The Romance of Hua Rong 2 Episode 22 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong 2 Recap
While drinking, Zhang Xian commented to Qian Dayou that Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong had finally resolved their issues, bringing peace of mind to everyone. Qian Dayou declared that Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong were an inseparable couple, bound by deep affection. Zhang Xian was surprised to see Qian Dayou return to his usual self, noting that Qian Dayou’s previous act was for the Sixth Princess.
He questioned whether the act had worked, pointing out that if the princess loved an artificial persona, it wouldn't be the real Qian Dayou she cherished. Qian Dayou, with a melancholic sigh, admitted he knew this. He admired the Sixth Princess for her kindness, charm, and sense of justice, finding her unlike any other princess. Despite his own excellence, he felt unworthy of her and wondered how he could change himself.
Zhang Xian reminded him of his promise to confess to her after Qin Shangcheng’s matters were settled and urged him to try. Qian Dayou confessed his fear, explaining that when he truly cared for someone, he became overly anxious about gains and losses, dreading a rejection that might even cost him his role as her "donkey." He then stated he didn't care about pretending to be reserved or cold, as long as it pleased the princess.
Just then, the Sixth Princess arrived, having overheard his confession. Qian Dayou, flustered, tried to dismiss his words as drunken nonsense, but the princess admonished him, saying a man must stand by his words. She then leaned in and kissed him, stunning both Qian Dayou and Zhang Xian.
The Sixth Princess declared her affection, explaining she loved him for protecting her in life-or-death situations, for being the Qian Dayou willing to sacrifice for her, and for his unwavering loyalty to his Lord. She then officially promoted him from her "little donkey" to her favorite "horse." Zhang Xian jokingly asked what kind of horse, and a delighted Qian Dayou, sweeping the princess into his arms, exclaimed, "A consort, of course!" Meanwhile, Qin Shangcheng prepared to pursue Yi Feichi.
His shadow guards had located bloody gauze and medicine residue in a ruined temple near Chunhui Hall, confirming Yi Feichi's presence there, though he was currently out buying medicine. The guards were already ambushed. Qin Shangcheng declared they would depart immediately. Hua Rong and Zhang Xian held back, realizing that Qin Shangcheng was being followed by Prince Mu's Residence's shadow guards, which could expose their true intentions.
Hua Rong reassured Zhang Xian that with their compass, they would find Yi Feichi without risking exposure. Jin Tong, the Young General and Wanjiang's peace talk representative, was informed that Hua Rong was following Qin Shangcheng south. Jin Tong, whose cousin Duanmu Qingcang praised Qin Shangcheng, acknowledged the South Desolation Prince’s efficiency. Qin Shangcheng soon caught up with Yi Feichi. Yi Feichi, recognizing Qin Shangcheng as the betrayer of Tianchu, defiantly claimed to have already destroyed the cannon drawing.
Qin Shangcheng calmly retorted that Yi Feichi himself was the living drawing and ordered him seized. Hua Rong then appeared, asserting that Yi Feichi, as a Tianchu citizen, belonged with her. Qin Shangcheng questioned how she found them. Qian Dayou explained they followed Qin Shangcheng, noting that despite their feigned discord, Hua Rong knew Qin Shangcheng well, and following him was the easiest way to find Yi Feichi. Fuqin intervened, chastising them for speaking disrespectfully of the Crown Prince.
Qin Shangcheng maintained that he had promised his father to bring Yi Feichi back, and would not yield on this matter, prompting Hua Rong to draw her sword. Just as a confrontation seemed imminent, Jin Tong arrived, stating that Little Rice Cake had seen Hua Rong heading there, and he came out of concern for her safety. Jin Tong proposed that since all three nations had captured Yi Feichi, they should jointly interrogate him in a neutral location.
Both Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong agreed, and they proceeded to Liuyun Pavilion. At Liuyun Pavilion, Yi Feichi complained that drawing the intricate cannon diagram required immense focus, and the presence of so many people made him too stressed to draw. Qin Shangcheng suggested that pressure could also be a motivator. Hua Rong then publicly challenged Qin Shangcheng, declaring that Yi Feichi was Tianchu's responsibility, not South Desolation's. Qin Shangcheng retorted, questioning her constant opposition.
Hua Rong asserted her role as Tianchu's peace talk representative, emphasizing their enemy status. Qian Dayou observed that their sharp words and clashing gazes were merely a facade for flirting, masterfully portraying a discordant couple. Sixth Princess, playing along, expressed pity for Hua Rong, whose love was supposedly misplaced on Qin Shangcheng, the man who had tragically killed her father. She painted Qin Shangcheng as a handsome but treacherous betrayer of his country, abandoning his wife and killing his father-in-law.
Fuqin interrupted, urging them to focus on making Yi Feichi cooperate. Hua Rong proposed a rotating, intensive interrogation. Jin Tong suggested he and Hua Rong form a team. However, Hua Rong insisted on inter-nation balance, pairing Qin Shangcheng with Jin Tong, and Fuqin with herself. She stated that whoever obtained the drawing first should inform everyone immediately. Fuqin agreed to the arrangement but doubted Yi Feichi would easily yield.
During the interrogation, Yi Feichi remained unyielding, asserting his scholarly integrity prevented him from betraying his country. He claimed to be hungry and rejected Hua Rong's metaphorical offer of "bear's heart and leopard's gall." He vowed to take the drawing to his grave rather than surrender it. Frustrated, Qian Dayou urged Qin Shangcheng to kill him, arguing it would still bring peace. Yi Feichi remained defiant, believing they wouldn't dare. Qin Shangcheng, however, ordered him killed.
