Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 4 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
Gui Bai reported to his superior that he was certain the person they had rescued was Nie Sangyu, noting that while she looked the same, her demeanor was entirely different. He questioned if two people could look so alike, but his superior dismissed the possibility of a coincidence. They decided not to reveal the truth to her, believing she would never be able to leave the Ning household anyway.
Shortly after, Wen Wan visited Nie Sangyu, expressing false sympathy for her whip injuries and urging her not to pursue a divorce from the Marquis. Citing Nie Sangyu’s status as his first wife, she suggested enduring such hardships was necessary. Nie Sangyu cut her off, declaring her firm decision to leave and stating that their contrasting, strong-willed personalities would inevitably cause problems. She also warned Wen Wan to be cautious around men like the Marquis.
Before Wen Wan left, Nie Sangyu gave her a box of Scar Recovering Cream she had made, describing it as a facial cream that could beautify, moisturize, and whiten skin. Wen Wan accepted it, praising its scent, but once outside, she casually handed it to her maid to use.
Meanwhile, Muxu worried aloud about their lack of funds now that the Marquis had confiscated their money, but Nie Sangyu asserted she wouldn't rely on him and had an idea for a big business venture using the Scar Recovering Cream. Nie Sangyu sought out Qian Lianxue, excitedly proposing a plan to make money. Having recently gotten into trouble, Qian Lianxue was hesitant, wanting only a peaceful life and fearing the Marquis's infamous interrogation methods.
Nie Sangyu dismissed the Marquis as a one-time problem and emphasized the potential of the "big business" she envisioned. Observing that Qian Lianxue hadn't bought new clothes recently and surely needed money, Nie Sangyu used Qian Lianxue's maid, Banxia, as proof of the cream's effectiveness, as Banxia's skin had noticeably improved after using it. Nie Sangyu elaborated on the cream's ability to heal scars and enhance beauty, promising significant profit.
Though Qian Lianxue was still doubtful, Nie Sangyu revealed her true goal: to make enough money to leave the Ning household and the Marquis for good. Admitting she was in a difficult position, she asked for Qian Lianxue’s help as her most suitable partner, and Qian Lianxue finally agreed. Despite her injury, Nie Sangyu instructed Muxu on how to create the Scar Recovering Cream, carefully mixing ingredients like saffron crocus, hibiscus flower, and almond oil.
Once the cream was successfully produced, Qian Lianxue began selling it within the mansion. Servants who used it were impressed by its moisturizing effect and the disappearance of their blemishes and scars, quickly becoming eager customers. However, Qian Lianxue soon rushed to Nie Sangyu with alarming news: all the roses in the Rose Garden, a critical ingredient, had withered overnight, halting production. Nie Sangyu immediately understood this was deliberate sabotage but decided investigating would be a futile effort.
She dismissed Qian Lianxue's suggestion to buy more roses from outside the mansion, declaring she had a better solution. Elsewhere, Wen Wan was seen confirming to her maid that she had poured hot water on the roses, though she publicly feigned innocence, blaming the garden's neglect. Nie Sangyu turned the situation to her advantage, instructing Qian Lianxue to spread the news that the raw material was gone and the remaining stock was extremely limited.
She then sold the existing inventory at double the price, marketing it as a "limited edition." The strategy worked perfectly, creating a buying frenzy among the servants, who lamented that the cream had sold out so quickly. Nie Sangyu was pleased with the increased profit, wryly thanking the saboteur for inadvertently boosting their sales.
She also revealed that interest in the cream had spread to the ladies of the capital and planned to build anticipation by offering them only samples at first, adhering to the principle that "scarcity increases value." Meanwhile, two men were discussing recent events, concluding that Ning Yuxuan had manipulated them during the Kui Xing Lou incident, using their assassination attempt as a way to eliminate his own wife, Nie Sangyu. They decided to temporarily halt their plans against him.
Back at the mansion, Wen Wan attempted to deliver tonic soup to Ning Yuxuan, but he refused it and sent her away, noting her sallow complexion. After she left, he ordered his attendant to buy him a bottle of the Scar Recovering Cream.
Later, it was reported to Nie Sangyu that Wen Wan, after being dismissed by the Marquis, had noticed the servants' radiant skin and tried to purchase the now-scarce cream, ultimately paying triple the price to a servant to acquire a bottle. Nie Sangyu found this strange, recalling that she had already given Wen Wan a free bottle, but didn't dwell on it. With sufficient funds earned, Nie Sangyu prepared to leave.
She gathered everyone in Reflection Pavilion, announced her departure for the following evening, and requested they see her off at the front gate. She generously invited them to take anything they liked from the pavilion, as she couldn't carry it with her. She privately informed Qian Lianxue of her plans to open her own shop. Qian Lianxue expressed envy but explained she couldn't leave yet, as her brother needed the Marquis's support for the imperial examinations.
Nie Sangyu reassured her, calling them the "best business partners." She then formally told Ning Yuxuan of her intention to leave the next day, stating they would be enemies from then on. He confirmed a carriage was ready and surprisingly offered to see her off at the front gate. The next evening, while everyone, including Wen Wan and Qian Lianxue, waited at the front gate, Nie Sangyu and Muxu headed towards the back gate.
Nie Sangyu explained this was their strategy: "making a feint to the east and attacking in the west." However, Ning Yuxuan was waiting for them there with guards. He blocked her path, questioning where she thought she was going. She reiterated that they were incompatible, but he countered by asking why she had tried so hard to marry him in the first place. She dismissed it as youthful ignorance.
He then ordered his guards to take her back to Reflection Pavilion. She vehemently refused, stating she would rather sleep on the street. He called her actions reckless and ordered the guards to take her by force. As she struggled, she cried out that he was going back on his word, as he had already agreed to the divorce. Meanwhile, Ling Jianxing received a report that Gui Bai had been seen leaving the city alone late at night.
He ordered his men to intercept him. Posing as bandits, his men stopped Gui Bai, killed his horse, and robbed him, finding a prescription for stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation. Noting the strength of the ingredients, Ling Jianxing suspected Ning Yuxuan was seriously injured and ordered his men to continue investigating his recent activities. Earlier, Ning Yuxuan had been stabbed at a derelict temple. He had gone there expecting to find bandits but instead found starving refugees.
A desperate woman, pleading for her child, stabbed him, accusing him of being a ruthless official whose actions had driven their families to starvation. This confrontation caused Ning Yuxuan to question whether his harsh methods were truly just. Secretly returning to the mansion, he staggered to Reflection Pavilion, trying to hide his severe injury. Nie Sangyu discovered him there, bleeding heavily. He refused to let her call a doctor or allow anyone else to know.
Despite his protests, she insisted on treating him. She wrote a prescription for a medicinal decoction, sending Muxu to fetch the ingredients, which included an unusual item called "Horse's Manure." When Ning Yuxuan refused to drink the strange-smelling medicine, she tied him up with a sailor's knot and, with Muxu's help, held his nose shut to force-feed him the decoction. The next morning, Nie Sangyu found Ning Yuxuan awake but with no memory of the previous night's events.
She mockingly recounted a dramatic and exaggerated version of the story: how he had staggered in, how she had heroically saved him despite his disobedience, and how she had to acquire the special "Horse's Manure" medicine, joking about whether he preferred it "poop-flavored" or "horse-manure-flavored." She gleefully described prying his mouth open with a bamboo ruler to force the medicine down, relishing his predicament. She finished her tale with a triumphant, "And that's how it happened."
