Miss Truth | Recap and Review

A forensics meets a judicial officer. They solve cases together. All the while she's still investigating her mother's death.
Notable Actors/Actresses:
Zhou Jie Qiong: Ran Yan
Li Cheng Bing: Xiao Song

Chinese Title:

大唐女法醫
Tang Dynasty Female Forensic

Genres: Period, Romance, Mystery, Period Romance

Network: Youku

Year: 2020
Episodes: 36

First Impression: 4/5

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Mini Recaps

[Ep2] A fox meets a fish. That's what they call each other anyways.

Ran Yan: A person like you of such high ranks must be in a (small) pond everyday; not much of a difference with a fish (i.e. hasn't seen the big world yet)

Xiao Song: She's a fox that can bite you at any moment. 

Nonetheless Xiao Song is already impressed with her forensic skills.

Although not the main lead, Su Fu gets all the pretty scenes with the heroine. From saving the drowning her to the still umbrella scene to this bed scene.

[Ep3] XS comes to search her house (for Su Fu) and takes her mom's jade as hostage in return for her forensics expertise. Her expertise isn't only wanted by him but also by an unknown group of bandits. Su Fu comes to save her from these bandits and tells them "this woman is mine." This will be a tough love triangle. But he only wanted to return the favour of her saving him. Ran Yan's little heart is stolen by Su Fu. 

[Ep4] XS disguises himself for an undercover mission but gets himself in a tough pickle so Ran Yan also comes disguised to help him. They complete their mission and upon leaving they get involved in a fight. XS creates a dead-human shield to protect her. It's pretty cool. 

[Ep5] XS diverts her marriage plans and ends up stealing the bride. He claims that he only wanted her to investigate another death. Turns out her soon-to-be husband is missing. During her investigation, she needs an aide to take notes, and she manages to order the proud Xiao Song around. Ha. 

[Ep6] Xiao Song learns from her teacher that Ran Yan since young was always strong and calm. She learned all his forensic techniques in three years. XS comments on the oddity that a girl from a rich family's like hers shouldn't need to learn something like this or even need to make money. It's because she's investigating into her mother's apparent suicide. Additionally, her family has this concubine who's in power and makes her life miserable by separating her and her father. Like Cinderella? 

Su Fu saves Ran Yan again. He princess carries her. XS tells him to put her down. 

Su Fu: I am her husband. Oh.

Xiao Song gives a huge jade to Sang Chen (a teacher of some sort; an admirer of Ran Yan) to carve out a fox, a fox that likes to yell at people. Yep, its Ran Yan. That big ball of jade turned into something this small, what happened to the rest of  the jade? 

[Ep7] He gives her the expensive jade. He tells her it's to thank her for clearing his migraine (whenever he hears that high pitch sound). He doesn't tell her that Snag Chen carved it when he's right there. SC wants to clarify but XS jeers him, "You won't be able to beat me (anyways)."

But someone does beat him. Su Fu is here to pick up Ran Yan and she goes running to him leaving XS alone. Su Fu and her are quite alike: they both come from rich families but they're both neglected (he's illegitimate). He survives by being an assassin (who kills scumbags anyways). He asks her if she would still want to marry him. Yes, she would even if she knows he has an ulterior motive.

Someone else hired assassins of their own to kidnap RY. SF manhandles them all but doesn't get an answer of who sent them. 

SF to the dead assassins: In this whole world, only I'm allowed to kill her. What. It's said in a romantic way but it's not romantic...at all. 

[Ep8] These two are cool and calm, and equally intelligent.

They're stuck in an underground tomb and its his turn to tell his story: he had his fortune told when he was a kid that he would have a successful career but a cursed love life. Both his wives had died shortly after marriage. He was also born with a headache (migraine) condition that no doctor could treat until one day his grandfather's pendant fell on his head and the migraine disappeared. She reminds him he still gets his splitting headaches though. She's skeptical on things like fate. She believes his wives must have a died for their reason, and not because of his curse. As she's talking she suddenly faints (she's poisoned) and dreams out loud calling out her mother. He hugs her, calming her down but the ceiling starts crumbling down on them. Fortunately his men are outside and save them in time. When she wakes up in the morning she's already in her room. She goes to find Xiao Song to make sure he's okay, but she won't admit that she was worried about him.
[Ep9] Are all the cases going to end with the criminal sitting down and revisiting every detail of their crime?