Panicked, Yi Feichi immediately agreed to draw the cannon diagram. Qian Dayou secretly celebrated his "decisive strike" that forced Yi Feichi to cooperate without Jin Tong or Fuqin realizing Yi Feichi's true allegiance to Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong. Later, Qin Shangcheng sent a message to Hua Rong, informing her that Yi Feichi was almost finished with the drawing and that Fuqin planned to make her move that night. Hua Rong instructed everyone to follow their plan.
As planned, Yi Feichi incapacitated Fuqin. Meanwhile, Qian Dayou, Zhang Xian, and the Sixth Princess were supposedly monitoring Jin Tong, though Qian Dayou was distracted, leading to a comedic argument about keeping watch. Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong then met Yi Feichi near a dry well, which was a secret passage leading out of the city, where General Yan Qing would meet him. Yi Feichi commended their convincing act, admitting he was almost fooled.
He explained his caution, trusting Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong but not Yan Qing, whom he hadn't met. To protect himself, he entrusted half of the cannon drawing to Qin Shangcheng, telling him to give it to Yan Qing and inform him that Yi Feichi held the other half. This way, Yan Qing could report back, and Yi Feichi would have leverage. Qin Shangcheng agreed, and Yi Feichi, after five years away, expressed joy at finally going home.
Qin Shangcheng wished him a safe journey. After Yi Feichi's departure, Hua Rong asked Qin Shangcheng if their act should now conclude. Qin Shangcheng decided it was best for him to remain with Duanmu Qingcang until the trilateral peace talks agreement was signed, to better protect them all. Hua Rong worried about Duanmu Qingcang's potential wrath, but Qin Shangcheng was confident no evidence would link him. Hua Rong agreed to continue the charade.
Soon after, General Yan Qing sent word to Hua Rong that Yi Feichi had been killed at the tunnel exit, and the other half of the cannon drawing was missing. Hua Rong immediately confronted Qian Dayou, Zhang Xian, and the Sixth Princess, demanding to know what happened, suspecting Jin Tong. Qian Dayou insisted Jin Tong never left his room, appearing to read all night.
Zhang Xian quickly realized Jin Tong must have used a trick, as no one reads without moving or turning pages. Qian Dayou and the Sixth Princess admitted they were distracted, with Qian Dayou humorously claiming his shoulder was too comforting and the princess's sleeping posture too charming. Hua Rong, realizing Jin Tong's deception, decided to implement a new plan.
She instructed Qian Dayou to inform Qin Shangcheng to claim he killed Yi Feichi and obtained half of the cannon drawing, thereby earning Duanmu Qingcang’s trust. Hua Rong then directly confronted Jin Tong, accusing him of killing Yi Feichi. Qian Dayou and the Sixth Princess, covering for Jin Tong, swore he never left his room.
Hua Rong feigned belief and apologized to Jin Tong, but then cleverly shifted suspicion to Qin Shangcheng, expressing fierce anger and suggesting he was the murderer. Simultaneously, Qin Shangcheng presented the fake half-drawing to Duanmu Qingcang, claiming he killed Yi Feichi as he was about to destroy the diagram at the tunnel exit. Duanmu Qingcang questioned why only half a drawing was retrieved.
Qin Shangcheng explained Yi Feichi had only that half, with the other half undoubtedly in Hua Rong's possession since she rescued him. He then feigned anger, accusing Duanmu Qingcang of mistrust, and blaming Fuqin for interfering without permission, thereby ruining his original plan to retrieve the full drawing. Fuqin, playing her part, took responsibility and apologized, offering to accept punishment.
Duanmu Qingcang, valuing her usefulness, spared her life but ordered her to assist Qin Shangcheng and never act on her own initiative. Qin Shangcheng then made a request: after this matter, Duanmu Qingcang should no longer trouble Hua Rong, wishing for her and their child to live in peace. Duanmu Qingcang agreed, conditional on Qin Shangcheng securing the complete cannon drawing.
Jin Tong, informed of the latest developments, celebrated his success in obtaining half the drawing and shifting the blame to Qin Shangcheng. He anticipated watching Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong's conflict, intending to reap benefits. However, he remained wary, suspecting Hua Rong's sincerity. He ordered his subordinate, Wu Ren, to closely monitor Hua Rong, emphasizing his cautious nature in never underestimating an opponent.
Later, Hua Rong discussed the ongoing charade with the Sixth Princess, acknowledging Jin Tong's cunning nature and predicting he wouldn't be easily fooled. She explained that their play was only half complete, and Qin Shangcheng would have to perform his part to "reassert marital authority." Hua Rong revealed that the "marriage certificate" they would tear was a fake, bearing the handprints of Qian Dayou and the Sixth Princess, while her real one was safe.
Qin Shangcheng agreed to finish the act, assuring Hua Rong, who was pregnant, that he would handle the heavier aspects of their "fight." They then began a dramatic public quarrel in their chambers, shouting, smashing objects, and loudly declaring a divorce, culminating in the tearing of the fake marriage certificate. Afterwards, they exited the room, pointedly avoiding eye contact, convincing onlookers like Wu Ren and Fuqin that their marital rift was real.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Grandmother returned to the palace and was furious upon learning of Duanmu Bai's disappearance and Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong's marital issues, which Duanmu Qingcang had hidden from her. She chided him for his negligence and ordered Qin Shangcheng and Hua Rong to present themselves before her immediately. In a separate development, Duanmu Bai, able to get out of bed, tried to leave with a crutch.
Chihong intervened, discarding his crutch and offering herself as his support, refusing to let him leave. She proceeded to treat his injured leg with acupuncture, a technique she had diligently learned from Hua Sanlang. Duanmu Bai, noticing her precise movements, soon realized the red marks on her arm were from practicing the needles on herself, countless times, demonstrating her profound dedication to his recovery. Chihong instructed him to undergo the silver needle acupuncture three times daily and promised to return at noon.
