The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Episode 7 Recap
> The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion Recap
Mr. Ju Shui removed his mask, revealing a familiar face. He called out to Fu Rong, using her childhood name, Nong Nong. Fu Rong immediately recognized him as her "little follower" from their childhood, playfully accusing him of having tricked her all these years about his stone-skipping skills. Mr. Ju Shui admitted he had wanted to tell her earlier but had his reasons for keeping it a secret.
Despite his fame, he promised to always remain her little follower, assuring her that the gates of his Ju Shui Pavilion would forever be open to her. Soon after, back at the Fu Residence, Gu Yuan, a servant from Ruyi Pavilion, frantically rushed in. She informed Fu Rong that their boss, Liu Ru Yi, had been arrested and imprisoned in the imperial storehouse jail.
The accusation was that Liu Ru Yi had committed an act of disrespect by creating a peony head ornament for Consort Shu, unaware that Consort Shu despised peonies. Gu Yuan explained that the Imperial Wardrobe Service typically commissioned such work from Feng Lai Yi. The sudden decision to commission Ruyi Pavilion this time seemed suspicious.
Liu Ru Yi had agreed to the commission hoping to forge a good relationship with the Imperial Wardrobe Service, specifically telling Gu Yuan not to inform Fu Rong due to her general aversion to palace affairs. Fu Rong's sister, Fu Xuan, also expressed suspicion, noting that the incident with Ruyi Pavilion happened right after Feng Lai Yi's plagiarism scandal had subsided. Fu Rong went to Feng Lai Yi, where she encountered Wu Baiqi.
He initially assumed she was there to demand an apology for the previous plagiarism incident. Fu Rong clarified that she was there to inquire about the Ruyi Pavilion situation. Wu Baiqi confirmed their business was thriving after he replaced most of the staff. Fu Rong then pressed him on why the Imperial Wardrobe Service had chosen Ruyi Pavilion over Feng Lai Yi. Wu Baiqi appeared genuinely surprised to learn about Liu Ru Yi's imprisonment and the reason behind it.
He became defensive when Fu Rong implied he might have colluded with his aunt, Consort Duan, to sabotage Ruyi Pavilion, vehemently denying any involvement in such a scheme. Later, Wu Baiqi visited Consort Duan in the palace and questioned her about the Imperial Wardrobe Service’s decision. Consort Duan denied any knowledge or involvement, claiming she had little interaction with Consort Shu and that Consort Shu might have specifically requested against using Feng Lai Yi.
She refused to intercede for Liu Ru Yi, stating it would be counterproductive given her distant relationship with Consort Shu. Meanwhile, Earl Yan attempted to seek his mother's help, hoping she could persuade Consort Duan to intervene on Liu Ru Yi’s behalf. However, his mother firmly refused, reminding him that Consort Duan was the sister of his late father's first wife, not a close relative to her, and certainly not an ally.
She emphasized that Consort Shu was deeply offended, and Dong Fang Li, being Consort Shu's brother, would naturally seek retribution. She accused Fu Rong of attempting to exploit their family’s influence and warned Earl Yan to distance himself from her affairs. Earl Yan returned to Fu Rong, disheartened, admitting his inability to help and reiterating his mother’s advice to sever ties with Liu Ru Yi. Fu Rong firmly rejected his counsel.
Ornaments Attendant Chen of the Imperial Wardrobe Service visited Dong Fang Li at the imperial storehouse jail. He subtly implied that using torture would expedite Liu Ru Yi's confession. However, Dong Fang Li, a man of integrity, firmly refused, stating he would not make a hasty judgment and would bear sole responsibility for any blame from the palace. Later, Ornaments Attendant Chen reported back to Consort Duan, expressing frustration that Dong Fang Li refused to comply.
Consort Duan lamented that her intricate plan—to use Liu Ru Yi's potential death to have the Third Prince implicate Consort Shu and Duke Su—had failed due to Dong Fang Li's stubbornness. Nevertheless, she expressed satisfaction that Ruyi Pavilion would be shut down, eliminating a business competitor for Feng Lai Yi. She strictly warned Ornaments Attendant Chen not to divulge any details of their scheme to Wu Baiqi.
