The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 14 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
Duke Su arrives at Mount Meng with his men, where they detect a faint smell of sulfur powder and find bloodstains on rocks, along with a piece of cloth from Dong Fang Li's outer robe. Duke Su speculates that Dong Fang Li, rather than attacking him, might have been trying to rescue him and was injured in the process, suggesting he was coerced. Later, Duke Su reports to the Emperor that his uncle's son, Dong Wen, was also previously kidnapped.
The Emperor scolds him for not discovering the case sooner, stating that if he had, Dong Fang Li might not have died and the true culprit could have been found. The Emperor emphasizes that as Commander of the Imperial Guards, Duke Su must secure concrete evidence for every case. At Ruyi Pavilion, Fu Rong is troubled by Dong Fang Li's death and his supposed involvement in the gold mine.
Based on her encounter with him over the peony headpiece, she struggles to believe he was a wicked man. Her master, Liu Ru Yi, tells her that not everything in the world is black and white, and that even if Dong Fang Li had tried to embezzle gold, it wouldn't necessarily make him evil.
When Fu Rong asks what kind of person her master truly is, Liu Ru Yi evasively replies that she is merely a businesswoman content with supporting everyone at Ruyi Pavilion. Fu Rong goes fishing with Duke An, who observes her distracted state. He shares his philosophy on dealing with secrets kept by loved ones: one can either wait for the truth to be revealed or eventually force it out if waiting proves futile.
Fu Rong expresses her fear of either missing an opportunity by waiting too long or causing things to backfire by forcing the issue. On a hot day, Wu Baiqi approaches Fu Xuan and her maid, Bao Zhu. Explaining that his duties as a Corporal in the Imperial Guards leave him no time to manage Feng Lai Yi's accounts, he asks Fu Xuan to become the establishment's accountant.
He praises her meticulousness and mastery of the arts, suggesting she could become a renowned female accountant in Hengjing. He also points out how she avoided marriage proposals by taking refuge in Yun Luo Temple after Qi Ce's incident, implying she secretly enjoys recognition for her talents. Fu Xuan rejects his offer, stating she has no interest in such a public role and that if she were to be an accountant, it would only be for Ruyi Pavilion.
Duke An drops Fu Rong off at her residence just as Duke Su arrives. Duke Su shows Fu Rong a Ruyi emblem, explaining that he found it in a box in Dong Fang Li's study and that the same emblem appeared in Qi Ce's letter, suggesting it is the key to how both men were manipulated before their deaths.
Fu Rong asks for more time to explain the bangle she wears, which bears the same emblem and was a gift from a close person, fearing its hidden dangers. Duke Su, however, expresses his complete trust in her and says he will wait for her to be ready to tell him the truth. Suddenly, the sky darkens as a solar eclipse begins, causing panic in the streets. Amidst the chaos, Fu Xuan is separated from Bao Zhu.
A thief snatches her purse, but Wu Baiqi intervenes, kicking the thief and retrieving several purses, identifying Fu Xuan's by its lotus embroidery. Fu Xuan thanks him but questions his use of violence, which he defends as effective. Startled by the sound of a nearby gong, she instinctively clings to Wu Baiqi, to his delight. When she asks for her purse back, he playfully buys it from her with silver and keeps it for himself.
In the darkness, Fu Rong curses Duke Su, but her words are drowned out by loud gongs. Annoyed, she snatches a gong and bangs it furiously until the sky brightens again, playfully comparing herself to the goddess Nuwa. After the eclipse, they return to their serious conversation, confirming the Ruyi emblem's connection to Qi Ce and Dong Fang Li and the belief that both were exploited.
Duke Su reiterates his unwavering trust in Fu Rong regarding her bangle and the truth she is hiding. During the morning court session, as the Emperor asks his officials about the ominous solar eclipse, an urgent report arrives from Jichang City. It announces the sudden collapse of Mount Tai, which caused numerous casualties and severely damaged Yu Hua Pavilion and Hong Fu Temple, prompting the Emperor to adjourn the court.
In a subsequent private meeting, Duke An suggests to the Emperor that the disaster might be a heavenly sign of an old injustice, specifically mentioning the destruction of Hong Fu Temple. The Emperor, however, swiftly dismisses the insinuation, insisting there is no injustice to be found there.
Fu Rong confronts Liu Ru Yi again, demanding to know the meaning of the emblem on her bangle, why it connects to both Qi Ce and Dong Fang Li, and why Liu Ru Yi lied about it being her unique design. She also reveals she saw Liu Ru Yi in Hong Village, where Dong Fang Li had also been. Liu Ru Yi evasively replies that Fu Rong is her only disciple whom she wishes to protect.
She urges Fu Rong to keep the bangle safe, reassuring her that she would never harm her but offering no further explanation, leaving Fu Rong deeply frustrated. That night, Liu Ru Yi secretly visits Duke An at Ju Shui Pavilion. She confronts him for misusing the explosives, which she believed were for a small tablet inscription but instead caused the collapse of Mount Tai, destroying Yu Hua Pavilion and Hong Fu Temple and killing many innocent people.
Duke An denies direct responsibility, blaming Shang Kai Yang, the Prefect of Jichang City, whom he admits to having cultivated. Disillusioned, Liu Ru Yi declares she will no longer cooperate with him. Afterward, Duke An instructs his aide, Wen Xing, to continue communicating with Shang Kai Yang using the alias "Mr. Liu" and to expedite matters concerning a "token."
The following morning, the Emperor dispatches Duke Cheng to inspect the royal mausoleum, Duke Su to Jichang City to investigate the mountain collapse, and Duke Huai to the ancestral hall to pray for the prosperity of the kingdom. Fu Rong sees Liu Ru Yi leave Ruyi Pavilion with a package and board a carriage heading toward Jichang City. Fu Rong quickly hires another carriage to follow.
On her way out of the city, she encounters Wu Baiqi on patrol and asks him to tell her family she and her master have gone to Yun Luo Temple. In the palace, Qi Zhu is speaking with Duke Huai when the Princess of Xihe appears, accusing Qi Zhu of flirting during a period of fasting.
Qi Zhu cleverly deflects the insult by reminding the Princess that gossip involving Duke Huai could reflect poorly on her in the eyes of his brother, Duke Su. Qi Zhu then manipulates the prideful Princess by suggesting she volunteer to go to Jichang City to console the families of fallen soldiers, pointing out she could stay at the local magistrate's office and see Duke Su daily. The Princess immediately resolves to seek the Emperor's permission.
In Jichang City, Prefect Shang Kai Yang greets Duke Su with an offer of warm wine and food. Duke Su declines the wine, citing the imperial fasting decree. Shang Kai Yang is baffled, as "Mr. Liu" had informed him that Duke Su was lecherous and fond of wine. He deduces that Duke Su must be tired of court beauties and decides to find some local women to please him instead.
Fu Xuan, suspicious of Fu Rong's uncharacteristic trip to Yun Luo Temple, goes to the Imperial Guards headquarters to see Wu Baiqi. When he confirms he did not see Liu Ru Yi with Fu Rong, her suspicion grows. Feigning a desire to light lamps at the temple, Wu Baiqi offers to accompany her, and she accepts. Meanwhile, Liu Ru Yi infiltrates Shang Kai Yang's residence and overhears him discussing "Mr. Liu" with a subordinate.
Shang Kai Yang reveals that Mr. Liu had guided his career and instructed him to detonate the mountain during the solar eclipse, not just to destroy a small tablet, but to cover up the fact that they had been secretly replacing Yu Hua Pavilion's valuable building materials. Hearing this, Liu Ru Yi realizes the full extent of Duke An's deceitful scheme.
