The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 29 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
Fu Rong, Duke Su's concubine, was imprisoned, with no one allowed to visit her. Wu Baiqi, though unable to see Fu Rong himself, managed to have clothes delivered to her. He assured Fu Xuan that Duke Su had returned to the capital and gone to the palace, expecting a quick resolution. Meanwhile, the Emperor, discussing the matter with Duke An, expressed his belief that Fu Rong was not foolish enough to steal palace materials, especially with such a sloppy method.
He suspected the true target of this elaborate scheme was Duke Su, who had been diligently investigating corruption since his return. Duke An agreed that Fu Rong, being merely the daughter of the Hengjing County Magistrate, was a convenient weakness for Duke Su, unlike a powerful noble like the Princess of Xihe. The Emperor's main concern was that as long as Fu Rong was with Duke Su, he would refuse to choose a formal wife.
Duke An proposed leveraging the current situation to arrange a divorce between them, reasoning that while Duke Su would never agree, Fu Rong might consent to protect herself and Duke Su. Duke Su then arrived at the palace. Before the Emperor, Duke Su pleaded guilty for failing to keep his wife in check, but he questioned the evidence, specifically asking if the alleged stolen materials had been recovered, noting that nothing was found at Ruyi Pavilion.
He suspected hidden motives and requested a thorough investigation. Despite the Emperor's assertion that the evidence, including Attendant Chen's testimony and the handover document, was sufficient, Duke Su insisted he knew Fu Rong's character well. He passionately requested seven days to prove her innocence, vowing that if he failed, he would willingly guard the late Empress's tomb forever and never return to the capital. The Emperor, after a moment, granted his request.
At the Fu Residence, young Guan Ge innocently asked to fly kites, unaware of Fu Rong's plight. Wu Baiqi arrived, informing Fu Xuan that Duke Su had secured seven days from the Emperor to clear Fu Rong's name, urging them to have faith in Duke Su despite the tight deadline.
Though Duke Su was barred from visiting Fu Rong in prison, he sent her daily deliveries of Ruyi dates, her favorite treat, along with notes that conveyed his unwavering support and affection, reassuring her not to worry and that he would take care of everything. Back at Duke Su's Residence, Gu Yuan confirmed that the materials for the Ruyi Pavilion's items were crafted precisely according to Attendant Chen's bill, with no excess.
This indicated that the problem lay with the handover documents, which had been securely kept until palace staff retrieved them. Gu Yuan suspected the Criminal Investigation Bureau, known for its close ties with Duke Cheng, of tampering with the documents. Duke Su then summoned Attendant Chen, who maintained she had only reported the truth and sent all evidence to the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Duke Su warned her against lying, emphasizing he would not forgive anyone found to be dishonest.
Following her interrogation, Attendant Chen reported to Consort Duan, boasting about her loyalty and tight lips. Consort Duan and Duke Cheng, however, viewed Attendant Chen as a potential liability, given Duke Su's persistent investigation. Duke Cheng cynically noted that only the dead keep secrets. Consort Duan then plotted to send Attendant Chen out of the palace on an errand, allowing Duke Cheng to deal with her.
As planned, Attendant Chen was ambushed outside the palace, but Duke Su arrived just in time to save her. He pressed her for the truth, stressing that he could not protect her if she continued to lie. With her life hanging in the balance, Attendant Chen confessed everything: Consort Duan had seized a batch of materials from the palace storehouse.
Attendant Chen then used citrus juice as a special ink to write false figures on both copies of the handover document. After Fu Rong verified them, Attendant Chen took her copy back to the palace, heated it to make the juice disappear, and then wrote the correct numbers. For Ruyi Pavilion's copy, Duke Cheng's men from the Criminal Investigation Bureau swapped it during their collection.
