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香蜜沉沉烬如霜
Jin Mi is the daughter of a flower deity who is fed a pill that prevents her from feeling or expressing romantic love. She gets tangled in a love triangle with Heavenly Prince Xu Feng and the ambitious Night Deity Run Yu.
To protect her newborn daughter Jinmi, the Floral Immortal Zifen conceals her identity and feeds her a Loveless Elixir. Jinmi grows up in the protected Floral Realm believing herself to be a mere grape fairy. The Fire Immortal Xufeng is attacked by a mysterious black assailant during his Phoenix Nirvana. In his escape, he crashes and burns into the Floral Realm. Jinmi rescues the burned Crow.
Looking after the bird who crashed into the Floral Realm, Jinmi's remedies sometimes prove worse than the disease. She convinces Xufeng to take her to the Heavenly Realm. His trespass and Jinmi's disappearance pit the Floral Fairies against Princess Suihe, head of the Bird Family. The Heavenly Empress accuses the Night Immortal of the attack on her son.
The Fire Immortal rushes to Runyu's defense. Jinmi makes the acquaintance of the Match-Maker. Later, Jinmi also stumbles upon Runyu enjoying a wiggle of his long tail in the pond. She befriends the Fish Fairy and he is charmed by her. But a feast of Zhuque eggs doesn't go down well, and Mr Puchi aka Yanyou pays a visit.
Jinmi tries to ingratiate herself with the Phoenix, in her quest for enough magical prowess to revive her friend Rourou. Embarking on a training programme with the Fire Immortal, she proves not quite the stellar student, except for her grasp of dialects. Runyu still thinks of the grape fairy fondly. On conscription day, the late-arrival Kuanglu enters the service of the Night Immortal.
Jinmi gorges herself on magical prowess on Rice Dumpling Festival, and magics a Phoenix Flower tree for the Fire Immortal. Dressed properly as a girl, she catches Xufeng's attention, and reminds the Match-Maker of the Floral Immortal. Princess Suihe now sees her as a rival. The carrot fairy Mr Hu, in search of the missing grape fairy, arrives in the Heavenly Realm.
Runyu and Xufeng battle it out with Qiongqi but only the appearance of the Heavenly Emperor saves the day. Jinmi casts out a sacred plant to heal Xufeng's past injuries, and uses an agreeable trick to feed it to him. The Fire Immortal is ordered to the Demon Realm to capture Qiongqi and Jinmi contrives to go along. The Night Immortal joins them.
Demon Princess Liuying of Bian City seeks out the Heavenly Immortals in their hunt for Qiongqi. The Demon Lord, after some persuasion, lends his help too, whilst the explanation for the monster's escape remains elusive. Even Jinmi and her magical powers with plants play a part in the pitched fight that ensues.
Qiongqi's escape ripples through the power struggles in the Demon Realm. Left alone with the Melding Soul Cauldron, Jinmi is susceptible to manipulation. Xufeng averts disaster, but at the price of injury to himself, just as the truth of his feelings for Jinmi dawns on him. His only hope is the sacred Night Rattan of the Floral Realm.
The Great Floral Fairy sets herself against the Phoenix's declared intentions on Jinmi. Now that he knows his heart, he's intent on keeping his promise, but childhood memories awaken him to Jinmi's probable, and troubling, parentage. The Fire Immortal and Night Immortal report to the Heavenly Emperor. Princess Liuying is Xufeng's special guest in the Heavenly Realm.
Princess Suihe attempts to recruit Kuanglu to spy on Runyu. Jinmi's Fish Fairy visits her in the Floral Realm and whisks her away, but she's now in the Heavenly Empress's cross-hairs. On a stroll through a Milky Way, Jinmi makes the Night Immortal a gift of Night-Blooming Cereus to ease his loneliness. He takes her to hide in the Mortal Realm and who should she bump into but Mr Puchi.
Xu Feng goes looking for the missing Jin Mi. Meanwhile, Mr Puchi proceeds with her education in the pleasures of the mortal world. The Night Immortal catches up with all of them, and, predictably, it's Yan You who comes out worst before it's all washed away with Jin Mi's osmanthus wine. The Fire Immortal struggles with love and virtue, and Jin Mi finds a Phoenix Feather.
It's the birthday celebration of the Heavenly Empress, and Jinmi convinces her Fish Fairy to attend. Arriving for the feast, the Night Immortal acknowledges Kuanglu's true identity. Yanyou brings Jinmi along, too, and with the Water Immortal and Wind Immortal in attendance, the Rat Fairy conjures up mischief, and Jinmi brings unwarranted attention to herself.
Escaping the wrath of the Heavenly Empress, with both the Fire Immortal and Night Immortal keen to protect her, Jinmi is returned to the Floral Realm. The Heavenly Emperor is convinced of having a special connection with the grape fairy. The Water Immortal makes a timely visit, especially when the Emperor's fire magic does not agree with Jinmi's water nature.
With Jin Mi on the mend, Luo Lin learns from Mr Hu all about the past tangled relationships revolving around Zi Fen. The First Prince, who had long been promised in marriage to the elder daughter of the Water Immortal, sees his chance to unite duty and desire, even if it means denying his brother.
When the Water Immortal brings his daughter to the Heavenly Realm, the First Prince makes his move. Luo Lin introduces Jin Mi at the Palace. His words are music to Xu Feng's ears, but alas, his elation is soon marred by Run Yu's prior claim. All this time, the investigation into the Phoenix's assailant during Nirvana isn't forgotten.
Jin Mi receives the Beast of Dreams as a gift from the Night Immortal. Her naive forthrightness disarms Run Yu. The Snake Fairy and Rat Fairy place themselves in danger. Xu Feng and Jin Mi are unable to keep their appointment, and when Mr Puchi turns up instead, an arrest is soon made. The Heavenly Empress's masked henchman plays his part in her power games.
Accusations fly at the Heavenly Empress. When the name of Lize Suli is brought up, punishment is harshly dealt. Mr Liaoyuan updates the Fire Immortal on the latest sighting of the masked henchman. Lin Xiu reminisces to Jin Mi on the Floral Immortal, a lotus that fallen from the Buddha's seat. Luo Lin takes Jin Mi to see his Master, Lord Dou Mu, who spells out the doom for her and her friend Rou Rou.
Xu Feng suffers a recurrence of his injury, which he makes sure only Jin Mi can help with. The Night Immortal is equally eager to show her his devotion. The Fire Immortal is ordered to the front line at Wangchuan River just as Jin Mi has her promotion ceremony. Fate Fairy Yuan Ji discloses potential disasters, and to avert them and earn Immortal rank, Jin Mi agrees to experience hardships in the Mortal Realm.
Fairy Yuan Ji must balance the demands of mother and son for Jin Mi's fate. Jin Mi buries a jar of osmanthus wine for the Fire Immortal's return. But, discovering his mother's plans, Xu Feng too jumps onto the Plate of Cause and Effect, Sui He after him, and Mr Liao Yuan is pushed in for good measure. Jin Mi is born to be the Saint Girl, a healer for King Yi and destined to be buried alive with him when he dies. And danger lurks already for the King.
Gathering herbs in the mountains, Jin Mi rescues a badly wounded swordsman whom she takes for a bandit. Meanwhile, a Spirit Vanishing Arrow is in the making. In Jin Mi's mountain hut, the bandit wakes up deaf and dumb as a result of past poisoning. The Demon Lord learns of the Fire Immortal becoming a human, whilst in the Mortal Realm, King Yi is missing, and his cousin Princess Nan Ping is frantic. Jin Mi calls her bad-tempered patient a Crow.
