Flourished Peony Episode 2 Recap, Plot

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> Flourished Peony Recap

These peonies were a cherished legacy left to He Weifang by her mother. She had poured her heart and soul into caring for these flowers, not for the upcoming flower banquet, but for the memory of her mother. Liu Chang saw her efforts, and a small part of his cold demeanor began to thaw. The beloved daughter of Ning Wang, Princess Ji’an (Li Youzhen), and Liu Chang had mutual affections for each other.

Liu Shen, Liu Chang's father, believed that the Liu family would soon be allied with Ning Wang through marriage, aiming to climb the social ladder by associating with Duke Chen. However, Duke Chen thought differently. He felt that Ning Wang’s decision to send Jiang Zhangyang, the Director of Flowers and Birds, and a minor official in the Ministry of Rites, to accompany Princess Ji’an on a leisure trip to the Liu residence clearly indicated who Ning Wang’s favored son-in-law was.

Soon, Princess Ji’an arrived, and everyone at the Liu household was mobilized to greet her. Jiang Zhangyang, however, was so drunk that he remained unconscious in his sedan chair. Only after Princess Ji’an and Liu Chang exchanged pleasantries did Jiang Zhangyang finally get out of the carriage. When He Weifang saw Jiang Zhangyang’s face, she immediately remembered him as the man she had scolded and struck in the Zutianshi Hall. She couldn’t help but give a self-mocking smile.

Liu Shen and Mrs. Liu were all smiles, clearly eager to please, as they led the princess and the Director of Flowers and Birds to see the peonies. When Princess Ji’an tried to pick a peony to wear on her head, He Weifang quickly stopped her, explaining that these peonies were part of her dowry and had been passed down from her mother, so they should not be casually picked.

Liu Chang also tried to dissuade Princess Ji’an, but she was immediately displeased, mocking He Weifang for treating these flowers as treasures. He Weifang, unfazed by the sarcasm, pretended to be greedy for wealth. Liu Chang hurriedly apologized to the princess on He Weifang’s behalf. Jiang Zhangyang stepped in, and through his charm, he managed to convince Princess Ji’an to stop insisting on picking the peonies.

These court officials looked down upon common people who guarded their small plots of land, and He Weifang shared their disdain for corrupt officials like Jiang Zhangyang who accepted bribes. She pretended to be greedy, drawing laughter and some contempt from others. So what if she faced some ridicule? As long as she could protect these flowers, that was all that mattered.

During the banquet, Princess Ji’an, disregarding etiquette, sat in the seat that was originally meant for the Liu family’s daughter-in-law. He Weifang wasn’t particularly bothered by it and moved to an empty seat on the other side. A self-proclaimed assassin from the "Clear Justice Society" had infiltrated the banquet and attempted to assassinate Jiang Zhangyang while the musicians played their instruments. However, Jiang Zhangyang was prepared, and not a single injury was inflicted on him.

His subordinates quickly subdued the would-be assassins. As the assassins were captured, Liu Chang escorted Princess Ji’an to a secluded area to admire the flowers. Duke Chen, after expressing his goodwill to Liu Shen, asked to take his leave. Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhangyang ordered his men to clean up the mess and continue drinking and making merry. After eating and drinking to their fill, the group played archery in the Liu household’s courtyard.

Liu Chang was excellent with a bow and hit the target dead center with his arrow, but Jiang Zhangyang missed completely. Despite this, there were still those who praised him, as if they were pretending the situation was the opposite. He Weifang, who was responsible for preparing the tea and snacks, noticed that Jiang Zhangyang was deliberately restraining his skill. He wasn’t aiming for the target at all.

Instead, he was shooting the strings that held the coins for luck, causing them to fall. Just as He Weifang was about to ask Mrs. Liu if she could move the peonies back to her own courtyard, she overheard a shocking secret. The purple rhinoceros pill that the Liu family had given them as a royal gift was actually counterfeit.

The He family had provided a large sum of money and a precious daughter as part of the dowry, only to receive fake medicine in return. No wonder He Weifang’s mother had died after taking the medicine. He Weifang felt immense guilt and sorrow. After Yu Lu’s comforting words, she suddenly understood everything. She resolved to leave this dangerous place and plot her revenge in due course.

She instructed Yu Lu to pass on a message to Liu Chang, asking him to come and discuss a divorce. When He Weifang finally brought up the idea of divorce, Liu Chang’s pride was severely wounded, and he flatly refused. This left He Weifang feeling utterly despairing.

Episode 1 Recap

Episode 3 Recap

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