Episode Summary
Episode 3 sees He Weifang and Xiao Chun released from prison. Jiang Changyang reaffirms his loyalty to Weifang and rejects Lian Zhou.In a tense confrontation, Weifang and Jiang Changyang expose Lian Zhou's scheme. Given a choice between freedom and returning to her old life, Lian Zhou chooses to remain dependent, much to Weifang's dismay.
Spoiler Alert
Blossom's Web: Deception and Loyalty
Following their harrowing time in jail, He Weifang and Xiao Chun are finally freed, thanks to Jiang Changyang's tireless efforts. The ordeal even moves Xiao Chun's father to have a change of heart; he not only accepts her dream of practicing medicine but also returns her cherished medical books.
Jiang Changyang's devotion to He Weifang becomes clearer than ever. After sending a carriage to bring her home, he firmly rejects Lian Zhou's advances, declaring that his heart has room for no one but Weifang.Later, in a tender moment, he visits Weifang's room to comfort her. Seeing the whip marks on her body and her tangled hair from the imprisonment, he is overcome with guilt for the suffering she endured.
However, Weifang's suspicions are aroused. When visiting Lian Zhou, she notices that Lian Zhou is packing for a trip and has a servant who once worked for the scheming Liu Chang. Fearing a plot against Jiang Changyang, Weifang insists on joining Lian Zhou on her supposed pilgrimage.
The truth is far more sinister. Lian Zhou is secretly working for Liu Chang, under orders from Prince Ning's subordinate, to poison Jiang Changyang.Unwilling to kill him, Lian Zhou devises a new plan: to poison He Weifang and make her mute, thus removing her from the picture. She sets her trap during a tea ceremony, using a distinctive peony tea cup.
After the tea, Weifang feigns sickness, pretending to have lost her voice. Believing her plan has succeeded, Lian Zhou prepares to take her scheme a step further, only to be confronted by Jiang Changyang.
The tables turn dramatically. Weifang reveals she was never fooled. She produces an identical, intact peony tea cup, proving she switched them before Lian Zhou could smash the "poisoned" one to destroy the evidence. Furthermore, Jiang Changyang has already secured a confession from the doctor who supplied the poison. Lian Zhou is cornered with no escape.
In the end, He Weifang offers Lian Zhou a choice: a new life of freedom and independence, or a return to her adoptive father's house. To Weifang's disappointment, Lian Zhou chooses the latter, opting for a life of dependency over one of her own making.
