Having just come from Fake Princess which I dropped halfway through, I really hope The Romance Of Tiger And Rose (传闻中的陈芊芊) will be much better. Well, at the very least, there were way more people watching this than Fake Princess which was being aired at about the same time. Perhaps Zhao Lu Xi and Ryan Ding are more popular artistes and hence, their drama will automatically attract more viewers. The Romance Of Tiger And Rose review in my next article will explore the good and bad of this drama but in the mean time, let’s just get down to the episode summary below. This drama is also available on Amazon Prime (affiliate link).
Contents Table
Episode 1
Xiao Chen is a screenwriter. She is writing up a story with a background revolving 2 states which have been at odds with each other. Huayuan City is a place ruled by women who have a say in everything. The men are relegated to become subordinates. On the other hand, Xuanyu City is the opposite where men rule. When Huayuan defeated Xuanyu in a battle, Young Master Han Shuo has to marry one of the Huayuan’s princesses and live there.
However, Han Shuo has a heart ailment and is predicted to die by the time he is 20 years old. Han Shuo’s plot is to marry the Second Princess Chen Chu Chu to get Huayuan’s treasured Dragon Bone to cure his heart disease. But the Third Princess Chen Qian Qian appears and spoils the plan. Qian Qian is a willful princess who has been spoiled by her mother who rules Huayuan City. She declares Han Shuo to be her husband instead.
The lead actor for Xiao Chen’s script, Han Min Xing, is dissatisfied with her work and they quarrel over it. She rushes to rewrite it to completion while falling sick. When she wakes up, she is trapped in Huayuan City as Qian Qian and Min Xing is now Han Shuo. According to her script, Han Shuo will poison Qian Qian on their wedding night so he can be together with Chu Chu. Xiao Chen thought she could then die and return to the real world. But she just gets drunk instead as Han Shuo fails to poison her.
Episode 2
When Xiao Chen wakes up, it dawns on her that she may have to endure until the end of her script before she could get out of her dream and back to the real world. That means Han Shuo has to help Chu Chu to become the Crown Princess and succeeds her mother. But Han Shuo has been arrested for trying to poison Qian Qian and would be executed. Qian Qian then rushes over to plead with her mother to spare Han Shuo by claiming that she is pregnant. Han Shuo is freed but forced to accept the child as his which is a humiliation to him. He tries to poison Qian Qian again but still fails.
However, Qian Qian’s mother finds out later that she isn’t pregnant as her chastity mark is still intact. This time, Qian Qian claims that she has fallen in love with Han Shuo and that is why she saved him. But to get to the end of the drama, Qian Qian has to push Han Shuo to Chu Chu. Thus, Qian Qian comes up with a plan for Chu Chu to save Han Shuo in a set-up at the Music and Dance Academy. But the plan falls apart when Chu Chu ends up fighting with Han Shuo instead. They are supposed to fall in love at first fight according to Xiao Chen’s script.
Then Pei Heng appears to stop the fight. Pei Heng is Xiao Chen’s favorite role in her script. He and Qian Qian are engaged before her marriage to Han Shuo. Pei Heng reprimands Qian Qian for humiliating Han Shuo when he is already her husband. He is taken aback when Qian Qian apologizes for her behavior when she has always been willful.
Episode 3
Qian Qian goes to see Han Shuo to apologize for humiliating him. He is surprised when she suggests that they compromise as a couple. But Han Shuo has arranged for Qian Qian to be killed by archers when she steps out of his room. He rushes out to quietly block the arrows as his heart has softened with her apology. However, Qian Qian knows that he has tried to kill her.
Qian Qian is afraid that Han Shuo will turn ruthless because this is how it will end up according to the script. He will kill Qian Qian, betray Chu Chu and attack Huayuan City. After discussions with other storytellers, Qian Qian decides to earn Han Shuo’s trust to avoid getting killed by him.
Therefore, Qian Qian comes up with a plan to supposedly save him from being captured by Chu Chu for meeting a spy. But Han Shuo knows the letter to lure him out to meet the spy is a fake. When Qian Qian turns up to “save” Han Shuo, only Chu Chu is there. Chu Chu ends up being reprimanded by her mother for failing to catch the spy. Qian Qian is still able to convince Han Shuo that she did try to save him although he didn’t turn up. Han Shuo now thinks that Qian Qian has feelings for him.
The eldest princess, Chen Yuan Yuan, is wheelchair-bound as she is disable. All of them have to attend classes as the Crown Princess Selection and other appointments are to be held soon. Pei Heng is the teacher. Lin Qi is humiliated by Qian Qian after she lost a bet with her during class. She then takes it out on Su Mu, a musician who has Qian Qian’s attention.
