In the Name of Blossom Recap, Plot, Synopsis

In the Name of Blossom Synopsis

In the bustling capital of Chang'an, the Fangyuan Garden thrived with endless streams of visitors, its gates never free of crowds. Despite constant obstruction from County Princess Li Youzhen, it stood unshaken.

When envoys from across the land gathered in the empire, He Weifang, the garden's mistress, was entrusted with a critical task—amidst snow and wind, she unveiled a breathtaking bloom of peonies, showcasing the nation's magnificence and earning widespread acclaim. Just as her dream of commercial success seemed within reach, she uncovered the truth behind her mother's death, casting doubt on her path as a merchant.

A chance brush with danger brought her sudden clarity. Realizing the true duty of a merchant, she shifted her focus to practical industries that benefited the people—teaching trades, establishing the affordable medical clinic "Wuyong Hall," and bringing relief to countless lives. At the same time, she secretly aided Jiang Changyang, the "Flower-and-Bird Envoy," and the Emperor in their struggle against the rebellious Prince Ning, striving to restore the nation's dignity.

Though she and Jiang Changyang finally confessed their feelings, duty demanded his sacrifice. Determined to fulfill their shared vision for the empire, Weifang continued her mercantile philanthropy while covertly mustering forces to aid the Emperor's resurgence. At the brink of life and death, Jiang Changyang returned, bathed in blood, leading the Hedong Army—supported by Weifang—to a decisive victory over Prince Ning.

With peace restored and the land prosperous, the fragrance of peonies drifted for miles, and spring returned to the earth.

In the Name of Blossom Recap

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After He Weifang married Jiang Zhangyang, their relationship was very harmonious. He Weifang managed the shop with great care every day, and the business improved day by day. After calculating the profits and losses in detail, she used the money they earned to host a feast for all the attendants who helped manage the shop. Jiang Zhangyang accompanied her at the banquet. Everyone was envious of the strong affection between the mistress and her husband.

Although He Weifang and Jiang Zhangyang trusted each other deeply, Lianzhou couldn’t bear to see He Weifang being favored alone. She deliberately summoned Dafu and asked whether she had stolen her jewelry. Dafu was shocked—she had been staying at the shop with He Weifang for the past few days and hadn’t returned home at all, so how could she have stolen anything from Lianzhou? Dafu explained repeatedly, but Lianzhou insisted that she frame He Weifang.

There was no way Dafu would betray her mistress, so she anxiously defended He Weifang. Lianzhou used this as an excuse to order her maid to slap Dafu. Dafu was strong and resilient, but after being slapped several times, she could no longer hold back her anger—especially upon hearing that Lianzhou planned to accuse He Weifang of theft. Dafu immediately picked up the fruit knife on the table, intending only to scare Lianzhou.

But just then, hearing Jiang Zhangyang’s footsteps outside, Lianzhou rushed to grab the knife with her bare hands and ended up injuring her palm. When Jiang Zhangyang opened the door, he saw Dafu holding the fruit knife. Lianzhou intentionally showed her bleeding hand to him. Jiang Zhangyang brought Dafu into his residence and questioned her in detail. After learning the truth, he did not cover for Lianzhou but instead discussed with He Weifang how to punish her.

He Weifang was not one to sit and wait for harm. She soon used a secret formula she had discovered earlier—which caused allergic rashes—on Lianzhou. As a result, rashes broke out on Lianzhou’s body. Since she had always been eager to compete for favor, she invited several doctors, but none could cure the rashes on her face. In the end, she had no choice but to sneak to He Weifang’s door and beg for help when no one was around.

Usually arrogant and domineering, Lianzhou became much more subdued after the rashes appeared. She humbled herself and pleaded with He Weifang for a remedy. He Weifang, having waited for this day, deliberately asked whether she had come to a conclusion about the missing jewelry—did Dafu really steal it? Lianzhou quickly admitted it had nothing to do with Dafu and that it was all her own misunderstanding.

But just admitting the mistake wasn't enough—when He Weifang told her to apologize to Dafu, Lianzhou had no choice but to slap herself and apologize. At last, Dafu’s grievances were soothed, and she admired He Weifang's courage and resolve. He Weifang opened the door and directly told Lianzhou that she was only focused on running the business and had no desire to become enemies.

She hoped Lianzhou could direct her efforts toward more meaningful things and not live just to compete for favor. He Weifang said she would not argue with her and advised her to find her own pursuits. As she applied medicine to Lianzhou’s face, she also taught her the way for women to survive in the world. Lianzhou seemed to understand somewhat, but she still felt that Jiang Zhangyang favored He Weifang. Upon hearing this, He Weifang was puzzled.

Clearly, her relationship with Jiang Zhangyang had started as a pretense—had they acted too convincingly? Xiaochun enjoyed the art of acupuncture and moxibustion. He Weifang and Dafu fully supported her and even helped her do what she loved. They encouraged Xiaochun to secretly disguise herself as a man and practice medicine. As a result, she gained great fame, and many people came to her for treatment.

One day, a man came into the Flower-Filled Shop claiming to see a doctor. Xiaochun was about to begin a consultation when she looked closely and realized it was her own father. He had always opposed Xiaochun practicing medicine, insisting that for a woman, lacking talent was a virtue and that marriage was the most important thing. Since her father refused to change his mind, Xiaochun no longer pleaded.

She firmly declared that she had no intention of marrying and, although a woman, she also wished to pursue a career of her own. Qin Liulang enjoyed being around He Weifang and often followed her like a little tagalong, never growing tired of it. Jiang Zhangyang clearly noticed Liulang’s little tricks. He hinted several times for Liulang to correct his behavior, but the more setbacks Liulang faced, the more determined he became.

During one outing, he desperately wanted to ride in the same carriage as He Weifang. When he heard Jiang Zhangyang insist that he ride a horse, he deliberately complained to He Weifang, saying Jiang Zhangyang was forcing him to ride. Jiang Zhangyang immediately told He Weifang the truth—it wasn’t as Liulang claimed. Realizing that Liulang was starting to stir up trouble, He Weifang solemnly reminded him that such behavior was unacceptable.

Liulang knew he was in the wrong and regretted his actions, but He Weifang gave him a graceful way out, and the matter was settled. Liu Chang disguised himself as a boatman and arranged a private meeting with He Weifang. When she saw it was Liu Chang, He Weifang turned to leave, but Liu Chang had bribed the boatman and locked the door.

Jiang Zhangyang was outside and knew He Weifang had come to see the boatman, but his sharp eyes noticed someone guarding the door and handing out generous tips—he immediately sensed something was off. He Weifang remained calm and composed, meeting Liu Chang’s gaze without arrogance or fear. She was no longer the timid peony of the past. Now, she had her own ambitions, her eyes full of determination, and she showed no inappropriate conduct.

Eventually, Liu Chang agreed to unlock the door. He Weifang rushed out, flustered, and ran right into Jiang Zhangyang at the door. He took her cold hand, fed her cherries, and deliberately gave her gifts to cheer her up. He Weifang was soon amused by him. This scene was witnessed by Liu Chang, who was filled with jealousy and, upon returning, ate a large amount of cherries out of frustration. Liu Chang’s unusual behavior drew his wife’s attention.

She quickly investigated his servants and learned from them that it was related to He Weifang. She then used her connections to slander He Weifang, claiming that the "Yunbin Elixir" sold in He Weifang’s shop had caused the death of Madam Wu of the Wu family. The victim’s family carried Madam Wu’s body to He Weifang’s shop, crying and wailing at the entrance. Officials also arrived.

With a human life involved, they immediately sealed off He Weifang’s shop and arrested both He Weifang and Xiaochun, throwing them into prison. The jailers tortured them. He Weifang shielded Xiaochun with her body, taking the lashes herself, and her back was torn and bleeding. Jiang Zhangyang came to the prison intending to take He Weifang home, but she refused, fearing she would drag him down with her.

Jiang Zhangyang returned to his residence and began investigating the case in earnest. Meanwhile, Dafu had already traced Madam Wu’s recent movements and reported everything to Jiang Zhangyang. Within a single day, Jiang Zhangyang uncovered the truth. He went to the County Mistress, calmly analyzed the current situation, and used both reason and pressure to persuade her.

He warned that if she continued targeting He Weifang, he would report everything that had recently happened to the King—then Liu Chang wouldn’t even qualify to be a Deputy Transport Commissioner. This warning struck a nerve with the County Mistress, who feared implicating her husband. She had no choice but to agree to release the prisoners immediately and ordered her people to restore the reputation of He Weifang’s shop.

Thanks to Jiang Zhangyang’s tireless efforts day and night, He Weifang and Xiaochun were finally released as innocent. Xiaochun’s father personally came to take her home. After going through this ordeal, he had a change of heart and no longer tried to stop Xiaochun from practicing medicine—in fact, he even returned her medical books. Jiang Zhangyang sent a carriage to bring He Weifang back.

That afternoon, Lianzhou once again tried to stage a chance encounter, but Jiang Zhangyang remained composed and unwavering. He told her plainly that his heart held only He Weifang and there was no room for any other woman, and he warned Lianzhou not to stir up trouble. That night, Jiang Zhangyang personally brought a brazier to He Weifang’s room to help dispel bad luck.

He also helped comb her hair, which had become matted after several days in prison and was impossible to untangle. He Weifang calmly said they might as well cut it off with scissors. Seeing the wounds on her face and the bloodied lash marks on her back, Jiang Zhangyang realized just how much suffering He Weifang had endured. He Weifang had heard that Lianzhou enjoyed tending to flowers and plants, so she brought her some medicine for pests.

But when she arrived, she saw several packed bags in Lianzhou’s room—it looked like Lianzhou was preparing for a long journey. Lianzhou said she was planning to make a pilgrimage to pray and ask the heavens for more fate between her and Jiang Zhangyang, and she begged He Weifang to allow it. He Weifang had no reason to refuse. Back in her room, He Weifang carefully reflected on everything she had seen in Lianzhou’s quarters.

