Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 5 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
Ning Yuxuan, injured, was visited by Gui Bai, who reported he had been ambushed by a fierce, armed group in the night. They had stolen his money and medicine. Nie Sangyu remarked that these robbers must be very powerful to overcome Gui Bai. Ning Yuxuan ordered that news of his injury must be kept secret. He wanted to return to his bedroom, but Gui Bai noted his injuries were too severe for easy movement, so he remained where he was.
Nie Sangyu complained about having to care for him. Wen Wan arrived, claiming she was worried about Nie Sangyu after she was scolded by His Lordship the previous day. She brought gifts and insisted on entering Nie Sangyu's room despite Nie Sangyu's protests that the room was messy, cold, and that she had a cold. Wen Wan's attendant pressed to enter, suggesting something might be hidden inside. Ning Yuxuan called out, telling them to stop and leave.
Wen Wan left, startled. Afterward, Nie Sangyu pointed out that Ning Yuxuan seemed recovered enough to sit up and suggested he go back to his own room, fearing that the commotion caused by Wen Wan's visit would draw attention and reveal his presence. Ning Yuxuan stated he couldn't leave yet due to the scrutiny on the area. Gui Bai brought food, but there was nowhere to put it as the table and other furnishings had been given away.
Ning Yuxuan declared he was not there to suffer and ordered many items brought in to furnish the room comfortably. Servants seemed pleased, believing this meant the First Lady was favored again. Nie Sangyu was angered by Ning Yuxuan arranging her room to his taste, but he overruled her objections, stating he wanted comfort. He asserted that the entire mansion belonged to him.
Nie Sangyu questioned his character, noting he had been assassinated multiple times, implying he wasn't a good official. Ning Yuxuan ordered Gui Bai to remove her, but she quickly relented and agreed to be quiet. Later, she observed that in her own room, Ning Yuxuan slept on the bed while she was on the couch. Meanwhile, Lord Tan spoke with Ling Jianxing, expressing frustration that Ning Yuxuan was closely allied with the Emperor.
He called Ling Jianxing a "piece of trash" for having to settle for him. Lord Tan pressured Ling Jianxing to defeat Ning Yuxuan and secure the position of prime minister, threatening his life if he failed. Ling Jianxing pledged to find a countermeasure. Later, Ning Yuxuan thrashed in his sleep, having a nightmare about his father, calling out for help. Nie Sangyu woke him despite his resistance.
Gui Bai reported that a doctor found no issues with the medicine Nie Sangyu had prepared, even praising the prescription, which Ning Yuxuan found strange. Gui Bai also reported on the attackers, saying they looked like bandits but seemed trained by the government. Ning Yuxuan, suspecting Ling Jianxing was already aware of the incident, reiterated that his rival must not learn about his injury. Ning Yuxuan heard a noise and saw Nie Sangyu pounding herbs in the courtyard.
He watched her, intrigued. Noticing him, Nie Sangyu got an idea. She brought several varieties of Scar Recovering Cream, including one for the soles of the feet, and insisted on applying it to Ning Yuxuan. He strongly refused. While they argued, Wen Wan's attendant arrived, but Muxu blocked her, claiming Her Ladyship and His Lordship were busy. Inside, Nie Sangyu persisted until Ning Yuxuan finally told her to stay away from him.
Seizing the opportunity, Nie Sangyu took his words as permission to leave, announcing she would go to the flower market so as not to bother him. She left with Muxu. Nie Sangyu and Muxu explored the market. Nie Sangyu asked a vendor about cosmetic shops and learned there were none currently. Recognizing the business opportunity, she decided to set up a stall to sell her creams. A man, accompanied by his subordinates, noticed her.
His subordinate found it amusing that the Marquis's wife was selling goods on the street. The man watched her closely. Nie Sangyu passionately explained her ambition was not just a stall but a chain of cosmetic shops across the land. The man introduced himself as Yuan Lang, a wandering merchant looking for opportunities, and immediately offered to partner with her, with him providing the money and her providing the products. Nie Sangyu was surprised by his direct offer.
Gui Bai arrived to fetch Nie Sangyu. Yuan Lang saw him and announced he had to leave, giving Nie Sangyu some money as a token of sincerity and instructing her to find him at Wanghua Restaurant if she was interested. Nie Sangyu refused the money. Gui Bai informed Nie Sangyu that Ning Yuxuan wanted her to return to the mansion immediately, claiming he needed his medicine changed.
Nie Sangyu returned and checked Ning Yuxuan's wound, quickly realizing he didn't need his medicine changed and had just summoned her back deliberately. She confronted him about lying. He accused her of embarrassing him by setting up a street stall, reminding her she was the Marquis's wife. She countered that she earned her money through her own efforts and had already requested a divorce.
She stated that every penny she earned was to better facilitate her departure from him, seeing her memory loss as a chance at a new life. Ning Yuxuan mused that her change since the amnesia was a mystery. Nie Sangyu firmly declared that the best outcome for them was separation, stating her intention to leave the Ning Mansion once his injury healed.
Spies reported to Ling Jianxing that Ning Yuxuan seemed to have a cold and had stayed in the First Lady's courtyard. Ling Jianxing suspected the cold was a cover for an injury, finding Ning Yuxuan's prolonged stay with the notoriously difficult Nie Sangyu abnormal. At court, Ling Jianxing reported a recent military victory and requested the soldiers be rewarded. The Emperor agreed to hold a Flower Fair in the Imperial Garden for the meritorious officials and their families.
Ling Jianxing then highlighted Ning Yuxuan's crucial role in the victory and suggested he attend, arguing his absence might dishearten the soldiers. The Emperor agreed. Nie Sangyu, excited about her business, went to look at a potential shop space. The owner described it as a prime location and asked for her best offer. Nie Sangyu offered eighty taels, but the owner stated the price was eight hundred taels, cash only.
Shocked, Nie Sangyu protested the high price, but the owner refused to negotiate and told her to leave. Two officials, friends of Ning Yuxuan, discussed Ling Jianxing's actions at court. They deduced that Ling Jianxing deliberately waited until the Emperor announced the Flower Fair for families before suggesting Ning Yuxuan attend, forcing him to bring his wife. They noted that only the principal wife is appropriate for such formal events.
Knowing Ning Yuxuan's poor relationship with Nie Sangyu, they concluded Ling Jianxing aimed to create a public embarrassment that would damage Ning Yuxuan's reputation and ruin his prospects for the position of prime minister. Ning Yuxuan informed Nie Sangyu that she was required to attend the Flower Fair. She refused, reminding him of their impending divorce. He insisted she must fulfill her duties as the First Lady.
When she suggested his concubine, Wen Wan, could attend, he explained that bringing a concubine to a formal court event would cause a scandal. Nie Sangyu offered to divorce him that day so he could bring Wen Wan legitimately. Instead, he presented clothes for her and offered that if she attended the event, he might agree to the divorce. Nie Sangyu called his bluff, stating she had earned enough money to leave regardless.
Ning Yuxuan countered that without a formal divorce, their property was jointly owned, meaning he could legally take half of her earnings. Angered, Nie Sangyu ultimately conceded, agreeing to compromise one last time.
