KJ2025

Seal finally broken

It has been a long 500 year wait but Jiao has finally got the blood of all eight sects to undo the seals that have kept him from self harm and forced him to feed the flame. Tingyan is horrified that when she tried to swing the blade in opposite direction entirely he placed himself so that it went through his heart. The leaders except guardian showed up all ready to kill him off and change the status order among themselves. One of the girls sent had the blood he lacked from guardian and like he was chained too years ago, they were chained and the nails removed from him that bound him there. Ruling was an interesting aside. She was spurned by her clan, but seems to be direct bloodline to leader as she could absorb his core. She has now made herself clan leader that others may follow or not at their own risk. For all the power these leaders wield, their followers seem to be lemmings that follow casually or weasels that wait for their ambition to change current course. It was a striking thing to see those icy looking nails come out of him. So hidden amongst the eight was a group that did not want him bound. They just did not have a voice strong enough to make it prudent to let the others know. His family home has been rebuilt and he goes there. It is sad that the guardian thinks he wants to be surrounded by mindless puppets. Tingyan is relieved she has lived another day and pragmatically rests in a hammock she found. She truly just does want to eat and sleep and live another day. The flame flower has joined him and together thy are finally free. The snake can fly and the flower is now a phoenix of flame. While his release has brought satisfaction, he is not particularly happy to be home. There is no family or happy memories. It is cold and empty even tho quite beautiful aesthetically. He allows her to pick a flower that is either poison or antidote. Did he have her choose this specific one? It is the memory of his mother and Tingyan sees how the Sima clan was forced to favor specific bloodlines in marriage alliances for the “good” of them all. I am now curious to see what he will do with himself with no boundaries to force his hand in how to live or where he will die. He is bored without Tingyan’s modern speak and she is struck speechless with the current events searing her brain. She casts no judgment on anyone but curious why so much death was necessary. His mother’s flower seems to be the beginning of understanding.

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Rescued one unworthy😝

Rundu needs rescuing and the right He general is ready to assist. Her squad follows her and she now knows they all know her gender. They have no time to chat but need to get moving. Chu comes along so they may get forgiven rather than punished for leaving. When they arrive she proves she is capable and a friend. Li is an ass. He is a sexist pig and I am annoyed that he is the one rescued rather than one of the 7 lost. She finally convinces the ass to go on offensive. They lower straw men to gather arrows for them. After a few nights of that the Wutuo men don’t bother reacting not wanting to sacrifice ammo. They are infiltrated by our small squad and the granaries are burned. The fight scenes are choreographed well. They find women that were captured and rescue them. After she specifically tells her ‘valiant’ commander to take care of them, he pushes his concubine to the ground and refuses to feed them. I wish He Yan would have done more to punish him, but she did call him out for cowardice. He was so sure the masked one was his general, and he was right……the Wutuo recognized Qinglang, but the current He RuFei wouldn’t. No such honor was given to him. I am hoping his Wutuo brother takes him out saving He Yan the hassle. Xiao Jue has returned and readying for Rundu. He learns that He Yan has already gone and taken the sword. He grabs the pouch she made and heads out the door to join her…..and now…too long to wait for the battle…😝hurry up next episode…. I really want this ‘valiant’ commander to find out a woman saved his sorry ass and was the one who grappled him to the wall all by her little weak self😝 I also hope his concubine leaves him. He deserves no woman’s care since he feels women need none.😝

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Punishments and rewards

Xiao Jue’s old schoolmate Yan He shows up to administer punishment. I am very unhappy with how the punishment was made so public, but the powers that be demanded their pound of flesh and unfortunately received it. Chu still thinks he can bribe He Yan into a life of ambition with him. He really doesn’t understand her at all. I do wish Xiao Jue would have stuck around to hear the end of the conversation. He Yan has been rewarded general status. It is a mixed blessing. Chu is devising means to get too much interest in her..and that he could smile at her after watching and causing the commander’s punishment shows how far off the mark he is. He does not deserve to be Xu’s puppet with Wutuo matters but he is not even in the same book much less the same page of deserving life with He Yan.😝 He should have gone for being her friend where a true alliance might have been made. After her brother’s betrayal, she is not going to let any man decide her course for her. It is nauseating that her ‘brother’ got away with murdering those valiant men. She knows what he is doing and so does Xiao Jue. I would like to know what boon he requested from the emperor as he seemed rather pleased with himself over it. The emperor is technically right in that Xiao Jue needed punished, but I still find it two faced to keep punishment more available for the loyal men and reward for the traitorous power seekers.😝 I like that Xiao Jue gets confirmation over which He general he is at odds with and how the emperor’s praise includes a slap sending him back to post. That was minor satisfaction after commander’s punishment. He Yan knows she is set up for her friend but doesn’t care. She is determined to get the job done in spite of the odds. I love that she ‘borrowed’ Qinglang sword for the battle and swapped it with pouch. These two should be united. The general and mentor sword to face her worst enemy. I am glad another episode today to see Xiao Jue’s response.

