Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 32 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
The Imperial Supplier Contest commenced, judged by public vote. Miss Shui expressed confidence in the popularity and effectiveness of their Feiwan Face Cream, anticipating victory but also Ruyue's potential schemes. Ji Man maintained that regardless of tactics, the quality of the product would speak for itself.
As people initially flocked to Haoxue Cosmetics' booth, Ruyue's Joy Cosmetics offered a promotion: free samples of their new Moon Face Cream and a 50% discount for a year for those who voted for them, effectively drawing customers away. The testers examined both products and found Moon Face Cream and Feiwan Face Cream to be nearly identical in texture and feel. To differentiate them, they requested both owners publicly disclose their formulas.
An objection was raised, finding it inappropriate to reveal proprietary research. Ling Jianxing challenged Ji Man, asking if she was afraid. Ji Man agreed to provide her formula but insisted it only be shown privately to the selection officer, a condition Ruyue also accepted. After comparing the submitted formulas, the officer found the base ingredients of both face creams to be the same.
However, Moon Face Cream included an additional expensive medicinal material, powdered rhinoceros horn, which gave it a stronger fragrance but increased production cost. The official concluded that Moon Face Cream's formula was superior due to this additional ingredient. Ruyue then offered Ji Man some of her Moon Face Cream, taking the opportunity to emphasize the unique ingredient. Ji Man's team (or an associate) then directly accused Ruyue of copying their formula, citing Feiwan Face Cream's long-standing popularity.
Ruyue's servant asserted that the people of Haoxue Cosmetics were shielding each other and cautioned Ning Yuxuan, as Ji Man's husband and a contest official, against favoritism. Others suggested the final decision rest on the public vote for the preliminary round. The public vote for the preliminary round then commenced. Ruyue's Joy Cosmetics garnered more votes and won the first round. Ning Yuxuan, however, cast his vote for Ji Man.
After all other votes were submitted, Ling Jianxing publicly announced his vote for Feiwan Face Cream, remarking on Ning Yuxuan's evident support for his wife. Ning Yuxuan clarified that his vote was for justice, not favoritism, stating that unfair practices might succeed temporarily but would not ultimately prevail. After losing the first round, Ji Man and her team discussed the situation. They acknowledged that Ruyue had likely copied the Feiwan formula without them knowing.
They realized that Ning Yuxuan's position as a contest official and his revealed relationship with Ji Man made it difficult for him to overtly intervene on their behalf. Accepting the loss in the first round, they decided to focus their efforts on the remaining two rounds. The second round, based on production output, seemed manageable. For the third round, requiring a new product formula, Ji Man had nascent ideas and asked her assistant, Muxu, to purchase raw materials.
Miss Shui comforted Ji Man, encouraging her to look ahead. Later, Miss Shui encountered Mr. Qian, her former fiancé, who was attempting to force her to return with him. He had previously only been interested in her family's ancestral secret formula. When she refused and accused him of his true motives, he became aggressive. Gui Bai intervened, protecting Miss Shui.
Mr. Qian insulted Miss Shui, calling her a mere singer, and Gui Bai, a servant, suggesting he was her new lover. Miss Shui slapped Mr. Qian, declaring that singers and servants were far superior to a villain like him. Mr. Qian left, threatening them. Following this encounter, Shui Yiqing visited Ji Man and gave her a package. It contained her family's ancestral secret prescription for traumatic medicine.
She explained that her family in the capital used to run a pharmacy and her father had left this formula to her. She noted that the formula's effects were remarkably similar to Scar Recovering Cream and hoped it might aid Ji Man in developing her new product for the contest. Ji Man was hesitant to accept such a valuable family heirloom, but Miss Shui insisted, wanting to contribute to Haoxue Cosmetics' fight against Ruyue, especially after the first round loss.
Ji Man accepted, thanking Miss Shui for her trust and promising to work diligently on a new product, vowing that Haoxue Cosmetics would ultimately succeed. Separately, Ruyue's servant, Lan'er, who witnessed the argument between Mr. Qian and Miss Shui, reported back to Ruyue. Ruyue summoned Mr. Qian. She offered him some Moon Face Cream for the redness on his face and expressed her opinion that the women of Haoxue Cosmetics were malicious.
