PeachBlossomGoddess

Oh - why only 51? Is it incomplete? Do you have a link?

Is it good? My PTR list is way worse than my PTW list I think I need to live another 100 years to read everything I plan to...

Well he became indifferent towards the end (Yang Guifei was one of the 4 great beauties after all) and his reign was tainted by the An Lushan rebellion. His son Suzong succeeded him shortly after that. Interestingly the eunuchs became super powerful during Suzong's reign and we seem to be seeing the beginnings of that in this show. That is why I am confused about when this story is set. I guess its a more fictionalized account so they just may be taking a lot of liberties with historical facts. The dead giveaway to that is of course how they kind of shy away from naming him specifically.

Yes but he was the longest reigning (over 40 years) and got tired and cynical at the end, just wanted to retire to the mountains with his young beauty. Longest Day kind of deals with those themes during his sunset years. This show seems to be more focused on his earlier reign, possibly closer to his ascension given where the plot is going. I just couldn't find anything on misbehaving eunuchs but he was there for such a long time, it is hard to search for it.

So this Tang emperor is Xuanzong of Yang Guifei fame - the same one in Longest Day of Changán. His ascent to the throne was messy to say the least.

Geez I wish I didn't c this... I am already on the verge of dropping...

Well if its any consolation, that may explain why he looked so pissed off and ready to explode at the enemy every time... LOL.

I think the story ended where it should. The best dramas always end with us wishing for more and that is where this one stopped.

Yeah one of Li Shimin/Taizong's great achievements was he stabilized most of the borders - no one advanced or retreated but there was a peace. I think this show is only about the Eastern Turkish border, the Western borders were still unstable. It took him most of his reign to get it all done. Until of course the mongols came along another couple hundred years later to overrun China.

Yups, they went back to a truce, I didn’t s anyone surrendered. That is also consistent with history.

Generally the first version I watch is always the "best". But I guess if censorship changes dramatically in China then this (and other) BLs would get the most value added remakes. Even absent that, I guess this could use some refinement: 1. get rid of the creepy vibe between Zhao Jing and Scorpion King, 2. I would have liked to see how Chengling and WKS resolved his parents death and 3. (I am on the fence on) not have a GOT red wedding.

Even if there is more to come, a mastermind/challenger to the throne is a big reveal and it obviously doesn't need to come so soon. It just seems like they just wasted an amazing twist - it didn't need to come at the very end but so soon and in such an anti-climatic way with zero buildup. I feel like I do when I accidentally see a spoiler. I feel like posting a giant warning like please skip that prologue everyone.

I am very disappointed they feel the need to show us who Duke Chang is - it is much more fun to figure out who he is and even if there are just not enough clues and it has to be revealed, it is way to early in the drama. Now I feel like I already know where the plot is going and we are barely halfway through. It is way too early.

Yes indeed... it is interesting to see what twist they put on this piece of scandalous history...

He is a good actor one l like but the character was a scumbag from the get go. He is doing a good job being a scumbag.

Regardless of whether Chen Ji reciprocated, in history, his death was what caused the CP to unravel, which seems to be the way it is playing out here... If he was a plant, its interesting he emerges from Han household.

Never liked him.

Yeah so do I but I always get alarmed when characters I like take a wrong turn... In any case, if she figures it out quickly its all good.

Well its good to know it is a temporary lapse and she realises quickly because this is not about her. I understand her desire to protect the old man in the past but now that she knows he is Prince An's father it is inexcusable. And she has proven herself as a kick ass coroner so many times I can't believe she is so insecure.

LOL, that cracked me up too!