The Romance of Tiger and Rose Episode 13 Recap
> The Romance of Tiger and Rose Recap
Han Shuo was severely affected by the potent aphrodisiac incense, struggling to suppress its effects, which could prove fatal if he resisted completely. Chen Qianqian, harboring growing feelings for him, couldn't bear to stand by. She mentally urged him to endure, acknowledging that this was a test of his character. In his distress, Han Shuo expressed regret that their marriage had lacked a proper ceremony and promised to make it up to her if he returned to Huayuan City alive.
Chen Qianqian responded that it was her fault for forcefully marrying him and declared she didn't want him to die. Han Shuo then solemnly swore eternal loyalty, vowing never to betray her. Just as the situation reached its peak, Bai Ji burst through the door with a basin of cold water, dousing both Chen Qianqian and Han Shuo.
Bai Ji explained that Zi Rui and Su Ziying had alerted him to Chen Qianqian's danger, and he had rushed in, fortuitously finding the water. Han Shuo, soaked and furious, interrogated Bai Ji, who cluelessly admitted his mistake and pleaded for another chance. Han Shuo, exasperated, threatened to send Bai Ji back to Xuanhu City, but Bai Ji refused.
Su Ziying and Zi Rui watched the scene in shock, while Chen Qianqian was left utterly bewildered, and Han Shuo glared daggers at Bai Ji. Alone by her bed, Chen Qianqian reflected on the near-consummation. She felt a strange mix of relief and regret, even irritation at Bai Ji for interrupting. She realized that in the storage room, instead of wanting to push Han Shuo away, she had felt a slight anticipation.
This sparked a further realization: she might be falling for Han Shuo. Despite her initial resistance, reminding herself he was a fictional character and they were from different worlds, she couldn't deny his attractiveness – his handsomeness, manliness, and charm. She initially doubted her feelings, as she didn't feel the "heart beating faster" sensation typically associated with love. Just as Chen Qianqian pondered her feelings, Han Shuo entered her room.
The sight of him immediately caused her heart to race, finally revealing to her what falling in love felt like. Han Shuo apologized for his earlier actions, expressing concern for her well-being, though Chen Qianqian jokingly brushed it off. Han Shuo then confessed his deep feelings, recalling how she saved him from his heart condition by stealing the Dragon Bone.
He declared that if she had been born in Xuanhu City, he would have married her with the utmost ceremony, abiding by the principles of the "Three Letters and Six Etiquettes," and promised a lifetime together with no one else between them. He concluded by asking if she now understood his heart. Chen Qianqian was stunned, realizing Han Shuo truly loved her, which explained his earlier reluctance to be paired with Chen Chuchu.
A fluttery sensation in her stomach confirmed her own burgeoning feelings. As he leaned in to kiss her, the intimate moment was abruptly shattered by the sudden appearance of Zi Rui. Su Ziying quickly reported the storage room incident to Chen Chuchu, fabricating a story that placed all blame on an absconded inn pageboy. Chen Chuchu readily accepted this explanation.
Zi Rui, furious at Su Ziying's lies, wanted to expose him, but Chen Qianqian intervened, instructing him to let Su Ziying continue, as she intended to use him to guide the plot back towards Chen Chuchu becoming Young Master. Han Shuo, aware of Su Ziying's manipulative nature, decided against immediate action. He knew killing Su Ziying would be easy but could provide Pei Heng an opportunity to discredit him to Chen Qianqian.
Han Shuo planned to observe Su Ziying, catch him in a clear act of malice against Chen Qianqian, and then expose him to Pei Heng, leaving no room for excuses. Chen Qianqian, understanding Su Ziying's motive was to clear her path for Chen Chuchu to become Young Master, resolved to feign cooperation while secretly monitoring him. She tried to calm her racing heart, acknowledging her own intricate feelings for Han Shuo, which were causing her internal turmoil.
Chen Chuchu invited Chen Qianqian to play chess, a veiled challenge. Chen Qianqian acknowledged Chen Chuchu's long-standing deference, offering to return what "originally belonged" to her, implying the Young Master position. Chen Chuchu, however, revealed her true intentions, questioning the storage room incident and suggesting Chen Qianqian had orchestrated it to trap her and Han Shuo, mirroring a previous scheme.
Chen Qianqian denied it, but Chen Chuchu declared she would no longer back down, openly stating her desire for Han Shuo. Chen Qianqian, despite her own burgeoning feelings for Han Shuo, agreed to arrange a divorce upon their return to Huayuan City, promising to "give him back" to Chen Chuchu, "intact."
As Chen Chuchu declared her victory, Chen Qianqian felt a profound sadness, realizing that while she was putting the plot back on track, it felt like she was losing everything, and the earlier "butterflies" in her stomach had vanished. During the return journey, Han Shuo, seeing Meng Guo and Su Ziying in a carriage with Chen Qianqian, abruptly pulled her out and insisted she ride on his horse, declaring she shouldn't be with other men.
Chen Qianqian, feigning disinterest and even annoyance, told him she didn't like him and accused him of being narcissistic. Han Shuo, however, saw through her words, noting her reluctance to push him away, and insisted she was merely bluffing. Chen Qianqian maintained that they were from different worlds, like Huayuan City and Xuanhu City, and she couldn't sacrifice her own world for him or stay indefinitely.
