I remembered In Blossom (花间令) after watching Blossoms In Adversity due to the similar words used in the title. But I have been putting it on hold until now as I had just completed another Ju Jing Yi drama named Sword And Fairy 4 then. So, this review could be a little late for some as it was aired back in March 2024. But as long as the drama is good, it doesn’t really matter when we find the time for it. The important thing is it is enjoyable and worth every minute of our time. Well, what is the verdict then? My In Blossom review below will have my thoughts on this drama.
My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 32
Type: Mystery, Romance
Aired: March 2024
Images Credit: Douban Movie
The Cast Of In Blossom
- Ju Jing Yi as Yang Cai Wei / Shangguan Zhi
- Liu Xue Yi as Pan Yue
- Wu Jia Yi as Bai Xiao Sheng
- Li Ge Yang as Zhuo Lan Jiang
- Qi Pei Xin as Ah Ze
- Ding Jie as Ling Er
- Sun Zheng Lin as Sun Zhen
- Xu Bai Hui as Qing Di
- Zhao Long Hao as Gu Yong
- Shi Hao Zheng as Cai Sheng
- Nina Wang as Liu Qing
- Ray Chang as Shangguan Lan
- Hei Zi as Zhuo Shan Ju
- Yi Yong Ming as Jia Quan
Main Characters
Yang Cai Wei
Cai Wei is an undertaker in Heyang who is shunned by the public due to her profession and an ugly scar on her face. She is good at autopsy and her master is a retired coroner named Jiang. Cai Wei is a kind and honest woman despite her hard life.
Shangguan Zhi
Shangguan Zhi is a cruel and arrogant woman who is obsessed over Pan Yue. She comes from a very rich family and leads a pampered life. She is spoiled by her elder brother who dotes on her.
Pan Yue
Pan Yue is the Imperial Censor. He attracts attention due to his intelligence, talent, and good looks. He is also a principled man who can be very determined and persistent. Pan Yue is an illegitimate son of Pan Jin who is the Minister of Justice. He doesn’t get along with his father and views him with contempt.
Supporting Characters
Bai Xiao Sheng
Xiao Sheng is a street peddler and Cai Wei’s best friend. She is a straightforward woman who is practical and likes making money.
Zhuo Lan Jiang
Lan Jiang is Cai Wei’s friend. She was his life savior and he views her as his soulmate. Lan Jiang is smart and principled with an aim to avenge his father’s death. He is also the Young Master of Silver Rain Terrace which is one of the 4 great organizations in Heyang.
Ah Ze & Ling Er
Ah Ze is Pan Yue’s personal assistant while Ling Er is Shangguan Zhi’s maid.
Sun Zhen
Sun Zhen is the head of Silver Rain Terrace which is a much feared organization in Heyang due to its powers and influence. However, he is just a frontman for his master behind the scene.
Qing Di
Qing Di is the head of Hundred Flowers Court which is an entertainment and brothel club in Heyang. She is one of the 4 most powerful figures in the city but has her own agenda.
Gu Yong & Cai Sheng
Gu Yong is the head of Relief Hall which does assassinations for a fee while Cai Sheng is the head of Life and Death House which is a gambling den. Both of them make up the remaining 2 of the 4 most powerful organizations in Heyang.
Liu Qing
Liu Qing is Princess Chang Le and she has an interest in Pan Yue. She also has her eyes on court matters and is wary of rebellious parties. Princess Chang Le’s father was a great general who was killed together with her mother while she was a kid. She and her sister were then taken in by the Empress as foster daughters.
Shangguan Lan
Shangguan Lan is Shangguan Zhi’s elder brother. He has only one sister and hence, tends to indulge her whims and fancies. He runs the family business empire and is good friends with Pan Yue.
Zhuo Shan Ju
Shan Ju is Lan Jiang’s father. He used to head the Silver Rain Terrace before his death.
Jia Quan
Jia Quan is one of the Great Commandants of Luoxi. He is married to Princess Chang Le’s elder sister. Zuo Jing Fei is his top henchman.
Synopsis
Cai Wei has been living an unremarkable life as an undertaker in Heyang when Pan Yue who is a court official shows up to claim her as his bride. He has been looking for Cai Wei for a long time as they were childhood friends and were betrothed to each other. They lost contact after her father who was a minister was framed and her family was forced into exile.
However, Shangguan Zhi is also in love with Pan Yue. Her obsession over him makes her resort to witchcraft to switch her face with Cai Wei’s. On the day of the wedding, Shangguan Zhi is killed as she has taken on Cai Wei’s identity. The real Cai Wei now has to lead her life as Shangguan Zhi as she realizes she is the killer’s real target. She begins to suspect Pan Yue is the murderer. At the same time, Pan Yue is distrustful of Shangguan Zhi as she was Cai Wei’s love rival.