She also vaguely recalled hearing that the seized materials were secretly transported by Duke Cheng to Weiyang City in Linzhou. Duke Su arranged for Attendant Chen to stay in a guesthouse under protection, strictly warning her not to leave alone. However, fearing that Duke Su could not fully protect her from Consort Duan and Duke Cheng, Attendant Chen fled during the night and was subsequently found dead.
Consort Duan and Duke Cheng were relieved by her death, acknowledging that while Duke Su might have learned some truths, he now had no living witness to corroborate his claims. Duke Cheng assured Consort Duan that the stolen materials were securely hidden, making it impossible for Duke Su to prove anything. Upon discovering Attendant Chen's body, Duke Su realized that the only remaining way to prove Fu Rong's innocence was to find the batch of stolen palace materials.
He instructed Mr. Ge to remain in the capital to gather information and departed with Xu Jia for Weiyang City. Meanwhile, Eunuch Wang informed the Emperor of Attendant Chen's death, noting that it would now be exceedingly difficult to clear Fu Rong's name. The Emperor saw this as an opportune moment to compel Duke Su and Fu Rong to divorce and subtly hinted to Eunuch Wang to guide the Princess of Xihe towards Duke Su's location in Weiyang City.
The Emperor then visited Fu Rong in prison. He informed her of Duke Su's seven-day deadline to prove her innocence, and his vow to guard the late Empress's tomb if he failed. He then delivered the grim news of Attendant Chen's death, emphasizing the near impossibility of proving her innocence now. The Emperor pressed Fu Rong, asking why misfortune consistently followed her, suggesting she had become Duke Su's weakness, causing him to act impulsively and potentially leading to his demise.
He proposed that if she wished to save Duke Su, she should divorce him, giving her the night to consider. Fu Rong spent the entire night contemplating, rereading Duke Su's reassuring notes. Ultimately, she signed the divorce agreement, reciting a poignant verse about the dissolution of a harmonious marriage. Upon her release, Fu Rong encountered Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba, who had just returned to the capital and learned of her imprisonment.
They offered their help in uncovering the truth and clearing Ruyi Pavilion's name. Fu Rong then returned to Ruyi Pavilion, where she personally tore off the impoundment seal and began to pack her belongings, much to Gu Yuan's surprise. Fu Rong quietly stated that from now on, she and Duke Su were no longer related and she would prove her innocence on her own.
As she tidied the pavilion, her gaze fell upon a copper hairpin that Duke Su had personally made, recalling him saying it was for his "wife." These personal mementos now felt like precious, solitary memories in the empty pavilion. Word of the divorce quickly spread. The Princess of Xihe, hearing the rumors, sought confirmation from Eunuch Wang, who affirmed that Fu Rong had indeed signed the divorce agreement and was released.
Princess of Xihe expressed her disdain for Fu Rong, calling her unworthy of Duke Su. She then learned from Eunuch Wang that Duke Su was in Weiyang City and, seeing an opportunity, decided to pursue him there. Eunuch Wang subsequently reported Princess of Xihe's intentions to the Emperor, who was pleased with the development.
Duke An also learned of Fu Rong's release and her journey to Weiyang City, deducing she might have been influenced by Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba, whom he ordered to be located. He then headed to Weiyang City himself.
In Weiyang City, Duke Su was seen at a gambling den, where he met Mr. Demon, who introduced him to the "ghost market," a clandestine place where rare and unusual treasures were traded, suggesting it was far more intriguing than mere gambling. Soon after, the Princess of Xihe arrived in Weiyang City, confronting Duke Su and remarking on his apparent weight loss.
She questioned his unwavering dedication to Fu Rong, reminding him that Fu Rong was no longer his concubine, having signed the divorce agreement for her own safety. The Princess called Fu Rong a burden, but Duke Su simply instructed Xu Jia to escort the Princess back to her room. Just then, Eunuch Su arrived with an imperial decree and presented Duke Su with the divorce agreement Fu Rong had signed. Stunned, Duke Su refused to believe it or sign his part, declaring he would clear Fu Rong's name and present the unsigned document to the Emperor himself.
