Alice_01

Do consider that back then she was probs 12-13 when she met him and now she should be around 17...Tho women's voices don't change as much as men's our pitch can also slightly change with age...I think that's one reason...Plus some people share similar tones...Also FL was smart and gave a full proof storyline...When meeting back then she was smart enough to use her maid's name and her maid's death also fits with her timeline of falling of the clif...

The Duke was wounded, and one of his soldiers went out to look for someone to heal him near where Yinning's mother was staying(because concubine Qiao was spreading rumors that the main wife was treating her badly, etc., and Luo Cheng Zhang's relationship with Yinning's mother was not good; she was already staying at the side house). Then the soldier abducted her to treat the Duke. (hence why her maid thought bandits took her.)
As for the "relationship" of the duke and Yining's mother...When treating him, he drank deer blood (which is supposedly also aphrodisiac?) And thus led to the two spending the night together and her later getting pregnant...I would take it as ancient times one night stand? But idk if Yining's mother was willing....The spoilers I have read did not mention that....

Same here!! Btw I think that revelation is not that far off...Maybe around late 20s ep...Which would leave us with 10+ eps of their romance to offically start developing and sailing ><
I mean as you said the plot is very griping and entertaining even now and there are some sweet moments of the leads here and there so I am satisfied so far! I really hope this drama can do well with the plot excecution to the end and not mess it up on the 2nd half (like some other cdrama do)

I used to watch Avenue X's reviews too until I realized it was just about preference and taste...On some we would agree while on other we couldn't be more opposite lol
So I say give it a try and decide on your own without letting other's opinions influence you^^

Personally I like it!! It's engaging and the plot moves fast which doesn't bore you!! The chemistry between the leads it's promising and there are already some heart flatering moments but due to some things the romance can't fully and openly move on yet! But I bet it will happen soon! Probs around mid-late 20s eps

Not one bit! Every ep has new things happening in it >< If anything I would say this is one of the fast-paced ones but with a nice wrap up!! Well...that for the general plot tho cause the romance is slow paced><

Idk...Personally whenever I see the SML I get the urge to skip forward...He is far too obsessed and forceful for my taste >< As for the tension I do feel it too but it's not romantic one for me. I do see why he is still needed in the plot tho....

That's what i meant by reactions...The "carrying" scene, the scene were she got scared by a cat etc. on these scenes as we go on there are some were she looks surprised and shy, which is not a normal reaction to have? But this is her actions that happen unconsisly as i said above...Since in her head she does consider him a brother...It's complicated and layered...So far I would say the script writer is doing a good job with being slow paced and slowly changing the tide until the big reveletion happens...

Actually, right now, you can already see some romantic tension between them (ever since ep 11-12). At the forefront of Yining's mind, you can tell he is just a brother figure, but there are noticeable undercurrents of her reacting to him and I believe right now she is mistaking her feelings and "covering" them unconsciously under the "cherished brother" tag without even realizing. After all the two of them grew up separately and only got to meet each other as teens, and what drew them to get close was their similar situation in the Luo household and as a way of survival. I do hope they handle the transition well though.

I agree with you...It's so thoughtless of him but at the same time, I can find some "reasons" behind his actions...He was a gifted student with a bright future whose ambitions and wings got broken after his teacher's downfall and false charges....Which led to even him becoming a wanted criminal! I guess since he has already been on the run for years he can't take it anymore and mentally he is a walking ticking bomb...He has lost his patience and will to wait and has given up on himself and his future....Thus the reckless actions...I just hope he won't cause too much trouble for the ML's plan...

I see, thanks!!

At least there is one good seeling in the Luo family you guys, the ML!! >< The only proper Luo man of the fam who i guess takes after the grandpa lol

Thanks for the details >< Do you think they will keep the same plot in the drama? Is the duke and his men the bandits that maid was talking about?

idk personally i was thinking the grandma...But the 1st son's wife makes more sense i guess

Yes both the ML and the other son are concubine born...However the ML was born after his father got drank by mistake when bedding with a maid (ML's mother) which became a stain for him after sobering up...While his other son was born by his favored concubine who he loved and cherished and he spend efforts raising him personally... Also now that the ML will start to show his true talent i fear his father will grow even colder maybe out of inferiority complex? we will see...

The duke was under the influence and drank some sort of aphrodisiac that led to him forcing himself (?) wasn't made that clear on yining's mother....it was an one night stand of sort, on ancient times....Her mother was already living seperately on the side hall since she was on bad terms with her husband (and only came back to the main house after confirming her pregnancy)
Idk the details about how the duke got to be there tho...or where exactly they happened to meet with eo....(the novel spoiler wasn't detailed enough><)

oh i see ><

Whoaa that was off haha...I see....I was not excpecting that! Interesting...Thanks!

About her mother's poisoning...I do believe her father is innocent but someone else has caught my attention as a suspect...(theory below)

I agree with yours as well >< We basically share similar points ^^