As they try to unravel the mystery behind the death, more and more obstacles are put in their way. There is a hidden hand behind the scenes which they will have to unearth in order to solve the case. Cai Wei’s continued pretense as Shangguan Zhi is also a concern as it is only a matter of time before her identity is exposed.
In Blossom Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)
In Blossom has a happy ending for the main couple. They manage to get the evidence needed to prove the rebel’s guilt in Episode 32. The rebel is Princess Chang Le’s brother-in-law, Jia Quan. He secretly killed Princess Chang Le’s parents and then married her sister to tap into her family’s influence. Lan Jiang’s father helped Jia Quan to make money through salt smuggling which was then used to help him buy support and climb the ranks. Jia Quan is from the neighboring Jiang Clan which is the state’s enemy.
Princess Chang Le is forced to kill herself after finding out that Jia Quan is a rebel in Episode 29. Jia Quan is threatening her with her sister’s life to force her to kill Cai Wei and be silent. Princess Chang Le commits suicide instead. Lan Jiang is caught by Jia Quan when he tries to steal the ledger on the latter’s salt smuggling activities in Episode 31. He is tortured and subsequently killed. Before he dies, he leaves clues on his body which enables Cai Wei to figure out the location of the ledger in Episode 32. Hence, Jia Quan’s guilt is proven. His wife then kills him with a shot of an arrow to avenge her parents’ and sister’s death.
Pan Yue returns to Heyang as magistrate with the Emperor’s consent together with Cai Wei. They bury Lan Jiang next to his father with Xiao Sheng spending time at his grave. The drama ends with a possibility of a second season as Jia Quan’s token identifies him as only second-in-command in the rebels’ hierarchy.
When Did The Leads Get Together?
Cai Wei/Shangguan Zhi is angry at Pan Yue after a disagreement with him in Episode 16. He wants her to return to the capital which she objects. She feels sad that she couldn’t tell him the truth about her identity. She could neither hate nor love him as she thought he is betrothed to Princess Chang Le.
Pan Yue kisses a sick Cai Wei/Shangguan Zhi when he thinks she is asleep in Episode 19. She learns that Pan Yue likes her after overhearing his conversation with his personal assistant. But she is confused and thinks his love is so fleeting that it could easily pass from Cai Wei to Princess Chang Le to Shangguan Zhi. She doesn’t know that Pan Yue already knew who she is and hence, she avoids him which gives him the impression that she doesn’t like him in Episode 20.
In Episode 21, Pan Yue shouts out Cai Wei’s name in his desperation to look for her after they have fallen down a slope. That is when she realizes he knows she is Cai Wei and they become a couple.
Is There A Love Triangle?
Lan Jiang is also in love with Cai Wei. He sends betrothal gifts to her in Episode 9 to ensure her safety so that others know that she is under his protection. Cai Wei assumes Lan Jiang is only protecting her as a good friend and is unaware of his feelings. He tries to confess his feelings via a lantern in Episode 15 but she misses it. He also knows she loves Pan Yue in Episode 16.
Lan Jiang finally tells Cai Wei about his feelings for her in Episode 17. But she rejects him and says that they will always be good friends. In Episode 22, Lan Jiang apologizes to Cai Wei for what his father had done to her and her parents after his father’s death. Cai Wei couldn’t forgive Lan Jiang’s father but bears no grudge towards him. She sees Lan Jiang and his father as separate individuals. They remain as friends and Lan Jiang also wishes her happiness with Pan Yue in his heart.
When Did Cai Wei’s Pretense Become Exposed?
Cai Wei/Shangguan Zhi first told Xiao Sheng about her identity not long after the switch. Lan Jiang also knows her secret in Episode 9 after she hinted to him who she is to prevent a fight between him and Pan Yue.
Pan Yue realizes that Shangguan Zhi is Cai Wei in Episode 17. This is after he heard a group of beggar kids reciting a rhyme that Cai Wei had recited to him when they were young. The kids tell him that Shangguan Zhi had taught them the rhyme. With all the other clues put together, Pan Yue becomes certain Shangguan Zhi is Cai Wei. However, he doesn’t want to put Cai Wei in danger and hence, continues to pretend that he doesn’t know about her real identity until Episode 21.
Ling Er also knows Cai Wei’s secret when she found a set of coroner’s tools in her drawer. She admits it when questioned by Cai Wei in Episode 25. Ling Er arouses Cai Wei’s suspicion as she is alway quick to help her keep up the facade as Shangguan Zhi because she believes Cai Wei is a good person. Pan Yue’s father finds out the truth in Episode 27 after seeing the couple together and overhearing their conversation.
