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you can almost blame everything nasty and angsty in this show to the first half to qiao and almost the entire to ou family. so dont worry. they sort it out in less than 2 episodes

hahaahahah.. i would love to see some sweet family time together. hope they properly wrapped it out in 2 episodes at least or min 1 full episode of togetherness. not rid the bad guy last episode and give a 10 min wrapping up. hahaha

my comment under Snackle Post, two posts above referred. i believe that is his journey to falling for her.

As for her, she never like him and thought of him as someone of a playboy (because qiao threw herself at him and qiao and him were caught in a compromised state even though it was schemed by her sister) and ruthless (because he coldly shoot the arrow while she was still held as hostage). n he continuously accused her for scheming with her sister including giving her warning on their wedding night. She is never scare of him and ask for his favour because she simply doesnt care and all she want to do his find the murderer of her mum.

Then after encountering him a few times, especially how he fetch her home after his mum send her to the countryside due to some superstition and he managed to appease his sister in law and bother to find out what happen with the guards who left their duties. ~ her words is he is not so bad after all.
then his son illness shows her that he cares a lot and does not seems like the ice block and ruthless as he portrayed to be. and he does not simply punish people wo proof and speak up for her and firmly does not agree when his mum want to keep her grounded due to some superstition believing she will harm his son.
The porridge saga was a turning point for her too i believe as she saw him as a hands on person and have a big heart to care for the refugees whilst he can be so gentle with her and protecting her while barking out mean order to stop the riot.
After the feng ching (the illegimate son of his brother), she mentioned to her maid that if he is open to her, she will also treat them with an open heart. but i doubt at that point she loves him.
But she is slowly responding to him. from hand feeding him with soup (when he tease her about his hand in pain and she knew he was bluffing), to letting him sleep on her bed (she uses his arm as pillow), then slightly more skinship and she look comfortable in the same room as him. then after them taking down qiao together, she let him pull her close and hug her and in ep 27 their first kiss. She only truly realised she loves him upon accidentally hurting him. That was obvious, he gave her a divorce agreement (which she did not sign) to protect her should his mum found out that she stab him as he is a court official on duty. When his mum came with the poison wine (thinking that he died in a fire), she could have used the agreement but asked her maid to burn it. saying very loud and clear and if he dies, she will not live on.

so it was a journey. nothing instantaneous. like a boom specific moment!!! although it was much faster for him. he start courting her in ep 22 onwards d. by moving into her bedchamber.

Nope they both had no feelings for one another. he sees her as equally scheming as her sister and that is why on the wedding night he told her he does not want to see the repeat of such scheme and she better behave herself and do her duty and they will live in peace. it was like a warning...dont give me problems. i do my part, u do yours.

he attempted to consummate with her because he remembered his wife last wish is to give her sister the dignity accorded to the main wife so she can officially look after her son and in those days if ur hubby dont sleep with u, the whole household will look down on you even the servants as they see that ur hubby does not favour u. and he went there 2nd night even though he was reluctant. the scene he stopped at the doorway and then he went anyway. After he stopped going 3rd day on due to some bickering in the carriage and she refuses to take his hand while descending the carriage, u see the older servants start to disrespect her.

And during their interactions, he sees her the only wife who dare to talk back and razored him while others kinda just throw themselves to him and try to please him. so his interest was kind of perked by her around ep 7 to 10. But all throught those episode he gave her the dignity/respect accorded to the main wife in front of everyone. I think he only started see her as reasonable likeable person after she was nearly kidnapped because she was kind enough to leave the household to reside in their country forced by his mum because of some superstition. i think he also sensed that she need some protection from him besides the dignity. then immediately after that his son was ill and he saw her patiently and tirelessly taking care of him. and very importantly she got the son to response positively to him. chunge was terrified by daddy but he yearns for his love. Shiyi seems to be able to get the father and son to interact and he appreciated that. I see him start to truly like and respect her during the porridge saga and how she hold up the situation and smartly handle the situation, which can be beyond even a man capacity. and through the event of fengching and up to ep 22 he finally acknowledge he has fallen in love and started the journey of wooing his wife. hahaha....

