Editorials 
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IrenaK Got goosebumps most of the time here. 🥺That scene where she ate those few-days-old leftovers just to initiate the vomiting process... I'm just happy it didn't bring any other reflexes to me than tears. 🫣And, damn, I really do love Ling. The way he cares for people is so heartwarming. He's like the protector of the poor and weak, but acts against the rich and corrupt, reminding me a lot of Robin Hood in some ways. 🥹🤗My favourite scene, however, might be the one where the wedding and funeral delegations met between those arches of the Fu family. That moment led us back to the opening scene of the drama, concluding this arc of FL and Fu family's backstory. I absolutely loved it — the music was spot on, the aesthetics were breathtaking, and the colour choices outstanding. 🤩🤌And now they'll be on the road to the capital — plenty of time to have many different situations that will let them grow closer, learn more about each other, and eventually fall in love! 😉❤️
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To be betrayed by your friend like this? I wonder what karmic punishment Yake will get for this. 🤨 It's very possible that Madam Yu might be right and her son doesn't really love Yake as he claims. That would be punishment enough for her for betraying Tingyun. 😒I was right to be cautious about the Fu family. Even though they are not much of villainous schemers, they definitely hold their name and status higher than the people in their family, and that alone makes me dislike them. Grandma didn't really put that much of an effort into clearing Tingyun's name... She just chose to discard the precious, treasured granddaughter, because there will be others who carry their polished name. 🤦♀️😞And what's with Moxing's death? So unexpected! Did someone kill her? One of the Zuo siblings? I bet they would be capable of that! 😯Huh, and now the real plot for our leads will start — Ling will answer Tingyun's call and save her, bringing them both finally together... 😏
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Tingyun should have known better than to libel Ling by claiming he swindled ten thousand taels of silver — now she will have to pay the price for her false words! 😏 It's quite ironic, actually, how he never wanted to cause any trouble for her, yet she asked for it herself by ruining his reputation among his smuggling brothers. 🤨I do wonder if what Zuo Shi said to Tingyun and Miss Fan could actually be true. Probably? 🤔 However, she's bitter and feels wronged in many ways, so she's sowing doubts anywhere she can... and her words have reached Miss Fan's ears. 😟For a moment I thought — even hoped, maybe — that Miss Fan and Mr Yu might be our second lead couple, as it looked like they both might be interested in each other, but now I'm not so sure. But, it's still early to tell what's what, so I'll know as the story progresses.And about the Yu and Fu families in general — I trust neither. All those ladies seem like such schemers on how to use their children to climb the ladder of status and prestige. The only exception so far might be Tingyun's brother, Tingzhuo! 🤨
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Finally, after all the schemes and untraceable travels of information, we are back on track with a very exciting episode! — They kissed! 🥰 We got combat scenes! 🤩 And a plot twist about Prince Ding! 😯Also, I tried to listen carefully to how Prince Ding's voice sounds, and I have a hunch he might be the one who gave those drugs to Munuha, that foreign prince, or whoever he was. So, could he also be the one Qingshi answers to? 🤔And despite Prince Xie being a creep who stalks the Crown Princess, I am proud of him for being the way he is and just not listening to any of the bs Qingshi tried to feed him. 👏
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Hmm, I really hope I wouldn't have been spoiled about Shulin getting pregnant... It ruined my reaction to the news and sadly this episode as a whole. 😞But not letting that disappointment caused by novel readers linger, I am still happy with how the news of the pregnancy changed Shulin and Jinbai's relationship by the end of the episode. She finally got to dress up as a lady, and confessed her feelings to him. In return, he swore to stay by her side for the rest of his life even if she doesn't marry him. He ensured she can be her true self when they are alone and she asked him to name their baby. I love their relationship. 🥹💖Xihe warming up, smiling, touching Huayong's hands and becoming more affectionate with him was a great sight. 🥰Once again I am amazed at how everyone finds out everything so easily, and deduces the right conclusions from the most bizarre observations... Like Prince Ning and Qingshi realising Shulin must be pregnant and that they had a stand-in for the party, like it was nothing. Only because there's some description of herbs... The pregnant one could just as well be any other woman in the house, couldn't she? 🤷♀️ And this is not the first drama that does this. 🤦♀️😞Qingshi is becoming way too dangerous. She's like the ultimate plot drive in the villain department atm. But my question now is who is the person she answers to? Is that the hooded man who gave the drugs to that foreign prince to use on Xihe? I remember his voice sounded familiar, but haven't really thought of him again. 🤔
