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🙏 If you’re still with us, thank you for checking out our posts and joining our discussions! This will be my final post for Light to the Night, and u/a_HerculePoirot_fan will conclude our hosting duties for this drama with the discussion post for the express episodes (25-28) tomorrow, May 13th!

Episode 24 Recap: Qiao Suqing's Story

We start with a morbid scene of Qiao Suqing seemingly dismembering a body. I can only assume this is in 1997.

In 2015, Yuanhang and Xiaohe confront Suqing about the real owner of her apartment, and she is detained for interrogation as a criminal suspect.

Xiaohe firmly reminds Suqing that their relationship in the interrogation room is strictly officer and suspect (that’s the feisty Xiaohe we want to see). The first question asked whether Suqing’s home had ever been burglarized. She responds with a definitive no. Then we get into her story, and how she was involved with the entire case:

• Suqing and her mother, Fang Xiuhong, signed up for a guided tour of Mount Wu, where she met the very snarky (the other version of the word would start with a "B") Meng and her father, Zhihong.

   

Both pairs were cut off from the tour group when Suqing and Zhihong couldn’t keep up. Suqing faints and wakes up to Meng and Zhihong claiming that she hurt them and pushed her mother down the cliff in a mad frenzy before passing out. She went unconscious again and her mother was later found dead at the foot of the cliff.

• She was sent to live and work with her aunt, who began to abuse her once she received compensation from Mount Wu.

She was soon afterward sold to Yao Xincheng who forced her to take care of his ailing father, Yao Baiyuan, where she was further abused. She chose to endure the abuse in exchange for ownership of the Yuanlongli unit after five years. 

• When Baiyuan died (by accident according to her and Dajun’s testimonies), Xincheng started the slow process (due to his foreign credentials) of transferring the apartment to her.
• She bumped into Meng again who was working at Pattia at the time, and continued a life of living hell when Meng AND Shanlong both continuously harassed her for money and worn undergarments.

According to Suqing, this explains why so many of the designer clothing that Xincheng gifted her (to bribe her to stay with his father) were found in Meng’s apartment.

• After June 30th, 1997, Suqing alleges that Shanlong admitted to the murder of Meng and Zhihong. He then proceeded to use the same threat Meng did (that he’d report her for murdering her own mother on Mount Wu) to maintain his control over her.

 

Suqing claims it was only after Zhihong’s skull was found in 2002, that she was spooked into hatching up a plan to plant evidence in Shanlong’s apartment. 

• And last but not least, she insists that she did not want her name attached to the apartment after the transfer in ownership because of the rumours that she was an old pervert's mistress.

 

Xiaohe thanks Suqing for her sob story but it’s obvious she’s not buying the narrative that Suqing was only a victim. She is out to seek the truth and justice for Fangxu.

Theories & Questions

So there goes bye-bye to our theory that Suqing and Meng were sisters. We now understand that Meng was indeed “not a nice person”, and that she had a habit of extorting people for money. Depending on what we believe from her story, Suqing is real and not anyone’s mistress. She was besieged by misfortune and surrounded by perverts and scoundrels.

At this point, it seems Meng really is dead? Or did Shanlong help her escape by faking her death and then taking credit for it? But then again, if he's as bad as Suqing described him, then why would he help anyone but himself? But then, what of his partnership with Hongmei? If Meng was just as greedy, they could have struck a partnership as well. Why else would Meng bother telling Shanlong anything about Suqing?

Suqing saying that Shanlong confessed to her, along with his convenient death in 2002, tells me that she inserted a lie there somewhere... I wonder how Xiaohe will drag the truth out of her.  

• If Suqing planted the fake shoes in Shanlong’s apartment, how was she able to get Meng’s skin samples on them? It was confirmed by forensics that Meng’s DNA was found on the shoes, which is how they concluded the case in 2002.
• How many times can Suqing backtrack on her story? She claimed that her apartment was not burglarized and then later said she made a mistake. She claimed that she sold all her designer clothes to the market, but later said that Meng took them all when she raided her apartment. Her story isn't that flawless...
• Does anyone know that Fangxu once offered her a way out by offering her to move into his apartment, and she turned him down? She chose to stay at Yuanlongli.

My Commentary

Not going to lie, this was not a favourite episode. Like Xiaohe, I was impatiently waiting for Suqing to stop a) trying to gaslight her, and b) dodging Xiaohe’s questions because she’s obviously guilty of a far greater offense than she’s letting on.

While she was undoubtedly a victim, the way she is manipulating the narrative makes it hard to stay on her side - she certainly did not deserve Ran Fangxu. There was no evidence of her killing her mom, so why did she let all these people walk over her? Perhaps this is just a writing flaw in the drama… or her ultimate flaw, but I feel like she was not winning as much sympathy as she is so desperate to gain. 

I am loving this version of Xiaohe but I want more scenes of Ran Fangxu and He Yuanhang! I hope nothing happens to Yuanhang though - wasn't a fan of the fact he ran out of his meds in that one scene...

Flashcards | Masterpost | Episodes 1-3 | Episode 4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episode 9 | Episodes 10-11 | Episodes 12-13 | Episodes 14-15 | Episode 16 | Episode 17 | Episode 18 | Episode 19 | Episode 20 | Episode 21

Upcoming Posting Schedule:

• Monday, May 11 - Episode 23 by u/a_HerculePoirot_fan
• Monday, May 12 - Episode 24 by me
• Express Post for Episodes 25 - 28 by Herc

Friends, I cried for at least half the episode. Kudos to all the actors and actresses. 

