Treasure at Dawn Episode 6 Recap
> Treasure at Dawn Recap
Sun Siming pulled a cart laden with straw into a foggy forest. He drove to a pre-dug pit, where he revealed an official's body hidden beneath the straw. As he buried the body, he muttered, wishing the official peace and a better next life, remarking it was better to be an animal in peaceful times than a human in times of war.
He then asked the deceased for blessings for his own success, hoping to step on those who were truly evil. Following her father Wen Yu's instructions, Wen Jue brazenly arrived at the Ma Gang, demanding to see Mr. Xubu. Spectators noted her fiery spirit and predicted difficulties for Mr. Xubu. Mr. Xubu emerged, greeting her as "Princess," and expressed surprise at her impatience, stating he had planned to visit her at the Lord's Mansion later.
Wen Jue retorted that she couldn't wait and needed to clarify matters quickly. When Mr. Xubu invited her into his tent, she refused, citing impropriety. He reminded her that since her father had promised her to him, she was his fiancée and had nothing to fear. Wen Jue then declared her refusal to marry him, urging him to forget the idea.
Mr. Xubu, in turn, used her reputation for filial piety against her, asking if she wanted to shame her father. Leader Che intervened, supporting the marriage as both Mr. Xubu and Wen Jue were unmarried, but Wen Jue remained firm, proclaiming her arrogance and unwillingness to marry him, insisting that only her father could formally dissolve the engagement.
Leader Che dismissed her, stating that the Ma Gang adhered to rules now that they were marrying into the Lord's Mansion, and suggested she leave if she had no other business. As Wen Jue left in a huff, Mr. Xubu remarked that it was unlucky for an engaged couple to see each other before marriage. Privately, Leader Che confronted Mr. Xubu, correctly sensing his reluctance to marry Wen Jue.
Mr. Xubu admitted he feared he couldn't control her and pleaded for mercy, not wanting to suffer. Leader Che emphasized the benefits of the alliance with the Lord's Mansion against the Chamber of Commerce, warning that if Mr. Xubu didn't marry her, Mr. Wen might seek an alliance with the Chamber of Commerce instead. He even tried to convince Mr. Xubu of Wen Jue's beauty and spirited nature, calling it a blessing.
That night, an agitated Wen Jue approached Gu Tian and Fu Sheng, directly asking them to kill Mr. Xubu. Gu Tian inquired who she wanted dead and why. When she revealed Mr. Xubu wished to marry her, Gu Tian instantly refused, admitting he was no match and would only die. Calling him a "coward," Wen Jue then turned to Fu Sheng, who also declined, stating he only saved lives, not took them.
Wen Jue then revised her request, asking Fu Sheng to pretend to be her lover to make Mr. Xubu call off the engagement. Gu Tian questioned why he was asked to kill while Fu Sheng merely had to "fake it." Wen Jue pressed Fu Sheng to go, to which he reluctantly agreed, admitting he'd never "been a lover" before but would cooperate.
Gu Tian then interjected, insisting that Fu Sheng at least change his attire to avoid embarrassing the Princess of Xichuan. Fu Sheng agreed to arrange new clothes. Wen Jue finalized the plan, promising to pick him up the next morning, and left. Gu Tian then wondered aloud what was wrong with his own clothes. Elsewhere, Li Zhizhuo obtained a jade plate, but was infuriated to find it was yet another fake.
His subordinate tried to reassure him, explaining that the prevalence of fake Bird Jade Plates in Xichuan, made by "bad people," made it harder for anyone, including Song Jingye, to find the real one. Li Zhizhuo sharply rebuked his subordinate for speaking so casually about Song Jingye, whom he considered an "old thing" obstructing his path.
When his subordinate noted that their own men were too familiar to approach Song Jingye, Li Zhizhuo recalled Sun Siming, who had recently approached them and was already close to Song Jingye, seeing an opportunity. The next morning, Fu Sheng, dressed in new clothes, complained that they were less comfortable than his coarse garments, but Wen Jue urged him to bear with it for their quick mission.
At the Ma Gang, Mr. Xubu greeted them, and Fu Sheng, prompted by Wen Jue, announced their intent to call off the engagement. Wen Jue boldly declared her love for Fu Sheng, stating they had "pledged to get married." Mr. Xubu dismissed this, reminding her of the parental arrangement, and insisted he could win her heart if given a chance.
