Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 38 (Ending) Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
Ji Man returned, much to the immense relief of her father, who had been deeply worried about her uncertain fate. Seeing her injured, her father was concerned, but Ji Man reassured him she was fine. She explained to her father that her return could not be revealed to Ning Yuxuan yet. Her identity as a stand-in wife, exposed during the Imperial Supplier Contest, was now widely known.
As Ning Yuxuan was set to become a high-ranking official (Pingzhang), with many eyes on him in the capital, any association with her would put him in danger. Her father offered to take her away and support her forever, dismissing her background as irrelevant. However, Ji Man felt it was time to grow up and not constantly rely on his protection. She planned to venture out, seek business opportunities in Yunzhou, and do something beneficial for the people.
She decided to leave the management of Haoxue Cosmetics to Miss Shui, instructing Sang Shen and Muxu to organize the supplier lists and circulating funds for the handover. She also requested they not inform Miss Shui of her return yet, to avoid causing her difficulty. Although sad to see her leave again, her father accepted her decision. Ji Man promised to make him proud upon her return, and he affirmed she had always been his pride.
A year later, an urgent letter from Haifang arrived for Ning Yuxuan in the capital. Gui Bai, who had remained in Haifang searching for Ji Man and was now married, had written the letter. He reported that Haifang was suffering from a severe flood, cutting off the grain supply. Violent sea storms made transportation by boat impossible, leading to widespread starvation. Both Gui Bai and his wife were deeply troubled and pleaded for aid to save the people.
Upon receiving the news, Ning Yuxuan immediately decided to depart for Haifang the next day, despite his busy schedule. He reflected that Haifang held many shared memories, making him hesitant to visit for the past year, but seeing it in distress, the place where they had invested so much effort, he knew he had to go, both for the sake of the people and for its significance to him.
Arriving in Haifang, Ning Yuxuan met with Gui Bai, Miss Shui, and Yuan Lang to discuss the crisis. Yuan Lang, an old acquaintance and leader of the Dragon Gang, was also present, having been instrumental in coordinating grain transportation for disaster relief. Ning Yuxuan stated that he had reported the situation to the Emperor before leaving, and royal relief funds and grain were expected to arrive in a few days.
However, Miss Shui stressed the urgency, fearing people would starve if the immediate grain shortage wasn't addressed. She explained that the flood had drastically reduced local grain output, and persistent sea storms prevented outside ships from bringing supplies. Ning Yuxuan mentioned he had money but buying sufficient grain from surrounding equally affected areas was difficult.
Miss Shui then recalled receiving a letter half a month prior from Ma Hongzhu, the owner of Ma's Firm, an established grain merchant from Hengdu, who offered to transport grain to Haifang for free. Considering the travel time, the convoy should be arriving soon. Ning Yuxuan immediately dispatched men to meet the convoy outside the city and ensure its safe entry into Haifang.
As the convoy approached Haifang, Ma Hongzhu, who was indeed Ji Man in disguise, encountered a group of desperate disaster victims. She ordered the convoy to stop and distribute food to them. While they were distributing the rations, a suspicious disaster victim slipped away. Shortly after, the convoy was attacked by bandits attempting to rob the grain. Ning Yuxuan and his group arrived just in time and subdued the robbers.
A member of the convoy explained that their boss, Ma Hongzhu, had anticipated the robbery and used empty carriages as a decoy, while the real grain had already been successfully transported into Haifang. Later, while distributing grain in the city, Ji Man saw Ning Yuxuan. They exchanged an emotional look. Local residents, receiving the grain, recognized Ning Yuxuan and fondly recalled when his wife (referring to Ji Man) helped with "Feiwan Cream" at Haoxue Cosmetics.
They expressed admiration for their relationship and assumed she was with him. Ji Man and Ning Yuxuan found a moment to speak. Ji Man explained she had been lucky to survive her fall, and then sought out her father, also visiting the Magistrate's Residence. She apologized, but Ning Yuxuan felt he was the one who should apologize. Ji Man told him she owed him an explanation for leaving a year ago.
