Previously…
In the first part of the recap series, Tigers Sniff the Rose: Drama Recap Episodes 1 to 6, the drama introduces us to the “tigers” of the political scheme in the Wei Dynasty: the powerful Eunuch Yu, the Crown Prince who’s biding his time, the hedonist Grand Princess. As our couple enters the treacherous arena, they have to survive the political struggle. Yan Shang already tasted the bitter fact that he needed a powerful backup from an influential official to proceed in his studies at the imperial academy. His pick? The cruel captain in the Shence Army and Eunuch Yu’s henchman: Zhang Renjing! Let’s see how Yan Shang fares…
The featured image is how Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang made an oath. 啮臂为盟 (niè bì wéi méng) translates directly to “biting the arm to form an alliance” or making a solemn, unbreakable oath.
Drama Recap Episodes 7 to 12
Episode 7
Episode 7 opens with Yan Shang looking like a man who’s made up his mind—and whatever he’s planning doesn’t look good! After returning home, Yan Shang wrote down several names: Princess Luling, Yu Cheng’an, Zhang Renjing, and Xu Mianmian. He studied the list before burning it. Hmmm… revenge for his family???
The Imperial Academy students learned about an upcoming gathering at Siyuan Garden—the event where Liu Wenji asked Chun Hua to go on a date—where the rare black peonies would be displayed. Important officials and powerful people from the capital would be there. This was a perfect chance for the students to meet the bigwigs. Yan Shang had a business deal with a rich student who didn’t have the talent to write the essays, and he got a wad of cash.
Yan Shang went to Siyuan Garden before the event and reminisced with sad nostalgia when his mother—who was a noble lady—brought him and his brother to the garden. Yan Shang bumped into Chancellor Liu, and they chatted. From the convo we knew that Yan Shang’s ambition was not to hold an official position or become famous, but to correct injustice. Hmmm…
After getting money from that rich student, Yan Shang went to see Xu Mianmian. She was the dancer Zhang Renjing coveted. Yan Shang gave the money to Xu Mianmian to buy her freedom and asked her for a small favor. Then he bought a dagger and went to see Zhang Renjing. The latter was sleeping, but was very much alert when Yan Shang wanted to strangle him. Yan Shang went for Plan B and gave Zhang Renjing Xu Mianmian’s handkerchief—her small favor—with a message that she wanted to meet him in Siyuan Garden during the festival.
The night before D-Day Yan Shang went to see Mu Wangyao. She asked him to tell another bedtime story. But the story was so tragic: about someone who took revenge and ended up killing both the person and his enemy. Mu Wangyao pretended to fall asleep, so Yan Shang put a blanket on her and bid a quiet farewell.
Episode 8
Let me recap the sweet moment between Liu Wenji and Chun Hua before detailing Yan Shang’s revenge. They confessed their feelings to each other. Liu Wenji told her that his father wanted him to marry a woman from a prestigious family, but he would persuade his father to let him marry Chun Hua instead.
Liu Wenji and Chun Hua confessed their feelings
Now we’re back to Yan Shang. On D-Day, Yan Shang arranged for Xu Mianmian to escape the capital. Then he took Zhang Renjing to a reception room and told him to wait while he brought Xu Mianmian. That room was reserved for the Grand Princess to rest with her men. Of course, when she saw a brute, ugly man, she was furious. However, Zhang Renjing was drunk, so he wanted to hug the Grand Princess. She stabbed him with his sword. Zhang Renjing fought her men and managed to run away. At this time, Yan Shang showed up, pretending to rescue Zhang Renjing. Yan Shang took the wounded man to a shed and told him that he would avenge his mother and younger brother, whom Zhang Renjing had killed. Yan Shang had to struggle to finish Zhang Renjing—who was a tough military man—off. Eventually, Zhang Renjing was dead.
When Mu Wanyao heard that someone had been murdered, she immediately remembered Yan Shang’s strange behavior. Earlier, Yan Shang told her that his favorite place in Siyuan Garden was a well where his mother frequently took him and his brother. Sure enough, Mu Wanyao found him sitting calmly by the well. Yan Shang didn’t run away; he waited for the guards to capture him. Mu Wanyao pulled him into the carriage and left. The entire garden was closed down, but Mu Wanyao used an excuse about fear of blood to get away.
Yan Shang broke down crying when telling Mu Wanyao that he killed Zhang Renjing to avenge his mother and brother. He then gave her a deep kiss and bid farewell. He wanted to return to Lingnan. Lol, the funny thing was that he left the dagger used to stab Zhang Renjing in her carriage! Let her deal with the aftermath!
It was not over, tho. Outside the city, Yan Shang encountered Chancellor Liu, who had been waiting for him. The chancellor told him that killing Zhang Renjing was not enough!