Episode 4
Qian Qian wants to redeem Su Mu’s freedom and offers to buy him from Lin Qi. When Han Shuo hears about it, he puts on an act and pleads with the Ruler to decree all the musicians to be under Qian Qian. His excuse is he is going to die soon and he wants the musicians to entertain Qian Qian when he is no longer around. Hence, all the musicians from Lin Qi’s Music and Dance Academy are given to Qian Qian. One of the reasons that Han Shuo asks for the musicians is because one of them is his spy and it would be easier for them to communicate.
However, Qian Qian has no interests in keeping the musicians. Han Shuo sends them to Chu Chu so that his spy can continue doing his job and to ruin her reputation. Qian Qian also sends Su Mu to Pei Heng. Lin Qi picks up a quarrel with Qian Qian while at Pei Heng’s residence and causes her to dislocate her shoulder. Han Shuo fixes it back in place for her. He is also jealous when he sees her having fun with Pei Heng.
A spy reveals to Han Shuo that Chu Chu is not the Ruler’s biological daughter. With Yuan Yuan being disabled, the only successor of Huayuan City would be Qian Qian. Hence, he just needs to poison her and Qian Qian’s mother would bring out the Dragon Bone to save her life. But when Qian Qian gets him a gift and celebrates with him his birthday, he is reluctant to poison her.
Episode 5
Lin Qi tries to help Chu Chu to be selected as the Crown Princess. She suggests to the Ruler to have a kung fu test because she suspects that Qian Qian’s dislocated shoulder has not healed. Qian Qian panics as she doesn’t have martial art skills since she is Xiao Chen. She runs to Han Shuo for help. But Han Shuo has found out that Qian Qian is the one who has tried to lure him to meet the spy so that he would be captured by Chu Chu.
Qian Qian tries to explain that she did it to earn his trust. She will prepare fireworks as an apology gesture to him. Qian Qian also decides that she would get him the Dragon Bone so that he would not try to kill her again. She barges into the Ancestral Hall and snatches the bone to make stew out of it. On the same night, Chu Chu is out with her team to catch spies from Xuanyu. The plan is to launch fireworks as a signal that it is safe to proceed.
Qian Qian knows Han Shuo has poisoned the wine. She convinces him to go to the kitchen to see for himself the Dragon Bone stew. While he is gone, she pretends to have drunk the poisoned wine and is dying. Her subordinate launches the fireworks as promised as an apology. Chu Chu mistaken it for her team’s signal. This causes Chu Chu to fail in her mission and get slashed in the arm.
The Ruler hears about Qian Qian taking away the Dragon Bone. By then Qian Qian seems to be dying and suddenly, the Dragon Bone stew comes in handy. She takes a sip and acts that she is cured before forcing Han Shuo to drink the rest.
Episode 6
The Ruler is not happy about Han Shuo having consumed the Dragon Bone stew. Neither can she tolerate a disobedient Qian Qian. Chu Chu is not willing to tell her mother about the failed mission to capture the spies. Minister Yang is a spy for Han Shuo in Huayuan. He asks her to defend Qian Qian if the need arises. Qian Qian pretends to have lost her martial art powers after consuming the poisoned wine. Han Shuo feels guilty.
As the Dragon Bone is a treasured item of Huayuan, the Ruler wants to remove a bone from Han Shuo in return for consuming it. Qian Qian tries to protect him and pleads with her mother to spare Han Shuo by offering to give up her title and privileges of being a princess. A decree is then made that Qian Qian has become a commoner. Han Shuo is spared.
Yuan Yuan is not too concerned about Qian Qian losing her privileges because she thinks nothing will happen to her since their mother loves her the most. She bumps into Su Mu at the library and is impressed with his respect for her. Lin Qi brings Qian Qian’s creditors to her mansion to demand for payments for goods sold to her in the past. She bullies her now that she is no longer a princess. Pei Heng arrives to help Qian Qian to Lin Qi’s frustration. Han Shuo assures Qian Qian that money is not a problem as he can support her.
Episode 7
The people are angry with Qian Qian for destroying the Dragon Bone which symbolizes good fortune for Huayuan City. They surround her mansion. Then Lin Qi’s mine is struck by lightning and collapses. 100 miners are trapped inside the mine. The people now want Qian Qian to sacrifice herself to appease the God’s anger for destroying the Dragon Bone which they believe causes the misfortune.
