The Romance of Hua Rong Episode 18 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong Recap
The next day, Qin Shang Cheng was absent from the archery grounds. Hua Rong, distracted during her practice, remarked that while Qin Shang Cheng's performance had improved the day before, he had now stood her up. Her attendant suggested they continue practicing, and Hua Rong agreed. Meanwhile, Qin Shang Cheng was in the woods, where he successfully shot two wild geese. Upon returning to the mansion, Qin Shang Cheng was dismayed to find his carefully prepared wild geese missing.
He quickly located Hua Rong and Jin Yiwen, who were seated at a table, enjoying roasted meat. Qin Shang Cheng mistakenly assumed they were feasting on his geese. Jin Yiwen even thanked him for catching geese for Hua Rong's nourishment. Qin Shang Cheng, realizing they were being cunning, exposed that the meat was actually roasted pheasant, and the wild geese he had caught had already been released by Hua Rong.
He stated that he knew Hua Rong was kind-hearted and naturally disliked killing. Qin Shang Cheng then clarified his presence, stating he was there for Hua Rong. He used the wild geese as a metaphor for unwavering loyalty in love, likening them to a pair of geese separated by distance, whose wings had aged. Jin Yiwen suggested he was reciting a poem to Hua Rong, but Qin Shang Cheng dismissed it as cliché.
He proceeded to tell a story about a male goose dying to protect its mate, and the female later succumbing to sorrow, lamenting that male geese often protect without truly understanding their partners' feelings. He concluded that what female geese truly need is to overcome difficulties and mature together, living and dying side by side. Qin Shang Cheng told Hua Rong that all he wished to convey was encapsulated in this story.
He then asked her to move back to the tavern from Jin Mansion if she could forgive him. Moved by his words, Hua Rong agreed, stating she would return to the tavern and allow him to observe her slowly and carefully. That night, Hua Rong bade farewell to Jin Yiwen, expressing regret that her presence had inadvertently worsened his health due to their archery practice.
Jin Yiwen, though reluctant, understood he could not persuade her to stay and offered to have her luggage sent to the tavern. His attendant, Lai Sheng, informed him that Wan Wan was also moving back to the tavern. Lai Sheng then advised Jin Yiwen to seek advice from Wan Wan, reasoning that "only women know women well" and she might offer insights into pursuing Hua Rong. Jin Yiwen later visited the tavern, looking for Hua Rong.
Finding her room empty, he pushed the door open and discovered a collaborative painting by Qin Shang Cheng and Hua Rong. Just then, Wan Wan entered. Jin Yiwen inquired about her thoughts on Hua Rong, and Wan Wan noted that Hua Rong's decision to move back to the tavern clearly indicated her feelings.
When Wan Wan asked if Jin Yiwen truly liked Hua Rong, she then urged him to openly express his feelings to Hua Rong, advising him not to worry about the outcome, but to confess so he wouldn't regret it. Jin Yiwen agreed, realizing he needed to take this step. The next day, Jin Yiwen invited Hua Rong to his art exhibition. Each painting on display depicted significant moments from their acquaintance, a testament to what he considered destiny.
Qin Shang Cheng's subordinate, Qian Dayou, informed him of Hua Rong's attendance, but Qin Shang Cheng, confident in Hua Rong's loyalty, stated she would not fall for Jin Yiwen's ploys and that he completely trusted her. During the exhibition, Jin Yiwen used a poem hidden within one painting to express his deep affection for Hua Rong, which Qin Shang Cheng's subordinates deciphered as "Wait for me to say I love you in person."
Qin Shang Cheng's subordinates debated whether to intervene, but ultimately decided against it, respecting Qin Shang Cheng and Hua Rong's agreement to trust each other. Hua Rong, understanding Jin Yiwen's feelings, gently conveyed that while she appreciated his sentiments, her heart belonged to Qin Shang Cheng. She candidly described Qin Shang Cheng as spoiled, domineering, and somewhat chauvinistic, admitting he didn't always understand her desires, yet she couldn't help but love him.
