Believe in Love Episode 18 Recap
> Believe in Love Recap
Still grieving two years after Lu Yue'er's disappearance, Hua Yinan found himself imagining her presence. He envisioned her approaching with a bowl of soup, only to realize it was Su Tang who had come to his study to discuss the Emperor's upcoming birthday banquet menu.
Hua Yinan apologized for his momentary delusion, then quickly dismissed Su Tang, instructing her to delegate minor tasks and confirming that he had approved her resignation letter, which she could submit to the court after the banquet. Meanwhile, Du Ruo, also preparing for his return to the capital, sought out Su Tang. She expressed her disappointment, feeling that with Lu Yue'er gone, there was no longer anyone worth staying for at Floral House, implying his departure was understandable.
Du Ruo clarified that his decision to resign from his official post and embark on a journey to explore the world's delicacies was a personal one, unrelated to Lu Yue'er. He attempted to confess something more, but Su Tang, wishing him safe travels, cut him short before he could finish. Later, as the island's residents gathered outside the Island Lord's Mansion to welcome the Emperor's advance envoy, Jiang Mama grew uneasy upon learning it was the Sixth Prince, Song Yan.
She recalled that as a child, Song Yan had been sent to the border as a hostage, a period that coincided with Princess Jia Ning's marriage to Flower Island. Without fully disclosing her deepest concerns about Song Yan's intentions, she cautioned Hua Yinan and Du Ruo to be wary, alluding to the Sixth Prince's past hardships. Hua Yinan, however, dismissed her worries, explaining that the strengthening Nanxiang State meant it was only natural for former hostages to return.
Upon Song Yan's arrival, Hua Yinan and the others were astonished to recognize him as the "Young Master Song" who had previously visited Flower Island. Despite his inner rage over Song Yan's deception, Hua Yinan, respecting Song Yan's status as a prince and imperial envoy, managed to suppress his anger and offer a formal welcome.
Inside the mansion, Song Yan read an imperial edict: citing Flower Island's unique environment and culinary reputation, the Emperor intended to hold his sixtieth birthday banquet there, entrusting Hua Yinan and Du Ruo with the preparations. Hua Yinan accepted the decree, then subtly questioned Song Yan about his abrupt departure from the island two years prior, asking which boat he had taken.
Song Yan skillfully evaded the direct question, stating he had left on a merchant ship due to an urgent summons from his father. He then feigned shock and offered condolences upon hearing of Lu Yue'er's death. Hua Yinan intended to host a welcoming banquet at the mansion, but Song Yan insisted they dine at Floral House, specifically requesting no special preparations, preferring to experience it as usual. As they approached Floral House, they encountered a commotion.
Onlookers gossiped about a self-proclaimed "Fairy Cook" from the capital, Tang Yingying, who had successfully challenged Floral House's head chefs and was now attempting to remove their plaque. Su Tang tried to prevent Tang Yingying from taking down the plaque, leading to a struggle. As Tang Yingying ascended a ladder, it was pushed, causing her to fall. Hua Yinan instinctively rushed forward and caught her. He was momentarily stunned, observing her eyes, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Lu Yue'er's.
Tang Yingying thanked him for saving her, expressing surprise that he was the Island Lord. Song Yan then introduced Tang Yingying, explaining she was a close friend with a passion for cooking, whose talent he admired, hence bringing her to Flower Island. He almost mentioned her resemblance to Lu Yue'er but caught himself. He added that Tang Yingying's teacher was Cook Jin, the same master who had taught Lu Yue'er's mother.
Tang Yingying, full of arrogance, declared Floral House's cuisine unworthy of the Emperor's banquet and challenged Du Ruo, the Master Chef. She proposed that if Du Ruo lost, he must publicly admit defeat and avoid her. Song Yan, feigning impartiality, ordered his attendant, Yu Feng, to whip Tang Yingying as punishment for causing a scene. However, Hua Yinan intervened, pleading for her to be spared.
Song Yan accepted Hua Yinan's plea, then instructed Tang Yingying to make amends, which she did with an air of reluctance. Despite this, she continued to disparage Floral House's reputation. Later, Hua Yinan and Du Ruo examined a dish of pagoda meat prepared by Tang Yingying during the competition. Its presentation and intricate knife skills were flawless, with eighteen layers of pork, surpassing Floral House's Chef Wang, who achieved fifteen.
Du Ruo noted that while the taste was strikingly similar to Lu Yue'er's cooking, there were subtle differences. Hua Yinan, convinced, believed Tang Yingying was indeed Lu Yue'er, attributing her enhanced skills to her inherent talent and two years of dedicated training. Du Ruo, however, pointed out that since both Lu Yue'er's mother and Tang Yingying were students of Cook Jin, a similar culinary style was plausible, yet he remained unsettled by the situation.
Hua Yuman was furious about the humiliation Floral House had suffered. Jiang Mama warned her that the incident was likely part of Song Yan's elaborate scheme, urging Hua Yuman and Hua Yinan to remain vigilant. Hua Yuman couldn't fathom Song Yan's motive, but Jiang Mama, weighed down by secrets concerning Princess Jia Ning, felt unable to reveal the past, fearing it would upset them, yet she worried deeply about Song Yan's true agenda.
In a private conversation, Song Yan commended Tang Yingying's performance, confirming that she had successfully drawn Hua Yinan's attention. He revealed that a "magic doctor" had painstakingly altered her face to perfectly mimic Lu Yue'er, making her indistinguishable from the real person, even if Lu Yue'er were to return. Tang Yingying admitted she had lost her memory of her original face during the perilous transformation but was grateful to have survived.
As a reward, Song Yan promised to make her his Prince's Consort once their plan was complete. Upon hearing this, Tang Yingying was suddenly overcome by intense heart pain. Song Yan quickly had Nan Ze administer a flower pill to alleviate her suffering. After Tang Yingying left to rest, Song Yan then privately discussed with Nan Ze, the "ghost doctor."
Song Yan pressed Nan Ze to complete the restoration of the Wooden Cone within seven days, rather than the projected month, because Tang Yingying's control pills were scarce. Nan Ze protested that accelerating the restoration would cost him his entire lifetime's cultivation, but Song Yan dismissed his concerns. His priority was to swiftly regain his own spirit powers and dragon body, which depended on Tang Yingying extracting the Seven-leaf Peepul from Hua Yinan.
Only then could he awaken his beloved "Xiao Man." Song Yan also muttered that he would enjoy tormenting them and settle all his past conflicts with Hua Yinan in this lifetime. He warned Nan Ze that if Tang Yingying escaped their control and Lu Yue'er's soul was regained before the Seven-leaf Peepul was retrieved, all their efforts would be in vain.
