Blossom Episode 11 Recap
> Blossom Recap
Dou Zhao ultimately couldn’t bring herself to leave. She turned back and tried to persuade Song Mo, mocking him for not being as good as Jiang Meisun. Then, Dou Zhao set a small prayer boat afloat on the water as a send-off for Jiang Meisun. She expressed that all the wealth she had in her life was because of Jiang Meisun.
Dou Zhao also hoped Song Mo would believe in His Majesty, who surely knew the truth but was constrained by the current political situation. Dou Zhao believed that concealing one’s strength and showing restraint was the only way forward. Even though the Duke of Dingguo was gone, he had brought peace and would live on in everyone’s hearts. Dou Zhao solemnly reminded Song Mo that from this day forward, he was Jiang Meisun.
Chen Jia gathered news from the palace, learning that His Majesty talked nonsense to his ruler every day. This suggested His Majesty felt guilty about Song Mo and knew the Duke of Dingguo had been wronged but had hastily closed the case. Song Mo hadn’t expected Dou Zhao’s words to hit the mark once again. However, he still couldn’t figure out who His Majesty might be shielding.
He even speculated that the truth was hidden to protect the Crown Prince’s faction. Song Mo asked Chen Jia about the princes’ actions when the Duke of Dingguo was brought back under custody. He learned that only the Crown Prince and Prince Qing inquired, while the others remained inactive. At that moment, someone reported that there was an incident at the Futing military camp. Song Mo picked up his paired short sabers and immediately headed to the camp.
At the camp, the soldiers were outraged, talking about rebelling or becoming outlaws. Song Mo arrived just in time to stop them from saying anything reckless. Although Song Mo had been relieved of his military duties and was no longer the Young Commander, everyone admired him and wanted to continue following him to avenge the Duke of Dingguo. Song Mo promptly announced the disbandment of the Dingguo Army.
However, in secret, he convened a group of trusted subordinates to plan covert operations and prepare for future uprisings. Meanwhile, with merchant ships being detained and many people's goods destroyed, creditors went to Miao Ansu’s home demanding repayment and threatened to loot everything. Fortunately, Dou Zhao and Ji Yong arrived just in time.
Ji Yong invoked the law to stop the mob, while Dou Zhao pawned her late mother’s bracelet to the authorities, promising to settle the debts within ten days. Miao Ansu felt uneasy and decided to sell all her shops to redeem the bracelet. However, Dou Zhao believed that all the wealth in the world was not as valuable as Miao Ansu. She was confident that her mother would be happy to see the bracelet being put to good use.
Miao Ansu, willing to use her entire dowry to repay everyone, didn’t want to implicate Dou Zhao. However, her father worried that her brother Anping would need money for his imperial examinations. Miao Ansu insisted on helping Dou Zhao, feeling that her ability to save up her dowry was all thanks to Dou Zhao. Overhearing this, Dou Zhao entered the room and stopped her from using the money to settle the debts.
Wang Yingxue brought festival gifts for Dou Zhao but insisted on seeing her. Zhao Zhangru tried to stop her, saying she wasn’t qualified to meddle in the Dou family’s affairs. Wang Yingxue scolded her, saying she had no authority to manage the Dou household. Cui Shi arrived just in time to reprimand Wang Yingxue. Wang Yingxue claimed she had brought a statue of a deity to bless Dou Zhao.
Her maid, Nanny Zhou, tried to lift the curtain to see Dou Zhao, but Su Xin reached out to stop her. Cui Shi used the excuse that Dou Zhao couldn’t be exposed to the wind due to smallpox and drove them away. However, Wang Yingxue had already noticed from the outstretched hand that the person behind the curtain wasn’t Dou Zhao. Cui Shi, realizing the same, pressured Zhao Zhangru, who reluctantly revealed that Dou Zhao had gone to Futing.
Meanwhile, Wang Yingxue reported this to Dou Shiying. At the same time, the Marquis of Jining’s family sent a visitation card, requesting to join them. Dou Shiying wanted to decline, but Wang Yingxue believed it wouldn’t be appropriate and assumed they wanted to propose marriage. She volunteered to attend the banquet on their behalf, leaving Dou Shiying no choice but to agree. Dou Zhao discovered sprouted potatoes and, knowing they were inedible, suggested using them for planting.
She instructed Miao Ansu to quickly buy land to grow potatoes, which would yield results in three months. Ji Yong also brought good news: he had submitted a strategy for developing the ship trade to the court. The Ministry of Works found the proposal reasonable and agreed to pay a high price to purchase private ships. Dou Zhao was very grateful to Ji Yong.
Ji Yong, observing the Crown Prince’s unfavorable position, planned to visit Prince Qing, who had His Majesty’s favor. The Crown Prince’s mother, Empress Shen, held a lowly status and was never favored, leading to limited support among officials. In contrast, Prince Qing was known for respecting and valuing talented individuals, exuding the demeanor of a ruler. Dou Zhao recalled that in her previous life, Prince Qing succeeded because of a strategist by his side—likely Ji Yong.
Ji Yong seemed to have everything under control as if he already knew the future. Knowing it was futile to dissuade him, Dou Zhao gifted Ji Yong a pair of spectacles, having noticed his vision issues. Ji Yong leaned closer to examine Dou Zhao, complimenting her appearance as not unattractive. At this time, Dou Shishu and Dou Shiying arrived.
Dou Shishu scolded Dou Zhao for traveling such a great distance and embarrassing herself, while Dou Zhao defended her actions, saying she came to help the Miao family. Dou Shishu dismissed the Miao family as too insignificant to be her relatives. He accused Dou Zhao of causing Cui Shi’s severe illness by leaving. Dou Zhao, upon hearing this, immediately admitted her mistake and prepared to return home to care for Cui Shi. However, Dou Shishu deliberately delayed their departure.
Anxious, Dou Zhao offered all her funds in Fudian to the Dou family in exchange for an early departure. Only then did Dou Shishu agree to leave early. They could have stayed in Wuzhen for the night, but Dou Zhao, eager to hurry, led them to a remote area. Dou Shishu couldn’t resist grumbling again. At that moment, stationed soldiers approached them, provided them with a lavish meal, and advised them to stay safely at the camp.
Dou Zhao, feeling unwell from the journey, expressed a wish for light food. Almost immediately, a simple bowl of porridge appeared, confirming to her that these were Dingguo soldiers. She smiled knowingly. When they arrived in Yuzhou City, the soldiers at the gate began inspections. Dou Zhao had someone inform the gatekeepers that they were officials from the Dou family on their way to report back to the capital.
Hearing it was the Dou family, the gatekeeper immediately prioritized their passage—an unprecedented act. Dou Shishu looked back at Dou Zhao’s carriage, realizing this was her doing. Heavy rain made the road muddy, and the carriage became stuck. A group of villagers lifted the carriage out of the mud, repeatedly addressing Dou Zhao as “Fourth Miss” and refusing her reward. Dou Shishu grew even more displeased, believing Dou Zhao enjoyed associating with commoners.
When Dou Zhao returned to the Dou family estate, Dou Shishu refused to visit Cui Shi. This infuriated Dou Zhao, but he reminded her not to forget her engagement to Wei Tingyu. Dou Shiying and his wife had already signed the marriage contract. Dou Zhao, too preoccupied to argue, rushed to check on Cui Shi, only to be greeted by Wang Yingxue’s sarcastic smirk. Song Mo, seeing Dou Zhao safely return home, finally felt at ease and departed after escorting her all the way.
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