Introduction
This is the second part of the recap article on the Chinese drama Blossom ( 九重紫 ) that covers Episodes 18 to 34 (final). I don’t like the palace politics part, so I will just recap them in short sentences. How will the end be? Will be a happy ending? The final episode (34) will spoil the ending.
Episode Recap
Episode 18
Ji Yong visited Dou Zhao and apologized for what he did to her sister and Wei Ting Yu. The two reconciled their friendship. He offered Dou Zhao stargazing. Dou Zhao is full of expectations, hoping to use them to understand the future. He believes that with Dou Zhao’s “Records of the Zhaoshi” in hand, stargazing is not necessary.
There was a big fire at the firecracker factory. Since Song Mo was part of the rescue team, Dou Zhao was so anxious about his safety that she desperately rushed to the scene calling his name. When finding him, she confesses her feelings and agrees to marry him.
Now that Song Mo and Dou Zhao were unofficially together, Song Mo and Dou Zhao planned together for his father’s approval. He and Princess Jing Yu, who didn’t want to be her father’s marriage trophy, staged a show for his father. Song Yi Chun worries, that if Song Mo become a prince consort, his power will get stronger. A matchmaker, planted by Song Mo, suggested Song Yi Chun to find a bad-tempered wife for his son, and named Dou Zhao as the perfect candidate. Dou Zhao sent some loyal people who convinced Song Yi Chun along the way that she was indeed vicious. Song Yi Chun then sent a lavish betrothal gifts to propose and Dou Shi Ying approved. People around Dou Zhao and Song Mo sent their blessings one after another, and the atmosphere was joyful. Grandma Cui prepared a big dowry for Dou Zhao and mentioned a pair of bracelets one from her mother, but the other one is missing at the Dou mansion. Everyone dug the whole ground looking for the bracelet.
Episode 19
Song Mo finally found the missing bracelet on their wedding day but missed the auspicious time. While everyone was waiting anxiously, he finally came in disgrace, desperate to see Dou Zhao despite people’s objections. She noticed the burns and scars on his hand. She disregarded the custom and treated Song Mo’s wounds personally. This heartwarming scene was also seen by Zhao Si and Dou Shi Ying. They were filled with joy and believed that Dou Zhao would be happy with Song Mo’s company. They proceeded with a joyful ceremony. Princess Shude arrived to officiate the wedding. Her appearance is also to make sure the wedding could go smoothly.
Even on their wedding night, they were still discussing politics. Dou Zhao took out the conspiracy board she made since childhood to show it to the bewildered Song Mo. His mind was not on court affairs, but on the sweet time with Dou Zhao!
Episode 20
The Song elders criticized Dou Zhao worshipping the dead first instead of offering tea to the living. They wanted to giver her a hard time despite Song Mo’s strong objections. But when everyone saw the dowry of 70,000 taels of silver, they were all stunned. Dou Zhao went on to talk about the ways of doing business and possible plans to earn more silver. The uncles and aunts couldn’t help but feel a little shaken, they were not capable of managing such a huge money, let alone creating more wealth. They proposed Song Yi Chun to hand over the Song household money to Dou Zhao for management so that everyone could earn more. However, Song Yi Chun firmly opposed this proposal and walked away angrily. He never expected that Dou Zhao had captured everyone’s heart in just one day. Song Mo knew that his father might cause trouble for his wife in the future, so he personally taught her how to use fire gun.
If Song Mo and Dou Zhao got their upper hands over the inlaws, in the contrary with Dou Ming and Wei Ting Yu. Wei Ting Zheng bullied Dou Ming mercilessly, especially since Dou Ming’s dowry cannot cover the Wei’s family debts.
Episode 21
Dou Zhao is very tired from checking her business accounts that Song Mo ordered the servants to take special care of his wife. His concerns created rumors in the household that they consummated their marriage and even that Dou Zhao was pregnant with twins! In fact, Dou Ming was the one who is pregnant. However, because of the severe treatment she suffered from Wei Ting Zhen, she had a miscarriage. Scared Wei Ting Zhen accused that Dou Ming concealed her pregnancy from her husband’s family.
Song Yi Chun found out that Dou Zhao was not the one he thought to be. She is not only super rich, but generous, wise, and deeply loved by people. In the mean time, the Jining Hou Mansion is still full of fights and now Wei Ting Yu and Dou Ming marriage problem implicated Dou Zhao who tries to help.
