The Story of Ming Lan Episode 21

Ming Lan....married to Yuan Ruo?

SPOILERS! After the funeral of his father, GTY has a heart to heart with Eldest Brother Sheng. Elder brother tells GTY that he will be getting married in two months. GTY decides not to go in order to avoid creating any rumors and instead leaves immediately with Rong'er to find his son. The episode then shifts to Yuan Ruo who celebrates his mother's birthday and introduces a new food to the family--stir fry--it's all the rage. Unfortunately, Yuan Ruo chooses a day that should be, well, all about his mother to present to her his request to marry Sheng Ming Lan. I felt very bad for his mother and him, because she was uneasy the moment he mentioned marriage--she will have to be the bad guy--because she knows that her son can't marry just anybody. Marrying Ming Lan as a first wife is simply a fairy tale thing, not a reality. The consequences would extend far beyond humiliating his parents--it could humiliate even the royal family since she is after all a princess. I think it is extremely unfair, and I feel for Yuan Ruo, but I think this episode shows that he is used to getting what he wants because he seems to have a sincere belief that his parents would consent. It is incredibly naive of him to believe his mother when she agrees to go offer for her (come on we know she marries GTY so its obvious his mother is not going to propose). Ming Lan receives the message that his mother will support the marriage in secret. Her grandmother is not pleased and wants to stop any hint of gossip. Her grandmother seems angry with Yuan Ruo telling her this thing because it will be disastrous for Ming Lan's reputation. Her grandmother confronts her about this and makes it clear that she needs to think about her future--she reminds her of the facts that their difference in status is huge. If they marry, she will be miserable because of his mother, and her grandmother is confident he cannot protect her. I.e. she wants her to think about being happy, not about love. Elsewhere, Gu Ting ye saves the life of an important group of men who essentially become his best friends much later on (its the emperor, Prince Huan, and general Shen)(they never really explain how he learns to fight so well but I presume they are taking into account the fact that he is from a military family so its ...natural?)

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