Flourished Peony (2025) s01e21 Episode Script

Greetings, Mr. Jiang.
You were scolding me last night.
Did you take the wrong medicine today?
No, I took the right medicine.
Thank you for the Dendrobium
you sent yesterday.
After eating it, Shengyi felt much better.
So here I am, bringing a thank-you gift.
Such an expensive tonic was only exchanged for these few shabby cakes.
Enjoy your meal, Mr. Jiang. I will leave now.
Wait.
His Majesty has ordered me
to go on official business to Luoyang.
Is there anything you would like
from the hometown? Make a list.
I can just buy them on your behalf.
I will charge for them.
I see. I won't be polite.
I would like the dried apricot
from Liao's shop in the east of the city,
the silk from Yuecui Tower, the writing brushes and ink
from Tingshui Pavilion,
and the handcrafted rosewood makeup box by the limping carpenter Huang
from Shibali Lane.
Isn't that too much?
Do you really think Mr. Jiang
has so much free time?
I've only listed four things so far.
Besides, Mr. Jiang can buy as much as he is able to.
I am just listing them in advance.
All these things are easy to carry.
What I want the most can't be brought back.
What is it?
Zhang's Starched Noodles.
I've eaten them since I was a child.
Those noodles are very delicious. When you find some leisure time,
you could give them a try.
If you have any beloved relatives or friends
to inquire about, you may also let me know.
I could go and check on them for you
to see how they are doing.
You must be joking.
Miss He has passed away. Now I am all alone.
I have no friends or relatives
to inquire about in Luoyang.
Luoyang's flowers are beautiful. Besides running errands and purchasing goods,
please enjoy them on my behalf.
Jiang Changyang,
let's make it clear beforehand.
You only told me see you off.
But you never said to have me
play the drum for you to wish you a smooth journey.
This is something you'll have to pay for.
Rest assured, I won't let you suffer a loss.
Mr. Third's paper kite.
I borrowed it.
Where did all these petals come from?
Today, I bid farewell at the palace.
Petals fallen in the back garden
have piled up into a small hill.
Just in time, they can be put to good use.
Though there is no Miss He in the boudoir,
there is the flower shop owner
roaming freely through Chang'an,
experiencing all facets of humanity,
witnessing the world's prosperity.
Isn't it carefree and joyful?
You brought me here to comfort me?
Life has many long nights.
Only the bright moon never leaves or forsakes.
Today, I lend it to you.
From now on, no matter where you are, as long as you see it,
you'll never be alone.
My lord, it's time.
I must go.
Jiang Changyang.
Thank you.
Jiang Changyang.
How do I take down this kite?
What's all this?
Dusk.
It's the hour of Xu. I should go now.
It's not easy for us to be together. Why not cherish the moment a bit longer?
Mudan is someone who's never been married. She has an odd temperament.
That's why she's gathered so many women
around her, living together.
From now on, you move back in and settle down here.
Don't talk nonsense.
Mudan is generous and knows propriety,
with an impeccable character.
She once had a husband in Luoyang.
What do you mean? She's actually someone with a husband?
Yet she's involved with those nobles.
She just goes to the nobles' mansions
to tend flowers,
and she's innocent with those employers
without any personal emotions involved.
You are not allowed
to gossip with others indiscreetly.
Even if there's no affair, just the fact that she mingles with many men doesn't wrong her, does it?
She takes pride in her own successes, yet she obstructs our meeting.
She must be afraid that you'll
marry someone and leave the shop. Then she'll lose a hardworking
and uncomplaining worker.
I don't think you and she
are cut from the same cloth.
You might as well set up
your own establishment sooner.
Mudan treats me as close as a sister.
I will never leave her.
If that's what you're thinking, let's just go our separate ways from now on.
I'm just afraid you'll be taken advantage of.
If you like being with her, it's up to you.
I just want to live
our simple life well with you.
In a few days, there will be an auspicious day.
Let's get married.
After that, we'll never part again.
Mudan still holds prejudice against you.
I'm afraid she won't agree.
She's quite guarded against men.
Did her former husband hurt her heart?
Hurry and tell me.
I can find a way to persuade her to accept me.
It must not be because of me
that a rift arises between you two.
Your Highness, it's late at night. Take a rest.
I shall copy these scriptures for you.
Bathing in the moonlight and burning incense,
copying the Lotus Sutra can bring a smooth marital fate.
How could it be entrusted to someone else?
By copying the scriptures, you haven't
slept well for several nights.
