Platinum Fox

Sambit, since you have finished the drama, I feel I can speak more about the mother from my perspective. The main thing we know about mom's past is she was divorced, most likely because of repatriation. First, she is a general in her own right. To be a general you must be literate, clever, intelligent, observant, a planner, flexible, and a disciplinarian. This leads me to suspect that she didn't listen to her previous husband and wouldn't just blindly go along with everything he decided for the family. Thus leading to many arguments and divorce. She even says as much when she says something to the effect, "In order for me to discipline NN, the husband will have to agree and help. So we know she has run into this situation before where the husband (past or present) did not support her in how she ran the household or when she made a decision.

Also, I think she was repatriated because her previous husband wanted to take a concubine, and she wouldn't let him. Instead of the previous husband giving in, he divorced her. We can infer this when mom was extremely angry with Lou Yao's mother for suggesting SS and the other girl both marry Lou Yao at equal status. Mom even says, "The Cheng family men only have one wife."

Finally, Mom obviously came from an educated household and before NN's dad was married to someone of the noble class as she knows what the noble girls will bully NN with (her illiteracy, lack of etiquette, and unruly behavior). These are the very things that the noble girls do bully NN about and this is NN's reputation among the nobles. Mom works to change this, but NN resists.

At the wedding proposal, mom only repeats NN's reputation among the nobles. Reputation is everything. Also, during that speech, mom says, "I would not allow a girl like NN to become a part of the family." Meaning she has been through this and knows what will happen if NN brings shame to the royal family. Remember the emperor has only heard about NN through LBY who is biased. The emperor and empress do not know her reputation among the higher ups.

I hope that I have given you some food for thought, but I do see where you are coming from shaming someone in front of everyone is pretty harsh, but is it really shaming if it is the truth?

There is a reason for that. The age of consent is 14 in China. People are trying to get it changed, but have had no luck. If you can't change a law, change people's mindset about the law. Zhao Lu Si could not play the part even though she usually plays a 14/15 year old all the time. She is too tall for the part. As I stated before, the actress who plays the role is only 11, and she has played a younger version of Zhao Lu Si's character in Who Rules the World. They needed her height to illustrate that even though the girl is 14, she still looks like a elementary student. Meaning that 14 year olds are still children, not adults. In fact, you are considered an adult at 21 and can get married.

The dialogue when they are standing in the doorway is very important to this social commentary. In fact, the whole drama is a social commentary on this issue.

I have encountered worse parents in present day society. Since I don't know how far you are in the drama, I don't want to say too much and spoil things for you. I have been watching this part again because, for me, the mother character is the most fascinating character in the drama. The audience has really criticized how she treats SS. When looking at her actions you need to look at them through a historical lens not a modern one. When you do this you see that mom is actually quite progressive for the era in trying to tame her "unruly" daughter.

As for the favoritism towards Yang Yang there is a reason for that. Favoritism and its harmful effects are themes throughout the drama.

Actually they do. Mom processes with the 3rd Aunt quite a bit and with Qing Cong, and you gradually see her softening her touch until SS collapses the bridge.

Usually Zhao Lu Si plays the character at that age, but this time she could not because she was too tall for the part. The first five minutes of the drama explain this. The actress who does play the role was in fact 11 and has played a younger version of Zhao Lu Si's character in Who Rules the World.

You are very welcome. I hope you are enjoying the drama.

That is a really good observation. Many people have criticized the mother for her treatment of SS, yet Consort Yue hits her children and calls them names in private and in front of the other children. She even slaps one of Shen'an's children which shocks the emperor and Shen'an. And everybody loves her.

The break up is a montage of things happening to LBY on the Northern Border where he has sentenced himself for 7 years. Within 5 years he is recalled to the palace due Shen'an health. There is more after that before the two get "back together" as a couple. You really do need to watch episode 50 to understand why they break up. The break up is the whole reason for her words in episode 1 at the very end.

Depends on what you think is important.

It is in the discussion posts under Realistic Expectations.