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Some of those schemes are becoming far too dramatic for my taste, with most of them popping up like mushrooms after rain! Prince Ning has suddenly become such a schemer and power-seeker, and I'm not sure if he's always been like that or if it's Qingshi's influence on him (maybe they explained it and I missed it?), and Qingshi walks around like she owns the place... I honestly can't stand that woman! 😤🙄Another terrible moment was Lin breaking Cui's heart by telling him their night together didn't really mean anything to her. And I had such hopes for them! 😭💔But on a slightly more positive note—all of Qingshi's schemes were successfully countered, Shulin was saved from being exposed as a woman, and Xihe is finally expressing more care and warmth towards Huayong. 😌 The next step would be for Xihe to remove that rope with the bell from their bed so Huayong can finally snuggle up to her... He deserves at least that much for everything he's enduring for the cure—Xihe, please! 🙏🏼
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Finally, both ladies are showing those men that they HAVE feelings for them! I am clapping my hands, kicking my feet and giggling. Everything else in this episode was irrelevant to me. 🥰🤭Except for one thing, actually. It's getting harder and harder for me to watch Huayong's suffering to be cured. And that angst over whether he lives or dies doesn't go away either. 😟
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The grim elder..... omfg — I never want to see anything like that, not even in my dreams! 🫣😨Ggeomeoksali remains the real MVP of this drama — always there to save Gu Cheon. 🤗 But, man, how could he even stay alive with his neck cut open, his eyes pierced and bleeding... Just how? In the spirit world, are the rules of dying different? 😟The king got everything he asked for. His ignorance caused all the warnings to just breeze past his ears, and all he could think about was how to keep that secret. Was he really that sure that living people would cause him more harm than what the spirits can do? I don't care if he lives or dies, really, but I don't want Saeng Gang to suffer or be harmed in any way. 🥺🙏And, lady.... he specifically said "UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES" 🤦♀️😞
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The Crown Prince making sure everyone is on the best possible terms with Xihe after he's gone makes me feel angsty... I don't want him to die, but his illness is progressing and it looks like he's trying to hide it from her. 😟Please, don't! It will only be worse if it comes suddenly, because there will be more regret about things she was too afraid to do with him OR maybe she still has some untold knowledge of a miraculous herb which might help... 🥺Shen Yingruo not wanting to marry if she's not in love is a very respectable choice. I am glad Xihe supports her, but I wouldn't even consider a different answer from her. Also, it looks like the plot is hinting at a possible romance between Yingruo and Prince Lei. If that ever happens, I will be very happy about it. They both are good characters and deserve love. 😌Jealous Cui was very cute. The way he said he has never had feelings for anyone and doesn't know how to make the person he loves happy could melt any heart. And mine he did! 🤗🥰 Fingers crossed Shulin comes around and throws her marriage plans in the bin. 🤞And Noble Consort Rong once again celebrated too soon... 😏
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And after I had given Noble Consort Rong the benefit of the doubt, she pulled this. 🙄 At least the outcome was very convenient for Xihe and Huayong — she has access to investigate from inside the harem now. 😏👆Qingshi showing off sides of her that even Qingzhi didn't know... I wonder how far she's willing to go for her goals, yet I am quite sure — very far. And all because she wants to prove something to Prince Xie, who doesn't even give the tiniest thought to her... Talk about a person's low self-esteem. 🤨 In contrast to other crazy noble ladies who usually throw tantrums, jealousy on Xihe looks cute. I really enjoyed her and Huayong's scenes, as always. 🤗💞