U are almost there to see the revelation. Hang on just a bit more. It will be a very nice episode yo watch. Very soon from ur ep 24.

hi hylynangel, sorry to confuse u....the bit when i say men of that era onwards was my response to her comment about lingyi character being too cold to his women. I was like wow...you must be kidding me.... men of that era have to sleep with women all the time....??? u get my reverse 'tone '....hahaha....but i edit my post with her comment in apostrophe and add to my response to be less confusing. i totally agree with you. the drama actually does a good logic and explained his coldness and not sleeping with them well. the drama context start with him returning to be base in capital city after being station away for a long while. so he was really only on and off home. u saw his mum welcoming him in tears in ep 1. then yuanniang was very ill and at that point he only have wen and qin. then he was set up by yuanniang causing him to turn away turn away inner courtyard. i also wanted to add during yuanniang funeral he saw of them bickering instead of mourning and it was a huge put off. so, that one year of yuanniang mourning period he was barely home and if he is, he went to his banyuepan (as discussed by qiao and her maid in ep 7 after the wedding). i thought that is also a gesture of respect for his first wife as supposedly u respectfully celibate from sex, entertainment and drinking (he doesn't have to but it can be if the man choose to) during mourning period. after one year, it was marrying shiyi d. that is the context of the drama. yes, it does make lingyi a bit too saintly but it has to suit the taste of many of the viewers who already doesnt like polygamy. So to me, it is very logical.

And all ur other points on costume and etiquette is very well said. i totally agree with u. so ya...dont be put off this drama. after ep 7 things will be very clear and interesting and the acting from the leads, the sets and the cinematography and ost are all a joy to watch. don miss it. one note: i see that many side actors also did a good job even though their expressions are prob not care for and but the maids, his chamber boy, his assistant general and other personality did not stand deadpan, when necessary they professionally look sad and shocked etc for the situation in the background. i thought that is so enjoyable. u will totally enjoyed the actors mini actions which cannot be directed but u have to get into tat role to give that life to the character. Give a simple example: a bit spoiler if u have got there yet ep 13. when the son is sick, both stayed up whole night to take care of him. when he woke up coughing, father rub his chest and tap him and mommy rub his forehead and wipe him down. the sync of that actions are so natural and so parental. for those taking care of sick kid at home, u know that is so real and the togetherness as parents in those scenes are so nice to watch. not all actors can do that. this is only one example. there are many many small gestures like this which makes me so appreciative of the drama.

wow thanks for the enlightening comment. i never listen to her review until recently. so i did not know it was like that for minglan. i love minglan story and i love the sword and brocade. there are two individual productions set in two different dynasty and the script and production is completely different. both enjoyable.

No no ...She din say that. She says it is not logical he behaves so cold to a point to cruel to those women especially he was sleeping with them previously and have kids too. Like the show wants to give the reason for why he end up loving one woman.

The part of the... men of that era.. are my thoughts in response to her statement. Sorry it was confusing. i edited my post d.

first 5 episodes is rather uncomfortable with so many schemes and bullying. but after the wedding in ep 7, things start to move better and get more and more interesting into the relationship of the leads and them getting to know each other better through various occurrences in the family.

he went back to ou family because he believes his brother has something to do with shiyi mum death (from the scar on the assassin). because he went back he started to be more involved in politics and family affair. but so far he steer clear from their underhanded ways. also because his father loves him alot so he has not brought him to the family core business (ie smuggling and piracy).

i agree they are showing them talking to much to one another and may be easily used by bad intention people to create gossip and stories. is like don put yourself in that position. but in later episode, lingyi and shiyi got a fair bit of help from him to overcome their problems. lingyi later did not see him as a love threat because shiyi is very open about to her husband whenever she has any conversation with ou. So don get upset yet. he is an honest guy and he is not the clingy sml. He was so honest to confess his interest of shiyi to lingyi too and he told him it was before he knew she was married. now he knows he will not lower himself to go after someone's wife and lingyi appreciated that. Lingyi and shiyi did not let him spoil their relationship as well. but i get a feeling sometimes lingyi go sulky and jealous and then his wife will come and rub his ego haha.....rather cute.

