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KJ2025 The invitation was from a friend of Empress Dowager. She is determined to prove Lishan’s guilt in acting against the Empress. Ye Li’s uncle is trying to smooth things over as best he can. Ye Li finds herself in Prince Li’s quarters after having a collision with a servant. This was supposed to be a location to clean her robe and she finds Prince Li instead. He thinks ChangFu was killed to better his court position. Ye Li set him straight on that notion immediately. He was killed for the 7 lost souls in Lishan and had nothing whatsoever to do with him. She described him as a cicadas and that seems rather apt. He is lost in his delusions because he has plans with no means or will to accomplish them. Ye Ying and his mother watched him threaten to jump in the pond because he wasn’t getting his way. His servant jumped in to keep the idiot from jumping and Ye Li left making it clear they had nothing between them and she felt nothing but contempt for him. Ye Ying and her hunt for an assassin😂🤣 This turned out to be quite humorous and if she gets to look Ye Li in the eye, what is she really going to do? Ye Ying is impulsive and meanspirited but could she really kill or watch someone be killed in cold blood? She seems to be a big part of the comic relief so will see how this plays out. The uncle looks like he is moving half the city into the palace.🤣😂 When asked how long he’s staying he started with two months. 🤣😂 If this is his daily essentials he will need a warehouse for all his possessions. XiuYao has an old friend released from jail. The prince wants help clearing his family and the cavalry from wrongdoing. He needs help collecting the evidence required. The jailed one wants to handle the wording on the Marquis’ memorial . They strike a deal to deal with the Marquis and get justice. The visiting seer friend is trying to steer the Empress dowager, but only partly successful. It is clear Ye Li has answered directly to all questions and has not wavered in what she has said. She continues to be a breath of much needed air even with her scrambled sense of reality. The Prince is now looking into the maid Ye Li wanted the medicine for. It will give him another piece of the puzzle of Lishan. Another is haunted by Lishan and here I wonder if Ye Li is helping create his nightmares since she was out and about late at night. XiuYao is experiencing more pain with his leg injuries but is still very reluctant to let Ye Li try her mountain healing techniques. I like that Ye Li didn’t shirk the invitation nor cower at the accusations. She answered the same as for Empress Dowager. I enjoyed her telling that deluded Prince Li what she thought of him. He is somewhat a tragic figure playing the libertine to survive in the palace. However, he lacks the wherewithal to throw himself unrepentantly into the role or to break free of it and face the consequences. He wanted a future with Ye Li but had no plan in place for where they would go or how they would survive. He is discontent and whiny about the hand he has been given, but doesn’t try to play the cards he’s been dealt. Even Ye Ying doesn’t deserve to be married to him. I like that Xiu Yao and Ye Li are getting closer. 🥰 It is very small steps but promising. Waiting to see what Xiu Yao and his prison friend have in store for the Marquis. Lots going on and many characters involved. It segues smoothly through the various perspectives and past and present. It has been a fun and interesting experience watching so far.
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Loved the dynamics of this episode. When on the receiving side of the ‘apology’ check, Chairman Kang had better perspective of Hwang’s view. Watching his children dole out compensation in same manner made him see how patronizing and insulting it really is for recipient. The daughter was a surprise. Living away from the family was the best thing for her. She is her father’s daughter and tough as nails. She appears a people pleaser to gather intel because she wants the Kangs to pay for demoralizing her mother. Ironically, of the three children, she is the one that truly gives a damn about her father in spite of his ways. She is his mini me as their interactions are volatile and eye opening. It makes them continually re evaluate their bias to figure each other out. When he challenged her about liking his pretty face 😂🤣 I think viewers worried about romance can see this is father scrutinizing daughter. He doesn’t believe her capable and she thinks he is a compensation freeloader, but their skills complement nicely. He still has all the secrets of the chairman and she is learning from the underlings how things flow through the company. It was an emotional upheaval for him watching his own children try to kill him. He is right that is something he should not have known. But, now that he does, he is getting them back with no bloodline guarantee for the top chair and has hit the son’s slush fund companies. He needs to visit the gma for Hwang because they were so close. I was glad he took the time to see Hwang’s accomplishments and recognize that he needed to properly compensate him for the harm his family caused. I hope this is top medical care for his gma which is the only reason Hwang cared so much about soccer. It is her truest and now only memory of him. The story has a good pace and is interesting watching the family vs company dynamics. It will be fun watching him work with his daughter, tho for now she wants the company to fail too. I don’t know who the person is behind her, but I think the chairman knows him, and it seems there is a long standing grudge between them. Finding this very interesting and nice continuation of introducing characters and story.