Chu Chu offers to keep Qian Qian safe and confined in her mansion although she is unhappy that their mother is always bias towards her younger sister. Her mother is relieved that Chu Chu is willing to protect Qian Qian. When Qian Qian suggests to Chu Chu to blow up the other side of the mine to save the miners, she refuses. This is because the other entrance sits on the Fortune Lode which is sacred to Huayuan City.
Hence, Qian Qian escapes under Chu Chu’s watch with Pei Heng’s help to go to the mine. The Ruler is angry with Chu Chu for failing to watch over Qian Qian. To blow up the mine entrance, they need explosives which only Han Shuo could provide. Han Shuo helps Qian Qian to blow up the entrance. Lin Qi and Chu Chu arrive. They want to arrest Qian Qian for destroying the Fortune Lode but the Ruler turns up to stop them. Qian Qian quickly helps to save the miners who are grateful to her. But another group of people wants her to be punished for destroying Huayuan’s fortune unless she could find another treasure as replacement.
Luckily, petroleum begins to flow out from the ground due to the explosion and it becomes a sign that God is approving of Qian Qian’s actions. The Ruler reinstates Qian Qian’s princess status and the people are grateful to her.
Episode 8
Lin Qi blames Qian Qian for causing her to lose her Music and Dance Academy and then her black stone mine. Her income is greatly affected as a result. Pei Heng is training Qian Qian for the upcoming Crown Princess Selection. He and Han Shuo are competing with each other to help Qian Qian with study notes for the literacy test.
However, Qian Qian has no interest to become the Crown Princess. In fact, she puts all her money on Chu Chu to be the Crown Princess in a bet that is going on in the city. Qian Qian exchanges the notes that Han Shuo has prepared for her for Chu Chu’s completed exercises to give the impression to Han Shuo that she has been studying. But Han Shuo knows she has been lazy and pressures her to prepare for the exams in different ways.
Qian Qian argues with Han Shuo that with her martial art skills gone, it is worthless for her to sit for the selection. Yuan Yuan overhears the conversation and feels it is relates to her as well. She decides to withdraw from her lessons and the Crown Princess Selection. Su Mu informs Qian Qian about it who feels bad that she has influenced Yuan Yuan. Qian Qian wants Yuan Yuan to promise her that she will not give up and continue to rehabilitate her legs if Qian Qian could win the kung fu test.
Han Shuo advises Qian Qian that one’s life is not predestined despite her not having any martial art skills now. Lin Qi bribes the kung fu test officer to pair her off with Qian Qian for the test.
Episode 9
Han Shuo trains Qian Qian to face the kung fu test with some tricks to help her win. Qian Qian only wants to win the kung fu test for Yuan Yuan but plans to fail the literacy and politics discourse exams. Han Shuo orders Minister Yang to try to help Qian Qian. His excuse is it is better for Qian Qian to be the Crown Princess as she is easier for him to control than Chu Chu.
Qian Qian purposely draws on the answer sheet for the literacy test. For the kung fu test, Han Shuo has arranged for Qian Qian’s opponents to put on a show to let her win until the final round with Lin Qi. On the eve of the final, Qian Qian tells Han Shuo that she can’t give up because of Yuan Yuan. He tries to give her some reassurance and confidence.
During the fight with Lin Qi, Qian Qian is being badly beaten but still refuses to admit defeat. Pei Heng couldn’t stand it anymore and hit the gong to signify defeat. But Qian Qian refuses to accept it and chooses Han Shuo as her decision maker instead. It is an indirect rejection of Pei Heng’s relationship with her as her fiancee. In the end, Qian Qian is energized when Yuan Yuan is worried and turns up at the arena. Qian Qian pushes Lin Qi out of the ring and wins the fight.
Qian Qian is heavily bandaged up with all her wounds. Pei Heng shows his concern. Qian Qian tells him that she knows he brought up the engagement at the arena only because he didn’t want to see her hurt. But Pei Heng admits to Han Shuo that he loves Qian Qian and will fight for her.
Episode 10
Han Shuo wants to take revenge on Lin Qi for beating up Qian Qian during the kung fu test. But Qian Qian doesn’t want him to be so ruthless. So, they just tie her up in a storeroom and filled it with rats to scare her.
Qian Qian is announced to be the winner of the Crown Princess Selection exams. She is shocked and tries to plead with her mother to give the position to Chu Chu but is ignored. Chu Chu is angry with the outcome and doesn’t trust Qian Qian anymore. She thinks Qian Qian is just pretending in front of her that she is not interested to be the Crown Princess.
