I’m looking for something short to watch recently and came across The Romance Of Hua Rong (一夜新娘). The story of pirates is not too common for mainland dramas and that got me interested. So, I binge watch this in 2 days and below is the episode summary from start to finish. You can check out The Romance Of Hua Rong review for my assessment of this drama. Otherwise, just read this summary if you are too anxious to find out what happens as the story progresses!
Episode 1
Hua Rong sneaks into a brothel called Tian Xian Lou to save a lady named Xiao Hui on the request of the latter’s mother. She wears a veil and pretends to be Xiao Hui in order to steal Xiao Hui’s bondage contract from the mama-san’s room. At the same time, Qin Shang Cheng is there with his 2 subordinates to look for a man named Pei Yong. They have an axe to grind with him. In the confusion, Shang Cheng thinks Hua Rong is Pei Yong’s partner but he is still smitten by her beauty when her veil falls off.
Pei Yong escapes followed by Hua Rong who has dressed up as a man. She bumps into a man and his servant while escaping. They end up taking each other’s sack by mistake. Hers contains valuables that she has stolen from the mama-san’s room. His has pages and pages of manuscripts which Hua Rong later burns to keep warm while hiding in a ship.
Shang Cheng is a pirate king. His second in command is Chen Biao who is cruel and ruthless. They attack the ship Hua Rong is on and conquers it. Shang Cheng takes Hua Rong in as a slave and makes her work on the pirates’ island. Hua Rong goes against the head cook who is a bully. She causes an explosion in the kitchen so that the head cook will be punished. But Shang Cheng knows Hua Rong is the culprit. She admits but dares him to punish her.
Episode 2
Hua Rong claims that Hua Man Tian, a royal high official, is her father. Hence, if anything happens to her, her father would attack the island. She manages to talk her way out of a severe punishment but Shang Cheng still orders for her to be lashed. When Hua Rong is sent to wash clothes, she meets a timid man whom she names Yue Feng. He protects him from getting bullied which he appreciates. When washing Shang Cheng’s clothes, she purposely mixes in some river grass which would cause an allergic reaction.
With Shang Cheng down with allergy, Hua Rong thinks she would be able to escape. But Shang Cheng is one step ahead. Hua Rong is tied up outside but faints the next day from over-exposure to the sun. A doctor is called in and her identity as a woman is then exposed. Hua Rong realizes that Shang Cheng has known all along that she is a woman. Yue Feng comes by to visit her and she encourages him to have confidence in himself. She regards him as a brother. Yue Feng tells Hua Rong that she will need a map in order to escape. The map is in Shang Cheng’s room.
Chen Biao tries to take advantage of Hua Rong. Shang Cheng comes in time to save her. He brings her back to his room and applies some ointment to her forehead bruise. Hua Rong tries to take the opportunity to look for the map. She said that she should repay him for saving her by cleaning his room. But Shang Cheng says that it isn’t necessary as she can repay him in other ways.
Episode 3
Hua Rong offers to be Shang Cheng’s teacher to repay him as she thinks that he is illiterate. This will make it easier for her to look for the map to get off the island. Chen Biao is unhappy that he got punished by Shang Cheng because of a woman. He takes it out on Yue Feng to get back at Hua Rong. But Hua Rong refuses to just let it go. She causes Chen Biao to have diarrhea which embarrasses him. Chen Biao knows Hua Rong is the culprit but he doesn’t have sufficient proof when he accuses her in front of Shang Cheng. In the end, Chen Biao has to apologize to Hua Rong. He is angry and listens to his subordinate, Hu Er, to topple Shang Cheng.
Hua Rong is still trying to escape. Yue Feng helps her to build a boat to get off the island. Hua Rong creates a diversion to enter Shang Cheng’s room to look for the map. But the map she finds is a fake one as Shang Cheng is aware what Hua Rong is up to. When she and Yue Feng are caught trying to escape, Shang Cheng makes a bet with her. He will let her go if she can make it off the island. But if she fails, she must agree not to try to escape again. Hua Rong accepts the bet and ends up having to be saved by Shang Cheng from being drowned because of the fake map.
They end up on a deserted part of the island. Shang Cheng saved Hua Rong again from some wild animals. While Hua Rong is asleep, Shang Cheng flicks a snake away from her but is bitten in the process. He ends up on top of Hua Rong.
Episode 4
The snake bite causes Shang Cheng to faint. Hua Rong drags him back home. Shang Cheng pretends to be in pain to get Hua Rong to feed and take care of him. She sees it as repaying him for saving her. Da You notices Chen Biao’s men spiking the alcohol that has been prepared for Shang Cheng’s birthday banquet. Hua Rong also finds out about the plot but is caught by Chen Biao and locked up in the firewood room.
On that day, Hua Rong escapes and runs to the banquet to warn Shang Cheng. Shang Cheng pretends to feel weak to give Chen Biao a chance to repent as the latter has saved his life in the past. Chen Biao is unrepentant. A fight breaks out between the 2 camps. Chen Biao takes Hua Rong hostage to force Shang Cheng to let him escape. Shang Cheng agrees. Hua Rong stamps on Chen Biao’s foot and frees herself. Chen Biao is subdued and imprisoned.
With Shang Cheng having recovered, Hua Rong feels she has paid her dues. She is back to her scheming to get her hands on the map. Knowing that Shang Cheng likes her, Hua Rong seduces him and makes him drunk to reveal the map location. But he forces her to drink too. She becomes drunk and kisses him. They end up in bed together. The next morning, Hua Rong gets mad at Shang Cheng for taking advantage of her when she is drunk. Shang Cheng is also angry that Hua Rong feels he is unworthy of her. He bars her from leaving her room.
Episode 5
Shang Cheng tries to placate Hua Rong with gifts. He also wants to marry her to take responsibility for his actions. Hua Rong angrily takes a hairpin and stabs Shang Cheng. He lets her do so to release her anger and hatred for him. After thinking it over, Hua Rong pretends to change her mind and agrees to marry Shang Cheng. He gives her the master’s badge that allows her to do anything and go anywhere on the island in return. But he still doesn’t trust her completely and Hua Rong knows it. So, she tricks him to gain his trust. As a result, she finally manages to find the map and memorizes it.
Shang Cheng receives news on Pei Yong’s whereabouts and plans to look for him after the wedding. Pei Yong might be related to his adopted father’s death. Hua Rong’s plan is to escape with Yue Feng right after the wedding. They go through the wedding ceremony. When Shang Cheng is having the customary drinking celebration, Yue Feng poisons the guards outside the bridal room so that Hua Rong can escape. They row a boat out to sea together. When Shang Cheng returns to find Hua Rong gone, he sets sail with his men to look for her. A huge thunderstorm occurs. Hua Rong and Yue Feng are struggling to cope with the waves. When the weather calms down the next morning, Shang Cheng’s men find the remains of a capsized boat in the sea.
Episode 6
Shang Cheng is devastated that Hua Rong has left him. He keeps drinking and Da You arranges a woman to spend the night with him to cheer him up. However, Shang Cheng realizes that he doesn’t want any other women except Hua Rong. He wants to get her back, dead or alive. Hua Rong and Yue Feng are saved by Jin Yi Wen and his servant, Lai Sheng. Jin recognizes Hua Rong as the person who took his manuscripts earlier. Hua Rong re-writes what she remembers from the pages that she has burned. Mr. Jin is impressed with her skill.
Hua Rong wants to get into Tian Xian Lou to save Xiao Hui which she had failed to do previously. Jin is interested to help her. They sneaked in by devious means and manages to obtain the bondage contracts after subduing the mama-san. But help arrives. While making their escape, they dash into a room which happens to be occupied by Pei Yong. He is with another man whose face has been covered. At the same time, Shang Cheng and his men are also there looking for Pei Yong. They bump into Hua Rong and her friends. Pei Yong and the mystery man have already ran away. The man orders Pei Yong to capture Hua Rong and kill the rest to avoid problems later.
Hua Rong quickly leaves the hotel with Yue Feng to avoid Shang Cheng. Jin follows Hua Rong and they put up in an abandoned building for the night. Hua Rong uses the tactics written up by her hero, Yun He, to lay traps at the entrance. Halfway through her sleep, she is woken up because somebody is coming.
Episode 7
Assassins are coming for Hua Rong and her friends. Shang Cheng saves them but they have to run as reinforcements arrive. At the cliff, Shang Cheng grabs Hua Rong and swings from a tree branch to safety. Jin and Yue Feng join them. As the assassins close in, Jin’s help arrive and save them. Hua Rong shows her preference for Jin over Shang Cheng. The 2 men are jealous of each other as they vie for Hua Rong’s affections.
Pei Yong fails to capture Hua Rong. The mystery man orders him to keep an eye on her. Shang Cheng asks Da You to investigate Jin’s background but it proves to be difficult. But Da You finds out that the assassins are from the Hei Long Bang gang of which the leader is unknown. More disagreements arise between Shang Cheng and Jin as the former tries to get close to Hua Rong who rejects him.
During a walk in the city, Hua Rong saves Xiao Hui from her gambler father and takes her under her wing. Xiao Hui is fearful and timid because she has been abused. When Shang Cheng thinks Hua Rong is preparing for a bath, he goes to the bathing room first hoping to take advantage of the situation. But it is Jin who turns up and they get into a fight. As they get dressed, Shang Cheng notices Jin’s jade token. To get Xiao Hui to relax, Hua Rong decides to take her for an outing together with Jin and leaves Shang Cheng behind.
Episode 8
Jin gets Hua Rong’s favorite food prepared to please her. To get Jin away from Hua Rong, Shang Cheng gets his men to steal Jin’s jade token and leads him on a chase. Then, he blocks others from using the road to let Hua Rong enjoys her stroll to admire the lanterns. When Hua Rong finds out what Shang Cheng has done, she is mad at him for bullying others.
Hua Rong bumps into Yuan Ming who wants to bring her back home. She runs away with Yue Feng and Xiao Hui while asking Jin to stop Yuan Ming. Jin and Lai Sheng end up being imprisoned by state officials. Hua Rong is saved by Zhang Xian who has been ordered by Shang Cheng to protect her. She finds out that Shang Cheng has gone to Hei Long Bang to seek justice for her. But Tangkou is a place that is rigged with booby traps. Fearing for his safety, she decides to go there to warn him.
Yue Feng manages to disarm the explosive trap at Tangkou. Shang Cheng still couldn’t find out who is the mastermind. Hua Rong wants to save the ladies who have been traded by Hei Long Bang into prostitution. The ladies are locked up at the dock. Shang Cheng helps her by wearing a mask and pretending to be her dream hero, Yun He. Pei Yong turns up at the dock to capture Hua Rong but is subdued by Shang Cheng. He escapes while being questioned. Hua Rong is on cloud nine for having met Yun He who gives her a bell as a token for their first meeting. When she rings the bell later, Shang Cheng turns up again. Hua Rong reaches out to try to take off his mask.
Episode 9
It turns out that Hua Rong is dreaming of Yun He. She is woken up when Shang Cheng knocks on the door. She relates her Yun He story to everyone while putting down Shang Cheng for failing to help her. But his antics make her suspect that Shang Cheng might be Yun He after all. Hua Rong tries to investigate. Her conclusion is Shang Cheng is not Yun He.
In the meantime, Jin spreads word about Yun He to make Hua Rong suspects that the hero is him. Then, he appears as Yun He in front of Hua Rong which makes her admire him even more. Pei Yong is instructed by the mystery man to investigate Yun He as he seems to know a lot about their activities. Yuan Ming orders Hua Rong to return to her father but she appeals to him to give her 2 more days to bid goodbye to Yun He.
Hei Long Bang assassins drop by the inn to target Jin. Shang Cheng appears as Yun He to save him and leads the assassins away. His men subdue the remaining enemies. Shang Cheng reappears as himself and captures one for interrogation. But the assassin kills himself before revealing anything. Now Hua Rong knows that Jin is not Yun He. He explains that he pretends to be Yun He because he needs to quietly find a rare medicine to cure his sick mother. This medicine is last known to be in the hands of a pirate who was subsequently killed by Yun He. The medicine has disappeared since then. Jin wants to know from Hua Rong if she blames him for lying to her.