One of the servants there had previously worked for Liu Chang. Could it be that both Lianzhou and the servant were people connected to Liu Chang? Now that this person was heading out on a trip, he likely posed a threat to Jiang Zhangyang. Uncertain of what Lianzhou might be scheming, He Weifang insisted on accompanying her along with her own maid. Late at night, Lianzhou secretly met with a merchant and purchased a royal-grade embroidered item.

According to the laws at the time, commoners were not allowed to wear things made for the royal family, but Lianzhou was drawn to the patterns. Her family had once been renowned for generations of embroidery, and she herself had embroidered many exquisite designs before her household was confiscated and everything taken away. She still couldn’t bear to part with her craft, so she took the risk and bought the item.

That night, Lianzhou indeed conspired with Zhao Cai, a subordinate of Prince Ning. Liu Chang had instructed Lianzhou to poison Jiang Zhangyang. If Jiang Zhangyang died, He Weifang would be left without support. However, Lianzhou hesitated and instead decided to harm He Weifang first. Because of their past connection, she didn’t want He Weifang to die suddenly, so she carefully measured the poison dosage, planning to make He Weifang mute.

A few days later, Lianzhou invited He Weifang for tea and personally presented her with an elegant peony-patterned teacup. She claimed that from then on she would follow He Weifang’s advice and find something she loved to do. He Weifang gladly agreed, and they all sat down to drink the fragrant tea. After returning from Lianzhou’s place, He Weifang fell ill and couldn’t get out of bed.

Upon hearing this, Lianzhou immediately sent word to Liu Chang and also went to check on He Weifang herself. Her maid reported that her mistress had a sore throat and her voice was completely hoarse. Lianzhou was reassured and prepared to carry out the next step of her plan. But He Weifang had seen it all clearly. Just as Lianzhou was about to make her move, Jiang Zhangyang blocked her path. He Weifang presented an identical, undamaged peony teacup.

Back then, Lianzhou had broken the cup He Weifang drank from, hoping to destroy the evidence. She never expected He Weifang to have a duplicate prepared in advance. Moreover, the prescription for the poison that Lianzhou had colluded with the doctor to prepare had already been discovered by Jiang Zhangyang. The shopkeeper and the doctor had confessed and were now in custody at the yamen. No matter what lies Lianzhou tried to tell now, she could not escape responsibility.

He Weifang gave Lianzhou two options: one, to live a free life under a new identity, find a man she liked, pursue her embroidery craft, and become independent; or two, to be sent back by Jiang Zhangyang to her adoptive father. In the end, Lianzhou chose to return to her adoptive father's household. He Weifang sighed lightly—Lianzhou had once again chosen to depend on others, continuing a life of humiliation and submission under someone else’s roof.

Having finally found a suitable reason to send Lianzhou away, they effectively removed the thorn Prince Ning had planted in the residence. Jiang Zhangyang was overjoyed and praised He Weifang for silently helping him eliminate several obstacles. When he asked what reward she wanted, He Weifang bluntly asked for several more jars of osmanthus wine.

Their peaceful days didn’t last long before one of the servants rushed to report to He Weifang that Lady Xiao had once again sent Xuexi to stay at the residence. He Weifang couldn’t help but sigh at the never-ending stream of grand guests. Xuexi was the treasured daughter of the Xiao family, and this stay at Jiang Zhangyang’s residence clearly had an agenda—evidently, the Princess intended to pair Xuexi with Jiang Zhangyang. Pei Zhong was infatuated with Xuexi.

Upon learning that the Princess intended to give her to Jiang Zhangyang, he could no longer hold back and tried every means to get close to her. Despite knowing the Princess’s intentions, Xuexi, still a pure and innocent young woman, accepted Pei Zhong’s invitation and arrived on time. However, Pei Zhong was far from the noble gentleman he appeared to be. To force Xuexi into submission, he even resorted to drugging her.

As soon as she drank a cup of tea, she began to feel drowsy. Fortunately, Jiang Zhangyang was boating nearby with He Weifang. He Weifang was curious why Jiang Zhangyang had suddenly become so romantic, but he pointed to a nearby window—through it, they could see the silhouettes of Pei Zhong and Xuexi, and He Weifang understood. Just after Pei Zhong and Xuexi drank their tea, he drew the curtains, which puzzled He Weifang.

Why draw the curtains while having tea? Jiang Zhangyang smiled meaningfully and deliberately caused a malfunction with the boat, creating the illusion of an accidental encounter, and went ashore to dine at the inn where Pei Zhong was staying. By that time, Pei Zhong had already removed his clothes and was holding Xuexi on the bed. Had Jiang Zhangyang arrived a moment later, Xuexi’s chastity would have been lost. He Weifang rushed ahead and hid behind the screen.

Seeing Xuexi’s torn clothing, she quickly covered her, while Jiang Zhangyang reminded Pei Zhong that a forced melon is never sweet, and that Xuexi was a virtuous woman. If she found out she had lost her innocence, she would never marry someone she didn’t love and might even choose to become a nun. Since the Xiao family only had this one daughter, they would never let Pei Zhong off easily.

