PeachBlossomGoddess

Yes that is the current state of play. I am specifically referring to the time when Huai'an stashed them both at Cangshuichuan in the care of Uncle Hong while he hung out in Chang'an. That was the optimal moment to seize both monarchs. At that point it would have been game over.

I don't think the Tiemo king was ever fully imprisoned by YFS. YFS sent his men to ask him not to escape and tip the scale in the power struggle many times. He just stayed there bc it suited his purpose while the Chang'an was embroiled in power struggle. In any case, the envoy is also a Tiemo prince so there are plenty of heirs. That's why the imprisoning the king (for 15 years no less) logic doesn't make that much sense to me.

Wenjing was the crown prince and should therefore be the legitimate emperor. But he was under YFS's thumb bc he was too young when their father died.
Like most princes when their brothers ascend the throne Wuyang who is a formidable general was sent to his fief with his Wuyang army and should be the most powerful fief lord. He usurped the throne when it was clear his brother was just a puppet under YFS. But many scenes showed he was not really after the throne. So I think he usurped the throne simply to free his brother from YFS's control. He will probably give it back to him now that he is showing himself to be worthy.

Speculation about Wuyang and Wenjing

Huai'an already spoiled this in his letter when he said YZ was too emotional. I knew he was going to get himself stabbed a few times. But as we have noticed, no one dies from stabbing in this drama.... 🤡 unless they take off their head as well. In that case, they are dead dead.😅

Yes but still better than the average drama - fingers crossed we have 8 more to go.

He was amazing in I Belonged to Your World. Low budget, but a true hidden gem. He is a terrific young actor, son of a veteran.

I don't think he is important enough to get that much more screentime but I do hope his sweetheart YZ's shimei guts him.

Wang Jinsong's top billing was always the hint spoiler that he is going to be the final villain.

Wuyang's army is still outside the capital. And so are the 4 military commanders. Only Gu Yu's Baiwenhu army is eviscerated. So they still have a big army but they can't be mobilised until the emperor shows up. The biggest plot hole is that Uncle Long didn't bring Tiemo King/troops to Cangshuichuan to capture both emperors while Huai'an was away. In fact he didn't even need to capture them. Killing them and taking their heads would have been enough. At that point it is really game over and with no real blood spilled. Writing is very good but there are some pretty big holes like this one here and there.

Spot on - it was a psychological battle at the end.

1. Fingers crossed.
2. Yes Tiemo king was definitely one of the 6 that was there that night.
3. I agree. He got a better death than he deserved.
4. I think he recognized who Tiemo king was and was trying to tell Huai'an.

No previews usually mean a big reveal = beware of major spoiler posts.

The reason I say that is after Wang Pu met Huai'an YFS never trusted him again. So I doubt he would ever trust someone like Su who can turn on someone who raised him like a father.

Yang Chuhao planted all as he was organising the Tiemo reception.

It is possible that is how they write it but I don't love that. The thing about thrones is that they are hard to hold on to - that is what this story is all about. How can the Tiemo king hold on to his kingdom while undercover as a spy. And wouldn't the Chang'an spies notice his is MIA for so long? Its just not that convincing to me. I think as Royal Tutor the Tiemo King did get to everyone and insidiously divided the Chang'an from within. Now that he has entered Chang'an with relatively little bloodspill he still has to hold on to it. Not that easy. Both Wuyang's army and the 4 military commanders still have their troops outside. They have to see their emperor before they will act. So Chang'an is not fully lost yet. Only Gu Yu Beiwenhu is lost so far.

There is no excuse and I don't forgive him for that either but Huai'an also has to bear some responsibility for that. They kidnapped Wenjing, starved him, humiliated him, changed his face, turned him into a page boy and gave him an axe no less. That is serious humbling for an emperor - its no wonder he was enraged and traumatized into temporary insanity. He also has very ruthless killer and survival instincts - he instinctively can kill to survive or punish. These are innate emperor instincts. Its a role that only sociopaths with a sense of right and wrong can execute well. At the time YFS controlled him, he had a sense of right and wrong as Han Ziling saw but his convictions were never truly tested. Nor was he ever forced to have to fend for himself. I don't think he is a full on bad guy but I do think he can be. He is a complex character, which is why I find him to be so far, the most interesting one. I am eager to see both the Tiemo king and Wuyang reveal themselves. The veterans are entering the stage at this point. I am seated.

Oh for sure there is no whitewashing YFS.

Qingyi’s mom’s backstory is still unknown.

1. Wuyang is a formidable general, even the 400 men YFS/Tiemo sent to kill him failed. His army is still around. Gu Yu by comparison was well intentioned but not that smart and he can't fight.
2. The 4 military commanders are still intact and are unlikely to defect.
3. Hopefully YZ is still alive. And Shen Xiaoqing.
4. Zhou Mo and the rest of the Huainan buddies should be able to come out of hiding now that YFS is gone.
5. Zhang Sheng and possibly others loyal to his father are still at Cangshuichuan.
6. Qingyi and his mom
7. Last but not least, the axe murderer deposed emperor.

I think he still has some cards left to play: