The Romance of Hua Rong Episode 4 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong Recap
Qin Shang Cheng, having been bitten by a venomous snake while protecting Hua Rong, began to succumb to the poison. Upon waking, Hua Rong, misunderstanding his presence, frantically shouted at him. Qin Shang Cheng tried to walk away, but the poison took hold, and he collapsed. Hua Rong initially considered escaping, thinking that if he died, no one would stop her. However, her conscience prevailed.
She returned to him, vowing aloud that if she saved him, their past grievances would be resolved, but also warning that if he ever sought revenge on her, she would abandon him to the wolves. She struggled to drag the unconscious Qin Shang Cheng back to the stronghold, collapsing from exhaustion just as they reached the gate. Her cries for help were answered by others who quickly gathered, concerned for their master.
Hua Rong awoke to find Yue Feng tending to her. He reassured her that the snake venom in Qin Shang Cheng's body had been extracted, though his body remained weak. Seeing the island in disarray due to the master's illness, Yue Feng urged Hua Rong to seize the opportunity to steal a boat and escape. Hua Rong hesitated, reflecting that without Qin Shang Cheng's intervention, she would have either drowned or died from poison.
She also revealed to Yue Feng that the sea map was fake, confirming Qin Shang Cheng's cunning nature. Soon after, Qian Dayou arrived to inform Hua Rong that Qin Shang Cheng was awake and wished to see her. In his room, a weakened Qin Shang Cheng questioned Hua Rong about her failure to escape. Hua Rong firmly declared her intention to nurse him back to health as a matter of repayment for saving her life.
She asserted her clear understanding of gratitude and revenge, vowing to repay kindness while also pursuing vengeance when necessary. Hua Rong returned to Qin Shang Cheng's room to administer his medicine. He feigned intense pain and discomfort, prompting her to offer him oranges to mask the bitter taste of the medicine. However, Hua Rong quickly saw through his act, realizing he was fully capable of feeding himself and was merely trying to manipulate her.
Annoyed, she attempted to leave, but Qin Shang Cheng stopped her, demanding she read to him to pass the time, insisting it was part of her debt of gratitude. Though internally displeased, Hua Rong reluctantly began to read, as Qin Shang Cheng secretly enjoyed his charade. She continued reading through the night, emerging from his room yawning the next morning.
Shortly after, Qian Dayou entered Qin Shang Cheng's room and reported that the second-in-command was preparing a lavish birthday celebration for him in two days, viewing it as an opportunity to boost morale among the hard-pressed brothers. Qin Shang Cheng agreed to the plan. For the next few days, Qin Shang Cheng exploited Hua Rong's sense of obligation, demanding she read to him, feed him, and assist him with calligraphy practice.
Hua Rong confided in Yue Feng, expressing her frustration at Qin Shang Cheng's constant demands, feeling as though he was tormenting her in a hundred different ways, even for something as simple as taking medicine. Despite her ordeal, she reasoned that Qin Shang Cheng was recovering, and she would endure it until her "gratitude" was fulfilled.
She informed Yue Feng of her plan: during Qin Shang Cheng's birthday celebration, when everyone would be in the main hall, she would sneak into his room to search for the real sea map. Yue Feng cautioned her to be careful, and Hua Rong reassured him, telling him to be cautious as well. On the day of Qin Shang Cheng's birthday, Hua Rong went to the kitchen, finding it deserted. She discovered the cook tied up in a corner.
The terrified cook whispered to Hua Rong that Chen Biao intended to harm Qin Shang Cheng by adding anesthetic to the banquet food, aiming to usurp his position as island master. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Hua Rong immediately decided to warn Qin Shang Cheng. However, the kitchen supervisor appeared, knocking out the cook before attacking Hua Rong. Hua Rong managed to subdue the supervisor, but was then unexpectedly knocked unconscious by Chen Biao, who had suddenly arrived.
Chen Biao ordered his men to lock Hua Rong in the firewood storage, vowing to deal with her personally after he had handled Qin Shang Cheng. Meanwhile, Chen Biao arrived in the main hall where the banquet was underway. He publicly toasted Qin Shang Cheng, wishing him prosperity and long life, then offered a second bowl of wine as a supposed penance for his past transgressions, seeking forgiveness.
Qin Shang Cheng accepted the apology, stating that he would not hold Chen Biao accountable as long as he did not overstep his boundaries, and proceeded to drink the wine. In the firewood storage, Hua Rong regained consciousness. Resourcefully, she used a small dagger hidden in her shoe to cut her ropes, then cleverly outsmarted the guards. Rushing to the main hall, she arrived just as Hu Er was about to offer a toast to Qin Shang Cheng.