Your complexion has become haggard.
Mr. Liu would be heartbroken to see this.
Has he been well lately?
The servant I sent said that the Stables Bureau is busy with tasks.
Mr. Liu is tirelessly working.
Before returning home, he would occasionally
go to the West Market's pubs to have a drink.
A few days ago, during his days off,
he went to Mount Zhongnan.
Since when does he have the habit
of mountain climbing?
I heard there's a Buddhist temple
on that mountain, which is most efficacious
for praying for marriage bonds.
Perhaps Mr. Liu has developed regrets
and wished to seek a Buddhist connection to renew the past relationship
with Your Highness.
This mysterious method really does work.
When I finish copying this volume, I'll make sure he has a good look at it.
- Insolent thing. How dare you disturb Her Highness! Take her away for a punishment.
-Yes.
- I deserve to die.
-Forget it.
Yes.
Zishu has always disliked my harsh treatment
of the servants.
Since he has sought Buddhist grace, I should be more gentle.
Your Highness are benevolent. Such meritorious deeds will be rewarded
with achieving what your heart desires.
Your Highness.
What's the matter?
Has something happened to Zishu?
Your Highness, a servant came to report there's a flower shop
opposite the pub Mr. Liu often visits.
The owner of that flower shop turns out to be
He Weifang.
I just discovered the matter
of Madam He faking her death.
It is certainly not an intentional deception
of Your Highness. Please forgive me, Your Highness.
I will immediately send someone
to take care of her and make her disappear completely.
Master Liu, speak cautiously.
Her Highness is benevolent.
How could she compel you to kill?
Since Madam He is not dead, Her Highness means
to let her resume her identity.
If He Weifang is truly not dead, her current identity is fake.
- Since it's fake,
- She has committed the crime
of falsifying household registration.
Her decent household register will be taken
away and she will be driven out of Chang'an.
People of good and humble status
cannot intermarry.
Zishu will then have no possibility with her.
Mr. Ren will smoothly adapt.
You only need to take a carriage
from Prince Ning's Mansion to go there.
The difference in the status is great.
He naturally knows
how to deal with it impartially.
As for the future,
I will persuade Zishu properly and have him visit Your Highness, apologize, and mend his relationship with Your Highness
It is hoped that Your Highness will not
hold on to past grudges.
If this matter is handled by you two elders, Zishu will inevitably suspect and blame.
If you are not the ones who reported but witnesses who were implicated,
no matter the outcome, Zishu can't blame you.
Rest assured, Your Highness, this woman
has stirred up quite a lot of trouble.
I will definitely find someone unrelated
to take her to court.
[Redemption Document]
I will go to the government office to register. You wait for me at home.
Once we get
the household registration documents, we can go explain it to He Weifang together.
All decisions of Mudan are discussed
with me in advance.
Yet I am keeping it from her and acted first.
Will she blame me?
As your good friend, how could
she quibble over these things?
Besides, this time I will go with you and prove my sincerity to her.
She will surely bless us wholeheartedly.
Today is our wedding.
Let's not talk about this anymore.
After drinking this nuptial wine, I will go.
Shengyi, give me the flower spade.
I'll turn over the soil.
She's not here. She left early
in the morning today, saying she wouldn't be back for four hours.
I don't know what she's gone to do.
Why is she always absent these days?
We need to ask her properly when she returns.
-Not sour, it's very sweet. Delicious.
- Tasty, isn't it?
Have another one.
We should save some for Shengyi to eat when she returns. We can't eat them all.
Alright.
- I'll give you another one.
-Open the door!
Jingzhao Prefecture case investigation. Who is He Weifang? Come out quickly!
- Open the door!
- You go first. I will handle this here.
It's the officials outside. They're coming for me.
Fu. Leave through the back door.
Go to Huamanzhu
and tell Mr. Xu to leave quickly.
What happened to Mr. Xu?
Why does he need to leave?
- I don't have time to explain. Hurry up and go!
- What about you?
-Maybe hide at the Jiang Mansion.
-Jiang Changyang is not in the mansion. Even if I hide there, it's pointless.
Open the door quickly! Open it!
- Any later and it'll be too late. Go now, hurry!
- Okay.
Hurry, Fu.
Open the door!
Hurry up and open the door!
Open the door!
Go get her!
So you are He Weifang?
[Jingzhao Prefecture]
Quickly.
[Jingzhao Prefecture]
- Wang Qing.
-Yes.
