Dr. Cutie Episode 7 Recap
> Dr. Cutie Recap
Dr. Tian and her master, Ding Zhi, were discussing the "spirit turtle" that saved her from drowning, describing it as ugly and terrifying. Unbeknownst to them, Ji Heng was listening behind a rockery. Angered by her ungracious description of his appearance, especially after he himself had jumped into the water to save her, Ji Heng decided to tease her. He ordered Dr. Tian to summon the divine creature.
Dr. Tian, holding a basket of dried fish, began tossing them into the pond, desperately praying for the spirit turtle to appear as her life depended on it. Soon, Madame Shu, her brother, and other onlookers arrived, curious to see the fabled creature. As Dr. Tian grew increasingly anxious, a small turtle finally surfaced. Dr. Tian presented the palm-sized turtle to Ji Heng, much to the amusement of the crowd who mocked its small stature.
However, Ji Heng came to her rescue, identifying the creature as a rare Turtle Ze from the State of Dala, a sacred animal whose shell bore the character "Wang" (King). He declared it a descendant of the true spirit turtle and entrusted Dr. Tian with its care. Later that night, the maid Muzhu attempted to flee but was intercepted by Zhijin, Madame Shu's personal maid.
Muzhu desperately pleaded, revealing that she had been instructed to convince Sun Dali to kill Dr. Tian, but instead, Sun Dali had been killed. She expressed fear that Madame Shu would not spare her, having done and known too much. Zhijin confirmed Muzhu's fears, stating that knowing too much was precisely why she had to die, and ordered her drowned. News of Muzhu's death quickly spread throughout the mansion.
Ding Zhi informed Dr. Tian, who was surprised to learn that Muzhu had been Sun Dali's lover. Ding Zhi further revealed that Muzhu had previously served Madame Shu before being demoted to the embroidery workshop, suggesting she might have made the clothes they were wearing. This revelation sparked a realization in Dr. Tian: Muzhu could have been the one who planted the "deadly cure" in her belt.
Meanwhile, Ji Zheng, who had been secretly observing Dr. Tian under Ji Heng's orders, instructed his subordinates to discreetly investigate Muzhu's identity. He also noted Dr. Tian praying to a flower pot, musing that she was desperate. Driven to uncover the truth, Dr. Tian disguised herself as a maid and went to Muzhu's former living quarters. Pretending to be Muzhu's distraught hometown sister, she successfully obtained Muzhu's embroidery and personal effects, claiming they were for a cenotaph.
As she hurried away, she accidentally bumped into Ji Heng. Thinking quickly, she feigned adoration for him to deflect suspicion and made her escape. Ji Heng, however, found her behavior suspicious and noted a familiar, complex scent from her, ordering his guards to apprehend her. Dr. Tian managed to evade capture and quickly changed back into her doctor's attire. Back in her room, she and Ding Zhi meticulously examined Muzhu's belongings.
They found numerous heavily scented sachets, leading Dr. Tian to deduce that the strong fragrances were meant to mask another, more potent odor. Their diligent search paid off when they discovered a packet of "deadly cure" powder hidden within one of the sachets. Ji Zheng promptly reported these findings to Ji Heng, including Dr. Tian's ingenious method of disguising herself as a maid to gather evidence, which impressed Ji Heng.
Ji Heng then realized that the "suspicious maid" he had encountered earlier was indeed Dr. Tian, explaining the familiar scent. Dr. Tian, meanwhile, grappled with whether to reveal everything to Ji Heng. Suddenly, a masked figure claiming to be the flower angel, Ji Zheng in disguise, appeared in her room. He revealed he had been watching her for days and offered to help her out of her predicament if she entrusted him with the evidence.
Desperate, Dr. Tian handed over the sachet. The "flower angel" also advised her that Ji Heng was kinder than she thought and that her loyalty could save her life. Ji Zheng reported to Ji Heng that the fabric used for Muzhu's sachet was leftover from tribute silk once gifted to Madame Shu by Ji Heng's father. This deepened their suspicion that Madame Shu was involved.
They connected this to events eight years prior when Ji Heng's father was rescued during the suppression of Dong Mountain Village, and Madame Shu was subsequently taken into the Ji Mansion. Ji Heng and Ji Zheng now suspected Madame Shu was, in fact, Liao Shuyi, a missing prominent figure from Dong Mountain Village, and speculated that Dong Zichun, her childhood sweetheart, might also still be alive, implying a long-simmering revenge plot.
Ji Heng then confronted Dr. Tian in her room, observing the missing rhododendron pot which had been symbolic of her deadline to solve the case. He began plucking the petals of a flower, seemingly deliberating her fate. Panicked, Dr. Tian, despite having given the evidence to the "flower angel," blurted out her suspicion of Madame Shu.
She explained that Madame Shu had inquired about the injury to the back of her head, a detail known only to Sun Dali and the true mastermind, thus implicating Madame Shu. Ji Heng, already aware of much of this, allowed her to rest, signaling that her life was safe. Soon after, Sheng Anhuai reported that Madame Shu, now identified as Liao Shuyi, had nervously left the mansion but returned looking despondent.
Ji Heng deduced that this was an attempt to meet Dong Zichun, who had recognized and evaded Ji Heng's trap. He ordered Xishou Court sealed and Ji Zheng to investigate Liao Shuyi's movements. Simultaneously, Dong Zichun was revealed to be alive, discussing their revenge plot and acknowledging Liao Shuyi's inevitable decision. Rumors spread among the servants that Ji Heng had identified Madame Shu as the murderer, confined her to Xishou Court, and imprisoned her maids.
Realizing Ji Heng already knew the truth, Dr. Tian was summoned. Recalling the "flower angel's" advice, she confessed her knowledge of the poison in her belt and her fear-driven decision to destroy the belt without reporting it. Ji Heng then produced the sachet with the "deadly cure," proving he possessed the evidence all along.
Before he could question her further about her delayed confession, Liao Shuyi committed suicide in Xishou Court, thwarting Ji Heng's plan to use her to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy. However, Ji Heng was now certain that Dr. Tian was not involved in the infanta's murder, giving him a reason to spare her life.