Qian Qian knows she couldn’t have passed the literacy test. It must have been Han Shuo’s doing that she ends up as the Crown Princess. They quarrel over it in public during the coronation parade. Qian Qian is publicly humiliated when Han Shuo walks away and unknowingly drags a piece of her dress along and tears it. Pei Heng is angry at Han Shuo for the way he treats her.
Han Shuo feels guilty later and tries to appease Qian Qian’s anger by allowing her to tear his clothing in return. Pei Heng arrives to help Qian Qian to handle all the official matters that she must now be responsible for. Han Shuo is jealous and arranges for Minister Yang to suggest to the Ruler for Qian Qian to be sent to suppress the bandits in the mountain together with him. Qian Qian sees it as an opportunity to push Han Shuo and Chu Chu together. Pei Heng sends his attendant, Zi Ying, to go with them to be his spy.
Episode 11
Qian Qian creates opportunities for Han Shuo and Chu Chu to interact during the trip. Su Mu manages to convince Yuan Yuan to accept rehabilitation exercises for her legs. Yuan Yuan likes him for not looking down on her despite his lowly status as a musician.
Han Shuo’s assistant reminds him that they should subdue the bandit leader, Meng Guo, to make him work for Xuanyu. At the same time, Qian Qian wants to matchmake Han Shuo and Chu Chu to follow the script. She sends them each a message to get them to meet up. Han Shuo thinks that the message is from Chu Chu and vice-versa. But when they do meet, they end up fighting as Han Shuo assumes that is the reason why Chu Chu wants to see him.
As her plan fails, Qian Qian tries to get Zi Ying to help out. Zi Ying does more than necessary and entraps Chu Chu. Han Shuo saves her but they end up spending the night in the forest which puts them in danger of being attacked by the bandits. Chu Chu confides in Han Shuo that she is feeling hopeless with her mother’s favoritism towards Qian Qian. She also admits she regrets that she is not the one who snatches him to be her husband.But Han Shuo tells her that he has developed feelings for Qian Qian.
While Han Shuo and Chu Chu are away, Meng Guo attacks the camp because Zi Ying cooked during the night to give their location away. But Han Shou comes back in time to save Qian Qian and capture Meng Guo. Qian Qian decides to let Meng Guo go because he is supposed to help Han Shuo in the script.
Episode 12
Zi Ying lets slip that Qian Qian is the one who orders him to entrap Chu Chu with Han Shuo. Both Chu Chu and Han Shuo become angry at her. Han Shuo is suspicious of Zi Ying. When Zi Ying sends a message through a pigeon, someone shoots it down.
Han Shuo and Chu Chu are discussing how to capture Meng Guo again. When the Ruler receives the message that Qian Qian has let Meng Guo go, she is furious as to what Qian Qian is up to. Pei Heng is wondering why Zi Ying has not been sending messages back. Su Mu is being looked down upon at a royal banquet. Yuan Yuan gives him her recognition to send a message to the others that Su Mu should be treated with dignity.
Qian Qian keeps letting Meng Guo off after re-capturing him to Chu Chu’s frustration. After letting Meng Guo go for the 6th time, an angry Han Shuo leaves Qian Qian alone in the camp which results in her being captured. However, Meng Guo just wants to bring Qian Qian back to his hideout to acknowledge her as his clan’s leader since she has treated him with loyalty and grace. Han Shuo is sorry for leaving Qian Qian alone but he also tells her that he doesn’t want her to push him to Chu Chu.
Zi Ying wants to help Chu Chu to get Han Shuo. Zi Rui overhears his plan of trying to drug Han Shuo in the storage room. Qian Qian rushes to help Han Shuo while Zi Rui knocks Zi Ying unconscious. Hence, Qian Qian ends up being locked together with Han Shuo in the room instead of Chu Chu. Han Shuo struggles to control himself as he has been drugged with aphrodisiac incense.
Episode 13
Qian Qian kisses Han Shuo to save him as he could die if he doesn’t give in to his desire. But just as they are kissing, Bai Ji and the rest manage to break the lock and splashes cold water onto them. After the incident, Qian Qian begins to feel that she is falling in love with Han Shuo while he also confesses his love for her. Zi Ying denies he is involved in the plot and blames a staff who has since disappeared. Both Qian Qian and Han Shuo individually suspicious of Zi Ying.
