Against the Current Episode 27

Let's talk about The Slap.

My take on The Slap (tm) is as such. First off, he deserved it and he admitted as such. He broke custom and bypassed getting permission from her parents, causing them a lot of shock and distress. And that is something that is really, really important to her. She cares so deeply for her adoptive parents that it upset her deeply to see them scared and distressed like that. So she was rightfully very upset and she probably had bottled it up to a point where she just had to let it out. Second, by slapping him in front of most of the rest of the household, it established right off the bat that she was now at the same social status level as he was. That she was no longer a servant. So those two purposes were served by The Slap. Now, some commenters have made a big deal that he did this without ever asking what she wanted and that's true. But that isn't the key issue because, well, neither did Han Liang. He also did not ever ask FL whether she wanted to marry him. In fact, he blatantly admitted that he _knew_ she didn't have feelings for him but he went and pushed his the parents to quickly force a marriage. He pushed fast because he could see clearly that Jin Qi was already deeply in love with her and almost certainly going to ask for her in marriage. So if you ask me, Han Liang's motivations and actions were not one bit 'purer' or 'sincere' than Jin Qi's. And if anything, Han Liang's aggressiveness at forcing a marriage was a big reason why Jin Qi did what he did. He had originally planned to woo her gradually but because of Han - along with the circumstances of his duties taking him away from her for stretches - he had to act fast and in a way that could not be countered. At any rate, in either marriage proposal, Lan Xiang was never asked what she wanted. But because she loves her parents so much, she was probably going to be fine with Han's proposal because he went through her parents. That was the big difference.

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The slap heard around Jinling

The Xu home was far from happy about the wedding. The parents tried hard to keep upbeat and Lan Xiang tried even harder. She wore the same smile she had when first being sent to the Lin home. Jin Qing arrives to pick up his bride and a bit set back when Scholar Lu comes out with the edict. He then sees a very somber set of parents. I like that Scholar Lu corrected Mr Xu and had him act like a father and not a servant before young master. It has not registered on Jinqi yet how thoughtless he’s been. He had YuChan handle the betrothal gifts but there wasn’t the line up of gifts and meeting the parents that typically start off a marriage contract. He has bypassed all that so Scholar Lu is making Jinqi very aware that the bride is coming by direct command of the emperor and not because she has chosen this groom. Jinqi stayed bowed for awhile and should have. He was so busy beating Han that he considered it a done deal with the Xu family once he won. There is a run in on the way to the Lin home by the scholars and town celebrating that not only had Han passed the exam, he was the top scholar. This was another cause for pause from JinQi because he never even considered that Han would actually pass much less come in first. This accomplishment is greater than a wedding procession and both men know it. Because JinQi asked politely and meant it, Han put aside his distaste and made things smooth for Lan Xiang’s sake. He did not want their marriage to be smooth…at all, but neither did he want to cause LanXiang embarrassment amongst her family and peers. He took his well wishers in to the restaurant and cleared a path for Lan Xiang to get through. She is the most reluctant bride ever and who can blame her? She gets inside the house and her reticence is obvious from the first forced bow. By the time it comes to bowing to Lin Qi she definitely makes it clear this isn’t her idea…at all. The resounding slap when her veil is removed said it all to him and the guests. The guests scatter and Jinqi saves face as best he can. I don’t know if he knows just how close he cut it with Han for getting married and what a shock resonated through her community at the shift in grooms. She is seeing her friends as the lady of the house and it is awkward for all of them. LanXiang is reminded they will get in trouble if she takes on too much of their work for them. I have to say I’m surprised at the mom’s attitude of JinQi getting slapped. She found it just punishment and became even more annoyed when she heard he disrupted a betrothal to get his own way. I liked that JinQi was smart enough to sleep in the side room. He gave her the respect of the true wife and her need for space. His pragmatic view that he will be experiencing the bitter and hard times first because of his actions at least proves he’s aware of his wrongdoing. I also truly enjoyed the little sling shot brother so happy Lan Xiang was becoming part of the family. He was the sweetest moment of the evening and maybe even got a smile out of her that we didn’t get to see. What disappointed me greatly was the preview where it seems the mom is calling Lan Xiang unreliable because she was the ONLY one in that house that didn’t deserve that tag. Even JinQi has shown how he falters. She helped basically save their entire family and then talked about like that. The cool points she got for her attitude about the slap she more than lost with that description.😝 The only good part will be less pressure from the son beater to get JiuGao married off. The one thing that hits me about JinQi is while he’s mulling things over in the spare room, he gives a grin that he would do it again if that was the only way to get the girl. He is truly smitten but shows her in the worst way possible. I’m gonna blame his dad.🤣😂😝🙄

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Saddest wedding ever

"From this day forward, we are husband and wife, and we'll share both fortune and hardship. But you'll enjoy the good fortune first, and I'll bear the hardship first." - Lin Jinqi (is it foreshadowing their future?)What a wedding! Never seen a wedding this where only the groom is happy. I'm glad she did not bow down to him quickly (he was sweating and wondering what to do if she doesn't, you can tell, and so did his mom lol) and really glad she slapped him publicly! ✋🤵 Because: 1. he had to understand the hard way that she's not happy, he was smiling way too much like she would be thrilled about it. 2. It's good everyone (especially his mother) knows she was not a part of his imperial scheme, because people talk too much & badly about the poor and women overall. 3. All that gave a weird mood to the wedding and for everyone in attendance, happy she was not the only one uncomfortable. ^^P.S: note how she calls him "Lin Jinqi" but he already calls her "Furen" aka "my wife". The man is locked in, hehehe"I'll give you time to accept me. I'll do everything I can to make you fall for me, too. But in this lifetime, you, Xu Lanxiang, can only be my wife." - Lin Jinqi(Most awkward confession of the year goes to... Jinqi, lol. ><)When she held onto her mother's hands, my heart sank. 😢I felt so sad for her when she saw the wedding cake and had her flashback about the first time she saw them. I'm glad she broke the ice with her maid friends, she's definitely going to need people on "her side" in this household.P.S: glad she did not marry Scholar Han. Top Scholar so he will become a high rank official, but he's not from a powerful house so she would have to navigate politics nonetheless but with no backing? Hell no.P.P.S: thanks god Master Lu was there, that would have been so bad if her father had bow down to his son-in-law...

