The Romance of Tiger and Rose Episode 13 Recap
> The Romance of Tiger and Rose Recap
The aphrodisiac incense is so potent that resisting it could be fatal. Chen Qianqian, fond of Han Shuo, can’t stand by idly. As she prepares to sacrifice herself to save him, Bai Ji barrels through the wooden door with brute force, naively dousing the pair with cold water, drenching them thoroughly. Su Ziying is stunned, Zi Rui speechless, and Chen Qianqian bewildered, while Han Shuo glares murderously at Bai Ji.
Bai Ji’s endearing honesty comes from his obliviousness to his blunder. Han Shuo, fuming in the room, wants to banish him to Xuanhu City, while Chen Qianqian, muttering to herself by the bed, feels both relief at avoiding intimacy and regret, even disappointment. When Han Shuo nearly crossed the line, she didn’t push him away but felt a flicker of anticipation. Reflecting, she realizes she might be falling for him.
Though Han Shuo is a fictional character, he’s the novel’s male lead—handsome, commanding, skilled in both academics and combat. Qualities she once overlooked now shine in her eyes. Unversed in love, Chen Qianqian thinks it should involve a racing heart and unwavering gaze, sensations she hasn’t felt, leaving her confused about her feelings. As she ponders, Han Shuo enters, and seeing him, she suddenly understands what “falling in love” means.
Han Shuo apologizes for his earlier behavior, saying if Chen Qianqian were from Xuanhu City, he’d marry her with full ceremony, vowing lifelong fidelity. Flustered, her heart racing like a startled deer, she nearly receives his kiss when Zi Rui interrupts the tender moment. Su Ziying reports the incident to Chen Chuchu, blaming the inn’s servant.
Zi Rui, outraged, nearly exposes him, but Chen Qianqian stops her, planning to keep Su Ziying close to manipulate the plot later, ensuring Chen Chuchu becomes Young city owner. Han Shuo, knowing Su Ziying’s deceitful nature, could easily kill him but fears Pei Heng would exploit it. He decides to wait for Su Ziying’s next move, catching him red-handed to discredit him before Pei Heng.
Chen Chuchu, under the guise of a chess match, meets Chen Qianqian and declares she’ll compete openly for both the Young city owner title and Han Shuo. Chen Qianqian, feigning calm, agrees to divorce Han Shuo upon returning to Huayuan City, but feels uneasy, sensing a loss despite the plot aligning. On the journey back, Chen Qianqian distances herself from Han Shuo’s affectionate gestures and words, stressing they belong to different worlds.
Han Shuo believes she’s in denial, suspecting the conflict between Huayuan and Xuanhu Cities is her biggest barrier to embracing her feelings. With bandits subdued and the mission triumphant, the city owner rewards Chen Qianqian generously. Pei Heng, provoked by Su Ziying, grows more hostile toward Han Shuo. To push Han Shuo away, Chen Qianqian uses Pei Heng as a shield at the academy, further overshadowing Chen Chuchu, who earned less praise despite the mission’s success, fueling her resentment.
At a theater, Pei Heng and Han Shuo encounter a play about a woman divorcing her husband, its subtext clear. They clash again. Chen Qianqian, thinking Han Shuo bullied Pei Heng, rushes over, but Pei Heng has left. Han Shuo, upset by her bias, nearly argues with her. Han Shuo invites Pei Heng to the residence, along with Meng Guo and Su Ziying, and brings up the theater’s divorce play, asking for opinions. Tired of their rivalry, Chen Qianqian pretends to be drunk, acting out, and has Zi Rui escort her away.
