Lela2004

I think the title reflects FL’s words to ML that she wants them to take “the road to splendor” together. And at that point FL envisions power and status, basically exactly what ML later achieves at great cost. At that point, however, FL changes her point of view and rejects that roadto splendor. So I think the title is very fitting. Bottom line: The road to splendor isn’t necessarily the road to happiness…

Ironically, Yake might have had the right instincts at the beginning. Looking at FL’s brother, his wife is not so different from who Yake was and is again at the end of the story. But FL, taking her grandmother’s teachings to heart, had to play judge by deciding “oh, my family will bully Yake because of her low standing”. I’m pretty sure the older version FL, after the experiences she had made, would have made a different choice and would have given Yale’s flowers to her brother.

Preferences and taste differ, obviously. For me, neither PoJ nor BoP can hold a candle to TRTS. (I don’t know TFJ).

Actually, the CP (later emperor) makes it clear when he urges ML should join the military that he will promote ML to a high ranking position, if he can accumulate *some* merit in the army. The emperor wants the ML’s skill set for the capital and uses the army to whitewash his resume and test whether he can hold his own.
If the story were a show case about all the merits, it would fall into the same trap as too many c-dramas do: celebrating wins for the crown, instead of questioning the whole concept of “being a blade for a monarch”. Precisely that different focus elevates this c-drama and makes it special.

What irked me for some time was how she pushed him into the military. I was ready to overlook it. Turns out this becomes a big regret for her. Loved the ending, how he rejected the promotion… Some of my favorite scenes are him battling his demons and her desperate because of his change during the court arch… Great acting from both leads.

10/10 for me. One of my all time favorites.

In my view he rocks the beard, way better than without.

Oh my…

I wanted to comment on that, too.m, you beat me to it: Yes, what the emperor did to Mo Yi precisely mirrors what grandma did to FL. It is tragic that our leads cannot escape this Machiavellian logic.

Finally, someone who is on the same page as me on that issue! 😁

I feel the same way.

Right?

Well, I have yet to watch Ep31, but I got myself spoilt.

All I’ll say is that, for one, Ep31 is a great reminder that monarchies should not exist, and then that the Ming dynasty was so dysfunctional at that point that it was beyond saving. I know, some are miffed that our main couple probably won’t remain a political couple in the capital, but considering the lunacy of the Ming dynasty, this is objectively the best decision in the long term. This story hasn’t exactly been a fairytale from the beginning, why should it turn into one now?

So, I’ve tried to search previews of the coming episodes, searching for e.g. “The Road to Splendor Ep 34”, and YouTube wants me to sign in, because “ the results may be inappropriate for some users”. What the hell, YouTube?!?

Not gonna lie, it felt so satisfying… A guilty pleasure, I guess, but that man was just insufferable and a menace…

Well, they already have a grandson, so… 😉

That came so out of left field. The Yu couple are playing some serious chess, there.

I really hope I’ll have the strength to wait for full release. With Moonlit Reunion I had a similar timing issue as this year (no peace and a bad internet connection during the release window) and I missed a lot of the content.

Ep 34 preview: YJX, this might look like a dream come true, but -for my sanity - please sit this one out!

But ML isn’t so well connected to understand who to walk over and sacrifice. And also, he’s not ready to frame and sacrifice innocent people. That restrains what he can do…

I actually think ML is out of his depth as a court official, and anything else is unrealistic - it is very different from the battlefield or Ganlin. Sure, FL’s brains can help somewhat - but she was also not raised as a politician. It is frustrating, no doubt, but realistically, this will always be an uphill battle, I think.