Episode 22
Sweet time between Dou Zhao and Song Mo. They rode on a boat together in the river and drank. With such a romantic atmosphere, and alcohol, they consummated their marriage.
Song Mo and Dou Zhao found a former Jiang Hui Sun’s personal maid who has gone mad. They asked Ji Yong to cure her. Song Mo also suspected that his mother was poisoned. Ji Yong found out that the candied fruit she used to eat contained licorice that is contradictive with the medicine and can cause death. Song Yi Chun was frightened with the maid’s appearance, since Song Mo would continue to investigate his mother’s death and reveal a bigger conspiracy.
Indeed, Song Yi Chun is in a cahoot with a secret coalition to take over the power. The group contains the big honchos: Eunuch Wang Ge, Dou Shi Shu, Su Yan, and others. Su Yan is a spy for the court. The coalition also knew that Wang Ying Xue suggested bandits to rob Dou Zhao’s residence, because she couldn’t pay the debts. They decided to send their troop to mingle with the bandits to cause a riot. The Emperor was about to travel and Song Mo and his soldiers were ordered to protect the Majesty. If something happen to Dou Zhao, Song Mo wouldn’t be able to come back to rescue her.
The coalition troop set a fire in the Capital. Dou Zhao sent Yan Chao Qing to help rescuing the residents, despite his objection that he was ordered to protect Dou Zhao. Hearing about the fire in the capital, Song Mo was worried but he couldn’t leave his mission.
Episode 23
The capital is in chaos. The bandits and the secret group are wreaking havoc, destroying the former prosperity like wild beasts. They looted everywhere and killed innocent people, leaving the whole city shrouded in a haze of fear. The bandits also went to Dou Zhao’s residence to loot the place. Dou Zhao and others were hiding in a prepared shelter, and she used the new skill taught by her husband to shoot the bandits. However, of course Dou Zhao and her servants were outnumbered. Luckily, Ji Yong, Chen Qu Shui, and others came to the rescue.
Song Mo led a group of elite soldiers to rush out from the hiding place and started a fierce battle with the bandits. The couple reunited. After the bandits were subdued, Song Mo felt that something was wrong with the gang. He was thinking that there might be a bigger conspiracy behind this chaos. In order to get to the bottom of the matter, he decided to stay and continue investigating.
Wang Ying Xue’s crime is eventually exposed. More tragic, Dou Ming died during the riot. Wang Ying Xue has gone crazy and craddling her daughter’s lifeless body. She still accused Dou Zhao for Dou Ming’s death, though. Dou Zhao told Wang Ying Xue that Dou Ming would never have died tragically without her conspiracy. In the end, Wang Yingxue was taken away for trial.
Episode 24
The Emperor pardoned Wang Ying Xue and banished her to the temple. Dou Zhao followed the family custom and handled Wang Ying Xue’s affairs. Dou Zhao was already forgiven all that Wang Ying Xue done. She calmly spread the purple myrtle flowers around to remind Wang Ying Xue of Zhao Gu Qiu’s tragic fate. Dou Zhao hoped that they would make Wang Yingxue deeply understand the pain her mother had experienced.
Dou Shi Shu proposed to the Emperor that Song Mo should lead troops to wipe out all the bandits and cleared up the aftermath. It is Dou Shi Shu’s scheme so Song Mo was delayed in his investigations. At the city gate, during the departure, Dou Zhao told Song Mo to come back unharmed, but Song Mo hugged Dou Zhao tightly and wanted to kiss her. However, the troop had to depart soon. Song Mo had no choice but to summon his Jinwu Army to go out. When he passed by Dou Zhao on horseback, he still bowed his head and kissed Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao watched Song Mo leave, praying that their husband and wife could love each other for a lifetime and be reunited for the rest of their lives.
Dou Zhao came to visit Song Mo during his mission. When Song Mo and Dou Zhao inspected the victims of the bandits, they helped an old woman with her little son who went to the capital to find a missing relative. Dou Zhao arranged her a job. The old woman gave Dou Zhao a hairpin to express her gratitude. Song Mo suppressed the bandits and beheaded the leader of the in public, and then distributed food and medicine to the people under the name of the Emperor. The Crown Prince was dissatisfied with what Song Mo did and complained to the Emperor. But his father sarcastically said that it would be great if the Crown Prince could be as considerate for the people as Song Mo was.
