SpicyLime

No. I don't think they are officially married at this point. It's like calling your fiancé husband/wife before you are married. You just do it, since you are practically married.

Even when Pan'er is getting ready to move in, she's like we have to stop hanging out so much we are not married yet. But our CP do not care about the social norms. They are definately going to keep having trysts before marriage.

China passed a law that caps dramas to 40 episodes. It became effectively immediately. The magic number is just 40. It's supposedly to make dramas better quality by forcing writers/directors to get rid of filler. Also some politics regarding pay of actors etc. Some studios are getting around this by doing multiple seasons (parts) like the upcoming Love Like The Galaxy. Many shows that were shooting or completed shooting had to follow the cap. So a lot of shows had to get cut down from the planned 40+ episodes to just 40. For example, Who Rules The World, which was suppose to be longer than 40 episodes, had pacing changed towards the end, and everything feels rushed. It's most likely from editing the 40+ to just 40.

You have to make an additional one time payment for "express" access. Can only be viewed on mobile. Check out the Tencent app on your phone if you are curious. There should be an ad for it.

There were some abrupt cuts. I can't be certain but I feel a lot of stuff was cut in the final product. They had to do it to make it 40 episodes per the new rules.

Break due to misunderstand and a blood fued. It lasts for about 6 episodes. The break up is not that bad. More so annoying. It's done in such a way, that you know what will happen and how they will make up. The leads miss each during the seperation. No love triangle. There are one sided loves for both leads, but the leads only love each other.

Wdy mean? If you mean when she is attacked. She visited OX is secret with the help of Chen Lian. After struggling she is almost killed before Chen Lian comes in and knocks out OX

His Bro was right all along. Everything he said to GQF was on point. Lol man... I wished. In the end GQF and Pan'er have no other family members. But they have each other. <3

I want to enjoy all of it's glory on my big screen. So I glossed over those parts.

With all the sweetness leading up to the end. I'm actually relatively satisfied. I wish there was little more sweetness but it's fine.

Like I remember the name surname Liu, from when YZ talks about getting letters? Could it be the same Liu? Dunno. Not that important to me. TBH I skipped a lot of YZ scenes. But, I'll go have a rewatch when the episodes are released next week.

Nope. GQF is released by the Emperor after doing some digging. The thing he is more worried about is the Emperor still not fully trusting GQF and himself. GQF really does have good reason to hate him. Hence, why he wants to have Pan'er killed later.

No marraige. But Pan'er has already started to process of renovating and moving into the Gu Manor. She's also going to hold the keys to the cash. It's pretty much a done thing.

Not sure TBH. Hopefully someone else knows, but I think he's a rando.

ep 36. When the music kicks at the teahouse and then finally... smiles. We witnessed it with Chen Lian and Zhaodi. Same reaction.

A good amount of us are already VIP members. Probably a good amount gonna fork it over. Lol. I have no regrets. But want to watch this on the big screen next.

It's 38. I just checked.

Hey...Dad had me fooled too. I was wishing as well for him.

GQF's father ends up being a piece of shit. He was the one who spread around the news of the blood fued to try and get our CP to break up. I thought it was kind of weird why that report showed up randomly in front of GQF. He really just wanted to use GQF all along. Later, when GQF is imprisoned, he was going to have Pan'er killed and frame it on Uncle in order to protect himself and GQF. Pan'er basically monologues the audience. She says that, I can't believe he said all of those lies with a smile. He told her that GQF was going to be released, and told her to leave the Capital for her safety and to take care. But he was going to have her killed. He was insidious all along. Bro was right. I was fooled too, until it all came exposed. GQF continues to cut ties with him.

Who ended up saving Pan'er from being murdered by GQF's father? None other than GQF's brother. Although, bro has always been jealous, he never wanted to kill him. Just wanted to cause him some trouble. Pan'er to GQF's bro, "why did you save me?" After everything is said and done, GQF is his older brother (da ge) He doesn't want GQF to suffer with losing the love of his life. That's why he saves Pan'er. So in the end, decent human being.

GN. I don't know how I feel. I have to rewatch this again carefully. I skimmed through a lot. No cap though, I teared a couple of times finishing.

Happy Ending.

How and when our CP get back together.

Ep 35 - Pan'er finally finds the bank note left by GQF and interrogates Chen Lian. Chen Lian doesn't know why GQF is afraid of Pan'er. Per Chen Lian, he's not even afraid of death or beheading people, but he's afraid of facing Pan'er. Chen Lian confesses that GQF went against the Imperial Order just trying to visit Pan'er and almost died. Pan'er cries with the realization 1) he left her the money the whole time 2) it must be so bad that GQF is willing to die/break up, rather than tell her.

EP 36 - Pan'er finds out about the blood feud. She cries again, realizing what and why GQF could not tell her. She spends time figuring out what to do with the relationship. After some time reflecting, she concludes, when you like someone, it's not what they can do for you, it's what you can do for them. She wants to force him into her world and for them to be together.

