K-Drama 
Lan Xiang struggles with the forced marriage, while Han Liang accepts that he has lost his chance. Lin Jin Qi is punished by his family for requesting the imperial marriage decree, but his siblings stand by him. Meanwhile, the Zheng family is sentenced, and Lan Xiang’s parents prepare for her wedding.
(Source: kisskh)
- Aired: September 22, 2026
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Against the Current Episode 26 Reactions
Han and LanXiang are both lamenting their change in fate at the wall. Here I am glad Han is admitting that he was the one pushing the marriage. He is sorrowful about everything where I think LanXiang is weeping for her mother. She never really had a chance to voice her views. They send a last message and he confirms he is heading off to take the exams. I did not completely understand her response to him, but I am taking it as a let’s remain friends message. JinQi was publicly beaten in front of family and staff for giving his family an edict they could not refuse. I think he unknowingly is paying the penance the Lins owe the Shens for their desertion at Qia Lan’s engagement party. Lan Xiang is looking at the pouch that was initially supposed to be for JinQi. She is playing through their refusal word for word that painted her an unfit candidate when she had her Shen status, so how is she feeling about the acceptance of the maid newly made commoner? Is the pouch kept for what might have been, the cautionary tale of being in the emperor’s favor or not, or a tribute to the mom that made a replacement when first one wore out? She is busily sewing a wardrobe for LanXiang to have some proper clothes when she gets there. She has been a seamstress for the family so she is equipped to know what to make for her. I have to admit that the next generation of Lins gives me some hope for them. All the elders are so socially motivated or cowardly. The gpa stoically standing over JinQi and ordering the punishment. Where was his righteous indignation at deserting the Shens and letting them be slaughtered?😝🙄I did not expect there to be such fondness between the Lin siblings and it was good to see. It was fun watching the plans they had to rescue their brother til third sister did it for them. Xiuru has come into her own as the Marchioness and I like that she quietly stands firm and shows no sign of timidity. Everything is about calming down the mother who has no clue what disaster the Duke’s family would have brought to them. I have to admire Ms Zheng with her stance of death before dishonor and her contempt of the cowardice of her brothers. Her mother, there are just no words for her expectations from her daughter. I liked the offer that was extended but no such character was going to be found in her mother. 😝Even the Marquis respected her choice as wrong as her politics had been on which Prince to back. I found I felt no satisfaction in seeing another family exterminated as those two young boys were headed to the execution block with the rest of the males. All this blood shed for undeserving royals just kinda leaves a bitter taste with the collateral damage and scramble to survive. Scholar Lu reminds LanXiang that she can use that decree to hold those at bay wishing her harm. Who really wants to try to contest the emperor? We’ve already watched three different families wiped out by them. Furong has an identical story with LanXiang. Her family trusted the Duke and were betrayed. Shen patriarch and her father made same choice to stand fast and their families paid the price. She recognizes her sister and Ms Zheng were similar age when committed suicide, but even with their deaths it is nothing to rejoice over, except for the emperor. There seems to be a collective sigh of relief he cannot hurt them anymore. She looks down on Scholar Lu for having no explanation as to why good people died for no good reason or why justice was not made for them. I don’t think she realized LanXiang also well acquainted with that scenario and all three of them have the exact same questions. I really wish Furong and Han would have paired up because I think they would have made a better couple long term. I really don’t think LanXiang wanted marriage at all at this time in her life. She would have accepted the Hans as a good fit for her parents, but her feelings really aren’t given consideration by either suitor. Both know they used outside means to try to get their way. JinQi just had the invincible emperor card to override all dissenters, including the bride. 😝🙄Neither suitor bothered getting Lan Xiang’s opinion and their competition did neither of them any favors. I liked the frank chat JinQi had with YuChan. She is surprised but at least relieved they know her temperament and she will not be another heinous attitude to deal with. I don’t know how Ms Zheng would have been, but she was unafraid to take killing off the table so it is better that we never got to find out. She died courageously in spite of her gray/black character and I give her credit for that considering her parents. I liked that Scholar Lu asked to sit with the Xu’s at the wedding as Lan Xiang’s mentor. That was a thoughtful gesture from one who truly understood their misgivings. I like to think he was standing up for his friends the Shens as well and looking out for their daughter. 🌹The preview has an interesting encounter with Han and JinQi. JinQi is politely requesting they make way for LanXiang's carriage and Han is expressing surprise he didn’t order it due to emperor’s decree. 🙄😝 JinQi deserved that remark and no telling how this challenge is going to go down.
