QAS

The monkey business really changed my perception of Ye Li. I thought she was tough as nails until the monkeys showed up.

Who is Prince Mo Jing Li's wife? She keeps appearing, looking depressed. Is Ye Ying, the half-sister of Ye Li?

I bingewatched the first seven episodes in a day. Bai Lu looks very pretty, and the makeup is good. Ye Li seemed to be the mastermind of a secret network, which confused me, but after reading the comments below about the Academy, I see it is a big revenge plot. One of the best scenes was when the newly promoted chubby minister went up in flames. At the time I was confused why he was Ye Li's target. So, did Ye Li plot to marry into the Mo family, to get into the palace?

I am not sure about the Empress Dowager. Is she the mother of the Emperor? They act formal toward each other. She doesn't seem to want to give up her "Regent" status and turn over the throne to the Emperor.

Cheng Lei looks very good. Acting in a wheelchair must have been tiring, since he is stationary. I hope he learns to walk soon.

Lee Hong Nae aka Cha Jun's old video.

https://youtu.be/P27TZMWw5-8?si=Hhjp47HGnRTPN-rG

Thanks! I can recognize some of the old timer cohosts and some guests on the current shows. I used to watch the K-entertainment shows in between K-dramas.

I added Uncanny Counter to my watchlist. He looks psycho in the clips I have seen. I watched K-dramas sparingly over the last ten years, but Kitchen Soldier has sparked my interest in watching the genre again.

Yes! First time, watching that show on Youtube. I used to see Yoo Jae Seok on other programs over the years. He used to be one of the few entertainment hosts with programs simultaneously on KBS, MBS, SBS.

For his fans, a five years' old video:

https://youtu.be/KLuuJvm6y30?si=PlaZMRAP_JJMVCCc

I hope producers and directors take notice, and cast him as the main lead in a serious drama. I just watched a reality show with Yoo Jae Seok as the host. Park Ji Hoon, Lee Sang Yi and Yoon Kyung Ho were the guests. It was funny. Lee Sang Yi and Yoon Kyung Ho are outgoing and chatty, but Park Ji Hoon is reserved. Lee Hong Nae should have been asked to participate in the show.

I hope she gets a promotion at the end of the drama. Is Hwang Seok Ho's title, Major?

I think he might pull out a surprise. He doesn't look like the villain.

Youku needs to bring back two daily episodes. One episode per day is slowing down the momentum.

He was also irritating me in the beginning. I was surprised when he changed his tune, as they say. 🤣🤣

We should have caught on when he said his daughter was 6 years' old. I thought he was old to be having a child at the age of 54. 🤣🤣😆😆

They look good enough to eat. I was thinking of the dim sum restaurant. 😂😂

Perhaps Hwang Seok Ho has a rich uncle or father, or they were army officers and he wants a promotion to impress people.

Also, the music filler and extraneous BGM irritate me. Songs are good at the beginning and the end of the episode, but songs pop up during the episode, and sometimes when the characters are talking.

I agree. I think one of the previous costume dramas was 32 episodes. I can't imagine the writers ran out of ideas. I can barely get through 40 episodes, but 30 would have been a good number for Ashes to Crown.

He recognized the hairpin design that Ma gave to him. He saw it at the fire scene. I think Ma was the woman who rescued him from the fire, but she's dead now, so he can't ask her. He might be searching for the design, to find out who tried to kill him.

I didn't think she had bothered to train in the Chu Army while she was growing up, but Yan Lai did teach her to fight with a sword for a few drama minutes. LOL