[Ep10] Coincidentally when RY's sister makes fun of her for scaring away his fiancé, SF shows up.

SF: Will you give me another chance? Let's be together (let's date).

RY walks out with him right in front of XS

Meanwhile XS is too busy tracking down the whereabouts of this pearl. But of course, he uses another case to tie her down to him. She wants him to pretend to be his wife to seduce another man. Her reward: all the golden accessories. Deal done.
[Ep11] Within the same episode, SF saves her twice.... First time, she asks him how he knew where she was. Uh cause he’s your assassin. Second time, they're both wet from the rain after saving her so he gets (half) naked. RY stares in awe at him.

RY: I’ve examined so many bodies but I’ve never seen such a perfect one. She’s comparing him to her corpses, ha

SF goes in for a kiss, but she resists. 

There's another almost kiss scene with Xiao Song.

XS being docile: I’m afraid I’m already in love with you -pause- I like you -goes in for a kiss-

She resists as well (but less??). It's a joke though. He teases her for falling for his lies. He demands her to reveal where she went last night and why she’s wearing SF’s clothes. She doesn’t answer him so he imprisons her (he’s actually protecting her). But, uh,  what happened that night between the drunk XS and the RY's sister?
[Ep12] SF saves her for the nth time. We learn that one of those times it was because XS called him over but SF purposely omitted that detail.
[Ep13] XS and SF are on another undercover mission: they're a couple having an affair. This gives him a chance to hug her and he’s loving it.
[Ep14] Guess what? SF saves her again, this time risking his life for her. How will XS ever win her over if he keeps saving her like this? I like the case this time. They solve a Snow White Blood Sucking Ghost murder case who hunts on cheating men and home wreckers.

[Ep15] When Ran Yan learns SF saved her yet again, she runs to him and gives him a sweet peck. He returns with a strong hug. Their feelings reciprocate.

I was very curious what happened this night too

It’s Ran Father’s birthday and RY finally gets an invite for the first time in twelve years. Xiao Song crafted her invite, apparently. His motive unknown. Su Fu didn’t know she would appear. Her parents take this chance to discuss their marriage until (Cui) Sang Chen barges in to ask for her hand in marriage. Xiao Song happily takes advantage of this and organizes an impromptu competition between her two suitors. It’s a tie, but wait, Xiao Song says he’s the winner because neither men could answer his last question. Ha. 無賴. Therefore he has the last say in her marriage. Unfortunately, his merry moment ends when Ran Yan’s sister (Ran Mei Yu) claims she’s pregnant with his child. XS asks for RY’s opinion which she tells him he should certainly take responsibility (she's sounding just a tad fed up).

“Xiao Ren Yu” comes in at the nick of time to bump into her as she's running away from her chasers. He randomly gives her a present: it's another jade fox. I want her jade fox collection. He asks for a present in return, she's got nothing and so he wants a hug instead. After she leaves, he tells his subordinates to protect her secretly. [She's the only one who  calls him Xiao Ren Yu which directly translates to Xiao Man Fish. And he's the only one who keeps calling her "Hu Li" which means Fox]

[Ep16] RY knocks on XS’s doors at midnight to demand for her corpse back. It’s her mother’s. Well, he'll let her examine it depending on his mood. Thus she goes from pouring him tea to massaging him to his sleep. It doesn't take a lot of effort from her as she easily gets her wish to examine her mother's body. What does it feel like to examine your own mother’s corpse? And then burning it? And then finding all these bruises? Well, that’s what RY is going though to solve her mother’s “apparent suicide.” As she closes in on the truth behind the bracelet her mother left her, she’s ambushed and knocked unconscious.
[Ep17] XS princess carries RY out of the Ran manor (that’s full of spies). After the concussion she got, RY’s gone crazy. Or she’s pretending to be. At this moment, Su Manor cancels their marriage (without Su Fu's consent). This is the first time SF doesn’t come in time to save her. Finally. Meanwhile XS is trying his best to recover RY’s memories and he suddenly confesses out of exasperation.

