The Romance of Hua Rong Episode 23 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong Recap
Hua Rong and Qin Shangcheng, having successfully rescued the Villa Master, found themselves relentlessly pursued. The Villa Master, weakened and exhausted, could barely keep up. As they sought refuge in a dry well, the Villa Master inadvertently triggered a hidden mechanism, revealing a concealed stone gate. Qin Shangcheng initially dismissed it as an ordinary tomb, but Hua Rong noticed a peculiar symbol. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Qin Shangcheng quickly urged them to find an exit.
They were fortunate to discover a secret passage leading out from beneath the well. Qin Shangcheng speculated that Jin Fu and his men were still searching the vicinity, and he expressed concern for Tang Chudie, with whom they had lost contact. Soon after, Tang Chudie and Qian Dayou, with their group, located Qin Shangcheng and the others. Tang Chudie rushed to her father, the Villa Master, to check on him, who assured her he was unharmed.
As they prepared to return, Hua Rong suddenly collapsed, appearing tired and dizzy. Her companions attributed it to her excitement, and they decided to head back for a meal. Meanwhile, the Prince, Jin Duoxiong, chastised his old servant, Yechen, for his failure, threatening to kill him if he hadn't served him for ten years. Yechen offered to lead an immediate attack on Mengdie Villa, but Jin Duoxiong dismissed the idea, citing the Villa's formidable defenses.
Instead, he revealed a new plan: he would feign a retreat to make Qin Shangcheng lower his guard, giving Yechen the opportunity to act as a spy and uncover their weaknesses. Jin Duoxiong handed Yechen a small bottle, promising him Mengdie Villa and Tang Chudie if he succeeded. Yechen vowed to do his best. Back at Mengdie Villa, Qin Shangcheng stayed by Hua Rong's side as she recovered from her faint.
When she awoke, she was touched to learn he had watched over her for twenty-four hours without rest. Qin Shangcheng playfully demanded a kiss before he would leave to get her food. Their tender moment was interrupted by Tang Chudie, who entered with a gift for the couple: a pair of Dragon and Phoenix cups, crafted by Master Lu from "jue suede," known for cooling water.
Tang Chudie expressed her sincere wishes for their sweet marriage and thanked them for risking their lives to save her father. Hua Rong, now feeling a bond with Tang Chudie, chose the Dragon cup and then took several sips of water from it. Tang Chudie apologized for her past behavior, admitting she now understood Qin Shangcheng's unwavering love for Hua Rong. Hua Rong, feeling a sense of happiness and peace, accepted Tang Chudie's friendship.
Later, Qin Shangcheng asked the Villa Master why his adoptive father had never mentioned him. The Villa Master revealed his deepest regret: fifteen years prior, he and Qin Ba Tian, sworn brothers and pirates, discovered a beached official ship containing two white jade pieces that held a treasure map from a previous dynasty. The Villa Master wanted to retrieve the treasure, but Qin Ba Tian refused, fearing it would plunge the world into chaos.
Unable to agree, they each took one jade and went their separate ways. Eight years ago, the Villa Master learned that Qin Ba Tian had been killed by the Black Dragon Gang while protecting his jade. This revelation prompted him to establish Mengdie Villa, living in seclusion and concealing his identity. His investigations later revealed the Black Dragon Gang's leader to be Jin Duoxiong, the Prince of Wanjiang nation, who was determined to obtain the treasure and conquer the world.
The Villa Master stressed the urgency of stopping Jin Duoxiong from acquiring the white jades. Qin Shangcheng vowed to avenge his adoptive father and protect the world. News then arrived that Jin Duoxiong's forces had retreated. Yechen feigned shame over the incident involving Yanfei, and Tang Chudie comforted him, reassuring him that it was not entirely his fault for Yanfei's betrayal. Qian Dayou reminded Qin Shangcheng of the importance of safeguarding the white jades.
As they discussed the situation, Hua Rong suddenly fainted again. Yechen's expression subtly betrayed his secret delight. The doctor, examining Hua Rong, initially mistook her symptoms for pregnancy, but quickly corrected himself, confirming she was severely poisoned. He explained that the potent poison, known as "DMY," mimicked pregnancy and would slowly consume her, killing her within three days if an antidote wasn't found.
