Episode 15 Continued

They need to give Cheng Lei a mustache so he can twirl it. This is lapsing into melodrama.

Poor Yu Changxuan. He's reached the limit of his patience. That'll convince Ping Jun.

Episode 16

Someone asked in comments: "Does this story ever get better?" Voting you up!

"Even the rain knows it will be punished if it touches her." Lol. Comments are giving me hope I can get through this.

Pops, listen to your boy. When it comes to the army he knows whereof he speaks.

Bully girl complains about being bullied. #itsonlybullyingwhenithappenstome

She let him put pierced earrings in her ears? I could never. Hard enough when I do it myself.

Why is the surprise always fireworks? I'm not surprised!

All the wonderful days? What all? Where did you hide all those wonderful days?

OK, Ping Jun. Officially the creepiest smile I've ever seen.

Finally, finally, finally he lets Ping Jun go free.

Letting the caged bird go free? Great symbolism and certain death for poor birdie.

Hahahaha! Mom wants to send a chef with Changxuan. Gotta feed that boy good food, right Mom?

You're a loyal friend, Li Bo Ren, but you're wrong to try to guilt Ping Jun. No matter what Chang Xuan did to help her it could never compensate for all he's done to harm her. She can say thank you for the good he did for her mom, but no thank you for everything else. Chang Xuan has to learn how to love on his own. He can't use her for target practice.

Who is this guy who wants Chang Xuan dead?

Cool-headed Chang Xuan Army Commander shot the guy. Yay. No tolerance for bullies. Now carry that over into your personal life, CX.

Episode 17

How sad that the soldiers have to get new uniforms as a reward. Those who protect the country are often the least protected by the country. Glad Chang Xuan shot that evil guy.

I thought Xue Ting was supposed to be at hard labor for six months. Only one month passed. How is he out?

Why is he getting mad at PJ? A little thankfulness or sorrow might go a long way. And what's with that calculating look, XT? Am I reading you right?

Ugh! Now he's feeling sorry for himself, drinking and Ping Jun is going to start taking care of him. He's loathsome for attacking you. He's a grown man, girl. Let him reap the consequences of his actions.

I'm proud of our Ping Jun. She told her mom what she did for Xue Ting. I didn't expect that. But Mom, you're wrong. PJ did have a choice. XT got himself in his own mess and it wasn't PJ's responsibility to get him out of it. He knew he would be executed if he got caught. His choice to do the act, his responsibility to reap the consequences. PJ should leave XT alone forever. He's not thinking of her at all, only himself. What a slug.

Awe, the soldiers are so cute. So wonderful to see them going from almost being beaten to death and now flourishing. I know something bad is coming.

Corps Commander learning some more home truths from his men. The upper crust never really knows how bad the lowly people have it until they actually see it. Glad our boy cares. Most just blame the peasants and say it's their fate.

Hahaha!!! Writing flowery ads for pills. Poor boy, if you can't handle a little adversity what are you even here for? Look around at all the people who are just trying to survive another day. Look at our poor soldiers willing to eat moldy bread to stay alive. Your self pity is vile.

Not XT trying to excuse himself in the name of justice. Someone has blinders on and can't see because of them. And what's with the shocked face when she doesn't want you to touch her. Someone really doesn't have a clue.

Xiao Tao Chun, does it make you feel better about yourself to step on someone who's already on the ground? Yes, I see that it does. Hope you enjoy because your day is coming. Note to writers: Don't fail me!

Some commenters dissing the side stories. I love them. They're all so interesting in their own ways and speak to the era. And the supporting cast are doing a great job.

So there's a traitor in the army (BIL, please tell me it's not you. Please. I'm on bended knee. Not really, but you can't see me.) and soldiers are issued defective weapons. Just a normal day in Dramaland!

Why are you letting the roll of the dice determine your life??? No. Stop being superstitious. It's the roll of the pen that determines your life. Silly actors.

These men are too precious. They're going to die. I know it.

"So there's a traitor in the army (BIL, please tell me it's not you. Please. I'm on bended knee. Not really, but you can't see me.) and soldiers are issued defective weapons. Just a normal day in Dramaland!"

Sorry…..

Episode 18

OK, I could have done without the cutting off his head in front of his father line. I hate and love these war scenes.

Hate: So awful to see men fighting against each other for turf. Maybe one war lord is horrible to the people and one is good, but it's still such of waste of human life.

Love: Because they are really well filmed. It looks and sounds real. We see the humanness of the average soldier just wanting to get back home alive to see their mom, farm, live a simple life. So much sadness.

Hate bayonets. Why do people have such a great ability to create multiple horrible ways to kill?

Why doesn't knowing something is going to happen make it easier when it happens? RIP soldiers I fell in love with even though I only knew you for ten drama minutes.

Ping Jun, you're really confusing me. You can't stand XT touching you (with good reason), but you drop a vase in shock when you learn about Chang Xuan in the war. Should you not rejoice that he got hurt? Are you feeling more for him than you're willing to admit?

@13:00 mark. This song. I thought it was Liu Yuning, but it's Li Changchao singing Why Not 24:48. Shout out to Peachey Blossom. Thank you for your hard work at bringing us all the OSTs! This song, though. What a voice.

These battle scenes are among the best I've seen in a CDrama. In fact they probably are the best since I don't watch a lot of dramas about wars. But the cinematography is just so good.

