Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 37 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
Gui Bai arrived and informed Ling Jianxing that Ning Yuxuan had anticipated Lord Tan's scheme and specifically sent him to protect Ling Jianxing. Gui Bai relayed Ning Yuxuan's message: "The tribulations are endless. It is never too late to mend. Don't let the world go into chaos because of your own selfish desires." Ling Jianxing realized that he was ultimately just an abandoned pawn of Lord Tan.
Lord Tan appeared, surprised to see Ning Yuxuan, and accused him of framing him. Ling Jianxing countered that Ning Yuxuan wasn't framing him, as he himself was a witness to Lord Tan's evil deeds. Ling Jianxing exposed Lord Tan's crimes, including embezzling relief funds during the northwest grain disaster and secretly ordering the deaths of the three Haifang magistrates who wouldn't obey him. Lord Tan vehemently denied the accusations, claiming everyone was lying and plotting against him.
Seeing the witness and physical evidence presented, the Emperor asked Lord Tan if he had anything more to say. Lord Tan defiantly claimed the country should have been his, stating that when his power was overwhelming, the Emperor was still a baby. The Emperor commented that Lord Tan had used every means imaginable but ended up like this, stating his belief that the Court of Judicial Review would handle the matter fairly, and ordered Lord Tan taken away.
Lord Tan continued to protest, claiming he was the true ruler. The Emperor then told Ning Yuxuan to handle the remaining matters, stating he needed time alone as the situation with his uncle was unsettling. Ling Jianxing spoke with Ning Yuxuan, reflecting on how they entered the academy and became officials in the same year, yet he had never once won against Ning Yuxuan. He admitted that this obsession was why he had ended up in his current state.
Ning Yuxuan noted Ling Jianxing's contribution in exposing Lord Tan and said the Court of Judicial Review would take it into consideration. Ling Jianxing stated he would reflect deeply on himself in prison. He confessed that his youthful ideal was to work for the welfare of the common people, but he made one wrong step that led to a total loss. He entrusted their original ideal to Ning Yuxuan, urging him not to forget their duty as officials.
The Emperor visited Ji Man in prison. Ji Man knelt and pleaded with the Emperor not to blame Ning Yuxuan, explaining that Ning only learned her true identity and the details of the Tea Gang matter after she was awarded the second-rank lady with imperial mandate. The Emperor revealed that Ning Yuxuan had already confessed about Lord Tan obstructing the Tea Gang's surrender, indicating he knew everything. Ji Man rose, asking if the Emperor no longer blamed Ning Yuxuan.
The Emperor confirmed the Tea Gang matter was resolved, but stated her identity remained an issue. He explained that Ning Yuxuan was currently promoting a new policy in Haifang, holding the Imperial Supplier Contest, and had brought down Lord Tan. These achievements would allow him to smoothly take over the position of Prime Minister. Ji Man acknowledged this, praising Ning Yuxuan's courage and strategy, and expressing her belief that he could become a judicious minister assisting the Emperor.
Therefore, she declared, she wanted to leave Ning Yuxuan. She reasoned that although the Tea Gang issue was public, her true identity and impersonation of Nie Sangyu were known, and the capital valued reputation and background highly. If Ning Yuxuan were associated with her, it would be detrimental to his status and career and cause the Emperor trouble.
She implored the Emperor to trust Ning Yuxuan and not be suspicious of him because of her identity, asking for the Emperor's permission to leave. The Emperor praised her as a reasonable woman and told her to decide what to do next. Ji Man thanked him.
Alone, Ji Man thought that leaving Ning Yuxuan was the best choice for him to become Prime Minister, wondering if he would blame her, if he could wait for her, and wishing she could see him one last time. Qingyun went looking for Tao Siwei. She had heard in the market that her sister was impersonated and learned that Tao Siwei had taken the imposter to jail after the contest, which he confirmed was the Emperor's order.
She realized why the person she thought was her sister had felt different lately. She concluded that her sister had died long ago, and Tao Siwei had known all along but didn't tell her. She then understood why he had asked her to get Ji Man to rewrite a poem her sister had written – he used the handwriting to expose Ji Man's identity to the Emperor.
Tao Siwei confirmed this, stating he shouldn't have hesitated, as he believed Ji Man had killed Sangyu and deserved to pay the price. Qingyun argued that Ji Man couldn't be that kind of person. Tao Siwei grew angry, accusing Ji Man of using her sister's identity to deceive everyone and becoming a lady with imperial mandate, enjoying everything that should have belonged to Nie Sangyu, whose body was still missing.