i unfollow her too. Whilst i appreciate her knowledge of chinese culture, it is rather bit disappointing she starts picking on little details which is unnecessary because we are watching a drama not a documentary hahaha...few things she commentd i was a little disturbed are as folows, her comment i highlight in apostrophe.
1) "the costumes did not follow the ming costumes to the tilt esp the women ones. well some does look very nyonya" but my opiniion is this is a fictional drama. well it was never promoted to be following the era closely like ruyi palace. in fact if this is a biography story of someone important or interesting of that era i can understand that criticism. but it is not. N it did not lessen the logic of the story right. So i think that is bit unneccessary.
2) She commented that" Lingyi character being too illogical because he was unnecessary cold to all his wives and concubines and that is impossible for that era". My opinion is ....Really?!!!! WOW.. I did not know that men of that era must be sleeping with all the wives round their clock. So, I did not know Men of that era cannot be so fed up with the women he has and decide to celibate for long time.So does she that mean Men of that era cannot feel tired to be treated like a trophy husband only yearned for by his wives for his status, power and influence. I think it was very well explained in the drama why he was cold to them. All of them are have different passion and goals in life, interests from him. they are his responsibities. i mean when a guy has tonnes to do and he goes home and he looks at all these women, it spells task 1, task 2, task 3m task 4...i dont think any man can really want to fall in bed and get cosy with them. He was cold to qiao a new concubine and it was explained in Esp qiao in ep 26. He says it very clearly that if she did not walk into the inner courtyard she would not have gotten into the mess even if yuanniang set her up. He did not like her since the beginning for throwing herself at him. to him that is too blatant and distasteful and when he did want to be nice to her and she was playing the zither to please him, he looked suddenly turn off. it was explained in ep 31, he swear he will not play the zither ever again until he can bring justice to his father and brother death. So even if qiao was matching his interest in zither, he just snap out of it. So Avenuex comment makes me think did she really watch carefully through her 18 episodes. s
3) She says" wallace seems to pick the wrong scripts in all the recent years". i did not watch many of his drama honestly and i m not his die hard fan. But i honestly enjoyed his acting to the max in this drama. all the micro-expression and body language he did. xu lingyi became alive through wallace. it was like xulingyi is wallace and wallace is xulingyi. i think we really should appreciate the actor hard work and talent. She did not really comment on the acting or expressions or logic of the story. So it was rather harsh.

So for those who are interested in the drama, Don't be put off by the negative comments. the story is NOT about super vicious women and their catfights and angsty scheming (in fact it is rather light for some people taste), neither it is about a lecherous old man having many wives but it is not exactly a rom com either. The angst only lasted 2 episodes. It is a story of a journey between 2 persons who finding love and understanding with each other after marriage and how to maintain that relationship till the end of their lives being each other partners in everything. very slow and sweet, not passionate and hot. and in fact if i will to say up to ep 36 it is trying to promote the idea about human being should not be judged based on whose son/daughter you are, your birth status (from main wife or concubines) does not make u a better or more intelligent person, it is the your heart and intention and the approach to life matters that will make the final differences to ones ending.

the story cast acting is top notch and direction was good. ost are beautiful and very befitting the story. The leads brought life to the characters till u can really see their emotions projects in their expression. A very nice production and story.

no worries. because some comments i saw looks like they did not really watch if fully, maybe FF and some maybe did not fully understand the words said because ancient language can be quite poetic not so direct. some subs were not very accurate to portray real mandarin meaning.

I think this is a very good drama that has a very good casts who did such a good job in bringing life to the character of Lingyi and shiyi and many others, the costumes are beautiful and sets are so pretty too. I think the director did a good job in capturing the frames and guiding the casts. The only thing that may not be too good is script where is not exactly a rom com (because our leads characters are those of a mature approach to love and marriage and family of the era) but for women inner court fight it wasnt vicious like yanxi or ruyi. the mix of men politics wasnt very strong. of course the trope of fl suspecting the ml was a bit overused and illogical. but please remember this is a drama, not a biography story of a character of a famous personality. I dont think we should be too harsh on what is supposed to be entertaining to us. if it entertains u, makes you heart happy and sweet watching the romance and makes u shout with joy with the bad guys go offline and get their punishments and the good guys win we all clapped, it is good really.

Personally i love it. i haven't been so entertained for a long while and i haven't had the urge to follow so closely a drama for quite a while till i cant wait for mondays to come. the leads did a fantastic job in their expressions and giving a strong logic flow to the story.

