In the Name of Blossom Episode 9 Recap
> In the Name of Blossom Recap
The sounds of walls being broken down echoed through the mansion as Prince Ning commanded his men to search for a secret passage. Jiang Chang Yang played the guzheng, but the disordered tune, while seemingly played, was actually a signal. He Wei Fang, discerning the message in the music, immediately moved to help transfer hidden items.
As the demolition continued, Prince Ning grew increasingly smug, believing Jiang Chang Yang's nervousness indicated he was close to finding something incriminating. The wall finally collapsed, and Liu Chang, Prince Ning's subordinate, triumphantly sent word to Prince Ning, who then invited the Emperor to witness the discovery. At the entrance to the newly exposed room, Jiang Chang Yang implored Prince Ning for discretion and dignity, but Prince Ning refused. He led the Emperor into the hidden space, expecting to find treasures or hidden resources. Instead, they discovered a collection of items related to romance and bedroom secrets. Jiang Chang Yang seized the moment to accuse Liu Chang of repeatedly disturbing the peace of his mansion and today, under false pretenses of authority, demolishing his walls and exposing his private hobbies to the public. He argued that Liu Chang was acting with malicious intent and warned Prince Ning against being used by such a person. Jiang Chang Yang revealed the room had been set up behind He Wei Fang's back, stating Liu Chang's actions had caused it to be exposed and threatened to cause chaos in his household.
Prince Ning instructed Liu Chang, whom he addressed as Zi Shu, to apologize to Jiang Chang Yang for his reckless behavior and lack of consideration. Liu Chang offered to drink three cups as punishment, hoping for forgiveness. Jiang Chang Yang refused the offer, referencing an earlier scandal involving Liu Chang at Liu Mansion in Luoyang and his ill intentions towards Jiang Chang Yang's concubine. He stated that if not for Prince Ning's presence, he would have long ago broken Liu Chang's other leg. Jiang Chang Yang expressed his dismay that Prince Ning's trust in him had wavered after Liu Chang's arrival and challenged Prince Ning to search everything if he had any further doubts, so that he wouldn't have to live in constant apprehension. The Emperor intervened, vouching for Jiang Chang Yang, who had been by his side since childhood, and attributing the day's events solely to Liu Chang's actions. He suggested since the misunderstanding was cleared, they should not remain sober.
After Prince Ning and Liu Chang departed, the Emperor thanked He Wei Fang for her help. Jiang Chang Yang and the Emperor discussed the near exposure. Jiang Chang Yang admitted he had underestimated Prince Ning's suspicion and should have prepared a better backup plan, blaming himself as the lives of many depended on him and a single misstep could ruin years of planning. The Emperor reassured him, praising his loyalty and wisdom and stating that the burden of the empire was something Jiang Chang Yang helped alleviate. Jiang Chang Yang reminded the Emperor of their prior agreement that if faced with the danger of exposure, the Emperor must immediately sever ties with him for safety, regretting that the Emperor defended him earlier. The Emperor confessed that in the moment, he couldn't bear to abandon Jiang Chang Yang. Jiang Chang Yang insisted that precisely because they were like brothers, the Emperor must prioritize righteousness above loyalty and let him go if such a danger arose again, for the peace of the world. He Wei Fang pledged her full support, stating that she acts not just for personal gain but for the welfare of the country, as corrupt officials harm merchants too, seeing their alliance as beneficial for herself as well. The Emperor commended her chivalry and considered meeting her a fortunate event, agreeing to drop formalities when acting and calling him "Mr. Third."
Meanwhile, Prince Ning questioned Liu Chang's actions. Despite Liu Chang's failure to find incriminating evidence, Prince Ning noted that Jiang Chang Yang's nervous demeanor confirmed his suspicion that the Jiang Mansion harbored secrets. Prince Ning told Liu Chang that he didn't need displays of loyalty, only results. He warned Liu Chang that future actions must be cautious and not rushed if they couldn't succeed in one strike, giving him a whip used for interrogating people. Liu Chang accepted the instruction.
After the incident, Jiang Chang Yang asked He Wei Fang about She Yan, who had left early to avoid being scolded. Jiang Chang Yang expressed gratitude to She Yan for flying around and helping set things up quickly before Liu Chang arrived, saving him much effort. He Wei Fang relayed She Yan's thanks to her and presented a gift from him: tolling bells tied with wild goose feathers, symbolizing growing old together, for Jiang Chang Yang and He Wei Fang's upcoming first anniversary. She Yan had sent the gift in advance as he might not be in Chang'an then. They both acknowledged the significance of the event. A flashback revealed He Wei Fang instructing Jiang Chang Yang's people during an earlier search to move all suspicious items away but keep some seemingly significant ones, explaining that if Prince Ning found nothing, he would only become more suspicious, as no one would bother hiding an empty house.
The time arrived for the New Year's Eve court session and the Spring Beginning feast, where envoys from various countries presented tributes. During the feast, a Nanzhao representative challenged Jiang Chang Yang, questioning why He Wei Fang, a merchant, was not given the tribute bamboo rice, implying she was neglected. He Wei Fang replied she was busy checking accounts at Huamanzhu. The Nanzhao representative commented on her focus on wealth, calling it an intolerable stench of money. Jiang Chang Yang defended his wife, stating her hands were for gardening, doing what she likes, and he handled the daily tasks. He added that once their courtyard gate was closed, living comfortably was most important, regardless of the perceived "stench of money." The Nanzhao King introduced Princess Ashina Dan, who requested to spar with the noble warriors. Consort Shu accepted the challenge.
In an archery contest, Princess Ashina Dan and Consort Shu were evenly matched. Recognizing that continued competition might exhaust the recently delivered Consort Shu, Jiang Chang Yang proposed changing the target from bullseyes to plum blossoms, making the challenge more difficult and elegant. Consort Shu won the contest. An envoy then inquired about the absence of peonies, the national flower, suggesting Tang was not as prosperous as Nanzhao, where it felt like spring year-round. The envoy challenged the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, to make peonies bloom in the snow.
Jiang Chang Yang stepped forward, stating that cultivating flowers was something his wife could easily do, introducing He Wei Fang as his wife and the renowned owner of Huamanzhu, known for cultivating famous peony varieties. He Wei Fang accepted the task, promising to present snow peonies in eight days to showcase the elegance of the Great Tang and foster friendly relations. The Emperor supported her promise, inviting everyone to the imperial garden to see the winter peonies bloom at that time.
He Wei Fang dedicated herself to cultivating the peonies in a heated greenhouse, instructing assistants to maintain the temperature. Jiang Chang Yang brought her food, explaining he had gone to Kaiyuan Temple for her mother and brought back lantern flowers for the Shunxing Festival. He performed the custom of lighting nine lanterns for blessings, sharing them with her as they were allies and her good luck benefited him too. He Wei Fang was touched by his thoughtfulness. As the deadline approached, He Wei Fang assured him the peonies would bloom on time, explaining she could predict the blooming time by feeling the softness of the buds. She demonstrated, and Jiang Chang Yang leaned in close. Noticing his red cheeks, He Wei Fang attributed it to the heat and went outside for air, prompting Jiang Chang Yang to remind her to dress warmly and avoid catching a cold.