Episode 10
Hua Rong is not angry at Jin at all for lying to her. But to Jin, this is a sign that Hua Rong has no romantic feelings for him. After the threat to his life, Jin is requested by his mother to go home. Shang Cheng is happy to see him off. Hua Rong is also pressured by Yuan Ming to go back to her father. On the eve of her departure, Yun He turns up to see her. When she pulls his mask off, she discovers that he is Shang Cheng which makes her mad at him again. Yuan Ming brings news that Hua Rong’s father, Hua Man Tian, has been injured during an investigation into a case. Hua Rong rushes to the Su Villa to see him.
At the villa, Hua Rong discovers that Shang Cheng is now her father’s trusted bodyguard. Shang Cheng has saved his life when he was ambushed earlier. Man Tian is urged by the palace to quickly investigate the case. He decides to appoint Yuan Ming to investigate now that he is injured. Yuan Ming is a royalty and hence, Man Tian feels that he should be able to handle the matter. However, he also knows that his daughter will insist on following Yuan Ming. Shang Cheng promises Man Tian that he will protect Hua Rong with his life.
Hua Rong’s cousin, Su, is showing interest in Shang Cheng which makes Hua Rong uncomfortable. Yuan Ming is poisoned after they set out on their investigative mission. They have to turn back. Hua Rong wants to press ahead with the mission but her father thinks it is too dangerous. Shang Cheng says he could help her on the condition that she requests him to do so and to serve him personally.
Episode 11
Hua Rong convinces her father to let her and Shang Cheng to investigate what is going on. Shang Cheng has to pretend to be Yuan Ming. As Hua Rong teaches him manners befitting a royalty, they tries to bully each other. Once they arrived at the district where a fire has happened, all the witnesses seem to be telling the same story. They also find out that Su has arrived at the district as her family has a business there. She tells them that Hua Rong’s father has instructed her to make sure that they are safe. Su again shows her concern for Shang Cheng in front of Hua Rong.
Shang Cheng discovers that he is being closely watched at the inn where he is staying. He goes to Hua Rong to warn and protect her. As they talk over wine, Hua Rong gets drunk and pulls Shang Cheng onto the bed with her. They sleep until the next morning. Hua Rong is embarrassed over her antics. She brings Xiao Hui for a walk around town. Xiao Hui bumps into Xiao Yue who is also from Tian Xian Lou and close to Hei Long Bang. However, Xiao Yue pretends not to know her. Shang Cheng suspects that Hei Long Bang has something to do with the fire. They ask Su’s help to investigate if the locals are aware of Hei Long Bang. Su replies that none of them are.
Yuan Ming arrives at the district and gets angry with Hua Rong for putting herself in danger with the investigation. He wants her to go back home. Yuan Ming also confesses his feelings for Hua Rong. But Hua Rong rejects him as she only treats him as a brother.
Episode 12
Although rejected, Yuan Ming still advises Hua Rong to stay safe. Su also overheard Yuan Ming’s confession. Hua Rong feels bad dragging Shang Cheng into danger with her desire to solve the case. However, Shang Cheng is happy to help. Hua Rong and Xiao Hui confront Xiao Yue again to ask for information. They promise to free her from the clutches of Hei Long Bang if she cooperates with them. Hua Rong asks Su for assistance to help Xiao Yue escape. Su agrees. On the day Xiao Yue is supposed to leave town, Hua Rong and Shang Cheng find her dead.
They capture a man who says that he has been ordered to kill Xiao Yue by the district official. When the officials arrive, Hua Rong and Shang Cheng are arrested for impersonation and murder of Xiao Yue after being framed by the real killer. Da You, Zhang Xian and Xiao Hui are also arrested and imprisoned. Yuan Ming comes by to get them out of jail. He insists that Hua Rong stops her investigation as it is getting very dangerous. He also informs her that new envoys will be coming to take over the mission.
Shang Cheng appears as Yun He to advise Hua Rong to go home. But Hua Rong insists that she wants to stay because she fears for Shang Cheng’s safety and that he is very important to her. Halfway through their conversation, she realizes that he is Shang Cheng. Yun He is Shang Cheng’s creation to investigate his adoptive father’s death in a stealth manner.
Episode 13
Shang Cheng tells Hua Rong that his interest in Pei Yong and Hei Long Bang stems from their involvement in his adopted father’s death. Therefore, she doesn’t have to feel bad about dragging him into the current mess. The next day, they go back to the scene of Xiao Yue’s murder and discovers a map that she has hidden. Shang Cheng and Hua Rong will go to the location on the map while Da You, Zhang Xian and Xiao Hui will inform their comrades. Zhang Xian and Xiao Hui find out that they like each other.
