Aramintai

My detailed review after watching all episodes:
https://kisskh.at/profile/10070561/review/582260

It's def not FL actress's fault here, she had way better performed romances. The actress hard carried this drama, honestly.

Some other person mentioned it's the script writer's mo. I'm also putting the blame on the directors - that one single lackluster bed scene that we had here was filmed at such weird angles, it made me wonder whether they're also allergic to romance.

They really fked up the romance part here. I don't think it's the actors' fault here even. It's just how it was written, prudishly filmed and cut.

And I agree about questionably cut scenes as well. At times haphazard; at times abrupt; at times mulling over something too long; at times mentioning names but not showing who the f they are; at times showing people but we've no clue who they are; lots of "blink and you miss it" plot points. Could have been filmed more coherently.

1. The plot slowed down considerbably. They took a very sweet time to show everybody's epilogues. Could have shortened it by around 2 episodes and nothing of real value'd be lost.
2. The rebellion was quelled behind the scenes likely due to lack of budget.
3. SML died in a questionably choreographed last ditch effort to storm the capital. They lacked background soldiers even there, though had enough budget for a giant CGI Go board.
4. The empress dowager wasn't killed. She fell ill after everybody started guilt tripping her with her past mistakes and died.
5. The young emperor vowed to be good and started working full power.
6. Lishan academy got reopened with many new students. FL's shop's accountant guy was promoted to new headmaster position.
7. Canbei princess really died. SAD! But at least ML's merchant friend got to kill the evil Su bish.
8. The dumb assassin who was following FL around didn't do anything of notice to repay her 2 lives. His brother also died. Missed opportunity.
9. SFL was driven to a small frontier town by SML and stayed there to grow flowers or some sht.
10. The leads had another great opportunity to have a bed scene after FL went to visit ML in the army but they didn't even kiss. In the end, no extra romantic scenes, no kissing, no children. Looks like the director is a fkn prude, it's not that this drama aired on CCTV, I've seen dramas airing on it with passionate romantic scenes, nothing cut. Heck, even FL's previous drama Unveil: Jadewind had more going on between the leads, even though it was a detective drama for the most part.

I've finished watching express. Unfortunately the drama peaked at Lishan mountain arc. After that it was a predictable, by the book slog until the very end. I'm sure lots of people will try defending it as 10/10 or whatever, it sure was an emotional ride at times, but the endgame episodes made me consider lowering the score again.

Yea, that also was important and completely omitted. Judging by the very inept investigation, I can only speculate that since they not only didn't arrest and interrogate all suspects, they also didn't search the room. The only conscious suspect was neither detained, nor interrogated, so it's no wonder they didn't do the rest of the work properly either.
So likely she just sent somebody later to retreive it.

Now you just seem to be trolling.

First off, just to be clear, that "duke Hua" theory is just speculataion by people trying to make it make any sense. It is never explicitly stated anywhere in the drama so far what ML's brother was hoping for by stashing the edict. He simply waited in jail like a dumbass. Hence the whole argument here. I think that "duke Hua" theory spawned after FL presented the edict in court and it was him who jumped in to authenticate it.

Second, stashing the edict and 100% condemning yourself and all those people you're responsible for to certain death is not saving anybody either. He knew what was going on and that marquis is corrupt af and definitely gonna kill him. Playing into his hands deliberately is a very dumb move.

Third, trusting a random woman (if you think he didn't know her) with no foolproof plan over your own military decision, however flawed, is also not making him any smarter here.

What you’re saying here exactly reinforces the frustration with him stashing the edict. No edict - charges of treason, everybody executed. But the guy just strolled into the city without it knowing full well the consequences. Waiting for duke Hua coming to the rescue was such a dumb hail mary bet on a maybe as well. Duke was too busy fighting off the rival country to come. And even dumber was trusting the dowager’s best friend, who also didn’t have a foolproof plan. You basically just reinforced my opinion that it is a poorly written plot hole.

If the army wasn't his and soldiers only followed orders, why the ef they had to kill all of them? I've also seen a number of these historical dramas and generals usually have such loyalty over their armies there, they'd follow them anywhere. And situation at that time had no clear chain of command, so he should have acted for the benefit of who was legitimately next in line, namely SML, and helping his faction. If nothing extra will be shown, then ML's brother was just an indecisive, naive fool. Especially seeing how he got duped by FL's mother. A poor general material.

I don't think it would have been better when it comes's to FL's character - them adding her mental trauma and Lishan mountain mystery is the main highlight of the drama that makes it fresh. If they copied the novel's plot, it would have been yet another forgettable historical romance drama with regurgitated plot.

Be sure to post in my discussions post about the edict if you find something. I'll update it.
I've rewatched up until episode 15 and nothing new.

I prefer complete package. Here part of it was not delivered.

Their romance here is a slice of life, skipping steps straight to the endgame, old married couple type. It lacks passion and sexual tension. Maybe because FL is just too stunted due to her trauma and ML's too reserved. But it has plenty of hand holding, head laying on the knees, caring for each other and cheerful conversations (sometimes overly cheerful to a point it looks forced from FL). ML shows more passion in being jealous and wary of FL's shenanigans, and FL acts most natural when she's executing her schemes and suffering from her trauma.

They met a few times before. And they even tried assuring us later that FL was in love with ML ever since he saved her one time when she was a teen, but it looked more like a teenage crush than anything else, tbh.

Yea, it's all very disappointing. I've watched this drama very attentively, because it's "blink and you miss something" here, and this unexplained plot hole about the edict irks me the most.
Another would be how exactly the marriage edict was delivered to FL without anybody discovering that the mountain is desolated, but it's not major enough to get annoyed.

As if the Lishan headmaster and the duke are the only ones who could have authenticated the edict in the realm.
And I think it's you who wants to force your thoughts on this to be the only correct option. And again, I didn't say anything about laying siege, killing civilians, etc.

In any case, unless they clearly show his reasoning in the last episodes (doubtful), it's all speculation. Really disappointing how convoluted this plot device is, with such a crucial thing ommited from being explained.

One. He already had allies, 30k people in the army allies. Nobody'd dare fight him over this in open military conflict, it's just stupid. Especially if the edict turns out to be genuine. Imperial guards never had such numbers in the city and the empress's position was still shaky. Staging an accident by burning down the palace is different from having an army at her beck and call.

Second and third - it's unclear when it actually happened and he could have gotten to SML in time.

Either she thinks ML will stay for the baby, or that he'd at least have an heir and FL some consolation with a child if he dies. Both reasons - very dumb, tbh, and she should mind her own business. That nanny is super annoying and has detrimental effect with her constant hovering.

That first one is easily solvable by showing the edict in public. We're going in circles here.

The second one - that's right. SML was next in line as the rightful heir. ML's brother should have gone to safeguard him immediately instead of getting arrested.

Third - exactly. So anything goes at that time, the dowager faction couldn't claim legitimacy either. If ML's brother was smarter, he should have gone to help SML.

I think it's SML who's gonna kill her. I hope they kill each other off, tbh.

The empress tricked the consort to become her ally by getting her enamored with that charlatan master. FL showed the consort that he was a charlatan and that he had a romantic relationship with the empress, and that he was only with the consort because the empress ordered him to. So, feeling betrayed, the consort gave FL the edict.