As mentioned by @awkwarderp, i dont think shiyi is a pushover or stupid. shiyi is a young character who in that environment as a lowly concubine daughter would not received equal exposure and benefits in every sense as a main wife daughter. she is set up (yes schemed by her sister) to married a man who is much older and comes with a big family and baggages (family and political) who happened to be her brother in law. Enough to scare many of us here even. . I believe her years being abandoned in yuhang away from the Luos makes her street smart, daring (cause she trades her embroidery) and her mum as explained by her came from an educated family (which go downhill enough to end up as a concubine). So her intelligence (both books and street) was cultivated through her yuhang experience and throughout the drama she reads a lot. i would say her character is that of a strong willed, outgoing girl with high level of intelligence but she learned the hard way of putting up a quiet, demure front and don't go ram on the walls but go around it. Houye probably sense it too. His comments of her numerous times is sharp tongued and daring. Mind you, houye said so himself...i lead army for years and i would say i have certain level of discernment when it comes to people (in ep 26). So with all the gals throwing themselves at him, he has wife who has no qualms talking back and razoring him. Her mistakes of not trusting houye and believing him as the murderer of her mum is rather stupid but understandable. Her mum is her utmost weakness. Unrest because only u care. if she doesnt love him and her mum, she would not be feeling unrest. she 'found' her murderer, just get on with it right.

For those saying she is frigid and cold to lingyi till illogical, this is why i think. Mind you, if u all noticed on her wedding night she was so scared till she hang on to dong chin tightly. N which gal on ur wedding had ur hubby whom u have only met like 4-5 times all under horrid circumstances, coldly yes very coldly telling u. " i dont want to remarry. since we have no choice, so u just behave urself and do ur part as a main wife and we shall live in peace". In a modern sense, she was employed to be the Xu Family Inc COO and to fully assist the CEO ie the hubby. How on earth her hubby the CEO suddenly start to like her, got nice and doey with her, and even fall in love with her, would really felt like a brick hitting her out of the blue. She was completely clueless. many of her expression was huh? what does he want? it will be totally illogical if she fall into bed with him after he was nice to her for a few times. N lingyi of course was written as a saintly character. he did not push her and demand she do her wife duty. But if u are truly in love with someone, would u not want her to give herself to you most willingly. u want her body and heart. That is why he waited and took it slowly to romance her till he got that first kiss. That is slow burn but heay that is sweet. From ep 31 to 34 we can see his major concern is does she love me, who am i to her, i don want her guilt or gratitude, i want her to fully treat me as her hubby, why is she so guarded with me. He want all or nothing. and when she finally gave herself to him in ep 35, it was the the sweetest moment, not some old lecher demanding sex from young wife but a long awaited love consummated.

For those who say she is selfish and a heartless character for scheming to get out of it and got erniang in and after that for not helping erniang to get out of wangyu marriage. i hope u notice this..... Shiyi felt weird why wangyu suddenly wanted her. their encounter was first episode in the embroidery workshop where wangyu looks like he will slap her any time. tat is it!! and suddenly his mother come and say wangyu want to have no one but shiyi. So her reaction is let see if something is amiss here, logically is maybe he got the wrong person. She send HER own portrait to wangyu. How would she know wangyu reaction?!!! We are the audience so we know. the character shiyi doesnt know. Maybe wangyu had suddenly got into his twisted mind and really wanted her. if so that portrait would have further seal the deal. maybe wangyu got the wrong person. which is of course what she had hoped for. bear in mind she has NO confirmation only suspicion erniang had something to do it. Nlast but most importantly, no way she would have expected wangyu to barge into their family home and proceed to demand to see shiyi and found erniang was the one he wanted. N worst he kissed erniang right there in front of everyone. sorry that is a deal sealed on those days u can even see a maiden face. Final push was madame luo not shiyi who insisted that the erniang has to marry wangyu cause he 'tarnished' her and secondly because of marriage alliance with jiang family (wangyu sister married the jiang family) She doesnt want to marry anyone at that point. no marquis yong ping nor wangyu. She did not schemed for it to happen and she did not cause it to happen.

so my takes on a few point mentioned her by others. BTW i also dont fully agree avenuex about how illogical the drama is. Yes there are some inconsistency in the costumes of that era and of course events like how she was rescued by 2 men and that will considered as touch and tarnished etc. Yes it set in the Ming dynasty which is a real era. but i still maintained this is a drama fictional character not a real biograohy of a general or court official or emperor such as Qing Ping Yue and let us allow some imagination. so long as the flow of the story is logical then it is good. If we can allow inaccuracies of fact in yanxi and ruyi or qing ping yue which is about real emperors like qianlong and renzong. why are we so harsh on fictional characters.