Coroner's Diary (朝雪录)

Based on Bu Yue Qian Zhuang’s novel “Authority and Favor: The Forensic Princess,” Coroner’s Diary follows Shen Wan (Li Lan Di), a young woman trained in the Medicine King’s Valley who witnesses her parents’ brutal murder. To survive and uncover the truth, she assumes the identity of Qin Wan, the late daughter of a close family friend. Back in the capital, she uses her exceptional medical and forensic skills to solve gruesome cases alongside Yan Chi (Ao Rui Peng), the son of the Prince of Rui, who is similarly seeking to overturn a wrongful conviction connected to Shen Wan’s father. Together, they navigate deadly conspiracies, palace intrigue, and a complex romance, all while pursuing the perpetrators behind the massacre of Shen Wan’s family.

The 38-episode series can be broadly divided into four main story arcs based on the protagonist’s evolving journey:

• Act 1: Escape, New Identity & Entry to Investigation (Episodes 1-9): Shen Wan’s family is ambushed and murdered. Assuming the identity of Qin Wan, she endures a year of seclusion before seizing an opportunity to treat the sick Grand Princess and gain entry to high society. Her debut case is the “Headless Bride” murder, during which she demonstrates her forensic skills to Yan Chi for the first time.
• Act 2: Unit Cases & Building of Trust (Episodes 10-25): The investigative partnership between Qin Wan and Yan Chi becomes established. They tackle a series of dark and shocking cases, each spanning about 4-5 episodes, including the “Well Buried Body Case,” where Qin Wan emotionally confronts the system for its failures. During this time, Yan Chi confesses his feelings for Qin Wan, marking a turning point in their romance.
• Act 3: Approaching the Truth & Capital Intrigue (Episodes 26-32): As Qin Wan gains more notoriety, her investigations start to circle back to the case that killed her parents and the politically sensitive “Prince of Jin Case,” which is also Yan Chi’s focus. She secretly accesses case files and becomes more directly entangled with the palace’s political factions. The “Seven Layers of Hell Case” unfolds, deepening the link between current horrors and past conspiracies.
• Act 4: Confrontation, Resolution & Final Reckoning (Episodes 33-38): Qin Wan closes in on the masterminds behind her family’s massacre. The final revelations tie directly to secrets hidden within the palace, bringing about a climactic confrontation. After overcoming these challenges and bringing the true perpetrators to justice, the mystery is solved, leading to a satisfying resolution for the main characters and the final closure of the revenge arc.