The Romance of Tiger and Rose Episode 4 Recap
> The Romance of Tiger and Rose Recap
After receiving Su Mu's gifts, which he was compelled to return, Chen Qianqian rushed to the Music and Dance Academy, furious that Lin Qi had hit Su Mu. Su Mu tried to calm her, stating that while the whip didn't hurt him, it would make his heart ache if she were angered.
Chen Qianqian told Su Mu he no longer needed to curry favor with her and should treat her as a friend, acknowledging his reluctance to remain at the Academy. She proposed to buy Su Mu's freedom, not to keep him for entertainment, but to free him and secure him a new path. Su Mu, however, felt his lowly status prevented such a friendship.
Unbeknownst to Chen Qianqian, Han Shuo, who had initially been angered upon hearing she went to the Academy for Su Mu and smashed a horse ornament he made, had followed her. He planned to mock her, but overheard her conversation with Lin Qi. Chen Qianqian bravely defended Han Shuo, urging Lin Qi not to look down on him due to his heart disease, as he possessed both martial arts skills and strategic intelligence.
Han Shuo was surprised and increasingly intrigued by Chen Qianqian, realizing she was not the arrogant, illiterate, and cruel person rumored, but rather cute, intelligent, and kind. He decided to help her, wanting to ensure Lin Qi had no musicians left if she dared refuse Chen Qianqian. Han Shuo went to the City Owner and feigned self-deprecation, emphasizing his terminal heart disease and short remaining lifespan.
He requested that all musicians from the Music and Dance Academy be transferred to Chen Qianqian's mansion to entertain her, so she wouldn't be lonely after he was gone. Despite a courtier's objection, the City Owner, who doted on Chen Qianqian, granted his request. The next day, Lin Qi, fuming, arrived at Chen Qianqian's mansion with all the musicians. Chen Qianqian gleefully taunted her, noting that since Lin Qi had refused her money, the Academy was now "banned by law."
As Lin Qi lunged at Chen Qianqian with her whip, Han Shuo intervened, snatching the weapon and presenting it to Chen Qianqian. Chen Qianqian, intending to keep only Su Mu, tried to return the other musicians to Lin Qi, but Lin Qi refused, reminding her of Han Shuo's self-abasement for these musicians and the rumors circulating about the couple's audacity. Han Shuo's true motive for acquiring the musicians was to facilitate communication with his spy, who was embedded among them.
The spy reported that despite years in Huayuan City, he hadn't located the Dragon Bone, but had gathered extensive intelligence on the city's treasury, military, and the City Owner's health. Han Shuo, however, was preoccupied with Chen Qianqian, asking about her past activities at the Academy. To allow his spy to continue gathering information, Han Shuo, in Chen Qianqian's name, sent the remaining musicians to the Second Princess Chen Chuchu's mansion.
The City Owner, upon learning this, was greatly displeased with Chen Chuchu, believing she was "hanging out" with musicians and neglecting her duties, thus diminishing her reputation. Meanwhile, Chen Qianqian sent a masterfully crafted Qin to Pei Heng. Han Shuo, mistakenly believing it was a thank-you gift for him, instructed his attendant Bai Ji to feign surprise and conceal his inability to play the Qin. However, Chen Qianqian was meeting Pei Heng.
She encouraged him to embrace his true passion for playing the Qin, which he had long suppressed to avoid being seen as a "pleasing tool" or bound by societal expectations. She urged him to "stick to his heart" and not care about others' opinions, drawing a parallel to Su Mu's own plight. Pei Heng, moved by her words, played the Qin, signaling his agreement to keep Su Mu.
Just then, Lin Qi, hearing the music, burst in and furiously accused Chen Qianqian of forcing Pei Heng to play. She then ambushed Chen Qianqian, dislocating her arm. Han Shuo, teasingly asking if "playing the Qin broke her arm," offered to help. Despite Zi Rui's proud recount of Chen Qianqian's childhood resilience to pain, Chen Qianqian admitted she was terrified.
Han Shuo dismissed everyone, then reset her arm, distracting her with an exaggerated tale of their first meeting, describing her bravery and how he fell in love at first sight. Chen Qianqian hummed dismissively throughout the procedure, later realizing his romantic narrative was merely a ploy. Han Shuo questioned why she always pretended not to be afraid of pain, to which she sighed that it was "the situation" and her role as the Third Princess.
Later, a spy reported a crucial secret: Chen Chuchu was not the City Owner's biological daughter. With Chen Yuanyuan disabled, Chen Qianqian was the sole legitimate successor. The spy proposed poisoning Chen Qianqian to force the City Owner to use the Dragon Bone, which could then be stolen to cure Han Shuo. This act, he argued, would also destabilize Huayuan City, making it ripe for Xuanhu's conquest and securing its valuable black stone mine.
Han Shuo, however, hesitated, realizing that the Dragon Bone could only save one person, condemning Chen Qianqian to death. He decided the plan needed "more time to think" and "couldn't be rushed." Han Shuo then spotted Chen Qianqian happily chatting with Pei Heng. Feeling a pang of jealousy, he overheard Chen Qianqian instructing Pei Heng not to send Xuanhu fruits to him, as it might make him homesick.
She added that Han Shuo "only has the Dragon Bone in his mind." Han Shuo was touched by her apparent consideration, even if she also saw him as single-minded. Chen Qianqian, realizing Han Shuo seemed unhappy after Pei Heng's visit and suspecting he might have been jealous, decided to throw him a surprise birthday party to make him feel at home.
She boasted to Zi Rui that she knew all his personal details—his birth date, height, weight, blood type, and preferences—"better than his mom." While shopping for gifts, all the shops closed their doors, fearing her past habit of buying on credit. It was only when Zi Rui shouted that they would pay in cash that the shops reopened. Chen Qianqian decided to make him custom shoes and socks, a Xuanhu City tradition.
She snuck into his room to secretly measure his shoe size. When Han Shuo walked in, she quickly measured his neck, then, with an embrace, measured his chest and waist, leaving Han Shuo utterly confused and convinced she was "throwing herself at him." She also made bamboo firecrackers for his celebration. That evening, Chen Qianqian presented Han Shuo with his gifts: a handmade outfit and shoes, and a hotpot meal. Seeing her efforts, Han Shuo finally smiled.
She shared her knowledge of his heart condition, the prophecy that he wouldn't live past twenty, and urged him not to give up. She confidently declared that "there's one person who can cure you, and she'll be the one who loves you the most," promising to create a miracle if one didn't appear. Han Shuo, who had poison hidden in his sleeve, silently put it away. They shared fruit wine, chosen by Chen Qianqian because of his heart condition.
She toasted him, even "sparing the orange's life." Han Shuo confessed that he had found a way to cure his disease, but "didn't want to use that." As they both became tipsy, Han Shuo observed Chen Qianqian was completely unguarded around him. They eventually drifted off to sleep, embracing amidst the flowers.
