Bloody Romance Episode 7 Recap
> Bloody Romance Recap
To approach Han Xiu, Wan Mei disguised herself as a courtesan named Lv'e. She played an artistic song for Han Xiu and his friend, Zhang Zhong. Han Xiu, intrigued, asked if they had met before, but Wan Mei deflected. Han Yue, Han Xiu's brother, interrupted, pulling Han Xiu away, but Han Xiu soon returned. Wan Mei then played a rare song, "Yu Ji Chant," which impressed Han Xiu.
She introduced herself as Lv'e, and after her performance, Han Xiu's friend Zhang Zhong, captivated by her beauty, hurried to her room. Inside her room, Wan Mei asked Zhang Zhong if he preferred her former or present self, to which he replied, "Both." She then cunningly asked him to draw a vibrant peony on her chest, claiming it was difficult to do herself. She instructed him to be careful, mentioning the "pearl powder" in the brush.
As Zhang Zhong carefully drew and blew on the wet pigment to dry it, he inhaled the "knockout drops" that Wan Mei had secretly put on the brush. After he collapsed, Wan Mei screamed, "Someone is murdered! Someone is killed!" Chang'an, who had been assisting, created a commotion that successfully lured Han Yue away from the scene, leaving Han Xiu alone. Wan Mei quickly transformed her appearance, donning a green outfit and applying ghost-like makeup.
She then approached Han Xiu, claiming to be the ghost of his deceased lover, Peony. Han Xiu was shocked, initially denying it, stating that Peony was dead and there were no ghosts. Wan Mei, however, insisted she was Peony, explaining she had possessed this girl's body because the girl had a similar experience. She declared she held no grudges, only wanting to see him, and asked if the moonlight was beautiful, a phrase meaningful to them.
It was revealed that while Han Xiu appeared to be happily married, his true love had always been Peony, a revered entertainer from a brothel who made a living by playing the qin, so highly regarded that some offered three luminous pearls just to see her face. In a flashback, Han Xiu had promised Peony he would ransom her after selling a batch of illegal salt, but he was caught and imprisoned.
Wan Mei, still pretending to be Peony, accused Han Xiu of lying about her death, reminding him of his guilt. The flashback continued, showing Peony visiting Han Xiu in prison, having bribed the guards. Despite Han Xiu's insistence that no one could save him due to his crime, Peony was determined to rescue him, even mentioning bribing the Censor of Salt.
Han Xiu was later acquitted and released, believing Peony had committed suicide for him, only to find her dead body. Wan Mei, as Peony, then corrected him, revealing the horrific truth: Peony had begged the corrupt censor for Han Xiu's release, sacrificing her health and virginity. She was brutally tortured, her fingers cut off, and died a tragic death, not by her own hand.
Han Xiu recounted how he was with her as she died, unable to afford a doctor, and how he lied about one being on the way. He expressed remorse, acknowledging it was his fault, and confessed that he had later avenged her by scheming to have the corrupt censor framed, which led to the censor's death in prison. Han Xiu, consumed by guilt and reliving the painful memories, became overwhelmed, repeatedly lamenting that he didn't deserve to be a man.
He pleaded with "Peony" to tell him what he should do to atone, offering to have his nails pulled out or eyes poked out. Just as Wan Mei prepared to strike, Han Xiu revealed he knew about the psychedelic in her nails and that he was aware she was deceiving him. He asked her why she pretended to be Peony and if she intended to kill him.
Wan Mei admitted her mission was to kill him, and the disguise was to create an opportunity. She explained that his illegal salt trade contributed to the suffering of her people, making him deeply sinful. Wan Mei then challenged his denial, telling him to look closely, asserting they had nothing in common, and that his guilt, not her disguise, was why he was so easily deceived.
She reiterated that Peony was tortured to death to rescue him, questioning whether he truly failed her or simply couldn't abandon his wealth. Han Xiu told her to leave, but Wan Mei reminded him that if he lived, she would die, as she was commanded to kill him. Han Xiu, recognizing the gravity of the situation, acknowledged his insignificance in the world. He then stopped Wan Mei, asking for one last favor: to pretend to be Peony again.
He confessed that despite his wealth, he understood that everyone's pain and sorrow were the same. He spoke of Peony's fear of pain and how she still forced a smile for him even in her suffering, and how he had done nothing for her. He desired to do something for her now.
Holding Wan Mei's hand, Han Xiu spoke of a beautiful future he once envisioned with Peony, where he would be a wealthy merchant, ransom her, marry her openly, and they would grow old together. With tears in his eyes, he used the weapon in Wan Mei's hand to stab himself, dying with a smile. Chang'an immediately appeared, congratulating Wan Mei on successfully completing her mission.
Wan Mei, however, was in shock, insisting that Han Xiu had killed himself to save her and that she had been sober the entire time. Chang'an dismissed it as an effect of the psychedelic, urging her to open the Red Evil Umbrella to close the case and leave quickly before Han Yue caught up, emphasizing that Han Xiu was dead and her survival was paramount.
Back at the Mei Killer's House, a servant informed Wan Mei that Lady Chuo Luo had promoted her to the 13th junior killer in Gui Hua City, meaning she no longer needed to report to Chui Xing Tower. The servant presented her with a lacquer box containing her share of the mission's reward and granted her a new yard. Since she was assigned no other servants, her shadow Chang'an would handle any needs.
Liu Guang then arrived, expressing her joy that Wan Mei had returned alive. She reiterated the warning about not reporting to Chui Xing Tower, implying a deeper meaning, and cautioned Wan Mei to stay away from Ting Zhu House if she wished to live longer, before advising her to forget everything Liu Guang had said that day. Liu Guang also acknowledged Chang'an's capabilities.
