The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 16 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
Fu Xuan, concerned for Wu Baiqi after he was caught in the rain, discreetly sent her maid Bao Zhu to a reputable apothecary to obtain a special flu medicine for him, instructing Bao Zhu to keep her involvement a secret. Meanwhile, in Jichang City, Xu Jin, known as Duke Su, was concluding his investigation into a recent landslide.
He questioned local official Shang Kai Yang, implying Shang was aware the landslide was not natural and hinting at divine displeasure over the state of the empire. Shang Kai Yang, internally dismissing Duke Su as a bungling oaf, merely feigned obedience. Back in the capital, Fu Pin Yan worried about his daughter Fu Rong, who had been missing for days. Fu Xuan tried to reassure him. Unexpectedly, Duke An arrived, escorting a weary Fu Rong home.
Fu Rong explained to her father that her carriage had broken down and Duke An had kindly given her a ride. After Fu Pin Yan and Duke An departed, Fu Xuan confronted Fu Rong, demanding to know where she had been. Fu Rong, visibly distressed, explained she had been dealing with a difficult situation and had even lost track of her master, promising to reveal everything once the truth was clear.
Fu Xuan, however, remained concerned for their aging parents, urging Fu Rong to be more mindful. Upon his return to the capital, Xu Jin reported to the Emperor on his findings in Jichang City. He revealed that the Mount Tai landslide was man-made, caused by explosives containing sulfur and nitre found at the Yu Hua Summer House. Xu Jin suspected Shang Kai Yang, who had created a fake account book to conceal his crimes.
The real account book revealed that expensive white marble from Mount Mo had been fraudulently replaced with cheaper white granite from Mount Heng. The Emperor confirmed that Shang Kai Yang, exposed, had committed suicide at Yu Hua Summer House and left a confession that perfectly matched Xu Jin's investigation. The Emperor explained Shang Kai Yang feared discovery during a planned imperial visit and used a solar eclipse as a cover to destroy evidence by collapsing the summer house.
The Emperor then declared the matter closed. In a separate chamber, Duke An, reflecting on the situation, expressed his deep-seated animosity, stating he no longer sought an apology but now desired "blood for blood" from Xu Jin and the Emperor. Xu Jin later re-examined an unusual weapon left by an assassin: a unique, somewhat thicker silver needle. His subordinate noted its peculiar material and that it could bend freely for easy concealment, but was unable to identify it.
Elsewhere, two men reported to Duke Cheng, admitting their failure to capture a singer due to the unexpected intervention of a lady who offered to take the singer's place. Duke Cheng, recalling intelligence that Wu Baiqi had been searching for Fu Rong, deduced the intervening lady was most likely Fu Rong herself. Furious that Fu Rong had repeatedly thwarted his plans, Duke Cheng ordered his men to teach her a harsh lesson.
As Wu Baiqi was practicing a heartfelt speech to thank Fu Rong, he discovered her sister’s maid, Bao Zhu, lying unconscious. Realizing Fu Xuan was missing, he instructed Bao Zhu to return home silently and went in pursuit. He tracked a suspicious carriage to a remote house. Inside, Duke Cheng’s subordinate was berating his men for capturing Fu Xuan instead of Fu Rong.
When Wu Baiqi arrived, the subordinate, recognizing him, ordered his men to hand over Fu Xuan to distract Wu Baiqi and cover his own escape. The two men hastily fabricated a story, pretending to be human traffickers who had abducted Fu Xuan and were now "selling" her to Wu Baiqi. Wu Baiqi, playing along, paid them and took Fu Xuan, who was still unconscious. Fu Xuan woke up to find herself with Wu Baiqi.
Confused and upset, she tried to buy her freedom, only for Wu Baiqi to refuse. Playfully, she then offered to buy him for a large sum of silver. She questioned why, if her abductors were truly human traffickers, they hadn’t taken her money pouch. Wu Baiqi noted that they seemed eager to release her, suggesting they were not typical traffickers but had accomplices nearby.
Wu Baiqi then explained that he had originally come to her residence to thank her for the medicine she secretly sent him, which had prevented him from falling ill, and to invite her on an outing. Despite their unusual circumstances, they shared a lighthearted moment. Back at Duke Cheng's residence, his subordinate recounted the botched kidnapping. Duke Cheng was enraged, emphasizing the severe implications of being discovered kidnapping a minister’s daughter.
The subordinate, attempting to salvage the situation, suggested a new strategy: targeting Liu Ru Yi, the manager of Ruyi Pavilion, as she was Fu Rong’s master. Duke Cheng, approving the idea, ordered his subordinate to contact Ding Peng to ensure Ruyi Pavilion was shut down permanently. Meanwhile, Fu Rong went to Ruyi Pavilion to confront Liu Ru Yi. Fu Rong accused her master of knowing she had followed her to Jichang City and of keeping secrets from her.
Liu Ru Yi, in turn, challenged Fu Rong about her association with Duke An, reminding her of a promise to avoid palace affairs. Liu Ru Yi sternly insisted that Fu Rong swear to maintain a strict distance from Duke An. Fu Rong grew increasingly upset, demanding to know the meaning behind the patterns on her bracelet and why Liu Ru Yi had visited Hong Village and Jichang City.
Liu Ru Yi, distressed, stated that a single misstep could lead to her utter ruin and that she could not reveal everything, causing Fu Rong to declare she would no longer treat Liu Ru Yi as her master. Later, Xu Jin encountered Fu Rong. He led her to the highest stargazing platform, a place he frequented when troubled, explaining how observing the vastness of the world helped him gain perspective. He quietly offered his support.
Touched by his sincerity, Fu Rong finally revealed that her bracelet was a childhood gift from Liu Ru Yi, who had always kept its origins secret, and pleaded with Xu Jin not to harm her master. Xu Jin then asked about the peculiar weapon he had found.
Fu Rong identified it as a "cane-like silver needle," a hammered plant root that becomes tough as cane, shiny as silver, and sharp as a needle, which Liu Ru Yi occasionally used in jewelry designs. Xu Jin promised to question Liu Ru Yi patiently and without causing her harm. Shortly after, Duke An abruptly visited Ruyi Pavilion.
He confronted Liu Ru Yi, who stated that his actions had crossed her boundaries and that Ruyi Pavilion would no longer cooperate with him. Duke An retaliated with threats, warning her that if the Emperor discovered Ruyi Pavilion's true activities, everyone there would be doomed. He then specifically threatened to reveal the truth to Fu Rong to coerce Liu Ru Yi, proposing that she temporarily hand over Ruyi Pavilion to him in exchange for his protection.
At that moment, Xu Jin also arrived, and a servant announced his presence as he ascended to the second floor where they stood. The following morning, Fu Rong returned to Ruyi Pavilion, finding it eerily silent. She discovered Liu Ru Yi lying on the second floor, bleeding profusely with a dagger in her abdomen. Heartbroken, Fu Rong cried out for help. Soon after, Ding Peng, the prosecutor of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, arrived and sealed the scene.
In her distraught state, Fu Rong touched Liu Ru Yi, getting blood on her hands. Ding Peng immediately accused her of murder and ordered her arrest. At the same time, Wu Baiqi mentioned to Xu Jin that he saw Criminal Investigation Bureau officers rushing towards Ruyi Pavilion. Alarmed, Xu Jin galloped towards the Pavilion. Meanwhile, Fu Xuan, having come to bring clothes for her sister, witnessed officers escorting a shackled Fu Rong away. An officer coldly informed her that Fu Rong had murdered Liu Ru Yi and was to be punished according to the law.
