EtoileNoire

I'm getting lost with so many similar character names, one character having different names, etc.

Episode 20 was heartbreaking.

Possible wedding scene
https://youtu.be/CQ0TcgOTHmc?si=XDp9VPEOJJqKQ7U2

(Apologies if this has been posted already; I looked and didn't see it in the comments.)

Revenge on the princess was sweet because she doesn't know who did it or if it wasn't an accident.

I was thinking the same thing last week. Unfortunately, although she is beautiful, she is too low in status for that family.

I agree with this so much. She left a small child care in the care of a slightly less small child and blames the boy when the inevitable happens. She (and the husband too, quite frankly) should have been prosecuted for child endangerment. The first husband's saving grace is that he had the good sense not to blame his son for what happened.

Zhen Zhen's mother is so tightly wound that I wonder what her problem is? She fights at home, she fights at her job, she fights at her daughter's school. As a firm believer in not avoiding confrontation because it's the easy thing to do and in fighting for what one wants and for rights, even I think she fights too damn much. My goodness. Inside her brain must be such a big tangled mess of emotions & thoughts. I can't imagine never being at peace like that.

On episode 11 and he is no better. He can't be the love interest. Lordy.

Straight off the bat, Liu Chang is doing something stupid.

Just block them and keep it moving.

Liu Chang could actually take steps to create his own relationships outside of the princess & her father, but he is incapable of thinking outside of the box he's in. Poor thing. I still don't like him and his whiny self-pity but he literally cannot think any other way - no imagination, no guidance, and inadequate parenting.

I've noticed that Sheng Yi's ideas are always shot down. Although she is clearly loved & valued in the sisterhood and business partnership, I wouldn't blame her for feeling otherwise. IJS.

I also don't think she is weak. Some people need an intimate companion and children to give their lives meaning and to feel fulfilled, while others need professional success, camaraderie, or intellectual companionship more. Thankfully, we're all different.

Sheng Yi's story is gearing up to show what happens when we neglect that which is essential to our well-being: we can become vulnerable to the ill-intentioned. Even Mudan was like half a person until Yulu's death kicked her ass into gear.

I was riveted by the interaction and parallel conversation between the mismatched Li You Zhen & Liu Chang. What a great scene with great dialogue.

Lordy, this Qi Meng Lin has the mind of a toddler. He's supposed to be funny I guess, but I'm just finding his character painful.

On episode 26 and find the ML more bearable. I can't help thinking that he and his twin would have been good co-emperors.

Otherwise, it's an enjoyable series so far. I wish I hadn't started while it's airing though. Now I'm going to be anxiously waiting for episodes for next four weeks.

In episode 5 Weifang could have taken a pin from her hair and stabbed the would-be assassin. All that struggle for no reason.

The "heroine" of the story is so foolish & impulsive for a grown woman who appears to be closer to 40 than 30. You'd think her experiences would have taught her life lessons like avoiding the stupid traps she kept falling into. I wonder if the role was written younger, then an older actress was cast for whatever reason. Then they omitted to age up the script & characterization.

I really wanted to like this based on the premise, but the execution is so poor. Such a waste of a good cast and potential. What a disappointing mess.

Episode 20
Did I understand correctly: Mo & Ban's father was coerced into being an assassin and killed Wen Yue's family as one of his assignments?

I was thinking along those lines too. However, they could still go the route of "resisting arrest" and the suspect dying of their injuries or "committing suicide" in custody - after interrogation of course,