Romance of a Twin Flower | Recap and Review

A mean girl falls off a cliff and forgets her marquis husband.
Notable Actors/Actresses

Ding Yu Xi: Ning Yu Xuan

Peng Xiao Ran: Ji Man / Nie Sang Yu

Director

Xie Ze

Chinese Title
春閨夢里人

Genres: Period, Romcom, Period Romcom

Network: Tencent Video

Year: 2023
Episodes: 30/38

Recap Grade: C/D
First Impression: 2.844/5

[Dropped (Ep30)]

Jump to Review | Comments

Mini Recaps

[Ep1] Our FL, Nie Sang Yu, falls off trusty clifford. Die, she does; forget herself, she does. Drama-sama! Is the cliff the only way? When she wakes up, she forgets she's a lady-devil, hated by all. She forgets she's a stalker who then made a riot in order to marry her husband four years ago. She forgets she became a vegetarian to pray for her husband. But it is her husband's intimidating aura that made her (melodramatically) jump... 

Our  husband (^^) is Ning Yu Xuan, a murderous hero, and lethally dashing, exploding ovaries everywhere he goes. But he's a virgin! FL laughs at him for this. But then so is she. Ha-ha-ha? 

Now someone wants to kill Nie Sang Yu in a fire. Maybe someone was just jealous that she can samba and cook? 

But it seems the one who's dying is Ning Yu Xuan who's traumatized by the fire?

[Ep2] Nevermind. Ning Yu Xuan just fell asleep. She confirmed he's breathing with her bandaged fingers. Of all fingers to use. That must mean our marquis is breathing vigorously! 

Nie Sang Yu catches the arsonist, but she realizes the most vicious of them all is herself – the old her. The new her sincerely apologizes to everyone. 

The new her is also earning a fortune. She started a noble business for a noble cause. She’s relieving every maiden’s lovesickness for Ning Yu Xuan in exchange for money to make Scar Recovering Cream for Ban Xia (the arsonist and victim of her bullying). She's rich now! Except Ning Yu Xuan confiscates everything. 

 

[Ep3] Ning Yu Xuan says he likes her silly! Well compared to before when Nie Sang Yu was tyrannical and unbridled, of course we all love this version more. Nie Sang Yu is offended though because he insulted both versions of her. 

That cheeky arm-cross xD. Nie Sang Yu is like, Oh, numb biceps? I'll massage. 

Ning Yu Xuan is not so cute anymore when he's shooting his wife down. Yuan Lang (Bandit Leader) used Nie Sang Yu to lure out Ning Yu Xuan and now has her hostage, but her husband doesn't care about her livelihood. Both his shots are dead set on her. Surpassingly, Yuan Lan protects "Nie Sang Yu"! He recognizes her jade. Is she related to the bandits? Yuan Lang's purpose was to avenge his father who died at the hands (?) of Ning Yu Xuan's father. 

Ning Yu Xuan confirms his suspicions that it was Wen Wan (concubine) who took Nie Sang Yu's hands to stab herself (Wen). Nie Sang Yu was framed. Also Wen Wan and Ning Yu Xuan have some sort of deal. After it's over, she's no longer his concubine. 

Looks like Ning Yu Xuan will be wife-less at this rate. Nie Sang Yu demands a divorce. Understandable. She nearly died from his arrows, was accused of colluding with the bandits, and flogged (after Wen Wan's meddling). But he doesn't want a divorce. 

[Ep4] Ning Yu Xuan has life-threatening injuries. Well, Nie Sang Yu has life-saving skills. He doesn't believe her, and so she straps him to the bed to force treatment on him. So how did she feed him the medication? 

[Ep5] Gui Bai (Ning Yu Xuan's guard) asks his master, "How come what you say and what you do is never the same. LOL. So true. It's a gibe with love. Gui Bai, it's because your master is in love ~ 

The look of love! The wind blowing his wisps is our witness. 

Even when she's audibly badmouthing him, he's smiling. But our stingy guy is keeping all his smiles to himself. 

Lots of blanket action ~ Nie Sang Yu wants to strip him – of his socks. It's to apply ointment to the feet to heal the wound in his abs. She knows this is ridiculous. She just wants him to yell at her to scram. Completely reactionary, he says just that. Oh, but he is so sweet when he realizes he shouted and so he softens his tone, "Please distance yourself from me". And he adds a "thank you"! AW. 

When Ning Yu Xuan realizes every penny Nie Sang Yu is earning is for a better divorce, he's sulking. He doesn't know if her amnesia is fortunate (that he met her) or unfortunate (that he's going to lose her). 

