Flourished Peony Episode 21 Recap, Plot

> Flourished Peony
> Flourished Peony Recap

Jiang Zhangyang found an excuse to travel to Luoyang. Before leaving, he asked Mudan if there was anything she needed him to bring back. Mudan, unreservedly, listed four items since she would be paying the carriage fees anyway. As for visiting any relatives or friends, Mudan stated that the He family daughter was dead, and she had no ties or acquaintances in Luoyang. Before his departure, Jiang Zhangyang prepared a magnificent phoenix kite for Mudan, releasing it into the sky.

The kite’s belly opened, scattering petals everywhere, leaving a lasting impression on her. Jiang Zhangyang told Mudan that no matter where she was in the future, as long as she saw the bright moon, she would never be alone. Meanwhile, Qin Shengyi once again became entangled with Wang Qing. Inadvertently, she let slip that Mudan had a family in Luoyang. Sensing an opportunity, Wang Qing coaxed Qin Shengyi into sharing more details about Mudan’s life in Luoyang.

The County Princess of Ji’an had been copying the *Lotus Sutra* for days, praying for a smooth path in love and marriage. At the same time, Li Youzhen kept close tabs on Liu Chang’s activities at the stables office. She heard that Liu Chang was overwhelmed with work, often exhausted, and would occasionally relax by having a few drinks at a tavern or climbing Zhongnan Mountain.

A servant reported that across from Liu Chang’s favorite tavern was a flower shop owned by He Weifang. Furious, Li Youzhen went straight to Liu’s residence to hold him accountable. She hinted to Liu Shen that he should take King Ning’s carriage and expose He Weifang’s true identity. The Luoyang Magistrate, however, was tactful and shrewd. Upon seeing King Ning’s carriage, he knew how to handle the matter.

But if Liu Shen and his wife personally appeared, Liu Chang would undoubtedly suspect something. After listening to Li Youzhen’s explanation, Liu Shen decided to have someone unrelated to them report He Weifang instead. Wang Qing tricked Qin Shengyi into signing and sealing a marriage contract, then made her drink nuptial wine that caused her to pass out.

He went to the Luoyang Magistrate and accused He Weifang of forging noble status to open a flower shop in the city and amass wealth. Liu Shen and his wife appeared as witnesses. Soon after, officials from the magistrate’s office came to arrest He Weifang. She hurriedly instructed Zhu Fu to notify Xu Zuping to leave to avoid being implicated. Meanwhile, she was taken to the magistrate’s office.

Outside the magistrate’s office, Mudan spotted an opulent sedan chair, indicating that its occupant was no ordinary person. The Luoyang Magistrate colluded with the Minister of the Imperial Household, leaving Mudan powerless as a commoner to fight back. She was demoted to a convict slave, stripped of her noble status, her property confiscated, and sent to a military camp outside the city. When Qin Shengyi woke up, she found the doors and windows locked.

Forcing them open, she ran outside, only to discover that Wang Qing had taken over Hua Man Zhu. Wang Qing deliberately tried to sow discord between Zhu Fu and Qin Shengyi, accusing Qin Shengyi of conspiring with him to seize Hua Man Zhu. Zhu Fu, filled with hatred for both Qin Shengyi and Wang Qing, confronted him but was outnumbered and injured by his men. Lv Gengchun persuaded Zhu Fu to avoid direct conflict for now.

With a heavy heart, Zhu Fu severed ties with Qin Shengyi. After receiving sixty lashes, Mudan was sent to the military camp as a convict slave. There, she encountered a mute woman who noticed Mudan’s eyes resembled her sister’s. The mute woman took care of Mudan, becoming the first kind soul she met in the camp. Together, they worked on laundry, and when they couldn’t get soap pods, they burned wild grass to produce ash with cleansing properties.

The porridge given to the convict slaves was so thin it was barely edible. One day, a strong convict, seeing Mudan as a weak woman, took her porridge when she wasn’t looking. Mudan was indignant and complained to the soldiers, but they ignored her and blamed her for failing to protect her food. It was then that Mudan realized that convict slaves had no dignity in the camp. She and the mute woman supported each other to survive.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhangyang had arrived in Luoyang, drinking and socializing with local officials, completely unaware of the events unfolding in Chang’an.

Episode 20 Recap

Episode 22 Recap

Related Posts