Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 2 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
Upon finding Ning Yuxuan unresponsive in a bath, Nie Sangyu helped him to bed and covered him. Discovering he was merely asleep, she spoke to his sleeping form, asserting that the kitchen fire was a setup, as she had been locked in from the outside. She returned to the kitchen ruins and found the burnt door lock and a hairpin used to secure it, solidifying her belief she had been deliberately targeted.
Meanwhile, Gui Bai informed Ning Yuxuan that Nie Sangyu had been searching the fire scene. Ning Yuxuan instructed that everyone be gathered in the main hall. Rumors quickly spread through the mansion that Nie Sangyu had intentionally started the kitchen fire to harm Wen Wan, who resided next door. Nie Sangyu found the rumor ridiculous, pointing out that she had been locked inside the burning building herself.
Earlier, while Ning Yuxuan was still asleep, Wen Wan had visited his room and taken his outer robe. Later, Nie Sangyu encountered Wen Wan, who appeared fearful and claimed Ning Yuxuan had given her his coat to wear. Nie Sangyu, recalling her past act of stabbing Wen Wan, understood the fear and left without a word. Once Nie Sangyu was gone, Wen Wan instructed her maid to secretly return the robe to Ning Yuxuan's room.
Arriving in the main hall, Nie Sangyu was met with trepidation by the servants. She told Ning Yuxuan that she had saved him, but he remained silent, instead questioning why she was at the kitchen in the first place. Feeling unappreciated, Nie Sangyu stated she was simply hungry and looking for food, but admitted she had no proof. The investigation into the fire began.
The head butler, Mr. Liu, explained that outer court servants were under a curfew, leaving only the first-class maids of the inner court—Muxu, Banxia, and Tanxiang—as potential suspects. Muxu had an alibi, while Banxia and Tanxiang denied involvement. Nie Sangyu produced the burnt hairpin and lock, presenting them as evidence of arson. She then bluffed, claiming to have detected a unique scent on the hairpin that matched one of the maids present.
As she feigned pinpointing the individual, Banxia grew visibly nervous. To heighten the pressure, Nie Sangyu asked Mr. Liu to state the punishment for arson according to the harsh family rules she herself had previously established. Mr. Liu confirmed the penalty was to be burned alive. Terrified, Banxia confessed. She explained her resentment stemmed from Nie Sangyu having branded a plum blossom mark onto her shoulder, ruining her body.
Banxia insisted she only intended to scare Nie Sangyu and did not anticipate the fire spreading so intensely, also claiming her mistress, Qian Lianxue, was unaware of her actions. Upon seeing the plum blossom scar, Nie Sangyu expressed genuine remorse, acknowledging the cruelty of her past actions, which she now witnessed firsthand. She apologized to Banxia, admitting her own mistreatment had caused the resentment.
She then apologized to Wen Wan for stabbing her and to all the servants for her past wrongdoings. Declaring that Banxia's actions were a result of her own prior cruelty, she chose not to pursue the matter further and announced the immediate abolition of all the harsh family rules she had enacted. Ning Yuxuan, observing, simply stated that since Nie Sangyu had pardoned Banxia, the matter was closed.
Witnessing the scar, Nie Sangyu decided to find ingredients to make a scar-fading cream for Banxia. Later, Ning Yuxuan discussed Nie Sangyu's sudden change in temperament and sharp wit with Gui Bai, finding it highly unusual. Meanwhile, Wen Wan attempted to get closer to Ning Yuxuan while assisting him, but he gently pushed her away, reminding her that their arrangement was not a real marriage and he would send her away once the current troubles subsided.
Nie Sangyu asked Muxu for her savings, only to find she possessed very little money, as her allowance had been drastically reduced. When she inquired about her dowry, Muxu explained that Nie Sangyu had no dowry because she had married Ning Yuxuan against her family's wishes, deeply angering her father. Muxu then pointed out a box Nie Sangyu highly treasured.
After prying open the lock, Nie Sangyu was dismayed to find it filled entirely with portraits she had painted of Ning Yuxuan, and no money. Nie Sangyu received an invitation from Qian Lianxue, Ning Yuxuan's cousin who resided in the mansion, to dine at Kuixing Restaurant. Qian Lianxue apologized for her maid Banxia's actions. At the restaurant, Nie Sangyu, who was formerly a vegetarian, surprised Qian Lianxue by ordering meat.
They overheard noise and realized Ning Yuxuan was working in the Politics Hall across the street. Qian Lianxue explained that many noble ladies in the capital, captivated by Ning Yuxuan, gathered at this restaurant to catch a glimpse of him—a practice Nie Sangyu herself had started before her marriage. Observing the ladies' fervent interest, Nie Sangyu devised a plan to profit from it.
She returned to the restaurant the next day with her portraits of Ning Yuxuan and successfully auctioned one for a high price, selling others to the eager ladies. Unbeknownst to them, hidden observers plotting against Ning Yuxuan saw this as an opportunity to potentially get close to him through his wife. Nie Sangyu shared a portion of her earnings with Qian Lianxue and used the rest to buy ingredients for the Scar Recovering Cream for Banxia.
Muxu was amazed that Nie Sangyu, who previously didn't even know her way around a kitchen, could now create such a remedy. Nie Sangyu explained she felt responsible for Banxia's injury and didn't want a young woman left with a permanent scar. However, Nie Sangyu's enterprise was short-lived. After ladies were caught sneaking into the mansion to see Ning Yuxuan, he investigated. Gui Bai presented him with a ledger kept by Muxu detailing the payments received.
Ning Yuxuan confronted Nie Sangyu, accusing her of using him to make money. He confiscated all her earnings and placed the mansion under strict lockdown. Despite this setback, Banxia delivered a message from Qian Lianxue: a lady was willing to pay 500 taels for an opportunity to have dinner with Ning Yuxuan, giving Nie Sangyu a new idea. Finding Ning Yuxuan practicing swordsmanship, Nie Sangyu approached him with uncharacteristic affection, calling him "husband" and praising his skill.
She proposed they dine at Kuixing Restaurant, claiming her doctor suggested revisiting familiar places could help her memory recovery. She informed him that she had already made a reservation for them in three days and insisted he accompany her, but Ning Yuxuan flatly refused.