Fangxu is indeed gone. As we see here. 😭

https://preview.redd.it/1df7oxr4ja0h1.jpg?width=690&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36de6c115135f4d09b7ee9c9501b22878b609a45

And here.

https://preview.redd.it/yy0xvbr8ja0h1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=1ef2e65edac412b332097a6d39348a1f3b3e4dde

And here. 

https://preview.redd.it/9zrydbt9ja0h1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=f77f5df6f8c75c51ebc8f4c628ab2bd65e9917a0

This episode was heartbreaking. Artistically, I did love the scene where they panned between 2002 and 2015 of Fangxu and Yuanhang asking each other what the other one would do next in their investigation.

https://preview.redd.it/a3h0j26bja0h1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=eb5a5794911f47940738ab3392a993f9ae145c10

2002 Timeline: Fangxu’s Demise

I won’t get into details about the New Year’s dinner. I noticed Suqing did not wash her hands before making dumplings though.

In this episode, she seems slightly less suspicious, though I did wonder for a heartbeat if she looked genuinely touched or if it was some deep-seated guilt when Yuanhang shared their New Year’s wish for a happy family. 

Of course, we then pan to the scene with Fangxu on the road following the car accident. Officers attribute the accident to the combination of heavy rain and oil spills from poorly stored construction materials. There are unfortunately no cameras or footage to confirm this, and Captain Zou orders a full investigation. 

Thanks to u/losergeek877 for sharing this video with me, from his studio, should any of you also be interested: https://weibo.com/6242970499/5296633631476313

2015 Timeline: The Hunt for Yao Xincheng

• Yuanhang’s investigation leads him back to Yuanlongli when he learns from Meng’s cousin that Fangxu was talking to Ma Qiang during his search for Yao Xincheng.
  • Fangxu had asked Ma Qiang for a comprehensive list of Yuanlongli residents.
• Xiaohe is doing something similar and digging through records for anyone registered as Yao Xincheng that match their suspect’s profile.
• After speaking with Qiang, Yuanhang discovers that Fangxu had been at Yuanlongli on New Year’s Eve looking for Qian Dajun. 
• Just as Yuanhang believes he’s hit a wall and prepares to leave Yuanlongli, Wang Xinlong casually reveals he saw a bloodshot, disheveled Fangxu on the morning of his death, as if he had just made a frantic discovery and had somewhere urgent to go.

https://preview.redd.it/0ujs6yrnja0h1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=270bd870fd7c512e07fa8b2f05c825ce363befa3

• This tells Yuanhang that Fangxu must’ve found a significant clue inside the building. He decides to stay and recruits the residents to help him find Yao Xincheng.
• Xiaohe prepares a formal request to reopen the June 30th case, while Yuanhang searches for evidence at Yuanlongli to support the application.
• Dajun is in the process of demolishing Mingliang’s cybercafe. His recklessness destroys the very cement block hiding the mummified arms he buried - which Yuanhang himself witnessed in 2002.

https://preview.redd.it/vz8endytja0h1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=4cfa732269081955b961c1d133789dcb63e1f01d

Discussion Questions

What do you think Fangxu found, and where could he have been heading in such a hurry on New Year's Day? He didn't even bother telling anyone that he was going to miss dinner... Perhaps we should find out in which direction he was headed... which I would hope Captain Zou's investigation would reveal.

Literally no one has heard of Yao Xincheng yet, and this man even tried to erase his purchase records. He's going to great lengths to hide his identity - who do you think it is? Who seems to have the intellect that could outsmart our Ran Fangxu for so many years?

We're about to find out who the arms belong to, and hopefully, Qian Dajun's role in Meng's disappearance. He better not get away with just a "I found them, was spooked, and decided to hide body parts rather than report them to the police" excuse... The time for playing dumb (though he is rather idiotic) is over.

📢 Last but not least, two announcements:

1. Yesterday (May 9) was Pan Yueming’s birthday. Happy Birthday to our He Yuanhang, and the artistic director for the drama! 🎂 
2. Happy Mother’s Day to all who are celebrating today! We also want to send well wishes to anyone for whom this day is heavy. 🌸

🗓️Last Round for Dafeng News Team: 

• Monday, May 11 - Episodes 37&38 - u/Emotional-Vegetable1
• Wednesday, May 13 - Episodes 39&40 - u/Ateosira

✎ᝰ Past Discussions:
 Index of All Discussions | Episodes 1&2 | Episodes 3&4 | Episodes 5&6 | Episodes 7&8 | Episodes 9&10 | Episodes 11&12 | Episodes 13&14 | Episodes 15&16 | Episodes 17&18 | Episodes 19&20 | Episodes 21&22 | Episodes 23&24 | Episodes 25&26 | Episodes 27 & 28 | Episodes 29&30 | Episodes 31-32 | Episodes 33-34

🔗Helpful Links: Flashcards | Subtitle Interchangeable Terminology

🚨SPOILERS: Kindly use spoiler tags if you are discussing anything beyond episode 36. Comprehensive directions on how to create spoilers. 

Episode 35

Recap: When the envoy is attacked, Xu Qi’an breaks away to save Duchess Zhenbei, only to find she is being hunted by Duke Zhenbei and the Kui for her power-boosting spiritual essence. The rest of the envoy reach Chuzhou and are under the impression that it is safe and heavily guarded, though Nangong is suspicious of Zheng Xinghuai, the Commissioner of Chuzhou. Meanwhile, Jinlian informs Xu Qi’an of a horrific alternative for advancement to 2nd-rank: harvesting thousands of souls - such as the massacre that Duke Zhenbei ordered, as discovered by Xu Qi’an when he tracked down the real Commissioner of Chuzhou. It was Xinghuai who sent the message about the bloodshed, but not before he lost his family and witnessed the mass murder of his people.

💨 Smoke and Mirrors 🪞

Xu Qi’an is suspicious that not all is as it seems when he finds out that Xikou Province was never sealed. 

The same goes for Qianrou and the ministers, who go to confirm that the city walls of Chuzhou are still protected by formations that can withstand attacks from 3rd-rank masters. However, Qianrou senses a murderous aura when Zheng Xinghuai, Commissioner of Chuzhou, comes to greet them.

Things are even more suspicious when she requests the records for the Chuzhou border army and correspondence among the local yamens, but Xinghuai makes the excuse that only the Lead Investigator has authority to access such information. 