[Ep6] We're at a royal banquet with the Emperor. Me staring at him, staring at her. Nie Sang Yu meets Ling Jian Xing (rivals with Ning Yu Xuan and works for Royal Evil Uncle).  She thinks he's a fine looking man, but his mouth stinks. Did our jealous marquis peek at Ling to check his looks?

The Emperor confers a posthumous title to Nie Sang Yu. She's so disappointed until she realizes it's a brand for her business. Ah, but Ning Yu Xuan reminds her she wanted a divorce. Her title will be gone. For the sake of money, divorce is on hold. But for the sake of the money after her divorce, she has another idea. They should count their couple moments. I think that's the idea. A pearl (worth 100 taels) will be added for every good deed. Whoever has more pearls when they divorce can cash that. Already, she adds four red pearls to the box for the things she's done for him. Meanwhile he's struggling to even think of one. Is that why he let her move back to her Pavilion the next day? And is that why she refused because she doesn't want him to add a blue pearl to the box? Are these two so petty already? Love it.  

Nie Sang Yu changes the name of her Reflection Pavilion to 非晚 (Fei Wan). Like telepathy, Ning Yu Xuan knows exactly which poem she's referring to: 東隅已逝，桑榆非晚. The east corner (= sunrise) has passed, but the mulberry tree is not late. Although the early days have passed, it is not too late to cherish the years to come. 桑榆 = Sang Yu = Mulberry. She named the pavilion "Not Too Late" (非晚) because although she cannot "Reflect" on her past, it's "Not Too Late" to cherish her life now. 

[Ep7] Via the jade, Father Nie realizes Nie Sang Yu is not Nie Sang Yu, but her twin sister. WAIT RIGHT HERE SHOW. You're saying our ML is her brother-in-law?! HUH. He's also not actually her father. He adopted one of the twins for his buddy's sake. 

Nie Sang Yu is drunk and all over Ning Yu Xuan and his lips. To stop him from fumbling, she also grows a third hand, two on his chest and one on his hand.  

Ning Yu Xuan sweetly takes her hand to cover her ears when Nie Sang Yu is hurt from the rumours. He promises that he'll handle it. He cheers her up by giving her a red pearl. You deserve ten blue pearls for this! And is he keeping pearls on him now? But she cries even more. Ning Yu Xuan frantically looks for more pearls. No dummy. It's not time for pearls... Nie Sang Yu wants a hug. She uses one blue pearl to borrow his body. 

[Ep8] Ning Yu Xuan is arrested for murder. Gui Bai needs to report to his master with new findings, and so Nie Sang Yu smuggles him in as her maid. And there Ning Yu Xuan goes again, hiding his smiles from her because he can't wear his fluttering heart on his sleeve. But he can't hide his shock at Gui Bai's cross-dressing. 

Our ML's tragic childhood is revealed! Watch drama please. 

The Emperor is told that Ning Yu Xuan is innocent. But he still has to be punished! Because! And so he's "demoted" to Hai Fang County. But is this really a punishment? It seems the Emperor sent him there to investigate, which royally upsets Royal Uncle. 

So I think it's about time I explain this part: There's a bloody mystery between Ning Yu Xuan and Yuan Lang's father's (Bandit Leader) murder. Yuan Lan wants Ning Yu Xuan to pay for his father's sins but Ning Yu Xuan wants to eradicate the bandits and solve the mystery. 

[Ep9] You lean on my shoulders.

[Ep10] I lean on your shoulders. 

Okay, proper-ish recap: Our couple has arrived at Haifang (because he really wanted her to go with him). Danger has also arrived from Ling Jian Xing's team who ambushes them. Nie Sang Yu is their hostage. Because FLs, who can't fight, don’t listen to their smouldering MLs, telling them to stay put. She’s ready to die because knowing him, he’ll chuck her away. But he drops his sword for her! He’s changed FOR LOVE. There is someone he loves and misses dearly: her. 

Our couple also has couple nicknames for each other. She's Red Pig (sounds like red pearl) and he's Lazy Pig (sounds like blue pearl). He doesn't mind being a pig if it's being a pig with her. 

Ning Yu Xuan confirms his wife isn’t his wife. He hasn't told Ni Sang Yu yet. For now, he wants to help her recover her memories. Well, it looks like our couple is in the right place. Her father (Ji Ming) is the pirate captain at Haifang. Aye! His daughter, Ji Man (our real FL) has been gone for three months, looking for her spring man (the love of her life). Her drunk talk was a real confession. 

