior's lead and is trying to prevent Han Muzhi from making enemies. Luo Shu insists on uncovering the truth, and Han Muzhi agrees to re-examine Xu Luan and Lin Xiong.
The courtroom is packed as Han Muzhi reopens the case. Xu Luan vehemently proclaims his innocence. He explains that he was on good terms with Lin Xiong's family. On the night of the murder, he went to deliver water to their house. Liu San'niang claimed they were out of water, but when Xu Luan entered, he found the water bucket full. Liu San'niang then made advances toward him, causing Xu Luan to flee in fear. Han Muzhi, however, suspects an affair between Xu Luan and Liu San'niang, questioning why else he would deliver water late at night. He orders Xu Luan to be flogged twenty times and sent to death row.
Terrified, Xu Luan pleads for mercy and reveals the full story. He admits he had long desired Liu San'niang. He learned from Lin Xiong that she would be home alone that night, and he used the water delivery as a pretext to make a move on her. However, Liu San'niang resisted fiercely, forcing him to leave. He insists he did not kill her.
Lin Xiong is brought in, and Xu Luan begs him to vouch for his character. Xu Luan blurts out that he has kept Lin Xiong's secret for many years. Lin Xiong is visibly shaken. He confirms that Xu Luan is his childhood friend, but when pressed by Han Muzhi about whether he knew of Xu Luan's infatuation with Liu San'niang, Lin Xiong responds with a scornful laugh. He cannot confirm Xu Luan killed Liu San'niang but offers no other suspects. The court is temporarily adjourned.
Luo Shu's suspicion of Lin Xiong stems from his demeanor when he reported the crime – he displayed fear but no grief, and there was no blood on him. Furthermore, Lin Xiong remained remarkably calm when Luo Shu and Qi Menglin questioned him, only showing disgust at the rumors of an affair between Xu Luan and Liu San'niang. Han Muzhi also notes the strange look Lin Xiong gives Xu Luan, suggesting a hidden secret between them. Qi Menglin is convinced Xu Luan is innocent and Lin Xiong is the prime suspect.
Luo Shu stakes out Lin Xiong, and Qi Menglin joins her. They witness someone informing Lin Xiong at the city gate that his child, Suo'er, is sick with a high fever. Lin Xiong waits until after his shift to collect Suo'er from Granny Zhang. Meanwhile, gossip spreads among the townspeople that Xu Luan bribed Han Muzhi to reopen the case and implicate Lin Xiong.
Luo Shu continues her stakeout late into the night. She hears Suo'er crying from fever. Lin Xiong takes the child to Doctor Wang, who is Lin Xiong's uncle. Doctor Wang performs acupuncture, but Suo'er continues to cry. Lin Xiong becomes impatient and yells at the child. Luo Shu enters to get medicine, comforts Suo'er, and the child calms down. Lin Xiong thanks her. After Lin Xiong leaves with Suo'er, Luo Shu casually questions Doctor Wang about Lin Xiong, mentioning that Suo'er doesn't resemble him. Doctor Wang becomes evasive.
Back at her residence, Luo Shu discusses the case with Jin Miaocui, who is eager to obtain her freedom papers. Luo Shu assures her that Han Muzhi is working on it. Luo Shu is puzzled. Although Lin Xiong claims Suo'er is his child from an affair with Liu San'niang, his coldness towards the child makes her doubt the claim. She suspects this is the secret Xu Luan has been protecting, but she can't understand why Lin Xiong would protect Xu Luan. Qi Menglin remains certain that Lin Xiong killed Liu San'niang and framed Xu Luan, but Han Muzhi is unsure.
Cai, the head constable, helps his sister chop wood, and their laughter disturbs Jin Miaocui. A matchmaker arrives and insults Jin Miaocui, causing a scene until Luo Shu intervenes. Han Muzhi, working late, interrogates Xu Luan again, threatening torture. Under duress, Xu Luan reveals Lin Xiong's secret: he was injured as a child and is impotent. He married Liu San'niang as a cover. Xu Luan now suspects Lin Xiong killed Liu San'niang. Lin Xiong is called to confront this accusation. His secret exposed, he finally tells the truth.
Lin Xiong admits his impotence, explaining he married the already-pregnant Liu San'niang to avoid social stigma. They had a mutually beneficial arrangement. He insists he wouldn't have been angry about Xu Luan's feelings for Liu San'niang, let alone kill her. Han Muzhi believes both Xu Luan and Lin Xiong are now telling the truth, but the case is at an impasse. Chen Meiqing complains that Han Muzhi should never have reopened the case.
A new report arrives: Liu San'niang's ghost was seen at Granny Zhang's house, terrifying the old woman. Luo Shu and Cai investigate. Lin Xiong was on duty at the city gate the previous night. A figure with long, flowing hair was seen scaling the wall to see Suo'er. Granny Zhang believes it was Liu San'niang's ghost. Luo Shu deduces the "ghost" will return. Han Muzhi sets a trap at Granny Zhang's house, and they catch Qi Menglin climbing over the wall.
Qi Menglin explains he found marks from iron claws on the wall and demonstrates how the "ghost" scaled it. Luo Shu notices the footprints are incomplete, indicating the "ghost" has a limp. They recall that Li Fengchun, who supposedly died by falling off a cliff, had a limp. Luo Shu suspects Li Fengchun is the killer and devises a plan to lure him out.
Luo Shu and Qi Menglin hire a master to perform a highly publicized exorcism at Lin Xiong's house. The master claims the ghost is too powerful to banish. Qi Menglin advises Lin Xiong to take Suo'er and leave. That night, the long-haired "ghost" returns, attempting to take Suo'er. However, Han Muzhi has set a trap, with Luo Shu impersonating the deceased Liu San'niang. The "ghost," revealed to be Li Fengchun, is captured.