Shang Cheng and Hua Rong discover valuables, weapons and kerosene at the map’s location. Then, Pei Yong and his men appear. Shang Cheng is injured but they manage to escape and hide. Hua Rong needs to seek help to save Shang Cheng. Before they split up, Hua Rong realizes how much Shang Cheng loves her. They also know that Yuan Ming is the head of Hei Long Bang with all the coincidences along the way.
Hua Rong runs back to seek help from Su. But Su is helping Yuan Ming because she loves him and they are now a couple. When Hua Rong discovers her betrayal, she lets off a flare given by Shang Cheng earlier. Hua Rong is taken back to Su Villa and locked up. Yuan Ming is bitter because he doesn’t get the recognition he thinks he deserves due to being a concubine’s son. Shang Cheng drops a note to let Hua Rong knows that he is well and will get her out. But Yue Feng betrays her and informs Yuan Ming as he hates Shang Cheng. Yuan Ming prepares for Shang Cheng’s arrival to rescue Hua Rong. The palace sends orders asking for an investigation report from Man Tian.
Episode 14
Man Tian refuses to write the report. Yuan Ming then forces Hua Rong to marry him. This would also lure Shang Cheng to show up. Su is devastated that Yuan Ming has deceived her and is locked away. On the wedding day, Hua Rong is locked up too. Shang Cheng’s men infiltrate the villa through the waterways. Yue Feng has given Shang Cheng a map of the villa to help him to get in. He pretended to betray Hua Rong to deceive Yuan Ming.
A fight breaks out in the banquet room. Yuan Ming flees to get Hua Rong from her cell. Pei Yong plays dead when state officials arrive to arrest Yuan Ming and his men. Hua Rong manages to free herself in time to sear Yuan Ming with a candle when he comes to her cell. She sees Su and tries to help her. Yuan Ming still wants Hua Rong to escape with him. Su pretends that she wants to kill Hua Rong beause of jealousy but pierces Yuan Ming with her hairpin instead. Then, she commits suicide by slashing her neck. Shang Cheng arrives to save Hua Rong after fighting off an imposter in the bridal chamber. Yue Feng is hurt while trying to help Shang Cheng.
Yuan Ming’s father places him under house arrest. Shang Cheng refuses to take up Prince Zhen Nan’s offer to be a general but is allowed to seek foreign trade. Hua Rong follows Shang Cheng in his ship as a state ambassador. Their next destination is Wan Jiang which is Jin’s hometown. Shang Cheng, dressed as Yun He, has chased after Pei Yong when he escapes. Pei Yong informs Shang Cheng that the leader of Hei Long Bang is not Yuan Ming but someone from Wan Jiang before he kills him.
Episode 15
Shang Cheng proposes to Hua Rong on their voyage to Wan Jiang. He wants her to marry him willingly this time. During the proposal, a nearby ship is burning. Shang Cheng goes over to check it out followed by Hua Rong, Da You and Zhang Xian. An enemy flicks a small weapon at Shang Cheng. Hua Rong blocks it. Shang Cheng thinks she has been killed but the weapon is lodged in her locket. Fearing he would lose her due to the danger, Shang Cheng orders Da You to send Hua Rong back to Tianchu while he quietly goes to Wan Jiang.
Hua Rong orders Da You to turn the ship around. She saves Lu Wan Wan in Wan Jiang. Wan Wan is escaping from an arranged marriage being planned for her in an entrepreneurs’ meeting. Hua Rong decides to go to the event with Wan Wan. Shang Cheng pretends to be an incense merchant at the meeting and appears friendly to Mrs. Lu to get information about her husband whom he suspects to have ties to Hei Long Bang. Hua Rong is jealous which delights Shang Cheng.
Investigation reveals that Wan Wan’s father has been blackmailed to find a suitable husband for her and the betrothal gift would be a piece of white jade. The mastermind is looking for other half of the jade and luring Yun He to show up. Shang Cheng is unable to get Hua Rong to leave Wan Jiang. They make a bet that whoever chosen to become Wan Wan’s husband will get the final say. Hua Rong and Wan Wan forge the tickets to get into the event dressed as men. They are caught and tries to flee. Jin appears when Hua Rong and Wan Wan are surrounded by state officials.
