Blossoms in Adversity Episode 3 Recap, Plot

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> Blossoms in Adversity Recap

The Third Madam, Xia Jin’e, had yet to step out of her role as a madam, loudly ordering the servants to clean the house. Seeing this, Hua Zhi immediately assigned her four personal maids to tidy up and even joined in herself. The Old Madam, Lin Wan, instructed Xia Jin’e to inventory the items brought out from the manor. Xia Jin’e suggested buying a few more servants, saying that a starved camel was still bigger than a horse.

Lin Wan told her that times had changed and that from now on they must work together and avoid bringing trouble to their respective maiden families. Finally, Lin Wan kept Xia Jin’e behind alone, asking her to probe the authorities' intentions. If heaven truly showed no mercy, they would have to quickly find a reliable man, even hiring him into the family if needed, to manage the household and look after the women and children.

Shen Qi wanted to ask about the Hua family at the dining table but was stopped before he could speak. Shen Qi’s younger brother, Shen Huan, was lively and mischievous, deeply loved by their father. Though Shen Huan did nothing all day, it did not affect his favored status. Shen Qi asked his father for money, but his father said that Shen Qi lived comfortably at home, unlike Shen Huan who wandered outside, and refused his request.

With no beds in the house, Hua Zhi spread clean straw around the brazier on the floor for everyone to rest. Hua Ling, the third daughter of the Hua family, couldn’t bear the wretched conditions and insisted on bathing, only to fall into the water. Gu Yanxi reported the results of the confiscation to Emperor Qing, Gu Chengtai.

As he sipped tea and laughed, Gu Chengtai remarked that as the Son of Heaven, whatever he did, right or wrong, was for the good of the realm. He also reminded Gu Yanxi to rather kill mistakenly than let anyone slip through. Outside the hall, Gu Yanxi encountered Prince Xian, Gu Yangong.

Gu Yangong warned Gu Yanxi that serving the emperor was like serving a tiger and that he should not become arrogant thinking he was special in the emperor’s eyes. The women and children of the Hua family squeezed together in the cold and empty main hall, unable to sleep, all feeling deeply unsettled by the sudden upheaval. At that moment, Uncle Zhong, who had once served the old master, arrived.

He said they had been forcibly separated, and the other male servants had fled. Hua Zhi wanted him to come inside with everyone, but the Second Madam thought it inappropriate because he was a man. While talking in the courtyard, Hua Zhi noticed agents from the Seven Guards secretly watching them from nearby. When Gu Yanxi returned to Prince Ling’s manor, he saw that Concubine Xiao was already waiting at the gate.

He specially went to see his sister, Shao Yao. Shao Yao, whose mind was impaired, had been kept confined by Prince Ling. Xiao told him that although Shao Yao was confined, Prince Ling had sought famous doctors far and wide, and no one in the manor dared to neglect her. Looking at Shao Yao, Gu Yanxi felt deep sorrow, but Shao Yao no longer recognized him. She spent her days with medicines and occasionally made ointments and pills for amusement.

When Hua Zhi returned to the room, everyone was already asleep, so she lay down to rest as well. In the middle of the night, someone complained of the cold. Qin Concubine, a distant niece of the old madam, got up and sealed the door tightly. The brazier was still burning. Half-asleep, Hua Zhi sensed something wrong, quickly opened the door, and called for Uncle Zhong. Looking at the sleeping Shao Yao, Gu Yanxi was reminded of her childhood.

Even in her dreams, Shao Yao was still calling for her brother. After holding her hand for a moment, Gu Yanxi left the room. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds. At that time, Prince Ling, Gu Yanxun, arrived. Ten years ago, the great fire had taken Gu Yanxi’s mother and left his sister mentally impaired. He could not forgive his father. But Gu Yanxun didn’t care; he believed all of it stemmed from Emperor Qing’s suspicion.

Because Gu Yanxi grew up in the palace and was kept close by Emperor Qing every day, estrangement naturally grew between father and son. Each additional heir would add to Emperor Qing’s suspicion, so to support Prince Ling, Concubine Xiao took infertility medicine, rendering herself unable to bear children. This made Gu Yanxun extremely grateful. Fortunately, Uncle Zhong saved everyone just in time, preventing them from being poisoned by the coal fumes.

Qin Concubine cried, claiming she hadn’t shut the door herself; she was from Xia Jin’e’s room. To protect her, Xia Jin’e and the Second Madam, Qi Huilan, had a fierce quarrel, greatly displeasing Lin Wan. Hua Zhi remembered what Hua Yizheng once told her on the boat: it was human nature to seek profit and avoid harm. If something was beyond one’s power, one should not force it. One must know when to act and when to refrain.

Think carefully before making any decisions. Early the next morning, Shen Qi and two classmates came to visit Lin Wan and her family, bringing clothes, bedding, and food.

Episode 2 Recap

Episode 4 Recap

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