Song Yi Chun took Song Han to a house and met Song Han’s biological mother Shu Yao. However, Song Han didn’t accept this fact. Meanwhile, Song Mo got a report that his father had a secret house and went to a temple on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of every month. Dou Zhao offered to help with the investigation. She and Ji Yong would go to the temple, while Song Mo look for his father. When he finally found his father, he saw Song Yi Chun holding his lover’s dead body and crying loudly. She hung herself from the beam.
Episode 25
Song Mo found out that Shu Yan came from a criminal family. The fact that she could get out of her criminal record made Song Mo suspicious that there must be a higher complicated power entanglement behind it.
Ji Yong and Dou Zhao’s temple mission was also gave result. The abbot told a story of the dusty past: At that time, Jiang Hui Sun and Shu Yao came to temple at the same time. Shu Yao held a baby boy who was just one month old in her arms, while Jiang Hui Sun gave birth to a baby girl prematurely. However, Song Yi Chun insisted that his wife gave birth to Song Han. This lie paved the way for everything that followed. After learning this shocking secret, Song Mo’s questioned Song Yi Chun about the whereabouts of the boy. But Song Yi Chun remained tight-lipped. Song Mo threathened his father to do autopsy on Shu Yao, since he was suspicious that Song Han is the boy. Song Yi Chun finally admitted his relationship with Shu Yao. In the past , Jiang Mei Sun led a troop to raid the criminal’s home. The emperor granted his sister a marriage to Song Yichun. All this made Song Yi Chun feel angry. He admitted what he regretted most over the years was having Song Mo with Jiang Hui Sun. Song Mo knew very well that his father’s power alone could not free Shu Yao from the crime, but Song Yi Chun refused to tell the truth. Song Mo was so furious that he ordered his men to burn Song Yi Chun to death. Song Yi Chun taunted Song Mo that he poisoned Song Mo the last time he was whipped, and that was the first time he grew white hair. The day all his hair becomes white is the day he dies. Song Mo was so angry and wanted to kill Song Yi Chun right there and then. Dou Zhao arrived in time to stop him.
The Emperor learned that Song Mo has been poisoned so he ordered Song Mo to be checked by the royal physician. The emperor was furious and ordered the imperial physician to find an antidote within a year or else he would be buried with Song Mo. The emperor personally came to visit Song Mo who is in a coma and held his hand to comfort him that he would seek justice for his uncle and mother. He ordered Song Yi Chun to be whipped and stripped his post from ministry.
Song Mo’s heart was full of sadness. He always thought that his parents loved each other very much. Dou Zhao comforted him and told him that he could leave all his worries to her in the future without any restraints. The respect of Ding Guo’s army for him, Jiang Mei Sun’s training of him, and Jiang Hui Sun’s love for him are all true. After Dou Zhao’s comfort, Song Mo finally felt relieved a lot. As night fell, Song Mo and Dou Zhao came to the river to watch the fireworks. The fireworks were dazzling, but Song Mo felt sad, lamenting that beautiful things always dissipate so quickly. Dou Zhao holds firecracker sticks and handed one to Song Mo, telling Song Mo that although beauty is short-lived, it can be held in the hand. Together with Zhao they admire the fireworks blooming in their hands.
Episode 26
There are two side romances happening with Dou Zhao’s friends. Zhao Zhang Ru met Chen Jia, Song Mo’s spy/investigator when he was sent to look for the heirloom jade bracelet. Miao An Su met Song Han during the wedding.
Song Mo, who was poisoned, handed over all the family property to Dou Zhao. He lied that once you get married, you can no longer have private property. At night, Dou Zhao checked Song Mo’s hair and found that there were more white hairs, which made her even more worried. Dou Zhao asked Song Mo directly if he had three years left in his life. Song Mo admitted that it was only one year. Dou Zhao hoped that even if it was only one year, the two of them would live together for the rest of their lives, without leaving anything behind.
