YCC

Maybe it was on purpose... there may be a replay later... perhaps from memory...

That means the actress portrayed the villainous character well...
In the Song of the Moon she played a naive character easily fooled by the villain

Mr Han is Lan Xiang's neighbor. She was drugged and sold to a brothel by some jealous lady.

Because ML request for an Emperor decree to marry her, without asking her/her parents (forcibly from her opinion)

This is such a gem! It really show the complexity of human relationship. No one is truly black. Even the most despised character has some redeeming traits. This is likely Vin Zhang best acted character. His micro expressions on ep 26 when Huang Ya came to him was so natural. Dai Xu is amazing as well, he did very well here, hope he has more interesting roles like this. Actually all the actors did very well. Kudos to everyone!

I don't think it is a sad ending, too. That's why he said in his letter, this time you wait for me.

Yes, beautiful wardrobe

Ep 32 is marvelous

It depends on what type of drama you like. If you are looking for fluffy drama, this is not it. The cinematography has a theatrical feel to it. At times I feel like I'm watching a stage theater, and not a drama. It's probably intentional.

In most Republican era drama, the over-reaching message is: Sacrificing for the country and the nation is the honorable thing, it is more important than family

He was a cold looking (but kind-hearted) ML in "I hear you", in a modern setting.

He actually has some resemblance to Xiao Wu Yi's adult look.

Thanks a lot for pointing out the mistakes in the English version of the relationship chart. I noticed that the misleading chart had been deleted. To avoid confusing other people, I opt to delete my earlier comments, too. Have a nice day!

If you have watched the Secret of the Three Kingdom, their attire and hairstyle is similar to this. So, it is about the same era.

Nope, she is not their biological daughter. A lot of hidden identities in this drama.

The Story of Saiunkoku is a classic fantasy light novel and anime series that follows Shuurei Kou, an impoverished noblewoman with a dream of becoming a government official. Barred from taking the exams because she is a woman, she is hired to become the Emperor's consort to educate and reform the apathetic ruler.

The Premise and Main Characters
The story is set in the fictional, ancient China-inspired Empire of Saiunkoku, which is governed by the Emperor and eight powerful clans, each named after a color.

Shuurei Kou:
A bright, determined young woman from a fallen noble family. Despite societal constraints, she aspires to pass the rigorous civil service exams to improve her country.

Ryuuki Shi:
The young Emperor of Saiunkoku. Initially, he pretends to be lazy, disinterested in ruling, and prefers the company of men to maintain a low profile, but he is actually a deeply troubled ruler shaped by a traumatic childhood.

Seiran Shi:
A mysterious, highly skilled young man who was adopted by Shuurei’s father.
He serves as Ryuuki’s bodyguard and closely protects Shuurei.

The Core Narrative
Shuurei’s life shifts dramatically when the Emperor's Grand Adviser makes her an offer: move into the imperial palace as the Emperor's consort for six months and teach him how to be a responsible and active leader. If she succeeds, she will receive a reward of 500 gold coins, which will save her struggling family.

Entering the palace allows Shuurei to get closer to her ultimate dream. Through her dedication, she begins to peel back the layers of Ryuuki’s fake persona and inspires him to take his duties seriously. As she navigates palace intrigue, she meets various male courtiers, becomes entangled in political power struggles, and slowly paves the way for women to enter the imperial government.

This drama was filmed in 2023, but only released recently. I read somewhere there was a copyright issue, as this was originally a Japanese novel

He is even funnier in "Filter"

She was the love interest of Su Wuming in the Strange Tales of Tang. But her look & vibes here are very different

Qin Shuang seems to show up when she is feeling insecure, not all the time. Secondly, in the old times, maids are often not 'counted', as they are often considered as possessions. They are even included as part of the "dowry"