The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 36 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
Following the Emperor's order to suppress Ruyi Pavilion, Duke Su finds himself in a difficult position due to Fu Rong's connection. He finds it suspicious that Duke An discovered the pavilion's existence just as their informant, Xiao Wu, vanished. For now, he instructs his men to investigate Ruyi Pavilion's role in recent incidents and to hold the suspects arrested on Duke An's intel, but forbids any torture, demanding both testimony and physical evidence before proceeding.
In prison, the former Duke Cheng, Xu Mao, learns he has been spared execution. Instead, he is condemned to a life of hard labor rebuilding the imperial tomb, effectively stripping him of his royal status. His final request to Eunuch Wang is to plead with the Emperor for his mother's well-being. Unaware of this, Consort Duan is confronted by a vengeful Qi Zhu.
Qi Zhu now knows that Xu Mao orchestrated her brother Qi Ce's death and that Consort Duan knowingly deceived her, making her a god-daughter to the family of her brother's killer. She scorns the memory of helping her enemies, leaving Consort Duan to collapse in despair. Duke Su attempts to visit Fu Rong, but Lan Xiang turns him away, explaining Fu Rong is suffering from a "sickness of the heart" and doesn't wish to see him.
As they exchange messages through Lan Xiang, Fu Rong warns him to be wary of Gu Yuan. After Duke Su leaves, Fu Rong laments his prejudice against Ruyi Pavilion. Her problems worsen when she learns that over ten of their members have been arrested by the Imperial Guards. She orders an immediate shutdown of the pavilion and arranges a secret meeting. That night, tragedy strikes when Xiao Qi returns with a mortally wounded Xiao Shi, who dies despite their efforts.
Xiao Qi claims they were ambushed by Imperial Guards acting on Duke Su's direct order to eliminate Ruyi Pavilion. Devastated and enraged, Fu Rong confronts Duke Su at his residence. He explains that he is merely following the Emperor's command to investigate, but Fu Rong defiantly reveals she is the new owner of Ruyi Pavilion and cannot abandon her people.
She challenges him to arrest her, accusing him of plotting to destroy the pavilion since Xiao Wu's capture and of using Wu Baiqi to spy on her. Recalling their promise to be honest with one another, she declares that with a life now lost between them, they are enemies. Meanwhile, at Ju Shui Pavilion, Duke An has saved Zhang Yan, who is now consumed by a desire for revenge against Duke Su and Fu Rong.
Duke An devises a plan: during an upcoming festival, he will lure Duke Su to Ruyi Pavilion, allowing Zhang Yan to burn it down. Wen Xing reports that Gu Yuan overheard their conversation, but Duke An is unconcerned, stating she still has her uses. The trap is set. Fu Rong goes to the market with Lan Xiang, searching for Gu Yuan.
At the same time, a fake letter claiming Fu Rong is in danger lures her father, Fu Pin Yan, to Ruyi Pavilion. Acting on Duke An's orders, Gu Yuan rushes to Duke Su, fabricating a story that Fu Rong has fainted and is being tortured at the pavilion. Though he suspects a trick, Duke Su's concern for Fu Rong leads him to go, leaving Xu Jia to guard Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan then lies to Xu Jia that the entire affair is a scheme she and Fu Rong planned to force a reconciliation, before splashing him with hot tea, knocking him unconscious, and escaping. Duke Su arrives at the empty Ruyi Pavilion to find Fu Pin Yan tied up. Zhang Yan appears and sets the building ablaze. Duke Su overpowers Zhang Yan, but they are both trapped by the flames.
In a final act of sacrifice, Fu Pin Yan shoves Duke Su out of the inferno, dying alongside Zhang Yan. Wu Baiqi arrives just in time to help the injured Duke Su flee the scene. Moments later, Duke An appears, feigning shock and taking command of the firefighting efforts. When Fu Rong arrives, she sees the burning pavilion and fleeing Imperial Guards, solidifying her belief that Duke Su is responsible.
Her mother's arrival confirms her worst fear: her father was inside. At the Fu Residence, draped in white for mourning, she confronts Duke Su. He denies setting the fire, and Xu Jia tries to explain how Gu Yuan tricked them. Fu Rong refutes the story, stating she saw Gu Yuan in the market herself. Duke Su's confirmation that Zhang Yan was the arsonist does little to appease her. Overwhelmed by grief and his silence, she banishes him.
Despite Fu Rong's certainty, her sister Fu Xuan feels something is amiss. She questions the convenient timing, Duke Su's own injuries, and notes that if Zhang Yan was indeed the arsonist, two bodies should have been found in the wreckage. Later, Wu Baiqi finds a grieving Fu Xuan, who coldly tries to push him away, citing the three-year mourning period. Wu Baiqi refuses to leave, vowing to wait for her no matter how long, declaring his only fear is of her crying alone.