Hearing this, Pei Zhong began to panic, and ultimately allowed Jiang Zhangyang to take Xuexi away. When Xuexi woke up, she was in tears. He Weifang comforted her gently, telling her that she just needed to be cautious of Pei Zhong in the future. Xuexi was deeply grateful for He Weifang’s rescue but could not speak openly of the humiliation she had suffered, as Pei Zhong was backed by the Princess.

She knew she would have to act carefully from now on. Liu Chang had recently noticed unfamiliar faces lingering around his boat and feared that his secrets might be exposed. He ordered his men to investigate these strangers thoroughly and later discovered that one of them frequently appeared near Jiang Zhangyang’s residence. Suspicious, Liu Chang began plotting to frame her again. At court, many officials were recommending the Imperial Consort’s son as Crown Prince.

The Emperor was growing weary of the matter. His advisers offered various suggestions, pointing out that it didn’t matter who took the position as long as he was capable and his mother was the Empress. Because of this, the Imperial Consort had become a thorn in the side of many. On one occasion, the Imperial Consort hosted a tea gathering for many noblewomen. Jiang Zhangyang brought He Weifang with him.

With good intentions, Jiang Zhangyang invited the Imperial Consort to try some pastries. He Weifang, upon tasting them, detected several ingredients—some of which would conflict with the Imperial Consort’s regular medicinal meals—so she advised her to eat them the next day instead. The Imperial Consort casually fed the pastry to her pet, but the animal began vomiting blood and collapsed dead shortly after. Enraged, the Imperial Consort immediately ordered an investigation to find the poisoner.

The doctor examined all the pastries, and only the Imperial Consort’s portion was poisoned. Clearly, the poison was meant for her specifically. However, someone present shifted the blame onto Jiang Zhangyang, claiming he was responsible for purchasing the ingredients and was therefore a suspect. They even demanded that the Princess imprison Jiang Zhangyang.

After learning that Jiang Zhangyang had been imprisoned, He Weifang was filled with anxiety. By evening, she went to the prison to visit him. At first, the constables refused to let them in, but fortunately, Qingxi brought an imperial decree from the Princess, which allowed them to see Jiang Zhangyang under the pretense of delivering food. Jiang Zhangyang immediately warned He Weifang to be cautious of Liu Chang and the County Princess.

Thanks to Jiang Zhangyang's warning, He Weifang realized who was behind it all. On her way back, she kept wondering why Jiang Zhangyang had been thrown into prison. Upon hearing that Liu Chang had taken people eastward, it suddenly became clear—Liu Chang was going to raid Jiang Zhangyang's shop. He Weifang immediately instructed Zhu Fu to send word to the shop to hide the ledgers and important items, while she thought of a way to stall for time.

He Weifang deliberately fell in the rain in front of Liu Chang’s sedan, claiming she had twisted her ankle and couldn’t walk, asking Liu Chang to take her back to Qingshuzhai. Liu Chang, feigning affection, lifted her chin with interest and invited her into his carriage. However, after traveling for a while, He Weifang realized Liu Chang was not taking her to Qingshuzhai but instead heading to her home.

Liu Chang had intercepted Zhu Fu, who was supposed to deliver the warning, so the message wouldn’t get out. He Weifang racked her brain for a solution and suddenly remembered the palace lantern Jiang Zhangyang had once given her. The lantern had four faces, each representing a different business and address. Jiang Zhangyang had told her that if anything happened, she should hang the face of the incident location outward. She immediately took out the lantern and hung it outside.

One of Jiang Zhangyang’s spies saw the signal and rushed to get help. The rescuers quietly sought out Xuexi, who immediately asked her father to intervene on Jiang Zhangyang’s behalf. At that time, Liu Chang was leading many soldiers to raid Jiang Zhangyang’s residence. The situation was becoming too unpredictable. He Weifang stood alone at the gate holding a sword personally bestowed by the Emperor. She reminded Liu Chang that a raid required an imperial edict.

When Liu Chang attempted to force his way in, He Weifang drew the sword and pressed it against his neck, warning him that one more step would end in bloodshed. At that critical moment, Xuexi’s messenger arrived with news: the Emperor had only punished Jiang Zhangyang for poor supervision by docking half a year’s salary, and he had already been released. It was a narrow escape.

He Weifang knew that if the message had been even half a minute later, she would not have been able to protect Jiang Zhangyang’s estate. In the end, power truly was the most expensive shield. After this brush with danger, Jiang Zhangyang greatly praised He Weifang’s bravery in the face of crisis. He Weifang humbly credited Xuexi’s intervention. She thought she could be Jiang Zhangyang’s capable aide, but had ended up like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Jiang Zhangyang looked at her with a smile and earnestly said, “You are not a fish—how can you know the joy of fish?” Perhaps she was exactly the kind of partner he needed. To thank Xuexi for her help, He Weifang prepared many precious skincare products as gifts. When Xuexi heard she was receiving scar-reducing creams, she jokingly asked whether the cream could heal scars that were over ten years old.

He Weifang was surprised and asked if Xuexi had such scars, then seriously sent more of the ointment. After He Weifang left, Xuexi went to see Jiang Zhangyang. The truth was, Jiang Zhangyang had a scar under his arm that could only be seen through intimate contact. Xuexi deduced that Jiang Zhangyang and He Weifang were in a fake marriage. Realizing he couldn’t keep it from her, Jiang Zhangyang nodded and urged her not to tell anyone.