Episode 9
Chancellor Liu explained that Zhang Renjing was only the executioner, but Yu Cheng’an was the man pulling the strings. Yan Shang reasoned that he was just a commoner with no power. Chancellor Liu then advised Yan Shang to stay in the capital and climb higher until he had enough power to decide the fate of the people responsible. Chancellor Liu lamented himself being ambitious young man to serve the country and help the people. But after years of political corruption and chaos, he had become an old man whose ambitions were never fulfilled. However, he knew Yan Shang’s family background and saw that Yan Shang had intelligence, courage, careful planning, and the willingness to risk everything to right an injustice.
Yan Shang went back to Mu Wanyao. She was so happy that she even brought him clean clothes herself after he bathed. After bathing, Yan Shang told Mu Wanyao why he returned. He knew Yu Cheng’an was also her enemy, so he offered to become her strategist and right-hand man, helping her eliminate her enemies—including Yu Cheng’an and his followers. They were Yu Xianyao (Yu Cheng’an’s adopted son), Zheng Xing (Yu Cheng’an’s personal attendant), Qiu Shuo (Shence Army general), and Wei Qiao (advisor). They made an oath to work together by biting each other’s arms, although Mu Wanyao slapped Yan Shang since he bit her hard.
Since they would be seen and heard together and people would be suspicious, Mu Wanyao officially gave Yan Shang the status of her male favorite (面首), aka toy boy/gigolo. Although it sounded repulsive, it was needed as Yan Shang was suspicious. Grand Princess’s toy boy was arrested because he was the one who supposedly attended the room where the Grand Princess rested, but Zhang Renjing was there. The guy confessed that a man asked him to fetch wine for the Grand Princess.
Yang Si—who worked at the Judicial Review—was tasked with investigating the murder. He suspected that Yan Shang was involved, so he went to the princess’s mansion to inquire about Yan Shang. Mu Wanyao said that she had done it. Zhang Renjing assaulted her, so she killed him in self-defense. She even showed Yang Si the dagger—which she said was Zhang Renjing’s—and her bloody cloak.
Yang Si was still doubtful. How could a tough brute like Zhang Renjing be killed by a weak woman like Mu Wanyao? Knowing this, Mu Wanyao visited her aunt, the Grand Princess. Mu Wanyao told her aunt her version of the murder. Grand Princess was furious and went directly to Yu Cheng’an in the middle of the night. She scolded the eunuch for employing such a terrible subordinate and ordered him to bury the whole matter. Apparently, this Grand Princess was a force to be reckoned with!
Episode 10
Since Mu Wanyao allied herself with the Crown Prince, she visited her brother with Yan Shang and told him that Yan Shang was also in their alliance after killing Eunuch Yu’s henchman. Therefore, Yang Si should no longer investigate Zhang Renjing’s murder.
The Imperial Exam results came out. Wei Shu was number one, and Yan Shang was number three. Grand Princess was unhappy because none of her boys was in the list. So she summoned Feng Xianyu, who was desperate to have a powerful backer. Feng Xianyu agreed to serve her, and just like that, Feng Xianyu took Yan Shang’s third-place position!
Mu Wanyao was furious about what her aunt did. However, Yan Shang had an idea for how to solve this injustice. They followed Feng Xianyu and they follow Feng Xianyu and saw him sending away his elderly servant and his little daughter Guiniang, who was crying. Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao caught up with them and gave them money, pretending to be Feng Xianyu’s friends. Yan Shang asked for Guiniang’s flower hairpin as a memento.
Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao then followed Feng Xianyu to the brothel. The latter was drunk with sorrow, having sent away his little daughter, Guiniang. Yan Shang sarcastically congratulated Feng Xianyu on being in third place, then showed him Guiniang’s hairpin. Feng Xianyu immediately panicked and demanded to know what Yan Shang had done to his daughter. Yan Shang told him Guiniang was safe, but her future depended on Feng’s decision before the official results were announced.
Yang Si caught Yan Shang (and Mu Wanyao) at the brothel
Episode 11
The official Imperial Exam results were out. Feng Xianyu had restored the exam results, so Yan Shang got his third place back. Feng Xianyu showed up and wanted his daughter back in return. But Yan Shang never kidnapped the little girl, lol. Yan Shang advised Feng Xianyu not to throw away his dignity to curry favor with the Grand Princess, as he was talented enough to build a future.
Unfortunately, Liu Wenji didn’t pass. He went off drinking at a brothel. Yan Shang and Chun Hua sought him out. Yan Shang found him and tried to comfort him, but Liu Wenji lashed out. He accused Yan Shang of passing only because of the princess’s influence and insulted Chun Hua by saying she was just a maid who thought she was his equal because the princess favored her.
And Chunhua heard every word. This was heartbreaking because she genuinely believed Liu Wenji loved her. But he didn’t stop there. He told her that if she had asked her mistress to help him, he might not have failed. Chun Hua ran away in tears. Yan Shang also left, but not before hoping that his friend wouldn’t regret what he had said tomorrow.
