Episode Summary
Outnumbered and on the verge of defeat, Jiang Changyang's army is saved by He Weifang's timely intervention, which provides fire-resistant armor and essential supplies. Armed with this new advantage and a secret imperial edict from He Weifang, Jiang launches a counter-attack. By exposing King Ning as a traitor and revealing a spy within the king's inner circle, Jiang turns the enemy's forces against their leader, leading to King Ning's capture and the end of the rebellion.
Spoiler Alert
In the Name of Blossom: Episode 23 Spoilers
The battle opens with Jiang Changyang's forces at a severe disadvantage. Outnumbered with only fifty thousand soldiers, they face a relentless assault from King Ning, whose army is far better equipped. King Ning initiates an aggressive fire attack, launching tens of thousands of flaming arrows at Jiang's camp. While shields offer some protection, they can't stop the endless barrage, and soldiers begin to fall.
Facing overwhelming odds and a determined enemy, Jiang Changyang's situation grows more desperate. King Ning, having placed spies near the camp, succeeds in burning all of Jiang's grain and supplies on the very first day. With no food and a massive disparity in numbers, victory seems impossible. An initial plan for a night raid by a suicide squad results in only a single arrow being fired, leaving King Ning's condition unknown. Realizing the hopelessness, Jiang writes a letter, ordering his men to ensure He Weifang evacuates to safety.
However, He Weifang refuses to retreat. Upon receiving the news, she immediately leverages her personal connections to gather crucial supplies, including fire oil and grain, and dispatches them to the front line with her elite transport team. Hearing of King Ning's reliance on fire attacks, she also commissions skilled artisans to craft special, fire-resistant armor. This new armor is designed to protect the soldiers' most vulnerable areas, providing a critical defense against the enemy's primary tactic.
Bolstered by He Weifang's powerful support, Jiang Changyang equips his soldiers with the new protective armor and launches a decisive night raid. King Ning, still believing Jiang's efforts are futile, rallies his troops to counter the attack. But this time, Jiang has a trump card. He first shoots down King Ning's banner, a symbolic blow to morale. Then, riding before the enemy army, he unfurls an imperial edict, personally written by The Emperor. The edict officially declares King Ning a traitor and offers a full pardon to any soldier who surrenders and sides with the rightful authority.
The reveal of the edict causes an immediate shift in allegiance. Countless soldiers, who were forced to follow King Ning, abandon him on the battlefield. Stunned, King Ning cannot comprehend how Jiang obtained such a document. Jiang reveals the truth with a cold smile: the edict was passed from The Emperor to Consort Shu, who gave it to Xuexi, who then delivered it to He Weifang—a chain of command King Ning had fatally underestimated by looking down on women.
In a last, desperate struggle, King Ning claims the edict is a forgery. But the final betrayal is yet to come. Jiang had already laid his plans perfectly; even King Ning's most trusted confidant, Yu Zheng, is revealed to be Jiang's spy. The reinforcements King Ning was waiting for had already switched sides. Seeing that the king is trapped, another officer, Liu Chang, seizes the moment to draw his sword and hold it to King Ning's neck, hoping to redeem himself.
With King Ning captured, The Emperor's power is secured, and stability is restored. Later, Jiang Changyang and He Weifang visit the graves of the fallen soldiers, acknowledging that their hard-won peace was built on the blood of heroes. As Jiang dreams of the quiet, peaceful life he has longed for, He Weifang reveals she has already used the profits from her business to buy back the house he once built, securing their future together.