She revealed she knew he would become a high-ranking official (Pingzhang) after the Emperor visited him in prison, and she had to leave to avoid implicating him. She had told her father it was time to venture out on her own, and reflected that her year of independent endeavors had been worthwhile. Ning Yuxuan playfully teased her about her new name, "Ma Hongzhu," finding it amusing.
As they spoke, they looked at the small beads they wore, and both were moved to tears. In the capital, the Emperor received a report detailing Ning Yuxuan's successful disaster relief efforts in Haifang, mentioning his collaboration with the merchant Ma Hongzhu. The report identified Ma Hongzhu as Ji Man. The Emperor confirmed he recognized her true identity and was pleased with Ning Yuxuan's fruitful trip, specifically delighted by Ji Man's return.
He ordered both Ning Yuxuan and Ma Hongzhu summoned to the capital to be rewarded for their contributions in Haifang. Ning Yuxuan presented himself before the Emperor, who expressed relief that the crisis was resolved and offered him a reward. Ning Yuxuan declined, stating it was his duty. The Emperor observed Ning Yuxuan's gaunt appearance and noted he shouldn't live in the past forever.
He then informed Ning Yuxuan he had found a virtuous folk woman, who was benevolent and loved the people, deeming her a suitable match. He had bestowed upon her the title Lady Dehui and decided to grant a marriage between them. Ning Yuxuan immediately refused, stating he had no plans to marry.
When the Emperor pressed him, Ning Yuxuan revealed that the merchant Ma Hongzhu, who brought the crucial grain to Haifang, was none other than Ji Man, who had survived. He praised her vital contribution, prompting the Emperor to acknowledge her survival and her help, mentioning he had already ordered a reward of five hundred taels of silver for her.
Ning Yuxuan then firmly stated that no matter how good Lady Dehui was, she could not compare to Ji Man in his heart, and he would not marry anyone else, requesting the Emperor withdraw the decree. The Emperor, deeply disappointed, insisted he must marry Lady Dehui and ordered him confined to his mansion until the wedding.
While confined, Ning Yuxuan reflected on a past conversation with Ji Man about the significance of the beads they wore: one blue for him, one red for her, each representing a hundred guan of money exchanged, to be placed in a box if one contributed more or taken out if one wronged the other. Ji Man had affectionately called them stars, destined to never meet. On the day of the wedding, Ning Yuxuan was at his mansion.
His friends, including Qian Lianxue, arrived to persuade him. Ning Yuxuan, trapped inside, asked them to help him escape by swapping clothes, adamant that he would not go through with the marriage. His friends questioned if he was willing to sacrifice his ambition and career. He stated he was, to which they warned that defying the Emperor could lead to Ji Man being implicated.
They urged him to consider the larger picture and accept that this was an imperial decree they couldn't help him evade. They mentioned Lady Dehui's beauty, virtuous deeds, and the Emperor's high regard for her, which was why the marriage was bestowed. They pressed him to change clothes as time was running out, but Ning Yuxuan repeatedly refused, resolute in his decision not to marry. At that moment, Ji Man appeared, dressed in a wedding gown.
She asked Ning Yuxuan if he was truly unwilling to marry her. The scene then shifted to an earlier conversation between Ji Man and the Emperor. Ji Man explained she had spent a year striving to be worthy of standing legitimately beside Ning Yuxuan and requested the Emperor's help to fulfill this goal, reminding him of a past commitment she had upheld.
The Emperor replied that he had already granted her wish and that Lady Dehui was the title he had bestowed upon her. He told her she hadn't disappointed him and that he had a great surprise for them. The scene returned to the wedding. Ji Man, in her bridal attire, looked at Ning Yuxuan and asked again if he was sure he didn't want to marry her.
She reminded him of his promise that she was his wife and insisted he not go back on his word. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ning Yuxuan embraced her, declaring that he would never break his promise and that they would never be separated again.