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Kill lesson tested

These hypocrites over who plans to harm whom. They are a duplicitous lot that deserves whatever they get. At least Shi tries to calm things, but in spite of his appearance of kindness, is it real or feigned? Sima Jiao moves killing lessons along and shows her best places to strike. She is not enthused with the lesson. Tingyan uses his gift to make snow for him. When she slips, he lets her fall flat and hints she could do more with his gift. When the two palace girls try to kill her. He lets them. I am not sure if she actually died there or if he just wanted them to think that. He heals her or revives her? It is enlightening to see the reactions to his truth flame. They belt their evil plans and intentions right out. What magic is thumbs up😂 Her biggest evil so far is kissing up to the boss to get more free time and healing from her poison. It has to be a refreshing change for him to see someone only concerned about her safety and no interest in him at all. Ruling is growing on me slightly since she gave snake his heart back. Surprise…naked human male here.🫣😂 she gives a good glance before handing him coverings.😂 Sima Jiao now knows he visited Tingyan first, but in gratitude. He showed his allegiance to his master. At first, I was afraid he set him to guard gate to test Tingyan to kill him. I really hope that scenario never presents itself. I am relieved to see those old greedy heads of state there instead. He knocks them all out but has injured himself to see how will play out with Tingyan. The old man tells her to kill him or she will die. Sima Jiao confirms this is true and asks for her to show him what he taught her. He holds the sword to his throat and expects her to respond…..and it ends with a wait til next episode.😭 He let them know this night would be his weakest and the best time to kill him. He even let the one girl’s spirit escape to let them know. What I am wondering is which he wants most…relief via death or Tingyan’s refusal to kill him?

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My snake buddy has become heartless

Everyone wants to know what’s so special about Tingyan. She keeps telling them…nothing. She has been given the job of weakening the flame flower. She equates it with babysitting.😂 The flower does act like a petulant child but if people only hurt you or took your power, you’d be grumpy too. Like beauty and beast story, this flower and grandmaster are linked. They live and die together. I did not realize that he only offered her a temporary cure. She is hiding from serpent to get some sleep while he drinks and Ruling intervenes. She steals his heart. I feel sorry for the now little guy and his master has absolutely no sympathy for him. I was hoping Ruling would be a true friend but it doesn’t look like that will happen. She can’t consider the notion that it is possible to take someone at face value with no hidden agenda. The grandmaster is no better. She alleviates his pain because she can but he refuses now unless she kills someone. He first revealed that without celestial power, no weapon can be used. He then gives her petals from flower to cultivate. She has no clue what they do even after the flower tried to explain. She just sees it as the wage earned from this environment. She still sticks with her buddy now munchkin snake and tries to make her boss more comfortable. She wants a workaround to his kill order. Sima Jiao is tired of what he sees as games and takes matters into his own hands. He takes flame from the flower and tries to break the seal confining him.

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I cannot believe I am liking the snake 🐍🫣😄

