Episode Summary
Xu Xiao bails Chen Nan out, uncovering a fake artifact scheme at the museum. Lin Guoqiang investigates a missing girl, leading to a violent encounter and the rescue of Ding Dang. The museum curator confesses to smuggling cultural relics, and new leads point away from Zhou Daye. Ding Dang's trauma hinders the investigation, revealing a unique wound on her back.
Spoiler Alert
"Hanging Mirrors" Episode 9: Recap & Spoilers
Episode 9 kicks off with Xu Xiao bailing Chen Nan out of the police station. To throw off any suspicion, Xu Xiao grills Chen Nan about his actions, making it seem like a casual inquiry. Chen Nan spills the beans about the lu ding a type of ancient Chinese cauldron, revealing that the one in the museum is a fake, while the one Zhou Daye has is the real deal. This revelation shocks both Xu Xiao and the police chief, prompting them to head back to the museum to investigate further.
Meanwhile, Lin Guoqiang is busy marking locations on a map, dispatching officers to search for missing girls at each spot. Back at the museum, the curator puts on a show of welcoming Xu Xiao and the police. When he hears about the fake lu ding, he vehemently denies it, blaming Chen Nan. A heated argument erupts between Chen Nan and the curator, each accusing the other. Xu Xiao, seeing through the curator's act, warns him about the legal consequences of smuggling cultural relics, threatening to shut down the museum. Just as the curator starts to sweat, the front desk receptionist pipes up, accusing the curator of selling off all the real artifacts.
Switching gears, Lin Guoqiang and Da Fei are staking out a downtown urban village when they spot two thugs harassing a bar girlfor money and asking about her friend, Ding Dang. Lin Guoqiang and Da Fei apprehend the thugs, but the bar girl bolts at the sight of the police. Lin Guoqiang catches up to her, and sensing his approachable demeanor, she leads him to her place. As Lin Guoqiang and the bar girl search for Ding Dang inside, they're suddenly attacked! The assailant is strong, and Lin Guoqiang, being older, is overpowered and pinned to the ground. However, while on the ground, Lin Guoqiang spots Ding Dang hiding under the bed. She tosses a small shovel to Lin Guoqiang, who grabs it and knocks out the attacker. The other officers arrive, and Lin Guoqiang coaxes Ding Dang out from under the bed with a fatherly approach.
Faced with mounting evidence, the museum curator finally confesses to smuggling cultural relicssmuggling cultural relics. He explains that the museum was struggling financially and, thinking he wouldn't get caught due to the museum's remote location, he sold some of the real artifacts to pay the workers. He even provides a sketch of the buyer, who he identifies as a drug addict. Based on this new information, Xu Xiao suspects that Zhou Daye isn't the mastermind, as he wouldn't have access to the real artifacts. Chen Nan believes that cracking the secret of thelongevity ritualis key to solving the entire case.
As Xu Xiao drives Chen Nan, Da Fei calls with a new lead, urging Xu Xiao to return to the police station immediately. Xu Xiao speeds back, with Chen Nan tagging along. Lin Guoqiang and Xiao Xing begin questioning Ding Dang, who is emotionally unstable. Lin Guoqiang tries to soothe her with calming music. Ding Dang's friend recounts the night Ding Dang returned covered in blood. However, the details are vague and don't offer much help. Xu Xiao wants to push Ding Dang to remember more, but Chen Nan recognizes Ding Dang's psychological trauma and warns against further stimulation, suggesting a different approach to questioning.
Because Lin Guoqiang has to stay at the station, he asks Xu Xiao to pick up his medication. Zhang Yanni, concerned about Lin Guoqiang's health, accompanies Xu Xiao to the police station. The forensic doctor examines Ding Dang and discovers multiple injuries, especially a unique wound on her back.