[Ep11] Nie Sang Yu cleans up her new room at Haifang in a spiffy, but a rat has her jolted. And so Ning Yu Xuan is in her room in the middle of night looking ordering Gui Bai to look for the rodent. Can't find it. But we spot abs instead. An ab slip is totally warranted here even if it's a cheap move.  

I don't really know who this Ning Yu Xuan is anymore because Ning Yu Xuan is pulling boyfriend-moves already! He lets Nie Sang Yu sleep on his bed while he takes the floor – no arguments needed. He even buys her time in order to go shopping with her. I'm not used to such an amazing drama husband so fast. 

[Ep12] Who let the dog out! Ning Yu Xuan. He's letting out Nie Sang Yu to bark up the city (to investigate the corrupt officials). She takes the opportunity to spread her beauty products (as well as flaunt her beauty at him). 

Our couple is spinning and hugging! But then Ning Yu Xuan meets Jealousy Yuan Lang, and now he (Ning) is moping around. 

Nie Sang Yu (teases): Some people, when they're jealous, won't say they're jealous, but they still look so handsome. 

Who's jealous? Not our Ning Yu Xuan! 

Gui Bai (mutters): 口是心非 kǒu shì xīn fēi (Duplicity. The mouth is not saying what the heart feels.)

[Ep13] Love-brained Ning Yu Xuan gardens the whole night to fill the lawn with all of Nie Sang Yu's favourite flowers. 

Gui Bai meets Shui Niang Zi. (It's Yue Mi! From Ancient Love Poetry)

[Ep14] Ning Yu Xuan discovers Nie Sang Yu's real identity: Ji Man, a pirate's daughter. He's in a serious turmoil. Meanwhile our taciturn Gui Bai is bored of his master's dramatics. "Isn't it just telling her her name?". Pft. Oh but, Ning Yu Xuan is adding in a love confession! Too bad he's speaking to a door. It was bound to fail. 

[Ep15] Ji Man (using FL's real name now) is jealous because of Wen Wan. To cheer her up, Ning Yu Xuan gives her his first –– noodle that he made. 

But remember, he's afraid of fire! He had to light up the stove like he's playing pool, ha! 

Now Ji Man' is no longer sour with jealousy but salty from his noodles, but sine it's his first, she eats it with a sweet smile. Gui Bai can't stand the couple as he closes his eyes. Sir, when's your romance? Can't wait until it's his turn and Ning Yu Xuan gets to tease him back. 

Shui Niang Zi performs on stage but no one is watching because the boys (Ning Yu Xuan and Yuan Lang) are busy being jealous. Maybe Gui Bai had his eyes open this time for her performance. However, the night is ruined when Nie Sang Yu's bullying scandal is exposed. No matter what century, no one likes bullies. Everyone hates Ji Man now. Ning Yu Xuan will kneel for her to apologize to Lian Xiang (the victim), but Ji Man stops him. She says it's her responsibility. Lian Xiang begrudgingly refuses the kneeling and weeps that she'll forgive her, which riles the crowd even more. 

(Lian Xiang is receiving instructions from Wen Wan. I'm doubting Wen Wan's r*pe story. All we saw was her crying and a dead body on the floor whom she says is her assaulter.) 

[Ep16] Ning Yu Xuan finally tells Ji Man her real identity. But she blames him for not telling her sooner and now her name and business is ruined. Beats me why the maid didn't tell her either. 

Ling Jian Xing kills Lian Xiang to frame Ji Man of murder because that's supposed to ruin Ning Yu Xuan too. 

[Ep17] Ning Yu Xuan may have imprisoned Nie Sang Yu, but he's keeping her company, not leaving her side. She understands that he's keeping her safe. 

The real criminal is captured thanks to Shui Niang Zi. I like the scene of Gui Bai hammering down with a sword on anyone who dares to hurt her. 

Yuan Lang had a chance to kill Ning Yu Xuan, but he hesitated. 

Ning Yu Xuan winces in pain. Ji Man thought it was the wound he suffered for her that's flaring up, but no, it's his heart flaring up at the thought of her leaving him (because she isn't Nie Sang Yu). He even makes her physically feel his heart. *Ba-thump ba-thump* Gui Bai almost rolls his eyes. 

Ji Man reunites with her original maid, Sang Shen, who reminds her that she went to the capital in search of the man she loves. She saw his fleeting image at the harbour and that was history! Ji Man scoffs at herself, "Will he be more handsome than Ning Yu Xuan?" Just as handsome. Well, her handsome no-longer-husband is here to perform maintenance for her ship. It's just an excuse to get her to sleep at (his) home. But she's a stubbornly independent lady. She won't return. 

