Blossom Episode 27 Recap
> Blossom Recap
The Emperor learned that Prince Qing had taken the opportunity of the festival to send many gifts to Dou Shishu. He privately asked the Crown Prince whether he was concerned about the two forming factions and colluding. The Crown Prince replied that he wasn’t worried, as abandoning Dou Shishu because of suspicion would be unwise; instead, they should unite and stabilize the court.
The Emperor praised the Crown Prince’s compassion and remarked that Song Mo was the sword he had prepared for the Crown Prince, hoping the Crown Prince would know how to wield it wisely. While helping Song Mo dye his hair, Dou Zhao discussed the current intentions of the Crown Prince and Prince Qing.
Although the Crown Prince had previously supervised and warned others, it was clear his actions stemmed from his focus on securing the throne, not from a desire to form alliances. This was expected of the Crown Prince. However, Prince Qing, with his open markets in Liaodong, could support a large army and had now drawn Dou Shishu into his circle to gain control over troops.
This alliance could facilitate a coup by imprisoning the Emperor from within and taking the throne. In contrast, Song Mo’s control over the troops made him a key obstacle in this plan. Song Mo suspected that the Crown Prince’s true motives were still unclear, so he decided to assign people to monitor him and uncover the truth. The next day, Dou Zhao was urgently summoned to the palace by Shude for a game of mahjong.
The players included the Empress, the Princess, and the Crown Princess. Dou Zhao treaded cautiously and managed to create a situation where one family lost while three families won, earning the Empress’s admiration for her cleverness. Before leaving, the Empress summoned Dou Zhao again under the pretext of choosing suitable paper for palace use. Dou Zhao gave her professional opinion, but the real intention was to gift her a rare Snow Elixir as a gesture of allegiance.
The Snow Elixir, highly sought after by Chen Qushui but impossible to obtain, was rumored to heal injuries and regenerate bones. However, accepting the Elixir would mean falling under the Empress’s control and aligning with Prince Qing, so Dou Zhao refused. Upon returning home, Dou Zhao ordered the Snow Elixir to be intercepted while it was being sent to Prince Qing's residence and delivered to Song Mo instead.
Song Mo was deeply moved by Dou Zhao’s efforts and promised not to let blind loyalty cause his family pain. When the time came for difficult decisions, he would prioritize his family. Dou Zhao expressed her unwavering support for his choices. However, just as Song Mo was about to take the medicine, Dou Zhao recalled that in her previous life, Song Mo had joined Prince Qing but still ended up with white hair.
This suggested the medicine might be ineffective or even poisonous. Rushing to test it, she discovered it indeed had detoxifying properties. But before she could administer it to Song Mo, Zhao Zhangru arrived, insisting they go lantern-watching. The couple left, and after they were gone, the tested medicine mysteriously changed color. The Empress suspected Dou Zhao of orchestrating the robbery of the Snow Elixir but had no evidence.
Moreover, Dou Zhao had declined it when it was offered to her, leaving the Empress without a justifiable reason to act against her. Meanwhile, Shude met Dou Shishu and advised him to stay away from Prince Qing’s faction. Shude reminded Dou Shishu of his early struggles when he served as a county magistrate and faced suppression. At the time, Dou Shishu wanted to resign and retake the imperial exams but was denied.
During that difficult period, Shude encountered him at a temple while praying for her late husband. Touched by a poem he wrote, Shude recommended him, though Dou Shishu initially refused, wanting to rely on his abilities alone. Shude persuaded him to face reality, arguing that only strength could bring opportunities to fulfill his ambitions. From then on, Dou Shishu persevered despite ridicule, ultimately achieving his current status.
Shude, fearing future entanglements, urged him to stop, but Dou Shishu vowed to continue, promising one day to give Shude everything she desired. Seeing his determination, Shude relented. Dou Zhao and Song Mo went lantern-watching in town, where Dou Zhao noticed Zhao Zhangru with a man. She wanted to follow and investigate, but Song Mo pulled her aside, reminding her of their wager: intervening would count as breaking the rules.
Dou Zhao, worried about losing track, assured him she had no intention of disrupting them. Zhao Zhangru accidentally sprained her ankle, so Chen Jia carried her on his back. The two were cheerful until they unexpectedly ran into Dou Zhao and Song Mo. Frightened, they tried to hide, but Chen Jia stepped forward to explain that he was taking Zhao Zhangru back due to her injury. Song Mo appreciated Chen Jia’s straightforwardness, seeing it as a sign of responsibility.
Dou Zhao felt relieved and stopped following them, choosing instead to enjoy the lanterns with Song Mo. Meanwhile, Miao Ansu brought pastries to Song Han, who gave her a hand warmer in return. Miao Ansu, always there during Song Han’s lowest moments, encouraged him to stand tall and forge his own path. Looking at the moon, Miao Ansu recalled part of a poem but could only remember two words. Song Han easily recited the rest, making them both smile.
That night, wearing a black cloak, Song Han rode out of the estate. Later, Song Han approached Prince Qing, offering his services and sharing his insights. He claimed he was born to be a hidden and unpredictable chess piece against Song Mo. Prince Qing tested him by firing an arrow, which Song Han caught, though his hand bled. Impressed, Prince Qing promised to promote Song Han if he performed well in the imperial exams.
Prince Qing then met Ji Yong, praising his foresight and noting that he had predicted Song Han’s actions. Ji Yong, like Prince Qing, was an illegitimate son and understood the struggle to rise. Prince Qing gifted Ji Yong gold and jewels, but Ji Yong dismissed them and prepared to leave. Realizing his mistake, Prince Qing apologized, and Ji Yong let it go. Ji Yong noted that since he hadn’t recruited Song Mo, using Song Han as a substitute worked perfectly.
Should anything go wrong, it would remain a family matter, leaving Prince Qing unaffected. In the upcoming imperial exams, Dou Shishu would be the chief examiner. Elder Mu’s son wanted to participate, so Elder Mu sought Dou Shishu’s favor. Dou Shishu agreed to be lenient in the written exams but insisted that martial tests required true skill. Elder Mu expressed confidence in his son’s martial abilities.
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