Treasure at Dawn Episode 1 Recap
> Treasure at Dawn Recap
In the medical clinic, patients and even a rat collapsed in agony, poisoned. One person tried desperately to escape the building but was ruthlessly blocked from doing so. Outside, a simple farmer struggled to break free from Fu Sheng, also known as Crazy Fu, who eventually subdued him with an anesthetic. However, Fu Sheng then turned his attention to the farmer’s ox, which had eaten poisonous feed, and, showing unexpected compassion, saved the animal.
Upon waking and learning the truth, the farmer expressed his profound gratitude to Fu Sheng. Despite this act of kindness, word spread through the city about Fu Sheng’s bizarre methods, causing residents to avoid him. A local storyteller further fueled the public’s apprehension, recounting how five years prior, Fu Sheng, while studying under a wandering physician, became obsessed with dissecting cadavers.
To prevent him from getting into trouble, his father, Physician Fu, secured him a clerk position at the county office to officially examine unnatural deaths, cementing his reputation as "Crazy Fu" who treated the dead. Fu Sheng, however, maintained that his actions were for the pursuit of knowledge. Meanwhile, Wen Jue, a princess from Xichuan and an envoy, arrived in Shangyi disguised as a man. She swiftly sought out Fu Sheng, describing her severe migraine symptoms.
Fu Sheng calmly administered an acupuncture needle, causing her to fall into a deep sleep. Her attendant, alarmed, cautioned Fu Sheng that she was a special envoy from Xichuan. Fu Sheng explained that the treatment caused her Qi and blood to surge to her head, assuring them she would wake after a restful sleep. He instructed her escorts to direct her to his residence if she sought him after waking, then hurried off.
Upon returning to his clinic, Fu Sheng was horrified to find his father and all the other physicians sitting motionless, already dead. Wen Jue awoke shortly after, angered by being forcibly put to sleep. She rushed to the clinic to confront Fu Sheng, only to discover the lifeless bodies of the physicians. A frantic butler immediately informed County Magistrate Yang of the mass poisoning, also revealing Princess Wen Jue's unexpected involvement.
Eager to swiftly close the case and avoid implications for the powerful Princess, Magistrate Yang unjustly blamed Fu Sheng, coercing him to sign a confession. During the interrogation, Fu Sheng denied having the motive to poison the physicians, especially his own father. The aide, acting on Magistrate Yang’s behalf, argued that Fu Sheng’s father had prevented him from practicing medicine, providing a possible motive.
Just as Wen Jue arrived, incensed by the aide's attempt to hastily close the case, an urgent message arrived: Magistrate Yang's wife was in difficult labor. With all other physicians dead, the midwife, recognizing Fu Sheng's unique abilities, desperately had him brought to the county residence. At the residence, Magistrate Yang's wife lay unconscious and bleeding profusely.
Fu Sheng quickly assessed her critical condition, informing the anxious Magistrate Yang that her narrow pelvis, combined with rapidly depleting amniotic fluid, meant a traditional birth would result in the death of both mother and child. His mental simulation confirmed the baby was breech, necessitating a life-or-death Cesarean section. Magistrate Yang, desperate, agreed to the drastic measure, promising no interruptions. Fu Sheng, requesting a steady hand, was surprised when Wen Jue, despite her earlier anger, volunteered to assist.
He quickly instructed her on how to hold the incision open, cut the umbilical cord, and remove the baby. Wen Jue questioned if he was not afraid, noting Magistrate Yang would be furious if anything went wrong. Fu Sheng simply stated that human lives were at stake. Together, they successfully performed the pioneering surgery, delivering a healthy baby boy. Overjoyed and immensely grateful, Magistrate Yang thanked Fu Sheng profusely, who then provided instructions for the mother's post-operative care.
Meanwhile, Gu Tian, known as Greedy Gu, was performing at an inn, reciting verses about Xichuan's immense wealth, particularly its "Star gold." He boasted of having visited Xichuan, possessing a residence permit, and displayed a bounty order from the Jibei Chamber of Commerce for various treasures, promising wealth to those who completed the mission. This spectacle drew much attention. Shortly after, Ruan Changfeng, a wealthy and influential figure, arrived in Shangyi also searching for the "Bird Jade Plate."
His subordinate reported that the physicians possessing the plate were already dead, suspecting another party had committed the murders, possibly related to a similar Xichuan bounty. Gu Tian, holding a drawing of the jade plate, approached Ruan Changfeng, demanding double the bounty for his help, which Ruan Changfeng raised to triple. Gu Tian admitted he had only seen the plate's image on a bounty order.
When threatened, Gu Tian leveraged his extensive knowledge of Shangyi, boasting that if he couldn't find the plate, no one could. Impressed, Ruan Changfeng agreed to cooperate, and Gu Tian provided a list of all physicians' addresses for them to search. Gu Tian began his investigation by looking into Fu Sheng but soon learned he had been arrested for the physicians' murders.
This news stirred a memory of a past encounter: earlier that day, Fu Sheng, while fleeing a brothel madam over his father's unpaid debts, had bumped into Gu Tian. Fu Sheng was frustrated when Gu Tian, invoking the principle of "a son pays his father's debts," blocked his escape. During their scuffle, Gu Tian accidentally knocked over Fu Sheng's medicine box, getting drugged and subsequently apprehended by the madam. This memorable incident deepened Gu Tian's interest in Fu Sheng.
To aid Fu Sheng, Gu Tian brought two witnesses to the county yamen. The first, an inn kitchen assistant, testified that Fu Sheng’s father had reserved a meal for noon. Around 12:30 PM, she encountered Fu Sheng returning from collecting herbs and accompanied him toward the clinic, where they met Wen Jue.
Wen Jue confirmed that Fu Sheng had put her to sleep and recounted her timeline: Fu Sheng left her at 1:00 PM, she woke up at 1:15 PM, and reached the clinic about 7. 5 minutes later. She highlighted that the narrow time window made it impossible for Fu Sheng to commit the murders. The aide suggested Fu Sheng could have premeditated the poisoning. Then, the farmer testified that earlier that morning, Fu Sheng had performed surgery on his ox.
Fu Sheng then accompanied him to his village, performed an autopsy on a deceased villager, and determined he died from monkshood poisoning. The farmer confirmed Fu Sheng left the village at 10:00 AM. Wen Jue concluded that Fu Sheng’s unhurried timeline contradicted the idea of him being the perpetrator. Despite these testimonies, the aide continued to push for Fu Sheng’s guilt to protect the Princess.
As Magistrate Yang remained unconvinced, Fu Sheng, having saved the Magistrate's wife and child, seized the opportunity. He knelt, pleading to be entrusted with the investigation. He argued that as the county clerk, examining bodies was his duty; as a son, he sought vengeance; and as the prime suspect, no one had a stronger desire to uncover the truth and prove his innocence.