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JinZhao has saved the day for Ms Fu with the winter coats. The nephew caused the grief and there was no way to cover for him. Wang and wife are being found out for their corrupt ways and both are throwing tantrums. XuanQing becomes more and more like YanWen. They are making wedding plans and JinZhao makes sure YanYun is with her. Unfortunately the little sneak nephew found a way to be alone with her and stir trouble. She did make it clear that for her everything was past and forgotten and that set him off more. YanYun forbid him to be at the house without his permission and booted him back to the academy. This definitely would have made things easier for JinZhaou had he not opted to hide in his duties to keep distant. He had things to do but he did not take into consideration the lengths JinZhao would go to to see him. He had no clue about her temple visit until after the fact and she did not know the palace called him there rather than him avoiding her. Her health is now weakened and Lian’s outburst caused a scene for everybody. Fortunately Lian and baby are fine but JinZhao is ready to collapse. XuanQing doesn’t run to get help but tries to carry her off. It is not as it appears but it does come to a head with him loudly broadcasting she loved him first and YanYun was the reason they weren’t together a long time ago….just as the episode ends. YanYun knows the role he played because of his misdirect with JinZhao’s rescue. And that was further complicated with him directing XuanQing into marriage not knowing of the mutual crush. However, JinZhao recognized his true character that day and left it all with her kite. Any man that could not speak up for her, did not merit the effort. She knew that 3 years ago and she is very aware of it now. I just wish he would have let XuanQing get that tutoring post and be sent off to everywhere but home. 😝 The Gu uncle is finally being taken to task for his prior crimes and Wang did not think Chen would go along with it. He gave them his blessings to take Gu to jail. Everything has come to a head because Chen’s mom is in the mix backing XuanQing. I hope they don’t drag this out too long because XuanQing is not worth this much attention. He is cowardly, petty and tunnel visioned. What happened to the young man who championed protecting the dignity and reputations of young women? Seems that guy is long gone. 😝🙄😡🤬
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XuanQing dares to tell that lovely fiancée of his that his heart was given prior to his proposal. JinZhao is lighting into him and stomping off with WanXue when she agrees. This sweet girl has loved him forever and she will not back away from the marriage even knowing this. She sees him as her savior from her stepmother and the true love of her life. That he has such a sweet prospect of happiness and chooses to covet his sister in law is 🤬😡🤬YanYun overhears and is waiting for her to confess to him because he thinks there are no secrets between them. This wasn’t even an issue she thought about because she tossed him out with her kite years ago. She had no idea he harbored any feelings for her because he never had the courage or wherewithal to tell her. His cowardice then and his underhanded means now are reprehensible. He dares to look at JinZhao while trying to write off his fiancée. The only look I appreciated on him was being startled at her acceptance of the situation giving him no room to back out. So..the marriage is still on tho he will find every way to continue to delay things. Here’s another would be suitor with a temper tantrum. The broken ink stone is a very good image of where he truly stands with JinZhao. He is despicable because even tho Ye Xian tried a plea prior to her marriage, even he understood that she pledged her love to another and it should be respected. JinZhao does immediate damage control. She has her guard and servants on alert that he is not allowed in her courtyard and she has already managed to get out of morning and evening greetings. YanYun knew something was up and snuck her out after curfew for a romantic evening. She is so carefree and open in her love for him that he chooses to let her keep whatever secret it is and that she has handled it. The final thrust in XuanQing’s face is that she asked to be his wedding planner. She is a master of scheduling and now has it so they will never meet when he’s at home. She will make sure WanXue has the wedding of her dreams in spite of him. Ms Wang and maid have managed to cause gossip and delay the opening of the new store. They are quite pleased with themselves because whenever the store does open the noble ladies won’t frequent the store because of rumors of lurking men. Mother Chen is lamenting scandal like always. I would take her more seriously if she was not tabloid gossip queen.😝🙄She is in the process of forcing JinZhao to relinquish all her businesses when Chen interrupts that she will do no such thing. He tells JinZhao to build them bigger and his mother that he will be less honorable letting them have their way than meeting their rumors head on. Wang cannot say he wasn’t aware because he encouraged them to keep plotting against Chen. Here is where I am annoyed with Chen for the first time tho this was a necessary action. He comments to Fu how his wife’s shop was unable to open because somebody upper tier was targeting her. He got his point across but for me this comes across as boys tattling to the principal to get another in trouble for being sneaky. This seemed so far beneath him as a way to deal with this, but most likely a necessary evil so the all powerful Fu will feel in charge.😝🙄What comes to light is that Ms Wang is the neighborhood loan shark. JinZhao had them meet and brought a stack of cash and IOU’s to be paid. Ms Wang cannot admit she’s the lender so JinZhao takes the funds and IOU’s with her. She mentions the punishment for illegal loans and tells Ms Wang and maid to have the lender come to her directly for the cash. She will then march them straight to the magistrate for prosecution,😂🤣In another turn of events Lan is going to receive an official proposal from Mu. When asked why change of heart, Lan said he appeared better upon further inspection. He may not have the looks but that man is the kindest and most thoughtful man she has ever met. I smile at this match just because. 🥰 She knows her family all to well so she asks JinZhao if betrothal gifts could be delivered to the Chen residence instead. Whether a plot or just poor quality control the winter coats for the soldiers were packed with bad cotton and now half of the inventory is unusable. If JinZhao steps in and corrects this, Ms Fu will be indebted to her. Chen’s servant is having a difficult time getting a word in today.😂🤣 And while he stressed about not getting his last message delivered he heard Yao give JinZhao the news. 😂He is asking if she is happy and the look on her face matches the yes. He is pleased with the news. Since he is the one in the know about her crush on XuanQing, I am hoping he does the big bro/cousin routine and straightens XuanQing out. He was there and knows that his good ‘friend’ made no confession to JinZhao. So now that she will have a witness maybe this can get cleared up so WanXue can have a real marriage.
