Tigers Sniff the Rose episode 16 recap: Chunhua's wedding

In short

Yan Shang tells the princess he loves her and they kiss. Yu Cheng'an pins the Zheng Xing affair on Chunhua and wants her beaten to death, so Chunhua, still pregnant, marries Prince Jin as his side consort while Liu Wenji is beaten chasing her sedan chair.

What happens in episode 16

Yan Shang sits with the princess in the corridor. Half to herself, she remembers the snowstorm she and Chunhua escaped through after the marriage alliance, the only two who made it back. She lost so much blood and lived, she says, so Chunhua will live too. Yan Shang finally understands what she went through. He tells her plainly that he loves her and would do anything for her. She asks why he took the blame for her, and he says it again. When she still doubts him, he kisses her, and this time she lets herself kiss him back.

Wei Qiao brings Yu Cheng'an the Zheng Xing file. The censors keep pressing on Zheng shooting Prince Jin, so Yu Cheng'an decides to blame it all on the princess's maid and have her beaten to death at the Silver Terrace Gate.

Physician Huang reports that Chunhua is out of danger, and so is the baby. Then the Silver Terrace Gate office demands Chunhua be handed over. The princess won't beg Yu Cheng'an, who lets it be known she can deal with the maid herself. She gives Chunhua two choices: run away to the countryside with Liu Wenji, or marry into Prince Jin's household as a side consort. Chunhua chooses the prince, so she won't drag Liu Wenji down with her.

Prince Jin hasn't recovered from his last scare, and no medicine helps. The princess brings Chunhua to him, tells him she is carrying his child, and orders him to take her in properly as a side consort and treat them well. Delighted, he agrees, and the wedding is set for the next day.

Liu Wenji sees the decorations at the princess's residence and learns Chunhua is getting married. The princess locks him up so he can't ruin it. Chunhua stands outside his door for a long time without a word, then leaves behind the jewelry he once gave her. The next morning, hearing firecrackers, he breaks out and runs after the bridal sedan, shouting her name, until the prince's men beat him down. Inside the sedan, Chunhua weeps.

Why it matters

Chunhua's marriage into Prince Jin's household is the turn her character profile describes, and the leads finally admit their feelings.

Based on the episode synopsis, summarized in our own words: TVmao (电视猫) episode synopses