Qingyun then tearfully asked if the lantern with the character "Nie" he had released was for Nie Sangyu, realizing he had loved her sister all along. She was heartbroken, having believed that if she treated him wholeheartedly, she would become the only one in his life, only to find he loved her sister. She asked if he had agreed to marry her only to fulfill her sister's wish, which he confirmed.
He admitted he thought he could change and come to love her after marriage but was wrong and couldn't do it. Qingyun declared that looking at him now made her feel disgusted, calling his love a one-man show and regretting her sincere feelings. She stated that her love for him was not her everything. Tao Siwei apologized for failing her. Later, Tao Siwei went to the prison to take Ji Man away.
He remarked on how identical she looked, saying it was no wonder everyone was fooled. He told her to come with him to see the Emperor, who wanted to interrogate her personally. Ji Man questioned if he had received a direct order from the Emperor, pointing out that falsely conveying an imperial edict was a crime. Tao Siwei dismissively replied that since she could deceive the Emperor, he could also falsely convey an imperial edict.
Shortly after, Ning Yuxuan arrived at the prison, asking for Nie Sangyu. A guard informed him that General Tao had taken the suspect Nie Sangyu away, saying the Emperor wanted to interrogate her, and they had gone north. Ning Yuxuan immediately realized something was wrong and set off in pursuit. Ji Man left red beads along the path as she was taken away. Ning Yuxuan followed her trail, using the beads she left behind.
As they traveled, Ji Man told Tao Siwei she thought he would at least consider his long-standing friendship with Ning Yuxuan. Tao Siwei bitterly retorted that if Ning Yuxuan truly considered him a friend, he wouldn't have lied to him for so long.
He revealed that he had known her identity since the day she was at the Magistrate's Residence and had deliberately tested her, adding that if she had been the real Sangyu, he wouldn't have needed to test her. He expressed disbelief that she was still alive after committing the crime of deceiving the Emperor and assumed she believed the Emperor's supposed order would save her. He declared that she had lied not only to him but also to Sangyu.
He recounted growing up with Sangyu, being happy to see her and Ning Yuxuan together, and his immense grief when he learned she was dead. He revealed that he had gone to the cliff that day to save her. Ning Yuxuan arrived, calling out to them. Tao Siwei yelled at Ning Yuxuan to stay back. Ning Yuxuan urged Tao Siwei to stop being obsessive and let Ji Man go.
Tao Siwei stated his life felt like a ridiculous mistake, saying he had made one wrong step after another, dragging others down and losing himself. He then pulled Ji Man with him and jumped off the cliff. Ning Yuxuan lunged forward, reaching out and calling Ji Man's name, but was unable to grasp her. Gui Bai arrived, and Ning Yuxuan frantically ordered everyone to search for her.
Ji Man was swept downstream and eventually woke up, finding Tao Siwei's lifeless body beside her. Meanwhile, downstream, Gui Bai and the search party found some of Ji Man's clothing. They reported this grim discovery to Ning Yuxuan, expressing fear that she might not have survived the rapids. Ning Yuxuan was heartbroken and ordered the search to continue relentlessly.
Back at Haoxue Cosmetics, Shui Yaomei comforted Lianxue, who was distraught because Ning Yuxuan had searched the entire mountain without finding Ji Man. Shui Yaomei reassured her, saying that sometimes no news was the best news, and that they must keep Haoxue Cosmetics running well so that when Ji Man returned, she would see it was still the champion shop from the Imperial Supplier Contest. At the Magistrate's Residence, the staff were packing up.
Gui Bai informed Ning Yuxuan that the search was ongoing, but the Emperor had issued an imperial edict ordering him to depart for the capital immediately. Ning Yuxuan asked for more time, but Gui Bai emphasized the urgency of the Emperor's command. Ning Yuxuan stood outside the residence for a long time, waiting in vain, before finally having to leave with Gui Bai and his retinue.
Ji Man ran back to the Magistrate's Residence, arriving just as Ning Yuxuan's group was departing. She watched them leave from a distance. She then entered the familiar residence and went to a tree, touching its trunk. She spoke softly, expressing her deep sadness that she had returned but Ning Yuxuan was gone, calling him a "bad guy" and telling him to go far away and watch the stars alone from now on.
She lamented that she wished she could have caught up to him but couldn't, fearing that if she saw him, she wouldn't be able to bear leaving. She reflected that true love is not possession, but fulfillment. She mourned the numerous memories they shared there, wishing they could return to the first day they arrived. She referenced the stars Shenxiu and Shangxiu, which can never meet but always know of each other's existence.
She also recalled a past moment where Ning Yuxuan named her "Hongzhu" because she liked beads, and called himself "Lanzhu" (meaning lazy pig), promising that her "Hongzhu" would fly freely while his "Lanzhu" would always hold the blue bead, symbolizing their connection despite distance.
