Ti02

ML has been criticized for being an arrogant ass, even for the torture scene. But currently except being rude and bossy, he hasn't done something violent. When he does he will be criticized. Plus that character from POJ had no character development. Because this is a main character, he will also have a character development. We are here to enjoy that journey. But under no circumstances there can be romanticization of abuse be it from ML or SML or anyone.

yeah

No they wore these costumes and we got them in the horse in ep 4, they showed some scenes, but cut the majority out. For no reason they would wear the same costumes again further in the drama.
Gun was required, it was a hunting match, but they took it out mostly.

There is no marriage between ML and 2FL.

No the land thing was mentioned by Li Boren to YCX when they were together, and YCX even told him that he is getting smarter.
Yes Taos are working with Yu rivals, that's for sure, we were shown that. But you are saying ML knows about it? Yeah its possible considering he is smart. I am yet to watch ep 5 and 6 though, so lets see.

Ohh you love binge-watching, wow. I could never wait, haha.

Tomorrow's episodes

But it wasn't told to us that Ziyi's family wants her to spy on him or something. Ziyi and her sister just want ML to give attention to Ziyi.
I think even ML knows Ziyi is not smart at least till now to even think about any military dealings or anything. She is just a spoiled brat, who can go to any lengths to achieve what she wants. Like how previously she was acting aloof but when she saw ML giving attention to other women, she even told him herself to send Pingjun out, that means she is bending due to her jealousy. So I think from YCX perception he just wants her to bend enough to give him access to that land her family owns.

Its not a huge budget drama, its mid-level budget S drama, not S+.
But what I feel is because this drama is 40 episodes long, 7 more episodes than the drama you mentioned, this drama is taking its time to lay things down a little instead of just rushing into the politics.

Her family owns a land, he wants access to that land, so he is playing hard to get, so she gets jealous and tries to get him herself by offering some advantages (like the land).

I hope not, we have 40 episodes, they should cover everything. They can cut the forced love scenes a little though, I won't mind.

Same I am crying.

FL is 18 (she must be in the last year of school), ML is 22.

Deleted scenes from ep 4. Can't believe they deleted this. But I saw people saying censorship strikes again, making me wonder if Chinese censorship has something against a couple on a horse together or something. Because this is the third drama where I saw a couple on horse scene getting edited out, though it was such a pretty scene. Alas!
Check out the Reuters though-
https://x.com/adoresolace/status/2109674798121136318?s=20
https://x.com/leilei_CL_/status/2109627939893682452?s=20

He was acting, he is not interested in SFL, just wants something from her family. ML is not even interested in FL as such, we see few things that makes us wonder, if its real starting from ep 4. Its not love at first sight. ML is a manipulative person, does things for his motives.

My favourite scenes till now has to be FL throwing coins at him entire sequence and the boat sequence.

I love fake dating tropes so much. It would have been so nice if they could just fake date and fall for each other, both of them, but because "adapted from a novel" and "toxic love in Republican era" genres we need to go through stuff, ahh.
They look so pretty and I love the chemistry so much. She made THE YCX flinch, I love her, also that clown cake lol. YCX might not be doing anything but whenever his voice gets deep I get a little scared, but that doesn't work on Pingjun wow.
Girl has been ragebaiting him and then gives him her most innocent look, I love her. Also Li Boren, he is such a ray of sunshine, please don't kill him.
Keep that Tao Ziyi away from cutie Li Boren, she is scary.
Him giving that gun to her, I mean he is acting-acting, but somethings feel real, and I smiled once or twice eeh.
Of course you for the first time genuinely smiled at Pingjun, YCX, she looked so beautiful, an angel in that scene. I loved that episode 4 was a little laid back, because in the first 3 episodes the pacing was very tight.

Episode 4. Thoughts

Well chemistry is for sure different to every person. I feel when he actually likes her, and is serious about it, and she starts to get affected as well, that's when we get the tension. Till now he is just being as you said cheeky, and she kinds of doesn't care. Lets see :)

He is a scumbag, how to like him. Let his arrogance die down, and let him have satisfactory character development, then we can think about it, lol.
For sure Pingjun is an angel.