Melody of Golden Age Episode 4 Recap, Plot

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Shen Du and Yan Xing continued their bickering in the morning, with Yan Xing persistently urging Shen Du to investigate the Shen family affairs. The next day, Shen Du was alarmed to find Yan Xing's bed in a state of disarray, which he found intolerable due to his obsession with cleanliness. At this time, Lu Chuichui mentioned rumors in the capital, claiming that Shen Du and Yan Xing had a deep marital bond, which drew attention.

While they were out, they encountered an elderly woman sitting by the roadside, looking sorrowful. Lu Chuichui explained that the previous night, Chen Baiyi had committed self-immolation out of despair after failing the imperial exams, leaving his elderly mother behind, desolate and helpless. Both Shen Du and Yan Xing felt sympathy and decided to get involved, investigate the matter, and offer some comfort to the old woman.

Manager Wu was caught off guard by Yan Xing taking up the old woman's complaint, and immediately announced that the Liang family case required no outside intervention, although he dared not obstruct Yan Xing further. Yan Xing and Lu Chuichui were determined to investigate further and went to Jinxiu Alley, but were stopped by the gatekeeper. Lu Chuichui used gold coins to gain entry.

The alley’s master revealed that the deceased, Kuang Zhankin, had been gentle and uncontentious before his disappearance and had often gone out with Liang Chen, but never returned. Yan Xing, pondering this, left, while the alley’s master wiped away hidden tears behind them. Outside, Yan Xing unexpectedly met an old acquaintance, Xu Shuai, who discussed the recent case of seventeen missing women, of which fifteen had been found, with two still unaccounted for.

Xu Shuai analyzed that although the missing women were not top courtesans, they were all musically talented, had similar hairstyles, and shared an inexplicable commonality in their gazes. Xu Shuai handed Yan Xing the organized information, believing that as Shen Du's wife, she would be more convenient for the investigation. Yan Xing firmly declared that this was a serial murder case and vowed to find the real culprit and deliver justice for the victims.

As the Liang family's second branch was drenched in chicken blood, Liang Sanlang resolutely turned himself in to the Ministry of Justice, plunging the Liang family into chaos. At this moment, Princess Yong’an visited Shen Du, expressing dissatisfaction with Shen Du’s failure to act according to the Empress Dowager’s wishes and warning him to be cautious to avoid following in his father’s footsteps.

Jing Lin explained that Shen Du had already made a decision, but Yan Xing insisted on investigating, which complicated the situation. Yan Xing swore to reveal the truth to the world. At this time, five pairs of male and female corpses appeared at the scene, their appearance identical to those found in the Liang family’s case. The bodies emitted a strange fragrance.

Although Yan Xing couldn’t immediately identify the scent, she inferred that this series of cases might have been ongoing for years. More shockingly, Yan Xing deduced from the female victim’s wounds that the killer might be a woman, a theory that Xu Shuai found hard to believe, given that it was difficult for a woman to subdue a young man.

As Yan Xing was about to delve deeper, Shen Du hurriedly pulled her away, informing her that the two cases had been merged and forbidding her further involvement. However, as Yan Xing took a few steps out, she saw a woman hurriedly leaving, her scent matching that of the deceased, and her hair ornament startlingly similar to the woman in a painting. Seeing this, Shen Du immediately took Yan Xing to the Ministry of Justice.

Shen Du’s clear intention was to remove Yan Xing from the case, but she refused to comply. Under Shen Du’s authority, Manager Wu, though reluctant, had no choice but to agree. A subtle battle over truth and power began. Yan Xing, in her desperation, requested Jing Lin to either dismount and accompany her or share a ride, to which Jing Lin resignedly agreed to walk.

Yan Xing focused on the deceased's belongings, noting the uniformity in the killer’s methods and speculating that there must be a pattern behind them. Shen Du observed the use of Jinxiu Alley fabric in the victims' clothing, which became a new lead. Yan Xing delved into the Ministry of Justice’s archives and learned that Manager Wu was troubled by a nursery rhyme that was also circulating in the streets.

Lai Luozhi encountered a child singing the rhyme and spoke sternly but kindly, causing the child’s parents to beg for mercy. Princess Yong’an appeared just in time, blaming the parents but compassionately taking the child away, which earned public praise, while Lai Luozhi was indignantly dissatisfied. Yan Xing, hidden in the crowd, was curious about Princess Yong’an and the mysterious woman in the carriage.

After returning home, Yan Xing learned that Shen Du had been summoned due to Lai Luozhi’s scheming and immediately rushed to the Grand Pavilion to help. Jing Lin threatened to resort to self-harm, but Yan Xing calmly forged Shen Du’s handwriting to draft a memorial and instructed Jing Lin to present it urgently. Lai Luozhi attempted to use the nursery rhyme to create discord between the Imperial Inspectorate and Shen Du.

Shen Du was brought to the scene, and at a crucial moment, Xu Wan handed over the memorial drafted by Yan Xing, allowing the case to be presented directly to the Empress Dowager. After reading the memorial, the Empress Dowager was reassured and ordered Shen Du to continue his investigation while privately assigning an urgent task.

As Shen Du took on the task, Yan Xing’s wisdom and deep understanding of Shen Du once again became crucial in turning the situation around.

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