Aww, CX's friends are so proud of him. And Ping Jun's thinking some kind of way.

A year? Whoa time flies in Dramaworld. Mama knows how to get a dig into Papa. So glad Pops is finally proud of his son. Just wish he could have been proud of him just because he is his son.

I love that Chang Xuan's concern is not his wounds, but the soldiers who aren't coming back.

Please don't let Bing Wen be the traitor. One yearning glance at his wife and I want him to be a good guy. Am I hopeless or what?

Poor mom. If you only knew that your baby boy would be off to the nearest marriage registry before he got off his horse if his fiancée was PIng Jun.

Yeah, you know your day has come, Zi Yi. No wonder you skedaddled into the car so fast.

What a difference between the way Chang Xuan learns from his experiences and the way Xie Ting ignores his.

Turns out I am hopeless. Psycho Bing Wen coming right up. Good thing I don't bet on horses.

I think Jin Zhong Fang just introduced to Chang Xuan's redemption arc. He's changed. He's a different man now.

Seriously strange. Commenter on Viki said this episode was a disappointment. To me it was one of the best.

Episode 20

He had a plan all along. I knew that gift he gave the Japanese guy was telling us something. Love these secrets plots. A little nerve-wracking to get through, but worth the surprise in the end. And the foiling of XT's nefarious plans.

Love that our girl came to defend him. She always rushes boldly in without thinking. Comments on Viki were majority slamming her, but I was proud of her. And she helped by delaying CX's departure.

Poor mom. You've already lost two sons. I can only imagine your panic at the thought of CX being arrested and awaiting news.

Someone in comments said PJ needs subtitles to her thoughts. Oh, if only.

It's frustrating to see her keep going to him when he told her to leave him alone if she had no feelings for him. No wonder he doesn't understand. Then again I don't think she understands herself. From my perspective she wants him, but doesn't think it would work or doesn't think she should want him. I don't know. But I can't seriously believe she does all this stuff just to thank him. Nobody in their right mind would do that if they hated the man that assaulted them.

The juxtaposition between two scenes in Episode 20 fascinates me.

First Chang Xuan comes to see Ping Jun after she went to plead for him and he was released. He asks her if she has feelings for; begs her to tell him she does, force kisses her. He wants to know why she showed up in front of him when he told her that if she didn't have feelings for him to stay away; he doesn't understand (none of us do, CX). She stands in his arms while he kisses her and when he leaves she has a look of longing on her face. She does nothing to push him away.

Moments later she confronts Xue Ting when she finds out he wrote the article to frame Chang Xuan. She's disgusted by him and when he grabs her she forcefully pulls away and leaves.

What conclusion do we reach after seeing these two scenes one after the other?

Is it only obvious to me?

Am I delusional or is Ping Jun in love with Chang Xuan but unable to confront that truth in herself?

Are the writers confident we can figure this out or were they out to lunch the day her side of the relationship with CX was discussed?

I need to keep Chang Xuan's love boat afloat! Oh, Li Bo Ren, you slay me. You've got your priorities straight. It seems like you're the only one.

OK, let me get my list and check off fireworks. How many tropes are left? Too many to count, no doubt.

I don't think goodbye means what you think it means.

"I don't know how to return your feelings." Interesting, PJ. Not that you have no feelings.

Nice to have such cooperative snow, falling just at the most mournful moment.

Episode 22

Aww, the white cat. What a beauty. But wasn't there a white cat with an evil man in an earlier episode? Is this a different cat?

Seriously Mr. Traitor. Are you that dense? When did you two become distant? How about when you lied to her and stole army secrets?

PJ's mother raised you? I somehow missed that part of the story. I just thought your families were close.

Really, the soldier has to ask her name? She's only there every other day wanting to see Deputy Commander Yu Chang Xuan. She practically worn a path to the door.

The painting. So that's what the leaves falling on them meant in that clip I saw of them today on a game show. Does this mean she has fond memories of her time with him in the mansion?

Hahahahaha! The whole army arrives! This is such a delight.

Oh, girl. You're lying to him and yourself.

You taught me not to be trapped by obsessions so I'm here to get you because, um, I'm obsessed? I don't think that lesson really stuck.

OK so that's why he is obsessed with her. Now it makes sense.

Good for you, Yu Chang Xuan. You asked, she said no. You said what if you insisted on having your way (why did you say that????). She said no and you left. Major growth. Good job.

Why are commenters on Viki hating on FL? She's under no obligation to say yes to him no matter how many times he saves her. Granted she's leaving with a traitor, but she still has the right to make her own decisions. No matter what we want her to do, it's her choice. CDrama characters don't bend to our will (would that they did!)

Was it evil BIL who orchestrated the fire? And poor Mama. Why did she have to die?

At first I was puzzled as to why she immediately suspected CX, but then she remembered him say what if he insisted on having his way. See, I told you you never should have said that.

How many times did CX have to carry PJ? Good thing she's on the thin side and he keeps those muscle well toned.

Those stained glass doors to PJ's room are simply gorgeous!

If Gu Rui Tong turns to the dark side I will be so mad at the writers. Madder, I should say. They have quite a bit of explaining to do.

Quote the cliffhanger!

Episodes getting longer. At least we're getting our money's worth.