In the Name of Blossom Episode 3 Recap
> In the Name of Blossom Recap
After Jiang Zhangyang's diligent efforts, He Weifang and Chun were finally released, their false charges cleared. Chun's father came to fetch her, and having witnessed her ordeal, he changed his perspective, giving her permission to continue practicing medicine and returning her medical books. He apologized for doubting her and praised her skills, acknowledging He Weifang's care for her.
Qin Liulang arrived shortly after their return, bringing wound medicine from Doctor Fu for He Weifang's injuries and replenishing soup for both her and Chun, urging them to rest. Jiang Zhangyang also arranged for a carriage to bring He Weifang home. Later, Lian Zhou prepared herself after bathing, applying the custom of burning incense, stating it was to ward off evil spirits and for good fortune before seeing He Weifang. She encountered Jiang Zhangyang bringing flowers.
He clarified he bought them, adding he wouldn't dare provoke He Weifang nowadays. Lian Zhou tried to express her longing, stating she belonged entirely to him and noting he had never spent the night in her room since their marriage. Jiang Zhangyang, however, told her frankly that since He Weifang arrived, he had no interest in other women.
He offered to let Lian Zhou pick whatever she liked from the warehouse as compensation, acknowledging he had wronged her, and then left. That evening, Jiang Zhangyang had Chuan Yu bring a brazier into He Weifang's room, explaining it was meant to ward off evil and dry hair. He offered to comb her hair, which was tangled after her time in prison. He teased her gently but noted her resilience.
As he tried to comb, she suggested cutting the matted hair, remarking on the dead knot. Jiang Zhangyang observed her injuries, acknowledging the hardship she had endured, including marks seemingly from whips on her body according to the plot summary. He Weifang mused about their pretense becoming too real and joked about the Matchmaker God. Jiang Zhangyang declared he wasn't interested in love and would sever any red thread himself if tangled.
He Weifang learned that Lian Zhou was taking an interest in gardening. She visited Lian Zhou's room with insect repellent, noticing Zhao Cai clumsily trying to transplant flowers. He Weifang pointed out that peonies shouldn't be transplanted while in full bloom and advised against Zhao Cai's method. Lian Zhou explained she was raising flowers for fun and hadn't realized the intricacies, stating she would stick to painting and playing instruments instead. He Weifang noticed packed bags on the table.
Lian Zhou admitted she planned to stay at Kaiyuan Temple for a few days to chant scriptures and pray for blessings regarding her relationship with Jiang Zhangyang, asking He Weifang not to stop her. He Weifang agreed (implicitly by not refusing) and commented that the kind of life Lian Zhou seemed to be aiming for was not something everyone was fortunate enough to experience.
Reflecting later on her visit, He Weifang recalled seeing Zhao Cai with Lian Zhou and also seeing him shovel soil after a reminder from Cai Wei. She questioned Zhao Cai's connection to Lian Zhou, wondering if Lian Zhou could recruit a servant from the Jiang Mansion so easily. She also interpreted an earlier interaction between Jiang Zhangyang and Zhao Cai as Jiang Zhangyang staging a performance, suggesting he was being watched by others.
Considering Jiang Zhangyang was often away from Chang'an and suspecting Zhao Cai was a man of Prince Ning, He Weifang worried Lian Zhou's sudden departure could be a cover for actions against Jiang Zhangyang. Determined to understand the situation, she decided to accompany Lian Zhou to Kaiyuan Temple, claiming she wished to offer incense for her mother. Chun insisted on accompanying He Weifang.
During this period, Lian Zhou was seen meeting privately with a merchant late at night, from whom she purchased an old dress with royal lotus patterns, an item commoners were forbidden to wear. She spoke about her family's prominent embroidery business in Jiangnan and her skill before their ruin by a corrupt official, explaining her lifelong wish to wear such beautiful clothes.
She believed that merchant status was lowly and unstable, and only by aligning with royal relatives and nobles could one find security and luxury. He Weifang, observing Lian Zhou's actions and words, reflected that Lian Zhou's past hardships had shaped her differently, leading her to seek dependence on powerful figures and live cautiously out of fear. He Weifang decided to keep what she witnessed a secret. Meanwhile, Zhao Cai met with a General.
