BearFightingFanBackAgain

I think FSF is okay in the eyes. Sometimes filters mess with things and the comparison they use of Minglan really can’t be used I feel because it’s a series where he literally fell in love with his ex-wife. How can you beat that?😂 And PXR did gain weight. This started filming right after JJL so she was heavier at the beginning and then slimmed down. Tbh, I dunno how the plastic surgery rumors can still stick… someone with as much work as they accuse her of A) wouldn’t have the range of expressions she can make B) would have never taken on the role of Tian Yu in Refinment of Steel cause it’s essentially barefaced. She just had her teeth straightened which as someone who had braces for as long as her can really change the shape of your face. The rest is just makeup, photoshop, filters, or lighting plus a face with really malleable features. One of the reasons I prefer SJFY is she’s wearing less makeup and makeup that uses her natural features. GMP basically contoured the mess out of her face which is why it needed filters and precise lighting for some shots.
I also have to say well said on the relationship! It feels realistic to me, less saccharine or mellow drama than usual shows. It really feels like peeping in on two people falling in love step by step.

It should be today. Saw a post on YouTube and Weibo.

There’s definitely an update today!!! And it looks like there’s some sugar for Emperor/Empress fans tonight!🥹🥹🥹

I saw a post on YouTube that said the 2nd episode will be updated today so maybe episode 9 will be updated today too. Can’t wait. Been rewatching the drama and keep falling more in love with the main pairing. The little micro expressions and micro movements between them are so good! It may not be the flirty or sensual sense of CP people are used to but there’s an indescribable sense of realness to the pairing.

I’m dying for the scene when PXR is wearing the beaded chain. The look is so gorgeous. Honestly looks like a fairy from a xianxia drama.

You’re correct. My mistake with the princesses. I just went back to rewatch and she does ask after the eldest princess. Looks like the effect of that mistake is the questioning though. Seems like Yezi realises it too because she lies and then tries to use Fan as a distraction.
Lol at the maid comment😂. I forgot the FML of Yanxi Palace started out as a maid. Technically Yezi starts out as a slave/maid too in Tianqi but upgrades quickly using General Xie.

It’s on break due to the mourning period for a former Chinese president who passed away.

Same! Plus it’s not as if PXR is super young in real life. She’s 32.

Dang, just read about it on Weibo and I really need the full version of this show🥲. Apparently it’s really the Wolf God of Yebei and after Yezi because she foresaw the doom of Yebei and Princess Zhuyan and will at some point be by the emperor’s side who is the destroyer of Yebei. Its death and the strange fight scene are an omen/foreshadowing of the fall of Yebei hence everyone’s reactions.
Now, I feel like she didn’t run initially because she foresaw it coming in a dream and stopped and grabbed A’Rui in a kinda “oh crap, it’s really here moment.”

I’ll have to rewatch but I’m sure in episode he’s questioning her about the eldest princess because he knows about the assassination attempt. He’s not asking about A’Rui.
As for Yezi’s answer, it’s the difference between knowing what to say in private versus what to say in public. The guard said they didn’t clearly hear the convo. In public asking about the dad is dangerous but mentioning him privately to the emperor is less so because Yezi was not involved really with what went down and the emperor is sad about it too on some level and since it’s his throne room can control what gets out. A’Rui is a sore point between Yezi and the emperor but minister Jie is not so it’s safe.
And it was dumb of Yezi but I think the show follows up well with the cause and effect. The shot was really fast but the emperor has people watching her so it makes sense that he’s one step ahead.
I’ve not watched Yanxi Pace but its FML is the closest comparison I could think of in recent dramas. Admittedly from my understanding she starts the show in boss mode whereas Yezi is a country bumpkin slowly being trained by the emperor on how to survive.

Lol at the amount of complaints about the wolf scene. Seems like it’s really out here traumatising people 😂😂😂

The cuts are due to censorship. The author of the original story the show is based on had a scandal last year plus the show has some “sensitive content” that is too close to current events. In order for the show to be able to air, content had to be cut. They cut 11 episodes. Pretty much the original beginning is gone and there are mini cuts throughout the drama. It’s also possible the dubbing covers up the original lines hence with speech and acting seem off sometimes. Considering the past though, it’s low-key a miracle the show could air but what’s airing is nowhere close to the originally intended story.
On Jie Chu Ying kneeling. Her reaction does make sense from a political and survival standpoint. He’s obviously in serious trouble. She’s on thin ice with the emperor already. Speaking about the dad is asking for trouble since he’s been labelled as a traitor. The character is supposed to be smart and in that situation most characters wouldn’t speak to someone in Jie’s situation (which is treason) because they could be implicated as well. Plus nothing has happened to Genera Jie’s physical safety. He’s just not allowed to see the emperor. They may have cut dialogue between them but the plot shows why even talking to him is a bad decision because Yezi gets hauled in front of the emperor and questioned for it later.
I think the foreign release hasn’t done a good job of explaining Yezi’s character. They’ve set her up as a stereotypical pure hearted heroine two guys fight over but she’s a survivor with a survivor’s mentality and her original arc is to basically to become a grey character. The only parallel I can think of is she’s close to the FML from Yanxi Palace.

Censorship. Sometimes if you have sensitive content or themes, you’ve got to cut things in order to pass the review.

I guess it depends on preferences. Maybe I’m still suffering from the trauma of what happened to Xiao Feng but I find her endearing 😂. She’s like a ruthless little empress in training. It’s so rare to get grey main characters nowadays in Cdramas let alone a female one with such a demonstrated intelligence. And PXR is so cute or delicate looking sometimes that seeing her as villainous or ruthless is a thrilling combo.😂

I agree with you on the grey layer. Yezi seemed somewhat hardened from the beginning. She did try to assassinate the emperor too so she’s no delicate angel. I think this will probably make her transformation more believable than some other characters who undergo it.
This also reminds me of a Weibo comment I saw that said Yezi started to bloom once she came to Tianqi. I went back to the first episode and there did seem to be a slight change in demeanour. I think her heart is still a little hardened though and it seems that outside of A’Rui, it might only be the Emperor who gets her out of her shell.

I agree with you on the grey layer. Yezi seemed somewhat hardened from the beginning. She did try to assassinate the emperor too so she’s no delicate angel. I think this will probably make her transformation more believable than some other characters who undergo it.

Nope. For now 24/25 episodes is it. Keeping fingers crossed there might be a foreign cut like for some other shows.

It was originally 36 but had to be cut to 24/25 to pass the censorship review.

The cuts have definitely affected the characters and the story. Apparently the infamous wolf scene wasn’t even supposed to be the first meeting.

From the previews I’ve seen, Yezi does have a plan. I’m not sure how it will work but it’s related to the scented pouch she gave to the consort and possibly its embroidery.

I think the emperor asked Yezi to confess because he wanted to give her a way out. Even if it’s not a deep affection at this point, he seems fond of Yezi. If Yezi is implicated in the attempt, even if he wants to, he may not be able to save her. It’s a similar situation to Minister Jie.

Seems like everything kicks off from episode 9. Can’t wait!!! These last few episodes have really improved and there’s less cuts. I wonder if this is where the original script part picks up?