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After the storm comes the calm

The wedding rituals begin. Lan Xiang, fully dressed as a bride—complete with the beaded tassels hanging from her headdress—kneels on the porch before her parents, who offer advice on living in harmony with her husband and his family; everyone is teary-eyed. Mr. Lu is also present at the front of the house. Then, the groom arrives—beaming—accompanied by a massive procession of smiling people. Someone shouts, "The groom has arrived!"—a cry repeated over and over. Finally, the groom dismounts to collect his bride. He enters and bows respectfully to her parents, who regard him with a touch of tenderness. Her father advises the groom on ensuring his daughter's happiness in her new home, and the groom vows to do everything in his power to make that happen. As the wedding party nears the site of the actual ceremony—with the bride in a carriage and the groom on horseback with his entourage—they suddenly encounter an obstacle on the road. It is another procession, bearing news that the scholar Han has ranked first at the country's most prestigious academy. Han’s entourage demands the right of way, blocking the path of the wedding party. A servant of LJQ confronts the man carrying the red placard that officially confirms Han’s success. Finally, LJQ appears and dismounts. (Murmurs are heard: “Is he marrying a mere maid?” Scholar Han approaches as well. LJQ bows respectfully and asks Scholar Han not to interfere with the couple's auspicious moment; they need to pass right then to receive their blessing. Scholar Han speaks sarcastically, noting he expected LJQ to cite the King's decree to demand passage. Scholar Han then decides to clear the way. LJQ tells the servant that this wasn't done for his sake, but for someone else's.Upon arriving at the wedding: LJQ is overjoyed, but a moment of tension arises. In front of Lin Jin Qi’s entire family, the bride refuses to perform the wedding bow. A pause ensues, and LJQ grows anxious. LJQ’s parents seem confused about what is happening. A woman standing nearby gives Lan Xiang a gentle push on the back, urging her to perform the bow that seals the marriage. Reluctantly, Lan Xiang bows, and Lin Jin Qi smiles in relief. Later in the wedding ritual (with no parents present, only other men), Lin Jin Qi stands before his bride. The ritual requires him to lift her red veil. He lifts it solemnly, enchanted by the sight of her face. However, she glares at him and slaps him twice, telling him he has crossed the line. For a moment, he stands stunned. The men all withdraw, leaving the two of them alone.In another scene, Lin Jin Qi sits at a table with the same men who attended the wedding, sharing drinks. Despite everything, LJQ is radiant. The men wonder how he will resolve the situation. LJQ says confidently, “After the storm comes the calm.” The Marquis and the others laugh.The next scene takes place in a bedroom: Lan Xiang is with her old friends—three maids. She says she wants to sleep in the small room. Her friends tell her that isn't advisable... ...that. And one of them corrects the other. "Remember to address her as 'Madam,' not just 'you'." With teary eyes, Lan Xiang looks at the three of them and asks, "Will you still be my friends?" Overcome with emotion, they all say yes.Suddenly, LJQ enters the room and asks everyone to leave so he can be alone with his bride. Once they leave, Lan Xiang sulks; she wraps herself in the quilt to hide, remaining silent and turning her back on LJQ. He sits on the edge of the bed and tells her he has loved her ever since she left the pavilion. He acknowledges that what he did—had it been done to him—would have been grounds for killing someone. He also knows she doesn't love him. "I will give you time to accept me," he says, though he vows to do everything in his power to make her fall in love with him. He speaks with the bearing of a soldier fulfilling a duty: "You, Xu Lan Xiang, can only be my wife in this lifetime." He then moves the small step-stool aside and leads Lan Xiang to her room, laying her down on the main wedding bed. She asks what he intends to do. He tells her that, for tonight, he will sleep in the small room while she sleeps in the main one. The camera cuts between the two of them lying in their respective beds, lost in thought. Yet, despite everything, LJQ is happy. (So, let's move on to Episode 28 now.)
P.S.:
I forgot a crucial scene. He went to offer her some food. But suddenly, he saw her take an angry bite out of a cookie bearing the Lin family symbol. He doesn't realize she is remembering the day—back when she was a teenager—that the Lin family rejected her in favor of a marriage to LJQ; at that moment, she had been holding a cookie with that very symbol while weeping in her mother's arms. (There is unresolved past trauma involved, and he isn't even aware of it.)

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Bittersweet, oh, so bittersweet... But I am excited for what comes next!

The slap was well deserved! 👏 She's furious about being manipulated into this, and even her body tried to resist, hesitating to do what was asked of her... and the symbol of the Lin family on the food and items reminded her of what she went through all those years ago. 🥺🫂Bittersweet, oh, so bittersweet... I loved this episode for so many reasons, yet for some reasons it still broke my heart. And the girls... She was so worried they wouldn't be friends anymore. 🥹🤧Now I am excited to see how he slowly wins her heart... 😏P.S. One of them pointing out to Jinqi not to offend Han Liang because he might become Grand Secretary and make his life hard... should I worry? 🤔

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