This is vile how these users and plotters first forced him to live and now fear and resent that he has. They want his blood and gift so badly forgetting they will condemn themselves to the same fate as his clan. It is disgusting how they throw their young women at him and then wait for an heir to wash rinse repeat what they have already done. Not one of these women question why as they are raised to covet his gifts and steal them for their clan. They have really made the giant cobra act canine.😂 He goes from frightening to absolutely adorable. Like most dogs he loves snacks and sees her as the source of them. She treats him like a lovable but tiresome mutt causing her trouble. She shares her drink with him and they are now bff’s.😂 Her master is shaking her venom rattle to remind her what her job is. She still has no clue what’s up, but the snake takes her to grandmaster. His master is less than pleased that his guardian has brought a demon clan member into his private chambers. Against his better judgment, he opts to heal her. She regains consciousness to find herself right next to grandmaster and she knows from up close and personal view that that always results in bad things. He gets right in her face and wants to know why she hasn’t killed him. She says no grudge and no reason why should she? Even had she the power she wasn’t interested. She admits to his face that as low as she is in the cultivation scale, why would that be in her perspective view to try? He can’t really argue with that logic nor does he understand what her motives are if that not the case. She puzzles him and he reminds her that irritants get silenced. I am smirking as he tells her not to waste his blood or she will regret it.😂 she has now been made his personal server. She is scared stiff at the prospect, but glad she’s alive. She mumbles at snake for getting her in trouble😂 She looks like Santa with her huge bag of possessions.😂 The two mean girl leaders that thought they had best chance at getting through perimeter were aghast when she knocked to get in. Tingyan knows it is useless fighting her fate so has absolutely no fear knocking. She steps right through grumbling all the way.😂 Her vacation has turned into a side job she wasn’t interested in. When the mean girls try their luck, they are tossed far away and disappear. She asks about them to be answered…what do you think? When she runs into snake in the hall she is not happy with him. The more she tries to get away from the grandmaster, the more she is tossed his way. She trips and finds their foreheads meeting and contact has an interesting result. He learns she can quell his pain. She tries to leave but he grabs her and renews contact. For the first time ever in his life, he finds himself needing someone else for relief. I don’t think she considered this as part of her job description.😂

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The liars alliance

Chu is walking a razor thin line with his mentor and is well aware. He brought a small gift to the daughter to keep his place with her. That old man rules with his bracelet. If it drops, you die. Chu was a breath away from that when spoiled daughter intervenes. He doesn’t want to lose face with her so lets them leave with Chu knowing there is a target on his back. Chu deftly told those lies about Chai Anxi exposing him as mastermind. He knew that candor was necessary to earn trust from the old snake. What is interesting is he counters it nicely with the emperor himself. Subtly bringing He Yan to his attention and getting a higher position. It is a valid argument that loyalty must have a strong position to get things done. He is walking the tightrope between both of them. He wants the Wei back to better governing. I think this is the one bit of true honor in him. He resents the collaborating with the Wutuo people and is doing his best to counter from the top down. So, it seems that He Ru Fei’s illness might have been purposely caused and used to manipulate his actions in future. Seems Xu was behind that too. So from the beginning they poisoned the son, camouflaged with daughter, and then when the son old enough to pledge loyalty, he was conveniently healed with plans in place to kill off the loose ends that could reveal their treachery. The son knows he is the one that delayed as he panicked over Chai Anxi being alive. He is consoled that he is dead and for the moment does not reveal He Yan’s existence. He has plans to redo Mingshui in Rundu. He will fake an attack with the Wutuo while giving them intel to sabotage their defenses. He also has plans to kill off the eight elite troops. Kill seven to get He Yan and even if not his most dreade sister, it will eliminate a threat to his position. He is definitely not a good leader as he thinks an enemy will fall for the exact same subterfuge twice.😝 I cannot wait to see him taken down by the true general in the family. He Yan is training with minimal rest. She is pushing herself so that muscle memory alone will get her through any future conflicts. She is perfecting her skills on every level and Xiao Jue is watching her. He recognizes the same anguished drive to prove oneself when betrayed. He sees a kindred spirit readying for battle and facing those that betrayed and undermined.He knows things are not lining up and that the woman training before him is the one that took the blindness powder in his stead and led troops personally to take out the Wutuo general. She has personally killed three of them now on her own. He sees the young comrade from school, tenderly covers her up and leaves ointment for her wounds. She smiles when she sees it, knowing who it’s from. She knows he is trying to trust while still not understanding what happened. She has put it together via ledgers that her brother and magistrate met at the temple. This while plotting her death. I want them to fall like dominoes in rapid succession. I want the two swords of General Xiao wiping them off the face of the planet. Rundu is going to be a start. The storm is gathering and there will be no holds barred in settling this dispute. It will be winner take all. I want to see the bracelet drop for the conniving betrayer magistrate and wretch of a He brother. 🤬 The temple of suppressed spirits is saving space for you. After all those years of candles, the right He will be represented with honor there.😝 Chu is a schemer, but even he has more honor than these two.

