In the Name of Blossom Episode 20 Recap
> In the Name of Blossom Recap
Following the rebellion, the Emperor was forced to declare the treasonous rebels dead and publicly commend Prince Ning, stating that the loyal and brave Prince Ning had protected him and was a model for all officials. The Emperor expressed his immense grief, feeling as if his heart was on fire, but was helpless as all matters were put under Prince Ning's management, with all officials compelled to obey his orders without error.
Meanwhile, a stern warning was issued that anyone taking another step forward would be guilty of treason. At Jiang Mansion, Wuyong Hall was sealed off, raising concerns about Lady He's fate. Earlier, during the chaos, He Wei Fang, in tears, pulled out her hairpin to stab Liu Chang, but he knocked her unconscious and abducted her. His wife, Li You Zhen, secretly witnessed Liu Chang coercing He Wei Fang but chose not to intervene.
He Wei Fang later awoke to find herself imprisoned. When Liu Chang approached, she fiercely asserted that she already had a husband, Jiang Chang Yang, and demanded he behave himself. Liu Chang mockingly declared Jiang Chang Yang dead, stating that He Wei Fang, as a concubine of the traitor faction, should be made an official servant. He held her fate in his hands, promising to visit her daily, asserting that only they could stay together long-term.
Despite her trapped state, He Wei Fang maintained a fierce temperament. An imperial decree soon arrived, publicly branding Floral Envoy Jiang Chang Yang as a traitor who colluded with Shangfu Local Military Captain Pei Zhong to plot treason and rebellion, killing imperial scholars and officials. Conversely, Hedong Military Governor Yu Chang was lauded for killing traitors and loyally dying for the country, leading to his son, Yu Zheng, appointed Commander of the Hedong Army with military autonomy.
Yu Zheng, dismayed by the turn of events and the sudden death of his father, expressed his desire to return to Hedong to mourn, foregoing any political aspirations. Meanwhile, new scholar Zhang Qian, whom Jiang Chang Yang had once trusted and revealed all his plans to, had betrayed Jiang Chang Yang and defected to Prince Ning's side. Liu Chang praised Zhang Qian for giving testimony and making a "wise choice."
Zhang Qian, in turn, explained his defection was not out of fear but to fulfill his ambitions, recognizing that only by following Prince Ning could he achieve his goals, especially after nine years of Imperial Exams. However, Liu Chang harbored a deep disdain for Zhang Qian, reflecting that while Zhang Qian was much like himself, what he hated most in life was his own reflection.
After fully utilizing Zhang Qian, Liu Chang abandoned him without hesitation, poisoning his wine and declaring, "Once disloyal, never used again." Prince Ning and Liu Chang deliberated on their next moves. Prince Ning noted that despite seizing power in the capital, several military governors remained a threat. They needed a legitimate "mandate from Heaven" rather than relying solely on force.
He acknowledged that Yu Zheng, though disheartened, was not to be underestimated, as the Yu family still commanded respect among veteran generals and the Hedong Army was known for its bravery and loyalty to the Emperor. Liu Chang confirmed his understanding and revealed he had already placed a spy within the Hedong Army's escort fleet, prepared to "break" the army if it couldn't be used by Prince Ning.
Back in her confinement, He Wei Fang suffered immensely, bound in chains, almost wishing for death. Liu Chang, observing her intense gaze, did not want to force himself on her, preferring to wait patiently for her to change her mind. He told her not to hurt herself and promised to visit daily. When He Wei Fang refused to eat, Liu Chang coerced her by threatening his subordinates with violence, making her choose between her suffering and their safety.
Unable to bear innocent people being implicated, she ate the food. Alone in her despair that night, He Wei Fang, despite her chains making self-harm difficult, seemed to hear a voice calling her "Mudan." She looked up, as if seeing Jiang Chang Yang, who encouraged her to be strong, reminding her of the tenacious and intelligent "Mudan" he knew. The voice urged her not to be stuck forever, assuring her that like the bright moon, her light was everywhere.
This vision sparked a realization in He Wei Fang; she needed to survive to avenge Jiang Chang Yang. Thinking of this, she requested Liu Chang to provide her with various spices, claiming she wished to blend scents to relieve her boredom. Liu Chang, pleased by this small concession and the rare smile she offered, readily provided the requested ingredients. He Wei Fang then meticulously blended the spices.
When Liu Chang came to visit, he found the aroma rich and sweet, calming his mind. Unaware that the spices were poisonous, he soon fainted. He Wei Fang subtly mocked him, calling him an "unrelenting ghost," and was preparing to take his life while he was unconscious. Just as she was about to act, Li You Zhen, Liu Chang's wife, arrived.
Li You Zhen advised He Wei Fang against rash actions, reminding her that trading one life for another was not worthwhile. She acknowledged He Wei Fang's pain of losing her beloved, a pain Li You Zhen herself understood. She urged He Wei Fang not to imprison herself in eternal pain, reminding her that the Liu Chang who once loved her was gone. Li You Zhen suggested escaping rather than exchanging one life for another, revealing that the courtyard was unwatched.
When asked why she would help, Li You Zhen explained her own disillusionment with the false affections she had experienced in life, including her father using her as a pawn, and stated that only her deep bond with Zi Shu was true. She then urged He Wei Fang to leave. He Wei Fang, asserting her belief in fighting against destiny and striving with everything she had, temporarily let go of Liu Chang and escaped alone.
Coming out into the sunlight, her eyes reddened, reflecting on the torment she had endured and the pain of losing her lover, truly a hellish experience. Later, Liu Chang awoke to find Li You Zhen by his side. Furious, he immediately demanded to know if she had killed He Wei Fang.
Li You Zhen calmly reminded him that he had threatened to hate her forever if she harmed He Wei Fang, and assured him she had merely let He Wei Fang go, believing she would not return. She urged Liu Chang to let go as well, but he angrily accused her of breaking their peace and questioned why she couldn't accept He Wei Fang's absence from the world.
Convinced he could still keep He Wei Fang, Liu Chang immediately ordered his guards to initiate a thorough search for her throughout the residence and surrounding areas. As the guards combed the area, they discovered a piece of torn cloth near a long-sealed and unguarded Huanyun Tower, deducing that He Wei Fang had climbed out there. Liu Chang, pursuing closely, declared that despite He Wei Fang's cleverness, she could not escape his grasp.
He tried to coax her back, but He Wei Fang revealed herself from her hiding spot. She bravely confronted Liu Chang, asserting that her presence was not an act of hiding, but a trap. She revealed that if Li You Zhen hadn't stopped her, she would have taken his life earlier. He Wei Fang then declared that since Liu Chang didn't cherish his life, killing him there as a burial accompaniment for Sui Zhi would make no difference.
When Liu Chang questioned how she, alone, could kill him, He Wei Fang revealed that Sui Zhi's hidden guards were scattered across the city, and she had already joined them. She disclosed that several crossbows were aimed at their location from buildings outside the window, and that her dropping a wine cup would signal countless arrows to fly through the window, sealing Liu Chang's fate.