The County Princess heard that Liu Chang had bought several crates of goods from He Weifang’s shop and was consumed with jealousy. That night, she secretly ordered people to dump a large amount of flammable grease around the shop. At the time, He Weifang was hosting a banquet for her staff. Late at night, when everyone was tipsy, a massive fire broke out, turning the shop into a sea of flames.

Liu Chang had already arrived nearby but, wanting to play the part of the hero rescuing the beauty, waited until the fire was fully ablaze before making his move. However, before Liu Chang could act, the County Princess arrived with her guards. She even forbade Liu Chang from rescuing He Weifang, declaring that as long as He Weifang lived, she would always suspect Liu Chang of harboring divided loyalties. For the sake of their marriage, He Weifang had to die that night.

The flames grew fiercer as Li Youzhen ordered her guards to completely surround He Weifang’s shop—no one was allowed in or out. Liu Chang grew frantic as he was unable to go in and save He Weifang, but Li Youzhen refused to let him through. As the screams from inside became increasingly harrowing, Liu Chang, driven to desperation, grabbed Li Youzhen by the throat and forced her to open the door.

Struggling to breathe, Li Youzhen had no choice but to comply. Just as Liu Chang rushed in with people and buckets of water, the fire intensified and they could hardly get close. Jiang Zhangyang soon arrived with reinforcements. He Weifang crawled out of the blaze but, seeing others trapped inside, she soaked her clothes in water and rushed back into the flames. Jiang Zhangyang couldn’t find He Weifang and panicked.

Without a second thought for his own safety, he charged into the fire to look for her. At that time, the Crown Prince was also trapped in the inferno. Jiang Zhangyang’s elder sister had been pinned down by a collapsed beam and was unable to move. She urged Jiang Zhangyang to rescue the Crown Prince first, to prevent disaster. At the critical moment, Jiang Zhangyang carried the Crown Prince out to safety.

On his way back to find his sister, he nearly suffocated in the smoke. Fortunately, He Weifang found him, shook him awake, and together they rescued his sister. He Weifang collapsed just after saving Jiang Zhangyang. When she woke up, she hurried to Fang Garden. What had once been a thriving, elegant place was now reduced to ruins. All she could see was devastation.

Thinking of the things she cherished, she asked whether any of her flowers were still alive in the greenhouse. Xiaochun smiled and led her there. After saving the residents of Fang Garden, Jiang Zhangyang had gone back to rescue the peonies, so a few vibrant blooms still remained among the rubble. These flowers gave He Weifang hope and strength to go on. Upon hearing that He Weifang had awakened, Jiang Zhangyang came to visit.

Seeing his hands burned and his voice hoarse from smoke, He Weifang felt deeply distressed. She remembered how terrified she had been when she saw him collapse in the fire. Fortunately, fate had spared him. Though both kept their expressions calm, they each knew the other had grown increasingly important in their heart. Things were far from peaceful in Li Youzhen’s manor. Furious that He Weifang had not perished in the fire, Li Youzhen smashed nearly everything in sight.

Liu Chang stood coldly nearby and even helped smash the last remaining vase. Her cruelty chilled him. Had he not intervened, not a single person would have made it out of Fang Garden alive. Li Youzhen raised her hand to slap Liu Chang, but he caught her wrist mid-air and coldly asked if she planned to repeat her old tricks—would she someday treat him the same way she had her ex-husband, killing him and burning the body?

Li Youzhen was shocked that Liu Chang knew what she had done. She forced back tears and pretended to look pitiful, saying she had always loved him and begging him not to treat her so coldly. Otherwise, she vowed, she wouldn’t let He Weifang live in peace. Liu Chang was well aware of what Li Youzhen was capable of. To protect He Weifang, he chose to compromise and agreed to move back into Li Youzhen’s chambers.

With Fang Garden destroyed, He Weifang had no choice but to take her staff and begin repurchasing goods and fixtures in preparation for reopening. During one of her shopping trips, she found a hairpin that suited Jiang Zhangyang perfectly. She immediately bought it and asked Zhu Fu to deliver it to him. However, Zhu Fu was called away on urgent business and asked Qin Liulang to deliver it instead.

Qin Liulang, who had long been jealous of how close Jiang Zhangyang was to He Weifang, finally saw his chance. He repeatedly assured Zhu Fu that he would deliver it, then swapped the hairpin, breaking the one He Weifang had carefully chosen and placing the broken piece into the wooden box. Originally, Jiang Zhangyang was delighted to hear that He Weifang had sent him a gift. But upon seeing the broken hairpin, his expression darkened.

He thought he had been mistaken—perhaps she didn’t want to reconcile. Wasn’t this broken pin a clear sign of rejection? Respecting what he believed to be her decision, Jiang Zhangyang began keeping his distance from her. Unaware of what Qin Liulang had done, He Weifang thought it was Jiang Zhangyang who was deliberately avoiding her. A misunderstanding quietly began to grow between them.