[Ep18] Shui Niang Zi and Ji Man are friends again. She joins the business, along with Qian Lian Xue (cousin) who really needs money for some reason. 

Yuan Lang is the new pirate leader and shiver me timbers, he's got a parrot to prove it! 

I thought Yuan Lang always knew, but it looks like Yuan Lang just confirms that Ji Man is Ji Man. He has a chance! Dude, were you acting like you didn't have a chance before? 

Gui Bai is still protecting his girl, Shui Niang Zi, from men who could potentially pester her. Well, hello Gui Bai, man who is "pestering" her. 

[Ep19] Shui Niang Zi is clowning around to make Gui Bai smile. Still pretty. 

Halting all dates for there is a fire at the shop! But fire means hot men. Gui Bai and Ning Yu Xuan get to show off their boyfriend-manliness while saving the girl's shop. And don't forget, our Ning Yu Xuan has a fear of fire. 

According to a letter, Nie Sang Yu is dead dead. This means our couple can be rightfully couply. Boooo, is that how we're going to write off Nie Sang Yu?! Show, that's it?! 

Shui Niang Zi coyly asks Gui Bai who he would choose between her and Ning Yu Xuan. Of course! It's! Ning Yu Xuan! LOL. Honesty +1???? xD 

Business is doomed. The rich ladies aren't showing up. Ning Yu Xuan inspires Ji Man to expand her consumer market. She's reminded of the origin of her inventions: it was for the regular citizens.  

[Ep20] Yuan Lang agrees to a greedy merchant's shady deal and loots Ji Man's ship. Ning Yu Xuan recovers everything for her, though. 

Ning Yu Xuan is so in love with the woman who's slaving him away to other ladies for free. 

Hand in hand, Ji Man helps Ning Yu Xuan overcome his fear of fire. 

Show made Ji Man so clever in the beginning. What happened to that? Right now she's merely an object of our ML's love. 

[Ep21] Ning Yu Xuan and Ji Man play truth or dare. He wins the first round of Rock Paper Scissors, and she whines that he's not going easy on her. It's Rock Paper Scissors. Tell me how. 

Ning Yu Xuan: Do you have someone you like?

Ji Man (hesitating): ...Yes. 

They play a second round. She wins. Hey, he might have actually gone easy on her, lol. Since he knew she (being the typical girl) playing the same thing again, he went with scissors. She asks the same question he did. He replies yes with NO HESITATION! NONE. You heart-stealer. She wins a third round and asks, "Who. He looks around, as if shy and then kisses her. "You."She asks if he's confessing to her. "Yup."  She kisses him back. 

We have a case of human trafficking. Bad people, bad! 

[Ep22] A huge twist that no one saw coming: Yuan Lang teams up with Ning Yu Xuan to seize the baddie. We all saw that coming. But baddie has bombs. Ji Man flies over to save the ship, but she flies off the ship too. Alas, memories triggered!  

Ji Man had loved Ning Yu Xuan for four years. I guess that makes her in love with him before Nie Sang Yu was?? She finally had the courage to meet him, but it happened to be the day he was marrying Wen Wan. Well, we all know what happened that day. She saw Nie Sang Yu falling off the cliff and jumped in to save her. But she already drowned. 

Right before Ji Man wakes up, she remembers how she fell in love with Ning Yu Xuan. He was at her village and fixed her harbour. It was love at first sight. 

Now that she survived drowning twice, our girl is living on the edge! She requests to eat Ning Yu Xuan's lethal noodles. 

Our smug guy after he realizes he fits Ji Man's dream guy.

Noodle (pieces) are all yours, Ning Yu Xuan.

[Ep23] Volume 3 of Ning Yu Xuan's cooking crusade: 

Ning Yu Xuan overcomes another phobia for Ji Man: fish. He's got a lot of phobias. He tells her how a girl would leave a basket of fish at his doorsteps. There would be love letters too. And so he concludes it's an enemy stink bombing him with fishy fishes. Smart guy. Ji Man, our fishy fish girl is offended. 

So remember how Nie Sang Yu had a teeny little box she treasured, filled with portraits of Ning Yu Xuan? Well, Ji Man has a treasure chest of it, quadrupled in size. Guess who loves our ML more! Fishy fish. Wen Wan thought she was onto something fishy, but she just exposed how much Ji Man loves him and how she loved him first. 

[Ep24] Apparently. The sisters are cursed. They cannot be together that's why they were separated. 