In a desperate bid to save her master, Fu Rong intercepted Dong Fang Li's carriage. She pleaded with him regarding Liu Ru Yi’s case, arguing that Liu Ru Yi might have unknowingly violated a taboo. Dong Fang Li remained steadfast, stating he would investigate thoroughly and make his judgment based on law. Undeterred, Fu Rong knelt outside the Dong Residence from dusk till dawn until she eventually collapsed from exhaustion.
Xu Jin later arrived, revealed his familial ties to Dong Fang Li as his nephew, and criticized Fu Rong for her reckless behavior. Fu Rong, now inside the residence, insisted on seeing Dong Fang Li, convinced that her master had been framed. Xu Jin, though skeptical of her ability to change the outcome, ordered his attendant Xu Jia to escort her back to the Fu Residence for her own good.
Xu Jin then engaged in a private conversation with Dong Fang Li. He presented a small wooden squirrel as a gift for Dong Fang Li’s frail son, Dong Wen. Xu Jin then steered the conversation to Liu Ru Yi’s case, revealing that Fu Rong had once saved his life but emphasizing that the debt had been repaid, allowing Dong Fang Li to handle the case impartially.
Dong Fang Li admitted he didn't know the reason behind his sister's dislike for peonies. Xu Jin then revealed the painful truth: Consort Shu, then an imperial concubine, had once adored peonies. However, during a tragic incident, the late Empress had cruelly mocked her and taken young Xu Jin away, leaving her heartbroken. Since that day, Consort Shu had developed a profound aversion to peonies.
Given the circumstances, Xu Jin proposed that Ruyi Pavilion be given a chance to atone for the offense by creating a new piece that would genuinely please Consort Shu. Dong Fang Li agreed. Shortly after, Wu Baiqi arrived, seeking to speak with Dong Fang Li about Liu Ru Yi. Xu Jin seized the opportunity, asking Wu Baiqi to convey a message to "Young Lady Fu Rong": she should focus on crafting a satisfactory piece of jewelry for Consort Shu.
However, upon arriving at the Fu Residence, Wu Baiqi mistakenly delivered the message to Fu Xuan. Back at Ruyi Pavilion, Fu Rong struggled to find inspiration for the new design. Mr. Ju Shui visited, bringing an array of vibrant flowers. Fu Rong, realizing he was the "mysterious helper" her sister had mentioned, expressed her gratitude. He warned her about placing a candle too close to her drawings, to which she playfully retorted that she wasn't Duke Su.
She casually mentioned that Duke Su had once told her about accidentally knocking over a candle at Hong Fu Temple, causing a devastating fire and his subsequent banishment. Duke An, as Mr. Ju Shui, visibly reacted to this information. As he prepared to leave, Gu Yuan accidentally caught a glimpse of his unmasked face, and he asked her to keep his identity a secret.
Later, in Ju Shui Pavilion, Duke An grieved on the anniversary of his mother, Consort Dowager Wen’s, death. He recalled the cruel rumors that had plagued his mother, who was born with anisocoria, proclaiming her a "disaster star." He recounted how the official story was that Hong Fu Temple burned down due to age and disrepair, but Fu Rong had just inadvertently disclosed that Xu Jin was responsible for the fire.
He wondered if Ruyi Pavilion, known for uncovering secrets, could reveal the real truth about his mother's death and identify all those present during the incident. His subordinate vowed to investigate. Fu Rong, engrossed in her creative process, finally had a breakthrough. She designed a stunning dangling ornament, meticulously crafted with fine gold threads around a delicate white flower, making it appear strikingly lifelike. Fu Xuan marveled at its beauty, but Fu Rong felt it lacked a natural fragrance.
She theorized about infusing scents into the silver. Fu Xuan, recalling her readings in the "Hengjing Annals of Geography," remembered a unique flower field in Yu Shan known for its rare floral species. Leaving a note, Fu Rong set out alone for Yu Shan. Upon learning of her solitary journey from Gu Yuan, Duke An immediately expressed concern and departed to follow her. He found Fu Rong struggling to locate the flower field and guided her, confident they would find it by following the water's edge.
