SpicyLime

The aggressive guy from The Music Division, that always wears blue and hits on Yinzhang (pipa girl).

I'm with this theory. Remember Pan'er always say everyone has two faces. I legit think Uncle Qi just used GQF's mom as a way to manipulating GQF to do his bidding. GQF is obviously against hurting his father though. He see's the love that his father has for him. The fact that Commander Cui of Imperial Guards knew of the secret signature is enough for GQF to start questioning his uncle. The Imperial Guards are most likely behind the Demon Hat assassins and GQF knows this. Poor GQF is stuck picking sides.

On a side note. I'd legit be happy if Minister Xiao ends up being the go-between for Pan'er and GQF's marriage. I really don't think Minister Xiao is "bad." He's just on a side fighting for power. Not good/evil.

LOL...cause she's too busy daydreaming and looking at GQF. She also truly believes that Yinzhang has a thing for that other guy. But... yeah sort of a plot hole that no one else seems to notice Yinzhang's delusions. Sanniang seems oblivious to it too.

Maybe they just think it's admiration...not love.

LOL. I have Heroes on my list too. Just can't bring myself to keep up with it.
But I read some comments on that.

OX will definately be pissed when he returns and will definately blame Pan'er. His marriage with Gao Hui will be broken off, which was one of his hopes back to fame when he returned to the Eastern Capital. The Emperor and all his previous backers will also forsake him.

Funny enough, GQF was someone he aspired to become. Just saw him as a young official who climbed up the ranks quickly. He didn't realize he was Pan'er's future lover. Pan'er will also be the owner of the most successful restaurant in the Eastern Capital and engaged to GQF. Literally this ass, didn't know what he gave up.

My guess is the last thing he might try to do is damage Pan'er's reputation. Everything goes full circle. Where the story started with OX, the story ends with OX. Then we will get our HEA with the leads.

I personally do not like him. He's too aggressive and a creep. He would probably make a good lead/2ml in another story. But, IMO he does not pair well with her. It's sort of implied that he may be a bit of a player. In a later episode she will leave the house of her sisters and move in with the guy. She has a falling out over the direction of where to take their business. Supposedly he treats her very well. My initial thought is she left to stay with him so she can perfect her craft, not really because of love (and maybe get over GQF?). My speculation is that Yinzhang will be single by the end of the story and just working on her career. During the story she will make a return during the restaurant arc.

As of episode 22, she still doesn't know about their relationship, but GQF wanted to keep their relationship a secret, so they never told her. Yinzhang is extremely slow. Everyone else in their circle can read between the lines and figured it out, but not Yinzhang. She is too naive. That's why it was important NOT to tell her, since she probably would've brought trouble unwittingly. She's going to find out soon though. It will probably be a heartbreak for her.

GQF is a high ranking officer of the Capital Security Office. The office is being used for a power struggle between court officials. Knowing any of GQF's weaknesses (i.e Pan'er) could have disastrous consequences. Pan'er would be in danger.

Yinzhang has a big mouth as proven in episode 21. She spilled Sanniang's dirty laundry to Zhaodi. GQF's worries were warranted.

Okay let me try. It's a big power struggle.

The officials are mainly broken up into two factions. I'm going to call the factions Empress Supporters and The Old Guard (OG). The Old Guard is against the Empress and her supporters, and are aligned with the Emperor.

The current Emperor is sickly and power is to be passed on to the Crown Prince (CP). However, the CP is only 12 years old and is too young/inexperienced to handle the court. As a result, the current Empress is presiding over court matters for the sickly Emperor.

The Old Guard is worried that the Empress has too much power and will eventually take control. So, the OGs were likely the ones behind the Hat Demon attacks. The current Emperor is very religious, so he may believe in an old prophecy. The story goes, when supernatural forces happen (e.g. Hat Demon), it's a warning to the Emperor that he is heading towards the wrong direction with his rule (i.e. giving too much responsibilities/power to the Empress). He is the monarch, so he should not be giving power to another (i.e the Empress). The Old Guard is using the Hat Demon as a tool to try and depose the Empress and her supporters (with violence if needed). It also appears that some, if not all of the Imperial Guards loyalties are with the OG. The "Hat Demons" are comprised of assassins, most likely from the Imperial Guard.

Relevance for our leads.

