Kateoz

We won't know until season 3! In the novel, had more to do with Haitang, and perhaps reading her book (once amended!) did help, but to me it really really looked like the super-slash did the job, and the Ye GM was trying to help FX (warning him about Emperor in particular!).

no!

Each to his own - personally I didn't like the Northern Qi stuff that much, lived for the clips of the fab three folks back home (CPP/Emperor/FJ)!

I don't think there was a lot of action scenes in the parts of the novel that were translated into series 2 - the only ones I remember were really in the Jiagnan arc, which only starts in the last couple of episodes (and there is plenty of other action at this end of the series so unnecessary).

It is true that they have reduced the ruthlessness of FX and modifies some of the other characters (or more accurately, transformed them into real, fleshed out characters where in the novel they were little more than caricatures), but that was true in season 1 too - in my view just as well, he is a pretty unattractive character in the novel, and certainly wouldn't have kept me watching this so avidly if they'd stayed true to it!

That said, although the humour acted as a nice counter-balance (no one wants to watch something that is simply too depressing!), season was pretty dark overall, with a pretty hideous underside being revealed about both the society as a whole, and the royal family in particular. Couple that with the lurking threat of the temple/all those sleepers waiting to wake from their pods under the ice (or whatever), and whatever the Emperor's agenda is, and I'm pretty sure season 3 will be even more epic that season 2 was.

As others have said, effectively a declaration he is not a prince/contender for the throne. But of course he’s said things like this before - remember in season 1 assuring second prince he wasn’t carrying water and therefore would not be taking over treasury… only to find out Warner was chicken drumstick girl!
My theory is that when FX realises that Darth Vader (I mean the emperor) is trying to kill Wu Zhu, and more about his plans and the threat lurking in the secret cavern at taiping villa/the temple, he may once again find himself pushed into being a prince.

The missing student is a joke - in the novel he does nothing.

They strongly signalled that the Emperor was his father from the very beginning of season 1 - what illegitimate son of a minor minister gets an escort of imperial guards to bring him to the capital, the Emperor's personal eunuch to escort him to the Temple where the Emperor just happens to be hanging out, and then rescues him from machinations of two main princes!

And season 1 contains two moments where Emperor looked as if he was about to say Luke I'm your father at Taiping Villa - first time interrupted by archer, where Emperor does an amazing backflip to protect FX; second time just before he goes north, when FX himself interrupts the Emperor mid sentence, and Emperor flubs it.

Though in fairness that was true of season 1 too, especially the early episodes. In many cases the explanation for sometime occurs several episodes later (the girls preparing to leap out in a state of undress when FX enters town being the classic example), and in a lot of cases the more times you watch, the more you reinterpret what people are really saying (some of CPPs interactions with Emperor for example)...

Its just that in season 1 there was generally a lot more fighting etc so I guess it was easier to engage at a surface level even if you missed the next layer of meanings...

Second Prince and CP look likely to topple sooner rather than later, so that leaves first prince, who we were told in season 1 can't inherit because his mother is from Dongyi, and that rather unpromising at this point at least 'third' prince (really fourth if you count FX).

Although it sounded outrageously callous, I actually think Emperor was trying to work out whether FX knew that Emperor was a grand master, and so didn't really need protection.
This was in part a test of his loyalty after all, so needed to know if he was just acting in his move to protect him...

Yes I thought it was definitely a result of the Ye Grand Master's action.

Yes one of the strengths of the series over the novel in my opinion!

Yes that's all true, but still, Emperor seemed to be setting stage for him to be publicly acknowledged (just eliminate a few remaining enemies first!) - it is FX who took the active step of rejecting that path by saying he wanted to worship in the Fan family temple (mind you in the book, he actually does it, not just declares an intention, so there are still possibilities....).

No - his protege third prince gets to be emperor.

Comments on final set of eps:

I really wish the cut off point for the story was few episodes later in the plot - I assume the issue is that they don't want to knock off any of the major characters before season 3, but still seemed a bit too much in the middle of a major arc, with lots of the hints at future events that have been a major part of the season (that wheelchair, and what exactly CPPs real agenda is, who the fourth GM is etc etc) still unresolved.

On the plus side, a lot of the stuff in this series around the treasury, and FX's attempts to introduce modern economic developments to the society (banks, treasury bonds, intellectual property rights), make a lot more sense than the convoluted approach in the novel, so good decisions.

I'm a bit disappointed that they followed the novel so closely on FX's reaction to the Emperor's revelation that he is his father though.

Although pretty much everyone here has a negative reaction to the Emperor, I think they've actually made him a fascinating character who does actually care about FX (the move to try and restore his inner qi when he was dying for example, even though he stopped when it became evident that FX had a solution). He's certainly super scary, ruthless, and if what Princess Royal claims is true (and I'm not sure we should take everything she says at face value, she is nuts after all), pretty evil. But the question of whether he is truly just a monster or has some humanity left is not at all clearcut (though clearly season 3 is going to push us further in one direction!).

The Emperor's motivations, after all, are not necessarily about personal greed - he wants treasury restored in part so it can do its relief work, etc for example.

I thought FX's rejection of him on the grounds that he didn't reveal all at their first meeting was a bit unfair, and I can't really understand why, at least before he knew about his true identity) he was so willing to forgive FJ for just abandoning him in Danzhou for the first twenty years of his life without a letter, visit or even teachers provided, even if he did offer a few crumbs of affection.

And of course, I want an ending with FX as Emperor (or working to abolish position and replace it with a more modern system....)!

This has been an absolutely fabulous season, I've enjoyed every moment of it, and am looking forward to the rewatching process, and hoping their promise of a season 3 in the near future is delivered!

The character development was fantastic; although some of them took a long time to appear, we got to see all of my favourite characters again; and the contributions made by the many smaller parts was great. Costumes, cinematography and music top notch.

My only real complaint is that the season isn't long enough.

But I'll make a few comments on Emperor and continuing arcs in last set of episodes in spoilers below.

I don't think it was selfishness prevailing - he clearly started doing something which woke FX up, and FX started giving orders which suggested he knew how to save himself, so Emperor held off acting further.

And his comment to CPP suggests that the Emperor, FJ and CPP were used to his mother pulling rabbits out of hat when needed, and he is the same - although the overall context was what else has he got, we want it, it all reflects a trust in his abilities.

Emperor also hung around operation, and took action when they were all dithering, so clearly concerned and perhaps ready to step in if needed.

That's not true - historically being illegitimate wasn't a barrier to becoming Emperor. We are looking at a culture in which Emperors typically had a large harem, and in theory at least, any son could be a contender for the throne. Empresses son has higher status than anyone else (default heir usually), and status of the mother can help or hinder progress to the throne, but the rules for royals were different to everyone else, basically royal blood is in principle royal blood.

Thanks you so much for these, just binge watched. Really appreciate your kindness!

fabulous thank you - its late night in my timezone but I'm so hyped up after ep 30 that the only solution is to watch more! And especial thank you to the person uploading, very much appreciated!