The father, Ji Ming, is not Ji Ming. He is Lei Hu, a member of the Cai Bandits.  

That's not all. 

Ji Man is not Ji Man. She's Cai Wen Zheng's daughter, the bandit leader that Ning Yu Xuan's father supposedly killed. Welcome, star-crossed lover trope! 

Our couple has no idea what's happening outside their little world. She's busy being embarrassed that everyone knows she loves him. He's busy being smug about it and comforting her that if she's embarrassed, he'll tell everyone he loves her more.  

[Ep25] Wen Wan update: still here. 

Qin Yi Xian's smirk fixes Qian Lian Xue's little brother's gambling addiction. 

A confession. And what is a confession without petals! 

Random petals, they are not. They're maid-made petals. 

[Ep26] Wen Wan update: Arrested! But is she gone? And yeah, she wasn't r*ped. Woman is a murderer who accused an innocent man. 

Ning Yu Xuan has a nightmare. He asks Ji Man to stay the night in his bed and threatens her that anyone who knows about his nightmares is either dead or guarding him forever. Ah, Gui Bai, you had that promise with your master eh? xD She hits him for teasing her. But his nightmares are no joke. He hasn't slept one proper night ever since Cai Wen Zheng (Bandit Father) killed his father right in front of his eyes. Ji Man will protect him now. Well. 

Gui Bai rejected pretty dancing lady, and so he's reluctant to see her when Ning Yu Xuan needs her help shopping for presents for Ji Man. But when Ning Yu Xuan says his life's happiness depends on him, Gui Bai has no choice. What's up with Gui Bai's devoted loyalty to Ning Yu Xuan? 

[Ep27] Father Ji is back = romantic obstacle. 

[Ep28] Ning Yu Xuan and Ji Man are secretly marrying, but we have another romantic obstacle: Yuan Lang. Will he tell her that her real father was murdered by Father Ning?  

See this → – 

That's how thin the line is that's keeping me from dropping this drama.

 

[Ep29] Ning Yu Xuan is jilted and he doesn't even know why. Ji Man left him without a word. It's for her father, but it's also for Ning Yu Xuan. He hates her father.  They can never marry. I'm still mad at the lack of communication because clearly something is messed up with their father's story, but at least she didn't leave him because she chose her dead father whom she never knew over Ning Yu Xuan after all they went through. 

[Ep30] Ji Man tells Ning Yu Xuan the truth. Cue the dramatic rainstorm. 

Ling Jian Xing is in the city. In front of him, Ji Man returns to impersonate Ning Yu Xuan's wife. Ling Jian Xing didn't come alone though. He brought Wen Wan who is now Ru Yue. 

See this →  

There's nothing. That line is gone. Bye.

[Ep31]
[Ep32]
[Ep33]
[Ep34]
[Ep35]
[Ep36]
[Ep37]
[Ep38]

Remarks

[First Impression (Ep1-8)] ***Ep7 Spoilers***

I'm the idiot who didn't connect the drama title to FL's identity (and for once the English title is more informative than the Chinese one). So after Ep8, I finally, very unfortunately, realize that I'm watching a romance between a girl and her brother-in-law... (⊙︿⊙ ✿) 

Show is also filler-y already. I'm worried. Don't do this to my Ding Yu Xi. And I was really liking this at Ep5 with all that blanket action and his vulnerability exposed by her. 

[Actors/Actresses] Ding Yu Xi really does look like he strolled in from Romance of Tiger and Rose. I love how he holds his posture erect, but his mannerism elastic. This guy effortlessly switches from smitten to pompous to endearing without losing his original character. 

I don't want to be neglecting Peng Xiao Ran in this section, but I feel nothing for her. It doesn't help that she's playing a typical transmigration type of FL (e.g. Zhao Lu Si's roles). Must I watch Goodbye My Princess to feel her charm? Is that the only way? Then count me out. I can't do that one. 

[Behind the Scenes]

[Glossary] 

口是心非 Kǒu shì xīn fēi – Duplicity. The mouth is not saying what the heart feels.  (Ep12)

[Couple Name] Gold and Jade Fill the Room

Ning Yu Xuan 寧鈺軒  + Ji Man 季曼

= Jin Yu Man Tang 金鈺曼堂

→ 金玉满堂 

→ Abundance of wealth

[A Highlight] For whatever reason my memorable scene is..... all of Ep5 when Ning Yu Xuan falls in love.

[Dropped] Ding Yu Xi cannot save this amateurish drama. 

[Ending] Happy.