The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 22 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
When news of the Yao family's predicament reached the Imperial Palace, their funeral preparations were already underway. The Emperor and Consort Shu discussed how both the He and Yao families had suffered from illness or death, leading to widespread rumors in the capital that Duke Su brought bad luck to his wives. Ministers, fearing for their daughters, submitted petitions reporting illness or weakness, making it impossible to arrange further marriages.
Consort Shu, however, dismissed the "wife-cursing" as absurd, though she acknowledged the Imperial Astronomer's prophecy of Duke Su having a singular fate. Despite this, Princess of Xihe, Cui Wan, boldly declared her willingness to marry Duke Su, unafraid of the rumors, and sought the Emperor and Consort Shu's approval. Duke Su, however, interjected, stating he already had someone in mind and would announce his decision the following day.
Meanwhile, Fu Rong found herself quite at ease, enjoying her storybooks amidst the escalating rumors about Duke Su. After witnessing a real-life elopement, she found her stories more vibrant. Upon learning from her servant, Lan Xiang, that the rumors were intensifying—including claims that she too was afflicted—Fu Rong simply accepted it, finding it convenient for a quiet life of reading. When she later sought out Duke Su, he was deliberating on his future legitimate wife.
He ultimately decided that Princess of Xihe would enter his residence the following day, a decision that mirrored Fu Rong's prophetic dream and left her feeling that all her previous efforts had been futile. Qiu Nan, a servant from Duke Su's Residence, had secretly informed Princess of Xihe of this news, leading the Princess to rejoice prematurely.
However, Duke Su soon arrived, confronting Qiu Nan for repeatedly leaking confidential information from his residence and ordering his guard, Xu Jia, to deal with her as an example. Princess of Xihe pleaded on Qiu Nan's behalf, but Duke Su firmly stated the problem was with him, not her, as he had never liked her. Despite her insistence that he could learn to love her, Duke Su reiterated his promise to Fu Rong to marry only her in this life.
Later, Fu Rong was traveling through the streets when Wen Xing, driving Ju Shui Pavilion's carriage, met her; Duke An had invited her to meet. Lan Xiang, a few steps behind, could only watch as Fu Rong boarded the carriage. They arrived at a desolate area where Duke An was roasting fish he had caught from Ping Lake, reminiscing about their childhood fishing trips. Suddenly, a gust of wind extinguished their lanterns, plunging the area into darkness.
As Fu Rong stepped on unstable stones to relight a lantern, she stumbled, but Duke Su appeared just in time to catch her. He had deduced her unauthorized outing from Lan Xiang's expression upon his return to the residence. Duke An, displeased by the interruption, tried to prevent Duke Su from taking Fu Rong, but Duke Su swiftly lifted her onto his shoulder and departed. Back at Duke Su's Residence, Duke Su demanded an explanation.
Fu Rong scoffed, pointing out that he was free to marry another woman, yet she couldn't even speak with an old friend. He challenged her, asking when she and Duke An had become old acquaintances. Frustrated by his lack of trust, Fu Rong defiantly suggested he proceed with a divorce and marry Princess of Xihe, while she would focus on her family and Ruyi Pavilion.
Refusing to let her repeat her words, Duke Su declared he would give her a clear answer the next day, and then kissed her. The next day in the Imperial Palace, the Emperor received news that Princess of Xihe had also fallen ill after catching a cold and being frightened. This marked the third consecutive bride-to-be who had suffered from illness or worse, leaving the Emperor frustrated.
Recognizing the impossibility of the situation, he reluctantly decided to postpone the legitimate consort's marriage for Duke Su. He then sternly instructed Duke Su to discipline Fu Rong. Duke Su defended Fu Rong, claiming she was not ill-mannered and promising to personally oversee her education. Following this, Consort Shu approached the Emperor with an idea. Soon after, a palace servant arrived at Duke Su's Residence, informing Fu Rong that she was summoned to Consort Shu's palace to learn etiquette.
Upon arriving at Consort Shu's palace, Fu Rong found the Consort weeping inconsolably. Consort Shu revealed that the injury Duke Su sustained during their wedding had caused an old cold toxin, contracted during his time at the border, to relapse. His body was inherently cold, and with the recent injury causing the toxin to flare up fiercely, she tragically disclosed that, according to Master Ge, Duke Su might have only a month left to live.
Fu Rong, recalling fragmented memories from her dream of Duke Su's coffin and memorial tablet, began to fear that he might die because of her. Overwhelmed, she confessed to Consort Shu that she was the one who had injured Duke Su, causing his relapse. Seeing Fu Rong's genuine concern, Consort Shu did not blame her.
