HOP2020

I guess. But I thought it was said the government released some directive to cap actors salaries in order for drama qualities to be improved? Also, I just assumed since it was adapted from a Manhua, they were just being creative to substitute with it. So, I gave a pass for it.

I know they are. But I am making a comparison on quality and attention to details. Obviously, both dramas were an expensive production, but only one actually paid attention to details while the other remained superficial. You can target a younger audience, and still maintaining quality and details, younger people aren't immune to it. Plus, if you have the budget to do so, like this drama clearly had, then why not? I can understand if it was low budget, but common the behind the scenes cut, clearly shows a big budget was involved.

Ok, I will never take most Chinese dramas seriously until they stop their heavy focus of making their female leads always look pretty or appear non-smudged. I like this drama, but I am really distracted by how they're portraying the lead actress. How can someone who ran a long distance back home, appear non-sweaty and super composed. And then when she changed outfits, to look masculine, they are still emphasising feminity and beauty, like seriously??? Let me not even speak about the hair and make-up, SMH. Oh, and of course the barely-there blood like a former commenter below pointed. It looks like a high-quality production, why didn't the make-up department notice this or even the director. Common!
This was why Minning Town was so highly rated, focus on good quality and not prettiness. Maybe that's why only serious actresses were cast in it too and not idol actors/actresses.

Unfortunately, Liu Tao wasn't enough to keep me. The bad editing is simply too off-putting ??‍♀️. Dropped.

I mean, those days the Emperors were seen as gods, he gets upset, he sleeps with whomever. Plus, duty comes first for them. Duty as a prince with a wife that has a powerful family too.

I was just connecting the dots since she’s rumoured to also play the role soon and the comment below was referring to it too.

Oh wow! Thanks for that. Probably they will reflect it here.

I will like to know too. I am already sad that she won't get her son back from the description up.

In subsequent episodes, they've mentioned Liu E's son is older. The wife's own son is just taller hehehe ?

Really? The story is technically about her. It's had for Chinese dramas to paint their lead as the terrible bad person. Let's see.

It does feel that way hahaha ?

Answers the question down below ??

I am interested too. Tag me if she name ?

I saw that too. But I assumed it was when he first returned with Liu E, it showed he slept in her chamber the first couple of nights or so. But, what I am particularly surprised about is that, the wife's son is older, when Liu E had already given birth when it was said she was even pregnant. SMH! Such a big disregard.

I think the editing to shorten this drama from 80+ episodes to 61, is its downfall. It has the potential to be great, but, it's not edited well. The sequencing is bad that I am asking if it's this same Editor and post-production team working on it. You can clearly see that some scenes were not put in the correct order and terrible loopholes too. And I am only in Ep.7. I will keep watching because of the lead actress. Hopefully, she will be enough to help me get through the whole thing.

Loved almost every bit of it (because they were some characters I would have liked to know what happened to them in the 2016 era. I guess they wanted to just focus on development of the place alone). It gave me a lot of nostalgic memories of Fujian and Xiamen.

My point is they were not much of a sibling to begin with. You forget these people were raised in a polygamous setting and have different mothers. You share the same birth parents with your brother, that’s not a true comparison.

Minglan was also not scheming and treated her maid like ShiYi . If you also remember her childhood is one of the reasons she’s written not to show obvious anger.
The drama started out as her been very stubborn and show her displeasure. As she refused to apologise to the legal wife and would rather be punished which led to her mum staying a and pleading and eventually miscarrying. That event traumatised her and still hunts her (shown by her dreams of it).
So, even if she was still stubborn, the event caused her to not show obvious anger and be a bit more tactical. MingLan was this way too.

You just answered the question. ShiYi wasn’t written as a saint. In fact, she’s written as someone who practices an eye for an eye if you cross her. Her character is realistic. The person who’s character is somehow written too saintly and unrealistic, especially for the era, is HouYe’s.

Technically, they don’t have much of a sibling’s relationship. ShiUi was the least favoured child, second sister has never treated her like a sister and still she never fought her. In real life, I won’t even acknowledge such a person as a sibling. A person who constantly belittles me and my mum and always wants my downfall? That’s a toxic person. ShiYi even tries to still show her empathy, that’s bigger than what most will do in real life. Most , (including I) would have cut her off for my sanity and healing.