absurd

Well, I mean, we knew it will go down, but still. Tbh, Lou Yao will get over it and we all know Shaoshang will get over it. He Zhaojun, I feel bad for. After everything she's been through, she now has to go through this humiliation of a marriage too. The only thing that gives me hope is that: she seem tougher now, she just beheaded a man, Lou family might be biting more than they can chew LOL

That's because she's too kind and self-sacrificing. And he's a mumble-boy, srsly, Lou Yao needs army training, not a wife, may then he'll grow up.

That was the most ridiculous explanation I have ever heard. What in whole goddamn country there is no other scholar family, that won't take away her troops? Lous are the only ones in existence? Besides have you seen her behead prince Xiao? Who'd dare argue with that girl now? And about people not daring to marry her, if the marriage was granted by Emperor, no one would dare refuse. Since she already has to marry someone who does not want her, maybe at last try not to ruin other lives in the process.
Like I said, yes, we want this betrothal to fall apart, but this situation is insulting to everyone involved. To He Zhaojun more than anyone.

Honestly, this turn-back-betrothal rearrangement is so humiliating for everyone. Shaoshang because she's the one left behind, He Zhaojun because she has to marry the guy she dropped for some jerk, AFTER that guy have moved on and Lou Yao, would just look like someone who has no say in his own life, because he has to marry a girl who left him after insulting him in the process.
I know this engagement had to go away, but that's just ridiculous. Are there no other gentry families in the whole country? Grant HZJ some title and marry her to someone, she doesn't have a humiliating history with.

I can't believe it took me a year to finish this. It's not an easy watch, very sad, very introspective. Pretty down to earth, realistic slice of life drama. I loved it and couldn't bring myself to watch at the same time, maybe exactly because it's so close to life. Again, as has been said many times, cinematography is beautiful. Soundtrack fits perfectly and acting is amazing. The storytelling is very artistic and nothing in this drama can be called typical. Still, I guess, I can understand why this is not as popular as all those fairytaly type dramas, realistic shows are hard to watch. But it's worth it, finishing this feels like letting go, lighter.

Ahh, it was in the ep 17. Emperor found out that Luo Yao's ex fiancé broke their engagement because of prince Xiao, so that freed LY to pursue Shaoshang and, according to Emperor, steal Lin Buyi only love. Prince Xiao is also trying to rise a rebellion, but Emperor got more angry about the first one, rather than the second LOL

I feel like at this point he's more of "that cool guy that saved her", rather than anything serious. I mean he is a tall handsome general, so easy crush material. But they didn't really have a lot of meaningful interactions for her to feel anything. I don't think she even believed her parents about his interest. She also seems to not understand what she needs a man for, aside from taking her out of the parents house and being an errand boy.

The Emperor was more upset the that Xiao something or other gave LY a chance to steal CSS, then about rebellion LOL Priorities!

She doesn't hate her, but sometimes it seems like she can't love and accept her the way she is and acts as cruel and emotionally abusive because of it. She wanted a perfect demure obedient daughter and she didn't get one.

Here's the thing, yes CSS's reasons for getting married are not great, yes she is a child who should think this through instead of rushing. But just because CSS is not exactly doing the right thing, does not just erase what Mom did and suddenly make her into this nice caring perfect mommy. When you insult your child at every turn, belittle everything they do and tell them that they won't get anywhere in life just because they don't fit into your little square box of a perfect dream child. IT. IS. NOT. CALLED. "not knowing how to show love". This is her daughter. She is a person. Someone who grew up according to circumstances, ones that she was put in because Her Mother Abandoned her. She is not a sim character, not a play dough to shape as you please. Yes she is a teenager who acts out and some of her actions are dangerous (bridge thing could have ended badly). Yes, she needs parental supervision and guidance. That does not justify the cruelty that she got from the mother who she had not seen for 15 damn years. That was not parenting, that was straight out abuse. It's not black and white where end results justify the means. She is one of the big reasons her daughter thinks LY is her only chance. And by continuing to act as she does, she's just driving the point further down. Yes sometimes parents can be harsh, yes teenagers can be a nightmare even for the most patient (I definitely was), but there's nothing that justifies outright cruelty.

Another mom Cheng rant, sorry, just skip it if all you want is to tell me how she's "trying to do what's best for her daughter".

I can't believe there are people who are justifying mom's behavior as "wanting what's best" or "not knowing how to show love". Gee, start by not insulting your daughter's intelligence and character at every turn maybe? Get to actually know her, instead of telling her to "sit down" like a dog whenever she tries to explain. Idk, so many options, where to start.
Just because she's not wrong in this particular situation doesn't just erase her past behavior.

Ok, but dude, you can't say stuff like "it's fine, your daughter already undressed me" to lady's parents, you just can't LOL

Oh, ok, that was not obvious from the comment. Also I don't watch previews. But then in the upcoming episodes she's already engaged, so it's kind of not fair to expect her to just drop everything for some ephemeral "interest". Her life experiences are not really conductive to her being anything but practical. She'll need something more than a hint :)

Her mother is one of those people who told her no one would want her the way she is. I honestly don't know what she expected

Ok, finished this at last. Got a bit draggy around episode 25, as always. I have to say I am liking this trend of more adult kind of romances in latest c-dramas, all those 15-20 year old ditzy FL's get very annoying after some time. I liked the story as a whole and the message about strong independent women in particular. It was a bit fairytaly there in the end with the emperor, but not every story needs to be completely realistic to be good. Liu Yifei's acting is amazing, Pan'er is strong, but still so soft and vulnerable. And Chen Xiao is great as well, I now want to see something else with him as ML.
All in all, this was interesting to watch, skipped a lot of typical c-drama clichés and still managed to give me some of that fairytale romance feeling, that c-dramas have. Not 10 out of 10, but definitely recommend.

And also the fact that she was repeatedly told that no one would want to marry a girl like her

But LY is such a baby, he has the cutest baby-face, but I can't take him seriously as her marriage prospect. And you're right, every time I see him, I expect him so go all "sister in law!" LOL
Ok, so, at last I'm not alone in this, I thought maybe everyone else knows something that I don't. I mean LBY was very nice and courteous to her, also very much a dashing hero, so enough that she would get a crash on him. But, and it's not even declaration, he literally never was anything more but polite and kind. She can't assume that every guy, who's kind to her is a marriage prospect.

Did I miss something? They had like 5 interactions total, give or take. I mean he saved her and her family, but then left almost immediately both times and also gave no indication of being interested, outside of general courtesy and being a gentleman. When did he give her any signals?

And all it would take is someone actually talking to FL respectfully and making her think, instead of insulting her intelligence and treating her like dirt. If mom can't act like a decent human being she should remove herself from the situation and try to interfere through other people, maybe she'll do some good for once