IrenaK

Now I will have to question everything...

The way Haixia's lower lip trembled when Hailou asked him what was going on and mentioned that strange expression on his face... Haixia seems so afraid of himself. 😟🥺 With Haixia now becoming the unpredictable one and Hailou having to keep him in check and clear up the mess, it makes me wonder: did the writers decide to keep Haixia alive just to give Hailou a better growth arc? 🤨I already had so many questions and doubts, but now with the "Hidden Thread" strategy and that seed of doubt about whether Haixia is Mo Yungao, they are going to make me question absolutely everything!If that theory actually turned out to be true, what would it even mean? Would he have dissociative identity disorder, or perhaps a literal Jekyll & Hyde case? If I remember correctly, we only saw Mo Yungao on screen back in episode 2—could that have actually been Haixia all along? But he was already burned by then, wasn't he?Or maybe... Mo Yungao is working for Haixia, using Mo Yungao's face as a front? But then that would mean Haixia has been planning all this evilness for years, playing everyone—even Master—infiltrating the Archives, and purposefully letting Hailou spill secrets about the Archives back then just to move his plan to the next phase... 🤯 Nah, I really don't want to believe that theory.But now that he's heading off on this dangerous mission, I bet his good side still plans to do as much as he possibly can for the sake of Hailou and the Archives. 🥹🤧

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They are speeding up even more

It looks like they are rushing through the plot even more now, just jumping from one scene to another as if it's nothing, and ruining the drama even further. 🙄 And with that, they simply aren't allowing us to connect with the characters enough anymore.A prime example of this is Yanfang. This episode made me wonder whether he is discovering some actual feelings for A'Zhao. I know his ultimate goal is to get what he has always craved—power—but at the end, when he couldn't bring himself to shoot her, I think it was meant to show us that he does care about her on some level. Not sure if love, but something... Also, was his little act of jealousy about Yanlai genuine, or still just an act to look that way? 🤔As for Xiao Xun poisoning his father? Right, okay... I guess he needed to do that to become the leader in his father's place and take control of his army, because I don't see any other reason for it. Is there one? Also, him still wanting to make A'Zhao his empress after everything they have been through... does he really think he can convince her into such a union? 🤨😒On a brighter note, Yanlai teaming up with the Northern Desert King was the best part of this episode. Desperate times call for desperate alliances, I guess! 🤝⚔️🔥

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Motives of the heart

Did I get it right? The delegation here is to kill someone? And Marquis Muyang is behind it? I will pretend that I am shocked... 🫢🤨I wonder if Su Zuidie will act in some way to get between Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. 🤔 It looks like she still has some feelings for him, but if she chooses to act on them, she had better get ready, because Ye Li might deal with her in so many unimaginable ways! 🤭Also, love at first sight for Qin Cang? Maybe he did fall for Tinglan, but her offer clearly showed she had completely different reasons for approaching him. Maybe she likes him too, who knows, but he definitely doesn't think so anymore. 🤷‍♀️ Also, did Tianyang look at Tinglan as if he liked her? Maybe it was just a camera angle, I'm not sure, but if that's the case, then there will be one more thing for the brothers to be jealous about... 🤨I am waiting for Feng Zhiyao to learn that Yan is Princess Lingyan, and for her to learn that he is one of Prince Ding's closest right-hand men, because that might actually stir up the plans of all parties a little, I think! 🤭

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The cost of sincerity

Shaoshang's sincerity when it comes to helping the people she cares about is something I absolutely love about her. 💖 I know she doesn't think of the consequences and often just acts on impulse, but we shouldn't forget that she is actually still a teenager—what, about 16 years old or so? 🥺But I do also get why Buyi is worried. 😔 The Imperial Palace is not an easy place to navigate, and anything one says or does can have huge consequences. However, it would be helpful if he taught Shaoshang how to tell what is what... and she, in turn, needs to let him teach her. 👆Every time they have a deeper conversation that borders on an argument, it is one step closer to the growth of their relationship, and it is always needed. They both always reflect after each argument and become wiser for it. 😌✨The Crown Prince giving his tiger tally to someone wasn't a very clever move. 🤦‍♀️ It's a relief that the other party was Ling Buyi. But what if that had been someone with ill intentions and ambitions? Then it could have been the greatest mistake the Crown Prince ever made. Just saying... 🤐

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A promise of mercy and the thrill of missions

That conversation between Haixia and Haiqi was so sad. To spare her from the pain of killing him, he asked her to let him do that himself once the time comes. 🥺💔 They really have a special bond. Way deeper than the one she has with Hailou, I think.And they still haven't revealed anything about Haixia's condition to Hailou. He has his own observations, which, I might add, were very hard not to notice, but I know his heart will break when he learns what fate awaits Haixia. 😢😭The mission was, as always, delightful. Hailou made a little chaos, Haixia saved him by marvellously entering the scene on horseback, and later they both came up with a plan to lure the target... at least this time, for the most part, it was somewhat calculated rather than full improvisation. 😌 Loved to see the boys working together and in action again! 🤭🔥

