Ninjasama

Since this drama has "lament" in its name and also republican era setting, I sense a sad ending. So, I'm really struggling if I should watch this or not.

It was really good till ep 20. They really butchered a good story.

The guy realized they swapped his bride but didn't even threatened his parents with suicide. I would say "you want her as our family's bride? Fine, then let her be our family's widow" the guy doesn't even know how to be dramatic.

I think he was trying to stay conscious

Whenever they were together they sang operas, I think it would be impossible for Han not to know her plans.

Most of the maids were Madam Zhao's dowry maids or maids she personally bought after marrying into the family. That's why after the divorce they are sent back to the Zhao family or sold off directly. Only four of them were houseborn servants of the Lin family so they stayed. Remember, male lead said there was no one in his chambers from the Lin family so he ordered to bring houseborn servants - that's how Lanxiang came to be his maid.

I'm not Chinese, but it seems similar to Ottoman empire's rules for the estates of the high officials in the capital. Those grand mansions were usually not their private property but something bestowed to them by the emperor during their service in the capital. So, if they leave their positions the estate goes back to the emperor unless he gives them for good for their merits during their service. Jinqi said his grandpa had his mansion when he was in the capital but had to give it back when he was retired and old Shen mansion was given to him this time. So it must be something similar to the Ottoman rules. And old Shen mansion, even if it were to be a private property it was confiscated by the emperor after their execution. Emperor can give them whomever he wants.

It was customary but for a man with adult sons and daughters, if the man wasn't the emperor himself, taking a new concubine seemed as being lecherous. It would be the talk of the town for a while and then everything would go to normal. Being a man has its comforts.

I don't agree with you on this. In ancient times marriage was arranged by someone's parents and asking a girl's opinion privately was a huge disrespect to the girl unlike our modern thinking. It would be like he sees her as a loose woman or treating her family as air. So, scholar Han was the most proper and respectful. And, if she weren't into him she didn't have to accept for the sake of her parents' feelings. She could just say since she the only child she wants to have a matrilocal husband, which would be understandable and offend no one. (Because scholar Han is an only son he cannot be a matrilocal husband)

He said FL's slap put some sense in him so I assume he wouldn't try to kidnap her.

His first wife cheated on him, and that's a huge trauma for male ego whether he liked her or not. He is acting like a man who is previously cheated, and that explains his obsessed and controlling behaviour towards her. I'm not trying to whitewash his actions but what seems unreasonable to us is very reasonable to him. So, he can't move on scholar Han. Even if there were no scholar Han, he would create an imaginary one.

If it were me, I would burn their house down on my wedding night. She is going really easy on him.

whoever is is, he did a good job.

they had so many servants for a reason.

Well, there is a nuance here western people should now and Lanxiang emphasizes: she doesn't ask why didn't ask my opinion, she asks why didn't you ask my parents first. Because, in ancient times man shouldn't propose to the girl directly - it was a great disrespect to the girl because it means he sees her as a loose woman. If you respect a girl you go to a matchmaker and ask her parents. That's what respecting a woman in ancient times is. Because marriage is decided by parents, if you ask the girl directly, that means you treat her family as sh*t. So, in their situation we modern/western people say both men didn't respect her at all, but according to the historical reality, scholar Han respected her while Lin Jinqi showed them no respect at all. Because an imperial marriage decree gives a woman the most "face" and honor, he thinks what he did isn't a disrespect at all and expects them to be happy about it. So, he really doesn't deserve her at all and I really wished her to be with scholar Han. At least he was a decent human being. If he goes villain route after this, I will completely understand him.

In the novel, he was worse. He beats Lanxiang black and blue, forces himself on her etc. He was really, really the worst. In the drama, this is his whitewashed version and we can't even tolerate this. He is selfish beyond redemption.

Before the wedding ceremony completed, she was a commoner and he was a noble. She slapped him after the ceremony, when they are equals. Because now she is their equal, she can show her attitude, a contrast to her maid/slave self where she had to bow in front of them and obey whatever they said.

I totally agree with you. I really hoped she would slap him again. I really hate him and miss scholar Han a bit.

His first marriage was arranged by his grandfather and father so Madam Qin had no say in it. Given how his father is, you can understand why he ended up with that kind of woman and why his mom fuses over his marriage.

Well, there is a meaning behind her not bowing during the ceremony and not talking when meeting the elders. Firstly, she shows them she is not pleased with this marriage and she was not aware that their son had plans for her. In every way, people would think she was aware and advised him to seek an imperial decree for her to easily marry into their family. By not trying to please them she shows her stands. Secondly, she just can't forget how her family died. They don't know this, but she knows their betrayal. She can't bring himself to smile that people. And I totally get this. You may wonder why she was ok with it while she was a servant in their family but not now, then I say SHE HAD NO CHOICE WHILE SHE WAS A SERVANT BUT AS A DAUGHTER IN LAW NOW SHE IS THEIR EQUAL AND CAN SHOW AN ATTITUDE.