The General discussed the vacant Minister of Revenue position and the need to get Jiang Zhangyang to help Prince Ning's man secure the role. Zhao Cai confirmed He Weifang was not suspicious. The General suggested killing her would create opportunity, but Zhao Cai expressed concern about the resulting investigation. Zhao Cai then explained Lian Zhou's plan: she intended to poison He Weifang to cause muteness, thus diminishing her appeal to Jiang Zhangyang, who valued her eloquence.
The plan was that Lian Zhou would then comfort Jiang Zhangyang and fulfill Prince Ning's expectations. After returning from Kaiyuan Temple, Lian Zhou approached He Weifang, stating she had listened to her earlier advice, accepted that divination showed no destined relationship with Jiang Zhangyang, and now wished to learn business from He Weifang to secure her future financially and avoid helplessness in old age.
He Weifang accepted her request to learn and gave her a pair of peony cups as an apprenticeship gift. Later, He Weifang hosted a tasting of new wine from Jin Niang in the Fragrance Garden, joined by Lv Gengchun and Lian Zhou. Lian Zhou presented one of the peony cups He Weifang had given her and offered He Weifang wine in it. He Weifang drank from the cup. Following the wine tasting, He Weifang fell ill.
News reached the Jiang Mansion that the Fragrance Garden was open late and Lv Gengchun had gone there, indicating He Weifang's condition had worsened due to the poison taking effect. Lian Zhou was present when Chun reported He Weifang's severe throat pain and inability to speak despite her medical efforts. Lian Zhou feigned distress, dropping cups and instructing her servant to destroy them quickly.
At Fifth Watch, Jiang Zhangyang was informed of He Weifang's illness in the Fragrance Garden and immediately went there. He found Lian Zhou present and asked about her health; she insisted she was fine. He Weifang confronted Lian Zhou, asking why she was unharmed and presenting an intact peony cup similar to the one Lian Zhou had broken.
He Weifang revealed that since she suspected Lian Zhou after seeing her with Zhao Cai, she had her followed and discovered she was preparing poison subtly applied inside the cup wall. However, He Weifang had already acquired an identical pair of cups beforehand; the one Lian Zhou smashed was non-toxic, while the poisoned one remained in He Weifang's hand.
Lian Zhou denied the accusations, claiming He Weifang had encouraged her to buy the cups to get closer, and minimized her contact with Zhao Cai as merely helping with flowers. He Weifang then produced signed confessions from Mr. Zhang (the geomancer who provided the poison) and Zhao Cai, secured by the authorities. During this confrontation, Lian Zhou's hidden martial arts skill was revealed when she resisted detention.
He Weifang questioned her motives and highlighted the severity of a servant harming a master or official. Zhao Cai's confession, presented as evidence, stated that Lian Zhou had sent him to kill Jiang Zhangyang, though he claimed he didn't want to carry out the order and was forced by her. Jiang Zhangyang noted Lian Zhou's well-hidden martial arts abilities. After Jiang Zhangyang allowed He Weifang to handle the matter, she addressed Lian Zhou.
He Weifang acknowledged Lian Zhou's possible resentment for lacking Jiang Zhangyang's affection and feeling her youth was wasted, but she could not tolerate Lian Zhou's actions, despite believing Lian Zhou's conscience prevented her from aiming for death rather than muteness.
She offered Lian Zhou a choice: be sent back to Prince Ning's Mansion, her adoptive father, and likely face continued struggles and dependency, or change her name, leave for a distant place, and make a living with her embroidery skills, potentially finding independence and happiness. Lian Zhou expressed gratitude for the kindness but stated her heavy obligation to Prince Ning and her failure to win Jiang Zhangyang's heart for him. She chose to be sent back to Prince Ning's Mansion.
Jiang Zhangyang later informed his adoptive father, Prince Ning, that He Weifang had handed over their servant, Zhao Cai, to the authorities for disposal and had returned Lian Zhou to him as she was his adopted daughter.