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I loved this episode a lot! Huayong arranging the secret meeting for Xihe, her father, and her brother was so thoughtful and sweet. I think it's one of my most favourite scenes in this drama so far, and definitely the most touching. 🥹🤗Him walking through the courtroom and showing off his cat-scratched neck as something he got from Xihe was so funny and cute. And the message did reach the target audience... 🤭And I am very curious to see if Xihe really is jealous over the Empress Dowager and Emperor asking Huayong to get more consorts... Very, very curious. 😏
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I hope they succeed in curing Huayong, but I am also afraid we might be moving towards a sad ending (at least for him), especially when I consider the intro where Huayong's silhouette with Xihe's head in his lap disperses and then she's alone near the throne. But for this, of course, I will have to wait until the end. 🥺And finally, Xihe agreed to marry Huayong. The reason she says out loud is because he has only one year left to live and that's his wish before he dies, but in truth, she already has some feelings for him. I expect great and beautiful moments from their union. 🤗🥰But about Cui and Lin... I love them, but I get why Lin would be mad at him. I would be too if there were someone who constantly pestered me, intervened in any of my plans, and just didn't leave me alone for a bit. Cui, please be more thoughtful when it comes to Lin if you want her to accept you in any way! 😮💨🙏
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That scene with the Queen Dowager and Saeng-Gang was so intense, but masterfully done. At least the witch is brought down and won't terrorise anyone anymore. 😌And as for the twist — damn! Didn't expect that, but then again, how could they already be done with the spirits if it's just episode 4, right? So there had to be something extra! 🤨And I love the bond between Saeng-Gang and Gu-Cheon growing stronger. Him staying in the palace to save her even though he despises the place? A very commendable move on his part, which I suspect will cost him something eventually. 🥹🤔And kudos to Gu-Chong for saving our little guy from the big bad snake and earning himself an adorable little pet, whose only teeny-tiny flaw is that it feeds on his already low Yang energy. 😅 But damn, it is such a cute little creature... how can I not like it? How? 🤗🤭
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They solved the attempt to drug and get intimate with Xihe so quickly that I wonder what the reason was to even include that in this story? Was it to show us that there is a hooded man who is secretly plotting against her? Or maybe the hooded man is using her to target someone else? 🤷♀️🤔Considering what happened with Prince Ding and his consort, my suspicion regarding my previous theory just keeps growing. The Emperor might marry his sons to the daughters of powerful families, and then those families somehow become traitors, enemies, etc., and get executed/wiped out, except for the wife of the prince. Maybe I am wrong, but I am seeing such a pattern, even if that's not what is happening. 🧐No matter how desperate Changqing is in his pursuit of Xihe, I can't really find the will to dislike him. I have found some sympathy for his tragic and pitiful love story with Gu Qingzhi and his character in general, so all I want is for him to find a way out, away from this obsession, and find his own happiness or at least some satisfaction in his life. And it easily could be him protecting Xihe and the Shen family from the sidelines — something he couldn't do for Qingzhi and the Gu family, being in front. I still think it would be a great redemption arc. 😔And now the Emperor is saying that he values Changqing the most, while to Huayong he said he's his favourite and most loved son. I know valuing someone and loving someone is not exactly the same, but this sounds a little bit like not being sincere with either of them. 🤨
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Well, this took a weird turn. As if Xihe had too few suitors as it is! 😳😮💨 But I do wonder who the man in the hooded cape was... his voice sounded familiar. Maybe this is some trick to frame that guy who wants to marry Xihe so that he is rejected from marrying any princess? 🤔I can't with Changqing... Despite how much I want to dislike the man, his story is making me feel sad for him and even pity him. I kind of hope that now, when he's surer than ever that Xihe is Qingzhi, after her words about what she wanted from their marriage instead of what she got, he will choose to protect her from the sidelines and not act on his one-sided love/obsession for her. That would be a great redemption arc for his character. 😔🤔Cui is becoming more and more shameless when it comes to Lin, taking all the tricks right out of Huayong's playbook... 🤭 But I am not complaining. I could watch them all day long. 😏
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