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XuanQing gives such mixed signals. He is first on the scene since he had YanWen followed. He follows the plotters and sees where they are holding JinZhou and her guard. He even goes as far as purchasing her to get her away from them. YanYun has also arrived on the scene. He has ordered the gates closed so they are all sealed in. When he kicks in that door, it was kinda awesome.💪🏻👏🏻 They make short work of them and rescue the ladies. XuanQing and his guard have tracked down the seller. XuanQing ended up killing her. Considering the offense I don’t think he would have even been charged. He is forgetting about the jade pendent he left behind that will bite him in the ass later. He sees his brother come to JinZhao’s defense and knows that his brother loves her. What is nauseating in his conviction is that he equally believes JinZhao took advantage of his brother for his wealth and position. 🙄🤬 I am sure that it makes JinZhao sick to her stomach that she wasted any of her time liking him. I am not getting his stunt with the earrings, but he is such a weakling that the girls can handle him at his worst. If he realized what the two guys that will die for her would do to him…he would flee for school now. He not only thinks the absolute worst of her, he has the ego to think she was supposed to be pining for him these last three years. 🙄😡It is laughable if he wasn’t so serious about it. His guard is aware how stupid he’s being but you can’t fix stupid.😝So like Lian’s servant he is forced by his charge to follow orders regardless of consequences. YanYun knows the brother behind it and why. The hatred this brother has is so rabid. This one just needs to be put down so he causes no further grief. Chen sends him off to Shanxi under the pretense of business so brother number two can take care of him. He is not so vengeful as to make his family pay the price and has them stay at home. All the kidnappers that thought the worst was over getting sent to prison had no clue what awaited them. They are now under YeXian’s domain and their hell has just started. He scoffs that Chen didn’t kill them all. This role suits him so well. He is eerie and vengeful juxtaposed with a gentleness and kitten. QingLan loves his duality and I really want to see his heart let another in. The couple finally arrive back at the Chen house where they have been gossiping, I see where her boys get their ruthlessness from when mom says any servant spreading rumors were to be beaten to death no trial necessary. JinZhao made me laugh out loud when she kicked that handsome man out of her bed because he let her get kidnapped.🤣😂🥰🫣He is beautifully groveling. She discusses how to make amends with his mother and convinces him to let her go to the tea party to deal with the Wangs. I really think YanYun was adopted. His mother….she annoys the hell outa me with her tabloid way of speaking. She is ridiculously snide and flips on a dime when the truth intervenes. The two mean girls were trying to embarrass her but the invitation arrived for the tea party. Had they known why Ms Wang invited her, their smugness would have remained intact. JinZhao arrives with gifts after a flat non welcome when she arrived. She is ridiculed for bringing them and counseled on why it was completely inappropriate. She shrewdly responds she should have asked Ms Wang the correct protocol when she received the invite. This pushes the onus off on her when the leader of the group agreed with JinZhao. The ladies are chatting and tossing out opinions of who should have what position. It is also clear this is how younger relatives get into new positions. They have not cornered JinZhao yet but I am sure there will be something next episode. They are too spiteful to leave her be. The episode ends with a crooked politician being arrested. He is all lippy until he recognizes the arresting officer. They are going to be realizing there is a new sheriff in town and he will not be bribed or let them off easy. Wang has issues because his wife was the one with the bright idea about the student protesters. They are now at school demanding the emperor and officials have their land properly taxed. 😂😝He is such a henpecked thug that I can smile here. He is learning that his kind is a dying breed. Literally. I cannot wait til he and Fu get theirs. Lots of excitement and cute newlywed playfulness this episode. These two…🔥🫣
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XuanQing is redirected to his room and the couple have a pleasant wedding night.🥰❤️ The next morning Chen tells JinZhao the Marquis died and that was the funeral party they met in the road. They go to the Ye home to show their respects and YeXian is hanging onto white kitty for all he is worth. QingLan gives a cold reception and incense is offered after a cool rebuff from Ye Xian. Chen stays and the gals go outside. QingLan doesn’t believe JinZhao’s words but she is puzzled because there is no doubt of the sincerity of them. Chen gives the expected imperial decree of the title lost because Ye Xian did not have the health to fulfill the duties. He is visibly shaken and the actor does a phenomenal job displaying the spectrum of emotions needed for this scene. He is surprised when Chen gives an oral decree from the young emperor putting him in charge of a 500 man guard as the personal guard for the emperor. Here Ye Xian is stunned as this job is perfect for him and Chen warns he better excel. The couple joins the Chen family pouring tea and exchanging gifts. Things go well until XuanQing announces they were already acquainted requiring explanation and then pouring tea on her hand. I would like to think nerves got the better of him, but there is no denying the lack of remorse and that Chen gave him his gift rather than JinZhao. The ladies and gentlemen split company and right when the gossip gets started JinZhao joins the group. When the mother starts complaining, she is gently pressed back with explanation of events that had taken place. JinZhao is warned that his mother is a snob and with her penchant for gossip over fact, it’s disappointing that she doesn’t address her new daughter in law directly with questions rather than rumors. Chen is an angel and rescues her from them. The men are talking nicely until YanWen implied the Gu’s threw her at him. Chen wants specific answers as to who was telling the lies. Here even XuanJing said that was not the case and answered quite truthfully. But to see the same look on brothers 4 and 5, that was a bit scary. 😬The Gu family is waiting to see the new couple but they get news instead they are on their way to Tongzhou and will visit when they return. JinZhao was going with better to ask forgiveness than permission. Lian again looks like a fish gasping for air in her petulant receipt of Lan’s response. Lan is acting more like the girl in first episodes but I hate they added a wedge between them that leaves Lan all alone. Daddy Gu has left and not even Lan sees him off. I would feel a touch sorry but I still see him tossing a young JinZhao out the gate, not telling his wife, and letting that demon spawn nanny Zhou choke her. So nope, he’s on his lonesome and good riddance. Outa sight outa mind.😝It goes to a prison scene where the old commander Zhang is being tortured. He has come clean with all the corrupt doings between him and Wang but Ye Xian does one brand over his heart…just because. He is then sentenced to death for his crimes. Fu and Wang the two weasels are thinking business as usual while Chen is off doing newlywed things. They both get the news their penal buddy Zhang committed suicide in prison in remorse for his crimes. Considering what they had planned for the Marquis and the Gu boys, things are being righted. XuanQing thinks YanWen needs watched and I won’t argue with that, but it seems he himself needs some monitoring as well. His hostility at feeling snubbed is undeniable. JinZhao was more mature about her snubbing three years prior😝 The couple are en route to TongZhou when they are stopped by student protesters set up by the Wang household. While Chen is tied up with them, he returns to find his guards dead or unconscious and JinZhao and her guard missing. Very glad there is another episode today.