You claimed you wanted
to expose the owner of Huamanzhu for forging a female decent household register
and Jiang Xiaohua is actually
the Luoyang official's wife, He Weifang, didn't you?
Yes. Madam He is treacherous and cunning,
using fake household registration
to do business in the city to amass wealth.
I've personally seen her sell defective flowers
and deceive people for money and goods.
I truly can't bear to watch her
continue this deception.
So I've come to report this.
How did you discover this matter?
Qin Wuniang, the second shopkeeper
of Huamanzhu, is my former wife.
Bewitched by Madam He, she left home.
Not long after it was found that
this woman's identity was fake.
She is deeply scheming.
Wuniang came to me to make decisions for her.
Uttering sheer nonsense.
Back then at the Huanyun Tower, you wanted to pawn your wife and you subjected her
to all kinds of humiliation.
Later, you wrote a divorce agreement. Everyone there can testify.
How could she possibly return
to the side of a beast like you?
Ridiculous. My feelings for Wuniang
are genuine and deep.
We have long since rekindled
our old relationship.
This is our marriage certificate
and the household registration document.
Please review them, Mr. Ren.
Even with this marriage certificate, it cannot prove
what Wang Qing said is the truth.
Wang Qing's malicious fabrications aim to usurp my family property and my store.
Master Liu, do you recognize this woman?
Are Wang Qing's words just now true?
This woman is indeed
our Liu family's daughter-in-law.
It's just that we previously mistakenly thought
she died falling off a cliff and thus arranged another marriage.
There's the death registration document
by the Luoyang government office as proof.
Dozens of people in the Liu Mansion all know this woman's true identity.
When Madam He was with the Liu family, she showed her face in public
and did not follow women's virtues.
My son had no choice but to divorce her.
But before the family property
had been settled, she took the money and left the mansion.
It seems she does not want
to return the Liu family's property.
Hence, she changed her name
and came to Chang'an.
Merchants are cunning and profit-driven.
It's even rarer for women to own shops.
Your business is booming. It must be ill-gotten wealth.
Our dynasty has always strictly monitored
itinerant people.
Employment of stateless people is forbidden, not to mention engaging in business.
Now both personal and physical evidence
are present.
Are you aware of your crime?
If you persist in denying your guilt,
I will thoroughly investigate Huamanzhu and the origin of your household registration.
We will catch and interrogate
everyone under suspicion.
Jiang Changyang, being high-ranking, is naturally untouchable. But now he is not in Chang'an.
Because of my words the secrets of Wanguan Hall
might be discovered.
Moreover, this matter must not implicate
Fu, Chun and the others.
I indeed concealed my identity.
The household registration was processed on
the black market. It's nothing to do with others.
-Mr. Ren, she has admitted it.
-But I had no other choice but to do so.
Back then, in Luoyang, the government office had decreed divorce
between me and Liu Chang.
In order to seize my dowry, the Liu family did not hesitate to commit murder
to silence me.
In order to protect myself, I had to fake my death to escape
and changed my name and identity.
But even now having fled to Chang'an, they still won't let me go.
Time and again they hired assassins to kill me.
I, He Weifang, wish to accuse Mr. and Mrs. Liu of forcibly plundering money and harming lives.
I hope you will investigate this clearly.
What murder to silence you? This is a false accusation.
Baseless and without proof. Madam He, do you have evidence?
In the Liu Mansion,
there was a servant named Tian Er.
Back when in Luoyang, he made
an attempt on my life.
I went to pick flowers a while ago.
He intended to kill me again.
Fortunately, I was saved by a noble lady. Only then was my life preserved.
Tian Er's shoulder was shot
with an arrow by the guard. He also has a knife wound on his arm.
If you don't believe it, you can bring this person here.
One look and you will know.
Master Liu, do you have this man,
Tian Er, in your mansion?
Tian Er? There's certainly
no such person in the Liu Mansion.
I knew your Liu family
would be harboring this person.
I still have evidence in my hand.
This person's wound is quite deep. He cannot heal
without seeking medical attention.
I searched through all the medical centers
in the capital. Finally, I found his whereabouts.
The physician at the medical center
can testify for me.
Right now, this person is recovering
from his injuries outside the city.
Mudan, when you were with our Liu family, we have showered you
with immeasurable affection.
That you don't remember this kindness
is one thing. But unexpectedly, you plotted to frame us.
Plotting to frame you?
You have repeatedly tried
to drive me to my death.
