Flowers Blooming into Poison (Old Pang and Eight)

Synopsis of "Poison in Bloom (Old Pang 8)" One is a peerlessly elegant prince, the other a powerful grand tutor. To outsiders, these two rival politicians are either shrewd schemers or false-hearted hypocrites, yet between them lies a restrained, unspoken intimacy. Evidence is deliberately forged, successfully deceiving everyone. The Eighth Prince is accused of masterminding both the Ghost King murder case involving the Heaven and Earth Alliance and the assassination of a Liao envoy. He willingly takes the blame and is exiled a thousand miles away. Pang Ji, however, is deeply dissatisfied. He secretly uncovers the truth and sets things up so the emperor recalls the Eighth Prince under the pretext of sending him as an envoy to Liao. The Eighth Prince successfully negotiates peace with Liao, but on the return journey, he is ambushed by hawkish Liao faction assassins. Pang Ji arrives in time with the Flying Cloud Cavalry and rescues him, only to collapse from exhaustion. It turns out that while the Eighth Prince was negotiating, Pang Ji had been sending spies to investigate Liao's movements and had even planted two trusted men within Liao, exchanging letters with the prince to discuss their strategy. During the Lantern Festival, the Eighth Prince is summoned to the palace ahead of schedule. Emperor Zhao Zhen, who was raised by the Eighth Prince after the Cat for a Prince incident years ago, has gradually developed feelings for him that go far beyond those between father and son, or uncle and nephew. Zhao Zhen confesses his feelings, and the Eighth Prince responds calmly. On the way to the Lantern Festival banquet, the Eighth Prince is troubled that the Empress Dowager still refuses to relinquish power, preventing Zhao Zhen from ruling in his own right. Unexpectedly, an old servant from the Empress Dowager's palace leads him to the mausoleum palace, where she has secretly summoned him. The Empress Dowager makes her position clear: worried about Zhao Zhen's dependence on the Eighth Prince, she will hand over power and let the emperor rule if the prince disappears. The Eighth Prince understands her intentions and sets fire to the palace. Hearing the news, Pang Ji races to the mausoleum palace and charges into the flames to protect him. The fire is put out, but Pang Ji suffers burns over much of his body. The Eighth Prince's eyes are also scorched, and he is granted permission to recuperate in the south. After Zhao Zhen takes up the reins of government, he seeks to suppress the power of the Pang family. He writes the Eighth Prince a secret letter, promising that if the prince eliminates the Pang faction, he will allow him and Pang Ji to retire to the countryside. The Eighth Prince is forced to return to the capital and impeaches Pang Ji for colluding with the enemy, betraying the country, and plotting rebellion. Pang Ji is confined and sentenced to death, but calmly accepts everything the Eighth Prince has done. When the Eighth Prince visits him, they reveal their feelings to each other. Determined to save Pang Ji, the Eighth Prince risks offending the emperor and insists that he be sent to Liao once more to find evidence proving Pang Ji's innocence. In Liao, he again encounters a night raid by hawkish generals. Having laid a trap in advance, he turns the tables on the assassins and wounds his own neck. His injuries are severe. He obtains the letters he once exchanged with Pang Ji, but on the return journey, his already frail health worsens and he dies. Pang Ji is rescued, and the emperor grants him permission to retire and spend his remaining years in his hometown. Just before leaving the capital, Pang Ji finally understands the Eighth Prince's feelings: he sacrificed himself so that Pang Ji and the realm could both be saved. Carrying a fragment of his life in the mortal world, Pang Ji leaves behind the city's splendid, illusory dreams. Theme: