Blossom Episode 1 Recap
> Blossom Recap
In the twenty-seventh year of the Chengping era, during the severe winter, the emperor fell gravely ill and ceased court affairs. Taking advantage of the situation, Song Mo, the General of the Cavalry, supported Prince Qing under the guise of attending to the emperor's illness and launched a surprise attack on the capital at night. His intent was to redress the injustice suffered by the Duke of Dingguo in the past.
Song Mo imprisoned the crown prince, forcing him to abdicate. Although the crown prince knew Song Mo's motives were to clear the Duke of Dingguo's name, he would rather die than comply. Before taking his own life, the crown prince cryptically warned Song Mo that he was seeking revenge on the wrong person, leaving Song Mo puzzled. Madam Dou Zhao of the Marquis of Jining’s household had long anticipated Prince Qing and Song Mo's rebellion.
She made preparations in advance, though outside, Song Mo’s forces caused a massacre. The household servants, terrified, attempted to flee with stolen belongings but were harshly punished by Dou Zhao. Even the Marquis, Wei Tingyu, scolded the servants for gossiping about the situation. At this time, Song Mo entered the palace, seeking an audience with Prince Qing, but was blocked by Wang Ge, the eunuch holding the imperial seal.
Wang Ge claimed that Prince Qing was discussing state affairs with the emperor and could not meet him. He suggested Song Mo leave the seal to earn merit. Song Mo, however, insisted that his only purpose was to rectify past wrongs and left with the seal. He stationed his troops outside the city, refusing to leave until Prince Qing agreed to see him, which plunged the situation into deeper chaos.
To protect the Marquis's household, Dou Zhao, despite her deteriorating health, took charge of all matters. She ordered materials to be brought into the courtyard, claiming her illness required constant care. This kept Wei Tingyu from leaving the house, ensuring temporary safety from the external turmoil. Dou Zhao’s health worsened, and she began coughing blood. Her maid, Tuo Niang, blamed Wei Tingyu for neglecting Dou Zhao. Yet Dou Zhao remained indifferent to his absence, continuing to manage the household diligently.
One day, noticing blooming flowers outside, she went out to enjoy them but caught the scent of medicinal herbs. Realizing Dou Ming was making medicine for her, she was comforted and hurried to the kitchen to thank her. However, she unexpectedly discovered Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu in a clandestine affair. Overhearing their conversation, she learned that Wei Tingyu harbored no feelings for her and wished for her death so he could marry Dou Ming.
Heartbroken, Dou Zhao interrupted them, yet proposed a shocking solution: she suggested taking Tuo Niang and leaving, believing that Dou Ming, as a Dou family member, could solidify relations between the two families through marriage. However, she soon overheard another revelation—Dou Ming’s mother and Dou Zhao’s mother had been sworn sisters, but Dou Zhao’s father had an affair with Dou Ming’s mother, leading to her mother’s death.
Overcome with rage and grief, Dou Zhao realized all her efforts for the household had been for the benefit of others. Dou Zhao instructed Tuo Niang to spread word of a fire in the kitchen, drawing everyone to extinguish it. She then exposed Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu's affair and demanded answers about her mother’s death. In the aftermath, Dou Zhao burned Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu's clothes, trapping them inside and publicly declaring their disgrace to the household staff.
She renounced her title as Madam of the Marquis of Jining, severed all ties with the household, and left. Dou Ming, humiliated, regretted not heeding her mother’s earlier advice to poison Dou Zhao and end her life sooner. Dou Zhao, now traveling by carriage, distributed food to refugees she encountered, unable to bear their plight. Watching the snow fall mirrored her emotions. Recalling her mother’s death during her childhood, she asked Tuo Niang about suspicious events from that time.
Tuo Niang revealed that after Dou Zhao’s father became a Jinshi scholar, coinciding with Dou Ming’s birthday, her mother sent Dou Ming to share the good news with her uncle Zhao Si. Shortly after, her mother passed away, and Wang Yingxue married into the household. Suddenly, Dou Zhao’s carriage overturned when she swerved to avoid a child on the road. Fortunately, Song Mo arrived in time to save her.
Despite his rumored cruelty, Dou Zhao found him to be quite different. Song Mo comforted the child with a few words, stopping their tears. At that moment, Ji Yong, a monk, approached, advising Song Mo to avoid further bloodshed since he could bring peace to others. Song Mo was displeased with the chaos caused by war but listened as Dou Zhao explained her return journey.
When she coughed violently and couldn’t continue, Ji Yong checked her pulse and sarcastically commented that her condition suggested she was rushing to the afterlife. Under Song Mo’s arrangements, Dou Zhao and her companions found temporary shelter. As the turmoil continued, Song Mo investigated the reasons behind Dou Zhao’s sudden departure. Dou Zhao revealed the truth, and Song Mo expressed sympathy, admiring her decisiveness amidst misfortune. Dou Zhao, curious about Song Mo’s white hair, questioned him.
Song Mo, coughing up blood, avoided explaining, saying it wasn’t worth discussing. Feeling a shared fate as two dying individuals, Dou Zhao empathized with him. Ji Yong then entered, declaring that the strange celestial phenomenon of the day signified intertwined destinies, though Dou Zhao dismissed his words as overly flattering. Soon, Wang Ge and Wei Tingyu arrived with troops, accusing Dou Zhao and Song Mo of collusion and demanding the return of the seal followed by their deaths.
Unfazed, Song Mo lamented Prince Qing’s betrayal and revealed he had already made arrangements. He hinted that Prince Qing was likely dead, but Wang Ge dismissed this as a bluff. Amid the standoff, Ji Yong took the opportunity to help Dou Zhao and Tuo Niang escape. A fierce battle ensued. Wang Ge’s subordinate Chen Jia pursued Dou Zhao and her group, intent on proving Song Mo’s guilt by killing her.
Despite his fears, Wei Tingyu believed that Dou Zhao’s death would solidify their plans. Chen Jia caught up with Dou Zhao and her companions in Shandong, killing Tuo Niang and Ji Yong. When he was about to strike Dou Zhao, Song Mo arrived just in time to save her, though he was injured in the process. Dou Zhao blamed herself, explaining she was unaware of Wei Tingyu’s schemes.
Song Mo reassured her, believing his actions had brought misfortune upon her as well. As they prepared to leave, Ji Yong handed them a book, *Records of the Enlightened Age*, urging them to change their fate before dying. While fleeing, Song Mo and Dou Zhao were ambushed again, falling into a deep ravine after being struck. As time seemed to reverse, Dou Zhao glimpsed the book floating toward her and slowly closed her eyes.
When Dou Zhao awoke, a boy nearby told her she had been daydreaming while reading, hitting her head on a mirror. Looking at her reflection, she saw a wound on her forehead and realized she had returned to her childhood. Before she could process the situation, her mother, Zhao Guqiu, and Tuo Niang rushed in, worried about her injury. Seeing her family alive and well, Dou Zhao tearfully embraced them, learning it was the eighth year of the Chengping era.
Recalling the events recorded in *Records of the Enlightened Age*, Dou Zhao resolved to change her fate and prevent past tragedies from repeating.
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