Alice_01

I didn't fancy that either and yet I loved this! Legit couldn't get past 2 eps but here the 6 eps flowed like water! So do give it a try! I think the plot, directing and cinematography are better here so far! Even the leads seem to act better together and I can feel their chemistry ^^

I heard that the director and crew decided to spend most of the budget on production rather than promotional marketing. As a result, there are very few promotions currently pushing this. This means the drama will rely heavily on word of mouth among viewers!
I believe this was a good choice because it suggests we will have a high-quality drama. I just hope it can become the new dark horse that gradually captures a larger audience, similar to how Blossom did some years ago. If it continues to deliver the quality seen in the first episodes, it truly deserves more recognition!

I bet she will one day but it will take time!

Literally couldn't skip a thing and even had to rewind some dialogues...There is so much information in this CDrama that honestly if you skip parts, you will miss parts of the plot...
Maybe that's why there are comments here and there that don't get the plot...I guess they also skip stuff.

Same here...Sure what she did to the FL was far from right but she was also a victim herself...A bitter young woman who had to endure being a lonely widow her whole life because of the Zuo & Fu families and the customs of the time...
Woment had it so hard!

So the widow was married into the Fu family for money...But her husband died before she even lost her chastity after becoming a young widow! In ep4 I think she shared how the first few years were okay and she still thought it was worth it (to sacrifice her freedom and love life for money and status) but eventually she could't do it and send word to her family for divorce...But her family instead send her younger brother over so that he could benefit from the Fu family who knew many scholars...Again the widow thought it's okay now to endure for her brother's future career...
But all the while she was watching someone a bit younger that her ( our FL) to be pampered and her marriage to be of outmost importance to the Fu family and grandma was even trying to marry her up and raise her status...That made the lonely widow bitter and jealous...She was once a precious daughter of the Zuo family too but instaed she was sold off for some coins and her brother's benefit...
As for why the widow is important...It's a bit of a cultural thing I think? She married into the Fu family and even as a widow keeping her chastity which is sort of a symbol and brings honor to the Fu family and their unmarried girls...I mean back then women's reputation was all that mattered and their ticker to marry plus they couldn't easily take a divorce unles there was a legit reason and even if they wanted to her family and the husband's family had to agree to hand over the divorce papers...Especially here where the husband's family had the higher status.

I heard that the director and crew decided to spend most of the budget on production rather than promotional marketing. As a result, there are very few promotions currently pushing this. This means the drama will rely heavily on word of mouth among viewers!
I believe this was a good choice because it suggests we will have a high-quality drama. I just hope it can become the new dark horse that gradually captures a larger audience, similar to how Blossom did some years ago. If it continues to deliver the quality seen in the first episodes, it truly deserves more recognition!

Hence why I try to keep adaptations and novel plots separate to limit my disappointment...Nine out of ten times there will be small or even bigger changes. My advice is this, just try to watch it as something new and see how the drama plot makes you feel as a standalone! If you like it keep watching, if you see that without the novel background it fails to captivate you then move on to smth else!

I also stopped watching MOGA but tbf it was never the chemistry between the characters that bothered me. It was the plot and other issues that made it difficult for me to enjoy. However, this show captured my interest right from the start! I really hope it maintains this level to the end!

Well if there are any consequences, we will surely see them in the upcoming episodes! Both the ML and FL will face challenges regardless, so the FL’s attempt to secure them a powerful ally isn’t a bad idea, as long as the CP doesn’t betray them and discard them after using them....

Right! He had the time to escape but instead was touched by the FL's speech and decided to hear her out before making his next move!

Honestly, I agree with you that the FL took matters into her own hands without asking or considering ML's feelings. Especially since she has been on the receiving end before and knows how it feels to have one's autonomy taken away. However, in this situation, the ML truly has run out of options. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Now that the CP knows his identity, there’s no way he would let him go easily. Plus, the ML was already being hunted by some of his former subordinates, court officials, the Cao Gang and probably even FL's grandma.
So, even if he disagreed and tried to leave, he would just be on the run and would have to stay hidden. FL was just trying to help him step into the light instead of remaining in the shadows, enabling him to make an honest living that he could be proud of without having to hide anymore.
It's not like ML's life wouldn't be in danger anyway, so she was simply trying to ensure he gains something from it. I can’t really blame her here. And considering that in the preview the ML chooses to stay with her, it seems he isn't as adamant about leaving either.

Truee
Girl decided to take the ML and mold the perfect husband for herself out of him~ ><
Thinking about his future, career and everything~ haha

Well from my understanding, it seems that this situation could benefit the CP as well. The CP has been tasked with uncovering the underground salt trade and local officials' corruption. To do this effectively, he needs capable individuals who possess insider knowledge and can be trusted without drawing the attention of local officials. These individuals could act as informants and help the CP gather evidence. ML totally fits the mold!
Because although the ML is a smuggler himself, he is also one of the largest private salt merchants and understands the inner workings of the salt trade. This makes him potentially the perfect person to assist the CP's cause. Additionally, based on the words and actions of the FL in front of the CP, such as the ML using his resources to help refugees, he shows positive qualities that could be beneficial in this context.
If the ML helps the CP he could clear his own name and potentially make an honest living from now on instead of staying underground. It wouldn't make sense for anyone in his position to deceive the CP instead of offering assistance, especially since doing so would lead to negative consequences for himself. From the CP's perspective there's little need to be overly cautious around the ML, as the latter can be an asset in achieving his plan and no sane man would miss a chance for such a connection.

Finallyyy something interesting and fun to watch!! Love the plot and the chemi between the leads!!
Cannot wait to see the next episode and how it unfolds!!

Agreed! The first case also felt kinda mid and silly and the whole tv crew thing and Isu's silly actions just made the first ep hard to watch...I think ep2 was a bit better and the ending scene made me excited for what's to come, so hopefully it only gets better from here!

They didn't replace her. She was the one who chose to give up on Flex x Cop to film another Kdrama that recently aired. As a result, the writer had to make changes to the script. Originally, they were planning to add more romance and development between the leads based on Season 1 but those plans had to be scrapped now that a new FL had to join the cast.
Honestly I don't blame her if she felt the other Kdrama was a better choice for her but it's also wrong for ppl to take their frustration out on this series...
I do agree though that based on the first episode they seem to have kept Jin Isu's silly side and overdone it a bit...I really hope it gets better from here!

Well true but it just wasn't done nicely in my opinion...The whole TV crew thing I mean but I am with you! The second episode felt better and by the end I got excited! Now it all depends on the future eps^^

Erm to me he seems just as much of a mischievous monkey in this season...Especially in that opening...It's just that after a whole S1 we as viewers have seen more of his other qualities and emotional moments already...

Same here! Ep1 felt very mid and cringe to me for an opening...Which is kind of dissapointing since the opening of the 1st season was what kept my interest! Although I think ep2 was a bit better and since we still have many eps/cases to go through I want to trust them for now! Plus I found the new FL quite nice for her role here^^