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Fu’s smirk when he thinks he has his way is annoying,🤬 Wang is almost glued to him and he is every bit as irksome. Chen devised a plan to poison YeXian and bring on a heart attack. This had the Marquis let his guard down and he also had a physical break coughing up blood. Chen made plans with young emperor prior and his choking of Ye Xian in prison cohesively combined events so that Marquis and son could be taken home, Fu could appear magnanimous in letting them live and Wang couldn’t raise suspicion about Chen’s loyalty. This still let Fu bring evil to the Marquis’ home but it did curb it to allow them their reputation. JinZhao passes the pill to Ye aunt so that Ye Xian can heal. She begs him to stop pining for JinZhao and ultimately succeeds. The actor of Ye Xian so poignantly expresses his heart ache and pain. It will be hard for him to remain her friend, but I am hoping he succeeds. In spite of his stupidity with weapons, he would die for her in a heartbeat. QingLan tries to give meds to YeXian but he wants nothing to do with her. I hope this situation changes because she is a good match for him. Her frenemy stance with JinZhao will not go over well and her blabbering her engagement was a huge misstep, but I am hoping over time this will heal. Chen matriarch is not happy with this wedding. I wish she would meet JinZhao and judge with her eyes rather than gossip in ears. This seems a bit beneath her but I guess this is because her status goes through channels rather than directly. The Gu’s house looks like a marketplace with all the dowry gifts. Auntie was wise to keep Lian away but I am sure this let her notice Lan getting recognized by guests. Her quilt was really beautiful. XuanQing is back and making every excuse to put off his own wedding. With what he remembers from his past with JinZhao, I can see why he made the assumptions he did, but not going through his brother for the answers was wrong. I was surprised and pleased that she didn’t even bother looking at his correspondence and sent the servant back with a message to live well and move on as she already had. Her guard had the right of it as she chatted with JinZhao. The kite day was his chance to step up and he was too cowardly. He didn’t talk to her in person then so he doesn’t need to clear it up in person now. Good for JinZhao. Chen has thread the needle with Fu and his henchman Wang and won. The conflict up north still needs to be settled so that expedited things with the Marquis. The politician who pretends to care about the people had to make sure peace talks completed so he can continue the farce unchallenged. He’s really a good villain because I detest him on sight now. This cast does an excellent job of captivating the viewers with their character portrayals and interactions.👏🏻
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The servant is brought in and Lian is pointed out for initiating gossip. While punishments get passed out gma thinks she will force a marriage with Wang to restore reputation. When JinZhao is about to be locked up for refusing, brother Yao shows up with betrothal gifts. Yao has grown up in the time they have been separated. He makes an impressive groom. This time when they met, there was not the bickering conversation. He is truly worried about her and does not want her reputation shattered. He also has the older brother look when she describes being in love so well. He is forced to admit his love is brotherly, but he is pondering who makes her flush and stay up at night. I am proud of him for making such an impressive marriage price for her and looking out for her amongst these wretched Gu’s. Waiting to see how this all plays out. In Daxin they have kept the chaff with the rice. For a short time this makes it more nutritious, but when storing, it will spoil quicker and hold more arsenic. This is a deliberate plot to harm the general populace. I misunderstood. The rice was swapped with bran for relief stores. This was not handled by the granary manager but by Fu’s henchman himself. He doesn’t even bother to hide it. They are brazenly setting up Chen to take the fall and guarding him so he can’t retaliate. He has called to meet with JinZhao and they know that the conspiracy is a political takedown aiming for Chen and daddy Gu to take the fall for it. A colleague has forged her dad’s seal without his knowledge. Wang Xuanfeng wants to take down Fan and Fu is more than ready to assist and since Chen is showing he’s his own man and not the expected sycophant —two birds with one stone. I can’t wait to see his plotting bring him down.😝😡🤬 Chen is asking JinZhao to delay things as long as possible while they hunt down the colleague. Dead or alive he will prove something fraudulent happened. JinZhao is buying up grain and getting soup kitchens and medicine stalls ready to keep the province from revolting. This will give everybody more time to catch the culprits and take care of the people. She wants to hit the ground running when the bran is discovered. Fan has showed up at Chen’s office and the fireworks begin. Chen takes the winds out of his sails by resigning and an order of impeachment for Fan citing 10 cases of nepotism to charge him with. Chen is very shrewd. He still looks to be Fu’s man while working on setting them both back. Ye Xian just got orders to bring every Gu male back to the garrison. The prior warden has a grudge and this worked out nicely. His fringe benefit was a satisfied grin making YeXian personally take charge of the order. Fortunately JinZhao was already prepared. The order should have been for the two political fools we already know about, but the sons were added because of the grudge. JinZhao gives her brother some money and instructions and Ye Xian said he had the prison side of it handled. I liked that JinZhao told him to be careful as well. The ladies of the Gu house are crashing fast and general JinZhao is taking charge. They are combing through every single document and gathering evidence. She knows she is integral to Chen’s defense. He is trusting her with his very self. ❤️ she is motivated to leave no stone unturned to take care of the men she cares about. It is just a shame it will also spare the two old reprobates that deserve punishment. 😝At the court Chen assumed the blame while glaring at the real culprit. Fu’s man thinks he forced Chen’s hand and Fu initially thought he could smooth things over with Chen. This changes when he hears of Gu’s daughter bringing a case to court. He is putting the pieces together quickly and now it’s a race between him and Chen to see if justice prevails. This was an interesting change of events and I liked that for once the Gu women have put their petty differences aside and are working together in defense of their house. I wish there was one more episode today to see what happens sooner. Excellent storytelling keeping the romance on slow sizzle and political conflicts at good pace. I also have to applaud that the women will be bailing the men out. This makes me smile. Usually I am annoyed that the Gu men are rescued by their ladies, but this time, it’s about real justice and not hiding some greedy stunt they pulled. A bit of time in jail will not be bad for the old ones at all, they have long had it coming. But for them to be indebted to JinZhao, including dear gma ….this is a good thing. They will hopefully mind their manners in future. As for Chen, I am hoping his lady will let him officially propose when this is settled.