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The difference is so striking.On Jinqi's side, he got his siblings and cousins, even the maid, comforting him and accepting his choice. (the elders beat him up for the sake of it, they would have never went hard on him as the whole Lin clan mainly relies on him and his achievement)On Lanxiang's side it's just tears and sadness... 😢😭Big up to Master Lu who sees Lanxiang as his goddaughter at this point. His request was so touching. 🥹With Furong's story, they really show us how many families and especially young girls and ladies ended up having the same fate as Shen Jialan, but without her luck. 😢Also the Duke family begging, his wife already planning on how to use her daughter to get out of the gutter, tsk tsk tsk. You'd think with how they acted before they would have more dignity but the only prideful one was the daughter, she rather died than bow down. (the way she died was something. Cdramas and their cinematic suicide are something else)I'm apprehending the next part of the story and Lanxiang life in the Lin residence so bad, like I'm anxious for her. Jinqi may be happy he got the woman he wanted but just thinking about how she will have to move in this residence, how she will be welcome with nothing but disdain when she did not even want to step a foot in that place again. I already feel for her 😞😞😞P.S: must admit Jinqi is really yhe menca he thinks he is because that plotting was so perfectly executed, even the bride was left speechless lol
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Lanxiang drinks to console herself over recent events. Master Lu asks to stand by Lan Xian’s side at the wedding, given that she has no family and he was her only master. The Xu family agrees and thanks him for everything he has done for them. Lanxiang’s parents had worried she might be humiliated by the Lin family, but Master Lu assured them that wouldn't happen. Jia Lan added that doing so would defy the Emperor's decree, so they wouldn't dare. Master Lu also noted that, within the Lin family, this moment would serve as both a sword and armor—actually protecting her.However, her words while weeping by the wall were unsettling; she spoke as if the marriage didn't exist. To her, it would be a final separation; the wedding would take place, but for her, it wouldn't be real. She delivered a monologue—harsh words spoken as if she were conversing with Lin Jin Qi.Meanwhile, Scholar Hu was on the other side of the wall, listening to her weeping. Yet, what he said through the wall was simply an acknowledgment that Lan Xian hadn't wanted to marry him either. She was a free spirit who wished to chart her own path. (Only then did he realize that he, too, had in some way been trying to force a marriage).Lin Jin Qi, for his part, was enduring a terrible ordeal before his entire family. He was humiliated in front of his grandfather, parents, siblings, and cousins. His grandfather and parents spoke harshly to him because he had defied their wishes to force the marriage with Lan Xian. Lin Jin Qi explained that he had acted that way knowing they wouldn't approve; he loved Lanxiang, and that was why he had gone against them all. Calling him "ungrateful," his grandfather declared that he would be punished. Lin Jin Qi then lay face-down on a wooden bench, and a servant began beating him with a heavy club. He is wounded—blood seeps through his clothes—yet LJQ stands firm; only his facial expression betrays the pain he is feeling. Everyone is distressed, and his ailing brother looks as though he might collapse. Nan Ke weeps uncontrollably as he watches his master, commander, and friend being treated this way. But at that moment, his sister Xiu Rui arrives—dressed as a married woman (a stroke of good timing)—prompting their grandfather to call a halt to the punishment (though not before LJQ has already endured many lashes).In the next scene, we see Lin Jin Qi—battered but happy—lying face-down on his bed, recovering from the ordeal. His siblings gather around to comfort and tease him, and he smiles. It is revealed that Xiu Rui’s timely arrival was actually part of LJQ’s plan; he had known what awaited him but had refused to back down from his decision.And in episode 27, we will see the long-awaited wedding take place.
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Love her slap in this episode. ML kind of deserve this but also I think she slap him publicaly to make clear that she does not seduce male lead and this marriage is agaist her will.
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By the end of the episode, everyone had made some sort of peace with the fact that the Lin family's eldest son will marry their ex-maid. Of course, for some the grudge will stay longer, but for some it has already passed. However, in the end, those grudges don't matter much, because no one can really do anything about it as that would be going against the Emperor's will. 😌Well, all I can say — well played, Jinqi! I can only hope you will be satisfied with what you'll get for it. 👏😐 Master Lu advised Lanxiang to use this situation to her advantage and make it her shield and sword, and I have no doubts that she will... 🙂↕️I absolutely adored the Lin children here. They were ready to improvise on the spot to soften Jinqi's punishment, and still are ready to do whatever is needed in the future. 🤗 But Furong became even dearer to Lanxiang through sharing the same story of how she lost her family 23 years ago... 🥺🥹But I wonder a little bit, who her family was and for what treason they were punished... Could it be that it happened sometime around the deposition of the previous Emperor? Maybe she knew who Uncle Liu was? (but she hasn't shown any signs of being affected by his death in any way, so probably not) 🤔
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