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Schemes unraveling

The ladies do their best to try to teach He Yan the basic techniques of embroidery and cooking. There was effort put into both, but technique takes time to learn.😝 While it is indeed a trope about men dealing with bad food, there is still a lot of truth in what men will endure for the one they love when the meal doesn’t go as planned. He has not seen the pouch she made, but he will treasure it because she made it. Chai Anxi has awakened and he is more than ready to say why he did what he did. He was told to delay and this resulted in the death of his son. He firmly believed Xiao Jue used this as opportunity to advance his career. Xiao Jue painted a much different picture. They were greatly outnumbered and delayed. 216 volunteered to go fight to make their way to the general. Xiao Jue provided the signatures and prints of the volunteers and Chai Anxi collapsed when he saw his son’s signature. His last words were to beware general He RuFei. He Yan knows nothing of the meeting discussed. I am wondering if the brother was put up by the politicians to insert himself here, with the hopes that the general, son and He Yan all die for smoothest transition. This seems a likely scenario because the brother spoke up at court denouncing the happenings. This all fed into Chai Anxi’s belief about how things happened. Chu hears the testimony and opts to wait in having him killed. While they are at a meeting with the princess, word reaches them that Wutuo assassins killed Chai Anxi. The interesting part is that Chu left the Wutuo token for Xiao Jue to find. He knows the commander will not let it rest til he has discovered the truth. Here Mr gray again helps and hurts so it is never clear what side he is on or next move will be. He has learned what truly appeals to He Yan and why he will never be more than a friend to her. He plans to blaze the trail for her to ease her way for military ventures. He does not realize how arrogant he is being thinking she needs him to do this for her. She reminds him that her partner will walk with her side by side to blaze together. Like Cheng, he tries to get a confession from her that she chooses the commander, but he comes up and interrupts the conversation. He is not happy they are meeting and makes that point clear. The Princess and Xiao Jue have a private conversation where he asks her to keep He Yan’s identity a secret. She reminds him that He Yan is the last disciple of Liu BuWang and will always have a place in Jiyang. That she will not permit any bullying of her while she has anything to say about it. Chu has returned the mermaid dress and that is one less thing to tie him to He Yan. The guard looked happier with that choice. He Yan’s mind is swirling as she is going through her mind the course of the day she arrived for General Xiao. She knows she had no such meeting, but how to prove it. This is not boding well for our couple and I have a very long wait to find out what happens next.

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Battle of Jiyang

They have managed to disable the battering ram and they have divided the elite group into two. They are presenting themselves as the two most hated of the Wutuo, General Fengyun and Princess. She is ordered to come back alive. The battle is fierce and an unexpected deputy general is fighting. He Yan leads another group to the water where they battle face to face with spears. She manages to take down the leader but not before he kicks her out over the water. I know this is a trope of the underwater kiss, but it is such a poignant moment for these two. He gets to kiss and save the woman he loves and together they get to hear the victory cries of the city. Their jubilation is cut short when they learn Liu BuWang was killed. He fought bravely, but the weapons were poisoned and the number many. He smiled at the end knowing his sacrifice helped keep the city of his princess safe. He sees her young version smiling at him and she disappears as he draws his last breath. The princess sees the bracelets and knows that he never betrayed her. She still was unclear about why he did not show, but she knows it was something beyond his control. The bracelets told her. She will always regret not seeing him the night he was outside her window playing. It will haunt her with bittersweet memories. She saw that he kept her dish as one of his favorites 20 years later. It let her smile. He Yan had a very intimate candid talk with the princess. She was warned to hold on tight to the one you love and not waste a moment. To be sure you say what you want them to hear so that there are no regrets. Xiao Jue guarded the door for her even as she guarded him when he mourned Que. He called her ugly for lying about her feelings. He continues to tell her candidly to her face to be freely herself in his presence. That anything less is unacceptable. As they talk of her history with her master she reveals he was one of less than a handful of people that had treated her kindly in her life. He is moved and reached out his hand to her, but rather lost in thought or gentle refusal, she does not take it. Her grief was laid bare and he made sure she was left undisturbed. The ladies had the kitchen brigade ready with kitchen utensils poised for use. While it may be silly in retrospect, they were just as determined as the males in their families to fight for their home. If manage to kill one would be good and two even better. These women see that they can unite and be more than they thought possible. That they do not have to hide and wait to be saved but can use what they have to defend themselves. They went from a group of sniping jealous women to sisters in arms fighting for home and family. Chai Anxi has been found and Drs Cheng and Song taking care of him. Chu makes his presence known and everybody wants to interrogate him about Minshui. Xiao Jue must acknowledge him because it is his job to investigate, but the added guards make it clear that all questions will have both parties present. I was not expecting to be tearful during the conversation between the princess and He Yan. I was actually pouting some yesterday that so much time was given to the princess’ story. But because they had, I understood the tacit understanding between these two women about the worthiness of this man. That his life mattered and that he accomplished good things in a quiet unassuming way. That his teaching mattered and that their continued works would be his legacy. That’s a pretty powerful behind the scenes message about how these two women became who they were by meeting him.

