T.S.Johnson

Don't take on powerful people if you don't want to get your hands dirty. Morality is fungible. She could say - we're gonna do what we need to do to take down these people and then we'll be done - but NOOOOO she wants to whine and complain about how he's changed and her regrets yada yada. Madam Yu on the other hadn is doing what it takes to make sure her man and ultimately her family succeed. She's evil...but she makes for good TV.

Yes. And that makes for a dull show. And a wimpy FL who initially started out very strong and interesting. Now she's just whining and suffering.

Once again it's not about a honey trap. It's not about him getting his hands dirty. her mother did none of those things and she still was a useful tool. Madam Yu has shown she has one weakness...and that's her son. You use it to your advantage, however that presents itself.

Sigh.

You wouldn't have to pimp her put (think how they set up the concubines bother back in Ganlin) - it's not about "getting" the son - it's about using him to get the Yus (mom and dad). Like they used her mother to achieve their goals. It's all about leverage.

Comment isn't about one episode. It's about how they've developed the FL once they moved to the capital.

My last thought on the day as I finish my breakfast and get back to writing:

How fun would it have been if they (ML and FL) exploited Young Master Yu's affections for the FL to set the Yus up? The one weak point of Madam Yu is that trifling son of hers. Could you imagine? If we actually had ruthless leads we'd get stuff like that. lol.

But I get it now the "Road to Splendor" is about being with family and not being ambitious and eschewing power. I get it.

Sigh.

I am not talking about a single episode. I'm talking about how they've changed her entire character once they moved her to the capital.

They've unintentionally made the Yus the most interesting part of the series. Even though they are evil, they are committed and resolute. Focused. On a mission and b/c they are smart villains they are infinitely so much more fun to watch.

This is the anti-ambition series. lol. Just go home and grow vegetables.

They are evil, but outside of Madam Wei the Yus are def the best part of this series. That's what you want to see out of a power couple, shared goals, and working as a unit.

I'm not gonna lie, this is one time where I wouldn't mind the bad guys winning since they were smarter and more calculating than everyone else. Gotta love it

If she wasn't acting like a wimp they wouldn't have these problem. If she went on the offensive, set up the Yus the way they set them up - she wouldn't be here.

She didn't even want to go to the Willow shooting event way back whining about it might not be wise, they didn't know anyone, let's not make waves. Like GIRL! SHE should have been the one to plant Wu (with Wu's permission) into the Yu household as a spy.

SHE should be riling up Yake to get her to make dumb decisions. SHE should be aiding her husband with his goals like Madam Yu does with hers. Nope. She's a big scaredy wimp instead. SMH.

Yep. Coulda kept them in the Northwest and gave us a comedy show with the ladies and the kids and bandits, lol - that would have been more interesting than this.

And this series would be infinitely more interesting if they made the ML and FL the good foils to the evil Yus. Like how the Yus work as a unit (in a n evil way) to reach their goals - the ML and FL should have been working as a unit to reach their goals (rid capital of corruption, protect the Northwest, etc.)

But nope. FL has turned into wimp who wants to go live a simple life while pulling a "at least I have love", when dealing with a badass such as Madam Yu. Okay girl. Alright. Your grandma loved you too sweetheart.

So what was the point of giving us a badass FL who - after almost losing her life b/c friends and family - to just turn her into a whimpering/simpering fool who wants to go home and grow vegetables?

Like what's with this wimp?

Sigh.

I guess, retire to the countryside is truly where we're heading. Yea...I guess.

My girl is trying to survive and she's in the lion's den. I'm not mad.

Is she imitating the FL? Is that how she's trying to get close to that silly boy?

Does that silly boy have a new job yet? lol

It's Ming Dynasty - they have guns.

So this is one Twitter https://x.com/hayeyezi/status/2091118197080809967

Now while the translation is bad, I think what they are saying is b/c Concubine Wu is doted on by the Empress Dowager, Madam Yu (either the elder or the wife) gains in status as well and uses her new status/power to harass the leads.

I missed this preview. Let's see if I can find it. lol