Episode 16
Jin is a prince in Wan Jiang. He saves Hua Rong and they go back to the meeting together. Jin is representing his elder brother who is sick. A few candidates have been shortlisted that they include Jin and Shang Cheng. Hua Rong is rooting for Jin to be selected to win her bet with Shang Cheng. Jin is thankful to Shang Cheng for giving him the medicine that he has been looking for earlier to cure his mother and hence, he promises not to expose Shang Cheng’s real identity. However, Jin makes no secret that he is also after Hua Rong.
Jin invites Hua Rong and Wan Wan to stay in his mansion for safety reasons. He tries to express his feelings for Hua Rong but she brushes him off as a brother. The mastermind behind Wan Wan’s betrothal now has a list of candidates that he could investigate and Yun He could be anyone of them. Shang Cheng drops by the Jin Mansion as a supplier of incense to the household. Jin’s brother receives him and tries to test him out. Shang Cheng is smart enough to avoid suspicion. He tries to entice Hua Rong to leave the Jin Mansion and go back with him by kissing her. She is embarrassed by her own response and runs away when Jin appears.
The nominees to be Wan Wan’s husband have to solve a riddle and look for 2 items. Jin and Shang Cheng has an item each. They challenge each other to a battle of wits to determine the winner. Hua Rong and Wan Wan become their referee. The questions are all related to Hua Rong likes and dislikes.
Episode 17
Shang Cheng wins the contest. Jin knows that Hua Rong loves Shang Cheng from her reaction during some of the questions. But Hua Rong’s last question about her dreams fails to elicit the right response from Shang Cheng when he replies that her dream is to marry him. Jin answers that Hua Rong’s dream is to become a heroine and help the weak. This makes Hua Rong angry because she feels that Shang Cheng doesn’t understand her.
The next competition for the nominees for Wan Wan’s husband is archery. Jin is sick and Hua Rong will take his place. Da You buys out all the archery masters to prevent them from teaching Hua Rong. This makes her even angrier. Shang Cheng changes into Yun He to placate Hua Rong and trains her for the competition. A subordinate of Jin’s brother sees Yun He with Hua Rong. When Shang Cheng mentions about letting her win the competition, this riles up Hua Rong again.
Shang Cheng listens to Da You and goes to a whorehouse to seek answers about women’s dreams. He is enlightened and goes back to make a bow for Hua Rong. During her practice session, Jin and Shang Cheng tries their best to outdo each other to gain Hua Rong’s affections. Jin seems to have the upper hand with his royal treatment of Hua Rong. Shang Cheng plans to change that.
Episode 18
Finally, Shang Cheng manages to convince Hua Rong to move out from the Jin Mansion and back to the inn. Hua Rong is touched that Shang Cheng knows she is kind-hearted and wouldn’t kill the geese that he has caught for her for a meal. Jin is unhappy and seeks out Wan Wan for advice on Hua Rong. Someone is going through Hua Rong’s things in her room when Jin arrives. The person has to quickly flee. A painting of Hua Rong and Shang Cheng kissing is on the floor and catches Jin’s attention. Nevertheless, Wan Wan advises Jin to confess to Hua Rong. He does but Hua Rong informs him that she only loves Shang Cheng who overhears the conversation.
The mastermind now knows Shang Cheng’s real identity as a pirate. During the archery competition, someone shoots an arrow at Hua Rong. Shang Cheng manages to catch it in time. Jin advises Shang Cheng to send Hua Rong home because it is getting dangerous. But Shang Cheng says he needs to respect Hua Rong’s decision to stay. Jin’s team and Shang Cheng have equal points after the riddle and archery competition. Shang Cheng withdraws to let Jin to be the winner.
Hua Rong is asked to go to collect the white jade prize. The enemies surround her but Shang Cheng is prepared with his men as he already knows their plans earlier through Wan Wan’s father. However, he still needs to let them go as they have kidnapped Wan Wan. They tell Shang Cheng to bring his half of the white jade to exchange for Wan Wan’s life. Shang Cheng and his team track Wan Wan down to an abandoned building but they are shot with arrows from the outside.
