Blossom Episode 23 Recap
> Blossom Recap
After the bandits entered the city, they looted and killed indiscriminately, causing suffering to many citizens. Zhao Zhangru was repairing a pomegranate jade carving at home when she suddenly heard noise outside and quickly hid. Two bandits broke in and were about to strike Zhao Zhangru with a blade when Chen Jia arrived just in time to save her.
Chen Jia noticed the pomegranate jade carving was the one he had entrusted Zhao Zhangru to deliver to Dou Zhao and Song Mo. He asked her why it was still there, and Zhao Zhangru admitted that it had broken, and she was trying to repair it. Chen Jia didn’t press her further on the matter. Meanwhile, two bandits knocked on a door, only to see a woman in a cloak extend her hand and show a gold token.
The bandits, undeterred, attempted to enter, but the woman suddenly pulled one of them in and broke his bones, scaring them into submission. With a contemptuous smile, she shut the door. Hearing the knocking outside, Dou Zhao asked who it was. The person claimed they were sent by the Duke of England's household to check on them.
Dou Zhao immediately ordered the doors to be barred, as she knew the Duke of England would not send people specifically to care about them. Realizing they couldn’t fool Dou Zhao, the bandits ordered the door to be broken down, while others climbed over the walls. Chen Qushui sent men to search for Yan Chaoqing and also arranged for people to hold the courtyard at all costs. Su Xin and Su Lan urged Dou Zhao to leave, but she refused.
Dou Zhao knew that if she left, morale would collapse. Assessing the situation, she believed they still had the upper hand and calmly ordered her subordinates to take action. At that time, Song Mo also noticed something amiss in the city and wanted to return, but his men stopped him. They warned him that if he returned now, he would be committing a serious offense. The Cangbei Gang broke through the west gate, and the bandits swarmed in, searching for silver.
Dou Zhao and her people hid inside a building. The roof had already been soaked with water, preventing the bandits from setting it on fire. From inside, Dou Zhao aimed a fire gun out the window and shot at the Cangbei Gang’s leader. However, she hit the wrong person and only killed someone by his side. The leader hastily hid, shocked that Dou Zhao still had access to firearms. Ji Yong arrived with reinforcements.
At the same time, masked men dressed in black, led by Song Mo, rushed toward Dou Zhao's residence. Yan Chaoqing also sensed something wrong and returned with his men. Hearing that several gates were being attacked, the Cangbei Gang suddenly realized they had fallen into Wang Yingxue’s trap. Song Mo anxiously returned to Dou Zhao’s side. The maids praised Dou Zhao, saying she was as courageous as any man.
However, when Dou Zhao saw Song Mo, she broke down and clung to him, tears streaming down her face. Song Mo comforted her and praised her bravery. Dou Zhao admitted that she hadn’t felt like crying when she saw the bandits, but seeing Song Mo made her want to cry. Ji Yong arrived just in time to see Song Mo and Dou Zhao embracing through the window. Smiling quietly, he left without disturbing them.
Song Mo felt guilty, saying he had married Dou Zhao to protect her, but now she had been dragged into danger. Dou Zhao, however, believed the bandits were targeting her dowry. Song Mo explained that he had arranged for someone to pretend to be him in his room, while he led the elite soldiers of the Duke of Dingguo to ensure the city’s safety.
Dou Zhao urged Song Mo to return to the emperor’s side and warned that the elite soldiers must not be discovered. As Song Mo was about to leave, he sensed something amiss and returned just in time to kill several attackers trying to harm Dou Zhao. He ordered Yan Chaoqing to interrogate the captives. Wang Yingxue felt uneasy about the chaos under the emperor’s nose, fearing accountability.
Her servant reassured her that Dou Zhao was surely dead, and no one would suspect Wang Yingxue. Feeling more at ease, Wang Yingxue ordered the servant to be killed to silence her. Dou Ming discovered a maid fleeing with gold and silver. After questioning her, she learned that the maid had been ordered by Wang Yingxue to steal Wei Tingyu’s token. Afraid of being implicated in the bandit attacks, the maid attempted to escape.
Concerned for Wei Tingyu, Dou Ming went out to find him but encountered the Cangbei Gang on the way. The gang leader recognized Dou Ming as Wang Yingxue’s daughter and tried to kidnap her. Angered by Wang Yingxue’s actions, he stabbed Dou Ming. Dou Ming, dying, looked through the window to see Wei Tingyu eating and drinking with others, unable to call out or say a word. Wang Ge carefully observed Song Mo and found him sitting still in his room.
Unable to resist, he went inside to check again, but Song Mo had already returned without him noticing anything unusual. Yan Chaoqing interrogated the assassins and discovered that the Duke of England’s household had conspired with Lü Zheng to open the gates. Enraged, Dou Zhao led her people into the Duke of England’s residence. Song Yichun avoided her, pushing out the eldest sister-in-law, who managed the household.
Knowing the situation was dire, the sister-in-law relinquished control of the household affairs to Dou Zhao. Through further interrogation, Dou Zhao also discovered that the person who opened the city gates had used Wei Tingyu’s token, allowing the attackers to enter through the north gate under his jurisdiction. Furious, Dou Zhao burst into the place where Wei Tingyu was drinking and playing. An arrow shattered his wine cup, leaving him stunned.
Dou Zhao berated Wei Tingyu, who soon found out that his wife, Dou Ming, was mortally injured just ten steps away from where he sat. Overwhelmed with grief, Wei Tingyu realized that Dou Ming had never blamed him, even as she died, nor did she regret marrying him. The emperor, upon hearing about the chaos in the city, was furious and ordered Song Mo to investigate. Wang Yingxue’s crimes were exposed, and Dou Shishu demanded Wang Yingxue take responsibility.
Filled with rage, Wang Yingxue, who believed she had sacrificed her life for the Dou family, vowed to take everyone down with her. Dou Zhao arrived, carrying Dou Ming’s body, and told Wang Yingxue that Dou Ming was the first of the many people she had brought to ruin. Seeing Dou Ming dead, Wang Yingxue broke down, but Dou Zhao angrily scolded her. If it weren’t for the bandits, Dou Ming wouldn’t have died. Whoever was responsible must face justice. As Wang Yingxue was taken away, she turned back to glare viciously at Dou Zhao.
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