Thuc Duyen

I can’t really tell as it is a republic era drama where SE happens. I understand from the Chinese fans that in the novel the FL died alone in a temple after being tortured so badly by SML & giving birth to her son with ML. Her body was so wrecked that ML didn’t even recognise her whilst he was preparing his wedding with his childhood sweetheart for power. He had a daughter with the new wife, had an affair with a school girl that looks like FL & ended up killing his own son. That was heartbreaking for FL so I decided not to read the novel.

My list of villains may include SML, ML’s dad concubine & his right hand man (the young guy).

I saw some videos on XHS, their kissing scenes are quite good & perhaps the camera angles?

Right? She’s entitled & was just wondering how she would react when war breaks out & looses all her wealth?

Chinese fans call him the bath king LMAO.

I understand that they’re half sisters. Her education is perhaps paid through bursary as FL is quite a good student? In these private schools, they do take in poor students with high grades so at least the school reputation is maintained.

The Chinese fans have mentioned that the old Tao is her real father. Her mum & old Tao were in love when they were younger & poor. They lost track by circumstance & he later on married a rich girl ( Tao girl’s mum) to get where he is today. FL’s mum & old Tao promised each other to get married by keeping each half of the pendant.

Agreed, he looks suspicious to me. Have you noticed in today’s episodes when FL was staring at old Tao’s pendant near his trousers when they kidnapped the FL & hit her? Based on what Chinese fans are saying is that FL is his daughter so the Tao girl is her half sister.

I think the 2nd ML is working for the Japs given his education there. I am not quite sure how the FL could fall for ML later on as they look more like enemies but here we are.

Mango TV with SVIP.

How can grandpa Lin, a smart & good scholar could have 2 useless sons like that? Luckily LJQ & second brother that passed away are smart. My only complain is we didn’t get to watch Grandpa Lin learning about his XLX real identity, the little girl that he met with his friend grandpa Shen years ago.

I fear that LJQ will die in the last episode like in the novel ( I understand from Chinese fans).

Agreed. Now he understands that XLX is yearning for freedom but there is still a lot for them to work on to be able to get closer.

XLX still cannot reveal her real identity and share her painful family story and there is still that resentment against the Lin family for breaking off the engagement.

I guess is they’re start to break that barrier when he brings her to visit the Shen burial ground to show her another side of him which despite his loyalty to the emperor, he still has compassion and kindness and see the right from wrong for those innocent souls that are killed when he decided to burry all the Shen family members there without telling anyone.

He opens up to her about his secrecy and given that she knows about him helping the deposed crown prince escape, helping Jier with her registry as a normal commoner that XLX could start lifting that burden she has carried all these years.

I starts to collect her writing, painting ( the one that grandpa Lin has in his office, he told LJQ that was a copy of the painting that belong to Shen grandpa) & the drawing of her kidnapper. A maid would not have been able to draw, redo the painting that was in his grandpa. I understand from Chinese fan that Lin grandpa is below grandpa Shen in terms of ranking. Some Chinese fans have suggested that when XLX gave birth to their first child, he remembered her telling him that her mum went into labour for a long time but Madam Xu told him that Lanxiang was born quickly.

Pleasure, I should thank to that Chinese fan on XHS. I guess this law must have been written my men, hence they favoured the men. It must have tough for regular women living a normal life at the time.

Agreed, I cried my eyes out.

I read comments from Chinese on XHS & they have been quite spot on so far. I could be wrong so I just mentioned “assume”.

Episode 32: I have found this explanation on why XLX & Yuchan are trying to describe the health conditions of the first Lin sister when they arrived at their residence. I have noticed XLX’s intention to report a broken arm of her sister in-law so that the imperial doctor could record & would use it as evidence of domestic violence in the first Lin sister divorce case. Please se below the comment from a Chinese fan on XHS:

“according to "The Ming Code," Volume 20, it actually says:
"If a husband beats his wife & if it doesn't cause a fracture, he won't be prosecuted. Even if it causes a fracture or worse, the punishment is two degrees lighter than for regular people! And the wife has to report it herself for them to do anything."

Basically, in plain English: As long as the husband doesn't break a bone, he's off the hook. Even if he does break something, he gets a lighter sentence than anyone else! Plus, the officials only care if *she* wants to press charges.
But here’s the kicker: even after an investigation, if they don't want a divorce...
Highlight this part: If the guy doesn't want to leave, you can't get a divorce! 😤

Lan Xiang clearly wanted the imperial doctor's diagnosis to confirm a "fracture" so she could use that loophole. That's why the Big Sister had to pretend her arm was broken.
This explains why the Lu family kept insisting they "knew their limits" when hitting her.
It is just absolutely hateful! 😡

So, what happens if a woman hits her husband?
"If a wife strikes her husband, she gets one hundred lashes. If he wants a divorce, it's granted. If it causes a fracture or worse, the penalty is three degrees heavier than normal fighting; serious injury gets strangulation; death gets beheading; intentional killing gets Lingchi (death by slicing). If a concubine hits him or the main wife, add another two degrees of punishment."

You can see the double standard right there. For domestic violence, if a woman hits a man, she gets 100 lashes immediately—no need to wait until a bone breaks. And if the husband wants out, he can just leave. But if she actually breaks a bone? The punishment is way harsher than normal.

Same crime, but men get let off easy while women are punished extra hard. And obviously, the power to divorce is totally in the husband's hands. If he refuses, the wife basically has no chance.
Even if the husband is at fault, many Ming Dynasty officials would just punish him lightly and try to mediate rather than force a divorce. And even if they *did* grant a divorce, the wife would still have to take those lashes.
From the trailer, looks like Lin Jinqi took the beating for the Big Sister. 🥺
In ancient times, it was honestly so hard for women to live a good life. “

I just love her. She is super competitive but kindhearted deep down. Her performance in today’s episode was amazing. I hope to see her again & find out how she gets on in Quanzhou.

I assume after episode 35-36 when XLX destroys the evidence that LJQ helped the deposed crown prince escape from jingling. He will then take her to the unmarked burial ground of the Shen family. XLX would be in an emotional rollercoaster & that he would connect the dots, starting from today’s episode when he discussed with Yuchang about how XLX managed to free Jier without having to pay anything & Yuchang just mentioned that XLX is resourceful & him telling XLX that she was too clever to not understanding that he wants her heart & her reciprocated love.