About Xiao Jinyu being poisoned with “ganmei sores”
At this point, I think there are four suspicious items related to Xiao Jinyu contracting ganmei sores.
First: mung bean soup. The mung bean soup Lianqiao made for Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu passed through four people’s hands: 1. Lianqiao 2. Chu Chu 3. You Chen’an
In the last image of Figure 1, you can also see a bowl of mung bean soup on Xiao Jinyu’s desk, which means he did drink it last night.
Second: the incense on Xiao Jinyu’s desk. Personally, I think the camera gave the incense burner too many close-ups to be a coincidence. Wu Jiang also mentioned that the window was originally open.
Third: the lotus flowers sold by the little girl on the street.
Fourth: the tea at the entrance. In Season 2, there are several scenes where Jing Yi snatches Xiao Jinyu’s teacup and drinks from it.
⸻
My ranking of likelihood:
Incense ＞ Mung bean soup ＞ Lotus flower ＞ Tea
Let me explain why I think the tea is the least likely. In my opinion, the tea is indeed foreshadowing—but not foreshadowing aimed at Xiao Jinyu. It’s more likely meant for Jing Yi.
As for the lotus flowers sold by the little girl: Chu Chu touched them, and Gao Luoqian also came into contact with them. The probability seems low.
The most controversial suspects are probably the mung bean soup and the incense, and here’s why I lean toward the incense: 1. Figure 5 shows powder residue that Chu Chu and You Chen’an found on Wan Qianshan’s clothes. 2. Figure 6 shows that Zhao Fengming also had what appeared to be similar powder in his ear. 3. In Figures 7–8, when Gao Luoqian threatens Huang Lü, what he gives him is also incense. Gao frequently visits the Four Fragrance Pavilion to buy sandalwood incense for Buddhist worship, which is highly suspicious (the name “Four Fragrance” sounds similar to “homesickness,” possibly a pun). Gao also mentions that this is a top-grade incense from Southern Zhao. Could this incense be related to poppy derivatives? Did Huang Lü contract ganmei sores, or does he have an addiction to incense powder? 4. Although there is no direct visual evidence, Wan Qianshan and Zhao Fengming were officials and likely had the habit of using incense. It’s very possible that they developed ganmei sores through incense or contact with powder. Their deaths were likely caused by other poisons. Chu Chu has already confirmed that Qin Xiang’s body showed lesions of ganmei sores, while Wan and Zhao did not. Xiao Jinyu is likely the same case.
I suspect they were exposed to a weakened form of ganmei sores, the purpose being to stir public opinion and create panic within the Tang dynasty. True ganmei sores require sexual transmission to spread. If Southern Zhao wanted to rapidly spread fear, a weakened form with visible external symptoms would better serve that goal.
Earlier, over ten thousand people disappeared at the border. I suspect they may have been taken by Southern Zhao for human experimentation and poisoning trials.
⸻
Why I don’t think it was the mung bean soup
If it were the mung bean soup, then the only possible culprit would be You Chen’an. But how could he guarantee that only Xiao Jinyu drank it and that Chu Chu wouldn’t drink more as well?
Based on what we’ve seen so far, You Chen’an genuinely admires Chu Chu—from initially recognizing her as one of the top forensic examiners, to firmly believing she will become the greatest forensic expert in the world. Poisoning would bring him far more harm than benefit; it simply wouldn’t be worth it.
⸻
Conclusion
My speculation is that Xiao Jinyu most likely developed ganmei sore symptoms due to incense or contact with some kind of powder.
"Even when I did nothing, they never stopped talking. I used to believe that integrity would speak for itself. Now I know better— those who spread rumors never care about the truth." — Xiao Jinyu
Wang Ziqi reassured everyone that you can watch Season 2 without having seen Season 1. S2 brings new storylines and new cases. While continuing the investigative tone of Season 1, it significantly upgrades the national and political power-play arc.
Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu will be heading to Nan Zhao — this is not a “honeymoon business trip,” but a crucial move in the main political power-play storyline.
As for the Second Prince, he is clearly not some so-called “male third wheel.” If the role were that simple, he wouldn’t have taken it in the first place. From the looks of it, Nan Zhao is the true opening of the game: a far more complex cross-border political chess match is about to unfold, and it will be a key part of the overall main plot.
And when the livestream chat asked whether the Second Prince was “the Peacock,” he very clearly denied it.
After watching Episode 9, there’s been a key turning point in the speculation about Peacock.
Peacock has appeared.
Conclusion first:
Personally, I think Jiang Daohai is highly suspicious and very likely to be Peacock.