☝️ First Reveal - Advancement to 2nd Rank 🩸

Xu Qi’an witnesses Tian Lang, Kui Chief of Qingyan Tribe, ambush one of Duke Zhenbei’s spies, Zu Kaer. Showing no ounce of gratitude for saving his life, the spy proceeds to lie and threaten Xu Qi’an for not subjecting to Zhenbei (he either delivers the Duchess and receives rewards for “saving” her or they’ll incriminate him for kidnapping her). Above all, he tells Xu Qi’an to drop the bloodshed case.

Guy made bad choices - it’s Xu Qi’an after all, and he flips the table to find out that Zhenbei wants to sacrifice the Duchess for her spiritual essence, which he needs to advance to 2nd rank. 

Xu Qi’an connects with Jinlian, and finds out there’s an alternative approach to advance. 

• You see, to increase power, you can refine Qi energy. The Witcher’s Sect has a dark and secret method to extract a person’s soul and breath (Qi) and refine them into a pill. Consuming it can break through to a higher rank. 
• However, to refine enough Qi energy and to help a 3rd rank fighter advance, the lives slaughtered would be immeasurable.

 

📿 Duchess Zhenbei (aka Chen Xiaoyun) 🥀

As a little recap, not that it is vital to the plot, here is the Duchess’ story:

• Xiaoyun was born on the streets (a commoner) but as a child, she was always strikingly beautiful. 
• She became famous at the age of 9 when an abbot at the Jade Buddha Temple wrote a poem about her. 
• Her parents became extra protective of her for this, but not because they loved her.
• This was even more evident when they “sold” her to the Palace at the age of 13 as a gift to Prince Huai. She was soon forgotten and left to be. 
• While she lived a life of luxury in the palace (she is completely oblivious to money and how much things cost), she was very lonely and lived without much love or true companionships.

 

✌️ Second Reveal - The Chuzhou Massacre 🚩

All the clues point to Zhenbei as the culprit behind the bloodshed, but they still need to find evidence of the event, including the location. Miaozhen discovers a lead, so Xu Qi’an leaves Xiaoyun to meet with Zhao Jin, who tells them the real Commissioner (Zinghuai) is hiding in the mountains. 

Before they can continue, our crew is attacked (presumably by Zhenbei AND the Witcher’s Sect) because they’ve deduced that only the Witcher’s Sect can use dark magic and cast such a grand illusion to create a fake Zinghuai. 

Yan Yang and his posse return just in time to help Qianrou, while Xu Qi’an escapes with Zhao Jin to the mountains to meet with Zinghuai. Through Zinghuai’s memories, Xu Qi’an sees Que Yongxiu, State Duke of Protection, gathering people in Chuzhou City for the massacre (which included Zinghua’s entire family). 

Xu Qi’an loses his composure for a moment but then pulls himself together - realizing with certainty now, that not only did Duke Zhenbei order the massacre of an entire city to refine a core and reach 2nd rank; he has been working with the Witcher’s Sect, who is able to erase everyone’s memories of it after. 

WE MISSED YOU GUYS!

Episode 36

Recap: As the Kui lay siege to Chuzhou, a high-stakes clash between the 3rd-rank powerhouses, Lord Qingyan and Duke Zhenbei is imminent. However, Xu Qi’an intervenes, single-handedly defeats the Duke, and destroys the core that had been harvesting the souls of 380,000 civilians. Knowing the North would be vulnerable to continued Kui attacks without reinforcements, he also executed Lord Qingyan before collapsing from exhaustion. He wakes up a week later to find survivors rebuilding Chuzhou. Xu Qi’an and the Ministers understand the difficulty of convicting the Duke given his imperial status but still resolve to expose his atrocities to the public. They return to Dafeng with the Duke’s corpse and Xinghuai as a primary witness to demand justice for the people of Chuzhou. 

⛓️‍💥 Fractured Alliances 💢

Let us rewind a bit, because why would Zhenbei massacre a whole city if he can just take the Duchess’ spiritual essence? And weren’t the Kui Tribe the ones working with the Witcher’s Sect when they helped release the demonic arm? But now the Kui are obviously fighting against Duke Zhenbei? So who is working with whom?

The answers? I don’t know. It seems like the cooperation between the Witcher’s Sect and the Kui has terminated for whatever reason, prompting the Kui to prevent Zhenbei from advancing in rank. That is why they tried to kill the Duchess. 

Everything escalates when Zhong Lei, third-rank Kui Lord Qingyan, orders an attack on Chuzhou, forcing Zhenbei to expedite his negotiations with the Hypnotizer (Witcher’s Sect) and refine the core that will help him break through to 2nd rank. Is it just me, or is the Witcher’s Sect pulling all the strings here?

💀 The Chuzhou Debt ⚔️

The Ministers realize they are trapped in a grim illusion. The war horn sounds. The core (bloodshed cloud sucking up the souls of the 380,000 murdered civilians) is activated. 

https://i.redd.it/x97axgla930h1.gif

At first, we get a showdown between Zhong Lei and Zhenbei. But then Xu Qi’an enters the fray with the Supreme Sword (to Zhenbei’s surprise because only Dafeng royalty can command it). At this time, I think Zhong Lei is in time out. Anyway, Zhenbei is shameless and tries to convince Xu Qi’an to join hands with him so that they can destroy the Kui Tribe once and for all. He also calls all civilians worthless ants, so of course Xu Qi’an passes. Using everything at his disposal (i.e., the magic book, Shen Shu’s powers, the Supreme Sword), he destroys Zhenbei and the core, breaks the spell of the illusion, and restores everyone’s (immensely dire) memories.

https://i.redd.it/t902suxb930h1.gif

My friends, this is a super depressing episode. And it’s not over. Xu Qi’an then kills Zhong Lei (to prevent future attacks from the North). Overexerted, he passes out and wakes only seven days later to a tearful reunion with his friends. 

