Blossoms in Adversity Episode 2 Recap, Plot

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> Blossoms in Adversity Recap

Qi Ruhai said that Gu Yanxi had managed the Northern Army for many years and now held heavy military power, coveting the capital and plotting to seize the position of Crown Prince. He presented confidential letters between Gu Yanxi and rebels as evidence. After reading the letters, Gu Chengtai pressed for the mastermind behind the private minting case. Qi Ruhai answered that it was Gu Yanxi. At Gu Chengtai's command, Qi Ruhai was beaten on the spot.

After Hua Zhi returned home, Lin Wan summoned her and made her kneel in front of the four madams, scolding her for the lack of discipline since childhood, accusing her of sneaking out on New Year's Eve and returning dressed as a crow. Lin Wan expressed her deep dissatisfaction that Hua Zhi never read the Women's Commandments but instead spent her days studying metaphysics and business practices.

As punishment, she ordered Hua Zhi to copy the Women's Commandments one hundred times in the ancestral hall. The Fourth Madam handed the bronze crow to Hua Zhi, and Fourth Master Hua Pingyang even specially brought her food and a knee pad. The beating continued until dawn, until Qi Ruhai died. Gu Chengtai lamented that now there was no one trustworthy left in the Seven Guards.

Recognizing Gu Yanxi’s handwriting immediately, since he had personally taught him to write, Gu Chengtai realized that Qi Ruhai had falsely accused Gu Yanxi. Gu Yanxi, cherished like a rare treasure by the late emperor and the late empress since childhood, had always outshone Prince Hui and Prince Xian.

To dispel Gu Chengtai’s doubts, Gu Yanxi disfigured his own face, picked up Qi Ruhai’s mask, and expressed his willingness to leave the Northern Lands forever, join the Seven Guards, and serve Gu Chengtai unconditionally. Early in the morning, Gu Yanxi, wearing a mask, led people under imperial orders to confiscate the Hua family's property. The Empress Dowager issued a special pardon, exempting the women and children from punishment. The mansion descended into chaos.

A maid accidentally bumped into Yuan Qi, the Deputy Commander of the Seven Guards, who drew his sword to kill her. At the critical moment, Gu Yanxi drew his sword to stop him. Facing the disaster that had struck her family, Hua Zhi ran to the library to gather her blueprints and bronzeware. Gu Yanxi found her and picked up her blueprints to look at them, but blood from his face dripped onto the paper.

Hua Zhi handed him a handkerchief to wipe his wound. After the confiscation was complete, the Seven Guards took all male members of the Hua family over ten years old into custody, allowing the women to leave freely. Before leaving, Gu Yanxi specially left two carriages and two horses for them. In the scramble for survival, the maids and servants fought over valuables.

The Third Madam took abacuses, silver notes, and deeds of sale, the Second Madam looked for longevity lockets and snack boxes for her son, the Fourth Madam caressed the kite given by Fourth Master with tears streaming down her face, and the First Madam locked herself in an empty room, utterly despondent.

Hua Zhi returned to the library again, took Hua Yizheng’s manuscripts, and ordered Ying Chun, Bao Xia, Fu Dong, and Mi Qiu, her four maids, to gather the books scattered on the ground. The First Madam, believing her husband had met a tragic fate, attempted to hang herself, but even failed to tie the noose properly. Hua Zhi scolded her awake, urging her to live for herself and not always rely on others.

The Second Madam advised her to think more about the children and not act foolishly. One carriage was loaded with books, and another carried the unmarried young ladies. Lin Wan led the other women on foot. Although many commoners stood by watching and ridiculing, Lin Wan remained dignified, walking tall and proud. Meanwhile, Shen Qi was at home, excitedly counting the betrothal gifts, completely unaware of the turmoil at court.

Shen Zhongxing staggered home and threw the engagement papers into the brazier, warning Shen Qi never to mention the Hua family again. He also ordered that anyone who dared leak any word about Shen Qi’s engagement to Hua Zhi would be beaten to death. Before they even reached the estate outside the city, rain began to fall. Lin Wan, leading the entire family with dignity, exited the city under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

In the crowd, Shen Qi spotted Hua Zhi but never managed to call out to her. The estate outside the city was a gift from the Empress Dowager, named Zihuang Residence. In her youth, the old madam often came here to escape the summer heat, but because the place had been uninhabited for many years, it was now filled with cobwebs, causing the madams to feel uneasy.

Episode 1 Recap

Episode 3 Recap

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