IrenaK

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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First big changes

Wow, I take my words back about the girlfriend! She's not good in any way—not even for comedy. 🤦‍♀️ She flirts with men left and right (which I actually noticed in previous episodes too), and Yifei kind of knows, yet chooses to pretend it's all work-related. Maybe it is, but is it, really? 🤷‍♀️ And then she chooses to break up with him suddenly by asking a third party to do it? Talk about cowardice! 🙄 To be fair, I think the real reason was Yifei's lack of money and luxury, not the picture of him and Fei in the car. BUT, the bright side—the apartment now will be just for the two of them! 🤗Thankfully, Yifei took it somewhat calmer than his predicted reaction foretold. 😌 I actually kind of enjoy his little childish side too—playing with planes while alone in his room, the way he enjoys Fei's cooking, and even him trying to steal some... 🤗 Sometimes he's petty and can be quite annoying, but overall I quite enjoy his character. Someone called him a "grumpy white knight", and I must agree, he kind of is! 😌😂The reason for Fei's layoff wasn't entirely clear to me—was it because of the mean, jealous colleague, or maybe because of the picture? Or maybe even something else? 🤔I do enjoy how both leads are starting to care about each other's well-being, even if it's still only on a micro-level. 🤗 And we've already had a few face-to-face, eyes-meeting moments! 🤭

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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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Spies and deceivers

Qin Cang survived! I knew he would. Time to bring down Marquis Muyang? 😌 And Zuidie is a spy for Prince Li, and even Han Mingyue is in that party? I really want to know what the argument was between Mingxi and his brother that made him leave home. 🤔I hope I got it right, but it looks like Master Xiankun had some special relationship with the Empress Dowager (considering he knew her childhood name) and he probably used the Consort Dowager under the Empress's command. But the Empress used him and made him a scapegoat; however, he made sure he left a way to pay her back by ensuring the Princess Consort has the edict—something that can save her life in case the Empress Dowager decides to "sacrifice" her for her plans as well. Did I get it right?I absolutely loved Feng Zhiyao and Yun. I am so rooting for them! They are such cuties... 🤗🥰And Xiuyao telling Ye Li, "To me you are the woman who no one can match in this world." Oh, bless him for such beautiful words! A sweet talker indeed. 🤭❤️Also, I don't like how they keep bringing up that if Prince Ding learned the story of how the edict didn't get delivered, he and Ye Li might have relationship trouble. Would they really? Ye Li or her mother couldn't really do much to change any of that... except maybe the fact that it was her family who betrayed Xiuyao's brother? 🤔😔

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It's done

A'Yu's actor has such talent! So far, I have seen him only as a positive character, but when A'Yu had to act like he was turning against A'Zhao to trick Yanfang, the boy played it beautifully. 👏✨As I understood it, Yanfang's demise pretty much happened because he lost his coldness in plotting when it came to A'Zhao. She was the difference in his life that tilted his heart, and that's how she got the upper hand in that game... ☝️🤔 It proves once again that women—especially beautiful and clever ones—are the best weapon against men, not swords or other things. 🤭 The ending of A'Zhao and A'Jiu living happily ever after, having children, and riding in the desert was well-deserved for them, and I think it fit beautifully. From the desert she came, to the desert she returned, and A'Jiu followed her to the place where he felt most at home. 🥹❤️But sadly, the drama overall disappointed me in some ways. After a very promising and wonderfully developed first half, the second half felt like it was lacking a lot, worsening with each episode. They left so many unanswered questions, and many solutions were rushed or just gifted to the plot—like the defeat of the Northern Desert King, for example. 🙄 Xiang's death in general also felt unnecessary, especially when there was such a mystery built around his name. The only time Xiang's story actually made some difference was on that ship when Xiao Xun distracted A'Jiu by just saying his name. 😔 And I would really like to learn who the boy was that Deng Yi was always talking to. 🤷‍♀️😮‍💨The actors, however, did a marvellous job! I particularly enjoyed the actor who played Yanfang, Tang Xiaotian, and I will definitely check out some of his other works. Chen Duling and Zhou Yiran also did an amazing job, and the chemistry between them was beautiful. 🌟👏Overall, this was a good watch, but it delivered maybe only half of my expectations, mostly because of how rushed and somewhat poorly edited the second half was. The one-episode-a-day concept didn't bother me that much because it left me with time for other stuff. Anyway, it's done, and I can shelf it now. 😌

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Everything is happening way too quick

I have a feeling that everything is moving way too fast now, and pace-wise, it feels a lot like the last season of GoT. Like, events that would actually take weeks or maybe even months to unfold suddenly happen in one episode. 😔I understand why the Northern Desert King would mourn his son, but to surrender just like that after decades of war? 🤨 I don't really know anything about his character because they have barely shown him to us, but I would want to see some reasoning behind that choice, not just him running out of Wangzhou shouting "son, son". War-oriented strategists usually don't do that, in my opinion. 🙄At least all of Yanfang's plans with the Northern Desert are now in vain due to Yanlai's success. 😌🙌🏼 And the Northern Desert King can probably testify as to who it was he collaborated with—Deng Yi, Xiao Xun, or Xie Yanfang? Or all three of them? 🤔🧐Also, I want to think that A'Zhao is playing Yanfang to lure him into some trap, or make him lose his guard enough to strike him down, and hasn't trusted a single one of his words. 🤞🏼😏 If I had to choose Deng Yi or Yanfang as an ally, I probably would trust Deng Yi more (yeah, I know... I still hope he's redeemable, lol 😂).I am also missing some character depth for Liang Qiang, and why he chose to do what he did. Because one moment he actually questioned the situation, but the next moment—yeah, let's go, I want to go for that power. 😔 I blame all of that on the chosen short 24-episode format, but yes, this drama suffers a lot because of that, in my opinion.

