Soriya D

this one might be the first emperor who will last the whole series and survived. at least, from the ones I've watch. 😂

ikr!! i love how she's the one who came directly for their first kiss (the real one, anyway. haha)

Yeah, they literally showed his back the whole time during that dinner scene after the gender revealed. I'm also a bit sad that the scene would have lasted longer with more conversation than what we had due to the face swap.

I was feeling the same. LOL. I was just thinking this morning after finishing today's eps that XJ is more of a softie than in the book. Book XJ is more reserved in showing his affections but is not against it either. I'm glad someone else saw that too. haha. But I'll take him either way.

I don't see how he thinks she's remotely like him romantically. She had always been friendly but polite, and even distant, from him. He also witnessed how she is with XJ and that even when they're bickering, she was closer to him. Where in his all these action does he see that she likes him that way.

Personally, I think he's grasping at straw at this point. Other than his mother, and maybe his maid, he had never cherish another person until her. So in his mind, as long as he scheme, it was a given that he will win her over? But her straightforwardness is what he loves about her. So what makes him think she is okay with that?

Agree with everyone here. The only time in the novel he ever crossed the line was when he tricked HY into meeting one night to confess his feelings for her, even though she's already engaged to XJ. But after her rejection, he was calm and collected and admirably accepted it.

I love that he did. but ngl, kinna bummed he didn't issue their marriage decree.

I also love how she's the one to initiate it too!!! haha

two tomorrow and the rest on Wednesday through express.

Me too. I also want to add that drama Xu kicked started everything by discovering HRF and helped him impersonate her. In the novel, he knows nothing of this as HRF kept the secret to himself, his family, and HY's ex-husband. In fact, it was because HRF was revealed to in court that He Yan and Xue Jue used him as a stepping stone to reveal Xu's wrongdoings and treason to the court. And it all happened on the same day right after that duel between HFR and HY.

So I feel like the Xu in the drama version is more capable and in line with his book counterpart. But then again, in the book version, he was old and maybe became too compliant with his status quo?

I wouldn't worry much since she can't do anything other than revealing HY's gender, which the emperor already knows.

He turned Xu in with evidence he'd collected over the years and then left to capital to live in Jiyang. That's because he had worked with Xu for so long so his hands had long been dirty. The emperor is afraid to use him again and in fact, kept an eye on him throughout the years to make sure he behaves.

He saw Xiao Jue and He Yan with their daughter again in Jiyang when the family was invited to the Princess' granddaughter's wedding.

Personally, I think the drama version of Xu is much darker and clever than the book version. In the drama, Xu never fully trusted Chu (in fact, almost killed him to keep his secrets) while in the novel, there was a 100% trust in him. Especially after he was detained in prison, he and his men trusted CZ to turn the tide for them. Unfortunately, CZ didn't have the intention to do so and instead choose the worst way to resolve the situation and absolved himself (CZ) of guilt in court by breaking him out of prison. This made Xu looks guilty in court, which both angered and surprised him due to the betrayal. He wasn't expecting it at all.

100%

it is hinted in the novel that he knew of her feelings. but i think a part of him knew that he couldn't be that for her cause he doesn't have a same feelings.

I feel like if Chu and Ying Xiang would work, they would have been together already by this point and not until after Chu has feelings for another girl. Besides, YX feels that she's not good enough for CZ. I just hope that YX doesn't have the same ending as in the book. I'm honestly a little worried for her since she disappeared after XF had that talk with CZ about her after Pingting's bratty tattling.

I think in this case, as she is his only child and a girl he have in his older years, he was probably too soft-hearted towards her. In the book, he took in Chu Zao as his student with the intention of marrying him to his daughter cause he believes CZ would never betray him and will treat PT well. He knew that with her personality, she would not do well in any family other than one who he has control over and is loyal to him.

you know what, it would make sense. in the book, it was another character who was in love with Xiao Jue revealed it in court, and since that character was axed in the drama, they might do it with Pingting instead.

thank you. i saw the trailer and it looks great. added to my watch list.

What's WDBTD?