Han Shuo then asked if she would be with him if the conflicts between the two cities were resolved, but Chen Qianqian simply responded that he would never understand. The successful recruitment of bandits from Weimeng Mountain and the triumphant end of the campaign brought great joy to the City Lord, who showered Chen Qianqian with rewards. Meanwhile, Meng Guo, who had joined Chen Qianqian's household, was being introduced to the city by Su Ziying.
Zi Rui, acting on Chen Qianqian's orders, prevented Meng Guo from entering her study, citing its confidential nature. Su Ziying then met with Pei Heng, subtly poisoning his mind against Han Shuo. He falsely claimed Han Shuo had intercepted letters, endangered Chen Qianqian, fawned over Chen Chuchu, abandoned Chen Qianqian at an inn leading to her capture by Meng Guo, and even tried to sexually assault her using aphrodisiac incense.
Pei Heng, infuriated, promised to ensure Su Ziying remained by Chen Qianqian's side to assist her. At the clan school, Chen Qianqian found Han Shuo's intense gaze overwhelming and decided to use Pei Heng as a shield. She made Pei Heng stand close to her during class and recited a lovesick poem, claiming she missed him while on Weimeng Mountain.
Han Shuo, visibly jealous, questioned her actions, to which Chen Qianqian retorted that she had to be "forward" since Pei Heng wasn't interested. Pei Heng, surprisingly, completed the poem, revealing it was one they learned together as children. This led to a heated, childish argument between Han Shuo and Pei Heng over whether Chen Qianqian understood the poem's romantic meaning. Chen Qianqian, eager to escape, quickly left the class.
A storyteller recounted Chen Qianqian's heroic exploits on Weimeng Mountain, detailing her "empty-city strategy," the "seven captures and seven releases" of Meng Guo, and her overall cleverness in subjugating the bandits, giving her all the credit. The crowd cheered for Chen Qianqian, elevating her public image. Chen Chuchu's maid, Zi Zhu, openly complained that Chen Qianqian merely released the bandits caught by Han Shuo and Chen Chuchu, yet took all the glory.
Chen Qianqian attempted to greet Chen Chuchu, but she was pointedly ignored. Su Ziying, playing the victim, reported to Chen Qianqian that Han Shuo intended to challenge Pei Heng at the theater over the poem incident, claiming Pei Heng, a weak scholar, was in danger. Worried about Pei Heng, Chen Qianqian rushed to the theater. Meanwhile, Han Shuo confronted Pei Heng there, accusing him of inappropriate behavior with his wife.
He declared his own love for Chen Qianqian and vowed to win her heart, prompting a heated exchange where they insulted each other. Han Shuo then directly questioned Pei Heng about Su Ziying's loyalty and his repeated attempts to harm Chen Qianqian. Pei Heng acknowledged Su Ziying as his trusted subordinate, implying knowledge of his actions, causing Han Shuo to suspect Pei Heng was behind Su Ziying's schemes.
Bai Ji, however, argued that Pei Heng, who loved Chen Qianqian, wouldn't harm her, suggesting he might only harm Han Shuo. Han Shuo decided to gather evidence against Su Ziying to expose him to Pei Heng later. Chen Qianqian arrived to find Pei Heng had already left. She confronted Han Shuo, accusing him of jealousy and petty behavior for inviting Pei Heng to watch plays about unfaithful women.
She reiterated that she was the one who initiated the poem exchange and chastised Han Shuo for his narrow-mindedness. Han Shuo, frustrated by her constant siding with Pei Heng, expressed hurt that she never considered his feelings. Chen Qianqian, exasperated and feigning indifference to push him away, declared their marriage over and told him to leave, causing Han Shuo to question if that was truly what she meant. Distraught by the situation, Chen Qianqian decided to leave.
Han Shuo, seeking to appear magnanimous after their recent argument, sent an invitation to Pei Heng to join him for a talk, also inviting Meng Guo and Su Ziying. Chen Qianqian, knowing Han Shuo's intentions were likely less than sincere, was surprised to find all of them gathered. Han Shuo claimed he was reflecting on the "woman divorcing her husband" play they had seen earlier.
Wanting to embody Huayuan City's values of male virtue and generosity, he had gathered them to ask how they would handle such a situation. Meng Guo tried to diffuse the tension by clumsily admitting his past attraction to Chen Qianqian but then toasted everyone. Su Ziying declared his loyalty to Chen Qianqian, regardless of her choice, slyly implying Han Shuo was playing a dangerous game.
Pei Heng, in response to Han Shuo's direct question about the play, sarcastically praised the wine, while Zi Rui quickly covered for him. Chen Qianqian, frustrated by the forced drama, wished to fast-forward through the scene. She attempted to soften her previous harsh words to Han Shuo, suggesting their relationship was complicated and couldn't be taken too seriously, to protect her "public image."
When Pei Heng tried to respond, Chen Qianqian feigned extreme drunkenness, and Zi Rui swiftly helped her retreat from the uncomfortable gathering. Once away, Chen Qianqian admitted she wasn't drunk and asked Zi Rui about Su Ziying. Zi Rui reported that Su Ziying had recently tried to enter her study multiple times but was blocked. Chen Qianqian instructed Zi Rui to allow Su Ziying entry next time, eager to see what he planned to do.
