In the Name of Blossom Episode 18 Recap
> In the Name of Blossom Recap
Prince Ning, through his Minister of Agriculture, devised a plan to cut off oil supplies, making it impossible for impoverished students to study for the upcoming Imperial Exam. He ensured regular inspections of all storage, including animal poultry, to prevent anyone from making their own oil, effectively creating a monopoly that disadvantaged impoverished scholars, while aristocratic families remained unaffected.
Just as despair set in, Lady He arrived with a large supply of lamp oil that emitted a unique fragrance when burned. She had ingeniously discovered plant seeds from which oil could be refined, producing results comparable to animal fats. Lady He freely distributed these oils to the students, who were immensely grateful. Among them was Zhang Qian, a diligent scholar who had tirelessly pursued his studies.
Recognizing this year as his sole opportunity for the Imperial Exam, he personally sought out Lady He to express his profound gratitude for her timely assistance. Lady He meticulously tested various oil refining methods, settling on the most efficient one. She arranged for villagers to discreetly purchase sesame and rapeseed seeds in batches from the city, which were then processed to yield the fragrant oil.
She also devised a clever method to transport the oil into the city: by placing it in half-filled wine jars, allowing guards to sample wine from the bottom without discovering the hidden oil. To ensure the oil reached the students safely and discreetly without alerting Prince Ning, she insisted on personally overseeing its distribution, disguised as a man.
That night, as Jiang Chang Yang and Lady He prepared for bed, Lady He asked about the fire in Mengzhou that still haunted Jiang Chang Yang. He confessed that the tragic fire was Prince Ning's brutal warning to his political rivals, resulting in immense casualties.
While the incident laid bare the court's darkness for Jiang Chang Yang, he witnessed a glimmer of hope when Mr. Third, the Crown Prince, personally served porridge to the fire victims, even though Prince Ning was spreading rumors blaming the Crown Prince for the disaster. This act of kindness solidified Jiang Chang Yang's resolve to support Mr. Third, believing that only under his rule could the people achieve peace and stability.
He understood that handing control to Prince Ning would have dire consequences for the nation, but helping Mr. Third secure military power would allow the populace to live quiet, well-fed lives. Jiang Chang Yang resolutely chose the latter path. Prince Ning then pressured Jiang Chang Yang to steal the exam questions.
Understanding that outright refusal would create an immediate enemy, Jiang Chang Yang, acting as Sui Zhi, feigned eager compliance, even promising to regain his position as Floral Envoy to secure daily access to the Emperor and alleviate Prince Ning's "burdens." He assured Prince Ning he would manage the question drafting process through the Ministry of Rites.
When the Imperial Exam commenced, Prince Ning received a report that the test questions delivered by the tribute academy were identical to those provided by Jiang Chang Yang. Believing Jiang Chang Yang had become his loyal subordinate, Prince Ning felt his power was immense. However, Prince Ning's triumph was short-lived. During the exam, a student, specifically Zhu Qiong, the son of the Minister of Agriculture, carelessly set his paper alight while dozing, igniting a fire in the examination hall.
Rules stipulated that if even one exam paper was destroyed, all candidates must retake the exam with new questions. Jiang Chang Yang had meticulously planned this, having a man infiltrate the hall and tamper with the oil lamps so that a slight breeze could cause them to catch fire. This act ensured the fairness of the exam, negating Prince Ning's scheme, much to the dismay of the aristocratic students who had memorized the leaked questions.
Lady He, understanding Jiang Chang Yang's complex strategy, affectionately referred to him as a "fake villain" who could only be outwitted by Prince Ning, the "hypocrite." Lady He's business flourished, expanding even to Sheng County, thanks to her hands-on approach and exceptional business acumen. Each new branch achieved remarkable success. With both Jiang Chang Yang and Lady He diligently fulfilling their respective roles, their lives found a steady rhythm.
Prince Ning temporarily ceased bothering Jiang Chang Yang, who, reinstated to his original post, spent his days training military forces at a secret base. He returned each evening to reunite with Lady He, sharing peaceful moments of moonlit contemplation or intimate baths and conversations.
Jiang Chang Yang began fulfilling the promises he had made to Lady He, presenting her with gifts, embracing her, sharing intimate moments including the consummation of their marriage, and arranging a private fireworks display, ensuring their shared moments were filled with joy rather than past sorrows. One day, while traveling, Jiang Chang Yang met Prince Ning's concubine, Mu Dan, who was also a wealthy flower merchant.
They had a polite but subtly tense conversation, during which Jiang Chang Yang subtly mocked Prince Ning's chosen officials, hinting at their dull-wittedness. He and Lady He later discussed targeting the spoiled sons and nephews of aristocratic families to undermine Prince Ning's support, a strategy that resonated with Jiang Chang Yang's own insights. They continued to enjoy simple pleasures, like sharing spring pancakes from villagers and bathing together.
Jiang Chang Yang even surprised Lady He with a garment he had made for her. They also discussed practical matters, such as a plan for villagers to raise chickens and form partnerships, demonstrating their shared commitment to improving the lives of the common people. Soon, the results of the Spring Imperial Exam were posted. Many impoverished scholars, including Zhang Qian as the top scholar, were listed among the successful candidates, securing opportunities to serve the court.
This outcome undermined Prince Ning's aspirations to fill key official positions with his own favored individuals, as there were now no legitimate reasons to bypass these qualified new officials. Jiang Chang Yang, acting as Sui Zhi, subtly recommended Zhang Qian to the Emperor, suggesting he be given more responsibilities. The Emperor agreed to send Zhang Qian to a prefecture for two years, promising to entrust him with important tasks upon his return to the capital.
The Emperor also questioned Sui Zhi about how he uncovered the embezzlement of Minister Zhang of the Ministry of War, a move that had led to a purge and vacant positions. Sui Zhi revealed his cunning strategy: he exploited Minister Zhang's doting on his fourth son, who, when drunk with friends, inadvertently revealed his father's corrupt dealings.
He further exposed that Minister Zhang hid illicit gains in the residence of his least favored concubine, proving Sui Zhi's relentless and strategic approach to dismantling corrupt networks within the court.