Chu Chu demands Qian Qian to give up Han Shuo and return him to her apart from the Crown Princess title. So, Qian Qian tries to avoid Han Shuo and tells him that they cannot be together as they are incompatible. Back in Huayuan City, Zi Ying falsely reports to Pei Heng that Han Shuo has treated Qian Qian badly. Hence, Pei Heng should allow him to remain to serve Qian Qian. Chu Chu is not happy that the people have high regard for Qian Qian in subduing Meng Guo.
Pei Heng is openly competing with Han Shuo for Qian Qian. This puts Qian Qian in an awkward position of being caught between 2 men during a meal arranged by Han Shuo. She pretends to be drunk to get out of the situation. Zi Rui informs Qian Qian that Zi Ying has been snooping around. She tells him to allow Zi Ying to continue to do so to see what he is up to.
Episode 14
Zi Ying plants Huayuan City’s defense map in Qian Qian’s mansion and tips off Chu Chu. Qian Qian purposely leaves the map for Chu Chu to find so that her mother will strip away her Crown Princess title. But when Chu Chu arrives with her team, only several lewd portraits of Pei Heng and Qian Qian can be found which embarrasses her. Zi Ying admits sole responsibility for framing Qian Qian for being a big bully and unsuitable to be a Crown Princess.
It turns out that Han Shuo is the one who orders Bai Ji to retrieve the map to get Qian Qian off the hook. But the portraits was a genuine mistake by the clumsy Bai Ji. Qian Qian uses the portraits to talk about divorce with Han Shuo but he immediately shoots it down.
Pei Heng tells Qian Qian that he has petitioned the Ruler to have her divorce Han Shuo and marry him. Qian Qian rushes to her mother to ask for time to talk to Han Shuo first. When Han Shuo finds out about the divorce plan, he warns Qian Qian that he could lose control if pushed into a corner. Qian Qian begins to worry if her script about Han Shuo turning ruthless might be coming true.
Xuanyu’s operatives are impatient to attack Huayuan. But Han Shou tells them to wait. Chu Chu confesses her feelings to Han Shuo but gets rejected outright. The Ruler issues the divorce decree. But Qian Qian tells Pei Heng that they could only be friends. Han Shuo is again being pushed to conquer Huayuan with the divorce order. Qian Qian feels envious of Su Mu and Yuan Yuan’s care towards each other and tells him so which makes Yuan Yuan uncomfortable.
Episode 15
The Xuanyu’s operatives start laying explosives around the city without telling Han Shuo. Qian Qian wants Pei Heng to tell her mother to cancel their marriage order but he is reluctant. Qian Qian’s mother also wants Han Shuo to wear a copper bracelet to signify he is enslaved to Qian Qian for her to annul the divorce decree. It is a humiliation but he agrees anyway.
Chu Chu tries to shoot Qian Qian during a hunt. Han Shuo foils her plan and warns her not to do it again. Su Mu has been avoiding Yuan Yuan as he thinks he is beneath her. Qian Qian comes up with a ball toss event to choose Yuan Yuan’s husband. She will ensure Su Mu ends up with the ball.
Zi Ying escapes from prison and tips off Chu Chu that Xuanyu is planning to bomb the city. He is helping Chu Chu because she has saved him from Qian Qian’s bullying in the past. Chu Chu ropes in Pei Heng to help out by dangling the prospect of arresting Han Shuo so he could then marry Qian Qian. Qian Qian doesn’t know Han Shuo has been forced to wear the bracelet and is still rejecting him.
Han Shuo meets up with the Xuanyu’s envoys about the explosives. The next day, Su Mu didn’t want to join in Yuan Yuan’s ball tossing event. She is disappointed. The ball ends up with another musician whom she insists she will marry. Qian Qian learns that Han Shuo could be bombing the city. She tries to get Chu Chu to stop him but fails. Qian Qian appeals to Pei Heng then. She finds Han Shuo and tells him that she loves him. She hopes he will stop his plan but he lights up a wick instead.
Episode 16
There are no explosives but fireworks. Han Shou has drugged the Xuanyu’s envoys and changed the explosives to fireworks. The Ruler is satisfied as she believes that Han Shuo will protect Huayuan because of his love for Qian Qian. Han Shuo asks Qian Qian if she really loves him. She kisses him in response which leaves Pei Heng dejected.
Lu Peng can’t wait to be Yuan Yuan’s husband to climb the social ladder. But Su Mu still feels inferior and thinks he is not a good choice for Yuan Yuan. Qian Qian complains about Lu Peng to Han Shuo who promises to help her resolve the matter. Han Shuo and Qian Qian have become loving. He sneaks into her room for the night but doesn’t pressure her to consummate their marriage.