Hua Rong immediately intervened, loudly warning Qin Shang Cheng that Chen Biao had poisoned the wine with an anesthetic. Chen Biao, surprised, demanded to know how she uncovered his secret. Hua Rong revealed she had overheard it from the cook and that Chen Biao’s men had then knocked her out and locked her away. Qin Shang Cheng feigned shock, appearing to realize Chen Biao had indeed set the trap he suspected.
Shortly after, Qin Shang Cheng and his loyal subordinates collapsed as if poisoned. Chen Biao, believing his plan had succeeded, applauded triumphantly. A seemingly weak Qin Shang Cheng urged Chen Biao to stand down, but Chen Biao, emboldened by what he thought was victory, scoffed at the idea, declaring himself the new law of the island. Seeing Chen Biao’s unyielding ambition, Qin Shang Cheng dramatically shattered the bowl in his hand and rose to his feet, completely unharmed.
He revealed that he had long seen through Chen Biao's treachery, having anticipated the coup and secretly replaced all the wine with harmless liquid. His earlier collapse was merely an act to lure Chen Biao into revealing the full extent of his plot, giving him one last chance to back down. With his deception exposed, Qin Shang Cheng declared his intention to show no mercy. A fierce battle erupted between Qin Shang Cheng's and Chen Biao's forces.
In the chaos, Chen Biao attempted to seize Hua Rong as a hostage, but she bravely struggled free. Chen Biao was ultimately captured. Desperate, he invoked a past deed, reminding Qin Shang Cheng that he had once saved his life by taking a blade for him, believing this debt of gratitude would spare him.
Qin Shang Cheng acknowledged the debt, admitting that this past favor was why he had always been lenient with Chen Biao, even when he broke the rules. However, recognizing that Chen Biao's constant defiance stemmed from this unrequited obligation, Qin Shang Cheng decided to settle the score then and there, dramatically stabbing himself with a knife. He declared that from that moment on, they owed each other nothing. After the chaos, Qin Shang Cheng had his self-inflicted wound bandaged.
His attendants updated him on the forty-eight captured rebels, who would be dealt with according to island law, and the injured brothers, who would each receive five taels of silver and time to rest. Qin Shang Cheng then summoned Hua Rong, asking if her warning about the poisoned wine was an act of repayment.
Hua Rong denied it, simply stating she found him "a little bit better" than Chen Biao, and that she couldn't live peacefully if Chen Biao was master. She also feigned disinterest in escaping, claiming she enjoyed the good food and fun on the island. Qin Shang Cheng, desiring her to remain by his side, promised to treat her well. Later, Hua Rong mused to herself that the pirate might indeed be falling for her, a realization she decided to exploit.
That night, dressed in a beautiful dance costume, Hua Rong performed a captivating dance for Qin Shang Cheng, then began to ply him with wine, claiming it was a gesture of gratitude for him saving her life once more. Qin Shang Cheng was intrigued, silently wondering if Hua Rong had truly developed feelings for him. Hua Rong continued to encourage Qin Shang Cheng to drink, eventually getting him thoroughly intoxicated.
She subtly tried to extract information about the real sea map, feigning a casual conversation about navigation. Qin Shang Cheng confirmed the map she had was fake, but demanded she drink three more cups of wine before he would reveal the real map's location. After complying, Hua Rong stood up, but her own intoxication caused her to stumble and fall directly into Qin Shang Cheng's arms. The night unfolded into an intimate encounter.
The next morning, Hua Rong awoke mortified to find herself in the same bed as Qin Shang Cheng. She immediately accused him of wrongdoing, but Qin Shang Cheng smugly retorted that she had been the proactive one, embracing him in her drunken state. Her shame quickly turned to rage, and she lashed out, calling him vile and shameless. Qin Shang Cheng dismissed her furious reaction, stating that her petty tricks were beneath him.
Angered by Hua Rong's defiant words, he stormed out of the room to spar with his subordinates. Following their heated argument, Qin Shang Cheng ordered his men to take Hua Rong back to her room, explicitly forbidding her from leaving without his direct command. While Qin Shang Cheng sparred with his subordinates to release his frustration, his men, including Qian Dayou, tried to counsel him on how to placate Hua Rong.
They suggested he consider her perspective as a well-bred woman isolated on the island and urged him to offer rare gifts or a sincere apology. Qin Shang Cheng, however, scoffed at the idea of apologizing, instead ordering Qian Dayou to bring him any valuable items he had been secretly hoarding. Meanwhile, Hua Rong attempted to leave her room, only to be stopped by the guards, who reminded her of Qin Shang Cheng's strict orders. Hua Rong defiantly questioned their right to confine her, sparking a confrontation at the door.