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The dichotomy of disciple Chu’s actions — his fluid morality

There is plotting afoot for Chai Anxi. He has an ax to grind with the Xiao family for the death of his son. He wants to be first in line to bring down their house in revenge. Chu knows this and plans to use to his advantage. His mentor however, wants all the loose ends eliminated. It seems the fake general is well versed in martial arts and highly resents his sister for her role as his substitute. Since he is so well trained and healthy, why was He Yan forced to take his place? What purpose did that really hold? Why was He Yan so melancholy and wanting to drown herself in drink. Is it her mother’s bday? What triggered this event for her? Was it the date or the visit from Trojan horse Chu? He has come under the pretense of award for Xiao Jue’s service while simultaneously plotting his demise. His spies have told him where Lei Hou and brother are but he spares them and sends fake corpses back to placate the powers that be. What is the deal with Mingshui that has the politicians nervous and fake general enraged? Are they all unhinged because Xiao Jue lived and won? What did fake General do in all the years he was supposedly so ill? He obviously has been training, but where was he hid and why? He Yan noticed the fire trigger for Chu even in drunken state and Chu recognizes a celebration song for women and remembers it from childhood. He Yan demands to see the moon and Chu politely declines until Commander shows up. He then changes it to invite for all three to go. Xiao Jue takes He Yan to sober up and lets Chu know he can go solo. Earlier He Yan presented him with a new zither to make up for the one she broke. His guard said she’d saved her pay for months to acquire it. This is a smile he allows himself. In her drunken state she is back to her failed recitation from mother’s bday and asks her ‘father’ if he is pleased now. Cheng is loving this and is the nosy auntie with all the girl tricks to get her admit who she likes.😂 He is kicked out of the room after He Yan rewards herself with his future wife’s pendant.😂 Cheng is having a ball helping her recall the previous night’s events. She thought his most precious item was his virtue.😂🤣 After being assured she hadn’t forced herself on the commander, she runs to return the pendant she took. Chu comes in and catches the end of the conversation and actually lines a date up for moon viewing with He Yan. He plans on getting intel from her as she tried to get info about fake General. He is the devoted brother lighting candles for her, failing to mention it is at temple to suppress spirits.😝 Chu and commander get Chai Anxi info at same time. Chu is beating feet to find him first while commander has to go through family channels since his military position has no authorization to be there. The date is broken and Chu sent a note. Will the commander deliver it? Have it delivered by someone else? Or let her feel stood up? And will Chai Anxi live or die when Chu finds him? Chu seems to be merciful or assassin at the flip of a coin, so which will he be for Xiao Jue and Chai Anxi? And does the fake general fit into any of these plans?

