Treasure at Dawn Episode 9 Recap
> Treasure at Dawn Recap
Feng Qianli arrived swiftly at the secret message station, spotting a red-stringed umbrella that signaled an urgent mission. He opened the umbrella and retrieved a scroll, which, upon unrolling, revealed a grotesque monkey painting. Following Hulu's directions, Feng Qianli met Fu Sheng and the others, detailing the peculiar history of the "Golden Monkey" painting. He explained that many collectors had vied for this painting, yet all previous owners had mysteriously perished, often along with their entire families.
Master Lin, undeterred by these chilling tales, acquired the painting, only to descend into madness, slaughter his family, and ultimately die by self-immolation. Wen Jue questioned why these horrific cases remained unsolved. Feng Qianli advised her to investigate the Lord's Mansion, where all the pertinent case files were supposedly kept.
Before they could leave, Wen Jue offered a refreshing tonic she had prepared, suggesting they drink it to be better prepared, but Fu Sheng insisted they depart immediately for the mansion. Wen Jue led Fu Sheng and the others to the Lord's Mansion, finding the archive room locked and thick with dust, clearly untouched for a long time. Ying Ying, concerned about the dust, offered Gu Tian her clean handkerchief, which he discreetly kept.
As they sifted through the neglected files, Wen Jiu arrived, visibly displeased. He questioned why Fu Sheng, a physician, was wasting time investigating old cases instead of focusing on curing the ailing Lord. Fu Sheng calmly replied that there was no immediate cure and reassured Wen Jiu that he would eventually find a method to save the Lord. Amidst the piles of documents, Wen Jue discovered a crucial detail: the murders connected to the painting had all occurred in winter.
Armed with this new information, the four returned to Lin's Mansion, where Fu Sheng carefully retrieved the painting. Beneath it, he found an antique incense burner, noticing a subtle heat emanating from it, which he suspected was linked to the painting. Back at their residence, Fu Sheng had Gu Tian place the incense burner beneath the painting.
He distributed a protective pill to each of them, instructing them to hold it under their tongues as a safeguard against any impending illusions, to be chewed and swallowed if they felt overwhelmed. As the four intensely gazed at the painting, they each fell into a unique hallucinatory state. Fu Sheng, sensing the onset of the illusion, used his strong will to break free and quickly roused Gu Tian and Wen Jue from their respective visions.
Gu Tian described seeing the monkey in the painting come to life, while Wen Jue humorously recalled seeing a monkey adorned with a large piece of "Star Gold." Fu Sheng deduced that the monkey they saw was likely a person in disguise. However, Ying Ying remained deeply trapped in her hallucination, reliving the horrific massacre of her family by robbers in her childhood. She screamed repeatedly, "Don't come over!"
Mistaking Gu Tian, who was trying to comfort her, for one of the attackers, she instinctively stabbed him. Realizing her state, Fu Sheng explained that Ying Ying suffered from Hyperthymesia, and the hallucination, combined with her condition, prevented her from taking the pill in time. Gu Tian, despite his flesh wound, had no choice but to gently knock her unconscious to prevent further self-harm. Upon regaining consciousness, Ying Ying tearfully recounted the gruesome details of her parents' murder.
Gu Tian, feeling pity, attempted to forge a bond by falsely claiming a similar tragic past, hoping to offer comfort. However, Ying Ying, perceptive and astute, immediately saw through his fabrication and coldly rebuffed his advances, sending him away. Meanwhile, Wen Jue and Fu Sheng meticulously examined the painting. Wen Jue, using her knowledge of art, pointed out 13 subtle differences from the original and noted how the ink colors had darkened.
Fu Sheng explained that the painting was a counterfeit, aged by the ancient method of smudging—a process where paintings are baked with incense smoke to give them a tea-colored, antique appearance. He realized that the painting’s surface had changed further due to its recent exposure to fire. Suspecting more, Fu Sheng examined the scroll itself, and Wen Jue carefully peeled away a layer of the paper, revealing a second layer.