One day, while He Weifang and Zhu Fu were working in the courtyard, they suddenly saw two palace officials arrive. Holding measuring sticks, the men were taking measurements here and there. He Weifang found it odd and went up to ask what was going on.

The palace men explained that the Princess Royal had heard that Xiao Xuexi was fond of pavilions and terraces, so she intended to have the old house on the east side torn down and rebuilt into a scenic pavilion. Zhu Fu was shocked. The so-called “old house” they referred to was actually their sleeping quarters. She couldn't believe their home was being demolished just because Xiao Xuexi liked pavilions.

He Weifang quietly signaled Zhu Fu not to argue and went back to arranging the stage for Xuexi's birthday celebration. The stage had already been decorated with rose petals, and a large peony flower was designed in the center—a stunning sight. But Xuexi invited sword dancers to perform on it, ruining the beautiful petals. He Weifang also noticed two tea cups Xuexi had prepared, engraved with the phrases “Qing Qing Zi Jin” and “You You Wo Xin.”

Whether these cups were gifts from Xuexi or Jiang Zhangyang, they clearly expressed mutual affection. Not wanting to dwell on it, He Weifang quietly left halfway through and returned to her room. Emboldened by the alcohol, Xuexi approached Jiang Zhangyang and leaned into his arms. Jiang Zhangyang, having seen much of the world, gently reminded her that she must be drunk. But Xuexi confessed she wasn’t drunk at all.

She said she had liked Jiang Zhangyang since childhood, but regrettably, they had been separated for many years. Now, she was glad they were finally reunited. Jiang Zhangyang knew Xuexi’s nature well. He explained that in his youth, he had said some inappropriate things out of ignorance, but after all these years, he could only regard her as a sister—never a wife. This statement completely shattered Xuexi’s hopes.

Since the river of emotion flowed only one way, she no longer wished to fool herself. When Jiang Zhangyang heard that the palace supervisor planned to tear down He Weifang’s residence, he immediately objected sternly, declaring that this was his own palace compound and not even the Princess Royal could arbitrarily alter his quarters.

Hearing his argument with the supervisor, Xuexi quickly stepped in and told the supervisor to stop construction, saying she was only staying for a few days before moving to the Princess Royal’s residence to keep her company. With her explanation, the supervisor left to report back. That night, Jiang Zhangyang returned to his quarters and saw He Weifang roasting food over a fire.

She forced a smile and told him that she would be moving back to Fang Garden the next day, so this would be the last meal she cooked for him. Jiang Zhangyang was surprised. When he heard it was because Xuexi wanted to renovate the garden, he realized He Weifang had misunderstood and didn’t yet know he had already canceled the renovation. He casually replied that she was welcome to stay whenever she liked.

He Weifang was still investigating the arson at Fang Garden. By now, she had nearly figured out that a substance called “Xuanqing Fire Oil” had been smuggled in hidden in boxes and used to start the blaze late at night. Xuanqing Fire Oil was highly flammable and slow-burning, which explained why the garden was consumed so quickly. Since ordinary households couldn’t possibly access such contraband, He Weifang suspected an official family.

After careful deduction, she recalled that Liu Chang had visited their estate the day before the fire to buy a large number of accessories. She speculated that it was Li Youzhen, driven by jealousy, who had secretly instructed the sailors to smuggle in the fire oil. However, getting the sailors to testify that Li Youzhen had ordered the theft was no easy task. When Jiang Zhangyang learned that He Weifang had already captured two of the sailors, he rushed over.

Li Youzhen had the powerful Ren Jingzhao behind her, and the sailors were bound by deadly loyalty oaths—getting a confession from them would be extremely difficult. At Fang Garden, Jiang Zhangyang met with He Weifang and proposed that he interrogate the sailors himself. He had plenty of experience dealing with desperate criminals. He Weifang’s goal was to make Li Youzhen pay for her crimes, while Jiang Zhangyang sought revenge against Prince Ning.

Once again, they found common cause and agreed to join forces. He Weifang had the brains, but she needed Jiang Zhangyang’s support to succeed. Together, they made a formidable team, and soon drew the emperor’s attention to the matter of Xuanqing Fire Oil. This fire oil was used in weapons forging, and Ren Jingzhao had long been illegally hoarding such contraband.

When the emperor learned that large quantities of restricted items from Ren Jingzhao’s estate had gone missing, he was furious and summoned Ren for questioning, ordering the Court of Judicial Review to investigate thoroughly. Afraid that her actions would implicate her adoptive father, Li Youzhen knelt before the emperor and confessed that she had set fire to Fang Garden. The emperor sentenced her to flogging.

As He Weifang watched the whip strike Li Youzhen, she thought of all the people who had been injured or killed because of her—and finally felt that justice had been served.

With no one else around, He Weifang stepped forward and, seeing Li Youzhen in her awkward state, questioned her. She asked if Li Youzhen had ever thought about the people who would get hurt when she carried out such ruthless acts. Now she had only received a whipping, but those she had harmed or even killed before were too many to count. Her obsession had long strayed from the right path. He Weifang urged her to stop.