Song Mo and Dou Zhao discovered that Song Han actually knew that the medicine his father asked him to deliver to his mother contained poison. But he didn’t dare to say anything, for fear that the family would break up. He was afraid that he would also be poisoned, so he used cats to test the medicine. Song Han not only became paranoid but also unhinged. Song Yi Chun died in the prison, he took the medicine sent by Song Han and died on the spot. The Emperor decreed that Song Mo would inherit the Duke of Ying title.
Episode 27
The power tension between the Crown Prince and Prince Qing thickened. The Emperor wanted the Crown Prince to rely on Song Mo, who is like the sharp sword he prepared for his son. He just hope the Crown Prince knew how to hold on the sharp tightly. Meanwhile, Prince Qing who was stationed in Liaodong, made a lot of money after the market opened. He used various connections to win over people in the court. Dou Shishu was one of them. By wooing Dou Shi Shu, Prince Qing could mobilize soldiers and horses, echoing internal and external plans, and plotted evil, with the intention of placing the emperor under house arrest in order to usurp the throne. The unhinged Song Han also started siding with Prince Qing to deal with Song Mo.
Episode 28
Song Han won an imperial competition. The Emperor awarded him an official position as a reward. However, he went further and wished to marry the princess. Princess Jingyu had an eccentric personality, and sure enough, she clearly rejected the proposal. Empress Wan also believed that Song Han was not worthy of the princess. She suggested Miao Ansu be made a princess because she wanted to drive a wedge between Miao An Su and Dou Zhao. Miao An Su was not thrilled being made a princess. She immediately found Song Han and hoped to jointly petition the emperor to revoke the decree. However, Song Han had other plans. He faked a hidden illness and manipulated Miao An Su kindness, so she agreed to become a princess and marry him.
Even after the wedding, Song Han was unhappy because people mocked his status as a prince consort and a bastard son. He was also paranoid to Miao An Su. Su Yan, the enemy spy who was appointed by Empress Wan to become Miao An Su attendant, also stirred up troubles. When the day after the wedding Miao Ansu and Song Han visited Song Mo and his wife, Su Yan insisted Dou Zhao to kneel down and serve tea to Miao An Su. Miao An Su took the initiative to kneel down. Dou Zhao hurriedly helped her up, hoping that the two could get along like sisters in the future.
Episode 29
Song Han tried the severe his wife friendship with Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao was shock with her friend’s contradiction that she passed out. Song Mo came and took Dou Zhao away, and discovered that she was pregnant. Miao Ansu blamed herself, because Dou Zhao was very good to her. She prayed at the temple to calm down her heart and reconciled with Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao persuaded her not to trust Song Han too much. Privately, Dou Zhao made it clear to Song Han that he had seen through his disguise and intentions, warned him not to let down Miao An Su’s love. However, Song Han ignored Dou Zhao’s advice.
Knowing that Ji Yong worked for Prince Qing, Dou Zhao directly exposed the prince’s conspiracy and believed that Prince Qing would spare no effort to keep Ji Yong. Dou Zhao asked who else around him was from Prince Qing, but Ji Yong remained silent. Dou Zhao was angry at Ji Yong’s behavior but suddenly fainted. Song Mo appeared in time to pick her up. Ji Yong let Dou Zhao and Song Mo leave. He reminded Song Mo to write a letter of divorce when his death was approaching, so as not to implicate Dou Zhao.
When Miao Ansu returned home, she was shocked to see that her brother Miao Ping An was raising funds to join the business world. She knew very well that her brother lacked business talent and tried her best to oppose it, but was scolded by her parents. During the dispute, she was pushed to the ground. All of this was quietly witnessed by Song Han. Later, he deliberately led his brother-in-law to be killed by bullies. Miao An Su was heartbroken, her father suffered a stroke due to excessive grief, and her mother also fainted many times.
Episode 30
When Su Yan followed Miao An Su from the temple, her eyes were inadvertently attracted by the silver hairpin on Dou Zhao’s head. Dou Zhao explained about an old woman and her son whom she saved. Su Yan took out a hairpin that was exactly the same as the one in Dou Zhao’s hand. The two hairpins were put together to form a pair. This undoubtedly confirmed Su Yan’s suspicion that the mother and son were her long-lost mother and brother. She reunited with them, and secretly made up her mind to repay Dou Zhao’s kindness.
