AtsukoM

That is a drama in itself! haha

Exactly my words. I know what I'm getting into, and I'm getting entertainment worth investing my time.

The show doesn't pretend to be something deep and delivering what it promised. That's enough tbh.

And he nailed all the scenes he appears. I always look forward to his scenes.

Gotta earn points from our girl haha

Your list and mine are the same. All 3 actresses slay in this role.

She is. But, to me, that was a very weird part of the novel tbh. Doesn't add anything to the story.

Since Bao'er is the only son of Qi Min, his legitimacy to the throne is as strong as his father. It would be a different story if Qi Min has a legitimate son.

I've read the novel, so I know the story.

Even then, it's gonna be a pain to dodge the spoilers from the leaks on all platforms left and right for the coming days. lol

IKR! There are tons of male centric dramas out there where FL is literally just a decoration.

Don't look further. Just take a look at another TXW's drama, Guardians of Dafeng. Her character serves no purpose to the main plot at all and just an eye candy.

Let Changyu has her moment here. It's not very often that we get a well written character.

Do you mean Qin Liangyu?

I think I've read before that Fan Changyu was indeed inspired from Qin Liangyu.

And when we do get a training arc, the other group will say it's dragging. Neither group will get any rest in any scenario. lol

Imo, I can get behind not explicitly showing the training arc if it's for the sake of overall story and pacing since we got a story to tell and limited number of episodes on the other hand. Not just this drama, for any drama.

About the current Emperor, what the other comment has said basically. He's definitely not on our lead couple side.

Sort of, yeah.

I would take a bit rushed episodes in the middle instead of at the very end any day.

Her mindset is to protect others, so this is very much in character for her. Agreed with your take on characters with flaws. If everything is perfect, what else can we expect from that character.

When the casting for Zhu Yu was announced, I believed this would be TXW's big moment because the source material is already very strong, and knew she has it in her to carry the role. So happy the drama is doing this well now.

Qi Min is previous Crown Prince's son, and wasn't given any title. So, technically not a Crown Prince right now. But, he has a legitimate claim to the throne. About Bao'er, yes, since he's from the legitimate succession line.

In the novel, there's no redemption arc for him.

Outside mistress are a thing, which are different from legal wife and concubine. So, SYQ simply thought Changyu is XZ's mistress or concubine, and Changning must be Xie Zheng's illegitimate daughter.

People marry and establish family early in ancient time. XZ in the drama is a bit over 20, so it's totally possible for him to have a 5-6 year old child at his age. (you can totally become a grandparent in your thirties)

Hence, how long he has been missing to have a child this big is irrelevant in that context.

That's correct. He has always known his identity all along.

Prince Changde was the Crown Prince of the previous Emperor, the legitimate heir to the throne. The current puppet King was someone within the royal family put onto the throne after Crown Prince Changde's demise 16 years ago.

Prince Changxin is like a distant relative to the royal family with a 'Wang (Prince)' title with his own fief to rule. Notice the royal family surname is 'Qi' and Prince Changxin's surname is 'Sui'.