Tigers Sniff the Rose episode 40 recap: A wedding and a shared duty

In short

Yan Shang survives, Mu Xun's rebellion is crushed, and Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang marry and govern together for the child emperor; Yang Si dies in the final battle.

What happens in episode 40

Yang Si charges into the princess's relief army but is struck by several arrows. He falls from his horse and struggles toward her, bloodied and full of regret for the choices he has made and the future he lost with her. He collapses and dies before her. Hearing of his death, Mu Xun fights on desperately.

Yan Shang returns to the city gate alive, lifting the defenders' spirits. He asks where they come from, names his own home in Lingnan and rallies them to defend the capital together. The princess's army drives Mu Xun toward the gates, which open as Yan Shang leads the defenders out. Trapped between the two forces, Mu Xun still calls himself the rightful heir. A soldier kills him. The princess and Yan Shang finally face each other again, overcome with emotion.

Chunhua's young son succeeds to the throne. The princess governs as regent, while Yan Shang becomes head of the officials. With the rebellion over, the princess's residence prepares for their wedding. Yan Shang arrives by boat to fetch his bride, and they complete the marriage rites. After years of coercion and separation, she marries the man she has chosen.

The couple help the young ruler rebuild the country. They take him to Yan Shang's family home in Lingnan, where he learns about crops, farming and the lives of the people he will govern. By the river, the leads remember their first meeting. The princess enjoys the brief rest, but refuses to extend it: too much government work is waiting in the capital.

Back at court, Chunhua struggles to stay awake over the books her son is teaching her. The princess slips away from their good-natured dispute and returns to work beside Yan Shang. He marks examination papers while she reads memorials. As snow begins to fall, they stand together and watch it. Their happy ending combines public duty with a peaceful home: they choose to protect this life together rather than retire from the world.

Why it matters

The finale confirms the leads' marriage and Yan Shang's survival, settles the rebellion and succession, and gives them a future built on shared work as well as love.

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