IrenaK

The rise and fall of He and Li

Wow, this episode... 😮🤩The Empress Dowager hoped to have a night that would turn the tide in her favour, but instead, she fell hard... 👏Prince Qi was revealed as the main mastermind behind whatever happened in the previous episodes, all just to get the ultimate power and the Nine Imperial Seals, which allow him to make decisions without asking the Emperor... To be fair, I am getting scared of him now! 😨The Emperor giving the Tokens to WuYi before Prince Qi got the chance to snatch them was the only relief to me after learning how cold and vile Mao has become. 😌😮‍💨 And my predictions were right — Mao not only suspected, but actually is certain that WuYi is Crown Prince WenXi. I bet he's going to work hard now to plot against WuYi, as he's his ultimate rival for the woman he desires and for the power he now holds. 😬JiaYu gave LeJun a test of fate for her mother's death — whether she survives her arrow and goes to Northern Qin to marry the Eagle King and become the spy of Ye, or she dies there on the spot... Fate chose the first option, which I think was the better outcome. 🫣The plot is definitely picking up immensely and everything that happened in this episode is turning the page of the whole story! I can't wait for the rest of the episodes, because I expect them to be thrilling and epic! 🤗😏❤️

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Ladies, crafters and newborn villains

When she saw those pictures of other ladies stashed away among Wuyi's stuff, she tampered with them and ran off to cry quietly somewhere alone... and when Wuyi asked about it, she just said she was condemning him for his future darling... Jiayu, can I sense some jealousy? 😏On the other hand, the fact that Mao checking out potential concubines didn't trigger the same reaction from her also says a lot... Even she herself said she's not really feeling sadness about it... 🤨 I want Jiayu and Mao to meet up sooner so they can talk about their future plans together, and she can come to the conclusion that their relationship is actually doomed. 😒Mao saying out loud that he wants to become a villain so he won't be anyone's pawn... yeah, right... but will he actually avoid that? I think he is and will remain Grand Tutor Xie's pawn, even if he lets Mao think otherwise. 😔I am sad that Mao has decided to go down that path, but he's surrounded by enemies and people who pressure him heavily. If he wants to survive and protect his sister, choosing that path might be the quickest way. I just hope he won't go too far down it and will keep at least one road open for redemption later. 😟And maybe it's an unpopular opinion, but I suspect that the Eagle King might actually like Li Lejun. He looked at her quite genuinely, and maybe even looked a little bit excited when she walked down the aisle (if that's what you call it in an imperial palace!). To be fair, from the very first time they met, I thought he was intrigued by her, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt this time and stick with this opinion for now. 🤔🫣And I am not even sure what to think of Master Engineer and the Empress Dowager of Northern Qin. 🫣

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What a team they are!

Oh, what an episode! It was the best one so far, I think! 🤩The way she helped him navigate the arena with the drums, the moves he did while blindfolded, and then that genuine hug of joy after his victory! 🥰🫂 And they actually prepared for such a situation... they trained for this. Oh, what a team they make! 🤗 And now he has a keepsake — her red ribbon... 🤭But I saw Li Mao's face there, and the Grand Tutor's too. Mao is getting jealous, and he notices she's warming up to Wuyi and slipping away from him. I noticed how much she just talks about how "Wuyi did this" and "Wuyi did that," and how she fought or trained there and learned that — all of it making Mao very noticeably frustrated. I will just repeat myself and say I hope he won't turn against Wuyi, but I think it eventually might happen. 😟And the Grand Tutor just smirked at Mao's reaction to Wuyi and Jiayu's hug. He noticed that, and that's exactly what he wants — to turn both friends against each other and get rid of Wuyi... 😒 Also, just a random question — could the Grand Tutor know that Wuyi is actually Crown Prince Wenxi, the true heir of the realm? 🤔

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So many plot twists already

Wow, this episode turned everything upside down! 😳​The big schemer of sorts was actually Grand Tutor Xie, who wanted to get his illegitimate son, Li Mao, instated as regent. 😲​Poor Jiayu — what will she do when she finds out that her big love is actually her half-brother? That just means their marriage was never meant to happen, because China's censorship would never allow such a thing. 🤨​And now Wuyi and Jiayu have to stay married for Li Mao's sake... well, what a convenient inconvenience! 😏​And now the arranged marriage with the enemies-to-lovers trope will finally start... I am clapping my hands with excitement! Their chemistry is amazing and I just want to see more! 🥰🤗

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I am so looking forward to see more of our leads!