Qin Shangcheng, realizing he had shared food and drink with Hua Rong without ill effects, suddenly suspected the Dragon cup. Qian Dayou tested the water with a silver needle, which showed no impurity, but when the water was poured into the "cold" Dragon cup, it became highly toxic. Qin Shangcheng demanded an explanation from Tang Chudie, who was equally baffled, stating that Yechen had personally selected the cups. They then discovered Yechen had already fled.
Qin Shangcheng furiously pursued Yechen, catching and beating him. Yechen confessed that he had intended to poison Qin Shangcheng, not Hua Rong, to acquire the white jade. He claimed that the DMY poison, invented by Xuanjizi, had no known antidote and that anyone afflicted would surely die.
Qin Shangcheng offered Yechen a final chance to provide the antidote, but Yechen defiantly refused, stating that he wouldn't live long either and that he only sought revenge against Qin Shangcheng for taking Tang Chudie from him. With a final declaration of his lingering affection for Tang Chudie and a wish to meet her in the next life, Yechen leaped off a cliff to his death, leaving Qin Shangcheng without an antidote.
Watching over the unconscious Hua Rong, Qin Shangcheng was consumed by regret, recalling their vows and blaming himself for failing to protect her, feeling the ominous premonition of the golden lock had come true. Elsewhere, Jin Duoxiong received news of Yechen's failure but ordered his men to observe the situation as Hua Rong was still poisoned. Qin Shangcheng, determined to find Jin Duoxiong, was joined by Jin Yiwen, who insisted on accompanying him.
However, the Villa Master stopped them, revealing he had found a way to save Hua Rong. He explained that Xuanjizi, the creator of DMY, was also the designer of a vast treasury. Based on ancient texts, the Villa Master theorized that the antidote might be hidden within this treasury, which was also Xuanjizi's memorial grave.
However, he noted that the other half of the white jade was still in Jin Duoxiong's possession, making access to the treasury difficult and the existence of the antidote uncertain. The Villa Master then presented a second, more drastic method: a life-for-life exchange. A person with profound inner force could draw the poison from Hua Rong, but the poison would then infect them. Without hesitation, Qin Shangcheng volunteered.
Qian Dayou and Jin Yiwen pleaded with him to reconsider, suggesting they first search for the treasury, arguing that Hua Rong would be devastated if he died. Qin Shangcheng adamantly refused, declaring he could not risk Hua Rong's life by waiting, nor could he allow the world to descend into chaos by opening the treasury. His decision was final.
With the Villa Master and Tang Chudie assisting, Qin Shangcheng began the perilous process of drawing the poison from Hua Rong, while Jin Yiwen and Qian Dayou stood guard outside. The Villa Master thanked Qin Shangcheng for keeping the true nature of the transfer a secret, warning him of the fatal risks. Qin Shangcheng simply reiterated his unwavering decision. Hua Rong's life was saved, the poison having been successfully expelled from her body.
However, the poison now resided within Qin Shangcheng. Knowing his own life was now short, Qin Shangcheng made a shocking decision: he proposed to Tang Chudie, intending to stage a fake marriage to make Hua Rong forget him and move on. As Qin Shangcheng and Tang Chudie donned their wedding attire, a bewildered and enraged Jin Yiwen confronted Qin Shangcheng.
Jin Yiwen accused him of abandoning Hua Rong, reminding him of his past promises to let Jin Yiwen pursue her once he left Hua Rong. Qin Shangcheng coldly replied that this was Jin Yiwen's chance, maintaining his facade that he had grown tired of Hua Rong and now loved Tang Chudie, whom he described as mild, thoughtful, and kind. Jin Yiwen, distraught, declared that Qin Shangcheng would be punished for his actions.
When Hua Rong finally awoke, she found Mengdie Villa adorned for a celebration. Two servants confirmed that it was the day of Tang Chudie and Qin Shangcheng's wedding. Distraught, Hua Rong first confronted Tang Chudie, then sought out Qin Shangcheng. He maintained his deceit, telling her he no longer loved her and had fallen for Tang Chudie. Hua Rong, refusing to believe him, threw the golden lock he had once given her to the ground and stormed away. Qin Shangcheng picked up the golden lock, clutching it tightly as a cough wracked his body, and a stream of blood dripped onto the golden keepsake.