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Once the emperor died the city was under martial law. Fu had everything in place to frame the Marquis with the Senji Battalion. He wanted Chen to protect the crown prince even with his life. Chen knows what his mentor is and that he has to protect himself as well as crown prince. Ye Xian was still under house arrest but still communicated via his guard. JinZhao told her aunt that the only way to save the Marquis household from Xiao traitor was to use YeXian’s palace token to warn the Marquis. Unfortunately that didn’t happen and the Shenji Battalion used firearms to decimate the Marquis and his guards when they came in to try to save the new emperor. Chen had a plan to save the Marquis but it involved YeXian being willing to sacrifice himself for the crown prince. He planted a decoy that had the rebel prince think the crown prince was an easy target. Ye Xian protected him and used his needles to kill the rebel prince. Fu was not happy that YeXian’s actions made the charges against the Marquis look ridiculous. Chen managed to keep everyone alive. Ye Xian killed his mentor and then confronted Chen. He had no clue how fed up Chen is with his mentor. He was reminded that he and his father were still alive and that was the most Chen could do for them. Chen strongly suggested he find a way to make himself useful and build up his own house. Fu’s gleeful reaction to the injuries the Marquis sustained and how long he would need to heal was rather heinous. What was even more disgusting he received a huge promotion and is right at the top to get the new emperor’s ear. He is annoyed that YeXian is now in charge of the penal colony and close to the new emperor because that is a power source the emperor can be in charge of exclusively. This job is quite suitable for YeXian’s skills. Fu has even more plans by not letting the Marquis be a station given by birth. He is wanting control of the military. Fu is getting more and more brazen with his plans. Chen is fortunately a good counter balance. He pretends to be his most faithful disciple to stay in good graces, but it takes every effort he has not to choke the man he once considered mentor. YeXian greets JinZhao and almost collapses. He tells her the story of the mentor that took such good care of him when growing up. When he learned the truth he again used his needle crossbow to kill his mentor. With his dying breath Xiao told him to his face he was only a pawn. He asked JinZhao to share a drink with him. She ended up drinking for him. He thanked her for her help and when she passed out he tenderly covered her and left. He is slowly changing into a young man instead of staying the petulant noble determined to always get his own way. He is already making adjustments in the penal colony and has already made his first enemy — the one formerly in charge. Fu is now pushing for Chen to get married and his mother is more than happy to get onboard with that. She has three she likes the best and the Gu girls are not going to be anywhere close to acceptable. Chen has other plans and invites JinZhao over. This episode focused on the next stage of Fu’s ambitious plans. He has set up reforms to get the most taxes possible from the people and now he has achieved even more power with a very young emperor to ‘mentor’. This is one area where Chen and YeXian can agree to work together. Planning the downfall of Fu.
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JinZhao runs into Lord Chen at the temple and she tells him about wanting her mom to divorce. He suggests they borrow a house in the area that has a calm atmosphere that will help her heal. JinZhao talked her mom into going and they make plans to leave in two days. As expected they are now making Lan the brains of the outfit. Nanny Zhou left her with one piece of news that would split up Lord and Lady Gu. It started when a marriage prospect was introduced for Lan. She was unhappy because she thinks he’s ugly and will make her a laughing stock. Not to mention who she truly has eyes for. Daddy Gu only laughs at her complaint with his features. He basically told her to not be so shallow and to accept the match. She then runs to Lady Gu begging for help in getting it thrown out. But she agreed with the match and made no effort to discourage it. Lan had a point later when she pointed out the degree of assist with JinZhao and Liu and Rong with abductees, but that no such effort was extended for her. They did make Lady Gu look uncaring which was out of character since they had always been close. Lan runs to her mother and they find a servant who had left the house a long time ago. Yu ping claimed that Lady Gu had swapped meds for another wife or concubine resulting in the deaths of mother and child. The maid had been dismissed after the tragedy. Since Nanny Zhou had just shown her deceit with meds it is clear she was making place for the mistress to claim a fake pregnancy and get her married into the household. It was interesting that when concubine and wife had a real conversation that Song was convinced Gu only truly loved the one that died. Ji was married for her money and she was married by faking a pregnancy…so who was the one he really cared for? This was a true tragedy and a deliberate crime, but it also has Nanny Zhou written all over it. Either she did this or learned from it to poison Lady Gu. Daddy Gu has a rant with his wife and he wants to point the blame at her. When this registers, she finally writes a divorce decree. He chooses not to accept and they have one last serious fight. Previews of next ep clearly show the results of that. I am still puzzled by this woman. Was she indirectly forced to marry him because of those sunken documents? Was that her role in the cause for reform? Was she really as weak as she appears or was it to keep Gu in line and out of political trouble. Why else would she allow him a harem with no real argument? Her whole story doesn’t really make sense in the scheme of things. Was she in this marriage to bring a wealthy merchant class into the same tier as nobles? Was this her real objective? What did she get out of it to be worth this much pain in a sham of a marriage? And why do these two women give a rat’s arse about such a little arrogant man? JinZhao will hopefully figure all this out. The one thing made clear was that there was now no blended family. Lan’s actions have made a distinctive line between the families now, but I don’t think it will have the results she’s expecting. She is going to see firsthand the consequences of her handiwork and this time, she won’t be able to delude herself no real harm was done. I am annoyed they are making her character unlikable now and her mother entirely too stupid. I don’t care who the brat gets married off to as long as it’s not Ye Xian or Lord Chen. Good luck with getting any Ji money for her dowry now.😝