I like that our FL is quite crafty and mischievous. Just what's needed for such a ruthless general, who lives just for his mission, right? 😈🤭 I am really looking forward for their arranged marriage and to see how they will drive each other crazy, because they are such opposites! 😏And I did love seeing a few recognisable faces among the cast — Peter Ho (from Unchained Love) and Liu Lingzi (from Archives: The Nanyang Mystery). And of course, above all, Hou Minghao, who is the main reason I am watching this! 🥰It also looks like Hou Minghao has taken part in all the OST songs. At least, that's what it sounded like to my ear! 😊

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Infiltration, deception and some revelations

Oooh, I absolutely loved this episode! It gave us infiltration, a jailbreak, a rescue mission, running, hiding, and deceiving all the masters, sect members, and more... 😍And the reveals? Some of them were quite mind-blowing, like Lu Li being half-monster (something bird-like, I suppose), Riyan appearing in human form to aid the rescue mission, and his old master, who was none other than the guy they sold Xiuyuan to all those episodes ago, showing up too! 🫢🤯The competition between Xiuyuan and Tongzhou yet again proved how "good guys" are restrained by their filial piety to their masters, while "bad guys" don't answer to anyone and just do what they like, pursue who they want, etc... 🤭😏And Riyan's conversation with Xiuyuan, all protective, like a big brother... Perfect! 😌🤌

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Seeing one's true colours...

I knew from the very beginning that this guy is just using Xiuyuan to get the fox spirit. And now, revealing his true intentions, he just proved I was correct. But that fight hurt. His betrayal mirrored in her eyes painfully, and his realisation of how he had let himself be manipulated mirrored in his. That's a proper cliffhanger now, and I can't wait for tomorrow to see how they get out of this! 🫣😨Also, what's going on with Ye Ye, Gelin, and Changyue? Is it like a love triangle or something? Him being in love with Changyue and Changyue possibly with him too, but Gelin also loving him? And Changyue just can't do that to Gelin, so she rejects the guy? 🤨P.S. The biting each other must be their kink. 😏🤭

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The different ways of grief

The story behind Lishan Academy is so tragic. 😭💔 And to think she almost reached those guards down there to let them know what had happened up on the mountain! 😔At one moment, I wondered if it was too soon to show her those graves, but then... probably not—when else if not now? 🤔 When the army comes up and reveals the truth to her on their terms? This was definitely better, with Xiuyao by her side to sincerely comfort and console her in her grief. 🥺❤️The other plotline I have my eyes on is Feng Zhiyao's. 🧐 I was kind of surprised and a little bit excited when he met Mingxi there, but nothing much happened in the end. I actually hoped Mingxi wouldn't have lied to him about Zuidie, but I believe he did it for his brother. And why did they zoom in on that guy hanging up paintings? 🤔

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Heartbreaking to the core

This episode hurt. A lot. 😭💔I still understand Xiuyao's reaction because, like he said, he doesn't want love out of charity, and that is exactly how he felt. However, I didn't expect them to write a divorce letter and for both of them to sign it—but well, they did. 😔 And that led A'Li to go back to her previous condition—her loneliness, abandonment, and the people of her imagination keeping her company... Not to mention her return to Lishan Academy without even saying goodbye to anyone. Oh, no! 🥺🤧Everyone around Xiuyao could feel how off he was—he was easily angered, and unwilling to socialise or even eat. A'Jin looked so worried the whole time, barely holding back tears himself seeing how broken his Master was. And when Xiuyao got drunk and went to A'Li's room in the middle of the night to bring her the candies and food he had bought for her... aww, my heart couldn't bear that! 😭💔The sequence showing how he found the letters, met Feibai, and learned the truth about Lishan Academy—and that A'Li might be there alone—hurt even more. That dramatic music always adds such tension to the emotions I already have for those scenes! 🤧But he has got the decree now, and he's going after her. Soon, he—and we along with him—will finally find out what has truly happened to Lishan Academy. 🥹✨

