Keiyun

One of the running themes in this drama area that depending on the Emperor is a terrible idea, since it's not guaranteed that he is wise. Even if he's wise, the throne is constantly changing hands, and you're rolling the dice with each one.

Agreed, she's not super smart and I think she's easily manipulated.

I would love to see her be more assertive this time around and shut DIL down, but her character has been consistent throughout - generally has good intentions, but doesn't see the bigger picture.

She's always been like this though. She obviously feels for her niece, but she's too focused on "face", reputation and seeing through the marriages of her children.

As Grandpa Lin said, she doesn't see the bigger picture. I don't think she means any harm, but she's not particularly smart nor brazen enough to do something more drastic to help her out.

I think there was enough there.

Her education clearly points to her being from a noble family. Then there's too many things that are inexplicably tied to the Shen family (being saved by Shen Jia Lan, knowing the name of the servant who gave Lanxiang the clothes, her reaction to the grave site, her father being the one who sent the painting to Jinqi's grandfather). Then the grandfather confirms his suspicions by saying Elder Shen taught Shen Jialan personally.

I think Jinqi is meant to be a fairly sharp guy. While having a montage of all the things put together would make it easier to understand, it would feel a bit out of place for the drama to have an 'aha!' moment like that.

It's been handled similarly to the progression of how Jinqi worked in the capital, eventually leading to his resignation and return to Jinling. There was no scene with him explicitly telling the emperor he was leaving.

The one place I think needed something more overt was Lanxiang showing she had fallen for him. But again, I'm not sure how they would've handled it. Most shows would've put him in a life death situation and the FL would bawl their eyes out, but that doesn't work with how subtle this drama is. 🤷

NOOOOOOOOOO

Trauma. I hated his guts so much in Love and Redemption, but did an excellent job.

I feel you! I'm really glad it's not stuck with the usual 40 episodes, I've felt like most of the shows have always needed a couple more to flesh out their endings. I miss the epic length dramas from years ago.

In saying that there are some that somehow get cut from 40 down to the low-mid 30s, like How Dare You. It was almost perfect, I really feel like the original ending (instead of the abridged ending) would've put the cherry on top. What a missed opportunity.

And then when he asked if he had hidden anything from the Emperor.

I had completely forgotten about the deposed crown prince. Actually felt a chill run down my back, that would ABSOLUTELY be something that gets your entire family killed.

I could see him sweating bullets there heh. Better hope the guy never comes back, or if he does, he better win.

I loved that he was literally the only person happy about this wedding!

Same! I had a lump in my throat through the entire episode and cried so much - it's a strange set of feelings. In almost all dramas at about this mark, you see the couple get married. And it's usually a release - like you finally see the couple come together after many trials and it's a sigh of relief. But here, it's a sense of foreboding.

What a strange set of circumstances we have here in this wedding. The events are so cheerful and lively, and Jinqi himself looks so happy, but the entire time we have a melancholy song playing in the background - it really evoked the feelings of what Lanxiang would've been feeling in that carriage. Surrounded by joy but internally mourning the life she's forced to leave behind, holding in all her anger, sadness, fear.

I also loved the contrast between her being unable to eat the pastry with "Lin" on it in the past, but spitefully taking bites out of it this time.

Overall this show is amazing. I'm dying waiting for the next episodes but I'm also dreading when it's over. I haven't watched something this good in years.

Lanxiang is a trooper, she'll be fine as she said.

But yeah I'm super keen to see how she changes their minds (if their minds can be changed) and how Jinqi actually wins her over. I assume that's how the story goes, it feels like it's heading for a redemption arc.

I loved it! What a stark contrast to the usual imperial decrees.

I felt so bad for Scholar Han - he did everything right, not a single thing wrong. But it still didn't matter, because the ML was THAT determined.