Wen Jue was resolute, stating the engagement must be broken, but Mr. Xubu countered by asking if her father, Mr. Wen, approved. Wen Jue then resorted to threatening his reputation, implying scandalous behavior with Fu Sheng, but struggled to articulate it. Mr. Xubu cut her off, ordering food and inviting them to eat, subtly implying he wouldn't dismiss the engagement easily.
Wen Jue, frustrated, told Fu Sheng to eat on his own and stormed off, leaving Fu Sheng to dine with Mr. Xubu. Meanwhile, Li Zhizhuo summoned Sun Siming, who humbly presented himself. Li Zhizhuo handed him a specific item and ordered him to ensure Song Jingye saw it that night without being discovered, warning of severe consequences if he failed. Sun Siming, seizing the opportunity, brazenly demanded a price for such a crucial task, despite Li Zhizhuo's initial anger.
Li Zhizhuo eventually agreed to free Sun Siming's entire family from slavery upon completion of the task. Later, Li Zhizhuo instructed his steward to keep their men discreet for now. He mused that Mr. Wen, the "old fox," might be fearing the Chamber of Commerce's rise or seeking a backer for his daughter due to his own impending demise.
Li Zhizhuo vowed that once he became Chairman, he would reclaim everything the Ma Gang had taken from the Chamber of Commerce, repaying them a hundredfold. Back at the Lord's Mansion, Wen Jue discussed the failed attempt to break the engagement with her maid. She realized that trying to call off the engagement through external means was futile. She decided her father's illness was the real reason he wanted to marry her off, fearing she'd be without a protector.
She planned to cure his illness and then use emotional appeal to prevent him from marrying her off, confident he wouldn't part with his "precious daughter." Ying Ying visited a medical hall where she recognized Gu Tian, who she had seen begging at Chunyun House the day before, now posing as a physician and bragging about his skills.
Gu Tian, mistaking her recognition as admiration, flirtatiously suggested she had taken a fancy to him, to which Ying Ying retorted that he should stop wearing his mask as his "skin was as thick as city walls." Fu Sheng, interrupting Gu Tian's boastful display, introduced himself as the physician and invited Ying Ying to sit for a pulse check. Ying Ying stated she wasn't sick, but her brother Hulu insisted she come.
After an initial examination, Fu Sheng noted her steady pulse and strong physique but observed her haggard appearance, deducing her problem was sleeplessness and frequent dreams due to "too many trifles."
Intrigued by her unusual memory, Fu Sheng engaged her in a series of detailed questions about her past, from her ancestral home (Fuchun, Wu Commandery) to the exact date she arrived in Xichuan (thirteen years ago, when she was five), and even the precise details of her first meal there, including the number of grapes and seeds. With this information, Fu Sheng accurately diagnosed her with "Hyperthymesia," an illness caused by overly complex memories leading to sleeplessness.
Hulu asked if it was curable, and Fu Sheng assured them that knowing the cause made it treatable with sedatives and acupuncture. When Hulu offered payment, Fu Sheng graciously waived the fee, citing his interest in the rare condition and suggesting a meal as thanks, then even offering to forgo that.
Hulu, unwilling for Fu Sheng to work for free, then offered to help Fu Sheng approach Song Jingye, mentioning that Song Jingye often "bullied" his sister and he'd use this opportunity to "teach him a lesson." That evening, Fu Sheng and Gu Tian arrived at Chunyun House, guided by Hulu's earlier tip about Song Jingye's presence. Fu Sheng explained that he had been there before to settle his father's accounts, and promised to show Gu Tian around.
Meanwhile, Sun Siming, disguised as a drunken foreign merchant, deliberately dropped an item Li Zhizhuo had given him outside the Chunyun House door before discreetly hiding. Qin Shi, Song Jingye's guard, noticed the item and pursued the "merchant," but eventually lost him. Inside, Song Jingye was speaking with Ying Ying, pressing her for a decision, but she requested more time.
Fu Sheng and Gu Tian then entered Ying Ying's room, with Gu Tian cheekily commenting that forced love was never sweet, implying Song Jingye was being too pushy. Song Jingye demanded to know their identities and why they had barged in. Gu Tian retorted that if Song Jingye could be here, so could they. Annoyed, Song Jingye told Ying Ying to reconsider his offer and prepared to leave. Ying Ying pleaded with him to stay.
