Episode Summary
In this episode, King Ning attempts to sabotage the imperial exams by monopolizing lamp oil, but He Weifang counters by creating and distributing free plant-based oil to poor scholars. Jiang Changyang reveals his allegiance to the Emperor and foils King Ning’s plot to cheat by pretending to steal the exam questions, only for the plan to be undone by an accidental fire that forces a complete change of the test. The episode ends with the success of the deserving scholars and a period of peace and romance for He Weifang and Jiang Changyang.
Spoiler Alert
"In the Name of Blossom" Episode 18 Spoilers
The conflict between King Ning and the heroes intensifies as the imperial examinations approach. In a bid to stop scholars from humble backgrounds from succeeding, King Ning devises a plan to monopolize the city's lamp oil. He even seizes control of animal fats that could be used for candles, effectively preventing poor students from studying at night, while the wealthy elite remain unaffected.
Just as the scholars are in despair, He Weifang comes to the rescue. She discovers a type of plant seed that can be refined into a high-quality oil, complete with a pleasant fragrance. She generously distributes this new oil to the students for free, earning their immense gratitude. One scholar, Zhang Qian, for whom this exam is his last chance, personally comes to thank He Weifang for her timely help.
Later that night, He Weifang asks her husband, Jiang Changyang, about a great fire in Mengzhou that Xuexi had mentioned. Jiang Changyang confesses the grim truth: the fire was a brutal warning from King Ning to his political enemies, resulting in massive casualties. The event exposed the court's darkness to Jiang Changyang. However, he also witnessed a moment of hope when he saw the Emperor himself serving porridge to the disaster victims. This convinced him that while giving King Ning control of the country would be a catastrophe, helping the Emperor secure military power could bring peace and stability to the common people. He firmly chose to support the Emperor.
Forced by King Ning to steal the imperial exam questions, Jiang Changyang seemingly agrees, knowing that a direct refusal would create a powerful enemy. He delivers the questions, and when King Ning's men confirm they match the official papers, the King smugly believes Jiang Changyang has finally joined his side.
However, King Ning's victory is short-lived. During the exam, a student dozes off, accidentally setting his test paper on fire. According to the rules, if even a single paper is destroyed, the entire exam must be reset with new questions. King Ning's scheme collapses. The lazy, aristocratic students he was backing, who had simply memorized the leaked answers, are thrown into a panic as they face the new, unfamiliar questions.
Meanwhile, He Weifang's business flourishes, expanding to Sheng County. Her sharp business sense and hands-on approach ensure every new branch is a success. With King Ning temporarily backing off, the couple enjoys a period of peace. Jiang Changyang, restored to his official post, spends his days training troops at a secret base and his nights with He Weifang. They enjoy romantic moments together, fulfilling promises Jiang Changyang had made, complete with fireworks and gifts.
When the spring examination results are announced, many of the hard-working, poor scholars have passed, earning the opportunity to serve the court. King Ning's plan to install his own candidates into key positions is completely thwarted.
