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Season 1Episode 9
Suicide or Murder?
questions on when he will resume his duties and cease indulging in his melancholy thoughts of . Suddenly, a man rushes into the quarters to report that a grievous incident has befallen Kounen. After attending to the matter, Jinshi and Gaoshun subsequently inform and Maomao of his death the next day. While Maomao feels no particular sorrow, she does provide an explanation on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
Jinshi argues that Kounen was a seasoned drinker, suggesting his death may not be accidental. He presents Maomao with the liquor Kounen consumed and shares details gathered from the scene. They retire to Jinshi's quarters to deliberate further, where Gaoshun provides a full report and Jinshi shows her the broken bottle.
Upon examining the bottle, Maomao deduces a fatal excess of salt within the drink. Consulting the report on Kounen's habits, she concludes he had lost his ability to taste salt, likely due to profound stress or poor diet following the loss of his family. She states that while she can confirm the salt was added deliberately, identifying the culprit is not her responsibility.
Gaoshun departs, and Maomao notices a mourning talisman on Jinshi, who reveals Kounen was important to him. He gives Maomao a gourd of wine in thanks. Following an amicable dispute over payment, the scene shifts to a woman found drowned.
The palace doctor and Maomao are summoned. Maomao declines to examine the body, citing her apothecary master's orders not to handle corpses, remarking that humans can become medicinal ingredients. The narrative briefly shows her father, who knows she would resort to grave-robbing if she began touching the dead. Maomao, Jinshi, and Gaoshun reconvene to discuss the death. Maomao is uncertain whether it was suicide or murder.
Passing a plant, she contemplates death and fate. Reflecting on the cases she has witnessed, she asks Jinshi if he would allow her to die by poison if necessary. He is puzzled by the question, and she leaves. Maomao later reflects that the maid was rumored to have been present at the garden party poisoning, and that a suicide note was found, leading officials to close the case as self-inflicted.
Regarding the separate matter of the burnt arm, Gaoshun informs Jinshi that the perpetrator has been identified as Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting for from the Garnet Pavilion. The episode concludes with Jinshi deep in thought.