-Frost-

Just to be clear there is no concrete evidence to this. The reason I dont believe it's the sidekick is because R was seen before the sidekick even came about(usually in shows that doesn't happen), for why it's the brother his mannerisms just screams scheming and thats on feelings alone when u add in some actual logic like how we went ahead when they were trying to go to sword manor and now the enemies know all their routes? Sus. The fact the parents were killed by somebody from the family/sect, the fact the void heart technique was in their cemetery place and R has the technique? Sus. The fact he wasnt their for emei sect meet up too. All just sus bruh. Another reason it probably isn't the sidekick is because we already went through the plot point where Ml is betrayed by a stranger he trusted(Feng land in li suiyun or whatever his name is) sooo ye

He actually bending over backwards to find ways to be angry at his brother.

I believe he is the second brother. I could always be wrong but based off of all the clues, hes probably most definitely the second brother.

R feels he's slick hiding in plain sight. We all know who you are bro.

Eldest brother TRULY TRULY is disgusting and stupid.

The eldest brother really is just useless

Ml's house seriously has zero sound proofing

Did I just get bamboozled, hoodeinked?!!?
Episode 21

For the disloyal part some were bribed some threatened with the lives of their family. For which army I couldn't tell you which, I watch with semi bad subs and I kind of glossed over that part so I just betryal😂

🤣OK so in episode 18 it's just scenes showing the chara tears connection like kisses hugs l, talking about how their days have been how they miss each other. All that while showing how they prepare to confront king nings corrosion through the imperial exam, the confrontation plan is basically making commoners get all the spots as they rightfully deserve instead of the nobles so the noble forces lose faith in king ning then there's part 2 to the plan where they would use the forces of a general to siege king king's forces.

Episode 19 is some more scenes showing how ml and fl have bonded after confessing and how the other side characters have bonded. Like them as a group betting on who wins in a fight between Ml's 2 guards or mudan speaking up for Ml against whispers that she should leave him since he was exposed for being "curropt". Knowing what they plan to do is dangerous they send the side characters who don't know combat or that just aren't in the know of the plan away on business trips or vacation as the place for the plan is the flower yard mudan owns( not her house but the one her mother owned but father sold and she got back). And now the bigs scene, the banquet starts to celebrate the top scholars and well everybody else who passed(only the commoners passed). The commoners start of citing a text from the past which basically speaks against corruption and one of king ning's lackeys speak against it, when he does the scholar's master who king ning tried to assassinate back in season 1 but we knew was always alive shows up to make it known king ning tried to assassinate him, following him other officials come forward to disclose king nig's curroption. King ning throws threats in the air basically saying he won't take this lying down and thus ml brings all his guards out showing king ning they are serious and prepared and tells him that the general is already searching his house and other places of importance. Faced with this king ning basically says "HA , you foolish boy, do you really think everybody around you is so loyal?" Then the generals men try to kill the king and battle ensues, from this battle alot of people appears to die like all the maids and male servants in Mls courtyard, the scholars master, alot of the scholars, the officials who gave petitions, the Pei guy who tried assault Ml's childhood friend and tried to kill Fl(thankfully he's dead bruh)
While this was going on we get a scene of the 2fl getting news that the 2ml is back on his bs and started getting stuff for mudan again, but this is obviously weird since she knows and he should know she wouldn't take it, u less ml loses power so she rushes over to ml's house to see what's going on and try to top 2ml again since she wants him for herself. Mudan was being taken out of the house by 2nd ml's ppl, she tricks them and goes to the banquet only to see the scene of king ning trying to make the emperor kill Ml, he chickens out and king ning stabs Ml. Mudan obviously tries to stop this while screaming "NOOOOO" BUT 2ML grabs her stopping her from trying to help while also forcing her to watch Ml "die". 2Fl see this and leaves with a look of sadness and a little be bit of disdain in her eyes.
THE END!!!

I hope that was good enough,phew

Less ambiguous

Episode 18 was just straight love and connection between the main couple even sharing some clips of the side couple, while they also prepare for the confrontation with king ning but everything seems fine except for some minor red flags

Episode 19 also had some more couple moments and moments of the group showing how
they spend time together and then we come to the actual confrontation and yeeee things go terriblely wrong.

Episode 18: bliss, spring after an annoyingly cold winter. Don't remember any downs it was straight highs for the entire episode.

Episode 19: started off at the peak episode 18 left us off on and slowly started to creep down then BOOM everything crashed and burned

I flew too high so I knew I would fall. If you know you know

After episode 17 I feel as though I can watch the rest of the show in peace, although I know there is still going to be alot of hard ship in the episodes to come just having this foundation is good enough.

Ayeeee you! Nobody can leave the room till the candle burns out?!?! Those are some long candlesss

Okkkk we're getting somewhere

She isn't delusional for thinking that women her included can have and have had the ability to do things in their society but she's kind of delusional to think that she made it this far without a man supporting her . Although she has ability and mindset to get through alot of the problems that she faces those schemes and tricks she has only gets her so far, in the face of the nobles and their power she needs and any other woman in the show would need a strong backing and more likely than not it would be a man. Luckily I think part of the show will be her becoming that backing for women and other unfavored groups.

Probably 13 where she was arguing with her father

I thought the same but apparently not based on the latest episode, he really just saw her as a sister but is just heavily dependent/favors her. I still don't like him though, especially how he's getting away with it with no repercussions

We going up hill romance wise from 13 I think. Atleast the conflicts were resolved and the only thing left would be FLs pride stopping her from confessing although she knows his feelings and MLs worries about putting her in danger especially since he doesn't know if she likes him or not yet