Episode 19
Jin saves Wan Wan despite the risk to his life. She is touched and her feelings for him deepen. Shang Cheng and Hua Rong chase after the archer. They split up to flush him out of the bushes. Shang Cheng baits him as he runs while Hua Rong shoots him with her slingshot. Hua Rong thought Shang Cheng has been killed by an arrow and starts to cry. But Shang Cheng is only pretending to make her express her feelings. Jin and Shang Cheng’s men arrive. The archer is captured but is then killed by a flying weapon. Jin seems to be suspicious of the weapon that is lodged in the tree trunk.
Wan Wan is interested in Jin. He is also beginning to develop feelings for her and is taken by her beauty. Hua Rong and Shang Cheng are also more loving as a couple. Jin’s elder brother, Jin Duo Xiong, is the mastermind and orders the story that the white jade is in Meng Die Villa to be spread. Shang Cheng also finds out that the archer is also from the same place.
They go to Meng Die Villa to investigate although they know it could be a trap. There is only one way up the villa which is on top of a hill. Previous groups have tried to go up the villa but didn’t return. The villa belongs to Tang Chu Die, a lady whose identity has been revealed in a play to have a close relationship with Yun He. Shang Cheng has no idea who she is but decides not to tell Hua Rong to avoid a fuss. They go up the hill with 2 other groups of people including Ye.
Episode 20
The trek up the hill is fraught with danger and traps. They meet a lady who claims that she is hurt and that her father has been captured by the people from Meng Die Villa. They travel with her for a distance. Then, she tries to make them unconscious with some poisonous gas but is unsuccessful. Shang Cheng has already discovered that she is not as innocent as she claims earlier. The lady is from Meng Die Villa and so is Ye. A martial art move by Shang Cheng makes the lady realized that he is Yun He. She immediately changes her stance and treats them as friends instead as foes. Shang Cheng and company are then invited to stay and have dinner at Meng Die Villa.
They asked about the archer but is told that he is no longer their member and that the white jade is not at Meng Die Villa. However, Shang Cheng thinks otherwise. That is why they are being lured to the hill by the mastermind. Hua Rong reaches the same conclusion on her own.
The lady at Meng Die Villa is Tang Chu Die. She confronts Shang Cheng but he denies that he is Yun He. Hua Rong becomes jealous when she knows Shang Cheng has saved her once and Tang is interested in him. She gets drunk at dinner. Tang is happy to hear from a drunk Da You that Shang Cheng and Hua Rong’s actual marriage is still pending. A drunk Hua Rong is helped by Shang Cheng to her room. She is afraid that Shang Cheng will leave her one day. He assures her that he won’t.
Episode 21
Jin is investigating the archer’s killer. The weapon used is familiar to him as it is used by Jin Fu, the steward of the Jin Mansion. He secretly observes Jin Fu having a discussion with someone from Meng Die Villa. But Jin couldn’t make out his identity. Hua Rong is still angry at Shang Cheng for not telling her about Tang Chu Die earlier. Shang Cheng asks Tang Chu Die again about the white jade. She claims it is not with them. Shang Cheng then tells her they would leave Meng Die Villa if that is the case. This is to test Tang Chu Die’s reaction. Hua Rong wants to stay instead to investigate further.
She finds a secret chamber which contains a memorial tablet with no name and personal effects of the dead man. An alarm sounded and Hua Rong is found out by Tang Chu Die. Shang Cheng appears to save her. The dead man is Shang Cheng’s adoptive father. Tang Chu Die informs him that his adoptive father and her father, Tang Feng, used to be sworn brothers. His memorial has to be a secret because it will invite trouble if others were to find out. Shang Cheng requests to see Tang Feng who is at Tao Hua Valley.
They travel together to Tao Hua Valley. Tang Chu Die tries her best to make Shang Cheng interested which irritates Hua Rong. They stop halfway at an inn for the night. Jin Fu has requested the owner to try to steal the white jade from Shang Cheng but her effort to poison them with their food is unsuccessful. Assassins come in at night to attack them. Shang Cheng and Tang Chu Die fight them off together which makes Hua Rong insecure.
