The Romance of Tiger and Rose Episode 10 Recap
> The Romance of Tiger and Rose Recap
Lin Qi, who has a severe phobia of rats, found herself confined in a room with twenty-seven of them, a torment orchestrated by Chen Qianqian. Chen Qianqian observed Lin Qi's terrified screams from outside, finding amusement in the situation as a way to vent her frustration while indirectly saving Lin Qi from Han Shuo's more severe retaliation. However, her mirth was short-lived when an escaped rat bit her skirt, causing her to leap in fright.
Han Shuo instinctively caught her, leading to a brief, intimate moment that secretly delighted him. Following the martial arts test, the candidates faced a discourse on current politics, tasked with proposing effective revenue-increasing strategies for Huayuan City. Chen Qianqian's proposal was to implement a head tax on all adults, both male and female. She argued this would not only boost the city's dwindling treasury but also help regulate population growth, alleviating demographic pressures. However, Minister Liu vehemently opposed the idea.
He pointed out that men in Huayuan City held the lowest social status, and requiring them to pay taxes would grant them rights, eventually leading to a social structure akin to Xuanhu City, thus undermining the city's ancestral rules and female-dominated order. The other officials echoed his concerns. Chen Qianqian quickly retracted her suggestion, feigning childishness and claiming her remarks were mere "baby talk." The City Owner, doting on Chen Qianqian, accepted her excuse and dismissed the matter.
Chen Chuchu then presented her strategy, suggesting that Huayuan City follow Xuanhu City's example by converting black stones into explosives. This, she argued, would both bolster their military power and create a lucrative trade commodity. Based on the strength of her discourse, Chen Chuchu was widely considered the undisputed winner of this round. Chen Qianqian, confident in her sister's victory, had even prepared an early congratulatory gift, telling Chen Chuchu that her own financial bets depended on her sister's success.
To everyone's astonishment, including Chen Qianqian herself, the results were announced, declaring Chen Qianqian as the first-place winner of the literacy test. Overjoyed, the City Owner immediately proclaimed Chen Qianqian the Young Master of Huayuan City, allowing no room for refusal. Chen Qianqian tried to decline, stating she was unsuitable and that Chen Chuchu was far more capable.
Although deeply hurt, believing Chen Qianqian's prior gestures were insincere and resenting what she perceived as her mother's blatant favoritism, Chen Chuchu publicly pledged her loyalty and support. Despite Chen Qianqian's persistent protests, the City Owner solidified her decision, ordering Chen Qianqian to prepare for the coronation. Feeling that she had won the city but lost everything important to her, Chen Qianqian expressed her despair.
Later, Chen Chuchu learned from her attendant that Han Shuo had placed a massive bet on Chen Qianqian winning the Young Master title and had profited immensely. This fueled Chen Chuchu's anger, making her believe that Chen Qianqian had deliberately misled her. Chen Qianqian, upon realizing that Han Shuo had secretly manipulated the test results to secure her position as Young Master, became furious.
She confronted him, accusing him of being "showy," "dense," and a "jinx to his wife" for interfering without her consent. Han Shuo insisted he only wanted to give her what she desired, but Qianqian rebuked him for not considering her preferences. During the Young Master's inaugural parade, Han Shuo and Chen Qianqian were mandated by tradition to participate together. Still simmering from their earlier argument, they bickered publicly, trading accusations about past grievances.
Chen Qianqian brought up Han Shuo's attempts to frame her, his suspicious dining habits in her mansion, and the public humiliation she suffered at the Music and Dance Academy. Han Shuo retorted by reminding her that she had kidnapped him, leading to the "poison in the bridal chamber" incident, and pointed out that she had originally intended to save Chen Chuchu, not him.
Exasperated, Han Shuo declared he would not parade with such a difficult woman and abruptly walked away, accidentally stepping on and tearing Chen Qianqian's elaborate ceremonial dress. The public, witnessing the spectacle, criticized Han Shuo's disrespect towards his wife. To make amends, Han Shuo later appeared in women's clothing, offering to let Chen Qianqian tear his clothes as retribution for the parade incident. However, Pei Heng arrived unexpectedly and witnessed the awkward scene.
Han Shuo quickly tried to explain it as a playful domestic moment. Pei Heng, unimpressed, lectured Han Shuo on adopting the "virtues of Huayuan City men" and presented him with a book on "Men's Virtues." Seizing the opportunity, Chen Qianqian immediately appealed to Pei Heng for help with the mountain of official documents she faced, flattering him by calling him a "male god" whose presence made people "unconsciously like him."
This interaction led Pei Heng to mistakenly believe Chen Qianqian harbored romantic feelings for him. Han Shuo, overhearing that Pei Heng was staying overnight in Chen Qianqian's residence to assist her with paperwork, was consumed by jealousy. He realized that his efforts to elevate Chen Qianqian to Young Master status had inadvertently created an advantageous situation for Pei Heng.
Acting on a suggestion from an official, subtly influenced by Han Shuo's machinations, the City Owner decreed that Chen Qianqian should lead an expedition to suppress bandits on Weimeng Mountain as a trial, with Han Shuo accompanying her for assistance. Chen Qianqian was highly reluctant, citing her lack of military experience and expressing concern for the local populace. She argued that Chen Chuchu was better suited for such a task.
Bai Ji's comment that Chen Qianqian merely wanted to stay home and review documents with Pei Heng further irritated Han Shuo. Remembering her overarching goal to foster a relationship between Han Shuo and Chen Chuchu to move the story towards its conclusion, Chen Qianqian agreed to the mission, but stipulated that Chen Chuchu must accompany them. Meanwhile, concerned for Chen Qianqian's safety, Pei Heng secretly dispatched his trusted attendant, Su Ziying, to protect her and provide updates.
As they prepared for the expedition, Chen Qianqian packed an excessive amount of personal belongings, seemingly preparing to relocate rather than suppress bandits. Han Shuo was visibly displeased by Pei Heng's decision to send an attendant, sensing a deepening rivalry. Chen Qianqian initially rejected Su Ziying, but upon learning his name, she recognized him as a crucial character from her original screenplay—a plot device introduced to advance the narrative and ultimately become the matchmaker for Han Shuo and Chen Chuchu.
With renewed enthusiasm, she promptly accepted Su Ziying into their retinue, much to Han Shuo's frustration. Han Shuo grumbled that his attempt to remove Chen Qianqian from Pei Heng's influence had been cleverly countered, leading to Pei Heng installing a "spy" in their midst. He pondered whether he had spoiled Chen Qianqian too much by allowing her to accept another man into her service so easily.
