Kaihua

She doesn't have to leave her family anymore by the end though since she cleaned up her own household and got everyone to be sincere and cooperative as a family again. Why would she leave when it's no longer toxic? If her family never got fixed, then she absolutely should leave, but by the end of the show everyone in the Rong family was putting the work in to be better versions of themselves so RSB has no reason to leave. Plus with her power in Linji, LJL can do whatever he wants without worrying about political threats and assassination attempts while he tries to keep the local offialdom uncorrupted

She already sorted out her family into something functional though??? There is no longer any power struggle, allowing them to enjoy unity and prosperity together in accordance with the foundational principles of the Rong family which she aspires to live by. She has an entire life of her own with a fanily she finally gets to enjoy bonding with, and thousands of people under her responsibility, and you want her to give THAT all up? He still has a bright future, the point is his future is even brighter by living up to the person he wants to be - an uncorrupted official working for the people and making good change in the world. If he continued to pursue power he could eventually become corrupted and entangled with the deep webs of political intrigue, which already almost killed him once. So many people in power hated him in the capital because of his work and he would've spent the rest of his life having to fight off attempts on his life while being stuck in a miserable broken family that was beyond recovery, where the one blood relative he cared about there died and the love of his life far away. He'd be shackled to his role as a duke's heir, just like RSB was shackled to her role in the beginning of the show and not able to be her own person or have anyone to rely on because of her grandma forcing her to be perfect and forcing everyone to compete with her. Rather than 'intellectually dishonest', I would say it's media literate, and you missed all the themes of the show over your head

Thematically that wouldn't make any sense since RSB has spent the entire show trying to show people that power and ambition isn't worth it, but mutual support and cooperation is worth everything. She already knows how to handle her life. LJL didn't give up anything by the end. If it were him before he met her, then probably the title and wealth would've meant something to him because it would boost his career. But over the course of his stay in Linji, he realized how he can still make a difference and be true to his principles. We saw corrupt officials, a warped toxic grandma, a warped toxic dad, and all the people who are warped as a consequence of those people's actions. By the end, LJL is no longer the type of person to care about any of that. He literally had to be trapped in the ducal household to stay there. That was his prison, and being a smaller official in Linji that remained uncorrupt, being with someone he loved, that was the life he wanted and his freedom. RSB also knew it would be unfair to ask him to give up his title, his career, everything for her which is why she never once asked him to do it and left the decision as his alone to make.

Most definitely! Everything was consistent to the overarching theme of the show, so it's all purposeful but I think a lot of people see the events on a surface level and misunderstand. Not the perfect last 6 episodes but I understood what it was doing and why it was necessary. Kinda weird pacing, wish they gave it another episode or two for more character focused moments, but overall I'm satisfied

Yes, she's never been allowed to be her own person before but she can be around him! <3

Exactly this! The whole point was to show what he could have become if he had continued his original path before he met RSB. Throughout the show we've seen how power, wealth and ambition have warped people over time and strayed them away from their own principles they once lived by. BY the time LJL has the chance to get this powerful title and wealth which would've greatly helped his career, he'd already changed and affirmed for himself that what matters most is living by his principles and never straying. He's very satisfied with it, but it was a choice he had to make for himself and RSB knew that which is why she never asked him to stay with her. It would be unfair to ask him to drop everything for her if he did want this new family, title, wealth and career, and also if he followed her because she asked him to, then in the future if he did become warped he might blame her for ruining his chance at greater success in life. RSB seems cold, but she understood what was and wasn't fair or considerate and was willing to sacrifice her own happiness with him to let him live his own life. She was also convinced it wouldn't work out in the future because she's literally never seen an example of a healthy, long lasting relationship in her life so naturally she wanted to leave things at a moment where they were still both the people they loved in each other, so she could at least love him forever even if she couldn't be with him... In a way she's actually a big repressed softie

Yeah, I do get the point the narrative was trying to make with the last arc, since it was specifically for LJL's character arc to have closure and demonstrate in clearer terms than ever why RSB thinks the relationship wouldn't work, and what LJL could become if he kept going down his original path before he met RSB... But it was still kind of weird! LOL I think it was the pacing... The plot got all the screentime it needed. It was all necessary. But I think it needed to linger on character moments between RSB and LJL more to let the viewer simmer in what they might be feeling - and also, give us more sweetness oh my god I stuck thru all this way give me more screentime of them together! I think it could've benefited from maybe one or two more episodes to have those increased character moments padded in there, and more clearly tie what was going on to the thematic argument for LJL's personal arc and RSB's relationship with him. As it was, I think it was harder to get invested in what was happening with this family since we're here for RSB and especially LJL, but we don't even get to see much of them so it's harder for the viewer to emotionally tie the unfolding events to what it means for the two of them personally.