The Night Revels Painting. GQF was looking for it. Pan'er had it, but gave it to OX as a gift. It's speculated that the Empress is a dancer in the painting (meaning she was a slave/prostitute). The original painting has all the names of people on the painting. The painting could prove that the Empress's life was built on a lie. If it was ever found out, the OG would be able to use this to have the Empress deposed. Whoever has the painting will be in danger as both factions are trying to find it.

On the side of the Empress is GQF's father, the newly made Prime Minister. His rival who was just demoted is on the side of the Old Guard. GQF's uncle is with the OG, against GQF's father. Both sides want to use the Capital Security Office (i.e GQF) for their own means. GQF's uncle has asked GQF several times to bring up evidence against his father, but GQF hesitates each time. GQF is caught between both sides. Although, it hasn't been revealed why GQF is at odds with his father, he still wants to protect him. He is willing to lay down his life for him, even if he does not agree with his political leanings. GQF's uncle wants to take his father down.

Until the issue with the OG and Empress Supporters is sorted out, GQF and by association, all his loved ones, will continue to be in danger.

Exactly... She's going to grow up in the next few episodes probably. The direction I feel they are going for will be discovering her self-reliance. The whole story up to 22 has been her trying to find a husband/man to help resolve her problem. She is going to leave the shelter of her sisters to find herself and her self-confidence. She'll just rely on herself for now, hence the prediction that she will be single in the end.

GQF's uncle rubs me wrong. I low key feel GQF was manipulated into obeying him using his late mother as the excuse. It seems like he might be against the empress, the opposite of GQF's father. For all his faults, his father the Prime Minister, deeply loves his son. He gave his blessing for the marraige and seeing how happy he was to know that he might see his grandkid soon, while talking to his late wife, at least to GQF, he's not gonna fuck him over. The theme of the 21-22 episodes was parent's love. I'm waiting for the reveal.

Nah, in the Chinese subs, it's actually the surname Xiao, not little. He legit was probably going to call him Xiao Qianfan, as that would be his name before the divorce, but just corrected himself before blurting it out. They were childhood acquaintances, so it makes sense to know his birth name prior to taking his mother's maiden name of Gu.

Basically there are two factions. Pro empress and anti empress. GQF's father is on empress side. My feeling is that his uncle is against the empress. GQF is stuck in the middle between loyalties. He probably cares even less now since he only wants to be happy with Pan'er. Nonetheless, he's going to get severely injured protecting his father.

I think the subplot with Yinzhang is realizing she needs to rely on herself and not a man to help her resolve her problems. She also needs to stop relying on others, that includes her sisters. And finding her own self worth.

Binge it. If I knew it was going to be this good, I wouldn't have started until last week tbh. I would finish this in a couple of days easy, if all episodes were released.

I don't like any of the pairings for her on screen. It's rumored that she will end up single by the end of the story. That's my theory as well. She'll just continue to work on her career.

No rumors would be needed even if SYZ could read between the lines. Zhaodi, Sanniang and Chen Lian all figured it out. SYZ is a little slow in that department. She just can't think for herself unless someone spells it out in black and white to her. But slowly she is starting to get it.

Episode 21. When Zhaodi brought up the son during the fight with Sanniang, I was like OOO Shit...I literally gasped...low fucking blow.

Then when I found out Zhaodi got the info from Yinzhang, I was like fuck, GQF was spot on. If Yinzhang got word they were together before they were ready to go public, Yinzhang probably would've found a way to spill it to the public and invite trouble. Some people just don't know where the boundary lines are.

Also it seems like Sanniang might know of a remedy for Mr. Du's eyes. She is probably going to end up helping him. Hope he can appreciate her beauty without the glasses and her charms.

And OMG Chen Lian playing cupid as always. Best wing-man ever.

She is kind of introverted. It's not likely that she socialize with anyone outside her circle. She just teaches and practices her pipa.

Also the leads just started to be more open. So I guess it is possible she never heard.

I noticed and rewatched that part several times. I low key feel that was the best shot they had for the scene. But if I had to...

Interpration for me from when she turns to go back inside:

Embarrassed (being watched) -> Anger/shame (recalling everything negative that has happened with Ouyang and ever doubting GQF) -> Disbelief (finding her happiness with GQF and getting to marry this guy) -> Happiness (no explanation needed).

I also want to know if it's a happy ending. Some people are worried that GQF might die by the end of the story. I don't think so. It's hard for me to imagine that it will be a sad ending. I'm waiting for there to be an episode or 2 dedicated to the wedding for the main leads after things calm down. Ideally, I'd like to see married life with them for a few episodes before the end. That's just me.