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Thanks to Chen JinZhao’s brother (Rong) is finally located. There is a happy reunion with their mother tho both are concerned about her health. Here Ye Xian is actually helpful and gets an exceptional physician there to examine her. He agrees that the script from prior doctor was correct and much more progress should have been made. When the medicine pouches were inspected, it was discovered that rhubarb had been added tho not an ingredient in the script. JinZhao’s aide discovered the culprits and she teamed up with Ye Xian’s aide to capture them. After interrogation, Ye Xian had confessions in hand and was happily on his way to inform JinZhao. His father interrupts and Ye Xian is now basically under house arrest until further notice. He sends his aide to the Gu home while his father makes further plans with Xiao about trouble making Prince. Nanny Zhou is finally called to task for her crimes. After the lashes she will be sent to another estate til she passes. JinZhao is not happy because she blames the concubine and wants her out of the house as well. With this, while the concubine was aware, she was deceived at the severity of the added ingredient. I have not read the book, but in the drama Nanny Zhou was the brains of the outfit who had no bottom line in what she would do or have done to raise the status of her family in the Gu home. The concubine and daughter were not as evil or meanspirited as they are being now. Here it seems the drama is changing their characters to match the book more which is a damn shame. The story would have been much more interesting with the family to have the girls being friends like they were headed in the first few episodes. Once they changed the stepsister to the catty mean girl she is now she is much less interesting and far more predictable. She makes the mom stick to her ignorance story because it is very clear who is not the brains of the outfit.😝 Lan has one last chat with the nanny and promises to look after her mom. Lord Chen has just heard of YeXian’s assist to JinZhao. It never occurred to him that Ye Xian did have skills tho not of the soldier variety. As a spy or assassin he would totally kick ass if his father would acknowledge where his abilities were instead of the incessant berating and lamenting how he did not have a mini me.😝🙄 Ye Xian would love it that Chen is pacing and insecure on how to catch up in JinZhao’s eyes.😂🤣 I am kinda sad he didn’t get to be a bit smug with this because he really deserves a moment to shine in spite of public opinion and his rather reckless impulsive behavior. He is an amalgam of kindness and ruthlessness that he’s figuring out. Chen decides on a gift and has a secret meeting with JinZhao where he gives her a whistle. This is an emergency call for help. She tries it out and he stopped. Here I wish he would have returned to see where the moment led. But that didn’t happen. He did, however, let her know where he would be in a few days. Things are gonna be interesting in the Gu house. Nanny should have been executed for attempted murder, but it will have to suffice that she’s out of the house. What they will probably do is make step sis the new mastermind and that’s a damn shame. She could have been so much more as an ally. JinZhao did her best to get her mother to leave the house and divorce him. Lady Gu can’t deny her unhappiness, but she is determined to continue on her chosen path. Whether she is being a martyr for her children or there is some other story of their marriage we don’t know yet, she refuses to leave him for reasons only she understands. Now to see how stepsister and concubine act without nanny dearest. 😝
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Ye Xian challenged Chen about his job but Chen made it clear that a desperate man was not fit to be near the crown prince. Later his aide revealed Chen was keeping Ye Xian away from the clash of military and nobles. Ye Xian left some gifts for the crown prince and was rewarded with a token that would allow him access to the eastern part of the palace. XuanQing did not want to accept the marriage arrangement Lord Chen and mother arranged for him with Yu Wan Xue. He was brought to a memorial site where his father’s name was remembered. He was a criminal that had caused the deaths of many and his mother committed suicide shortly after. Chen adopted him and made him 5th son. He encouraged him to accept the marriage because he and WanXue’s father were the only two that knew of his father’s crime. If he became an official in the future, his family secret could be kept if his father in law was the only one that knew. JinZhao is so hopeful on the bridge with her kite. She is declaring her affection for XuanQing openly. He wants to accept, but lacks the courage to handle any investigation into his family. So he sends his aide with her notes and refuses her confession. She is very sad but knows she put herself out there and refuses to have regrets. The step sis has been made into the typical mean girl now trying to include the brother with her meanspirited intentions. Surprisingly he stands up for JinZhao, but he also understands that trashing JinZhao’s reputation doesn’t help their status so he gets the step sis to agree to keep her mouth shut about XuanQing. The mother’s cough has returned thanks to nanny😡 She is on my last nerve. I am not a fan of rhubarb, but I am not understanding how that works as a poison with her medicine. The mom shouldn’t be trusting them and have a third party physician. She has sent JinZhso out to enjoy the fireworks and is now coughing blood. This plot was to get the concubine back in charge of the house. That whole meal was almost a complete disaster, but the mother did remember to mention gma and the meatballs to give JinZhaoa small keepsake memory of her family home in Tongzhou. Chen worked to get the iron fireworks at the celebration with JinZhao in mind. JinZhao climbs for a good view of the fireworks and slips. Again Chen rescues her, and tho wearing a mask she now recalls he is the one that saved her in TongZhou. Her maid points out that he has saved her three times and she wonders how she can repay such a debt. YeXian recognizes Chen and knows he is not going to get the girl. XuanQing has a melancholy look as well. Chen’s painting is very like JinZhao and he is startled and pleased as he recognizes he is starting to have feelings for her. He sends his servant to invite her over. He started to add something to the invitation and changed mind so now I am not sure if that meant he also changed mind about invitation. The concubine and nanny were looking pleased. The nanny doesn’t refrain from physical harm to get her way. I really want to see her kicked out and jailed.😡 I am still enjoying JinZhao’s character, but I am absolutely hating that they have completely flipped the step sis’ actions at beginning of story and have made her the typical mean girl. They were so much better as a united pair. The three siblings should be getting along nicely and enjoying the fireworks together but they are all split up instead. This was missed opportunity to have more unique family ties.