But Li Youzhen remained defiant, believing that using certain methods for the sake of love was justified. He Weifang picked up the hairpin that had fallen from Li Youzhen during the beating and placed it beside her before walking away. Li Youzhen was left alone—whether she felt a hint of regret, no one could say. That night, Zhu Fu saw He Weifang still working at her desk and brought her a cup of water.

He Weifang advised Zhu Fu to rest early. As they chatted, the conversation drifted to Jiang Zhangyang. Zhu Fu felt that Jiang Zhangyang was cold-hearted, but He Weifang disagreed. She believed that after all they had been through, they knew each other too well, and no one could drive a wedge between their mutual understanding.

A few days later, He Weifang returned to pack some things she had left behind, only to discover that Jiang Zhangyang had written her a letter of release. She accepted it with a calm smile, but upon learning that he had written it out of concern—that what he was currently doing might implicate her—she understood he was trying to ensure her safety. Without hesitation, He Weifang tore the letter to pieces.

She had already made up her mind to share Jiang Zhangyang’s fate, for if they were to sail the same boat, how could she leave herself an escape route? As long as Prince Ning remained alive, he would always covet the throne and scheme restlessly. He had people investigate Jiang Zhangyang’s background, and all the reports claimed Jiang Zhangyang was nothing more than a man of pleasure who chased fame and fortune—hardly a threatening figure.

If not for Liu Chang’s added commentary, Prince Ning might have believed it. But Liu Chang insisted that Jiang Zhangyang was extremely shrewd, appearing harmless on the outside, while in fact, everything he did undermined the prince’s interests—like the recent destruction of a large stock of fire oil, which had delayed their weapons manufacturing. This aroused Prince Ning’s suspicions, and he began plotting to search Jiang Zhangyang’s estate for evidence.

Prince Ning deliberately chose the day the emperor was visiting Jiang Zhangyang’s residence to join in, bringing several crates of shadow puppets to entertain the emperor. He claimed he was preparing to retire from military life and return to the countryside, all the while expressing unwavering loyalty. Of course, the emperor understood his real intentions.

He knew full well that Prince Ning had no intention of relinquishing power, but played along, saying they would always be like brothers and that he couldn’t bear to see Prince Ning step down at this time. During the banquet, when the wine ran out, Prince Ning suggested that Jiang Zhangyang’s estate was rumored to store fine wine, and volunteered to go fetch some himself.

Jiang Zhangyang had stood up to help retrieve the wine, but Prince Ning insisted on sending his own guards. Seeing that the atmosphere was about to sour, Jiang Zhangyang had no choice but to sit back down and allow Prince Ning’s men to proceed. Prince Ning secretly passed orders to Liu Chang, instructing him to lead a group of guards to search each courtyard. When they encountered hollow walls, they even brought axes to break them open.

Prince Ning ordered his men to search for a secret passage with all their might. The sound of walls being smashed echoed through the residence. Although Jiang Zhangyang appeared to be calmly playing the guzheng, he was inwardly anxious. The melody he played was chaotic, and though it looked like he was performing, he was actually sending a coded signal. He Weifang picked up on it from the tune and immediately went to assist with the diversion.

As the smashing sounds grew louder, Prince Ning saw Jiang Zhangyang’s growing anxiety and began to feel triumphant, convinced he would finally catch Jiang Zhangyang red-handed today. When the wall collapsed with a thunderous sound, Liu Chang smugly ordered his men to inform Prince Ning, who arrogantly invited the emperor to come inspect Jiang Zhangyang’s secret passage. At the entrance to the passage, Jiang Zhangyang pleaded with Prince Ning to show some mercy and spare him some dignity.

But Prince Ning had no intention of backing down. He deliberately invited the emperor to go down into the passage, believing it would be filled with hidden military supplies or secret plans. To his surprise, the passage held nothing but items related to sensual pleasures—such as the Huayue Manual, bedroom furnishings, and other private curios. These were indeed things one would rather keep out of sight. Prince Ning had gone to great lengths, only to discover these things.

Jiang Zhangyang immediately accused Liu Chang of repeatedly disturbing the peace of his household and now even tearing down walls to expose his private preferences to the public—clearly harboring malicious intent. He advised Prince Ning not to be manipulated by such petty men. Liu Chang had no choice but to swallow his frustration. On the way back, he repeatedly reaffirmed his loyalty to Prince Ning. But Prince Ning was no fool.

This time, he refrained from scolding Liu Chang too harshly and only reminded him that in the future, he must act with more caution. He didn’t care for declarations of loyalty—only for results. Soon came the day of the imperial tribute. Many tribes from the frontier arrived in the capital to pay homage. Though their visit was symbolic of submission, their sharpness was evident—they immediately challenged the court to tests of martial skill.

A princess from a small border tribe, A Shinadan, boldly proposed an archery contest. Noble Consort Shu, whose skill matched hers, took on the challenge. But having recently given birth, she was physically weakened and could not keep up with the younger A Shinadan for long without risking her health. Seeing this, Jiang Zhangyang suggested a new challenge: to shoot down plum blossoms. In the end, Noble Consort Shu claimed a swift and graceful victory.