Fu Sheng then directly addressed Song Jingye, reminding him that he had seen him before when he cured the water poison. He introduced himself as Fu Sheng, the son of Physician Fu, and explained his father had sent him. Song Jingye immediately recognized him as Physician Fu's son. After Song Jingye left, Ying Ying thanked Gu Tian for his timely intervention and expressed embarrassment about her earlier performance.
Gu Tian, surprised to learn she was Chunyun House's top courtesan, asked if Song Jingye was trying to make her his concubine. Ying Ying excused herself for her stage performance, offering to find Gu Tian other company, but he declined, choosing to wait for Fu Sheng. Fu Sheng carefully presented the Bird Jade Plate to Song Jingye, who immediately confirmed it was the very one he had entrusted to Physician Fu.
Fu Sheng then inquired about the details of the past, mentioning his father’s words about the Bird Jade Plate needing the Cloud, Water, and Mountain jades to unlock the Treasure of the Sealed Book, and that the Cloud-shaped Jade was in Song Jingye's possession. Song Jingye recounted that he had been assigned to escort these jades but the mission was compromised, leading to an ambush by a group of guards.
During the attack, his companions sacrificed themselves, urging him to escape and find Physician Fu. Song Jingye, waiting for two days and a night, only encountered one surviving companion who managed to hand him a pouch before succumbing to his injuries. At that time, only the Bird Jade Plate and a Cloud-shaped Jade remained with him, while the other parts of the treasure, including two landscape-shaped jades, were missing.
He further explained that he had entrusted the Bird Jade Plate and a Cloud-shaped Jade to Physician Fu, but Physician Fu insisted they each keep one piece, believing he, as a physician with no power, couldn't protect it alone. Physician Fu told Song Jingye to safeguard his piece for an "esteemed one."
When Fu Sheng asked if Song Jingye knew the location of the Treasure of the Sealed Book, Song Jingye replied he did not, and asked if Fu Sheng also sought it. Fu Sheng confirmed it was his father's dying wish to prevent the treasure from falling into malicious hands and causing chaos.
Song Jingye then clarified that the reward order for the Bird Jade Plate was issued by Vice Chairman Li Zhizhuo, not him, and he suspected Li Zhizhuo was connected to the same people who killed Fu Sheng's father. He added that he couldn't give Fu Sheng the Cloud-shaped Jade yet, needing to verify Fu Sheng's story and follow new clues to uncover the masterminds. He asked Fu Sheng to stay in Xichuan, promising to find him once matters were resolved.
Just then, Qin Shi returned and reported that something Song Jingye wanted was at Lin's Mansion. As Song Jingye prepared to leave, Fu Sheng pressed him for the name of the organization behind it all. Song Jingye revealed it was called "Breakwall." After Song Jingye left, Gu Tian questioned Fu Sheng about the Cloud-shaped Jade, accusing Song Jingye of tricking him by keeping it.
Convinced Song Jingye might send people to steal their jade plate, Gu Tian urged Fu Sheng to follow him, grabbing their belongings. Meanwhile, Qin Shi advised Song Jingye against going to Lin's Mansion immediately, citing the suspicious nature of the information and the mansion's reputation as a haunted and dangerous place where many had died mysteriously. Song Jingye, however, dismissed these concerns, stating he had "lived his life on the edge" and cared nothing for ghost stories.
He ordered his other men to return, and despite Qin Shi's request to accompany him, Song Jingye insisted Qin Shi go back as well, then departed alone. Fu Sheng and Gu Tian covertly followed Song Jingye, observing the eerie atmosphere of Lin's Mansion. Qin Shi, however, spotted them, questioned their presence, and, finding their excuse of "wandering around" unconvincing, curtly dismissed them, suggesting they return the next morning if they had official business.
Fu Sheng apologized for the disturbance, and they left. The following morning, as Fu Sheng and Gu Tian were still asleep, Li Zhizhuo's men burst in, forcibly arresting them. They were accused of murdering Song Jingye, with the men claiming to have irrefutable evidence. Both Fu Sheng and Gu Tian were stunned, Gu Tian exclaiming in disbelief, "Song Jingye is dead?" They were both taken away, and Li Zhizhuo appeared, looking at one of them with a cryptic remark, "I never thought it'd be you."
