Blossom (九重紫)

You need to get proper rest.

It's a head injury.

It's not a trivial matter.

It's only a minor injury.

I've already recovered.

But your old shoulder injury acts up

every time it rains.

It has been five years already.

I'm fine.

Futing gets a lot of rain and has a high humidity level.

Maybe a trip to the capital

will actually do me good.

Officer Chen,

why did His Majesty summon

Duke of Ding to the capital?

I dare not guess

His Majesty's intentions.

Sir, please be rest assured.

Duke of Ding is someone we all respect.

His visit is just a routine matter.

We ensure Duke of Ding's safety.

Yuantang,

stop scaring him.

Don't frown all the time.

It's all right.

Most likely,

His Majesty summons me back

to report on the maritime disaster.

Remember

to take care of my wife.

Let's go, Duke of Ding.

Marshal, though the hurricane and tsunami have passed,

over a hundred household still haven't repaired their homes.

How do we handle the relief efforts?

Soldiers of the Ding Army, heed my orders!

Even if the sky has fallen,

do not stop the relief efforts!

Once the drainage is done,

we need to help the people plant their crops.

Only when the seedlings are planted

will the people's hearts be at ease.

Do you understand?

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

Marshal!

The Duke of Ding's Resident

is surrounded by the Shadow Guard.

No one can get in or out.

How could this happen?

I'm afraid this case isn't as simple as it seems.

Sir,

the front and back are guarded,

with about forty or fifty men in total.

If the emperor only wanted a simple audience,

why would he go to such lengths?

Sir,

let's charge in

and rescue Duke of Ding's family.

Yes.

Don't act rashly.

Wait here for me.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

=Blossom=

(Adapted from the novel "Blossom" by Zhi Zhi)

=Episode 5=

I apologize for disturbing you so late.

My master's surname is Mei and a merchant from the south.

We're passing through this area and need a place to stay for the night.

Young Lady, you're up.

What's the hour now?

Just past three-quarters after the Yin hour.

Young Lady,

a group of merchants arrived at the manor.

The head calls himself, Mr. Mei.

But I noticed everyone in the group walks quietly,

with calloused palms.

Mr. Chen has sent people here multiple times,

to ask if you've woken up.

Bring Mr. Chen here.

The servants inside the manor are very tight-lipped.

All we know is that the one in charge is called Fourth Young Lady.

Fourth Young Lady?

We're probably in trouble now.

Those visitors are no ordinary people.

They're from Duke of Ding's forces.

How can you tell?

The scholar in green who calls himself the accountant,

is Yan Chaoqing.

He's one of Duke of Ding's

most trusted subordinates.

Do you know him?

I'm grateful for your kind attention.

I've kept

some of my past hidden.

But I won't mistake him.

He used to be an advisor to Zhang Kai, Futing's former Grand Coordinator.

I know his real name isn't Chen Qushui,

but Chen Bo.

The one my uncle executed on the battlefield?

Fifteen years ago,

Dongyu pirates besieged Futing.

- Official Zhang Kai abandoned the city - Stop right there!

but was captured and executed by Duke of Ding.

My former superior

was Zhang Kai.

The shame of abandoning the city.

Yan Chaoqing would definitely see me

as a dishonorable person.

I've caused you trouble.

I...

Please get up, Mr. Chen.

When I appointed you as my advisor,

I promised not to ask about your past.

Your former superior was afraid of death.

It wasn't something you could stop.

What I'm worried about

is that Zhending has no food to give out

or troops to lend out.

Why are they here with their identities hidden?

That Mr. Mei is carrying a baby.

A baby?

(The lonely subject glances at the cold sea waves.)

(Ten years guarding the southeast with a cold heart.)

(Only regret being caught in a rainstorm during a long and endless night.)

Caught in a rainstorm during a long and endless night.

Where can the orphan find refuge?

Something bad has happened to Duke of Ding.

Madam.

does the baby still spit out the milk before sleeping?

He's much better after being indoors.

It's just that we've been traveling for several days,

and with the heavy rain and rough roads.

If we didn't stop to rest,

I was afraid the baby wouldn't hold up.

Don't worry, we're almost there.

The mind of a monarch is hard to understand.

Your uncle's fate is uncertain.

Under these circumstances,

it looks like the whole family won't be able to escape.

He's your uncle's only bloodline.

Aunt, I'll take both of you away with me.

No one can leave

under this circumstance.

You knew that.

Protect him for me.

Aunt,

I swear on my life

that he won't shed a single drop of blood.

The Duke is deeply favored by the emperor.

He also won a great victory at the Boat Island earlier this year.

When Futing was hit by the hurricane,

he personally led the troops to aid in disaster relief.

The scribes at the capital

didn't even hear anything about this.

Duke of Ding is a duke of the highest rank,

with Ding Army of fifty thousand men under his command.

If something really happens, a secret order will be issued

to let the Shadow Guards take charge.

Otherwise, it will stir up a military uprising.

How will the imperial court deal with that, then?

How do you know about this?

It has always been like this

when a ruler is threatened by a great person.

Speaking of the baby,

in the Ninth month of last year, we received a letter from Futing

mentioning

that Duke of Ding's Residence was purchasing baby supplies.

The one expecting must be the Duchess.

If the family is really on the brink of collapse,

it is hard to entrust the orphan.

I make things even worse in an instant.

They won't leave any loose ends.

So, you know Mr. Mei?

Mr. Mei may be young.

But he carries himself with an imposing presence.

The others treat him with exceptional respect.

A young person like him

is able to mobilize Duke of Ding's elite forces at a time like this.

In this situation,

only Song Mo can do it.

Song Mo?

The one who led a surprise attack on Yu Island at just thirteen

and secured a great victory at Boat Island

earlier this year amidst a crisis.

If it's really him,

we have no chance of escaping.

I've scouted around.

There are forty-two women,

twenty servants and attendants,

and one elderly woman being cared for by a maid.

She has gone to bed.

Lu Zheng and Lu Ming are guarding the exits.

Everything is in place.

Fourth Young Lady,

about ten people from the merchant convoy are missing.

They have surrounded the manor's exits

and planned to wipe us out.

Let it be.

It all started because of me

so I'll take responsibility for this.

I'll go and find them