Corneilius

They are the perfect match. they have both had mother's die when they are young and been brought up in toxic households. Gu has been a bit of a Rebel, whereas Minglan has survived by not being noticed. Gu understands her better than anyone and is the only one who notices her hidden talents. once Minglan finally let's her guard down she becomes devoted to him but Gu fell first and harder.

it about the mid to late 40 episodes. Minglan looks certain to marry Duke Qi but powerful forces torpedo that and only then does Gu decide he wants her as his wife but he doesn't persue her, he manouveres her into a position where marrying him is her best option, much to her annoyance. Qi is bitter for a while but ends up in a happy marriage himself.

Just completed this. its not going to tax your brain and is totally unrealistic but is great fun to watch. has more female leads than you can shake a stick at and the males are in a constant state of bewilderment as the women outsmart them at every turn. it does deal with some darker issues but it is done with a light touch. just turn your critical thinking skills of and enjoy this silly, stupid wonderful drama.

it's on YouTube

Hold tight, Minglan finally reveals her motivation in the next few episodes.

Oh she and her mother THINK they have control.

it's on YouTube with full production subs in the UK

Have you seen The Rebel Princess? she is daughter to the prime minister and neice to the peror. he is from a humble background but is the countries best General in charge of the best army who live an austere and isolated life on the borders. it's a slow start so give it until Awu gets to the border fort. FL starred in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The House of Flying Daggers and Hero. this is her only TV role to date.

Her depiction of the young Minglan was overlooked, she did a fantastic job.

Yes, once she is married and is able to be her real self she is able to follow her principles but no longer has to keep her talents hidden.

I have only just found out FL played the lead in The battle of Changsha

I wss shocked too. Dont worry she picks up other waifes and strays to form lasting friendships.

Li Xian, you need to see him in the modern drama 'Meet Yourself'

And Da Fu, what an entrance!

A Dream of Splendour might be what you are looking for. Both leads are smart but initially at Daggers drawn and is one of the few dramas which addresses the caste system which operated in China for a while. the opening of the FLs resteraunt is spectacular, one of those scenes cdrama does so well.

Both really. it starts off in the Manor of minor official who has a main wife and 2 concubines. Minglan's mother is unfavored so the initial story is the conflict between the legal wife and the favoured concubine. The grown Minglan doesn't appear until episode 5 by which time her father has moved to the capital and is a minor government official so politics becomes part of the drama but the main focus is still the conflict between the legal wife and the concubine who is desperate for a prestigious marrige for her daughter. As Minglan moves amongst sons and daughters of poweful people, politics becomes more involved until her husband becomes an adviser to a new emperor and they both become targeted by schemes to overthrow the new emperor. The Rebel Princess is one of my favorite dramas, the production in Minglan is just as good but focuses on realism rather than spectacular scenes and the writing is at a much higher level

Minglan is like Aw'u but keeps her fierce intelligence hidden because that was the way she learned to survive in her toxic houshold and means that everyone underestimates her because she has no power. She doesn't need power, intelligence and an uncanny ability to read people's motivations sees them defeated and they have no idea how it happened or who was behind it.

Yes, absolutly. However it is a commitment because there is a massive cast of chracters, 73 episodes and a massive back story to build which cam make it seem to be slow at the start but everything is tied together. For example there is a scene in episode 2 which is hardly noticed but by episode 33 (And 10 years later) explodes into the drama and sees the demise of one of its main chracters.

it is a commitment. There is a massive cast of chracters and the backstory takes a long time to build (The grown Minglan doesn't appear until episode 5) but has so many layers that a 2nd watch really makes the show more enjoyable (So That's why that happened!) It is brilliantly written and acted and the FL is unique in Cdrama.

73. I think one release tried to lengthen the climax of the drama by cutting the last few episodes in half (23 mins instead of 45).

it's when Minglan escapes from the palace, bumps into the maid and delivers the emperors blood written decree. Princess Pingning (Qi's mother) is held hostage with other women from powerful families by the emperors consort who is seeking revenge for the abduction and desth of her younger sister (Who Princess Pingning had secretly arranged for Qi to marry) Qi's wife is in the purple dress along with her mother and father (The crown prince who had arranged the abduction so his own daughter could marry Qi). When Princess Pingning fakes insanity to escape, Qi's wife and her mother can be seen dead along with other people in the room.

Yes, one of the best endings in cdrama but it is on a knife edge until the very end and yes they are together.