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Secrets to hide and seek

Wow, I didn't know I needed an A'Li and Mingxi team-up! 😂😏 He perfectly fits her vibe and would be the perfect sidekick in crime. I enjoyed watching them a lot! Also, I am now 200% sure Prince Li is alive somewhere, hiding. 👆The jealousy between Marquis Muyang's sons... Qin Cang is jealous of Tianyang being allowed to freely approach, laugh, and chat about any topic with their father, while Tianyang is jealous of their father approaching Qin Cang and wanting to spend time with him... with the main subject this time being a coconut! It's so twisted with them. 🙄Looks like the Empress Dowager is getting desperate to hold onto her power and hide those secrets she's been keeping for all those years. Marquis Muyang enjoys being her bloodhound way too much. 🙄😫 Oh, and what an aura Xiuyao released when dealing with the traitor of Jingzhou Prefecture! 👏 Did the guy reconsider who he's more afraid of—Prince Ding or Marquis Muyang? Yes, I think he did. 😏🔥

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The teaching continues

Schools like that are almost like a warzone! And, of course, Hwajin shone with his educational methods once again. 😂👏It was nice to see another agent of their bureau, and I am very happy the boy who actually wanted to study could do so in the end. He was so sweet, caring and genuine. It was terrible what he had to go through there just to survive, and his life situation wouldn't let him choose another one. 🥺💔I guess the dead teacher was not only the founder's daughter, but also Hwajin's loved one—his wife or girlfriend. 😔 No wonder they both are so determined to "cleanse the plague" from the schools. 🔥

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A plague indeed

The best thing about Na Hwajin is that he doesn't bend to power and money. He has his goal and he aims for it. 👏 I am pretty sure the teacher who was killed all those years ago was the founder's child, and this is him delivering justice for that. ✊The first few minutes were particularly hard to watch with everything those kids had to go through. 😣💔 The payback on the bullies, and even better, the main bully's father's downfall, was very satisfying to see. The saddest part of this is probably that the story is actually based on a real one. Bullying at schools nowadays is indeed like a plague... a perfect description on Na Hwajin's part. 😟🧐The show looks really good and worth checking out, even if the topic can be difficult for some. 🫣

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Flames of heart and desperation

I absolutely adored Mo Xiuyao in this episode. 🥹❤️ The way he stayed with A'Li every moment just to make sure she didn't feel lonely was pure joy to my heart. I think I smiled the entire time, to be fair. 😊Guard Qin Cang falling in love with Lin Tinglan at first sight? Something I didn't expect to happen! 😲 A barely-seen supporting character and a completely fresh face... this just proves there's more to guard Qin, because they usually don't give a romance arc to unimportant characters. 👀🤔And I am 100% sure Prince Li faked his death. 🧐 I can't bear to watch how Ye Ying keeps holding on to him... however, I get it from the perspective of a wife's filial piety to her husband, no matter how good or bad he is. 😔💔 Well, I wish her better days from now on... and maybe, finally, some of the things I am wishing for her character? 🤞🏼😏

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Alliances formed and broken

A'Zhao having a temporary alliance with Deng Yi to fight Yanfang was something I didn't know I needed! 🤝😮‍💨 At least, not in the form they provided. It was pretty brilliant because I believed it, and most importantly, Yanfang did too! 👏😏 I am still looking at Deng Yi as a possibly redeemable character, so every one of these steps counts in my book. How it will turn out later, these last four remaining episodes will show. And hmm, did I get the calendar right that we get all four of them tomorrow? 🧐I particularly loved Yanlai keeping A'Zhao's baked pastries just to look at them and play with them, but never eat... nor share! 🥹 It is such a wonderful keepsake to remember and think of her. 💖The court is getting tenser, and more parties are objecting to each other.😬🫣 And what was the deal with that guy whom A'Zhao assigned to Xiaoman as her deputy? The guy who helped with the scholar case? Are they bringing them closer so they can create a romance for them in the end? 🤔💞 The finale is coming, everyone needs an ending, and what can be better than finding one's love! 🤗

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Clues, traumas and a lack of time

I miss seeing Haixia so much! 😔 My little treat every episode is the memories of them working or practising together, and how Haixia is woven into everything Hailou does. But it's still too little. I think the quote "What would Shrimpie do?" is becoming one of my favourites and might stick in my brain forever. 🥹However, I did love seeing how well Hailou actually knows Haixia and how much he has picked up from him and his intelligence. I am 100% sure Hailou is the only one who could ever decrypt the codes and puzzles Haixia left. 😏👆 And I still wonder what the man disguised as Cousin was after? He actually didn't get anything before his death, only helped Hailou with manoeuvring through the labyrinth of Southern Archives caves. 🤔 And thank God, Cousin is alright... only where is he?Lu Junxiang has a huge trauma left by Haiqi. No wonder he so persistently fixates on her... 😬 And seeing how he continues to sniff her hairpin, I think he's obsessed with her and might have sexually assaulted her, so she castrated him for that. I wonder if the punishment in the dungeon with the beasts is related to that or for some other reasons? 🤔One last ingredient left... Run, Salty, run! The Archives are flooding! 🏃P.S. I think this would be an amazing video game to play, lol. 😂🤩

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