https://i.redd.it/y0r9oeb8930h1.gif

🌊 Story of The Long Way 'Round 🦈

We need some comedic relief, so here we are to find out what happened to our Gong Gang who was missing for too many episodes. Essentially, to avenge Xu Qi’an’s death, the gang left for Yunzhou to wipe out the Witcher's Sect. Unfortunately, they were struck by a tsunami and plunged into the sea. They narrowly escape a vicious fish coveting their flesh and float on to an unknown island where they stayed for two weeks before a passing fishing boat that would take them to Yunzhou. Alas, they only travelled further south, where a local Master chased them all the way back to the Capital of Dafeng. As soon as they reunited with Lord Wei, they were sent immediately to Chuzhou to assist Xu Qi’an. Gotta love our sworn brothers forever. Yang Yan is just as handsome as ever.

https://i.redd.it/p383odb6930h1.gif

https://i.redd.it/jh26b4c7930h1.gif

⚰️ Truth and Justice ⚖️

Given that Duke Zhenbei was the Emperor’s brother, it would not be easy to convict him. However, Xu Qi’an, Zinghuai, and the ministers agree that the Chuzhou people deserve justice by reporting on the atrocities and publicizing Zhenbei’s crimes. We end the episode back with Xu Qi’an escorting Zinghuai (to serve as the primary witness) and Zhenbei’s body to the Capital.

Counters

Who Is Here playing in the background: 14 (+1 in e36)

XQA flipping ponytail: 17 (none in either episode)

XQA finds money: 5 (+1 in e35)

XQA has hay in mouth (by episode): 12/40 (none in either episode)

Flashcards | Masterpost | Episodes 1-3 | Episode 4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episode 9 | Episodes 10-11 | Episodes 12-13 | Episodes 14-15 | Episode 16 | Episode 17 | Episode 18 | Episode 19

🔔 New schedule: Only 1 new episode will be released from May 9 to 19. Express episodes will be available for purchase on Youku on May 12. SVIP and TVOD are one episode ahead.

Since episode 20 takes place primarily in 2015, this recap is brief, and I will focus on what I think is most important in the show’s development. 

Meng only wears designer shoes. The ones found in Shanlong's apartment were knockoffs.

Xiaohe discovers that Fangxu checked out the pair of blue leather shoes from evidence in 2002 and never returned them. Meanwhile, Yuanhang meets with Lili, who recalls telling Fangxu that Meng would never wear counterfeit shoes; she was far too picky, and fake cardboard shoes would have peeled in the wet environment of a massage parlour (as Fangxu noticed in the police archives when it flooded).

https://preview.redd.it/f7u2run8hszg1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff962a073c4e81a7cacd64d92b9b38a2c98945d5

This detail, combined with crime scene photos of the mismatched blue shoes among a colour-coordinated shelf of shoes, confirms that they were planted. Given his obsessive habit, our detectives realize…

Shanlong was framed!

According to Yuanhang, the real culprit would have to meet four conditions:

1. Held a grudge against Meng and her father
2. Possessed the physical strength for murder and technical skill for dismemberment 
3. Knew about Shanlong’s fetish and collection habits
4. Was familiar with Yuanlongli to evade cameras and track Shanlong’s movements

  

I don’t know if I agree with this, only because I believe the theory that Meng is alive… in fact, as Herc pointed out, Meng is colour-blind… so she could’ve easily made the mistake of placing the fake blue shoes (with her skin samples on it) on the shelf without the colours in mind.

Finding out where the shoes come from could reveal the culprit

Basically, in this episode, we are seeing Yuanhang and Xiaohe pick up Fangxu’s trail to find shoes' owner. The transition between Fangxu in 2002 and the father-daughter duo in 2015 is so smooth, I love it. 

Against Qian Dajun’s wishes (not that he matters because he’s sus), Yuanhang moves into Yuanlongli to investigate, even asking Suqing to delay the demolition scheduled for the following month. Attempting to trace Fangxu’s steps from the roof down to the parking garage, Yuanhang learns from Du Mingliang that Fangxu had been searching for an experienced craftsman capable of expertly applying a second layer to the shoes. 

Ran Fangxu Appreciation Photo. I really like the way we're following the \"ghost\" of Fangxu in this episode. That said, I am still hoping he's alive somewhere...

Recalling a counterfeit shoe vendor from the Riverside Night Market during the initial 1997 investigation into Meng’s disappearance, our detectives track down the owner, Liu Guifang. She, in turn, directs them to Pingzhao County to find Mr. Lu.

Ok, so hold up:

IF we go with Yuanhang’s theory, then there are several suspects, because Meng and her father seemed to have upset a lot of people with their attempt to scam them, i.e., Ersong, Mount Wu, and whoever else to whom they consistently returned for money even after they were already compensated.

I do still think Suqing is suspicious, especially after Herc pointed out details about her past and potentially having a sister with whom she could have reunited. That and I still think it was odd that the old man’s son would continue to pay her rent at Yuanlongli. We also don’t know for certain how the old man died. What do you think?

Things that we have not yet followed up on:

• The blood and hair on the window of Qingsong’s Mercedes
• Zhengyong had bought Meng two train tickets to leave Weiyang 
• The Mount Wu incident report
• Meng’s other pen pals (which Herc pointed out in the previous episode’s post)... like maybe her sister?

In addition to Qian and Suqing, there is a third person we already know who is also involved with Yuanlongli’s redevelopment: Jin Manlang, the very first suspect behind Meng’s disappearance because he was Shanlong’s official hire to make them disappear. Is his return to the 2015 timeline also just a coincidence, or is there more to it?

Masterpost | Flashcards | Episodes 1-3 | Episode 4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episode 9 | Episodes 10-11 | Episodes 12-13 | Episodes 14-15 | Episode 16 | Episode 17

⚠️ Trigger Warning: While it is not included in my write-up, this episode contains a depiction of suicide. While the drama covers many dark themes in general, please prioritize your well-being and be mindful of others in the comments when discussing today’s episode. Thank you.

