Blossoms in Adversity Episode 38 Recap, Plot

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The Third Madam and Nianqiu calculated all the funds, but they were still short by two hundred thousand. With every source already exhausted, they were at a loss when Hua Qin arrived wearing mourning clothes—Sun Shopkeeper’s excessive indulgence had left her a widow. Upon learning that Hua Zhi still lacked two hundred thousand, Hua Qin filled the gap herself, as she now held authority over the Sun family.

With the required funds raised within Gu Chengtao's deadline, Hua Zhi and Gu Yanxi reported back to Emperor Qing. Hua Zhi requested His Majesty's permission to oversee every transaction involved in the canal construction and asked that the ancestral Hua residence be granted as their shelter. Gu Chengtao raised no objection. After Hua Zhi withdrew, Gu Yanxi followed her out, leaving Emperor Qing gritting his teeth in frustration, yet powerless. Work on the canal began.

The madams also came to help on-site. Though life had returned to hardship, the family being safe and together brought them great contentment. Gu Yanxi assisted Hua Zhi at the construction site and noticed she seemed more at ease than before. Now, Hua Zhi no longer had to think of anything else—working by day, eating by day—she only labored physically, not mentally, and could finally sleep soundly.

Gu Yanxi asked Hua Zhi if, once the canal was complete, it would be alright to have the Empress Dowager arrange their marriage. Hua Zhi teased him, saying that he was now penniless while she at least still had a jade bracelet. Seeing that many children on the site had no one to teach them, Hua Zhi gathered them and began teaching them literacy.

Some adults also wanted to learn, so Hua Zhi worked during the day and taught in person at night. When the Sixth Prince heard of this, he approached Hua Zhi and offered to teach as well, which made her very happy. The Immortal Envoy continued to pray for rain. Though dark clouds gathered, no rain fell. While assisting at the construction site, Hua Ling was approached by Zheng Zhi.

He told her he had already informed his aunt and saved enough to support a family. This time, returning to the capital, beyond reporting for duty, he was determined to marry Hua Ling. Moved by the children’s eagerness to learn, Hua Zhi decided that once the canal was completed, she would continue raising funds to build a school. Prince Hui, Gu Yanrui, was captivated the moment he first saw the Immortal Envoy.

One night, the Immortal Envoy observed the stars and predicted that rain was coming. Hua Zhi marveled at how strange life could be—if one didn’t move forward step by step, they’d never know how they would turn out. Gu Yanxi talked about their future life after moving north with the entire family, and earnestly told Hua Zhi that once the canal was finished, they would marry. Hua Zhi responded with a smile.

Rain finally came, and Emperor Qing rewarded the Heavenly Pivot Envoy. As Gu Yanxi visited the palace less and even stopped dining with him, Gu Chengtao grew displeased. With the canal completed, the workers celebrated with firecrackers. Just then, another imperial decree arrived. It turned out the Immortal Envoy had reported to Gu Chengtao that during the canal construction, Hua Zhi had deliberately made public efforts to raise funds, causing city-wide commotion and drawing criticism from all around.

She also conducted private teachings, allegedly to win favor and manipulate people. This greatly enraged Gu Chengtao, and he issued a special edict appointing Hua Zhi as the Lady of Divine Mandate and sending her to the Astronomical Institute. After bathing and changing, Hua Zhi went to see Gu Chengtao. He told her that once she entered the Astronomical Institute, she would not be allowed to leave until her hair turned white.

Hua Zhi had already understood Emperor Qing's intentions when she entered the palace. She told Gu Chengtao that no monarch’s heart could ever be exchanged for sincere devotion. Gu Yanxi would no longer be as he once was. Though she would never step outside the palace again, she and Gu Yanxi still lived under the same sky. Their love was something Gu Chengtao could never understand, nor ever possess.

Gu Yanxi entrusted the Seven Constellations Bureau to Zheng Hu and Chen Qing, then headed to the palace to find Hua Zhi. But palace rules forbade entry without a summons. Gu Yanxi paid no heed and stormed in, slicing his way through blood and blades without fear. Gu Chengtao ordered Hua Zhi to watch as Gu Yanxi fought under the blades until his body was covered in wounds, utterly exhausted and unable to lift his weapon.

At last, Gu Yanxi collapsed to the ground and vomited blood, yet still forced himself up. Hua Zhi broke free of her restraints and ran down the steps. Gu Yanxi took out Hua Zhi’s counting rods from his chest and handed them to her, saying she wouldn’t be used to the ones in the palace. In a fit of rage, Gu Chengtao imprisoned Gu Yanxi in the Hall of Caution, forbidding his release without imperial permission.

Changqing applied medicine to Gu Yanxi and urged him to conserve his strength, assuring him that they would meet again someday. Hua Zhi entered the Astronomical Institute, where her future duty was to attend to the Immortal Envoy. When Gu Yanxi was able to get out of bed and saw that the Immortal Envoy’s maid could move freely within the palace, he summoned Chen Qing and ordered him to closely monitor the Immortal Envoy and investigate her purchases carefully.

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