The second kiss when Yan Shang was drunk and passed out afterwards!
Two new characters entered the scene. The first one was Zhao Lingfei, Yang Si’s cousin. She was a spirited young woman who had come to the banquet to choose her own husband! Luckily, her interest landed on the shy Wei Shu. The second character was the Emperor. During the royal banquet, the Imperial Exam’s top three were invited. The Emperor took an interest in Yan Shang. Then His Majesty asked Yan Shang about his marriage prospects—and specifically what he thought of his daughter, Princess Danyang (aka Mu Wanyao). Now that’s an interesting question!
Episode 12
The Emperor’s inquiry for Yan Shang marrying Mu Wanyao opened Pandora’s box, and many disagreed with his choice. Uncle Li Zhi immediately recommended Wei Shu instead, pointing out that Wei Shu was the top-ranked scholar and had admired the princess for a long time. But the Emperor reasoned Wei Shu came from a powerful and wealthy family with too many complicated interests. Yang Si was also encouraged by the Crown Prince to propose marriage to Mu Wanyao.
But before anyone could settle anything, Yu Cheng’an barged into the palace hall and brought up the situation in North Jing. He reminded everyone that Bai Yuming was dead and that his younger brother, Meng Zaishi, had taken over his position. According to the North Jing custom, Bai Yuming’s widow (Mu Wanyao) should marry her deceased husband’s brother.
The Emperor reasoned that he didn’t want to force his daughter into a foreign marriage anymore, and he wanted Yan Shang to marry Mu Wanyao. Of course, Yan Shang agreed immediately! And of course, Mu Wanyao shocked everyone by standing up and refusing. Afterward, Yan Shang tried to reason with Mu Wanyao. But she was tired of being treated as a political marriage pawn. She knew why her father wanted to marry her off to Yan Shang.
The Grand Princess became interested in Yan Shang and wanted to make him her toy boy. She sent her guards to kidnap Yan Shang, who was standing in the heavy rain in front of the princess’s mansion, waiting for Mu Wanyao to forgive him. She herself was called by Yu Cheng’an to come to see him. In a hurry, Mu Wanyao could only toss an umbrella and left.
At Yu Cheng’an’s mansion, he showed her a letter from Meng Zaishi, who apparently still thought about her. The Eunuch pressured Mu Wanyao to marry the new leader of North Jing for the stabilization of the two countries. Mu Wanyao came home worried and was even worried when she only saw her umbrella in front of the mansion and Yan Shang was nowhere around! They couldn’t find him anywhere until Feng Xianyu, who saw Yan Shang at the Grand Princess’s mansion, threw a secret message to Mu Wanyao that Yan Shang was taken by the Grand Princess.
Mu Wanyao stormed into her aunt’s mansion riding a horse. She yelled at the gate and alerted everyone, including Yan Shang, who was drugged with an aphrodisiac. Mu Wanyao declared that Yan Shang was her man, and she would take him away. But Grand Princess wanted him, too, and was ready to fight her niece. Mu Wanyao managed to seize Yan Shang, who staggered to find her. Mu Wanyao then made a risky decision and declared that she didn’t want Yan Shang anymore and would kill him there and then, so her aunt could have him. Grand Princess thought her niece had gone crazy and didn’t want her mansion to be a crime scene, so she kicked them out.
On the way home, Yan Shang was still intoxicated with an aphrodisiac, and he tried to kiss Mu Wanyao. She kissed him back when he said her name instead of the Grand Princess’s. When they arrived home, Mu Wanyao got out of the carriage with disheveled hair, lol. Later, after Yan Shang was sober, he told Mu Wanyao that they cared about each other and their feelings were mutual. However. Mu Wanyao didn’t want any romance at this time because she had too much unfinished business in the capital. Even when everything was over, she didn’t want to get involved with a man or marry again.
Summary
Episode 7 builds suspense as Yan Shang prepares for his confrontation with Zhang Renjing.
Episode 8 is intense! Yan Shang’s long-awaited revenge finally happens, but the way he carries it out is absolutely heartbreaking—and Mu Wangyao becomes deeply involved.
Episode 9 feels like the beginning of a new chapter. Yan Shang is now officially joining forces with Mu Wangyao to challenge the powerful people controlling the court.
The biggest change in Episode 10 is that Yan Shang is no longer simply seeking revenge for his family. He’s beginning to build a position for himself in the capital and learning how to challenge powerful people through careful planning.
The romantic development between Yan Shang and Danyang is also moving forward in Episode 11, although Danyang’s political position makes things difficult. And now the Emperor has entered the picture with a question about their marriage!
Episode 12 is full of romantic tension and political pressure. The Emperor enters the scene with a surprising proposal to marry off his daughter to Yan Shang!
Three kissing scenes in this Part 2!!! Will we get more in the next part???
The third kissing scene in the carriage