Pei Heng decides to quit his role as the Education Minister and teacher. He regrets losing Qian Qian to Han Shuo although they have been engaged for more than 10 years. Su Mu goes back to the Music and Dance Academy after Pei Heng quits his position. Chu Chu wants to search Qian Qian’s mansion for evidence of Han Shuo’s plot to bomb the city. The Ruler is furious as she deems the matter settled. Chu Chu quarrels with her mother over her favoritism towards Qian Qian as Chu Chu is not her biological daughter. The Ruler suffers a stroke due to the heated argument. Lu Peng overhears the quarrel.
Chu Chu feels dissatisfied with her mother and also thinks Qian Qian has been stringing her all along. Qian Qian feels that Chu Chu has changed. She uses her Crown Princess position to order the Ruler’s health to be kept a secret and for Chu Chu to be confined in her mansion.
Episode 17
Lu Peng and Su Mu quarrel over Yuan Yuan. Then, Lu Peng is killed by Zi Ying on the way back. Qian Qian is worried that Han Shuo will end up with the same fate as the character in her script. Han Shou spared Chu Chu’s life after he conquered Huayuan due to their love. But Chu Chu comes back stronger with Zi Ying to take back Huayuan and kill Han Shuo later on. In her script, Lin Qi will frame Han Shuo for Lu Peng’s murder to help Chu Chu. So, Qian Qian pre-empts that and arrests Lin Qi.
However, Chu Chu is afraid LIn Qi will drag her down with her crime of manufacturing evidence to frame Han Shuo. She tells Qian Qian to sentence her to death. Qian Qian is surprised with her cold-heartedness. But instead of executing her, Qian Qian orders that she be sent to Xuanyu as punishment. Lin Qi still thinks Chu Chu is the one helping her instead of Qian Qian until she is attacked by Chu Chu’s subordinates on the way to Xuanyu. She is presumed dead.
Han Shuo reassures Qian Qian that Xuanyu will start a war with Huayuan as long as he is around. They also promise to be honest with each other. Su Mu is still unwilling to be with Yuan Yuan. Qian Qian is worried again when Lin Qi is reported dead. She decides she will have to push Han Shuo out of the story to keep him alive and ropes in Pei Heng to help her. Qian Qian gets Han Shuo to meet Su Mu. Then, Su Mu is reported missing. Qian Qian convinces Han Shuo to give her his token that could control his guards to keep her safe. He surrenders it to her willingly.
Episode 18
Han Shuo is being investigated for Su Mu’s disappearance. Qian Qian asks him to cooperate and imprisons him while the investigation is on-going. Then, she sentenced him to be banished to the Southern Frontier. Han Shuo requests to meet Qian Qian. During the meeting, Qian Qian claims that she doesn’t love him. She has been pretending so that she can make use of him to keep Huayuan City safe from Xuanyu’s attack.
After Han Shuo’s departure to the Southern Frontier, Qian Qian becomes depressed. Pei Heng tries to comfort her and offers to take Han Shuo’s place. But Qian Qian rejects his offer. Lin Qi didn’t die. The arrow fails to pierce her heart as it was blocked by the token given by Qian Qian. Su Mu decides to leave Yuan Yuan as he doesn’t want her to be a subject of gossip. He claims that he doesn’t love her. Yuan Yuan manages to stand when Su Mu turns his back and leaves.
Qian Qian’s mother awakens from her coma. Qian Qian learns that Lu Peng have overheard her mother’s quarrel with Chu Chu. She begins to feel suspicious about Chu Chu and Lu Peng’s death. Chu Chu saves Han Shuo on his way to the Southern Frontier. They make a deal. Han Shuo will help Chu Chu to get back control of the City Guards while he will get the mine in return. He uses his men to kill the guards at the city gate just as Qian Qian orders for Huayuan to be sealed.
Episode 19
With the defense map, Han Shou and Chu Chu could easily get control of Huayuan. Qian Qian confronts Chu Chu about Lu Peng’s death and they argue over it. Chu Chu purposely brings up Han Shuo knowing that he is listening to their conversation. She accuses Qian Qian of treating Han Shou as just a plaything as she also has Pei Heng as a backup. Qian Qian is miserable and gets drunk. Pei Heng comforts her. Han Shou secretly watches them being together.
The Ruler is considering lifting Chu Chu’s house arrest and allowing her to be the owner of the city until news break that they are being surrounded. Han Shuo confines Qian Qian in her mansion as revenge. He also gives her bottles of honey water but one of which contains poison. She is forced to drink one bottle per day as a condition for her mother to get her required daily medication.