✍ 2002 Timeline Recap ✍

Hongmei’s case is transferred to Fangxu, who recognizes a specific MO: the victim was struck exactly like Shanlong was in the past, suggesting they are the same individual. They deduce from Hongmei and Shanlong’s partnership in the Hongyun Huihuang nightclub that she must’ve been the mastermind behind the schemes against Qingsong. This raises the possibility that Qingsong has returned for vengeance.

The investigation leads to a scrap yard to trace a wrench Shanlong submitted as the assault weapon, but the foreman proves uncooperative (at this point, are we surprised?).

Verifying the connection with Qingsong via the supplies that were found there, Yuanhang and Fangxu head to the abandoned Qingsong Cement Factory, where they find Qingsong living on the roof.

He confesses to assaulting both Shanlong and Hongmei out of revenge - ironically with the help of his long-time rival, Cripple Du.

While the current case has reached its conclusion, the mystery of what happened to Meng and her father remains unsolved! Qingsong admits he ordered the hit, but insists he is in the dark regarding the final outcome. According to him, Shanlong claimed that Cripple Du intercepted and snatched Meng’s body - a story Qingsong realized was a fabrication after a chance encounter with Cripple Du while on the run.

✍ 2015 Timeline Recap ✍

The investigation into Mei takes a turn as our detectives realize he was injected with anesthetic and “stuffed” away four weeks ago. This timeline proves he couldn’t have kidnapped the other children, leading the team to suspect an accomplice.

Acting on Yuanhang’s suggestion to check “hidden routes”, our team investigates the B1 and parking garage exits, where they discover that the culprit must have used a stolen platform trolley to move Han Zi’ang. Yuanhang believes that Zi’ang was brought back to Yuanlongli, so they review footage from a shop across the street, where Xiaohe recognizes Pony’s father, Peng Dachung with the trolley.

The team sneaks into his apartment unit and uncover a hidden room containing memorabilia of Pony, as well as the four missing boys.

Drawing on their shared trauma of Pony’s death, Xiaohe interrogates Dachung after his arrest. Turns out, he was disillusioned by the loss of his son and triggered by the order to move out of Yuanlongli because he feared Pony wouldn’t find his way home. Dachung confesses that he killed Mei after he overheard the struggle in the unit above him.

I assume he then used Mei's supplies to kidnap the other boys who he \"confused\" with Pony.

💭 Discussion Points 💭

🔍 We got two confessions this episode, yet the biggest questions remain: What happened to Meng, her father, and - most importantly - what is Fangxu’s ultimate fate? With the current cases closed, does the “Meng as the mastermind” theory still hold water for you?

📑 Is Mount Wu’s incident report ever going to come in? I feel like we’re at dead ends again but this report could reveal a new lead for our detectives.

🏢 Yuanlongli (the “Vortex”) continues to pull everyone back. Do you think our detectives are finished with this location, or are there still secrets buried in its walls? This question applies to both timelines in 2002 and 2015.

🙅🏻‍♀️ I thought it was a leap for the team to assume Han Zi’ang’s kidnapping followed the same MO after Mei was ruled out… unless I missed something here. If Yuanhang hadn’t refocused the search on Yuanlongli, do you think they would have ever found Unit 1216?

👻 I love the ‘ghost’ of Fangxu in the 2015 timeline of this episode. Even in his absence, his theories and teachings are the “glue” holding the team and the investigations together. It makes his disappearance/death feel even more heavy though. I want to believe he has disappeared vs dead because we haven’t seen his body yet either, just like Meng.

🔗 Interesting facts: LTTN was filmed from March to July 2024. As mentioned, real-life Mei was only captured and arrested in March 2026, via modern technology used to identify her.

And we can't have a post without at least one image of Dylan Wang... er, I mean, Captain Ran Fangxu, so here we are, handsome as ever.

Masterpost | Flashcards | Episodes 1-3 | Episode 4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episode 9 | Episodes 10-11 | Episodes 12-13 | Episodes 14-15 

🔔 Reminder: There is only 1 new episode from May 4 to 7.

2002 Timeline

We have the Xiaohe kidnapping episode, which escalated rapidly, shifting from unsettling to high-stakes in a heartbeat! 💓

How I felt for Fangxu in this episode...

✍️ Recap ✍️

A man named Yuan Ziqiang scouts the illegal cyber cafe in the basement of Jiajia Grocery and learns that Xiaohe has run away with dreams of reaching Beijing. He uses this to lure her to the Youcheng Hotel, where Xiaohe discovers that he is not who he says he is. In fact, as Fangxu is able to confirm, the man is actually a notorious human trafficker known as “Mei”. Fangxu alerts Yuanhang, who immediately drops everything at Mount Wu to race to Xiaohe’s rescue. 

Oh Xiaohe... time to get out of there.

💭 Points of Discussion 💭

• Xiaohe’s Growth Arc: While Xiaohe is undeniably sharp, her desperation led her to trust in a stranger - despite the glaring red flag of a grown man inviting a child to a hotel room is a big red flag (in any era). Do you think this traumatic brush with danger will finally end her rebellious phase?
• Fangxu’s Fate: Will Fangxu arrive in time to save Yuanhang and Xiaohe? Do you think this event is what leads to his death, or is it a turning point that leaves him burdened by guilt and perhaps more reckless herein? His meticulous note-taking made all the difference, but the weight of responsibility might be enough to break him.
• The Mount Wu Mystery: What do you expect the incident report to reveal? Does the fact that Meng and her father continued to harass the park for compensation - even after being paid out - change your perspective on their characters?

Hold on tight as we wait for e17 to reveal what will happen next!

📰 Real-World Connection 📰

A fascinating "fun fact" shared by u/losergeek877: the traffickers in the story are inspired by the infamous "Aunt Mei." She was responsible for trafficking nine children in Guangdong between 2003 and 2005 and evaded capture for over a decade. Most of those children were finally reunited with their families between 2019 and 2024.

Good thing Xiaohe is feisty. Note that there the link to the article (only published a few weeks ago) is included if you want to read more about the real-life Mei.