Why should I keep swallowing my anger
time and time again?
Today, I will make everyone see clearly
that the Liu family is full of people
lacking in virtue.
They are of the type who have
human faces but beastly hearts.
Nonsense!
Mr. Ren, don't be deceived
by this vicious woman.
I hope you can grant me justice.
Madam He's charges
against a third-rank official are severe.
The Jingzhao Prefecture has
no authority to try the case.
But you have forged the household registration. The evidence is irrefutable. According to the law, you must be severely punished.
- Guards!
- Yes.
Why can't it be tried?
Now we have both the testimony
of witnesses and physical evidence.
Why am I the only one being judged?
Why are they not being judged?
Kneel down!
Such deeds involving plotting for wealth
and causing harm to life,
how can the Jingzhao Prefecture ignore this?
The criminal woman, He Weifang, forged a household registration,
conducts business against regulation, deceived the common people. The crimes cannot be forgiven.
Sentence 60 lashes, strip her of her private property,
demote her to a government slave, and exile her to the military camp
outside the city.
I refuse to accept it!
You are wise. Since this woman has been convicted,
the shop and properties under her name should
all be handed over to someone else to manage.
You have finally shown your true colors. Your nature is not upright.
Even if you have seized Huamanzhu, sooner or later you will have nothing.
Mr. Ren, I have one more matter to report.
- Speak.
- This woman does not heed the Women's Precepts and disgraced virtue in public.
She should be subjected to the Liu family's Seven Expulsions and return the money and property she took away previously.
The two of you have reasonable
and well-founded requests. I will certainly grant them.
[]
I have finally seen clearly.
This situation today was something
you had planned well in advance.
The Jingzhao Prefecture actually colludes with the Minister of the Imperial Treasury, disregarding the law.
-I want to appeal!
-How dare you! Daring to talk nonsense at the tribunal.
Indeed, there's no merchant without deceit.
You're just refusing to repent.
Take her away. Carry out the execution.
- How can they be like this?
- I refuse to accept it!
Go.
The Jingzhao Prefecture and the Minister of the Imperial Treasury are colluding and disregarding the law.
I want to appeal!
One. Two.
Three. Four.
- The Jingzhao Prefecture disregards the law.
- Six.
Plotting for wealth and causing death.
- Eight.
- I refuse to accept it.
Nine. Ten. Eleven.
- The Jingzhao Prefecture…
- Twelve.
- Thirteen.
- Disregarding the law.
Fourteen.
Plotting for wealth and causing death.
Sixteen. Seventeen.
-I refuse to accept it.
-Eighteen.
Almost reaching Luoyang. Finally, we can switch the horse driver.
I'll get on the carriage to relax and accompany you
as you portray a corrupt official.
My lord, are you divining whether the journey to Luoyang will be smooth?
There has never been a time
when my plans have failed.
No need to divine for this.
Then what is this divination for?
Whether the carriage outside can overtake us.
Xiang, how do you drive the horse like that?
Looks like it has to be me.
Don't move.
How did I fall asleep?
Wang Qing.
Why is this door locked?
Wang Qing.
Is anyone there?
Wang Qing.
- Go!
-Let go of me!
Let go of me!
- Cut the nonsense!
-Scoundrel, this is Mudan's shop.
Trying to take over, you'll have to
get past these fists of mine first.
Stop!
He Weifang is now a convicted slave.
Her private property has been confiscated. The shop and the flowers
now all belong to Wuniang.
Look carefully.
On this is your second shopkeeper's name.
I am her husband.
Her shop naturally becomes my shop.
Darling, look.
I have arranged for this newly furnished shop. Does it suit your liking?
Why has Huamanzhu become yours?
Where is Mudan?
Are you his wife now?
He is now
indeed my husband.
Mudan treated you so well. Why did you betray her?
I did not.
Wang Qing, you clearly promised me to go with me to explain to Mudan.
How did it turn out like this?
What exactly did you do to Mudan? How did she become a convicted slave?
Was it not you who told me her true identity, wanting to join me in taking over Huamanzhu?
I listened to your words and reported to the authorities.
Now she has been demoted
to a government slave and taken away.
Fortunately, you and He Weifang
have set up separate band accounts.
The authorities only seized her private assets.
The half that belongs to you was not affected.
The business will be ours from now on.
He is trying to drive a wedge between us. He is saying this on purpose.
You're talking nonsense.
- Only you and I were told about the matter with Mudan. If you didn't tell, how would Wang Qing know?