Su Mu rushes back to Yuan Yuan when the city becomes chaotic with Han Shuo and Chu Chu’s conquest. He promises not to leave her this time. Chu Chu forces her way to take over the Ruler’s responsibilities. Pei Heng tries to see Qian Qian but Han Shuo bars him. Han Shuo forces himself on Qian Qian inside her room. But he stops when he sees her tears. Pei Heng hears her cries from outside and feels hopeless.
Chu Chu is going to be the Ruler. Qian Qian has to stop her so that Han Shuo does not have to die as per the script. Han Shuo thinks that Qian Qian didn’t miss him while he was being banished no matter how much she tries to explain. Pei Heng masquerades as a musician to help Qian Qian escape.
Episode 20
Pei Heng and Qian Qian end up at the Music and Dance Academy with the help from Lin Qi’s butler. They get the news that Lin Qi is still alive. This confuses Qian Qian as the events are not going according to her script. If that is the case, then Han Shuo may not die as his fate could also be different from the script. Hence, there is no need for her to fight with Han Shuo. Qian Qian then decides she should return to her mansion.
Han Shuo asks for the Ruler seal from Qian Qian’s mother. But she refuses to give it to him because she knows he won’t do anything to her because of Qian Qian. Han Shuo is angry that Qian Qian tries to run away. Qian Qian clarifies that she has come back but Han Shou refuses to believe her words. When she tears up the divorce letter and agrees to consummate their relationship, he assumes that she is just doing it to save her mother. Rather than sleeping with him, Han Shou wants her to be his slave instead. He also purposely pisses her off by being extra friendly with Chu Chu.
Qian Qian burns her hand while ironing Han Shuo’s clothes. Pei Heng wants to see her but Han Shou disallows him. Han Shou himself is concerned about Qian Qian. He keeps her company for the night when she requests him to. But the next morning, they quarrel again over her mother. Han Shou is jealous that Qian Qian cares more for her mother than him. Pei Heng steals the flower token from Chu Chu to control the city guards to save Qian Qian.
Episode 21
The Ruler refuses to give Chu Chu the Ruler seal. As they argue over it, Zi Ying informs Chu Chu that Han Shuo’s army has surrounded the city. Zi Ying saves Chu Chu when Han Shuo is going to kill her during a fight.
Then, Pei Heng’s city guards and Meng Guo’s group of bandits arrive. They have re-taken the city. The Ruler orders for Chu Chu and Han Shuo to be arrested. Han Shuo is disappointed that Qian Qian has chosen her mother and Huayuan over him. Pei Heng advises the Ruler to let Chu Chu off and put all the blame on Han Shuo. After all, he knows the Ruler won’t kill Chu Chu because she is the daughter of the late Minister Pei who had sacrificed much for Huayuan.
Qian Qian tells Han Shuo that she will save him. She takes the initiative to consummate their relationship to prove her love. On execution day, Qian Qian begs her mother to let Han Shuo off and then kills herself. During her wake, Pei Heng regrets arresting and blaming Han Shuo which led to Qian Qian’s suicide. When he wants to kill himself, Qian Qian gets up from her coffin. It turns out her death is a ruse to save Han Shuo from being executed.
Pei Heng tells Qian Qian he will let go of his feelings for her. Both Chu Chu and the Ruler are sharp enough to notice the signs that Qian Qian is still alive. The Ruler knows Qian Qian did it to protect Han Shuo and also the city so that they will be no power tussle. But Chu Chu still wants Qian Qian dead. She sends Zi Ying and her men to kill her on the way to Xuanyu. Lin Qi saves her.
Episode 22
Chu Chu still refuses to give up killing Qian Qian. She quarrels with Pei Heng over it and vows to re-take the Defense Minister position when the Ruler forgives her. On the way to Xuanyu, Qian Qian meets the 3 storytellers she has always confided in at the inn. Han Shuo overhears their conversation and finds out that he has been part of her plot all along. He is angry at first but then understands why Qian Qian did what she had done. She explains about her script to him and tells him that she wants to stay with him rather than get out of the story.
Qian Qian finds it difficult to adjust in Xuanyu because of the low status of women which is in direct contrast to her life in Huayuan. Han Shuo then showers her with love so that she will stay in Xuanyu. He even washes her feet which creates gossips in the city. The womenfolk is impressed with her relationship with Han Shuo and wants to learn from her how to make their man listen to them at home. However, Han Shuo’s father is not happy with his son’s behavior and failure to get Huayuan’s mine.