Jin Yiwen accepted her confession, finding peace in having expressed his true feelings, and they affirmed their continued friendship. Qin Shang Cheng, despite having no artistic background, personally drew a portrait of Hua Rong, which turned out remarkably unattractive. His subordinate, trying to flatter him, praised it as lifelike and compared Hua Rong to a descending fairy. Hua Rong, however, jokingly pointed out its ugliness and teased Qin Shang Cheng for harboring "wicked ideas" despite his poor artistic skill.
She then challenged him to practice archery together, demanding he declare who he truly loved. Qin Shang Cheng avoided answering, saying that paintings could never truly capture her beauty. Meanwhile, Three Arrows reported to his Grand Master, the Heilong Secret Society leader, that he had narrowly avoided capture by Jin Yiwen while searching Hua Rong's room.
The Grand Master, deeming him useless but offering a chance for redemption, instructed Three Arrows to "throw a stone to clear the road" at the upcoming competition, intending to expose a secret related to Yunhe. The next day, the son-in-law contest commenced with an archery competition comprising three rounds.
The first round involved shooting static targets, the second required shooting from a swinging platform, and the third, a more challenging task, involved hitting a willow branch with a red ribbon from a hundred meters away. Points were awarded for hitting targets in each round, with a total of ten points for the overall conference. Before the first round, Qin Shang Cheng and Hua Rong exchanged determined glances.
Qin Shang Cheng told her he wouldn't let her win this time, to which Hua Rong vowed to fight until the end. Both performed well in the first round, drawing applause from the crowd. The second round proved difficult; previous participants struggled to maintain balance on the swing due to recoil and the swinging motion, causing them to fall off.
When it was Qin Shang Cheng's turn, he ingeniously hooked one foot around the swing's rope to stabilize himself, successfully hitting the bullseye. Hua Rong, observing his technique, emulated his posture when her turn came. It was noted that Qin Shang Cheng had deliberately set this example to help her. Although she adopted his method, her arrow veered slightly from the bullseye.
The third and final round demanded the greatest skill: participants had to shoot a red ribbon on a willow branch from a hundred meters away. Several competitors, frustrated by the difficulty, withdrew from the challenge. When Hua Rong stepped onto the stage, she recalled Qin Shang Cheng's earlier lesson on proper breathing and focus.
He had taught her to breathe deeply into her stomach, collect her thoughts, exhale slowly, and to feel the willow branch swaying from within, combining her heart with the arrow. Following his instructions, Hua Rong took a deep breath, released her arrow, and perfectly struck the red ribbon, eliciting cheers from the crowd. Immediately after, Three Arrows, a member of the Heilong Secret Society, suddenly appeared and fired an arrow at Hua Rong.
Fortunately, Qin Shang Cheng swiftly intervened, intercepting the arrow just in time. That night, Hua Rong, shaken by the near-miss, wondered if Qin Shang Cheng would send her back to Tian Chu. Qin Shang Cheng, observing her distress, explained his silence by pondering the enemy's remarkable archery skills and their escape, concluding that the adversary was far stronger than he had initially imagined.
He reassured Hua Rong that he would not send her away, reiterating his commitment to trusting her and facing any future difficulties together. When Hua Rong asked why she had been targeted, Qin Shang Cheng theorized that the enemy sought to expose his identity as the Yunhe Warrior, suspecting that his previous instruction to her while in that disguise might have revealed him.
Hua Rong blamed herself for causing him trouble due to her self-will, but Qin Shang Cheng dismissed her self-reproach, simply stating that she only needed to know his sincere care for her well-being. He then presented her with a bottle of Perfume of Midie, explaining it would allow him to locate her instantly, no matter where she went.
He also informed her that he had commissioned a gold armor, to be ready the next morning, urging her to wear it for protection. Later, seeing she couldn't sleep, he massaged her Hegu acupoint to soothe her nerves. Jin Yiwen invited Qin Shang Cheng for a drink. During their conversation, Jin Yiwen, acknowledging the dangers of the ongoing contest, suggested that Qin Shang Cheng send Hua Rong back to Tian Chu for her safety.