XS: I fell in love with you.

The following day he prepares wedding gifts to the Ran manor to ask for a certain Ran’s daughter's marriage: Ran Yan. He exposes the step mother’s scheme to get her daughter, Ran Mei Yu married. That night nothing actually happened with Ran Mei Yu (because no matter what she does, she’s not his little fox). XS declares that the only woman he'll ever marry is RY. Aw.

Night falls and it’s their wedding night.

XS whispers in her ears: I will use my entire life to cherish you, my little fox. The sky is my witness. Never will I break this promise. 

She continues to feign her craziness and runs to her room. She find poison in XS’s drink, switches it to a safer medication but somehow XS is still poisoned. (She’s being threatened with the abduction of Wan Yu, her maid, hence why she cannot tell XS there’s poison in his drink.) Even if all the evidence points to RY poisoning XS, he still loves her nonetheless.

XS to Bai Yi:  Even if I die, you have to use your life to protect her.

XS and RY have such loyal servants: Wan Lu is saved but all she cares about is the safety of her mistress; meanwhile Bai Yi risks his life to protect his master. Bai Yi is by far the best looking guy in this drama. I really like the male leads but their visuals in this drama are terrible, lol.

[Ep18] RY brings XS back from the dead.

RY: It’s me who saved you, you better return me my money. 

She woefully tells him she lied to him about being crazy but XS doesn’t care.

XS: As long as you’re okay - holds her face - 

But she takes his hand away. I almost forgot they’re actually married. She promises SF that she’ll leave Xiao Song after he heals and after they solve who’s the murderer of her mother.

[Ep19] XS weaves a large web to capture two criminal: stepmom and Su Fu (also known as Assassin “Li”). Step mom is part of Nei Wei Men (the evil clan XS is investigating) and SF is part of the Huo Qi Society (another evil sect...). Both of them want this pearl that RY's mother kept. Her mother had cleverly set up a plan that allowed her daughter to safely reach the age of 18. Like mother, like daughter; both so clever.

Stepmom confesses to the murder of her mother. Su Fu is also caught red handed for scheming to get the pearl. RY refuses to believe this and uses her life to protect SF. Being his only weakness, XS frees them both. Except she learns that XS was right all along, SF only befriended her to find the whereabouts of the pearl. RY breaks up with him.

It’s also time for XS to leave to Chang An. He gives her two dolls, a bride and a groom, as farewell presents. As well as divorce papers. The choice to sign it is in her hands. If she signs it, she’ll be free. If she doesn’t, she’ll still be Madam Xiao, XS’s lawful bride. We doesn't sign it (yet); she also follow XS to Chang An. I like the way this story is evolving. We're done with one chapter and we've moved on to a new journey. She's done with Su Fu, and has hopefully moved on to Xiao Song.

[Ep20] XS knows of her arrival and covers all her food cost and designs her manor to look like her old manor. He even bought her a dress to wear. RY knows none of this; she thinks her brother (cousin) prepared everything. XS even gets jealous of her brother for how close they are.

After some misunderstandings, she’s arrested and needs XS’s help. Although XS knows her dire situation, he waits patiently for her cry for help. As she's begging for his help, she reminds him she’s his legal wife. That’s exactly what he wanted to hear. :D

In return for his help, she works for him for free. He's finally got the upperhand. And together they go to solve another case. But there’s another Da Li Si constable who's come to oversee the case, it’s Su Fu! He’s alive and, well, leveled up (look at his clothes). His appearance makes XS jealous again especially when RY is deliberately hiding the fact that she's his wife. A jealous XS sends her back to jail. Lol.

[Ep21] If he can't tie her heart down, might as well tie the person...and then work bit by bit to get her heart. He gives her favourite dessert for her to eat. So he's been carrying that pouch of snacks the entire time.