2015 Timeline

✍️ Recap ✍️

After learning from Zi’ang’s classmates about his obsession with the anime character Nangong Xuanyue, Xiaohe uses clever cosplay to break his silence. Her effort pays off when the otherwise mute Zi’ang offers the following warning:

>Charon, the ferryman, carries the souls of Yinyi Village. The Trojan Horse eats people, and it’s going to eat you. 

Brushed off by Dahai, Xiaohe turns to her father to help decipher the riddle. She is convinced these metaphors are grounded in reality - specifically linking them to the trauma he experienced at Yuanlongli. 

I mean, she does pull the wig off really well... and is it just me, or is there a potential love interest for her in that room? I didn't get his name so I don't have a flashcard for him yet...

💭 Points of Discussion 💭

• Decoding the Riddle: According to Yuanhang, if Yinyi = Yuanlongli, then Charon likely represents a specific mode of transportation. What do you think it could be? A literal bus or ferry, or something more metaphorical? What about the Trojan Horse?
  • FYI: The Trojan Horse is a legendary, massive hollow wooden structure used by Greek soldiers to infiltrate the city of Troy during the Trojan War.

   

• Dahai’s Hostility: Dahai’s grudge against Xiaohe feels deeper than his old rivalry with Yuanhang. He seems genuinely resentful - we know he blamed Yuanhang but do you think he holds Xiaohe responsible for Fangxu’s death as well?

Episode literally ends with THIS shot... Yuanhang does NOT get a break.

Helpful links and previous episode discussions:

Flashcards | Masterpost | Episodes 1-3 | Episode 4 | Episodes 5-6

For our detectives in training, here is your lesson of the day:

• Invented by French engineer Charles Pierre Trémaux in the 19^(th) century, Trémaux's algorithm is a foolproof method for finding your way out of any maze by marking your path as you go, e.g., leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. While it guarantees that you find an exit as long as one exists, its drawback is that it is not efficient if you’re trying to find the exit quickly. This is usually the best approach if you have no zero knowledge of where the exit is (meaning you have no leads or information to inform your search).

This is the theme of these next two episodes as Yuanhang and Fangxu follow all their leads to find Xu Meng and her father. 

1997 Timeline Recap

Song Qingsong Lead

Yuanhang visits the Qingsong Cement Factory under the guise of getting his car fixed, but Shanlong still manages to slip away. It turns out Qingsong had ordered Shanlong to destroy evidence of Meng’s murder and act as his scapegoat if caught. Instead, Shanlong meets with Hongmei to hatch a new plan to get rid of Qingsong: putting on a show to make it look like Director Li (former partner in the Dongshan bidding scheme) has turned on him, and his rivals, Cripple Du, are hunting him down. While Qingsong presumably flees to LA, and Shanlong (who was shortly arrested in connection with the Dongshan Mine case) confirms that Qingsong has vanished. Dead End. 

https://preview.redd.it/txh0c8sgf5yg1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=a60eb20c3c472c57d6270c98847fd703a504ebac

Sun Zhengyong Lead

Lili informs Yuanhang and Fangxu about a suspicious client, Mr. Sun, who frequently paid double, specifically for Meng’s time. He often gifted her expensive designer clothes (matching the items found in her apartment), but stopped visiting Muse immediately after her disappearance. Lili also notes that Su Zhizhi was close to him before Pattia was shut down. 

Under interrogation, Zhizhi reveals that she and Zhengyong (Mr. Sun) ran a counterfeit ring, using authentic luxury goods as templates for fakes; Zhengyong would then gift the original items to women he liked, including Meng. Zhizhi mentions a heated argument between Mr. Sun and Meng (after she rejected him) just before the Pattia raid. After verifying sales records and spotting Zhengyong on CCTV footage dated June 27th, the police conveniently arrest him at Yuanlongli. However, Zhengyong’s alibi (Qu Dahai) proves he was locked up during the timeline of Meng’s disappearance. His only involvement was lending Meng 30,000 yuan so she could flee Weiyang after receiving death threats. Dead End.

https://preview.redd.it/bqkqykyff5yg1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a072ace735b234565a8d41518dccd5079740c12

Jin Manlang Lead

Manshan pressures Shanlong for payment regarding Manlang’s arrest. With assurance that Shanlong will leave them alone and a lack of physical evidence linking Manlang to any murder, Manlang retracts his earlier statement and is released. He even reports Yuanhang for allegedly coercing a false confession. Dead End. 

https://preview.redd.it/xp5l2fvcf5yg1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=f0509e8ec52679caa81ee403e1677a8629fc961e

Key Observations and Discussion Questions

• The Dongshan Mine: Is it just me, or is there an undeniable link to Meng’s disappearance and the Dongshan Mine here? It is consistently brought up. And who is this Director Li? Note that the Mine is owned by the Government.
• Little Xiaohe: Shines as a talented investigator (and Fangxu’s matchmaker). I look forward to seeing her put these skills in action in 2015. 
• The Body: Shanlong claims Meng is dead, yet no body has been recovered. The photo used to intimidate Qingsong is too blurry to definitely identify as Meng. What do you think?
• Mr. Qian: Fangxu and Xiaohe catch him acting suspiciously for a second time. It’s revealed he was attempting to dispose of the human head he found in the underground parking garage. So how deep does his involvement go, and was that Meng?
• Train Tickets: Zhengyong claims Meng bought train tickets out of Weiyang on July 1st. Do you think it’s possible Meng successfully escaped with her father?
• Favourite moments: Mine has to be the coaching session when Yuanhang teaches Fangxu exactly how to take down Zhengyong… or the adorable Xiaohe playing matchmaker for Fangxu and Suqing. What were yours?

2015 Timeline Recap

Xiaohe successfully persuades Principal Qin to reconsider expelling Han Zi’ang, hoping to protect his future just as someone (I think Uncle Ran/Fangxu) once did for her. The Principal agrees to pause the expulsion until Zi’ang regains consciousness, giving Xiaohe time to prove that his actions at Yuanglongli were strictly in self-defense.