Episode 22
Shang Cheng and Tang Chu Die have an understanding to draw the culprit out in the open. They use a fake jade which is stolen as expected while they are busy fighting the assassins. They follow the villa owner to a men’s club. Shang Cheng and Ye enter the club to look for her. Tang Chu Die and Hua Rong sneak in as musicians. Both of them are then invited to a room to play for a guest who turns out to be Jin Fu.
Tang Chu Die and Hua Rong are being held hostage by Jin Fu and he wants the jade pieces from Shang Cheng in exchange for the women’s life. They manage to free themselves in a fight with the help of Jin who has been tailing Jin Fu. Jin informs them his brother is the mastermind and there is a spy in Meng Die Villa. He is helping them because his brother’s actions could affect the whole of Wang Jiang. When they reach Tao Hua Valley, Tang Feng has already been abducted. An impostor tries to kill Shang Cheng with poisoned needles. Tang Chu Die blocks them and gets hit.
Shang Cheng uses his powers to cure Tang Chu Die. She confesses her feelings for Shang Cheng who tells her that he only loves Hua Rong. However, Hua Rong feels inadequate compared to Tang Chu Die. Jin asks Shang Cheng to comfort Hua Rong who assures her that he just loves her and there is no reason why. Back at Meng Die Villa, they set up a ruse to to lead the spy on to find out the enemy’s camp location. The enemy soldiers pursue Shang Cheng and Hua Rong while helping Tang Feng to escape.
Episode 23
While escaping from the enemy, they found a secret opening and a locked grave which they didn’t have time to explore.The secret tunnel brings them to safety. Jin Duo Xiong then instructs another spy in Meng Die Villa to poison Shang Cheng. This spy turns out to be Ye. Tang Chu Die presents a pair of dragon and phoenix cups to Shang Cheng and Hua Rong for helping her to save her father. Hua Rong wants the dragon cup instead of the phoenix and uses it to drink.
Tang Feng tells Shang Cheng that he fell out with his adoptive father when the latter refused to hunt for the treasure as he thought it will create chaos everywhere. When he was killed, Tang Feng realized that he was right. Hua Rong faints and they find out that she has been poisoned through the dragon cup that she has used. But the gift is prepared by Ye. They chase after him. He tells them that the target is Shang Cheng and there is no antidote for the poison before he drops himself off the cliff.
Tang Feng suspects that the antidote could be among the treasure in the poison creator’s family grave. But the fastest way to save Hua Rong is to push the poison out of her body by someone with great inner force. However, this will cause that person to be infected with the poison and dies. Shang Cheng is adamant in sacrificing his life to save Hua Rong. Once the poison has been transferred to him, he asks Tang Chu Die to marry him. When Hua Rong wakes up from her coma, she finds out about the wedding. She is devastated and so is Shang Cheng as he pretends to fall out of love with her.
Episode 24
Hua Rong is miserable over the break-up. Jin and Wan Wan tries to comfort her. Shang Cheng visits Hua Rong while she is asleep. When she wakes up, she knows Shang Cheng has dropped by. Tang Chu Die advises Shang Cheng to tell Hua Rong the truth. But he refuses because he doesn’t want Hua Rong to put herself in danger to look for the antidote. So, Tang Chu Die goes to inform Hua Rong herself that their wedding was a fake. This makes Hua Rong determined to get the jade pieces to retrieve the antidote.
Jin Duo Xiong allows Jin and Hua Rong to steal the jade from him so that they will lead him to the treasure. Together with Shang Cheng’s piece, they find the entrance to the stash. Da You and Zhang Xian appear to inform Hua Rong that Shang Cheng has died. Jin Duo Xiong chooses this time to capture everyone and helps himself to the treasure chests. As he is about to kill Hua Rong back at his camp, Shang Cheng breaks out from the treasure chest. His men follow suit from the other chests. Jin Duo Xiong is subdued. A one-on-one duel between the 2 of them follows whereby Jin Duo Xiong is killed by Shang Cheng. His adoptive father’s death is hence avenged.
Shang Cheng pretended to die earlier to lower Jin Duo Xiong’s guard. His half of the jade gives him the clue that the treasure is in the locked grave in the secret chamber they found while saving Tang Feng. The antidote is among the treasure. Hua Rong wants to use the treasure to help the needy. Shang Cheng proposes again and Hua Rong accepts. They are sailing to Hua Rong Island to get married.
Images Credit: IJQ TV
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