Episode Summary
Qi Menglin, unaware Luo Shu is a woman, drugs her as revenge, but discovers her true gender when she goes to a river to cool down. He's then kicked into the river, discovers a corpse, and is rescued by Luo Shu. The murder investigation begins, focusing on Feng Erlang, Mei Hongying, and Meng Qiaosheng, who are connected by a love triangle and a hairpin. Qi Menglin and Luo Shu team up to investigate, suspecting Feng Erlang is hiding.
Spoiler Alert
This episode throws a wrench into Qi Menglin's plans and reveals some surprising truths, all while a murder mystery bubbles to the surface.
Previously, Luo Shu's close relationship with Han Muzhi, the county magistrate, was established, and her desire to gain freedom from her indentured servitude at the Mingke Brothel was made clear. This episode begins with Qi Menglin, still unaware that Luo Shu is a woman disguised as a man, misinterpreting her connection with Jin Miaocui, a woman at the brothel. He believes Luo Shu is infatuated with Jin Miaocui and lacks the funds to free her. Qi Menglin offers money, but Luo Shu, offended by his assumptions, rebuffs him harshly. Angered, Qi Menglin vows revenge.
Meanwhile, Han Muzhi is clearly going above and beyond to help Luo Shu gain her freedom, even getting into arguments with the brothel's madam, Yu. Chen Meiqing notices Han Muzhi's affection for Luo Shu, and Luo Shu does nothing to dispel the notion.
Qi Menglin, in his quest for revenge, concocts a special "medicine" and instructs his servant, Lianshu, to gather a crowd to witness Luo Shu's humiliation. He slips the drug into Luo Shu's tea. Luo Shu, feeling the effects of the drug (likely an aphrodisiac), realizes she's been tricked. She tries to cool herself down, eventually rushing to a nearby river.
Here's where things take a turn. As Luo Shu removes her shoes by the river, Qi Menglin, who has followed her, sees her delicate feet and finally realizes Luo Shu is a woman. Shocked, he approaches, but Luo Shu, furious, kicks him into the river. While struggling in the water, Qi Menglin discovers a naked male corpse and faints from fright. Luo Shu, despite everything, rescues him.
Lianshu, who had gathered the crowd as instructed, is bewildered by the turn of events. Luo Shu orders him to get a cart to transport Qi Menglin and the corpse back to the county office. Han Muzhi shows great concern for Luo Shu, who is shivering from the cold, and has Cai Baozi prepare hot water for her feet. Luo Shu then learns that the official matchmaker was bribed by Madam Yu to sabotage her freedom, and Han Muzhi has fired her in anger. Luo Shu feels grateful for Han Muzhi's support.
The next morning, Luo Shu finds Cai Baozi at the morgue, eager to watch the autopsy. The naked corpse's face has been badly damaged, horrifying Cai Baozi. Han Muzhi arrives, dismisses the constables, and brings Luo Shu into the morgue. The coroner, Xu, determines the man drowned three days prior. Luo Shu immediately suspects foul play.
Qi Menglin is deeply shaken by the revelation that Luo Shu is a woman. He initially believed she was effeminate, but now he's forced to confront the truth, confirmed by Cai Baozi. Ashamed, he pretends to be unconscious when Luo Shu visits.
However, Qi Menglin decides to join Luo Shu in investigating the murder. They go to the docks and learn that Feng Erlang rented a boat three days ago. Constable Cai, also investigating, joins them. Luo Shu finds a hairpin on the boat and they go to Feng Erlang's home. They find a pouch belonging to Mei Hongying, a former neighbor, but Feng's mother doesn't recognize the hairpin.
Further investigation reveals that Feng Erlang hasn't been to work, and that Mei Hongying was in love with him but was forced by her parents to marry Meng Qiaosheng, a teacher. They visit Meng Qiaosheng's residence and the landlord identifies the hairpin as belonging to him. He is described as handsome but poor.
Qi Menglin finds a pouch under Meng Qiaosheng's pillow, similar to Feng Erlang's, but of inferior quality. He concludes that Feng Erlang killed Meng Qiaosheng out of jealousy. Luo Shu is skeptical. Qi Menglin invites Luo Shu and Constable Cai to dinner, but Luo Shu, focused on the case, declines.
Luo Shu reports to Han Muzhi, who has been waiting for her. He takes her to the kitchen for a meal, but it's burnt from being reheated too many times. Qi Menglin brings takeout from a restaurant for Luo Shu, and she shares it with the constables.
Luo Shu serves Han Muzhi a bowl of chicken soup, and he reciprocates. Luo Shu, remembering that Feng's mother made a lot of steamed buns, suspects she's delivering food to Feng Erlang. Qi Menglin, Lianshu, and Luo Shu stake out Feng's house. They see Feng's mother leave with a bundle and follow her to a dilapidated house, where Feng Erlang is indeed hiding.
