Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 18

There’s a new sheriff in town

It was quite the tale from temple cleaner. He was indeed a thief and worse in his earlier life. He masterminded all the happenings of the poor suspect. His crime was having a pretty wife. The lengths those two covetous men went to. His colleague was a lech. I still don’t quite know what he perceived as a benefit by pretending intimacy with the husband. It was also a bit unsettling how calmly this guy recounted these heinous events like reading a newspaper story. He had no guilt killing the roommate. He most likely would have had this fate because he seduced women at every opportunity. Things were not going to end well for him. The poor wife had reason to think her husband deserted her. That made his long stints away from home more rational to her. It is hard to comprehend he would always choose books over his wife. Muscle memory is a bitch if you’re an assassin. Out of habit he killed her before even knowing it was her. This is the first bit of emotion this guy shows. I think his ecstasy incense was working on him too. He deluded himself into believing she would run off with him and live happily ever after. What he did not count on was her truly loving her husband and realizing something was false in the narrative the cleaner told her. She was even smart enough to move the family silver. This bandit’s hope of being a politician was too close to happening. He just about pulled it all off. His discovery out of the gate was the only thing that changed his destiny. I do not blame the scholar for wondering why on earth Lu was treating him kindly now. I do like this characteristic of Lu. When he is at fault he recognizes it and learns from it. His social spectrum is growing a bit. He even gives the scholar his horse along with the hidden silver. They have provided him letters and everything he needs for the best chance of success. The scene at the bridge was fun. The team is enjoying an adventure and Lu and XiJun are teased about marriage. Lu then finds himself receiving a promotion as sheriff of Ju. It is far from being a general but it’s an actual imperial commission. It is now dawning on him that he can work his way back if he chooses. When he realizes magistrate Pei is probably the cause he rejects the job. He is eventually talked into it and leaves for Ju with XueHuan accompanying him. The town is rundown and people are leaving complaining of headaches. He goes straight to the files to start working on cases rather than visiting the local lead politician. This already has him snubbed by the leader but his industry in getting to work cannot be denied. He finds himself at an interesting location that is supposed to be haunted. I wonder what is really in the back attic that they won’t let him rent. Lu is studying the 40 year cold case and XueHuan is sweeping outside when creepy entities show up and the boy lets out a loud scream. And that is the lovely cliff hanger they leave us on.😝

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