Fu Sheng identified that this layer had been soaked in Datura flower and Aconite root, both toxic and hallucinogenic. He explained that when exposed to heat, these toxins would release, and Wen Jue connected this to Qin Shi’s earlier recollection of a sweet scent. Fu Sheng then had a brilliant idea, recalling a specific medical text. He located his master's medical book, which contained a unique formula.
He excitedly explained that Datura flower and Aconite root, when detoxified by a secret method and combined with Gastrodia, Uncariarhynchophylla, and Glycyrrhiza, could become a potent remedy for conditions like phlegm and dizziness, and possibly even cure the Lord's illness. Overjoyed by this breakthrough, Fu Sheng spontaneously embraced Wen Jue, who blushed deeply. Afterwards, Wen Jue enthusiastically offered to take charge of finding the painter. The next day, Wen Jue gathered several renowned painters to recreate the "Golden Monkey" painting.
During their discussions, it was revealed that someone at Chunyun House possessed the exceptional skill to produce an almost indistinguishable imitation. Thrilled by this lead, Wen Jue immediately set off for Chunyun House. Separately, Fu Sheng and Gu Tian prepared the new remedy, with Fu Sheng writing a prescription that could alleviate the Lord's phlegm and dizziness within days. Suddenly, a messenger arrived, informing Wen Jiu that Wen Jue had gone to Chunyun House.
Gu Tian suggested that he and Fu Sheng should go, allowing Wen Jiu to focus on gathering the medicinal herbs. At Chunyun House, Wen Jue confirmed that a "Descending Lion" painting displayed there had the same unique brushwork and ink colors as the "Golden Monkey," confirming it was the work of a painter named Li Ye. She learned that Li Ye was the grandson of the renowned painter Li Zhi, but his family's fortunes had declined.
Despite Li Ye's talent, he was an outcast. Other painters, including a Master Wang whom Wen Jue had earlier provoked, deemed him eccentric and arrogant, often criticizing his work. This animosity stemmed from Li Ye's past act of mocking Master Wang at his birthday feast with a "Monkey With A Hat" painting, accusing him of superficiality. Consequently, Li Ye fell into a life of indulgence, abandoning his art.
Wen Jue defended Li Ye, claiming his drunken paintings were still superior to those of the city's so-called "famous" artists. Later that afternoon, Fu Sheng and Gu Tian waited for Li Ye on the street. Gu Tian expressed his impatience, complaining about being hungry and questioning Wen Jue's motive for buying Fu Sheng watermelon, suggesting she was trying to win him over with food. Fu Sheng dismissed it as mere kindness.
Soon, a visibly inebriated Li Ye appeared among a group of dancers. Inspired by their movements, he impulsively used a nearby cabbage as a brush, creating a spontaneous painting that captivated the onlookers. However, Li Ye, consumed by bitterness, scorned his own talent, lamenting its unappreciation, and tore up his creation. Fu Sheng approached him, remarking that such a painting should be framed for its value.
When Fu Sheng directly accused him of creating the "Golden Monkey" painting, Li Ye confessed, expressing his resentment at being dismissed and beaten when he tried to reveal the truth: that the lauded "masterpiece" was actually his own forgery. He admitted to poisoning the painting with Datura flower and Aconite root, not only for its antique aesthetic but also to preserve it.
He defiantly stated that those who couldn't discern true art deserved their fate, claiming they were consumed by their own inner demons. Fu Sheng then questioned if Li Ye was responsible for Song Jingye’s dismembered death. Li Ye vehemently denied it, explaining that the hallucinogenic herbs only caused visions, not dismemberment, and asserted he was not at Lin's Mansion that night. He reiterated that the victims were killed by their own fears, not by his hands.
As Fu Sheng pondered who the real murderer might be, Gu Tian suddenly recalled a forgotten person who was also present at Lin's Mansion that night and had previously discovered them following Song Jingye: Qin Shi. Fu Sheng, now determined, vowed to uncover Qin Shi's true identity.
