The Romance of Hua Rong Episode 16 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong Recap
Jin Yiwen arrived with Lai Sheng to intervene, protecting Hua Rong and Lu Wanwan from soldiers who accused them of forging tickets for Prince Jin's Mansion. Qin Shang Cheng, who had just rushed to save Hua Rong, watched the scene unfold. Jin Yiwen asserted that Hua Rong was from his mansion and took them away, much to Qin Shang Cheng's attendant Qian Dayou's frustration.
Later, back in the selection hall, Qin Shang Cheng learned that Jin Yiwen was the Second Lord of Prince Jin's Mansion, a powerful figure highly favored by Prince Jin, despite Qian Dayou's dismissive remarks. Qin Shang Cheng then observed Hua Rong and Lu Wanwan, now in female attire, joining Jin Yiwen at a table. Jin Yiwen attentively offered Hua Rong various delicacies, and she reciprocated, serving him food and pouring him wine.
This display clearly irritated Qin Shang Cheng, who struggled to conceal his jealousy. The Wanshang Conference then officially began with an announcement of the rules. The competition would consist of three parts: a literary challenge, a martial arts contest, and a mysterious fence-off. The champion would receive a white jade and marry Lu Wanwan. Hua Rong was particularly interested in the white jade, aware of its connection to a treasure map.
She privately asked Jin Yiwen if he was participating to marry the "first beauty of Wan Jiang." Jin Yiwen denied it, explaining his participation was due to his sick brother and his father's request. He then revealed that Lu Wanwan, sitting next to them, was the true "first beauty of Wan Jiang," not the one presented earlier.
Jin Yiwen confessed his true motive was to win the white jade, which he believed contained half of a treasure map, intending to distribute any discovered riches to the people. Hua Rong admired his kindness, and they toasted. The nominees were then announced, including Jin Yiwen and Situ Cheng (Qin Shang Cheng's disguise). Later, Jin Yiwen invited Qin Shang Cheng for a private tea, expressing gratitude for a precious pill Qin Shang Cheng had sent that saved his mother's life.
Qin Shang Cheng dismissed the thanks, instead urging Jin Yiwen not to involve Hua Rong in the competition. Jin Yiwen, however, pressed Qin Shang Cheng about his true reasons for participating in the son-in-law selection. Qin Shang Cheng retorted it was none of his business. Jin Yiwen promised not to reveal Qin Shang Cheng's identity but warned him that if he ever harmed or abandoned Hua Rong, Jin Yiwen would relentlessly pursue her.
Qin Shang Cheng confidently dismissed the threat, asserting he would defeat Jin Yiwen again. Lu Wanwan, meanwhile, convinced Hua Rong to move into Prince Jin's Mansion with her, suggesting it would help them strategize and evade Qin Shang Cheng. Jin Yiwen's attendant, Lai Sheng, confirmed that Jin Yiwen believed the mansion would be safer for "Miss Lian" (Lu Wanwan's alias). Hua Rong agreed to the move, and Qin Shang Cheng was soon informed of their departure.
Separately, a mysterious figure met with President Lu, who handed over the nominee list. President Lu, concerned about his daughter Lu Wanwan, was cooperating under the false belief that she had been kidnapped, hoping to lure out Hero Yunhe. The mysterious figure, however, was aware of Hero Yunhe's disguised identity. Jin Yiwen showed Hua Rong and Lu Wanwan to a courtyard he had prepared for them, revealing he had moved to a smaller one himself.
Hua Rong felt apologetic and offered to switch, but Jin Yiwen insisted they stay, making them feel at home. He then made a grand declaration, promising to do everything in his power to help Hua Rong achieve her dreams, whether winning the competition or adventuring as "Heroine Huahua." Hua Rong, uncomfortable with his fervent display, quickly excused herself. While exploring the mansion, Lu Wanwan playfully teased Hua Rong about potentially becoming the Prince's consort.
Hua Rong clarified she had no such interest, leading Lu Wanwan to implicitly reveal her own intentions towards Jin Yiwen. Soon after, Qin Shang Cheng arrived at a pavilion in the mansion. When Hua Rong and Lu Wanwan entered, Hua Rong expressed annoyance at Qin Shang Cheng having found her. Qin Shang Cheng playfully reasserted his claim over her. Just then, Jin Yiwen arrived, displeased, and confronted Qin Shang Cheng, accusing him of harassment.
Qin Shang Cheng maintained his disguise as Situ Cheng, the perfume supplier, but Qian Dayou inadvertently revealed that Qin Shang Cheng was simply "chatting with his wife," much to Jin Yiwen's chagrin. The First Lord, Jin Yiwen's elder brother, then entered, acknowledging Qin Shang Cheng by his Situ Cheng persona. At dinner, the First Lord noticed the familiarity between Qin Shang Cheng and Jin Yiwen.