In Episode 30, Pan Yue is forced to tell Shangguan Lan that his sister is dead after Cai Wei was charged with the murder of Princess Chang Le. He also exposes her identity during the court hearing as part of his plan to save her.
What Happened To Cai Wei’s Father?
After Shangguan Zhi who was masquerading as Cai Wei died, Pan Yue questions his father about the past in Episode 7. Pan Yue’s father was deputy to Cai Wei’s father, Yang Ji An, who was the Minister of Justice then. When Yang Ji An received a tip-off about a rebellious faction in Heyang, he went there to investigate but was framed upon his return. He and his wife were subsequently killed by bandits while being deported. Cai Wei went missing. Pan Yue’s father knows all along where Cai Wei is but keeps quiets because her life would be in danger if her location is exposed. He also pretends not to know anything to secure his own safety and position.
Lan Jiang’s Father
In Episode 19, it is revealed that Yang Ji An and his wife were killed by Sun Zhen under the orders of Lan Jiang’s father, Zhuo Shan Ju. Lan Jiang learns that his father is still alive and has been deceiving him in Episode 21. Zhuo Shan Ju and the lead rebel are sworn brothers. He wasn’t totally obedient and needs to prove his loyalty now to regain his brother’s trust.
In Episode 22, Zhuo Shan Ju meets Pan Yue. After Pan Yue assured him that he will protect Lan Jiang, Zhuo Shan Ju sacrifices himself to die in a fire. Zhuo Shan Ju does so to take the blame for all the bad deeds he had done in order to ensure Lan Jiang’s safety.
Qing Di’s Agenda
Pan Yue sets up a trap to ensnare the spy in his magistrate court in Episode 23. The court registrar is caught red-handed. Before he dies, he hands over an old letter written by a woman to Yang Ji An to request a meeting in Heyang about a traitorous rebel. As Pan Yue and Cai Wei dig out the identity of the woman, they discover that she was a member of Qing Di’s Hundred Flowers Court.
When they question Qing Di about it, she reveals to them that a middle man will periodically get courtesans from her for high ranking officials in the capital. 10 years ago, she sent 4 courtesans off to the capital as usual. But the girls secretly ran away and returned to tell her that they have evidence that a powerful official was colluding with an enemy state. However, they didn’t tell her his identity in order to protect her.
One of the girls, Yun Chang, wrote a letter to Yang Ji An to tip him off. In the end, Yang Ji An was killed and the 4 girls were also silenced one by one. Thus, Qing Di has been looking for ways to get justice for them. In Episode 31, it is revealed that Yun Chang is still alive. Jia Quan’s top henchman, Zuo Jing Fei, has fallen for her and couldn’t bear to kill her. They tricked Jia Quan by killing another woman and passed it off as Yun Chang. When Jia Quan finds out what they had done, Zuo Jing Fei is killed while trying to escape with Yun Chang. But Yun Chang survives and becomes a witness to Jia Quan’s crimes in Episode 32.
Second Couple
Xiao Sheng is always bickering with Lan Jiang initially although both are good friends of Cai Wei. But her feelings towards him change after he saved her when she was taken hostage during a fight with his enemies in Episode 14. Xiao Sheng starts to like Lan Jiang but keeps it a secret from Cai Wei in Episode 15 as she knows Lan Jiang likes Cai Wei.
In Episode 18, Lan Jiang saves Xiao Sheng from a harasser. She reveals her past to him as a fatherless child with a gambler mother. Xiao Sheng was sold by her mother when she was 10. She escaped and started earning her own money to redeem herself. Lan Jiang cheers her up after hearing her sob story. In Episode 22, Xiao Sheng admits to Cai Wei that she likes Lan Jiang when she becomes overly anxious over his disappearance.
Xiao Sheng tracks down Lan Jiang in the capital in Episode 23. He has gone there to avenge his father’s death and shoos Xiao Sheng away from him. She confesses her feelings to him then. Xiao Sheng couldn’t stay away from Lan Jiang although he doesn’t want to bring her harm. He wants to infiltrate the rebel camp and ends up having to kill in order to gain their trust. He is tormented and being with Xiao Sheng reduces his pain. They end up sleeping together after a bout of drinking in Episode 26.
In Blossom Review – Rebel Behind The Scenes
Essentially, In Blossom is a mystery drama with investigations taking center stage for the most part. It has an overarching goal of getting to the rebel behind the scenes. Hence, each case will provide the leads with clues to enable them to dig a little deeper to reach the ultimate villain. If you like Mysterious Lotus Casebook, you might enjoy In Blossom too although the former relies more on wits and deductions to solve cases while the latter takes the autopsy route. This also reminds me of The Imperial Coroner as the female protagonist in In Blossom is also an undertaker-cum-coroner.