I need to ask you first if you have seen Princess Agents? The two main leads are in that drama together. This is their second time working together as leads. If you haven't watched it, then watch the first few episodes and you will have your answer.

I agree with you. I tried to watch TLOSL and couldn't make it past episode 13. The main leads acted like they were bored to tears with their roles (as they have played the same role many times) and were only doing them for the fans. PA is the better drama.

That was their homage to Princess Agent.

Yes, you're right this drama is about love and its many forms, but to state that only LBY and SS shared romantic love is simplifying the definition of romantic love to its physical aspects. Something that LY and SS were unable to develop fully because of an outside force. Yet, the two shared romantic scenes together as he pursued her. Unlike with LBY and Yuan (who have the flashbacks), Lou Yao and SS have no regrets about their love affair and parting.

Thanks for the discussion. Happy pondering.

Isn't protecting someone, love? Isn't that what LBY does for SS, and everybody says that, that is love? You have defined what love means for you. Love to you means the physical aspect of love and there is nothing wrong with that. Many people agree with you. I, however, look at her relationship with Lou Yao and see something different. She loves him very deeply, but she is not ready for the physical aspect of love yet. The fact that she can let him go for the greater good shows that she can think outside of herself. Something that she was not able to do at the beginning.

For me, the reason why there are no flashbacks with Lou Yao is because her love for him is on going and there is no regret on her or his part. There just will not be any physical aspects of love between them which is what the audience wants to see. Enter LBY who the audience wants to see her with, but does LBY love her? Or is he merely attracted to her actions. He represents ethos in the art of persuasion. Whereas LY represents pathos. Yuan represents logos. Love is not logical which is why he will never have SS.

In Asian dramas I have realized that it is all or nothing when it comes to love. The writers are challenging this belief. Can you love more than one person?

Foolship, the writers challenge many tropes in this drama. The idea of what is love is one of them. Only you can decide if they were in love. The rest of us can only give you our opinion.

I disagree. LY and SS at this point in time have a great deal in common because of their age. SS is 15 and LY is probably 17/18 maybe. They are both impulsive. Emotions drive their actions. Both feel oppressed and unloved at home. They share the same goal. Neither one really understands what love is because neither has experienced it. They come up with their own definition. They understand each other. Romantic love could be just wanting to be near each other, talking with each other, giving gifts to each other, feeding each other, etc. This type of love is a powerful thing. It made SS feel safe and secure. Shouldn't your lover be your best friend? By the end of the engagement they were holding hands. Meaning they would soon be ready to move on to the next level of romantic love. At the end of the engagement, there are no flashbacks, why? Is this to say that this is true love or not love at all? Just my opinion. Also, in the suitor realm, LY represents pathos. He is able to get SS to marry him through an emotional appeal. Her fear of not having enough food. What is he good at, finding food!

Glad you and others enjoyed it. I just could not get into it.

Depends on your definition of love. If you go by what SS and LY decide their definition of love is, then, yes. Most commenters say no. They say it lacked the romantic kind of love. I disagree.

Lou Ben died before any of his family could be implicated. However, the Lou family does not escape punishment. Because Tutor Lou didn't promote the second house, he was stripped of his titles and banished to his home county to live as a commoner. Tutor Lou's wife and daughter are sent back to her family. Later we find out the parents get killed by Lou Ben's wife. To make up for the grievance done to the second family and with a recommendation from Shao Shang, Lou Yao is appointed assistant magistrate to Hua County.

The writers are challenging the societal belief that what the patriarch/matriarch does should not affect the family (Peng Kun) unless the entire family believes that way. Also do you really think the emperor would have killed the Cheng family without all the facts? This is why they are taken in for questioning. It is only the general, whose niece was punished for what she did to Shao Shang, who wanted to kill the Cheng family as an act of revenge.

There is a lot of social commentary going on in this drama. The writers challenge many of the age old tropes and societal beliefs. This is why LBY wants to die after he kills Ling Yi, he doesn't want his crime to affect the Cheng family.