We also get a glimpse of other characters from 1997:

• Manlang appears to be thriving as a Security Manager for the Demolition Department at Longwei Group, a real estate company. 
• Suqing also works at Longwei, serving as the Finance Director in charge of redeveloping. During their reunion, Suqing advises Yuanhang to finally let go of Fangxu.

 

In that scene, I agree - the way she looks toward Fangxu feels like a red herring for us. He likely isn’t physically there. My theory is that Fangxu isn't confirmed dead; rather, the case went cold when he went missing. This could explain why Yuanhang is so obsessed - he can't bring himself mourn Fangxu because he doesn’t have closure. He’s still searching for him.

https://preview.redd.it/ms9fuzuef5yg1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=ceecb1ca4a1b752264304797b3b1c5c3ba8fe4fe

Conclusion

In a way, Tremaux’s algorithm failed Yuanhang and Fangxu, because they ran out of time. With every lead hitting a dead end, Captain Feng ordered the case closed to shift resources toward the Dongshan Mine investigation. However, with only a few hours left on the clock, Fangxu convinces Yuanhang to try a different approach: immersive roleplay. 

By reenacting the final moments of Meng and her father in the elevator, they make a startling discovery. The pair possessed a specific key - one that unlocks the outer elevator doors!!! For those who don’t have access to e9 yet, what a cliffhanger!

Where exactly could this hidden path lead them?

Back over to you tomorrow u/a_HerculePoirot_fan!

⏰ Schedule: 2 episodes per post, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday 

🗓️ Next Post: Saturday, May 2 - Episodes 29&30

✎ᝰ Past Discussions:
 Index of All Discussions | Episodes 1&2 | Episodes 3&4 | Episodes 5&6 | Episodes 7&8 | Episodes 9&10 | Episodes 11&12 | Episodes 13&14 | Episodes 15&16 | Episodes 17&18 | Episodes 19&20 | Episodes 21&22 | Episodes 23&24 | Episodes 25&26

🔗Helpful Links: Flashcards | Subtitle Interchangeable Terminology

🚨SPOILERS: Kindly use spoiler tags if you are discussing anything beyond episode 28. Comprehensive directions on how to create spoilers. 

GIFs courtesy of u/Ateosira! Thank you!!

Episode 27

Recap: Princess Lin’an rushes home after hearing news of Xu Qi’an’s death and passes out from relief and exhaustion when she finds him alive and well. Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen disapproves of Xinnian’s affections for his daughter, Simu, and publicly humiliates him. At the same time, he’s in hot water with the Emperor after Duke Cao and several other Ministers call for his impeachment. Lord Wei, however, has other plans for Zhenwen.

Our Couple Pairing (CP) Reunions ❤️

Princess Lin’an happily reunites with Xu Qi’an (but is too embarrassed to reveal her feelings for him and retreats). I think we’re seeing a growth arc for Princess Lin’an now, especially after she’s seen more of the world. It is also nice to see how protective the Crown Prince is of his younger sister (green flag big brother) and we get to see a very sweet mother-daughter moment as they both apologize to each other. I really like the family relationships in this drama.

https://i.redd.it/ao8gfqxv84yg1.gif

But that’s not it! We get another love story! We meet Wang Simu, and OMG, they are made for each other! Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen very publicly kicks him out of the Personnel Archives, likely for his association with Xu Qi’an and thereby the Guardians (who rivals with the Wang faction). I like Simu a lot - not only does she handle Xinnian’s dramatic flair with such grace, she goes for what she wants (and already calls Xinnian’s family her in-laws) and is kindly strategic about it (she sure knows how to butter them up). I love them together. 

What are your thoughts on our CPs?

Court Politics and Infighting 📜

The Emperor seems to be taking the opportunity to dismiss Zhenwen because of their disagreement over the labour tax policy (implementation of a delivery corvee). He uses a barrage of impeachments from the rival faction to pressure Zhenwen to concede or step down. Lord Wei does not plan to stay silent though, because as he states:

\"A familiar opponent is always better than an unknown enemy.\"

Hence, Qianrou is sent to collect the incriminating evidence that the Guardians have already gathered on State Duke Cao. 

Does the Emperor have any redeeming qualities to him?

Side point not already mentioned: Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen realize they have a lot in common, oblivious to the fact that they’re “fated” rivals.

Episode 28

❗Trigger Warning (6:32 - 8:08 in this episode): subject of self-harm and ending one's life, should you want to skip these parts without losing important detail of the plot. Please consider not making this joke a topic of conversation in our comments. Thank you! ❗

Recap: Both Wang Simu and Princess Lin’an strategize to secure future relationships with their men: Simu ingratiates herself with the Xu household, while Lin’an seeks a noble title for Xu Qi’an. Meanwhile, secret evidence of Duke Cao’s corruption (collected by the Guardians) falls to Zhenwen, who leverages it to keep his status and position in Court. Despite a long-standing rivalry with the Guardians, Zhenwen and Lord Wei now establish a quiet alliance for the people of Dafeng, especially as Lord Wei reveals his plans to depart for the Northern front to confront the Witcher’s Sect. Simu capitalizes on her father’s debt to Xinnian and makes arrangements for Xu Qi’an to access the personnel files.

Xinnian’s Redemption 💪

Xinnian is reeling from public humiliation; he aspires to enter politics but was personally ousted by the Prime Minister! However, with PM Zhenwen now under fire, a chance for redemption emerges. Here’s how the story plays out:

• To prove his devotion to Simu and his loyalty to the Prime Minister, Xinnian steals evidence incriminating State Duke Cao from his own cousin, Xu Qi’an (and the Guardians). 
• Though beaten to a pulp in the process, he secures the leverage Zhenwen needs against his political enemies and forces the Emperor to compromise.  
• As a result, Zhenwen’s “crimes” are exonerated and his resignation rejected. 
• In a show of gratitude, Zhenwen and Simu arrange for Xu Qi’an to access the restricted Personnel files (I love that Xu Qi’an calls Simu his “sister-in-law” now - and she’s clearly embracing the title!)

 

https://i.redd.it/ryb8ufd494yg1.gif

Princess Lin’an’s Noble Mission 👑

After Xiao Gang points out the “status gap” between Simu and Xinnian, Lin’an is forced to look at her own relationship with Xu Qi’an. Simu is the Prime Minister's daughter but she is a princess - meaning more than anything, the court would never accept her relationship with Xu Qi’an if he remains a mere “commoner”. Determined to bridge the gap, she begins a mission to secure him a title of nobility. 

Are we getting another Cdrama that will deliver a handsome marquis to us?

An Unlikely Alliance for Dafeng 🤝

Despite their past friction, Lord Wei and Prime Minister Zhenwen have now (privately) set aside their differences for the good of the realm. Their shared concern for the people is evident - Zhenwen recently refused to budget on the delivery corvee to avoid causing further hardship for the commoners. Now, Lord Wei reveals a greater threat: the Witcher’s Sect is slaughtering civilians in the North. He needs Zhenwen’s alliance to petition the Emperor to fight back, and to ensure trustworthy officials are in place to protect the capital should he fall in battle. 

Does that mean we’re going to see Lord Wei in action!? The Guardians vs. the Witcher’s Sect sounds pretty epic. 

^(Side note not already mentioned: We find the beads!) ^(But who is she!?)

https://i.redd.it/11j3ilfe94yg1.gif

Modern References

• Xu Qi’an calls Lord Wei quite the scriptwriter (to Rou’s confusion) for devising the scheme that leverages Xinnian’s relationship with Simu to discreetly deliver the Guardians’ evidence to Zhenwen. 
• Li Ru (Xinnian’s mom) showing Simu paintings of Xinnian when he was younger is just like when MiLs in modern dramas share embarrassing baby photos of their son to their DiLs.

Counters

Who Is Here playing in the background: 10 (none in either ep)

XQA flipping ponytail: 16 (none in either ep) 

XQA finds money: 3 (+1 in ep 28)

XQA has hay in mouth (by episode): 11/40 (+1 in e27)

A huge thank you to u/a_HerculePoirot_fan for such a strong start! Definitely check out her post for important background and context on the drama (link below). I’ll be sticking to the format of covering each timeline altogether instead of going back and forth like we see in the drama. For this post, I'm starting with 2015.

Flashcards | Masterpost | EPs 1-3

2015 Timeline Recap

Nanshan Police Station

Xiaohe perks up at the sight of Captain Zhao. She overhears him and Qu Dahai discussing the case of four missing teenagers in Binchuan - an investigation Director Zou has ordered them to lead in collaboration with the municipal bureau. Seeing an opening, Xiaohe approaches Zhao to inquire about her application for field duty, only to be subtly rebuffed. As Zhao departs to handle a newly filed missing person report for Han Zi’ang, Xiaohe witnesses a distraught Ms. Wang pleading with the police to find her son, Ang, whom she believes has vanished in Yuanlongli.

Yuanlongli

Meanwhile, Fangxu gazes regretfully at Unit 415 (reminiscing what seems to be a former relationship with its former resident, Suqing; one that fell apart when he moved to Beijing from what Yuanhang asked him). Soon after, Yuanhang notices a tricycle that has mysteriously moved. They then collide with two drifters who were under attack by a child wielding a blunt cleaver—a boy revealed to be the missing Ang.

1997 Timeline Recap

While searching the apartment shared by Xu Meng and her father, Xu Zhihong, Fangxu and Yuanhang discover they were in deep trouble. Meng had originally borrowed 8,000 yuan to cover her father’s medical bills, but the debt had ballooned to 250,000 yuan.

Debt collectors working for Jin Manshan confirmed they hadn't seen the pair since their disappearance on June 30th.

Fangxu and Yuanhang interview Meng’s relatives, Meiqin and Guoqiang, who confirmed the medical debt started after a tragic accident two years prior, when the father and daughter fell off a cliff on Mount Wu.

After hitting a dead end with a local video rental owner, Fangxu and Yuanhuan corner Manshan to find out who hired his brother, Manlang, to make the pair \"disappear.\"

Key Discoveries

• Not the Gangsters: Despite the massive debt, Manshan insists he didn't order a "hit." From a business perspective, killing them would ensure he never got his money back; his men were only trying to scare them into paying.
• The Frame-Up: It appears Manlang was set up to take the fall. ⬇️

A witness at the video shop described a mysterious man meeting with Manlang: he wore a black cap and a white mask, and he drove a Mercedes with a license plate ending in 688.

• The Smoking Gun: By the end of the episode, a man is seen cleaning that same Mercedes. ⬇️⬇️

Disturbingly, the interior windows are smeared with blood and hair.

The car is cleaned and later seen pulling out of a garage located directly behind Yuanlongli.

Fangxu and Yuanhang’s Evolving Bond

As the 1997 storyline unfolds, we gain deeper insight into the personal lives of our leads. Yuanhang feels the weight of his family’s expectations to stay in the criminal department, while Fangxu is shown to have a particularly close relationship with his mother (besides the photo we see of them together, he is very quick to anger when it comes to people disrespecting women). Despite their constant bickering, a genuine bond is beginning to form.

They are gradually learning to trust each other through compromise, jokes, and a growing, silent admiration for each other's unique skills - whether it’s Fangxu’s use of a fake gun or Yuanhang’s street smarts.

Discussion Questions

• I don’t think the man cleaning the Mercedes is the culprit, but given that it is a Mercedes, he must be wealthy, like someone who bought the 18th floor of Yuanlongli?
• What do you think is the connection between the missing persons in 2015, and the 1997 cold case based on what we’ve seen so far? 
• Yuanhang seems to feel quite attached to Fangxu in 2015. Is it just me, or does he harbour feelings of guilt, and wants to redeem himself not only in reopening the case but persuading Fangxu to become a detective again? Did he find new clues after 18 years and he just hasn't revealed them yet?