Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 12 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
Ning Yuxuan received an invitation from Wang Jinyao for his birthday celebration and decided to attend, inviting Nie Sangyu to join him. He explained that the event would be an opportunity for her to connect with the prominent ladies of Haifang. Nie Sangyu took some time to get ready, and when she emerged, Ning Yuxuan seemed captivated by her appearance, although he avoided directly answering when she asked if she looked beautiful.
Upon arriving at the party, Nie Sangyu was disappointed to find no meat dishes served. Wang Jinyao claimed that despite being a wealthy businessman, he donated most of his earnings to help the poor, believing this contributed to the region's peace. Ning Yuxuan brought up the subject of the previous magistrates, mentioning that his wife was troubled by rumors of violent incidents at the Magistrate's Residence.
Wang Jinyao confirmed that previous magistrates met unfortunate ends, adding that rumor suggested the former magistrate's entire family committed suicide after his corruption was exposed, while others said he was forced to die by order of "higher-ups." He emphasized Haifang's importance as a trade hub and the involvement of powerful figures, but claimed ignorance of specific details. Wang Jinyao introduced his daughter, Wang Yueli, asking her to toast the guests.
When Wang Yueli lifted her veil, Nie Sangyu noticed her severe acne. She had her maid, Muxu, give Wang Yueli a jar of her homemade Feiwan Face Cream, suggesting it would be very effective for her condition. Perceiving this as a public humiliation, Wang Yueli stormed off angrily.
As a gift, Ning Yuxuan presented Wang Jinyao with a box containing soil collected from places he had previously served, explaining it was a symbol of his integrity and a warning against corruption. He requested that Wang Jinyao add a handful of Haifang soil to the box when he eventually left the area.
Before departing, Ning Yuxuan announced his wife’s plan to open a cosmetic shop in Haifang and invited everyone to visit, with Nie Sangyu adding that all guests present would receive a generous discount. Returning from the party, Nie Sangyu noted inconsistencies she observed, such as Wang Yueli's expensive gold-inlaid jade bracelet and the fact that the supposedly frugal vegetarian dishes were cooked in a wok used for meat, suggesting the family's simple lifestyle was a facade.
She asked Ning Yuxuan why he publicly revealed her intention to open a shop, potentially making her a target. Ning Yuxuan explained that Haifang was controlled by two main forces: the visible Dragon Gang and the hidden influence of Wang Jinyao. He stated that his intention was to introduce Nie Sangyu, like a "catfish" into the "river," to disrupt the established order and uncover their strategies.
Nie Sangyu understood his goal of "stirring up the water" but was irked by his analogy of "putting her out," questioning if he saw her as a dog. Meanwhile, Wang Yueli confronted her father, furious about Nie Sangyu's comment. Wang Jinyao, however, instructed her to keep the cream, explaining that a person's needs reveal their weaknesses.
He stressed that forming a connection with Nie Sangyu was a matter of life and death for him and ordered his daughter to interact more with her. Later, Gui Bai reported to Ning Yuxuan on the ongoing investigation into Wang Jinyao's messenger and the assassins from the temple, noting their high skill level made them difficult to track. He also presented numerous invitations from young ladies who had attended the party, all wanting to meet Nie Sangyu.
Nie Sangyu returned late one evening, exhausted but enthusiastic about her shop preparations, which she said were going well with the help of Yuan Lang. She referred to him as her business partner, who provided the funds while she provided the skills. Ning Yuxuan strongly disapproved of her accepting Yuan Lang's money.
He told her a cautionary tale about a magistrate's wife whose tea shop was used by others to channel bribes to her husband, warning that Yuan Lang could use her name to solicit favors, which could lead to her prosecution and the seizure of her shop. Alarmed, Nie Sangyu asked for a solution. Ning Yuxuan offered to provide the funds himself.
In return, he tasked her with using the invitations to visit the homes of officials and businessmen to gather intelligence. He suggested she start with Huang Ruoyun, the daughter of the Assistant Magistrate, known for her rivalry with Wang Yueli. At Huang Ruoyun's gathering, Nie Sangyu promoted her Feiwan Face Cream. Wang Yueli arrived uninvited and, seeing Nie Sangyu, demanded to buy all of her cream.
Huang Ruoyun, initially angry at Wang Yueli for crashing her party, noticed her rival’s visibly improved complexion and also insisted on buying the entire stock. This led to a physical struggle between the two, during which Nie Sangyu was caught in the middle and twisted her ankle. Upset that she hadn't sold any cream, Nie Sangyu drank heavily. Ning Yuxuan found her intoxicated and injured and carried her away as she drunkenly babbled about her "treasure"—the cream.
Later, at the newly opened Haoxue Cosmetics Shop, Nie Sangyu celebrated the launch. Ning Yuxuan arrived, proclaiming himself the first customer and symbolically paying with a pearl since he had no money on him. Overjoyed, Nie Sangyu embraced him, exclaiming that her shop was finally open. To celebrate, Nie Sangyu and Ning Yuxuan went out to eat, where they ran into Yuan Lang.
Ning Yuxuan remarked that Yuan Lang’s eyes looked familiar, but Yuan Lang politely denied they had ever met, identifying himself as a traveling merchant. Yuan Lang bonded with Nie Sangyu over their shared taste in food, making a pointed comment about a "free girl" not being confined to a cold mansion. When he ordered shrimp for her, Ning Yuxuan warned her against eating seafood due to her ankle injury.
Yuan Lang countered that everyone has the right to pursue what they like. As Nie Sangyu continued to chat animatedly with Yuan Lang, a displeased Ning Yuxuan abruptly left the table. Back at the residence, a moody Ning Yuxuan asked Gui Bai if the mansion—and by extension, his company—was truly so dreary. When Gui Bai hesitantly agreed, Ning Yuxuan resolved to liven things up and ordered food.
Shortly after, Nie Sangyu returned with a large assortment of his favorite dishes, including pork loin with preserved sausage, beef, roast goose, and smoked fish. Though he initially pretended not to be hungry, Ning Yuxuan stopped Gui Bai from clearing the table and began to eat. Nie Sangyu teased that he looked handsome even when jealous, which he denied.
She then recounted a strange experience at the Precious Treasure Pavilion: the female owner instantly recognized her, offered to buy all her Feiwan Face Cream, and insisted they stay in contact. Suspecting Wang Jinyao might be involved, Ning Yuxuan instructed Gui Bai to monitor the store. Nie Sangyu also added that she noticed the shop's backyard was filled with fragrant and expensive rare flowers.