Mr. Qian agreed and confirmed Miss Shui was a descendant of a prisoner and possessed a unique ancestral secret formula for traumatic medicine. Ruyue immediately saw potential in incorporating this formula into a face cream. Mr. Qian expressed difficulty obtaining it due to his current strained relationship with Miss Shui and Gui Bai's protection of her. Ruyue dismissed his concerns and promised to introduce him to Ling Jianxing after he successfully obtained the formula.
Mr. Qian gratefully accepted, pledging his utmost effort. Meanwhile, Ning Yuxuan had a private discussion with his subordinate, revealing his suspicions about Ling Jianxing's extensive knowledge of the Tea Gang and other hidden forces. He instructed his subordinate to investigate Ling Jianxing further to escape his coercion.
He also discussed a plan with another subordinate, involving external merchant ships cooperating with the Jiaolong Gang to stage a fake robbery, in order to assist the Jiaolong Gang leader in dealings with Ling Jianxing. Later, Ning Yuxuan received a message from Qin Yixian, stating he was in danger at Joy Cosmetics and requesting urgent help. Ning Yuxuan went to Ruyue's shop, where he found Qin Yixian on the roof.
Qin Yixian explained Ruyue had summoned him earlier that day to repair the roof, which she claimed had crooked beams, and then insisted Ning Yuxuan also come because she considered him the most upright and discerning person in Haifang. Ning Yuxuan noted he was unable to repair beams and had other commitments. Ruyue arrived and complained to Ning Yuxuan about the supposedly crooked beams despite Qin Yixian working all day.
Ning Yuxuan found the beams looked fine, but Qin Yixian sided with Ruyue, claiming they all had issues. Ning Yuxuan remarked that the problem might stem from the "upper beam not being straight" (a subtle jab at Ruyue) but agreed to supervise the repair. Ruyue invited them to a banquet to thank them, but Ning Yuxuan declined, citing prior engagements.
Ruyue insisted the roof wasn't properly inspected and ordered everyone present to climb onto the roof and check, threatening punishment if they didn't find fault. The workers rushed onto the roof, causing it to collapse, damaging Ruyue's herbs below. Furious, Ruyue ordered the workers flogged. Ning Yuxuan intervened, pointing out Ruyue had ordered them onto the roof. He changed their punishment to continuing the repairs, estimating it would take at least a month to fix the large hole.
Ruyue accused him of intentionally sabotaging her business in retaliation for her victory. Ning Yuxuan denied involving his wife and reiterated that he and Qin Yixian were there because she asked for help. He left, instructing the workers to continue repairs until the roof was fixed. During this time, Ji Man was out buying things and overheard townspeople gossiping about Ning Yuxuan helping Ruyue and rumors of marital discord between him and Ji Man.
Ji Man later met with Tao Siwei. She pressed him about his feelings for Qingyun, emphasizing the importance of his decision for both of them and noting how evident Qingyun's affection for him was. Tao Siwei responded that he was someone who committed to only one person and kept his promises. Ji Man urged him to face his feelings, telling him she knew he was just afraid to take the step.
She expressed her strong desire for him and Qingyun to be together and happy, seeing it as her own happiness as well. Tao Siwei finally declared his intention to marry Qingyun, promising to treat her well, protect her lifelong, ensure she wouldn't suffer any injustice, and never take a concubine. Qingyun, who had been nearby, overheard his declaration.
She ran out, emotionally asked if he was serious since her sister Ji Man was present, and then happily embraced him, saying she knew he would eventually care for her. Later that night, Ning Yuxuan returned home late. Ji Man was waiting for him. He noticed her late return, asking if she had been busy. Ji Man acknowledged his own strenuous efforts with the Imperial Supplier Contest and the roof repairs at Ruyue's shop. Ning Yuxuan began to explain his reasons, but Ji Man interrupted, acknowledging she already knew about it and told him he didn't need to explain.