Pan'er wants a meetup (she places yellow flowers at the CSO) and confronts GQF at her old Teahouse. Pan'er to GQF, "one last time, are you willing to marry me?" GQF hesitates and explains he doesn't deserve her due to the blood feud. It's not a problem for her, but it is for him. He's worried that she will later begin to resent him, thus making her life forever miserable. Pan'er to GQF, "you are a Gu, not a Xiao." (i.e you are not responsible for the deeds of your father) Pan'er also reminds him that once she has made a decision, she never regrets (i.e. she has never regretted being with him and won't regret if they are together again). Pan'er says she never thought of suicide over OX, but tearfully admits that when she couldn't find GQF during the storm, she thought about jumping off the bridge into the river. GQF begins to waver.

Pan'er gives him another chance again. But this time she threatens to destroy GQF's love token hairpin at the count of three. This is his final chance to be with her. Pan'er to GQF, "I don't have time to waste. Are you willing to leave the past behind and be with me again?" Pan'er painfully counts, One.........Two........Thr... As Pan'er is in motion to bring down a rock to smash the hairpin, GQF finds his resolve and embraces Pan'er. Pan'er immediately drops the rock while crying and quickly returns his embrace. He is willing to love her and is willing protect her and is willing to use the rest of his life to atone for his sins. He is willing to do anything for her. The two finally reconcile. Hairpin is finally back where it belongs. Spying onlookers, Chen Lian and Zhaodi watch as our CP head off hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. (Our CP is back!) Zhaodi reports to everyone they are back together.

Episode Notes/Thoughts:
-The amount on the bank note is valued approximately $313,000 in today's dollars. It's a small fortune. Pan'er was correct when she said she didn't have to worry about money as long as she had GQF. Pan'er knows GQF is sincere to her. The bank note is proof of that.
-Pan'er left a lot of yellow flowers at the CSO. She really misses him.
-Pan'er is truly scared that GQF would reject her. Her voice as she is counting becomes more and more sad. Acting here is so on point.
-Our baby girl is doing everything and anything to desperately convince GQF. She is begging. She gives him a chance, when he refuses, she follows up again with another chance. She doesn't care about her pride or the past. She knows how good he is to her. It can't be anyone else. She just wants him to be with her.
-By counting down to three, Pan'er forced GQF to follow his heart and not his rational brain. His heart wants to be with her, but his brain wouldn't allow it. Working for the CSO for so many years has caused him to overthink and overly rationalize. When Pan'er tried to rationalize with him, it failed. So she changed tactics. She really loves this guy.
-We finally understand the significance of the carriage scene. Pan'er considered suicide when she couldn't find GQF. That's why she keeps asking about why he didn't see her and is so hurt when GQF would not come out to see her.
-I think by this point, Pan'er realizes GQF is willing to do anything for her. Even though he didn't dare face her, he kept all his promises. Pan'er didn't give him the chance to explain the Xiao family situation, even though she mentioned ealier she would wait. As she promised, she accepeted the toxic family situation in the end and continued to love GQF.
-Zhaodi probably secretly followed Pan'er. And Chen Lian secretly followed GQF. They just happened to meet up at the Teahouse by chance and witnessed our CP's reconciliation. They really think alike and are so cute together.
-From when GQF is at the CSO, to when he gets to the Teahouse, his facial hair grows. I noticed this the first time. Obviously, these were shot out of sequence. Just think it's funny. That's the problem with bringing in facial hair.
-Right after the couple reunites, it has an abrupt scene change with Yinzhang playing her Lonley Moon. I feel that stuff was cut off, the editing here jarring.

Summary/Ending.

The last boss is OX. Throughout, OX is trying to get rid of Pan'er and GQF. Pan'er takes OX to Kaifeng Court to expose him for his lies. OX does a reversal and claims he does not know her and she is a slut. Since Pan'er has not been a resident of the Capital for at least a year, she cannot bring her case up. In order to proceed with the case, she visits another Court. In order to bypass the proper procedures, by law she needs to be flogged 20 times. The judge was ordered by the Empress to kill Pan'er. Pan'er is unjustly flogged with the more severe flogging method (the tpye of flogging she received is akin to being exiled thousands of miles away). Before the flogging is finished, she is rescued by GQF, SN and YZ. GQF curses off the judge for not knowing the law and using the wrong flogging. I think she was flogged 6 times total. She's hurt badly and passes out. (Note: A commenter mentioned there is a deleted scene that Pan'er and GQF had prepared for the flogging. GQF gave Pan'er medicine so she would not feel the pain. Pan'er probably didn't realize anything was wrong until she started to vomit blood. GQF did not initially know it was the more harsh flogging until Pan'er had been hit several times. This scene was probably removed due to time contraints to keep the total episodes to 40 per the new chinese law)

GQF sneaks into the palace and threatens the Empress. He's willing to be loyal to her, in exchange for giving Pan'er a fair trial. Before he leaves, he lets the Empress know that Pan'er lied to the Emperor that the Night Revels Painting was fake, in order to protect her from suffering. The Empress would've become a pariah, if not for Pan'er. The Empress requests to speak with the Emperor.