She explained that Master Ge was searching for a cure, though without success so far, and advised Fu Rong not to let Duke Su know the severity of his condition. To aid in Duke Su's care, Consort Shu dispatched Nanny Yan with Fu Rong back to Duke Su's Residence, outwardly presenting Nanny Yan as an etiquette instructor but secretly tasking her with caring for Duke Su.
As soon as Fu Rong departed, Consort Shu hurriedly rinsed her mouth, explaining that she was spitting out the "ill-intentioned words" she had just spoken, so heaven wouldn't take her lies literally. Later, Master Ge administered acupuncture to Duke Su, and whether intentional or not, struck a numbing point that caused Duke Su to temporarily lose the ability to hold a writing brush.
Fu Rong, witnessing this, recalled Consort Shu's dire words, solidifying her belief that Duke Su truly had only a month remaining. She questioned Master Ge about the cold toxin, learning its nature: it progresses from cold limbs to a full-body chill, ultimately leading to organ failure and death, with no known cure. Distraught, Fu Rong borrowed Master Ge's medical books to assist in finding a remedy, promising to keep it secret.
That evening, she personally prepared a nourishing soup for Duke Su. With a subtle cue from Fu Rong, Master Ge, Xu Jia, and Lan Xiang discreetly excused themselves. Fu Rong then took Duke Su's documents, urging him to rest early and informing him that she would wait for him in their room. This sudden, intense display of affection left Duke Su bewildered.
In the back courtyard of the Fu Residence, Fu Xuan was feeding fish when she saw Wu Baiqi perched atop the wall. She acknowledged that she had lost her previous bet with him, as Duke Su had not married a new legitimate consort. She then understood that Duke Su's actions regarding the He and Yao family daughters, and even Princess of Xihe, were all deliberate strategies to protect Fu Rong.
Noticing Wu Baiqi's discomfort, Fu Xuan asked if he was injured. He admitted to a knee injury from falling off his horse during training but claimed it was minor. He explained that despite his injury, he climbed the wall to ensure Fu Xuan wouldn't go back on her promise to attend the martial arts competition for him. Unseen by Fu Xuan, Guo Rui was struggling to hold Wu Baiqi up from the other side of the wall.
Upon Duke Su's return to his room, Fu Rong quickly set aside her medical books and personally helped him untie his sash. Her unusual enthusiasm puzzled Duke Su. She claimed to have accidentally spilled water on the bed, compelling him to share her bed. Once he lay down, Fu Rong touched his feet, noting how cold they were. She explained that his inherently cold constitution required extra warmth and promptly put a thick pair of cotton socks on him.
Duke Su asked why she was acting so strangely. Feigning annoyance, Fu Rong asked if he thought her concern was unwelcome. Duke Su replied that even if she intended him harm, he would accept it willingly. As they settled under the covers, Duke Su playfully pinned Fu Rong beneath him and teased her. Once Duke Su was sound asleep, Fu Rong quietly rose and continued to pore over medical texts until morning.
She finally discovered a method that seemed to match Duke Su's symptoms: blood transfusion, a perilous procedure that amounted to exchanging one life for another. Master Ge vehemently warned her against such a reckless act, emphasizing its life-threatening nature. However, Fu Rong was resolute, declaring that she felt responsible for Duke Su's condition and was determined to save him. Fu Rong returned to the Fu Residence, bearing an abundance of gifts for her family.
When questioned, she merely stated that Duke Su treated her exceptionally well and that she was now wealthy, assuring them there was no need for concern. She mentioned that while she had returned home alone this time, she would bring Duke Su with her on her next visit. Her sister, Fu Xuan, sensed something was amiss, but Fu Rong deflected, attributing her visit to missing them and promising that she and Duke Su would be safe.
That evening, Fu Rong and Duke Su shared drinks under the moonlight. Fu Rong fondly recalled their last such moment in Hong Village. Duke Su corrected her, revealing that he had been the one to take her home from the Drunken Spring Court on a previous occasion—a detail Fu Rong had no memory of and was frustrated that her sister had kept secret.
Fu Rong clarified her relationship with Duke An, explaining they had only recently reunited after she saved him in their childhood. She then offered Duke Su more wine, stating that she wanted to do something she wouldn't dare do when he was sober.
She admitted her harsh words at Ju Shui Pavilion were born of spite and declared that if given countless opportunities, she would still wait for him there to tell his fortune, assuring him he would be rich and live a long life. After a tender kiss, Duke Su's eyes grew heavy, and he slipped into unconsciousness from the drugged wine. At that moment, Master Ge arrived, and Fu Rong, producing a prepared dagger, entrusted Duke Su to his care.
