JJJ

Episode 33 = peak angst, failed marriage with Pei Yan, Jiang Ci's master dying, Wei Zhao determined to end all of this and set Jiang Ci free for good
Episode 34-35 = Jiang Ci blamed for poisoning the emperor, jailed once again, she and Wei Zhao work together
Episode 36 = Probably something to do with Pei Yan since crab is associated with him (fallout with Madam Rong?)
Episode 37 = WAR (or start of war)
Episode 38 = Jiang Ci going to see Wei Zhao, become a field medic, and they officially reunite
Episode 39 = they had sex and whatever other romantic scenes they decided to put in (in the novel, it was stated they went at it for 3 days and 3 nights LOL, not likely the drama will show that, probably just some suggestion they did the deed) and this led to Jiang Ci becoming pregnant with their son
Episode 40 = each one had an ending related to the Chinese drama title

According to Li Landi's episode schedule...
Episode 33 is the 4 words (pain) being put together to look like 囍 (double happiness), it is a fake out.
Episode 34-35 is prison
Episode 36 is crab
Episode 37 is war helmet
Episode 38 is offering one's heart again?
Episode 39 more love hehe
Episode 40 is 流水迢迢

Spoilers below per episode based on leaks + theories I have seen:

Ll Landi was straight up waterboarded if you watched BTS scene. They just had to cut it out in released episodes likely due to censorship.

Not to mention while filming this, she ended up in a wheelchair for a couple of days (but continued to film) due to the stunts and these scenes she was involved in.

Yup, and this is a throwback to when Wei Zhao said Jiang Ci could not change anything or anyone. But no, she changed them for sure. Their destination remains unchanged, but their journey to it perhaps is filled with just a bit more hope/love.

1) Didn't matter if Prince Qi died because Yue Luo was stuck between Liang state and Wei state so Yue Luo would eventually be at war as long as the current emperor lives, Prince Qi's death was the "spark", but the current emperor would have created any spark as long as he could take over Yue Luo.
2) Didn't matter if Jiang Ci showed up or not, Wei Zhao would have figured out his primary enemy would be the current emperor and would have to go to war against him anyway.
3) Didn't matter if Jiang Ci came down the mountains or not, her identity would eventually be discovered, and Wei Zhao/Pei Yan/current emperor would have kidnapped her to the palace eventually and attempt to kill her.
4) Dong Second Lady already knew of her fate, and she can't escape it despite meeting Cui Liang.

There are more, but they all ended up in places they would have eventually. It is tragic in a way, but they experienced the kinds of love/obsession they could have never otherwise from these unexpected meetings.

The big irony of this drama in a way is how these characters would kind of end up in the exact same spot regardless of their decisions and plotting. The one thing that potentially changed were how the relationships from these meetings shaped them. Their fates were pre-destined due to what the previous generation has done:

The way Jiang Ci will always acknowledge he is beautiful no matter what. She wants to believe in his feelings but knows it has been mixed in with lies especially when she thought they were at a clean slate during the Yue Luo arc. 🥲

Wei Zhao's speech talking about flowers/feelings will bloom again. A romantic.

Pei Yan getting outright rejected LMAO.

There definitely is romance especially during what we call the Yue Luo arc but their romance is very entangled with the politics in this drama, so their romance is kind of "heavy" in that sense.

I hope you enjoy it! I really love Li Landi's acting here too. She made Jiang Ci a living character for sure.

I am enjoying RJL here too + Jeremy Tsui did his thing. Everyone acted their roles.

Li Landi acts as Jiang Ci and she is a great character even as a standalone character so I think you would enjoy her, and her acting is amazing as always.

It depends on the type of drama genre you enjoy. This drama is heavier on the politics than the romance (and it is slow burn + conflicts that hinder the romance, it is not smooth sailing). And it is a legitimate enemies to lovers trope (and not many can accept that especially with what ML has done in the beginning). If you can accept that type of set up, then you would enjoy it.

I personally don't think this drama /needs/ kissing due to the historical setting (though it is nice if they have it later) since a lot of their romantic interactions lean towards a more poetic sense that just the glances/hugs/etc. express enough.

For anyone who can understand Chinese, LoN cast if they had WeChat: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8_wzpTKIDexIpRcCCIo2dg

Haha, it will happen, trust!

I rather the moment be when they are both happy and not plague by worries like this. 🙏

Yes, they had a relationship before and even slept together. She expected the current emperor to eventually take her as his official wife, but he basically said, no, she did have to be consort and maybe climb the ranks that way. She refused (as that was beneath her).

She hates the emperor because of that but also because of what happened to Pei Yan's father. She later did fall in love with Daddy Pei as he loved her deeply. However, the Pei family also had a big army, and the emperor has always been wary of the Pei family due to it (and other noble families that had their own army). Regardless of how much Daddy Pei tried to show he wasn't a threat; the emperor still couldn't trust him fully. Daddy Pei eventually assigned himself near the borders to fight battles in order to decrease the emperor's distrust and eventually died there.

She thinks Pei Yan will follow the same fate eventually as regardless of how much Pei Yan tries to help the emperor, the emperor will never trust him fully and might eventually lead to his death.

I know. 🥲 I am hoping there is a more open ending for the drama. I /get/ why the novel ended the way it did especially with the Chinese title. It is a fitting ending; everyone had their destined fate and went back to where they were supposed to go.

Same, can't remember the last time she really smiled fully. She has been through too much at this point, I don't think she can ever go back to being the Jiang Ci that first came down from the mountains. 😔 Character development though.

Yes, I am really enjoying the drama. It is more political/character focused, everyone got their own goals and plans. These other characters aren't just to serve the main character. The romance is secondary but when it is there, it is very sweet (though also laced with some bitterness due to their circumstances). I have come to really like all the characters, even the "villains". There are a lot of plot twists even within an episode and require the viewers to connect the dots because it expects you to be smart enough to do so without giving you constant flashbacks.

According to Maoyan data, LoN hit 400 million views. 🎉🎉🎉

Also, can I say these previews are such scams and make everything look so dramatic with so much misunderstanding? Especially when the episodes are actually so well done and everyone is logical from their POV, even with their frustrations.

Jiang Ci making that Bitterless Porridge and offering Wei Zhao one PLUS adding sugar to his PLUS Wei Zhao's little happy smile... please let them be happy together for 5 MINUTES without all this plotting. 🥲

Episode 32 ship moment:

Pleaseee, there were people trying to drag her character saying she was "not showing enough love" to Wei Zhao. She is trying to escape and making sure her master is okay, she don't got time for any of that right now. 💀 I know people love to ship but they really need to understand these characters still got their own arcs at the end of the day.