⸻
Evidence 1: Hand shape comparison
Referring to Image 2: • Top left: Peacock’s hand • Top right: Huang Lü’s hand • Bottom left: You Chen’an’s hand • Bottom right: Jiang Daohai’s hand
Image 3 shows Chu He’s hand. (Some people keep guessing Chu He, so I included a full image just to “make up the numbers” 😂)
Peacock’s right hand has a scar, and this detail matches Jiang Daohai’s right hand very well. Based on this alone, Jiang Daohai’s probability of being Peacock is very high.
⸻
Evidence 2: Elimination method
From the killings committed by Peacock (see Image 4), there are currently eight suspects.
1. You Chen’an
Based on hand shape alone, he can be excluded as Peacock. However, I don’t think his suspicion is fully cleared.
We still don’t know: • Whether Peacock has someone behind him • Whether someone could be impersonating Peacock to confuse everyone
You Chen’an’s behavior in Chang’an has been very strange, with too many oddities. He still needs further observation.
⸻
2. You Longsheng
Basically excluded. He’s far away in Southern Zhao, and his personality is too flamboyant and domineering, completely different from Peacock’s meticulous and restrained style.
⸻
3. Master Shenguan
Deceased — excluded.
It’s very unlikely that someone impersonated him to fake his death. Those who prepared his body were his own disciples; impersonation would’ve been discovered. Plus, Chu Chu performed the autopsy, so the possibility is extremely low.
⸻
4. Jiang Daohai
Based on the clues up to Episode 9, he is the most suspicious. • He deliberately targeted Prince An during court discussions • He has close dealings with Southern Zhao
His suspicion level is very high.
⸻
5. Chu He
Chu He may make mistakes, but he doesn’t have malicious intent. The likelihood of him being Peacock is very low.
⸻
6. Gao Luoqian
Gao Luoqian and Peacock seem to be parallel agents, both taking orders directly from the King of Southern Zhao. Unlikely to be the same person.
⸻
7. Changshou
Changshou appeared together with Peacock, so he’s more likely a subordinate.
In Image 5, I was afraid of misidentifying him, so I specifically found a screenshot from Chu He’s shop opening scene for confirmation.
⸻
8. King of Southern Zhao
Excluded for now due to being in a different location.
⸻
A remaining key question
In my earlier trailer & poster analysis, I mentioned that the masked figure appears to be from Southern Zhao. For now, I tentatively identify the silhouette as Zhao Senyao.
But is the masked person Peacock?
I don’t think so.
At this stage, I believe the masked person is more likely Changshou. He works at a pharmacy, has access to many medicinal ingredients, and is therefore the most likely candidate for producing drugs.
At this point, I think there are four suspicious items related to Xiao Jinyu contracting ganmei sores.
First: mung bean soup.
The mung bean soup Lianqiao made for Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu passed through four people’s hands:
1. Lianqiao
2. Chu Chu
3. You Chen’an
In the last image of Figure 1, you can also see a bowl of mung bean soup on Xiao Jinyu’s desk, which means he did drink it last night.
Second: the incense on Xiao Jinyu’s desk.
Personally, I think the camera gave the incense burner too many close-ups to be a coincidence. Wu Jiang also mentioned that the window was originally open.
Third: the lotus flowers sold by the little girl on the street.
Fourth: the tea at the entrance.
In Season 2, there are several scenes where Jing Yi snatches Xiao Jinyu’s teacup and drinks from it.
⸻
My ranking of likelihood:
Incense ＞ Mung bean soup ＞ Lotus flower ＞ Tea
Let me explain why I think the tea is the least likely.
In my opinion, the tea is indeed foreshadowing—but not foreshadowing aimed at Xiao Jinyu. It’s more likely meant for Jing Yi.
As for the lotus flowers sold by the little girl: Chu Chu touched them, and Gao Luoqian also came into contact with them. The probability seems low.
The most controversial suspects are probably the mung bean soup and the incense, and here’s why I lean toward the incense:
1. Figure 5 shows powder residue that Chu Chu and You Chen’an found on Wan Qianshan’s clothes.
2. Figure 6 shows that Zhao Fengming also had what appeared to be similar powder in his ear.
3. In Figures 7–8, when Gao Luoqian threatens Huang Lü, what he gives him is also incense. Gao frequently visits the Four Fragrance Pavilion to buy sandalwood incense for Buddhist worship, which is highly suspicious (the name “Four Fragrance” sounds similar to “homesickness,” possibly a pun). Gao also mentions that this is a top-grade incense from Southern Zhao. Could this incense be related to poppy derivatives? Did Huang Lü contract ganmei sores, or does he have an addiction to incense powder?
4. Although there is no direct visual evidence, Wan Qianshan and Zhao Fengming were officials and likely had the habit of using incense. It’s very possible that they developed ganmei sores through incense or contact with powder. Their deaths were likely caused by other poisons. Chu Chu has already confirmed that Qin Xiang’s body showed lesions of ganmei sores, while Wan and Zhao did not. Xiao Jinyu is likely the same case.
