PeachBlossomGoddess

cherchez la femme...

Yups - I would also add that we should mentally brace ourselves for at least a few episodes of battle of the harem biatches...

Since it is technically a fictional story it is possible that the characters were inspired by more than one historical figure. But I did see articles and (complaining) threads on douban and other sites specifically referencing Hou Jing and how specific historical battles were distorted.

Yes of course and Tang Dynasty for sure was known to have much more open necklines although probably not open boatneck style. Not complaining about it, just observing the costumes have a strong European flavour.
Also note that Empress of China was the one that got everyone in trouble.
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1680474/cleavage-cropping-mainland-censors-trying-redress-tang#

Indeed I am no expert either but it really feels out of place, especially Wang Xuan's open boatneck dresses.... I am enjoying it regardless its such feast for the eyes.

LOL - they are mopping the floor with those outfits.

Yeah luckily they got away with it because I think some other pending blockbuster production got held up indefinitely for too low necklines and European like costumes. I wondered when I saw the outfits here whether that was another reason this was stalled for so long although since it is supposedly a "fictional" story it is not held to the same standard of historical accuracy.

Without spoiling you, he was poisoned and is ill he is just pretending to not have the full mental acuity that he does.

Yeah me too... I can tolerate a small amount of cat-fighting but not 37 episodes... fingers crossed that's not the case...

The costumes are remarkably European looking, including the battle armour of Xiao Qi's army.

Wang Xuan and Xiao Qi were loosely based on a real people:
https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2021-01-22-%0A---there-is-a-cruel-historical-fission-behind-%22shangyang-fu%22%0A--.B1lay4l_Jd.html
The English/translation is iffy and they are described in the bottom paragraphs.
Xiao Qi's character was inspired by:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hou_Jing
It appears in history he did have 3 heads and 6 arms. Wang Xuan is supposedly the Liyang princess that he married.

Divide and conquer. He is definitely smarter than Wang Lin.

Indeed but ultimately he was disappointed in Zidan. He asked him if he wanted her because marrying Wang clan means obtaining the universe. And he said she is his universe; ie he she is his end in of itself and he is not ambitious. So in the end he had no son worth rooting for. He just satisfied himself with revenge against Wang clan and he even used Wang Xuan to take them down. Checkmate. Maestro.

He is the true mastermind in this show so far, he is much smarter than Wang Lin. He is never quite helpless and is able to pull the strings even from a position of weakness. His scheming is diabolical - he even deals a crushing blow to his queen on his way out by playing on her insecurities and exposing her. And the way he created doubt in the second prince's mind - "Are you sure you are not my son? Because someone told you? You are just like me...(ie ruthless and ambitious)." I am gonna miss the crafty old goat. I hope a better antagonist steps up going forward because if this just devolves into an inter palace harem kind of show of Wan Ru vs the dowager empress vs Wang Xuan it would be a real pity. Neither woman are interesting villains or worthy opponents of Wang Xun. Even if Xian Qi saves Wang Lin surely he cannot come back from trying to seize the throne.....

The emperor is really the master chess player:

Mary Sue is one of the most widely mis-used and lazy ways to describe a character because it can apply to most FLs out there in some way or another. Its like saying oh there is a FL in this drama, which is a matter of fact but hardly interesting.

Well she didn't make any points that were incremental to what is already widely said about the drama. I found it a waste of time and pointless but if it helped you your time was well spent.

Chang Chen also has remarkable chemistry with ZZY but just like A'wu and Zidan, that was first love and ZZY and ZYW's Wang Xuan and Xiao Qi is a true, grownup love. It is a totally different vibe and I think both roles/couples are iconic in her/their acting history.

I agree completely - I loved the plot and the way the backstory was revealed in L&R but not so much the characters. Funnily even though I mean to, I haven't been able to re-watch the Wolf because I am not ready to go through that again.

Indeed. Its so great that this character in its totality is interpreted by ZZY and no one else.