A very injured Pan'er visits the Court again to finish the flogging punishment so she can proceed with her case to clear her name and bring up all the bullshit and crimes that OX has committed. Just before she is flogged, a palace Eunuch arrives with a verbal decree. For women, the flogging can be substituted with paying a fine. Nobody, for the plot has money with them. The crowd witnessing the trial, begins donating money to help pay for Pan'er's fine. Many are people Pan'er has helped previously. Case is able to proceed.

All of Pan'er's friends contribute to the case. They bring out evidence and provide testimonies. Yinzhang delivers a finishing blow. OX had tried to destroy all evidence of his crimes, but misses a piece. YZ brings in evidence that only someone like a performer would understand. OX is cornered. He goes crazy and starts fighting back with the guards and knocks over a screen to reveal the Emperor and Empress who have been watching the case unfold. OX loses the case and is sentenced by the Emperor to be sent to the Capital Security Office to be "interrogated." (It's implied GQF is going to torture and ultimately kill him.) Poetically, as OX is being led to the CSO, the crowd starts tossing shit at him and cursing obscenities, just like what happened when our girls were kicked out.

The girls are granted any wish by the Emperor. Pan'er respectfully kowtows and tells the Emperor about the hardships as a woman and wishes that nobody will ever have to become a "pariah" like she was. It's a very noble request. The Emperor promises to make changes.

Final scenes with some thoughts.

Yinzhang has really matured. She is still single and enjoying her craft. She's pretty smart now. Able to handle running the restaurant herself if needed and full of ideas. She is no longer gloomy. She is confident and happy with her life. There is a scene with her playing her Pipa to a huge crowd in the restaurant. Chi Pan is looking from the top floor. I think he's in love again. This guy...he's fickle.

(I did not care for Chi Pan. He humiliated Pan'er and then goes around to wanting to marry her. Throughout, he shamelessly proposes several times to her. Pan'er never loved anyone else but GQF. Pan'er uses him to find out more about GQF's past. No, I don't think he will pair with Yinzhang. In Yinzhang's words, "you (Chi Pan) are out of her (Pan'er's) league." This is after our CP is back together. He still tries to pursue. He's like I'm rich, I'll just apologize to her with money. He continues to be shameless to the end. I don't find a lot of his antics comical, just despicable. He is that guy that doesn't think no, means no. He reminds me of that guy at work that you hate dealing with, but have to because it's work.)

Sanniang gets married with ChangFeng. They are on a boat in their wedding outfits. (SN got her HEA. ChangFeng is actually a good guy. He's very patient and understanding. They help make up for each other's weaknesses. Sanniang is so visibly happy after being together with him.)

On the bridge overlooking the wedding, Chen Lian kisses Zhaodi. (They are super cute together. Zhaodi is smart and straightforward and is especially beautiful when not wearing men's clothes. Chen Lian, best cupid, best wingman. Love him.)

Also on the bridge, Pan'er and GQF share a kiss as well. They walk hand and hand as a montage plays of Pan'er's and GQF's adventures and time together. Last scene is them walking down the bridge holding hands with big smiles and of course the loving eyes. (Nothing for me to really say. They are best CP. I enjoyed the show mostly because of the CP's chemistry. They didn't get a wedding at the end, but they live like a married couple already. I don't mind. You know they will get married soon after and have a bunch of kids, and fill up their new home. GQF will carry on the Gu family name, cutting all ties with the Xiao family)

"The End" Credits roll.

I'll add more if I can later. Time for sleep.

OX is a piece of shit. The last arc of the show is showing his descent into madness. His first misstep of forsaking Pan'er led to everything else crumbling down. He fucked up. I don't pity him. He paved the road to his grave himself. I'm glad he dies at the hands of GQF. I'm sure GQF enjoyed it. Maybe even let Pan'er get in a few stabs or two. I'm not kidding...Pan'er might legit want to, although GQF may not let her. OX used everyone, killed his uncle and the boy and tried to kill Pan'er. He deserves a slow painful death.

No, our leads do not marry by the end. They are unconventional. Pan'er has already started the process of moving in with GQF. They have been doing "it" since getting together. Everyone knows they are "husband" and "wife." They are practically married. They don't need a certificate to prove that. That said, they will have nothing short of a grand wedding. GQF is rich, and so is Pan'er. They are favored subjects now. The heavens have eyes, they will have a HEA.

Rushed Ending. But it's happy.

Spoilers and Ending spoilers below.