Dark horse

Zang Hai is doing his best to sell second prince to Xiang AnTu and finds out his own friends sold him out. 😂 Their dinner is interrupted as he chases them out of the tower.🤣 The prince is thrown in a pig pen and challenged to make his own way out. When first thrown in he whines about his difficulties and that training cannot be completed in a day. 😝 He is admonished by Zang Hai, but given the option to walk away accepting that if he does to never mention avenging his mother again. Here he makes the choice to adhere to agreement. The friend should not have made pig noises…he failed at being a trainer in less than a day😝🙄 The prince is indeed soft, but, as he strengthens himself through vigorous training and eats wholesome, simple food, he recognizes that he is becoming the man his mother would be proud of. He shows up on tournament day and his team routed almost immediately. The prince gets pissed at their mocking and decides even if alone he is going to kick some ass. He does well and manages to score. ‘Follow me if you want to win’…words they never expected to hear. They rally and the tricks of the sticks taught by street players came in very handy.😁 At the end of the incense, the winning point is scored by the green team. The betting house goes wild with this change of events and things heat up at the betting tables and court as the games’ winner is dark horse Prince. This news even comes back to Marquis who takes credit how his blood shining through. The concubine side eyes Zang Hai knowing something is afoot and he is the cause. Her son is finally set back a bit. He’s not concerned because he has no idea the talent his brother could have. His mother weakened two sons, she just didn’t realize it. At the reward table the Marquis and eunuch both show up. The prince gets genuine praise from his father for the first time as a man. He is taking this all in and embracing it. Zang Hai is avoiding lengthy eye contact with eunuch. He is offered a position and the Marquis intervenes without directly refusing it. He is hoping to buy the eunuch off, but he is curious about the identity of Zang Hai and sends out a squad to place inquiries. That ended up in a bloodbath and the leader of the group was not killed. But, he did not get to send his message either. I do not know if the second pigeon had a fake message or simply released so could not be used. They have slowed the progress of the leader, but he is making his way back to the capital and killing anyone getting in his way.

Read More

Epic episode in the revenge saga!

Episode 13 is a masterclass in tension and payoff, blending political maneuvering, razor-sharp character dynamics, and pulse-pounding action into a tightly woven narrative. The episode kicks off with Zang Hai doubling down on his alliance with Zhuang Zhixing, pushing him to win the annual polo tournament to secure Zhuang Luyin’s favor, and ultimately, a foothold in the Marquis’s inner circle. The stakes skyrocket as Zang Hai negotiates with Xiang Antu to orchestrate Zhuang Zhixing’s public “transformation”, a gamble that involves shadow puppet propaganda, betting pools, and even branded medicinal baths. The script here is chef’s kiss, layered with biting wit and strategic nuance, like when Xiang Antu snatches Zang Hai’s jade pendant as collateral, demanding he repay her through labor. Their verbal sparring crackles with subtext, balancing hostility with grudging respect and humor.
The training montage is a standout, blending grit and dark humor. Zang Hai drags Zhuang Zhixing to a dilapidated temple, tossing him into a pigsty to shock him out of his playboy complacency. The raw physicality of Zhuang Zhixing clawing his way out, vowing to avenge his mother, is both visceral and symbolic, a rebirth forged in filth and determination. Xiao Zhan’s performance here is phenomenal: his icy resolve softens just enough to reveal flickers of empathy, reminding us that Zang Hai isn’t just a revenge machine but a man haunted by shared trauma.
The polo tournament itself is a visual feast. Zhuang Zhixing, clad in a green battle robe, evolves from mocked underdog to strategic leader, rallying his team with grit that mirrors Zang Hai’s own journey. The choreography of the match, intercepted shots, the roaring crowds, is shot with kinetic energy, while the Xiao Eighth Master’s shadow puppet play adds a meta-layer of propaganda that’s both clever and eerily prescient.
But the episode’s real tension lies in Cao Jingxian’s investigation into Zang Hai’s past. The subplot in Qingquan Town where Cao’s adopted son Lu Jin hunts for dirt, culminates in a brutal fight scene. An old vegetable seller and his disciple confront Lu Jin’s men, resulting in a bloody skirmish that’s as emotionally charged as it is brutal. The action here is raw and unflinching, a stark contrast to the polished court intrigue, and it underscores the series’ willingness to ground its stakes in human cost.
Xiao Zhan’s portrayal of Zang Hai’s quiet desperation hits harder than ever. Whether he’s coldly calculating how to exploit Zhuang Zhixing’s victory or subtly flinching when handling his father’s relics, every micro-expression crackles with unspoken history. The supporting cast matches his intensity: Zhang Jingyi’s Xiang Antu balances cunning with vulnerability, while Huang Jue’s Zhuang Luyin oozes menace masked by paternal charm. Even Zhuang Zhixing’s arc from wasted heir to determined avenger, is elevated by nuanced writing and a standout performance.
Personal take: The script’s genius lies in how it mirrors Zang Hai’s own chess-like precision. Every subplot like the polo match, Cao’s investigation, Xiang Antu’s schemes, feels interconnected, building toward a crescendo of political chaos. The pacing never lags, and the dialogue avoids exposition dumps in favor of sharp, character-driven exchanges.
This episode cements Legend of Zang Hai as a revenge saga with brains, heart, and teeth. With its killer combo of cerebral scheming, emotional depth, and action that leaves you breathless, this drama isn’t just riding high, it’s rewriting the rules.

Read More