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Finding a cure for He Yan

The episode begins with reminiscing the battle of Mingshui and how it fits into things. How far back does this conspiracy go? He Yan’s squad try to surprise her with a trip to the hot spring. It was indeed a surprise. 🤣Xiao Jue bails her out but uses a very lame excuse. Being physically weak would benefit even more with the hot spring.😝 Ms Song has decided she must cure him and coming up with all sorts of medicinal concoctions to try. So if THAT is the issue, I guess she is trying to invent the little blue pill😂However, at that point it seems the gossip would have been why did commander know? The squad pool their money to get her nutritious meals which I find quite sweet. They are looking out for their leader at their own personal expense. He Yan decides she has had enough and demands a private room which is surprisingly granted. Here He Yan is acting too familiar with her commander. Once they returned to garrison she was back to new recruit status. What was fun and engaging as his pretended nephew is completely inappropriate in a military setting. Xiao Jue has enough sources undermining his command without her adding to the list. Her continued stance of blackmail to get her way is beneath a prior general’s actions. She figures out that he knew this battle was coming with the stack of military training books in the room.😂 He treats her wound and notices the scars. This is an intimate moment. She soon learns her room is locked from the outside, so while close to the commander, she is also in ‘spy’ quarters to be monitored. They share a moon view together and apart. Disciple Chu has his own personal copy of the Chancellor’s fraud. Even he is surprised at the amount plundered from the military. He knows how capable Xiao Jue has proved to be over and over again, defying the odds against him. Yet he continues to be the one thrown under the bus at every opportunity.😝Here disciple Chu leads the pack with his amoral ambition shining through. He is well matched with the pretty soft spoken daughter that slaps servants readily and mistreats them for unavoidable circumstances. Her petty selfishness shines through on a regular bases with a pat on the head from dear old dad.😝Chu has no reason to look judgmental at her actions when he lies to Xiao Jue’s face and sets him up for failure. The fake general has come to grovel for failed plans with his henchman. He is opportunistic and shortsighted, but does have the proper view of where he sits with officials. He has every reason to believe bribery would work. We can only agree after getting a peek at those ledgers under embezzlement.😝 Xiao Jue gets a request for aid and must comply. Considering the additional travel difficulties, was this deliberately planned as the storm to come his way? Or is there yet more to come? While looking for more herbs to cure He Yan, Ms Song finds an injured man. He is believed to belong to a neighboring tribe but he is now inside the garrison with only He Yan to consider the consequences. Xiao Jue has his own difficulties when an alternate route is suggested. Is this one helping or setting them up?

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Waste not want not meds

Well now we know why disciple Chu is there. He is to get ledgers of fraud that implicates Chancellor. This is why Sun feels he will get assist. He Yan remembers her first meeting swindling Chu. The meeting with the two plotters is interrupted by Xiao Jue. They are not enthused but plans are made for a banquet. The man with less fingers brought in a troupe of dancers and musicians. Everyone is waiting for trap to spring. The less fingered man serves tea to Xiao Jue and He Yan knocks it from his hand revealing poison. The dancers then become a troupe of assassins. Here He Yan is amusing screaming for help exactly like Cheng would do, but subtlety taking care of some of the assassins. She did nicely not blowing her cover. Right when getting ready to investigate things, the last dancer throws powder. He Yan blocks and is same powder that blinded her years ago. The dancers are killed or commit suicide so there is no one left to interrogate. Xiao Jue leaves Chu and Sun to start investigation because that is their ‘jobs’. He guides He Yan back to the room. He shows special care getting around silk screen and getting her to the bed. The conspirators are plotting their next move but know that Xiao Jue must die to tie up loose ends. Fortunately for He Yan, she has medicine left from the doc. Without this, she would have remained blind. Xiao Jue figures out she can see when the ‘doc’ that comes in to treat her eyes was anything but. She stops him and sends him on his way to get the correct medicine and less bitter.😝 The race is on for who will get ledger. Xiao Jue deserts He Yan at a crucial guard point knowing she will make a good lookout.😂 She ties up the guards nicely and ends up having Chu escort her to room. He is called away for his duties, but less fingered guy is starting to remember her/him. Hopefully will be awhile til he makes connection since he is fake general’s henchman. Xiao Jue finds a nesting place amongst the rafters to be spared being caught by the lecher son. So far, everybody’s cover is intact but it will be a trial to figure out lock and stay alive while getting ledgers. Now to see who kills whom.

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One big family happy ending

Jin Yu’s mom was an evil troll, without question. She deserves every day she is in prison. However, her driver and Wang Xing Sheng that defrauded an entire neighborhood, ruined the reputation of an orphanage, and tried to burn Ye Meng and Jin Yu with the car deserve punishment too. That should have been ended better with those two. Jin Yu’s little brother is brought to Gma’s and she is being especially ornery holding a live chicken in his face saying it’s for dinner.😂 little sis gets into music school and Ye Meng is expecting. Ya En is more ready to start a relationship with Kai after seeing his blind date. 😂Jia Yu is now being matchmaker and caretaker for these two.🤣 There is a warm family scene with the women hovered over baby gifts and the men making dumplings. There is also a very cute scene with Jin Yu and the dog. They are discussing the care and treatment for the new baby. Ye Meng has not got her way with a cat yet, but if their child is a girl….that battle is all over. They will probably each have one.😂overall there is far more good than bad in this drama. The supporting cast were the hit of the show for me. I also enjoyed all the music. I struggled with the writer’s choices with the leads, and I complained at length in the episodes I was most discontent with.😂In spite of my feelings on that, the drama is worth watching. Just be prepared to fast forward if things get too annoying with the leads😝 When they did it right, the family moments were heartfelt and thoughtful. Beautifully done. I just wanted that a lot more for the leads throughout the story rather than en mass at the end. The cast did a wonderful job acting their roles. My discontent was with the writer’s and director’s choices for leads. If you enjoy angsty leads and revenge seeking mothers, this drama is definitely for you.