When Dou Zhao was helping the Crown Princess to prepare the palace banquet, she met Eunuch Wang Ge. Dou Zhao noticed the tattoo on his arm. She remembered this was the man who shot an arrow at Song Mo and killed him in their previous life.
Song Mo accompanied the Crown Prince and Prince Qing to go hunting. The brothers got into a fight and the situation got out of hand. Song Mo was worried that both of them would be injured, so he simply punched one of them to stop the fight. In order to save her son, Empress Wan took initiative to admit her mistake over her son and asked to be disposed that to make Prince Qing a commoner. The emperor did not agree as this matter could not be announced to the public, otherwise Song Mo would also be implicated.
Under the questioning of Dou Zhao and Song Mo, Crown Prince and Crown princess told the story of how Duke Dingguo was wrongly accused. It was the Emperor’s secret plan gone wrong. Empress Wan suggested the Emperor to convict the Duke of Ding. Song Mo guessed that the person who really wanted to rebel was Empress Wan. The Empress poisoned the emperor, and the antidone given was also mixed with poison, so the emperor’s condition never improved.
Song Mo challenge the Crown Prince to bring order to the chaos. The prince believed that this was putting the royal family’s face on the ground and firmly refused. Fortunately, the Crown Princess sided with Song Mo and Dou Zhao and encouraged her husband.
Episode 31
After the maid Qi Xia woke up, she immediately mentioned a secret letter to Dou Zhao from Jiang Mei Sun to her sister Jiang Hui Sun. Behind all this there seems to be a more complex conspiracy and calculation. Jiang Mei Sun discovered the scandal of official corruption in Liaodong, and was about to return to the capital to report it to the emperor in person. On her way back to the room, Qi Xia overheard the conversation between Song Han and Song Yichun. It turned out that Song Yi Chun was the mastermind behind Jiang Hui Sun’s death.
Song Mo and Dou Zhao also found out that her father’s name is on the list. It turned out Dou Shi Ying signed a contract of a store, that was run by Empress Wan’s family, to make profit of it. He didn’t realized it was a conspiracy. Dou Shi Ying wants to resign to save his family. But Song Mo knew very well that even if he resigned, the entanglement between them and Prince Qing would not be easily let go. In order to rescue her father, Dou Zhao personally went to the store and found Wei Ting Zhen is the owner of the store. Dou Zhao offered to redeem her father’s contract at double the price, but Wei Ting Zhen blamed Dou Zhao for her brother’s death and refused to release Dou Shi Ying.
Prince Qing offered to detoxify Song Mo in exchange for his loyalty, but Song Mo declined. Seeing that his persuasion was fruitless, Prince Qing ordered action, but Song Mo single-handedly subdued him. Using Prince Qing as a hostage, he successfully found the secret room where the contract was hidden. Prince Qing ordered his guards to kill Song Mo. Just when Song Mo was vomiting blood and was unable to resist, Dou Zhao and Eunuch Wang Ge came in. The eunuch summoned everyone to the palace according to the emperor’s decree. The emperor did not dare to act rashly and could only put all the blame on Dou Shi Ying. However, Song Mo was unwilling to do so and put everything on his blame. The emperor decreed to dismiss Song Mo from his official position and sent to prison. Seeing Song Mo being escorted out, Dou Zhao was distraught and fainted. Ji Yong took her away. The palace power structure had quietly changed, and the person in charge of the palace had been replaced by Wang Ge.
Episode 32
Song Mo was imprisoned in a dark and damp cell and suffered severe torture from Wang Ge. In a coma, Dou Zhao kept calling his name. Dou Zhao finally woke up, and Zhao Zhang Ru and Cui stayed by her side. Dou Shi Ying stepped forward and defended Song Mo. This move angered his brother, who had been in control of him for a long time. Dou Shi Ying resolutely cut off the brotherhood with Dou Shishu. He did not back down and beat the drum to complain to the court. Fortunately, the Crown prince arrived in time. Dou Shiying took the opportunity to beg the Crown prince not to wrong Song Mo. With his persistence and courage Song Mo was released.
In the court hall, the emperor was seriously ill and unable to attend, so Empress Wan handled the affairs of the court on his behalf. The Crown Prince accused Prince Qing of being corrupt, perverting the law, and hiding property privately. He submitted a letter to the people, demanding a thorough investigation into the case of embezzlement in the Yinlou. However, Empress Wan rejected Crown prince’s request. Princess Shude also walked into the hall and demanded a thorough investigation of the matter to protect the royal family’s face. The ministers all agreed with Princess Shude. The Empress had no choice but to reluctantly agree, but used Dou Shi Shu as a scapegoat. Dou Shi Shu died.
