Treasure at Dawn Episode 19 Recap
> Treasure at Dawn Recap
As night fell, Sun Siming was in the stables feeding the horses when Li Zhizhuo, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, burst in, furious. Li Zhizhuo accused Sun Siming of killing a suspect and angrily asked if Sun Siming intended to kill him next. Sun Siming immediately dropped to his knees, feigning submission and claiming he would never dare to harm the Chairman.
However, as Li Zhizhuo relaxed his guard, Sun Siming grabbed a nearby water bucket and struck him, knocking him unconscious. Li Zhizhuo slowly regained consciousness, only to find himself in a shallow pit, being buried alive by Sun Siming. He frantically warned Sun Siming that the powerful forces behind him would not let him get away with murder. Just then, Liu Yunting, the Venerable Emissary, arrived. Li Zhizhuo desperately called out to her for help.
Sun Siming remained composed and calmly recounted his version of Master Lin's death. He claimed he was knocked out at the scene and awoke to find Master Lin dying, who then handed him a handkerchief and a clay ocarina, clearly implicating Li Zhizhuo in the murder. Li Zhizhuo tried to explain, but his frantic attempts only made his story more convoluted and inconsistent. Liu Yunting, observing his disarray, concluded that he was lying and, without hesitation, killed Li Zhizhuo.
She then declared that the Jibei Chamber of Commerce now belonged to Sun Siming and instructed him to bury the body. Sun Siming reveled in the thrill of power he now held. Now the new Chairman, Sun Siming ordered Li Zhizhuo's belongings removed from the premises and his own red-painted furniture brought in. One subordinate hesitated to discard Li Zhizhuo's favorite birdcage, expressing concern for Li Zhizhuo's feelings should he return.
Sun Siming, with a mocking smile, ordered the man to stand at the entrance with the birdcage indefinitely, until Li Zhizhuo returned, implying he was dead. The subordinate, understanding the grim reality, immediately addressed Sun Siming as "Chairman" and pledged his loyalty. The next day, the Chamber of Commerce buzzed with activity, decorated to celebrate Sun Siming's new position. His subordinates offered extravagant gifts, praising him as a great man.
Sun Siming acknowledged their support, promising to look after them and ensure no one under his leadership would go hungry. He also noted the absence of congratulatory messages from other Xichuan powers and affiliated shops, stating his intention to personally visit them and make his presence known. Later, at the Jinchandong mine, Sun Siming distributed gifts to the miners and reflected on his impoverished youth.
He recounted how his brother once stole a flatbread for him, only to be severely beaten and left a simpleton, a memory that fueled his insatiable desire to escape poverty. He then struck a ceremonial gong, a symbol of finding Star Gold, declaring his satisfaction in achieving what he once yearned for, displaying the arrogance of one newly empowered. Following this, Sun Siming visited the Horse Tribe (Ma Bu), whose chief was wary of him.
The chief ordered his subordinates to check the surroundings for ambushes before asking Sun Siming his purpose. Sun Siming claimed he was merely visiting to socialize. Once his subordinates confirmed no ambush, the chief relaxed and hosted a banquet for Sun Siming. Meanwhile, at the medical hall, Wen Yu, Fu Sheng, and others were discussing the Cloud-shaped Jade. Wen Yu discovered that the clinic was losing money because Fu Sheng treated poor patients without charge.
Enraged by the financial mismanagement, she sternly told Fu Sheng to find a way to make the clinic profitable or face being homeless. Fu Sheng continued his investigation into Han Shuo, learning that Han Shuo, who died five years ago in a conflict between the Ma Gang and the Chamber of Commerce, had been an errand boy for Luo Ye, a prominent merchant whose family's tenants were Han Shuo's ancestors.
Realizing they needed an introduction to the Luo family, Fu Sheng noted that the Xichuan Young Mistress would have to facilitate their visit. Fu Sheng then visited Luo Ye, who was gravely ill with lumps accumulating on his intestines, causing severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and blood in his stool. Luo Ye expressed little hope for a cure, having consulted many physicians who understood his disease but could not treat it.
Fu Sheng, however, assured Luo Ye that he could cure him, then revealed his true purpose: to inquire about Han Shuo. Luo Ye was initially hesitant to discuss Han Shuo, stating that the matter involved a close friend's secret and the lives of his entire family. Fu Sheng proposed a radical surgical procedure to cut open Luo Ye's stomach, extract the accumulation, and if necessary, cut, clean, and suture the intestines.
Desperate, Luo Ye agreed to reveal everything he knew about Han Shuo if Fu Sheng successfully cured him. Fu Sheng requested time to prepare, promising to inform Luo Ye when he was ready. To prepare for the complex surgery, Fu Sheng began practicing on rabbits. Several died, leading him to conclude that his scalpels were not sharp or precise enough.
He sought out the best craftsman in the capital, but even the master smith could not create tools to his exacting specifications. The craftsman suggested seeking help from Wen Yu's father, Lord Wen, a renowned and unrivaled craftsman of weapons. Surprised by this revelation, Wen Yu reluctantly agreed to ask her father for help, using emotional pleas and reminding him that Fu Sheng was his savior. Her father, though initially resistant to her "blackmail," eventually agreed.
With his assistant Duck, Fu Sheng continued his experiments, making precise cuts on himself to map the flow of human blood, identify organs like the spleen, intestines, and main blood vessels, and meticulously track bleeding. His goal was to perfect his technique and understand the intricacies of the human body before operating on Luo Ye. Meanwhile, news of Liu Yunting killing Li Zhizhuo and promoting Sun Siming reached the Breakwall Lord.
The Lord confronted Liu Yunting, expressing his displeasure at her disposal of Li Zhizhuo, an asset cultivated by the organization for years, in favor of a "lowly horse slave." Liu Yunting defended her actions, arguing that Li Zhizhuo was disobedient and uncooperative, while Sun Siming was ambitious, cunning, and obedient, making him a more effective tool for the Lord's agenda within the Chamber of Commerce.
The Lord coldly questioned whether disobedience justified death, hinting that he might apply the same logic to her. Before he could finish his thought, Guo Sishui, another Breakwall assassin, swiftly and decisively killed Liu Yunting. The Lord, unfazed, acknowledged Sishui's action, telling her she had seized her opportunity and to cherish it as she assumed Liu Yunting's role as the Xichuan Emissary.