I suspect they were exposed to a weakened form of ganmei sores, the purpose being to stir public opinion and create panic within the Tang dynasty. True ganmei sores require sexual transmission to spread. If Southern Zhao wanted to rapidly spread fear, a weakened form with visible external symptoms would better serve that goal.
Earlier, over ten thousand people disappeared at the border. I suspect they may have been taken by Southern Zhao for human experimentation and poisoning trials.
⸻
Why I don’t think it was the mung bean soup
If it were the mung bean soup, then the only possible culprit would be You Chen’an. But how could he guarantee that only Xiao Jinyu drank it and that Chu Chu wouldn’t drink more as well?
Based on what we’ve seen so far, You Chen’an genuinely admires Chu Chu—from initially recognizing her as one of the top forensic examiners, to firmly believing she will become the greatest forensic expert in the world. Poisoning would bring him far more harm than benefit; it simply wouldn’t be worth it.
⸻
Conclusion
My speculation is that Xiao Jinyu most likely developed ganmei sore symptoms due to incense or contact with some kind of powder.
【含剧透】关于第十三集中毒的一点推测 今天看完第十... http://xhslink.com/o/7AL9qcJcrTX
Gossip spreads easily.
Truth rarely gets the same attention,
and the damage is already done.
I used to believe that integrity would speak for itself.
Now I know better— those who spread rumors never care about the truth."
— Xiao Jinyu
As for the Second Prince, he is clearly not some so-called “male third wheel.” If the role were that simple, he wouldn’t have taken it in the first place. From the looks of it, Nan Zhao is the true opening of the game: a far more complex cross-border political chess match is about to unfold, and it will be a key part of the overall main plot.
And when the livestream chat asked whether the Second Prince was “the Peacock,” he very clearly denied it.
I need to rewatch to check it lol
there’s been a key turning point in the speculation about Peacock.
Peacock has appeared.
Conclusion first:
Personally, I think Jiang Daohai is highly suspicious and very likely to be Peacock.
⸻
Evidence 1: Hand shape comparison
Referring to Image 2:
• Top left: Peacock’s hand
• Top right: Huang Lü’s hand
• Bottom left: You Chen’an’s hand
• Bottom right: Jiang Daohai’s hand
Image 3 shows Chu He’s hand.
(Some people keep guessing Chu He, so I included a full image just to “make up the numbers” 😂)
Peacock’s right hand has a scar, and this detail matches Jiang Daohai’s right hand very well.
Based on this alone, Jiang Daohai’s probability of being Peacock is very high.
⸻
Evidence 2: Elimination method
From the killings committed by Peacock (see Image 4), there are currently eight suspects.
1. You Chen’an
Based on hand shape alone, he can be excluded as Peacock.
However, I don’t think his suspicion is fully cleared.
We still don’t know:
• Whether Peacock has someone behind him
• Whether someone could be impersonating Peacock to confuse everyone
You Chen’an’s behavior in Chang’an has been very strange, with too many oddities. He still needs further observation.
⸻
2. You Longsheng
Basically excluded.
He’s far away in Southern Zhao, and his personality is too flamboyant and domineering, completely different from Peacock’s meticulous and restrained style.
⸻
3. Master Shenguan
Deceased — excluded.
It’s very unlikely that someone impersonated him to fake his death.
Those who prepared his body were his own disciples; impersonation would’ve been discovered.
Plus, Chu Chu performed the autopsy, so the possibility is extremely low.
⸻
4. Jiang Daohai
Based on the clues up to Episode 9, he is the most suspicious.
• He deliberately targeted Prince An during court discussions
• He has close dealings with Southern Zhao
His suspicion level is very high.
⸻
5. Chu He
Chu He may make mistakes, but he doesn’t have malicious intent.
The likelihood of him being Peacock is very low.
⸻
6. Gao Luoqian
Gao Luoqian and Peacock seem to be parallel agents, both taking orders directly from the King of Southern Zhao.
Unlikely to be the same person.
⸻
7. Changshou
Changshou appeared together with Peacock, so he’s more likely a subordinate.
In Image 5, I was afraid of misidentifying him, so I specifically found a screenshot from Chu He’s shop opening scene for confirmation.
⸻
8. King of Southern Zhao
Excluded for now due to being in a different location.
⸻
A remaining key question
In my earlier trailer & poster analysis, I mentioned that the masked figure appears to be from Southern Zhao.
For now, I tentatively identify the silhouette as Zhao Senyao.
But is the masked person Peacock?
I don’t think so.
At this stage, I believe the masked person is more likely Changshou.
He works at a pharmacy, has access to many medicinal ingredients, and is therefore the most likely candidate for producing drugs.
http://xhslink.com/o/6Tv5XuFOVCJ