The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 38 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
The Emperor expressed his frustration with Duke Huai, who had repeatedly refused all arranged marriage proposals. At that moment, Duke An requested an audience to report on the impending marriage of Princess Cui Wan of Xihe. During their conversation, Duke An casually mentioned Qi Zhu, which prompted Duke Huai, who was waiting outside, to intercept him.
When Duke Huai inquired about Qi Zhu, Duke An recalled previously unnoticed details and realized there was a mutual affection between them, immediately seeing an opportunity to exploit the connection. Duke An then sought out Qi Zhu, urging her to take a risk for love. Knowing she would hesitate, he didn't press her, confident she would ultimately agree.
He manipulated her by revealing that the Emperor had been furious with Duke Huai on her account, claiming that Duke Huai was prepared to kneel before the palace gates and even renounce his royal status for her. Later, Duke Huai also found Qi Zhu and returned a lucky charm she had once given him, expressing his hope that it would ensure her safe return from her journey.
Deeply affected by Duke An's words, Qi Zhu pondered whether she should truly gamble everything for a chance at love. As the marriage procession prepared to depart, Wu Baiqi meticulously searched the vicinity. He spotted a suspicious man hurriedly carrying baskets into the forest outside the city gate. Chasing after him, Wu Baiqi found sulfur powder hidden beneath dried grass and deduced that explosives were buried nearby.
He ordered his men to secure the area and pursued the man into the forest, only to find two empty baskets. Wu Baiqi was then ambushed by assassins. He realized they intended to sabotage the marriage alliance to cause friction between the Dayu and Xuan Han empires and elevate their new king. Although his eyes were blinded by white powder and his legs were cut, he swiftly eliminated the attackers using only his hearing.
As his soldiers arrived, he reiterated the order to search for any suspicious individuals to ensure the procession’s safety. At the charred ruins of Ruyi Pavilion, Fu Rong reflected on her father's unconditional love, realizing that apart from her parents, no one else truly wished for her happiness without expecting something in return. As she turned to leave, Gu Yuan appeared and confessed the truth. She revealed that Duke An had rescued Zhang Yan, who was still alive.
The entire incident was an elaborate scheme to lure Xu Jin to Ruyi Pavilion and create a rift between him and Fu Rong. Gu Yuan admitted that her infatuation with Duke An had blinded her, and she had even tried to steal a token for him, but he had merely seen her as an obstacle and intended to kill her.
She also confirmed that Duke An had his men dispose of Zhang Yan’s body before the authorities arrived and had them disguise themselves as Imperial Guards to massacre the people of Ruyi Pavilion, thereby framing Xu Jin for the atrocity.
Fu Rong wondered if Duke An did all this because he loved her, but Gu Yuan clarified that Duke An’s true aim was to kill Xu Jin, whom he hated deeply; the death of Fu Rong’s father was an unintended consequence of Zhang Yan’s own actions. Gu Yuan cautioned Fu Rong against confronting the ruthless and dangerously obsessed Duke An.
Realizing her terrible mistake, Fu Rong rushed to the city gate, but Xu Jin had already departed with the marriage procession. Waking from a nightmare, Fu Rong connected all the pieces: Duke An’s ultimate goal had always been to harm Xu Jin. She recalled Duke An mentioning his mother’s death in a fire at Hong Fu Temple and Xu Jin confessing that he had once accidentally knocked over a candlestick there.
Knowing she could not wait, Fu Rong resolved to find Xu Jin. Gu Yuan, regretting her past betrayals, pleaded to accompany her, offering her martial arts skills for protection, and Fu Rong reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, at the wishing tree, the wind carried Qi Zhu's good-luck ribbon into Duke Huai's hand, prompting him to set off to find her. The journey was long and arduous, and Princess Cui Wan suffered from constant nausea.
Qi Zhu confided her plan to escape the procession, persuading the hesitant Cui Wan to agree. That night, fires suddenly erupted around the camp as assassins attacked. Seizing the opportunity, Qi Zhu pulled Cui Wan away, and they fled into a grassy area. Qi Zhu left Cui Wan to rest while she scouted ahead, but bandits emerged and forced Cui Wan to the edge of a cliff.
Just as they were about to strike, Gu Yuan appeared, repelling the bandits, while Fu Rong arrived and fiercely protected Cui Wan. The bandits were numerous, and while Gu Yuan protected one side, she couldn't cover the other. When a knife was aimed at Fu Rong, Gu Yuan threw herself in front of it, taking the fatal blow.
As she lay dying, Gu Yuan confessed that she had accidentally killed their master, Liu Ruyi, and hoped this sacrifice would grant her peace. As Fu Rong grieved, Qi Zhu aimed a hidden weapon at her from the shadows. However, Cui Wan saw the attack and stepped forward, taking the dart in her calf.
The impact caused her to stumble toward the cliff, and when Fu Rong grabbed her, they both tumbled over the edge, managing to cling to some vines to break their fall. Xu Jin, having tracked them, arrived to find Gu Yuan’s lifeless body before spotting Fu Rong and Cui Wan below the cliff. He swiftly descended, first rescuing Cui Wan before reaching for Fu Rong. Just as he did, Fu Rong’s vine snapped.
Unwilling to let her fall alone, Xu Jin released his own rope, embracing her as they fell together onto a thick bed of vines and soft grass below, miraculously unharmed. With the truth revealed, the misunderstanding between Fu Rong and Xu Jin dissolved, and they were even able to bicker playfully. After trying to find a way out of the valley for half a day, they discovered a beautiful peach blossom forest and decided to rest there for the night.
Meanwhile, a fleeing Qi Zhu was pursued by assassins and realized Duke An had planned to kill her all along now that she had outlived her usefulness. Suddenly, Duke Huai appeared and fought off her pursuers. In the chaos, he failed to notice the bruising on Qi Zhu's wrist, an injury from a hidden weapon. Feigning that she was fine, Qi Zhu left with Duke Huai.
While the peach blossom forest was a temporary haven, Xu Jin and Fu Rong still needed to find a way out. They encountered a woman wearing a bamboo hat who guided them, claiming an eye ailment and a desire for solitude were why she lived there. After they departed, the woman removed her hat, revealing a pair of sapphire-blue eyes.
At the Imperial Guards' camp, Li Wei, on his own initiative, brought Fu Xuan to see Wu Baiqi, claiming he was gravely injured. Annoyed at being deceived again when she saw him looking lively, Fu Xuan turned to leave. Only then did Wu Baiqi’s strength fail him, and he collapsed, revealing blood seeping through the bandages on his legs.
Li Wei confessed that he had brought Fu Xuan because Wu Baiqi had been calling her name repeatedly while unconscious, leaving Wu Baiqi to deal with the consequences of his exposed ruse.