RY faints (falls asleep standing) from work overload. Should I be worried she keeps fainting? Will this have anything to do with his so called "curse" -_- He unleashes her chains and piggybacks her.

XS: Fox, you coming to Chang An truly makes me happy. I will wait for you (she's already physically there, but her heart isn't). I like you this much, you can't tell at all? 

He was about to kiss her but her brother comes in. Good. I don't want a kiss when she's unconscious and what happened to waiting?
[Ep22] I don't get where Su Fu's alliance is. He's never done anything that has truly harmed either XS or RY. This time he even cleverly helps XS. On another note, SF is finally not her saviour all the time. Thank you, got so tired of saying SF saved her.
[Ep23] RY confesses to her brother that she's confused whether he wants to be with XS is because she owes him too much or because she likes him. At least she's thinking about him. Meanwhile, XS is always thinking about her. When her sister's admirer schemes to destroy RY's maiden reputation, only XS immediately stands at her side. SF just watches from the sideline. However both men do take revenge for her. Only XS was way more brutal at it.

[Ep24] RY's smart enough to connect the dots and realizes XS was the one who provided all the hospitality since her arrival to Chang An. Her brother asks her about XS: "Do you not love him, or are you too afraid to love him?" RY doesn't know how to answer him. Meanwhile SF is outside her home, silently promising her that he'll always protect her. He follows her out as she aimlessly walks on the street. She suddenly cries. I don't get why. Then she falls into her deep sleep again. This sleepiness of hers is very worrisome.

Sang Chen comes to propose (he thinks he took RY's innocence) but is immediately rejected. This guy has a strong heart, his proposal was rejected twice. 

We also learn about XS's two wives. The first one died the night of the wedding. The second one died a month later. He apparently doted on his second wife. Hearing this, RY seems to be quite jealous.

XS’s grandmother and family comes into the picture. His family sneers at RY for being poor wife material and that angers RY to demand a proper wedding for her because she’s XS’s rightful and lawful wife. She even calls XS a fish right in front of the family. That’s not how you impress your husband's family lol. Nonetheless XS is smitten by her accepting her rightful position. Except it's all fake. She just wants to investigate the deaths of his previous wives. When he pulls her into his lap to discuss their deal, she just obediently sits there.

SF kidnaps RY the wedding night but she confesses to him her marriage is fake. And so, she safely returns home to be wed to XS. I love the small conversation XS and RY have on their wedding night. He prepared her favourite little snacks for her during their wedding. Third marriage time's the charm.

[Ep26] XS solves one of his wives death. However both RY and his grandmother were poisoned during the investigation. The latter passed away. To protect RY, he does his noble thing and pushes her away, claiming he only used RY as a substitute to his ex-wife. She’s angry but her brother reminds her if he really loved his ex-wife, why did he give his family’s heirloom to RY and not his ex-wife? I think I missed the scene when he gave the heirloom. Realizing his intentions, RY goes hunting for his man. She barges in on him with other women and gives him a present. It’s a real fish. She takes out her knife, it’s not to slice the fish, but to threaten the women from laying a single hair on her man’s body. XS lies there, smiling at his woman. Again, she’s doing it just to help him investigate. Ugh.

XS: Fox, you already announced that I'm yours. If you don't want me, no one else will dare to want me. What should I do then? 

She wants to take back her words but there’s no refund. Their little almost-lovemaking is interrupted when a bandit tries to steal his (fake) pearl. We learn from the bandit that the second wife killed the first wife in order to attain the pearl located inside XS's family.

Knowing the pearl is with XS, SF uses RY's weakness to him to make her steal the pearl from XS. Alright, I guess this is the show's way of making me completely give up on SF. His alliance is with his evil clan even if it means he has to betray RY's love for him. That night she returns home (Xiao manor. XS planned a romantic event for her: a room filled with beautiful fireflies just for her.

XS: Fox, don't leave. I will continue to wait for you until you won't leave.
RY: What if you won't be able to wait (that long)?
XS: Then I won't marry another for the rest of my life.
RY: What if I wronged you. What would you do?
XS: Hmmm....I'll cook you. (I think he's trying to find the cutest way to punish her) But I care too much about you,  I can't - kisses her on the cheek -
RY: I want to drink alcohol.  