RSB has always been convinced the relationship won't work because they're both the type of people to put their career first (especially in the beginning of the show), and also because she's never had a good example of a functional relationship between parents in her life. she's seen what her grandma became over time, and basically she doesn't believe that relationships can last forever and that LJL won't turn into a different person warped by his amibitions (or lost ambitions, by feeling that he had to give them up for her and one day growing to resent her and blame her for it). However, the last arc is basically a kind of weirdly paced final example of how a family can corrupt over time due to power, wealth, love crumbling away, etc. but LJL still insists on being with her. She quietly gives him a way to pursue her by leaving a fast horse behind, but she never asks him to leave with her and only tries to break things amicably but will love him for the rest of her life. It's because the major life decision to leave behind power, wealth and ambition has to be a choice he makes for himself completely on his own. before he met RSB, he was a cold and ruthless person in his own words, and he was very ambitious and on the fast track to power. over the course of the show he's realized where his priorities are if he wants to be true to himself and his principles. He takes the fast horse she left behind for him to catch up to her, and specifically makes the choice to be with her and commit himself to living by his principles even if it means giving up the opportuntiy for power and wealth - he doesn't want it, he doesn't want to turn into someone like his father, or her grandma, etc. They happily go back to Linji together.

sorry I'm not the most articulate person so it wasn't clear; the spoilers part was in reference to people judging things RSB says or does after an episode or even saying she doesn't make sense, even tho those are all signs that there's smth else going on/she has a plan that will naturally be explained in an upcoming episode (if it wasnt obvious by watching her behaviour already). but such comments dont actually speculate on her reasons or give her benefit of the doubt, they just jump to her having a hot & cold personality, taking LJL for granted, etc. and then a few episodes later when everything is revealed, she clearly has reasons and doesn't treat LJL arbitrarily

Story of Ming Lan is one of my absolute favourite dramas ever, good taste good taste 😉
I just don't have a hard time reading RSB's emotions or why she does what she does. her upbringing was harsh and strict and required perfection from her and it already explains a lot about her. the last few episodes gave plenty, enough that i could guess what was really going on and what would happen especially based on everything else we've seen up to that point. But I do think the directing is totally a part of it, bc this show is not trying to be anything else but its own vision. the presentation keeping such a central character like RSB limited to outer presentation rather than spelling out her inner thoughts and such, i guess people get it or they dont, they like it or they don't

what im learning from the RSB hate is people can't read emotions or subtext without hearing a character's inner thoughts every second or spoiled on what will be revealed episodes later, and that people have a double standard for mls vs fls

RSB is always planning 10 steps ahead... From this, we can only conclude that she prefers sweaty men

"lu jianglai, i'll reluctantly pave the way for you..." [hits fast forward]

Oohh I did! Then stick around hehehe as long as you're still having a good time overall
In some way, it's entertaining to watch the rest of the cast without many emotional worries because you can just sit back and judge them and eat melon seeds to their chaos LOL
In that way it's kind of like watching side characters in Jane Austen stories

this comment had me wheezing

Mad respect that you stuck through 20 episodes but this feels like it is just not your taste and hopefully you're not giving yourself too much anxiety from watching. If something makes you uncomfortable, that's okay! You don't have to force yourself to be comfortable with stuff or like something other people like, it just is what it is

No shade on the other person's reply but have we been watching the same show LMAO RSB is obviously into LJL, just because she's been strictly brought up to be the picture of a composed noble lady doesn't mean she isn't making microexpressions or feeling anything on the inside. Especially for someone who's gotten as far as to be caught up to episode 28, it should be obvious by now that when you see RSB do something you don't understand it's because there's always something else going on. For how much shit gets thrown onto her doorstep she has to always be playing 5 steps ahead without showing weakness (and yet, she will show it around LJL, she will only rely on LJL for help, she will only smile genuinely at him, IDK IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS

the way LJL looked at her during the reveal was so funny bc obviously he was like wtf why didnt you tell me, but also he is like 'okay this is happening i guess' and then i swear to god he looks at her like he cant help but admire her diabolical success HAHAH

eventually there will be an explanation for everyones actions

FINALLYYY oh my god i cant wait for episode 29