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A rollercoaster of emotions

Poor Haixia! All I ask for him is to have a full episode of joy. 😭💔I was crying this whole episode just for him—tears of joy for him finally being with his family, for his every smile, and for the wonderful healing process as he regains the ability to walk. 🥰✨ And then came the tears of worry for what's happening to him—at first, I thought he just felt very pensive, considering what has happened and what has changed. But then I noticed those little shifts... like where he killed all the worms because he couldn't go fishing, and then all those thoughts started to echo in his head—that he's a burden, trash that shouldn't be alive. 🥺 And the cat scene... It's like he's turning into a version of Jekyll and Hyde. 😰🤧I am so worried about how that will evolve. Will it take over Haixia completely? Or can it be fixed? 🥺😟But what an amazing performance from Ding Yuxi. I don't know... I think this might be his best role I've seen so far. It is so psychologically and emotionally complex, heavy and diverse. I'm not sure if everyone could do this the way he does. 👏🤩

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What one hears, tells, and sees

I really enjoyed Uncle Wenshen's story about his master, Zhou Xiankun, and Consort Dowager Qin. They looked very close, didn't they? 👀 It makes me wonder what their relationship truly was—close friends, kindred spirits with a shared interest in divination, or maybe something more? 🤔 And the big question—why didn't she get the edict to save him? That story has really, really piqued my interest! 🫣Marquis Muyang's legitimate son is officially in my bad books. I dislike him—he walks around like a childish peacock, always seeking ways to covertly show guard Qin how inferior he is to him. Even the servants had to interfere! 😒🙄 And, yay, A'Yao finally knows A'Li doesn't have a full house in her head, and he's already making moves to help her heal her heart. 🥹 It's actually quite poetic, don't you think? She helped him heal his physical state, and he's about to help heal her mental state. ✨❤️

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Hope remains

There is hope! What a relief! 😮‍💨 I can't really think of anything else than getting my dear Haixia back into action. Oh, what a wonderful mind Haixia's is, to have thought of this plan... Is there anyone, really, who can match it? 🥹🤩✨Hailou will have this opportunity to right the wrongs of his past by gathering the three rare herbs, and for once be the one who saves Haixia! It is a very good redemption path for the mistake he made all those years ago. 🙏🥺And what a creep Lu Junxiang is... 😬 Whenever he hears Haiqi's name, he goes completely psycho. To calm himself or whatever, he needs some black pills like an addict... And did he really sniff her hairpin?! 🫣 I really hope Bai Yu turns on him when she learns that he was the one who killed her twin sister, not Haiqi. 🙏😩

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Bits of truth and consequences of lies

Him telling her his nickname is A'Yao and allowing her to call him that was so sweet! 🤗 The look and the tears in his eyes when A'Li said she wants to help him stand up and live his life happily—she makes him so happy already by that thought alone and warms his heart immensely! 🥰 And I do love that they always zoom the camera in to show us two pairs of shoes when she's with him. Is that a way to prove to us that it's real, and not her imagination playing tricks again? 🤭And that's why he got so angry when Feng presented him with evidence that she had hired the bandits herself. And he's right to be—are there really any liars who tell only one lie? We know everything she says is a half-truth mixed with her imagination, but he doesn't, nor does he know the reason for it. That fact alone hurt him, and even more so because he is already living with the consequences of misplaced trust from his past. 🥺 I bet he will question her past activities on the mountain even more now—her martial arts skills, her weiqi skills, the amount of chores. Her answers already felt a bit suspicious to him. 🤨But it is interesting info that her mother and father were involved with the decree, which was the one piece missing to prove Mo Xiuwen's return wasn't treason. I wonder if it is destroyed or just hidden somewhere? If it's the latter, then A'Li can help find it to prove Prince Ding's innocence and clear his name. 🧐☝️And what is with the rivalry for favouritism in Marquis Muyang's house? Is his son jealous of the guard, or does the guard just know the son is spoiled? I couldn't read which of the two guys could be considered "good" and is worth my support, if any. The one who declined the fish, or the other? 🤔

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Choosing the path of healing

Hmm, A'Li told Xiuyao she dealt with the snakes herself, while to Captain Li she continues to say it was Master Zhu... She's confusing me there. 😖 But Xiuyao finally agreed to the leg treatment! I couldn't be happier for them! 🤗 How caring she is with him, running to ease his pain whenever she hears him groaning. They are so affectionate with each other; it's wonderful to watch the growth of their relationship and feelings. 🥰I am actually quite grateful they gave us not only A'Li's side of the story about what happened eight years ago, but also Prince Li's. They align, but give two different perspectives. I know it wasn't entirely Mo Jingli's fault and he was just an orphaned child, quite easy to manipulate, threaten, and scare. He has been a victim of his status and the Empress Dowager's and Marquis Muyang's greed and ambition; however, it doesn't justify the choices he has made now—especially regarding Ye Ying and Ye Li. 😠😤Ying's scene in the rain... I don't know if she'll turn out to be an antagonist at some point or not, but I feel so sorry for her. I just want to hug her and tell her everything is going to be okay, and that she should focus on herself and her self-growth instead of that scumbag. 😔🥺Side note: Ye Ying's actress looked so beautiful in that rain scene. ☺️

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