XS is startled: You won't to steal my clothes again?
RY: What? You're scared?
XS: I... - laughs-

[Ep27] RY betrays XS. And he takes her punishment for her. But this involve the palace and he can't take all her blame. Knowing nothing, RY returns happily to tell him something (I guess she didn't fully betray him? Or betray him at all?) but he's too angry to hear any of it. He enacts the punishment he was ordered to give her. The palace also demands he divorce her.

Meanwhile Su Fu did sacrifice for her in exchange for her safety. He's taken this poison that causes immense pain with no antidote, just ongoing treatment. He used her but also protected her. Was it worth it? Because now she wants nothing of him anymore. She's finally realized she's in love with XS.

[Ep30] RY’s brother is kidnapped. When she's hit a dead end, she can only think of XS for help. She prepares a puppet show depicting their (love) life together but XS thinks she’s doing this just to help SF solve his case. XS appears mean to her but he’s actually nice to her. Or he can’t help but be nice to her: he makes her drunk so he can secretly save her brother.

[Ep31] XS saves RY when she's arrested by the Princess (while saving SF). Only for her to be caught again by Princess’s delusional stalker. XS and SF work together to save her but SF has another motive: to kill XS. It’s like the show wants me to hate SF and then give me a reason not to but then makes me hate him again. All these whiplashes. At the brink of her death, RY says some pretty emotional stuff about her woeful love life. XS is finally starting to believe RY may actually like him. Even his dad is supportive of their relationship and returns the family heirloom RY had left with him.

Side note: SF’s mysterious Huo Qi female leader reveals herself; it’s XS’s caring auntie.

[Ep32] RY finds refuge in XS’s bedroom while she’s on the wanted list for murdering the Emperor’s beloved consort (with a swarm of butterflies). He does everything to hide her presence. Now he gets to have her all to himself. They’re happy again! How? But okay. I’m also not used to RY’s sister being nice. RY’s also suspicious of her. The sister claims that after dad’s death her only family is her. Hm.

[Ep33] XS drags her "home", his home, their home. He makes her sleep in this crib like of a bed, her fox hut. That night she watches him sleep snickering at him for not knowing how to show he cares.

Someone give Bai Yi a couple other than Sang Cheng :D

Bai Yi even risks his life to save Sang Chen.

Now that BY's unconscious, the two men Sang Chen and Xiao Song are worried to death. As if one problem isn't enough, RY is framed for another murder by her sister. Mei Yu even kills the teacher ):. She successfully threatens XS to marry her to save RY.

[Ep34] And here we go again with the noble idiot thing where XS makes RY heartbroken so she can move on. But he finally discovers RY never betrayed him; she never stole the sacred pearl for SF. Meanwhile RY is suspicious why XS suddenly changed his attitude towards her. Will these two overcome the noble idiocy? Yes! She confidently objects Mei Yu’s and Xiao Song’s marriage right in front of the Emperor declaring how much he loves her. I find it funny how she’s not declaring her own love but his love towards her.

RY: I, Ran Yan, forever and ever and ever and ever will only be your, Xiao Song's, wife. I won't allow you to marry someone else. If I haven't died, you are not allowed to marry someone else and even if I die, you must wait for me in your next life. 

Their lovely moment is short lived as XS becomes the prime suspect of usurping the king. Luckily RY smartly ousts her sister who later commits suicide to conceal the real mastermind.

Funeral services are held for RY’s teacher, the only fatherly figure in her life. She remains strong but breaks down when she sees XS. He’s prepared (another) firework show for her. By the way, he escaped prison for one night just to comfort her.

XS: You still have me. From now on I’ll permit you to bully me (in place of teacher).