Although A Shinadan lost, someone else raised a new question—why were there no flowers in the palace? The capital was renowned for its peonies, yet none were in sight. It was the dead of winter, not the season for blooms—clearly, this was a deliberate provocation. Yet the emperor was unwilling to admit defeat. Jiang Zhangyang exchanged a glance with He Weifang, silently asking if she had a solution. After considering briefly, He Weifang nodded her confirmation.

Jiang Zhangyang then stepped forward to explain that in a grand empire like theirs, there were skilled gardeners everywhere—including his own wife. He took He Weifang’s hand in front of the crowd and declared that she was an expert in cultivating peonies and that, before long, even in the dead of winter, she would have them blooming in full glory. To make this possible, He Weifang stayed in the heated greenhouse day and night, never leaving the peonies’ side.

Jiang Zhangyang became a dutiful assistant, regularly bringing her food to replenish her energy. Though they were a couple in name only, they supported and accommodated each other. Their teamwork was seamless and deeply in sync.

Through relentless effort, He Weifang and Jiang Zhangyang finally succeeded in cultivating blooming peonies right on schedule. He Weifang delivered the exquisite, improved varieties to the capital and arranged them with great care. Initially, the blossoms were hidden behind folding screens, and the guests were invited to admire the landscape paintings on them first. Many of the guests who had come to the capital with ulterior motives were not sincere in their admiration.

When the emperor instructed them to appreciate the paintings instead of viewing the flowers directly, murmurs of discontent began to spread. Then He Weifang and Jiang Zhangyang appeared before the guests, dressed in formal attire, calm and confident. When the sunlight reached its peak, He Weifang ordered the screens to be removed. The dazzling sight of blooming peonies drew gasps of admiration. None had ever seen such vibrant flowers blossoming in the middle of winter.

The garden was bursting with color, and countless butterflies and rare birds flew toward the peonies, creating a magnificent spectacle that moved some guests to tears. He Weifang, Jiang Zhangyang, and many officials offered their blessings to the flourishing reign and wished the emperor health and longevity. The emperor, overjoyed, bestowed upon He Weifang the title of “The Empire’s Number One Flower Merchant.” That evening, the emperor invited He Weifang and Jiang Zhangyang to a celebratory banquet.

After all the effort and stress of recent days, the overwhelming praise they received felt especially rewarding. When Jiang Zhangyang exchanged glances with He Weifang, he couldn’t help but smile with joy. The emperor asked them to stay the night in the palace. Jiang Zhangyang had thought He Weifang might refuse, but to his surprise, she graciously accepted with a composed gesture. That night, He Weifang and Jiang Zhangyang shared a bed.

With the crisis behind them, He Weifang asked what Jiang Zhangyang planned to do next. Jiang Zhangyang refused to say, explaining that the matter he was involved in was extremely dangerous and that it would be better if she stayed out of it. Knowing too much would only put her at greater risk. He Weifang felt a tinge of sadness—after all they had endured together, sharing hardships and storms, was he now casting her aside?

But Jiang Zhangyang assured her he would never reject her. He simply believed she deserved a better life. Now that the emperor had officially honored her, her business would only thrive from here on, and as long as nothing went wrong, she could live in peace. He Weifang didn’t want to hear more. She got out of bed and walked to the side hall where the peonies were kept. Jiang Zhangyang followed.

Standing before the radiant, fragrant peonies, He Weifang sighed that though they might shine brightly for a moment, in the end, they still could not defy the will of heaven—they could only bloom gloriously for a fleeting time. Slightly tipsy after a few drinks, her usual tension released, He Weifang confessed her feelings to Jiang Zhangyang under the influence of wine. Jiang Zhangyang gently held her, letting her rest against his chest to sleep more comfortably.

The next day, He Weifang and Jiang Zhangyang were preparing to leave the palace. Just then, Xiao Xuexi arrived to pay her respects to the emperor. He Weifang generously told Jiang Zhangyang to accompany Xiao Xuexi to the audience, while she herself rode back alone in a carriage. Commander Pei Zhong happened to be behind them. Seeing how decisively He Weifang gave Jiang Zhangyang and Xiao Xuexi a moment together, he was stunned.

When he asked where He Weifang had gone and heard from a servant that she had gone off to enjoy nature, he found it even more unbelievable. Back at Fang Garden, He Weifang saw many people waiting at the gate—they were members of the Flower Merchants’ Guild, though she had no idea why. Guild leader Lv Gengchun stepped forward to salute her and offered words of congratulations.

He then proposed that since He Weifang had received a personal honor from the emperor, which was also a point of pride for the guild, they hoped she would accept the position of guild leader. He Weifang was quite surprised by the offer. She immediately asked if becoming guild leader would allow her to change certain rules.

Upon receiving confirmation, she took the official letter of appointment and publicly declared a major change: from now on, women would be allowed to join the guild and enjoy the same rights as men. After that, she returned the guild leader’s token to Lv Gengchun, saying that she never intended to take the role for long. Having served as leader for a quarter of an hour and enacted the change she wanted, she was content.

Since the former leader had always been fair and had done no wrong, he should continue in his post and lead everyone to prosperity. He Weifang’s openness and generosity earned her widespread praise.