Believe in Love Episode 23 Recap
> Believe in Love Recap
Song Yan, still harboring deep resentment over the "Flower Island Warm Pot" that he believed caused his mother's wrongful death, sought to exact revenge on the Hua family. He decided to use the Emperor's upcoming birthday banquet as his opportunity, renaming the fated dish "A House of Happy Longevity." Before the banquet, he gathered people to taste the dish, and it was widely praised for its innovation and flavor, deemed suitable as the main course.
When Hua Yinan inquired about the dish's origin, Tang Yingying, the chef, vaguely attributed it to a veteran chef's guidance. Song Yan privately believed Hua Yinan would finally pay for past wrongs. Hua Yinan then asked Song Yan about the whereabouts of his personal guard, Yu Feng. Song Yan claimed Yu Feng had been bitten by a street dog a few days prior and was sent back to the Capital City for recovery.
Hua Yinan, however, challenged this, stating that Flower Island dogs are generally gentle and never attack without reason, implying that if Yu Feng was bitten, he likely deserved it. Hua Yuman, misunderstanding the subtle antagonism, suggested flogging the dog to death to appease the Sixth Prince. Meanwhile, Song Yan subtly warned Hua Yinan to be careful of those with ulterior motives, citing a reported incident of a thief prowling near Tang Yingying's chamber.
Nanze also informed Song Yan that Hua Yinan's spirit was powerful, leading to suspicion that the Seven-leaf Peepul might still be within him. As preparations for the Emperor's arrival intensified, Du Ruo found a moment of quiet reflection in the back garden, holding a daisy given to him by Tang Yingying. Su Tang noticed his solitude and approached with a drink, engaging him in conversation.
Du Ruo recalled Su Tang once sitting alone without the spring bracelet he had given her, looking pitiable. He asked her to return it, and though she initially reacted with annoyance, throwing it at him, he noted that she always carried it, implying her true feelings. Du Ruo then explained the daisy's meaning: "unspoken love," confessing his indecisiveness regarding certain matters. Su Tang asked if he truly intended to leave Flower Island after the banquet, to which he affirmed.
She then expressed her own weariness of Floral House and asked if she could join him. Du Ruo immediately invited her to come along, revealing he had been waiting for a chance to express his desire for her to accompany him. He even offered to change his plans if she wished to stay, but Su Tang readily agreed, deciding they would leave together.
Tang Yingying had prepared the "A House of Happy Longevity" dish, and it was ready for the next morning. However, defying Song Yan's orders, she replaced the poison he had given her with harmless digestive powder. After this, she wrote a letter to Hua Yinan and left it in his study. Seeing Hua Yinan reading through the door crack, her heart swelled with emotion. She did not enter, afraid of becoming lost in his affections, and left after knocking.
Unbeknownst to her, Nanze intercepted the letter before Hua Yinan could retrieve it. Nanze reported to Song Yan that Tang Yingying had betrayed him by substituting the poison with an inert powder, confirming that it was Nanze himself who had then placed the real poison in the dish. Song Yan, enraged after reading Tang Yingying's letter, confronted her.
In the letter, Tang Yingying confessed that she was not Lu Yue'er and did not wish to accept his love under false pretenses. She revealed that she had developed feelings for him during a moonlit drinking session and felt compelled to confess, warning him to be extremely careful at the upcoming birthday banquet. Song Yan accused her of betrayal, and she retorted that she knew she was being used. Song Yan then ordered his guards to take her away.
Nanze intervened, revealing that the Seven-leaf Peepul was within Tang Yingying's body and requesting to handle her himself. The next day, the Emperor arrived at Flower Island, and everyone gathered to welcome him. He expressed his appreciation for the island's beauty, its people, and its cuisine, particularly thanking Song Yan for his thoughtful preparations for the birthday banquet. He also noted his fondness for Du Ruo's cooking and asked him to prepare new dishes during his stay.
Amidst the greetings, Hua Yinan was quietly informed that Lady Yue'er (Tang Yingying) was missing, causing him concern. As the banquet commenced, Song Yan presented "A House of Happy Longevity," extolling it as a symbol of felicity and long life for the Emperor. The Emperor, delighted by the dish's aroma and trusting the Hua family, decided to skip the customary poison test and urged everyone to partake.
Seeing his plan about to fail, Song Yan, after a hurried whispered exchange with a subordinate, loudly intervened, declaring the dish was poisoned. He then ordered the arrest of Hua Yinan and Hua Yuman. Song Yan's subordinate claimed that Tang Yingying, the chef responsible for the dish and Hua Yinan's missing wife (Lu Yue'er), had poisoned it and fled to avoid punishment. Hua Yuman was visibly distressed, but Hua Yinan remained composed.
Meanwhile, Tang Yingying, far from having fled, was trapped and calling for release. An imperial physician examined the dish and confirmed it was free of poison. Hua Yinan then revealed that he had anticipated Song Yan's malicious intent. He explained that Song Yan had previously sent someone to steal a secret pouch from the library, and after Hua Yinan had read the confession hidden within, he fully understood Song Yan's plans.
Therefore, he had expected Song Yan to attempt to poison the dish and arranged for it to be watched. Once Song Yan's subordinate indeed poisoned "A House of Happy Longevity," Hua Yinan had it replaced with an untainted version, knowing Song Yan would expose himself at the banquet. Confronted with this evidence, Song Yan's subordinate dramatically stepped forward, claiming he acted alone to impress Song Yan by creating a situation where the Prince could "save" the Emperor.
He insisted Song Yan was entirely innocent and committed suicide to atone for his "sin." Du Ruo, however, suggested that such a grave crime could not be orchestrated by a single individual, implying a mastermind. The Emperor then turned to Song Yan, who denied prior knowledge of his subordinate's plan but admitted to misjudging his subordinate and accepted responsibility for the trouble caused. The Emperor then requested Hua Yinan to present the pouch containing the confession. During these events, Nanze had sealed Tang Yingying and successfully extracted the Seven-leaf Peepul from her body.