Qin Shang Cheng firmly refused, stating that since he had chosen to trust her, he would confront all challenges alongside her and would be fully responsible for her well-being. Jin Yiwen remarked that Qin Shang Cheng had transformed significantly and now understood Hua Rong better than anyone else in the world. He offered his assistance, and Qin Shang Cheng acknowledged Jin Yiwen's profound understanding of him.
The Heilong Secret Society's Grand Master received a report from his subordinate confirming Qin Shang Cheng and Hua Rong's close relationship while they were in Tian Chu. The subordinate further revealed that a portrait of Qin Shang Cheng was created based on information from their Tian Chu branch. The Grand Master then deduced that Situ Cheng was, in fact, Qin Shang Cheng, and that it was he who had saved Hua Rong at the recent conference.
Angered by Qin Shang Cheng's previous disruption of his Heilong Secret Society in Tian Chu, the Grand Master realized that Qin Shang Cheng had come specifically for him. The subordinate speculated about a close connection between Qin Shang Cheng and Yunhe. The Grand Master, seizing on this, declared that by focusing on Qin Shang Cheng, they could uncover clues to acquire the white jade of Yunhe, and confirmed his subordinate fully understood the plan for the following day.
The next day, Wan Wan expressed concern about Jin Yiwen's health, as he had insisted on drinking with Qin Shang Cheng the previous night, despite his known alcohol allergy. Chairman Lu then announced to the assembled crowd that Qin Shang Cheng, using the alias Situ Cheng, and Hua Rong had both excelled in the written and martial arts portions of the contest, resulting in a tie. An additional examination would be held to determine the final victor.
However, Qin Shang Cheng interjected, stating that he was withdrawing from the competition because his heart already belonged to someone. He added that Hua Rong had proven her capability and was worthy of being the champion. Hua Rong then presented Jin Yiwen's token to Chairman Lu, asserting her right to claim the white jade on Jin Yiwen's behalf. Chairman Lu agreed, leading Hua Rong to a secret chamber where the invaluable white jade was supposedly kept.
Hua Rong was initially misled by Chairman Lu's attendant, Lady Lianer, who claimed Jin Yiwen wanted to speak with her outside, diverting her away. Chairman Lu then led Hua Rong into a secret chamber, showing her a cabinet where the white jade was supposedly stored. However, as she entered, she was ambushed and surrounded by members of the Heilong Secret Society, led by Three Arrows.
Three Arrows accused her of escaping him by chance before and ordered his men to seize her. Just as they moved in, Qin Shang Cheng arrived, swiftly intervening and protecting Hua Rong. Three Arrows then revealed that his men had captured Wan Wan, Chairman Lu's daughter, and threatened that if he didn't return within two hours, his Grand Master would kill her.
Chairman Lu, already distraught, confirmed that the men in black had kidnapped his daughter and coerced him into using a fake white jade as a prize for the contest. Seeing Wan Wan's jade pendant, he realized the full extent of their manipulation.
Faced with this dire ultimatum, and at Hua Rong's urgent plea, Qin Shang Cheng reluctantly allowed Three Arrows and his men to escape, knowing they held Wan Wan hostage and would return for the white jade later that night. Despite Chairman Lu's despair over Wan Wan's kidnapping, Hua Rong calmly reassured him, revealing her foresight.
She explained that after Qin Shang Cheng had previously mentioned the Heilong Secret Society's attempt to use Wan Wan as a hostage, she had discreetly applied the Perfume of Midie to Wan Wan's clothes. This ensured that butterflies would follow Wan Wan wherever she went, creating a traceable path. Qian Dayou praised Hua Rong's cleverness and bravery. Qin Shang Cheng also commended her quick thinking.
With this ingenious method, Qin Shang Cheng, Hua Rong, and their allies set out, following the butterflies, and quickly located Wan Wan's captivity site. They then dispersed to find a secret tunnel, which they soon discovered, preparing for her rescue.