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They are already giving the step sister attitude when she started off being the most sensible. I am disappointed that they are making her so shallow now. She starts off episode being jealous of JinZhao’s Coming of age/hair pinning ceremony. There was no reason as it was both hosted and paid for by the Ji family. The ones that actually raised JinZhao. It had nothing to do with her whatsoever since her parents made sure there was no contact between them. She then feels entitled to abscond with the lunch invitation from Ye Xian. Now there is attitude from both parties because JinZhao feels like he’s spying on her and he feels like he was being snubbed. He doesn’t know she didn’t receive the invitation and she has no clue one was offered. This results in the entire debacle at the school. I am really annoyed they are making the sis act more like the nanny than a sister.😝 she goes to the place to watch over Ye Xian not considering at all the fallout of her little stunt to deny JinZhao the invite. Now JinZhao’s mother is giving handcrafted items to the gent family members in JinZhao’s name. She is very unhappy but can’t rebut her mother’s reasoning in why it was in her best interest but annoyed that the reasoning was for being proper marriage material. 😝She uses this as excuse to go to the school and return the book. XuanQing and Yao agreed that the best way to deal with JinZhao’s temper was to send a third party to collect the book she could not vent on. She was disappointed that the one she wanted to see was unavailable and removed a letter she had inside so that no one else would see it. He unfortunately became a target of Ye Xian who made the very wrong assumption she had ditched his invitation to be set up with a scholar. So the young Lord mocked him and then offered him a job when JinZhao interfered with an investigation. Ye Xian then rescinded the job and mocked them both. Nobody could have anticipated the poor guy’s reaction to Ye Xian’s actions. He is rushed to the hospital and JinZhao lights into Ye Xian. He is so enraged he takes his whip and strikes her and then abhors his response and tosses the whip aside. Her letter was dropped in the scuffle. In her defense, JinZhao had every reason to think Ye Xian was a madman. He felt the sting extra hard because in his own way he had sent her a sweet simple invite as a thank you. This is just another blow to his character and person that was just but not really deserved if the full story was told. Here the young Lord’s satiric nature worked hard against him. I truly feel sorry for him in spite of what he did to that poor scholar. I think he sees now that this has cost him any chance with her. The step sis would be gleeful if she saw her success.😝 What this did accomplish was getting XuanQing the letter she had written to him. The brother is not a fan of heart gifts. 😂🤣 He would have been much happier if JinZhao had gotten her way. However, given his attitude and step sis being so much closer and in the know with him, I can only have a very good laugh at his reaction. 😂🤣 JinZhao was returning with his intended gift when she overheard him and step sis talking. She heard his real opinion and him asking her for money. She decides to keep the gift and wonders what he needs money for. XuanQing is reading her notes and is completely enchanted. She would be so happy if she knew he actually got them. She finally realizes they are gone when she checks the sleeves. The scene moves to YeXian’s discarded thank you treats to see him downing his third pitcher of wine. Lord Chen has requested he move and gets an unexpected earful meant for JinZhao. He now knows of her injury and has kept the young Lord from complete disaster by sending him away with his servant. He is then questioned about YeXian’s compatibility with the crown prince and he says they should not be together. Was he saying this for the prince who’s been stirring up trouble or because he truly believes it? If they get separated the crown prince and frost will be sad with his absence. The brother has approached JinZhao for money, but whether or no she gave him his intended gift isn’t known. He is disappointed that she doesn’t immediately give him the money but he can’t complain much while she’s considering it. She is getting a different invitation this time and the sis has not meddled. She is invited to a bday party on the 17th at the Chen residence. She is confirming the invite by meeting on a bridge. This goes to step sis and bro chatting about XuanQing. Step sis is all pleased with herself because she thinks her mischief got the right couple together. She has no clue how much damage her stunt did. It is such a sad change that the sisters went from cohorts in crime to the typical step sis cattiness and machinations. This leaves a very sour taste for me. Now I am wondering if Lord Chen is getting Ye Xian to a safer place because of all the overt chatter about the dad. Whatever the case, Ye Xian wakes up 14 hrs later to learn he is being shipped off to sister’s house in Daxin and he’s been fired from his palace job. At the end of episode a much more sober young lord is coming to confront lord Chen to his face about getting fired. Had he just used his sharp brain to ask about the invitation directly, things would have been very different. I am surprised he didn’t consider that an option besides JinZhao’s direct refusal without a word. She always has too much to say and would have responded with a quirky refusal rather than not show up at all or she would have shown up and told him to not expect to be saved a second time. This is much more in character for her. He should have noticed and now the grownups are changing things for him. I am curious about what Chen is up to with this change of employment. He knows the two got along quite well. Hopefully will be revealed next episode.