Episode 33
Miao Ansu knew that her brother’s death was caused by Song Han, and that he had hidden secrets and ambitions deep in his heart. She asked him but Song Han did not tell the truth.
Prince Qing asked Song Han to get rid of Miao An Su, but Song Han hesitated. He told Prince Qing that Miao family’s wealth was crucial to the palace change, so he was reluctant to harm Miao An Su. Princes Qing said nothing more. Song Han sent Miao An Su out of the city.
At the same time, Song Mo’s situation became increasingly critical. He was in great pain because of the poison so he locked himself. Dou Zhao broke into the room and tried to give medicine to Song Mo, but he almost strangled her to death. Fortunately, Song Mo controlled his emotions in time and rushed out of the door. Dou Zhao drank the medicine in desperation, caught up with Song Mo, and fed him the medicine mouth-to-mouth. After taking the medicine, he gradually regained his consciousness.
Empress Wan held a banquet for the noble ladies, but it was a trap to hold them hostage. Dou Zhao presented the Empress with a clock that later exploded. Su Yan controlled the Empress and forced her to retreat. However, Eunuch Wang Ge captured Su Yan. Chen Jia, the shadow guard, stabbed Wang Ge. The Shadow Guards were willing to follow Chen Jia to guard the city gate to prevent Prince Qing and Song Han from attacking. Song Mo and the Ding Guo Army arrived in time. In a fierce battle, the two sides launched a desperate struggle.
Episode 34
Dou Zhao used the acupuncture technique taught by Ji Yong to cure the Emperor. She also found out that Ji Yong was not a traitor, in the contrary he was the Emperor’s spy planted into Prince Qing’s camp to be his military advisor.
The two armies clashed with shouts of killing shook the heaven and earth until a few crisp gunshots cut through the din of the battlefield. The emperor was slowly carried out with Dou Zhao and the Emperor’s other loyal subordinates closely guarding him.
Prince Qing attempted to use the news of the Crown prince’s assassination to shake the foundation of imperial power, claiming that he should inherit the throne according to etiquette. However, Crown Prince and Gu Yu appeared with reinforcements. At the same time, Ji Yong’s troops also arrived. Out of desperation, Prince Qing swung his sword at Song Mo, but was stopped by Dou Zhao with a shot. The rebels surrendered and the situation was reversed.
Song Han escaped to meet Miao An Su. He thought he could get redemption, but Miao An Su stabbed him to death.
The Emperor realized he won’t live long, so he gave the only snow lingzhi that can save his life to cure Song Mo, hoping that this gift would protect Song Mo and in turn Song Mo protects the Crown Prince. He also issued an edict to vindicate Duke Ding and the Jiang family.
A year later, the Crown prince ascended the throne and granted amnesty. Wu Shan and Ji Yong returned to the capital respectively. and took up the court positions. The whole court underwent a reformation. Five years later, Chen Jia and Zhao Zhang Ru became prosperous farmers. Miao An Su stayed unmarried and become a strong businesswoman with Su Yan as her bodyguard. Dou Zhao and Song Mo had a daughter Lian Jun, who inherited her parents’ lively nature and climbed trees and walls every day, causing them a lot of headaches. Despite this, they still enjoy the rare couple time and look forward to spending more time together after Lian Jun enters school. Dou Shi Ying was promoted in the court. Although he was busy, he never forgot to accompany his mother. He declined all proposals for marriage, and he always cared about Zhao Gu Qiu in his heart. Chen Qu Shui became the teacher for Lian Jun and her uncle, the future Duke of Ding. When Lian Jun goes to school, Dou Zhao and Song Mo took advantage and had a rare romantic outing. The two toasted and recalled the hardships of the past and the happiness of today. Song Mo kissed Dou Zhao affectionately, and the two of them were like a beautiful scene in a flower scroll between the water and the sky.
Conclusion
Now that we finally comes to an end, don’t forget to watch the ending credit of the final episode (Episode 34) shown below! I will not spoil what it is!
