I'm a Pet At Dali Temple Episode 3 Recap
> I'm a Pet At Dali Temple Recap
Ru Xiaolan was caught by the Crown Prince while secretly eating peaches. Startled, she hid on the ground. When questioned about her identity, she quickly explained she had done nothing wrong and merely "accidentally took this peach," offering to return it. Qing Moyan arrived and introduced her as Ru Xiaolan, the new medical officer from Dali Temple, apologizing for her lack of knowledge regarding palace rules.
He prompted Ru Xiaolan to greet the Crown Prince, which she did, apologizing for her mistake. The Crown Prince, unfazed, told her not to walk alone due to recent incidents in the palace and allowed her to keep the peach. As the Crown Prince and Qing Moyan were conversing, a subordinate arrived with news that the maid attacked the previous night, A'ran, had regained consciousness. A'ran identified Zhi'er as the killer who murdered the guard.
Zhi'er was then brought before them. When questioned by the Crown Prince, Zhi'er admitted that the blood-stained hairpin found at the crime scene belonged to her, but she vehemently denied committing the murder. The Crown Prince, convinced by the eyewitness testimony and evidence, intended to immediately execute Zhi'er. However, Qing Moyan suspected deeper complexities in the case and interceded, requesting to take Zhi'er to Dali Temple for interrogation.
The Crown Prince granted him three days to solve the case, warning that failure would result in Qing Moyan's immediate removal from Dali Temple. Qing Moyan accepted the challenge and ordered Xuan Yu to transport Zhi'er to Dali Temple, despite her continued pleas of innocence. Ru Xiaolan noticed that Zhi'er also wore a five-color stone, which immediately piqued her interest.
She approached Xuan Yu, pleading for his help to visit Zhi'er in prison, explaining that she only wanted to see the suspect for a moment and would not cause trouble. Xuan Yu, however, refused her request, fearing Qing Moyan's disapproval and reminding her of her previous unauthorized wandering. Ru Xiaolan, determined to acquire a five-color stone, stole Qing Moyan's and attempted to use her Yin and Yang techniques to seal its power, hoping it would help her return home.
Qing Moyan discovered her actions and demanded the stone back, questioning her knowledge of Yin and Yang and her connection to the stone, implying she was a "monster." Ru Xiaolan denied practicing Yin and Yang and explained she only stole the stone because she didn't know how else to find her way home. She also revealed that she and her grandfather used Yin and Yang power to "cast out demons for others and sell some peach wood lucky charms."
Skeptical of her explanation and concerned about her potential misuse of Yin and Yang power, Qing Moyan forbade her from leaving Dali Temple without his permission, effectively confining her there. Ru Xiaolan questioned why he continued to treat her like a criminal. Shortly after Zhi'er was imprisoned, a subordinate reported that she had escaped. In her empty cell, Ru Xiaolan noticed a suspicious spider, but Qing Moyan pulled her away before she could investigate further.
Qing Moyan noted that Zhi'er's escape from such tight security suggested she was no ordinary person. Later, when Qing Moyan was again warning Ru Xiaolan to stay out of Zhi'er's case, reiterating that Zhi'er was a dangerous criminal and her escape was a serious matter, Ru Xiaolan protested, citing Zhi'er's five-color stone as crucial for her own journey home. Their argument was interrupted by a sudden thunderstorm. Terrified of the lightning and thunder, Ru Xiaolan instinctively clung to Qing Moyan.
Although he initially tried to push her away, calling her "overreacting," her profound fear, which she explained by mentioning her grandfather's comforting presence during storms, eventually moved him. Seeing her genuine distress, Qing Moyan tenderly cupped her face, offering comfort. Meanwhile, in the East Palace, the Crown Prince was discussing the recent murders with the Empress, who had come to express her concern and urge caution.
Their conversation was interrupted by a panicked report that all the guards outside had been killed. Coincidentally, Zhi'er suddenly reappeared in A'ran's room, confronting her and demanding to know why she had been framed. A terrified A'ran screamed for help, summoning the Crown Prince. However, by the time the Crown Prince and his guards entered the room, Zhi'er had once again mysteriously vanished.
Ru Xiaolan, convinced that Zhi'er was a monster and linked to the escalating murders, realized the importance of Zhi'er's five-color stone for her own journey home. Enraged by the deaths of his loyal guards, many of whom had fought alongside him in wars, the Crown Prince confronted Qing Moyan, accusing Dali Temple of negligence and ordering him to immediately solve the case and apprehend the killer, threatening severe consequences if he failed.
Chang Hen instructed Ru Xiaolan to go to the market to purchase a long list of herbal tonics for Qing Moyan, who reportedly suffered from low body temperature. While on her errand, Ru Xiaolan decided to approach the Crown Prince for information about Zhi'er, reasoning that as Zhi'er's master, he might hold crucial clues. To her surprise, she soon encountered the Crown Prince out walking.
Ru Xiaolan skillfully lifted his spirits by playfully teasing his subordinate, causing the Crown Prince to smile, and then advised him to eat plenty of fish and meat. Charmed by her, the Crown Prince invited her to share a meal, which she happily accepted, insisting he pay since she had no money. Concurrently, Qing Moyan and Chang Hen conducted autopsies on the newly deceased guards from the East Palace.
They found no external wounds or signs of poisoning, but noted that all victims suffered from internal bleeding and had black blood, similar to the first murder victim. Qing Moyan, suspecting a vendetta, instructed Xuan Yu to investigate all locations the Jinwu Guards had visited with the Crown Prince, believing Zhi'er remained the prime suspect due to her mysterious disappearances within the palace. Ru Xiaolan seized the opportunity to question the Crown Prince about Zhi'er.
The Crown Prince recounted that he had taken Zhi'er in from the battlefield out of pity, but he regretted his trust in her, now believing she was the killer responsible for his guards' deaths. When Ru Xiaolan inquired if Zhi'er wore a five-color stone, the Crown Prince angrily cut her off, stating he no longer wished to speak about Zhi'er and blamed his misplaced trust for the guards' demise.
Believing the spider she saw in the prison might be connected to Zhi'er, Ru Xiaolan offered the Crown Prince a protective charm, taught to her by her grandfather, to keep him safe. Qing Moyan arrived and, witnessing the familiarity between Ru Xiaolan and the Crown Prince, was visibly jealous. He informed the Crown Prince that he had come to ensure his safety and urged him to return to the East Palace.
When the Crown Prince pushed back, Qing Moyan asserted that Ru Xiaolan was his subordinate and had neglected her duties, thus he intended to take her back to Dali Temple for punishment. However, the Crown Prince intervened, declaring his intention to take Ru Xiaolan into his palace as a maid.
Qing Moyan countered that as an important medical officer, she could only be transferred with the Empress's approval, firmly stating that until then, she would remain at Dali Temple under his supervision, preventing the Crown Prince from taking her away. Seeing the escalating tension, Ru Xiaolan tried to diffuse the situation by offering to return to Dali Temple, but Qing Moyan stopped her, asserting his claim.