Below is pure speculation. We'll see.

There are two main factions struggling for power. Those on the empress's side and the old guard (status quo). Currently the emperor is sick so power is to be passed on to the Crown Prince. However, the CP is still too young to take power. In the mean time the empress is presiding over the court. The Hat Demon are on the side of the old guard and is being used to instill fear to the emperor (who is very religious) that the empress has too much power and she should be deposed. The old guard most likely wants to use the CP as a puppet since he is still young, but they need to get rid of the empress.

Good/Evil is something that is a little ambigious IMO. There are just sides. Both sides do things that are questionable, but for the "good" of their side. GQF's "father" the Prime Minister is on the side of the empress. In the next few episodes the PM uses himself as bait to flush out the old guard's assassins (Hat Demon). He miscalculated, as a result GQF gets severly injured protecting him. Pan'er is barely able to save GQF's life. We will probably find out the origin of GQF's hatred for his father and they hopefully move on. I really want to see GQF's "father" support for the couple, since up to this point, the "father" has been actively trying to sabotage their relationship. In the end I think that the empress will take power in the end.

Yinzhang will leave her sisters and live with aggressive guy (I can't for the life of me remember his name, or try to, cause he's not my cup of tea), but it will mainly be to practice her pipa. She'll end up single in the end and just working on her career. The sisters will eventually reunite before the restaurant arc finishes.

I'm not sure how, but GQF and Pan'er will be seperated. It's possible that it may be due to GQF leaving to solve a case. He'll be gone for an episode or two. Maybe he needs to hunt down the painting. It could be he is bestowed a marraige too. Since he is considered relatively old, and unmarried. It'll be just like OX's situation, but unlike him, GQF will find a way to break off the marriage. Maybe he promises to fulfill something for the emperor so he can marry Pan'er instead. Or, not my preferred, it's a seperation to protect you type trope.

Around this time Pan'er's Teahouse will also be destroyed and she will move on to opening up a restaurant. It's around this time that Sanniang and OX's friend become a thing. I'm looking forward to this, because I hate to see Sanniang so hurt and lonely while missing her son. We'll also see the return of Sanniang's son who has been treated poorly by his "aunt." GQF had been secretly monitoring him. By this time any additional misunderstandings/seperation between Pan'er and GQF should be resolved.

Ideally I'd like to see the main leads marry at this point, so we as the audience have time to enjoy them as a married couple. But, it's possible we might not get one until the last episodes, when their restarant is the most famous in the Eastern Capital.

Chi Yan is comic relief in the show. I think along with being a Palace Guard he is Head of the Tea Guild. He has a rivalry with Pan'er since she does not suck up to him and always defeats him. At one point she even takes his guards to confront OX. He has a love interest in the show, HaoHao, but they later have a falling out (they probably get back together). Through their various interactions, I believe Chi Yan will end up being a supporter of Pan'er. Probably even develop affection for her, but nothing will come from it, since Pan'er only has eyes for GQF.

OX has an inferiority complex. OX does not want to be with Pan'er if it does not help with his reputation and career. By the time he graduated he had changed (or his true colors were finally shown). It's very likely that the road to officialdom was difficult for him (he failed once before), and he was willing to do anything to not be brought down and rise up the ranks (i.e forsake Pan'er, lie, manipulate, marry into a prominent family, run away etc.). I think he really believed that Pan'er was willing to kill him if he was not able to fulfill the agreement that Pan'er had set.

I do not believe OX will have a happy ending. Although he is trying hard to get away from the threat of Pan'er, the machinations and forces happening in the story eventually will involve him. He knows the whereabout of the painting and tricked the emperor into making him a Monastic/Temple Officer. Gao Hui, his fiance will probably also give up on the arranged marraige. It's also implied that the Gao family is on the wrong sided faction in the story. By associating with them, it will probably end poorly. He's going to lose his friend to Pan'er's friend too. By that point, I think Pan'er has already totally moved on, but OX will fall from the officialdom, will be left with nothing and he will blame Pan'er for it. Unknown to him, the person he strived to be/beat, GQF, actually ended up being Pan'er's lover, and better than him in every way. With his first mistep (forsaking Pan'er) all his other steps will also be wrong. Also...Fuck Ouyang.