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At the beginning of episode JinZhao deliberately picks a fight with Lord Chen so he is distanced from the Nie family matters. They have been placed with a friend where she will have a job and living quarters for the mother and son. Yao is at the Gu home presenting gifts for the family from Gma. JinZhao acts like she always does but he distances himself because she is now officially a lady. It is nice to see that they still have the bickering sibling relationship. 😂 They return with all the land information documents and Lord Chen gives a reminder of promises made to Nie FengMing’s family. Already the old politician has excuses for why it must be delayed. Now that he has what he wants and plans made for the next location, he will conveniently forget the sacrifices already made.😝Yao and XuanQing make arrangements to get to the school and JinZhao gets herself invited. She moons over young Chen and it's obvious she’s smitten. Does she really like the rather dogmatic scholar because of who he is or because she thinks he’s the one that saved her? Lord Chen did make him take on the role as savior for her, but would he have pushed it if he knew that would result in a crush on his nephew? It is funny that Yao is put out by her doting on his benefactor rather than on him. Gma finally arrives but there was clearly conflict en route and bodies arrive before she is seen. Lord Chen arrives with the cargo brought and wondering how much he was involved protecting gma and information. Gma finally arrives and JinZhao is the devoted granddaughter running to meet her. It is nice seeing her have one person she truly loves and loves her back. I am glad the Ji house is where she was raised. Her sis is relieved to see XuanQing is the center of JinZhao’s admiration. She is all eyes on YeXian and wants no competition. At the palace Frost got into trouble and YeXian arrives just in time to see the Prince bullying the crown prince to punish the dog. Ye Xian shrewdly changes course of the conversation by bringing attention to the fact he was in a remote section of the palace out of his regular purview and without announcing himself or requesting an audience. The prince soon makes reason to leave. Ye Xian’s mother is in hover mode since his return and wants to cancel his job at the palace and make him housebound as the heir. While he originally was far from enthused with the palace relocation, I think he likes his new big brother role to the Crown Prince and the last thing he wants is a constant reminder of his heart condition with hovering medical staff at his family residence. His servant reminds him they never thanked JinZhao for her assist at the temple. He goes to the Gu house and finds the sis greeting him at the door. He immediately leaves after commenting how the school was the perfect ground to find a husband. These comments could inadvertently cause a rift between the sisters so I wish he would even just look at the sis when she speaks to him instead of always being on the hunt for JinZhao. Instead of tracking her down at the school, he decides to invite her for dinner. I am hoping if this actually happens that the younger sis can accompany and see that JinZhao has no interest in the guy she likes. When JinZhao sees how much her gma has aged since they parted and that the Ji’s are expected to help with phase two of the land equalization reform she goes and begs Lord Chen to take her gma’s place and let her gma rest and live her life peacefully. He reminds her rather sternly that the matter wasn’t child’s play and dismisses her. After she left his aide asked why teasing her? He had already decided for her to write her experiences down and share them for future ventures. He brings up that he was requested to make a marriage for him and did he have any opinion. Chen assigns him a task that will take him to his hometown and too busy to bother with other things.😂I keep going back to that greedy politician all happy they can tax every square inch of Tongzhou, all the while doing his best to deny Nie FengMing’s family recompense for being instrumental in making this happen. 😡He is even more disgusting than the family clan. They are disgusting but think he’s a criminal. It doesn’t make it ok, but it is a reasonable excuse justifying their actions. This politician knows the truth of the matter and still denies. I hope Chen wipes the floor with him when the time is right.😝😡JinZhao got herself invited to the Chen residence with her gma. As hoped, this allowed her to see XuanQing and get a book from him. Lord Chen is surprised to see JinZhao come to escort her gma. While they are traveling home, he has a letter delivered that recognizes her age and appreciation for the efforts she has given. It allows her to take a much earned rest and to write down an account of everything that occurred in Tongzhou as a model for future village reforms. He gets to look the hero to JinZhao for something he was going to do anyways. At the Gu house, JinZhao is studying the book she borrowed. I think she wants to present herself scholarly and make opportunity for another visit.
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JinZhao is glad she won back the paper weights and Ye Xian still hasn’t figured hers out. The prince is admiring a painting and JinZhao is pretty direct in her critique of it. Technically she thought it excellent but what it lacked was emotion. She changes her tune when she finds out Lord Chen painted it. The prince gets his painting and told YeXian must go back to the palace. It is then revealed he was the only one in the room that did not know the object was an abacus. He would not have found out had Chen not challenged the room. The nephew and mom are curious about why YanWen is barricaded in his room. He is told not to talk about it. When Chen goes back to his bamboo painting he plays back JinZhao’s words. He looks at the willow vase he won and considers how to put true feeling into painting. JinZhao and servant are at the double ninth festival. They run across a long bridge and climb a steep incline to get to the temple to pray from her gma. Ye Xian also heads for the temple, but his heart ailment acted up and he did not have meds. JinZhao and servant show up to use acupressure and he becomes conscious. He wants to know how she can be such a nag when so young.🤣😂 For once he is happy to see her. Servants show up with a chair to carry him down and he is advised to rest several days. The bridge is closed and JinZhao’s servant explores an alternate path. JinZhao went to find her and found herself in the middle of an ambush. There was an attempt to assassinate the crown prince. They suppressed the assassins and turns out the bait was a fake prince.She sees Chen in action and knows he was the assassin on the hill. She gets over her fear and lets him help her up. Her servant is home frantic that her alternate path was also barricaded and she could only keep going. She got a tally from the mom to gather people to find her. Daddy Gu always has to have something stupid to say that isn’t helpful. It goes back to Chen’s place and JinZhao begs that she saw and heard nothing. She is told to take the medicine but she fears poison and makes a good case for sparing her life. He leaves the room and asks how thing went with the prisoner. They figure out who it is and almost the why. Chen is asked why he tests JinZhao when she is one of them. His response same as always is he only knows for sure after testing them. He gives her the task to help settle Nie’s wife and daughter. She comes back and says her task is complete but that they need further help. He flat out says no and she angrily tells him she will handle things for them on her own. More of his infinite testing.🙄 I am grieved that such a brave man has such ingrate clan members. They know what he accomplished but keep him labeled a criminal so they can bully his wife and daughter and steal his estate. 😡 This was not a good place to have to stop.
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