SoloHan

You should watch season 2 if you liked season season 1. It continues the story and concludes in an open-ended fashion but no dramatic cliffhanger like season 1. Open-ended because Ming arc needs to be finished before going onto rest of the story.

Honestly, season 2 episodes were good to excellent but no episode of season 2 gave me as much joy as episodes 7 and 27 of season 1. Just me. No worries if folks prefer others.

Any answer is going to be subjective, and we do not know where the drama will end up. What if the drama and novel ends up at the same point, but takes different routes to get there?

What if the drama-
-deleted one character and one of FX’s 3 kids,
-killed off a relatively minor character early in drama in order to give the male lead a noble bearing and purpose,
- inserted a fake death arc to manufacture drama,
- rewrote the timing of many events and the roles of many characters, creating a mish-mash of the novel, but generally staying true to the main story line,
-ratcheted down FX’s ruthlessness and added more smarts and charm to FX to make him more likable,
- increased likeability of bad father/ruthless emperor,
-added other story lines for more drama, to no ultimate impact or effect to the end story,
-reduced, if not eliminate FX’ “harem” in the book ( not sure
what season 3 does with this issue),

And, barring major surprises in season 3, still end up at the same point in the end?

Hard for me to give it a % score. 50% (?) because it ends up at the same place I assume, if minus one of the kids, and higher if minus 2 of the kids (and preceding and following events)?

Not an easy question to answer.

Rewatching the episode, the eunuch’s cloak wears differently on Hong Zhu than the eunuch who switched the names. zhu’s Cloak is worn high on the neck, the collar almost touching the back hairline. The other wears the collar lower, showing a significant amount of neck between collar and back hairline. So, probably different eunuchs (or an extra playing Hong zhu’s part in that scene).

But more importantly, I really doubt the writers will change Hong Zhu’s arc. He does so much for FX that changing his role in the novel would require significant rewriting to avoided plot holes. Besides, another spoiler, who will greet Emperor 3d prince (to his surprise) when he visits FX in the end.

Wow, great explanation!

AND Frost below expounds further on the mish-mash events thrown together by the drama writer for season . I agree with his conclusions too. Emperor revived/jumpstarted a dying FX with an infusion of matching Qi energy. Then , Ye Liu Yun boosted his recovery somehow with the slash. Otherwise, it would taken FX weeks if not months to recover, using Ku He’sbook.

Great posts by you both.

Oh, do affairs count? Eldest princess and crown prince have long affair which, when discovered by emperor, leads to their demise. This happens in book and most likely in season 3.

Does 2d prince with Ye Linger count? They eventually marry in the book, and probably in drama in season 3.

Also in the book, and who knows if it will be in season 3, Yan Bing Yun and Miss Shen (sister of Shen Zhongshan who imprisoned YBY) become a couple and marry. Super book spoiler, Miss Shen revenges on FX-no good deed goes unpunished.

In the later part of the book, Sang wen becomes a couple with Shi Chan Li- FX’s disciple who is now with him in the Ming Arc and will soon assist to develop the Jiangnan version of Bayoue House.

I think it depends if the GM is aware of the gun. If so, he can defend against it with his qi. If not, like the sniper is hidden and out of view, the high velocity rifle shot will likely surprise the GM and would be too fast for him to defend against. Which is what happens when his arm is shot off by Barrett gun.

Agent For Qing, not Qi. Bad fingers.

Nice list!

In the book, Ku He also accepts Li Sisi as a disciple in order to “wash” her identity as a prostitute to facilitate her entry into the palace. He also accepts RuoRuo as a disciple at FX request ( through northern Qi emporer) to stop her ordered marriage to Li Hong Chen.

In season 1, I think He Dao Ren was/is also a disciple of Ku He and junior to Lang Tao and senior to DuoDuo. (as well as secret agent for Qi

In the book, in events not yet covered by tv drama, Si GuJian has many more disciples. Yun zhi lan is the top disciple.

Barret gun can kill GM. Emperor was afraid of gun; that’s why he rarely left palace and constantly shot arrows to find strong defensive armor. Ruoruo could have killed emperor with gun but was too kindhearted and only shot off his arm.