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Greed, jealousy and revenge

We finally get the mom’s background story. She is such a selfish, tunnel visioned soul. Everything is through the lense of her pain rather than reality. When she ran into Ye Meng’s mom, she could have leaned on her for help and comfort, but no…someone who only meant her well must have her entire family suffer….why? Because she could. It has to be horrid for Jin Yu to realize his dad is a rapist and his mother a would be murderer. That is definitely something to process. Even tho his mom is not guilty of the crime she is in prison for…she is guilty of so much more. I have no pity for her, just her sons who must live in the shadow of who their mother is. That respite of happiness should have had her change her ways, but she was cruel to Jin Yu anyways. He would never have had any respite from her had it not been for her second husband. His whole family embraced the child she hated because they recognized he was innocent and just needed a loving family. They supported him against the odds and she made sure there was a mountain of them to overcome. Ya En still did not apologize to Kai. She did, however, have a candid conversation with him about her feelings. After an abusive relationship, it is not unreasonable to ask for time, and he was offered minimal consolation that she had feelings for him. There is still hope for these two. They deserve a happy ending. Ye Meng wakes up in the hospital and finds Jin Yu missing. A letter he left made it seem like he was going to end it all. He was referring to business, but she was scared and tracked him down. He removes himself from the company with the one demand to keep the fishing village as is. He did well for his short term as CEO. Kai opens his new restaurant. It looks like it will be quite successful. We finally hear the backstory of boss and Jin Yu. He apologizes but his friend is still hurt. Wonder who will now get to be Dartagnan the 4th musketeer? If they do not bring justice to the evil man that stole the ring, I will be very unhappy with this drama. He still has not received justice. His part in the crime needs brought to light. I don’t know that I want Ye Meng to get that ring back, but she deserved it. For all the bad they let this episode end on a positive note. No clue what they will do to round out the story in last episode. I want to see Gma’s happy and Wang Xing Sheng in jail before story wrapped up.

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Glory to dust to determination

This was a very impactful episode. We start with the bravery of troops fighting overwhelming odds, the betrayal causing reinforcements to arrive too late, and the discarding of the courageous to make room for those feigning honor and loyalty to emperor. He Yan has been disguised forever as her ailing brother. She received martial arts training as soon old enough and was partnered with the general’s son to be the two swords that would secure the empire. We don’t know why she was delayed but the general died in her arms as she arrives too late to support them. His son is rightfully angry and grabs the twin sword they were given saying she was unworthy. She vows to clear the general’s name and then is poisoned and hidden in the very temple she has never seen but always assumed to be healing in. Her ‘brother’ shows up to claim all her glory and to outright lie about the occurrences on the battlefield. He steps right in and immediately wants to silence his sister. The father and son are nauseating in their treatment of the very people that fought to the death for their protection. They have taken the most loyal and banished or silenced them to keep their treachery and disguised son’s secret. They poisoned He Yan so that she was blinded and then still wanted her life. It is interesting that she and Xiao Jue meet briefly when he intervenes and thwarts the plan on her life. Both unaware of the treachery behind the scenes. She escapes and has a run in with fake general’s guard. What I like is that she met that guard with courage fighting with what she had. While still defeated, that guard knew he was fighting a general and not the weak woman he claims her to be. He assures the general she is dead and they feel secure in their deceit. Somehow she survives and is healed by a physician well acquainted with her. She can now see and is as determined as Xiao Jue to make things right. She enters the garrison with a smile feeling she is at home and ready to get started. I liked how Xiao Jue and He Yan walked mirror paths. They are equally determined to get to the truth that occurred on that disastrous day 30k troops lost their lives. They are both willing to put their lives on the line and even tho coming from the lowest place possible, they are free from the He’s and can pursue their goals with unbridled determination. I really enjoyed this first episode. It laid out the premise for these two quite nicely.

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