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When there's no complete trust, doubt can find its way in

Marquis Muyang did the best he could to hit Mo Xiuyao where it hurts the most—telling him a story of truths and lies woven together about what happened to the edict eight years ago. 😧I actually understand Xiuyao's reaction completely. His wife has been a mystery to him, and he has lived this whole time doubting if anyone would ever genuinely want to be with him for who he is, rather than for other reasons. Learning that Ye Li had promised his brother she would treat his legs only makes him believe that painful thought even more. 🥺 It hurt to see him like that, but we must give them a couple of episodes to get over this. In reality, I have never seen a situation where you can change a person's core doubts and insecurities with just a few sentences. It takes time; he needs to mull it over. 😔At least now it's all out in the open, and from now on, they can start healing their relationship and only grow stronger from this huge bump in the road. 😌 My bet is that if they don't overcome this on their own, the villains will step in to speed things up, as usually happens!👆

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When past deed change the course of future plans

Why am I worried that Mingxi will die? 😰 He has realised what he wants from life, where he wants to be, and how to feel fulfilled that way. He doesn't want any riches or a luxurious life, because the road to having it all is way too pricey for his morals. 🙅‍♂️ He even said he'd rather die right now than choose that life... 😬😧And that painter I hoped might be Princess Lingyun's turned out to be Prince Li's... What a disappointment. 😞The Empress Dowager is completely delusional, thinking that she's the one who has been betrayed now. 🤦‍♀️The power should be in the hands of the Emperor. I chuckled a little when the Emperor said he's still too young to rule alone, because it suddenly reminded me of the Emperor in Ashes to Crown... All I can say—if one is capable and willing, then age is not an obstacle. ☝️At least A'Li felt completely normal this episode. 😌 I'm not sure if this is permanent already or still temporary. But to think she lay there for days in the grave she had dug for herself, just to die... 🥺😞 Yet her subconscious didn't want her to give up her life that way and conjured all those illusions to guide her out of the graveyard so she could continue living and avenge what happened there.P.S. Does anyone know what that dramatic song is that they played during the scene where Xiuyao took the guards to the graveyard? 🙏

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Beautiful ending

Love that Segye and Seori could find their way back to each other in modern times! 🥰 It was great that we got to see a lot of the early-episode Seori—a fighter and a teeny-tiny bit crazy, not the damsel in distress we had to deal with for a lot of the middle part of the drama. 💪🤪Gwangnam becoming Jihyo's saviour and later even her manager was all I needed! 👏😌 Finally, she came around. However, her attitude throughout the drama was actually one of the main reasons that helped Gwangnam grow into the man he was by the end. 🤗What a wonderful love story with a beautiful ending! A particular joy for me was watching just how lovesick Segye always was. 🤭❤️

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Not all of that was necessary

I knew it would come eventually, but it was still so sad to see Grandma die. The scene with her driving around in the bus, picking up people she knew and singing with them... my heart 🥺🤧💔Segye getting stabbed in the final minutes of the episode, only for a Joseon shaman to come to Seori and say she can save him by returning to Joseon? How does that even work? Was that really necessary? We have plenty of things to resolve in modern times... Or are they planning to make it a love story between the prince and Seori in Dansim's body? I don't care about the Joseon couple; I want Segye and Seori—the couple I have been with during these 13 episodes! 🤦‍♀️🙄🤔I am so proud of Gwangnam for finally being able to speak freely and even get angry at Jihyo without stuttering! 👏😌 And Mundo... he just gets on my nerves. 😤😠The highlight, of course, was all the lovey-dovey and sweet moments between Segye and Seori. 🥰

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