Qin Shang Cheng skillfully fabricated a story about encountering Jin Yiwen while seeking herbs and how Jin Yiwen helped him salvage "goods" from the water. Hua Rong bristled at being referred to as "goods." The First Lord then presented Qin Shang Cheng with a sachet containing a costly Lingxiang herb, explaining that his wife's insomnia had worsened despite using it. He asked Qin Shang Cheng, as a perfume expert, to examine it.
Hua Rong, fearing Qin Shang Cheng's ignorance of perfumes would expose him, feigned an allergy to create a diversion. However, Qin Shang Cheng confidently examined the sachet, deduced that the wife was using too much, and explained that an excessive amount would stimulate rather than calm her. The First Lord was satisfied and ordered the removal of all perfumes from his wife's room. In the garden, Qin Shang Cheng approached Hua Rong, thanking her for her earlier intervention.
She denied being worried about him, prompting him to point out her fake allergy. Qin Shang Cheng then admitted his jealousy about her living with Jin Yiwen and demanded she return home. When she refused, he picked her up, causing her to protest loudly about being treated as "goods." He then kissed her. As Jin Yiwen appeared, a flustered Hua Rong ran off.
Jin Yiwen warned Qin Shang Cheng that such actions would only push Hua Rong away, but Qin Shang Cheng dismissed him, confident in his ability to win her over. Later, Lu Wanwan confronted Hua Rong, urging her to remain focused on the competition and not be swayed by Qin Shang Cheng, playfully asking about the kiss and then encouraging Hua Rong to show her strength against him.
In the competition's first round, a riddle-solving challenge, Hua Rong and her team quickly deduced the two locations: Bailu Academy and Xuanhe Art Academy, where the Painting of Goddess of the Luo River was located. Realizing Qin Shang Cheng likely had a head start, Hua Rong revised their plan: Jin Yiwen and Lu Wanwan would go to Bailu Academy, while Hua Rong would go alone to Xuanhe Art Academy, hoping to retrieve the painting herself.
Hua Rong arrived at Xuanhe Art Academy and confirmed she was the first to reach the Rainbow Pavilion. As she prepared to search for the painting among the many collections, Qin Shang Cheng appeared, already holding the Painting of Goddess of the Luo River, having entered through a window. Hua Rong was astonished by his quick wit. He teased her about her inability to find it and confidently asserted his lead in the competition.
Hua Rong tracked Qin Shang Cheng to his room, where she found him bathing. She searched his clothes for the painting, but it wasn't there. Qin Shang Cheng, aware of her presence, offered her the painting if she bathed him well. Hua Rong reluctantly agreed, complaining as she did so. Qin Shang Cheng then changed the terms, offering the painting only if she moved out of Prince Jin's Mansion.
Hua Rong scoffed at his demand, then quickly snatched what she believed was the painting from a table and fled. In her own room, she discovered she had been tricked; it was not the Goddess of the Luo River but a portrait of herself and Qin Shang Cheng, which she found herself admiring. Meanwhile, Zhang Xian and Qian Dayou returned to Qin Shang Cheng, admitting Jin Yiwen had already secured the item from Bailu Academy.
After a brief argument over who was to blame, Qian Dayou suggested Zhang Xian attempt to steal the item from Jin Yiwen that night. In a separate discussion, Jin Yiwen anticipated Qin Shang Cheng's theft attempt and resolved not only to secure his victory but also to publicly humiliate Qin Shang Cheng. Hua Rong and Lu Wanwan suggested bribing Qin Shang Cheng, but Hua Rong refused, stating it was not her way to win.
Jin Yiwen then sent a battle post to Qin Shang Cheng, challenging him to a duel to be settled "like men" the following afternoon in a grove outside Anyuan Gate. The next day, at the grove, Qin Shang Cheng and Jin Yiwen faced each other. Hua Rong and Lu Wanwan arrived, fearing a fight. To their surprise, Jin Yiwen's and Qin Shang Cheng's attendants settled the preliminary terms with a game of rock-paper-scissors, which Jin Yiwen's side lost.
Qian Dayou then proposed a new form of competition: a contest to see who knew Hua Rong best. As referee, Qian Dayou announced nine questions, with Hua Rong holding the answers, and the first to get five correct answers would win, with the loser drinking a penalty. For the first question, "What is the brand of rouge Ms. Rong likes most?" , both Qin Shang Cheng and Jin Yiwen answered correctly.
Qin Shang Cheng had once bought all available rouges to personally test them for Hua Rong, while Jin Yiwen's family owned the shop where Hua Rong bought her favorite brand, Ning Mi Fang. Qin Shang Cheng was surprised by Jin Yiwen's intimate knowledge. For the ninth question, "What is the thing that Ms. Rong mostly fears?" , Qin Shang Cheng confidently answered "spiders." However, Hua Rong's correct answer was "fierce dogs."
Qin Shang Cheng was bewildered, unaware that Hua Rong had intentionally feigned a fear of spiders in the past to protect his image as the "king of pirates," as he was secretly afraid of them himself. After losing the round, Qin Shang Cheng drank the penalty wine, acknowledging Hua Rong's thoughtful deception, while the others present discreetly chuckled.