[Ep35] SF is so heartbroken he’s turned mad. Meanwhile the madly in love XS and RY are separated by life and death: XS’s corpse is discovered. Yes, he did "die". Heartbroken, RY commits suicide atop of his unbreathing body. It took all of SF’s strength to separate the two. Romeo and Juliet? XS actually poisoned himself to appear dead and luckily RY is still alive to cure XS’s poison. When Bai Yi sees his master is alive and healthy, the two men come into an embrace. This wasn't the couple I was asking for, show. But okay. Let BY get some love. RY stands aside like she's the thirdwheeler.

[Ep36] Correction: SF didn’t turn mad, he turned into a puppet under the evil lady’s control. The poison he took makes him suffer immense pain once he loves too much. Once that pain takes over he’ll become a puppet with no mind of his own. Although it's the evil lady, XS’s auntie, who controls SF, she isn’t the true mastermind of Huo Qi, it’s actually RY’s brother. I wasn’t expecting that. The brother’s motive: to take over the throne with the help of the sacred pearl. What is this sacred pearl you may ask? It is the magical key to open the throne and gain immense power. A whole lot of hocus pocus. The brother's plan would have dethroned the current Emperor if XS hadn't predicted his every move. With no where else to flee, the brother plans to suicide bomb himself with RY. Why her and not the Emperor?? SF comes back to his senses (y’know cause poison to him is no sweat) and dies in place of RY...

After peace is restored, the Emperor rewards everyone except Ran Yan because of her brother’s crime. The edict also prohibits XS and RY from seeing each other again. When night falls, there's another firework show (I've lost count how many they've seen fireworks together). He gives her a back hug and they stay like that. I guess that's their way of obeying the edict of not seeing other, cause they can't really. He tells her goodbye and wishes her happiness.

A year later. She's back at her hometown and is a renowned coroner. She carries her fox jade everywhere. It's not just her thinking of him, he's been secretly investigating her all along. In that  secret memo it details her many pursuers. Except she doesn't have any... So who's lying? Anyways, her popularity bothers him and XS can't wait a second longer to capture his little fox. It's not hard thought because she comes running into his arms, and they finally kiss. The end. Sooooooo what happens to the royal edict?? Are we just going to throw that out of the window now?

Remarks

First Impression (Ep1): I'm looking forward to this cast. I've never seen Zhou Jie Qiong (KyulKyung) in a drama but I trust her to do well. Meanwhile all the men in this drama I've seen and quite like. I don't think the drama is doing justice on Pei Zi Tian with that awful hairdo. Li Cheng Bing is looking good though. Loved the tone of the first episode. 

Ending: It's a happy ending but it's not free of flaws. The most unfortunate character award goes to Su Fu. His character just got thrown into the garbage at Episode 19 once RY drops him. How can there be no one mentioning anything of him after that scene in the last episode? Yes, his character did give me whiplashes, one moment he's good and the next he's bad, but he always chose RY in the end, well almost always. The one time he doesn't is the time he lost her. SF doesn't deserve to die like a sacrifice to move the plot. Did the drama ever clarify his background (why’s he loyal to Huo Qi?), or did I miss it? And did the drama explain how XS and RY can overcome the royal edict, or do I just have to imagine these two incredible people will find a way out of it somehow someway? 

Review: Overall, it's a solid drama. However, it's not something I would say is a must-watch. It felt like the drama was missing a soul if that makes any sense. It just felt like everything was "acted". I never felt emotionally attached to it. Zhou Jie Qiong delivers her lines well but her emotional scenes are really lacking, which really sucks because I wanted to like her. Saw her since Produce 101. She's so hardworking but she was under such a crappy agency that sabotaged her group's success Also, unfortunate for Li Cheng Bing because I wanted him to rock his first male lead. It just fell a little short of expectation on his end too. Flat chemistry with Zhou Jie Qiong with a lot of repeated moves (i.e. the back hug firework scenes). His character didn't have the depth I was hoping for but I still did enjoy the smart and cocky XS who only loves his little fox. 

Verdict: I like it but I don't love it. As a whole the drama is satisfying to watch: there's a cute love story of a man who slowly wins the love of his life; there are cases that are unique and unpredictable at times. I also do have a soft spot for Li Cheng Bing. 

P.S. I really do want her fox collection. 

Rating: 3/5