- I
For the sake of a shop, you would do something so immoral!
No.
I did wrong in this matter.
But I really did not intend to hurt Mudan, Fu.
Don't touch me!
He Weifang forged her own household registration and become a slave. It is the punishment she deserves.
The military camp is a very dangerous place.
Her life is hardly safe, not to mention
turning her fate around.
I advise you not to perform
any deep sisterly love drama.
Find another way out early.
If Mudan loses her life, you won't have it easy either.
Stop hitting!
Stop hitting!
Don't!
Stop hitting!
Stop!
If you keep hitting her, her leg will be ruined.
Injuring someone to the point of disability
is a serious crime.
Do you wish to go to the authorities
and be flogged?
Vermin. I'll fight you with all I've got!
You need to stay alive first to have a chance to save Mudan.
Come back with me to treat your wounds. Go.
Go.
I, Zhu Fu, will break the sworn sisterhood and sever ties with you!
From now on, you and I
will have no further dealings.
Only by working will there be food to eat.
I must first survive.
♫ The Luo River cleanses the moonlight haze ♫
The soapberries are here.
♫ A jade-like face not yet indulged
in mundane pleasures ♫
♫ Youth sets its own wandering path ♫
♫ Let not the secular world constrain How can they guess with mundane eyes ♫
♫ Smiling as the storm stir the dust ♫
It doesn't matter if we didn't get soapberries, we can burn those weeds.
Then they will turn into wood ash, which also has the effect of removing stains.
Go.
Go.
♫ Where is the non-stopping song ♫
♫ Ringing in every ear ♫
♫ Swimming across Indulging and sinking ♫
♫ Breaking free after twists and turns ♫
♫ Let not the secular world constrain ♫♫ How can they guess with mundane eyes ♫
♫ Smiling as the storm stir the dust ♫
♫ Flowers should bloom proudly Reflecting the color of the sky ♫
♫ Never withering ♫
♫ Do not fail the varied fragrance ♫
- Give a bit more, please.
-Scram!
Hurry.
Go away.
My porridge.
Officer, he snatched my porridge.
This is no place to reason.
If you can't protect your food,
you'll just starve to death.
- Don't get in the way here. Go away!
-But…
But…
It was clearly their fault.
This is unfair. Why, on what grounds?
Why are you so kind to me?
[Sister]
You can read?
Are you saying my eyes resemble your sister's?
Where is your sister?
From now on, we will support each other.
We will surely live well.
Many thanks to you for speaking well of my son,
allowing him to obtain
the position of Depot Officer.
During this trip to Luoyang,
you must stay at my humble abode,
allowing me to fulfill the duty of a host.
Last time staying at the Liu Mansion was noisy and there were quite a few incidents.
This time, I deliberately chose
a refined dwelling in the mountains.
Living alone, it's quieter
and also more convenient.
You understand.
Understood. It's fine for you
to do as you please.
If there's anything lacking in the mountains, I will send someone to deliver it to you.
Although I live alone in the mountains, the thoughtfulness of you must not be let down.
This trip was hasty,
and I only brought two carriages.
I wonder if they can contain your generosity.
If the carriages and horses are not sufficient, I can just add several more carriages for you.
Master Chen, Chen Zhang.
Mr. Jiang.
'Fragrance Recital' - Zhang Zining
♫ In endless Chang'an,
the zither's melody distant ♫
♫ Plum and willow trees bask in the sunshine,
as splendor returns with the year ♫
♫ Copper palace battlements,
songs and dances, glass goblets ♫
♫ Idle clouds and duckweed,
a thousand flowers burst forth ♫
♫ Time passes gracefully,
affairs settle like fading smoke ♫
♫ Let the years go by,
carried by the wind to early desires ♫
♫ If the heart is like water,
the bloom is ever-present ♫
♫ Still cherish the moon of my hometown,
to meet for long ♫
♫ The distant night sky strewn with stars,
reflecting the lovely moon ♫
♫ The peony's magnificent beauty
fills the Fragrance Garden ♫
♫ With a heart as my lantern,
I don't mind the distant mountain paths ♫
♫ The flute's sound,
a fleeting life's wishes fulfilled ♫
♫ Time passes gracefully,
affairs settle like fading smoke ♫
♫ Let the years go by,
carried by the wind to early desires ♫
♫ If the heart is like water,
the bloom is ever-present ♫
♫ Still cherish the moon of my hometown,
to meet for long ♫