The storytelling is such that the villain is not revealed until the last quarter of the drama. Information is concealed from the viewers so that the villain is made to be a mysterious character. This does evoke your curiosity and desire to know who he might be. Hence, the chase factor is there. But the road to get to him is a long one with many cases to solve along the way. While each one is tied back to the main plot, some may find this tiresome and going in circles. To me, some parts are indeed a little draggy and I do wonder whether the drama would be more exciting if it is made shorter.
Face Swap
One major aspect of the story is the face swap that involves the female lead. This is where the mystery starts because a love rival swapped their faces and then ended up dead. The obvious weakness here is the 2 characters have different body shapes and sizes that a mere face swap alone is indeed impractical. But this is what we are given in the story. You just have to accept the logic, or the lack of it, and go from there. Or simply treat it as a full body rather than a face swap. There are also no details provided about the workings of this witchcraft and whether it is possible for the female lead to get her original face back. This issue is not explored at all in the drama.
Furthermore, the female lead seems to have lost her original personality and becomes a different person after the face swap. She is shown as serious and solemn as she has endured a lot of heartaches and sufferings in her life before the swap. But after the swap, that part of her seems to have disappeared and a new person has emerged. Hence, that continuity is missing in the character.
However, the good thing is the swap happens very early in the drama. This means the characters have not really left a deep imprint in your mind yet and thus, it is easier to accept any inconsistencies that arise. But it is still an obvious weakness in the story apart rom the ending.
Room For Season 2
The ending of In Blossom leaves a very wide room for a Season 2. I’m fine with how it ended but my guess is a few viewers might feel cheated. This is because it means there is more to the story just like My Journey To You. In other words, everyone has overlooked something in the investigations and the case is not totally resolved at the end of the drama.
However, this point is not brought up at all throughout the 32 episodes. The entire focus is to unearth a villain whose identity remains a mystery until the last arc. This part has a satisfactory conclusion to it which is why the drama still feels complete. It is only in the final minute that viewers are treated to a surprise. It gives the feeling that the case continues after the last one is solved which I think is not entirely new for mystery drama endings.
To me, what is a bigger weakness is the lead up to the ending. Once the villain appears, the mystery is kind of solved and there is no longer any suspense. The second male lead’s ending is also a little overdramatic although expected.
Acting & Chemistry
I always feel that it is time for Ju Jing Yi to get out of her comfort zone and take on more challenging roles. She has played enough of cute and sassy characters. Hence, I did enjoy the brief time she was playing the cruel Shangguan Zhi in In Blossom. It is a welcomed change. However, I think there are not enough layers to the character after the face swap. While her acting is generally okay, it is the lack of thought to the way the character should be presented that is the issue.
Liu Xue Yi is as dashing as always. So, I do enjoy watching him. But he also can act apart from just having a handsome face. To me, he stood out in The Blood Of Youth although he wasn’t the main draw. In In Blossom, he plays a magistrate who thought the love of his life is gone. Hence, the various emotions are there on his face. Although I wouldn’t say his performance in the drama is outstanding, he does have a strong screen presence. That aura serves him well since it is needed in his role as a government official in the story.
As the 2 leads are good-looking people, the pairing automatically gives off a positive vibe. At the very least, the visuals are great and they do look like a matching couple. The chemistry is there to make them convincing as lovers although it is nothing spectacular. Personally, it is enough for me as this is not a strictly romance drama after all.
My Verdict – Good Enough To Watch
In Blossom is a drama that follows a logical path to reach the hidden villain. Each case ties back to the main goal of uncovering him and bringing him to justice. The cases flow naturally with the concept of one clue leading to another. Hence, they are not forced into the story but cleverly weaved into a string of events that makes sense. This means the story is highly watchable with well-grounded plot development.
If you are into this for the romance, this is more of a slow burn type especially for the male lead. It is more sensible this way given the nature of the story. After all, it is not the outer appearance that captivates him but the person as a whole. It is also nice that there are no toxic third parties as the plot develops. The screenwriter has kept the focus on the investigations and the villains as it should be for a mystery drama. Therefore, the romance remains straightforward without unnecessary complications to take viewers’ attention away from the main plot.
For this review of In Blossom, I would rate it 7.5/10. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind a second season. The reason I didn’t rate it higher is because I feel that it is not suspenseful and gripping enough for a mystery drama. So, there is a bit of boredom along the way. But the story is a good one overall with sensible case plots. That is why I think it deserves a watch especially if you are into mystery and detective dramas.
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