The Ruler creates excuses not to see Chu Chu. The guards are also pledging their allegiance to Pei Heng instead of her. When the Ruler finally sees her, she has evidence that Chu Chu has ordered for Qian Qian to be killed. Chu Chu accuses her of favoritism. The Ruler then shows her Minister Pei’s letter. She treated Minister Pei like a sister and brought up Chu Chu when the minister died. Chu Chu learns that she is adopted. She could have been the new Ruler but her actions have alienated her own guards and the people.
Episode 23
Chu Chu forces Pei Heng to give back the Defense Minister post to her after she finds out her identity. She then orders for the mining trade with Xuanyu to be stopped until they return Qian Qian to Huayuan and the guards at the Ruler’s mansion to be changed. She decides she doesn’t need to be the Ruler but just needs to control the city’s military.
Han Shuo’s mother likes Qian Qian’s personality. She used to be in the army as her father was the Defense Minister but became a submissive wife after marrying Xuanyu’s Ruler. With Qian Qian’s encouragement, Han Shuo’s mother decides to be herself again. When the Ruler wants to send Qian Qian back to Huayuan, Han Shuo’s mother disagrees and takes back Xuanyu’s army command to become Minister Hua. They decide to attack Huayuan.
Zi Ying realizes Chu Chu has turned to be the old Qian Qian who bullied men and the weak. Yuan Yuan escapes with Su Mu and meets up with Qian Qian. They bring news that their mother and Pei Heng are confined. Qian Qian is unwilling to start a war as the people will suffer. So, Zi Ying suggests a hostage act so that they can enter the city and attack Chu Chu directly.
Xuanyu’s Ruler and his wife try to save Qian Qian’s mother while Han Shuo follows Zi Ying and Qian Qian to see Chu Chu. But the couple is caught and confined together with Qian Qian’s mother. They then end up discussing their children’s marriage terms. Zi Ying puts a dagger against Chu Chu’s neck when he brings in Qian Qian. But Chu Chu is ready with her guards to surround them. She orders her guards to kill Qian Qian but their loyalty starts to waver.
Episode 24
Pei Heng arrives with his guards. He is also a Pei descendant and all the guards switch sides to plead allegiance to him. Chu Chu tries to slash her own neck against Zi Ying’s dagger. Zi Ying drops the dagger to prevent her from doing so. Chu Chu instantly kicks him away. She then aims her sword at Qian Qian and moves in to kill her. Han Shuo blocks it and gets pierced by Chu Chu’s sword. His lungs are damaged and he will not have long to live.
Chu Chu is imprisoned. Qian Qian visits her and reminds her that there will be an auspicious sign from the heavens if a benevolent Ruler appears. She wants Chu Chu to realize her mistake. Her mother arranges for a succession ceremony for the 3 sisters to choose the heir. They will have to walk down the flower path and see who among them will be the rightful successor. Qian Qian doesn’t want to do it because when the sign appears, it will be the end of her story and she will have to return to her world. But Han Shuo wants her to do it because she shouldn’t stay for him when he doesn’t have long to live.
During the ceremony, the sky turns dark when Chu Chu walks down the path. The sky remains neutral when it is Yuan Yuan’s turn. When Qian Qian refuses to walk the path, Han Shuo appears at the end of it in a weakened state. Qian Qian runs towards him. The auspicious sign appears and then she finds herself fading away.
Conclusion
Xiao Qian then wakes up from her dream but the dream seems very real to her. The, she learns that Han Min Xing who plays Han Shuo is involved in a car accident and injures his lungs. She rushes to the hospital. Xiao Qian hugs him when they both realize that they have had the same dream. They are happy to have found each other. Her script ending now has Chu Chu becoming the Ruler with Qian Qian’s help while Qian Qian and Han Shuo become a loving couple.
Other Dramas By The Main Leads
If you have come to the end of The Romance Of Tiger And Rose but can’t get enough of the main leads, check out their other dramas then. Ryan Ding’s other recent drama would be Intense Love. This one is a modern rom-com whereby he plays a prodigy doctor but with a cold and aloof personality. It is a very fairy tale-like drama but if you are just into it for the romance and sweetness, it should be entertaining for you. As for Zhao Lu Si, she is also in Love Of Thousand Years which was released just before this rom-com The way the story is told in that costume drama is a disappointment, but Zhao Lu Si’s acting is still on point if you are a big fan of hers and want to watch all her dramas.
Image Credit: Tencent
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