Zulfurium

None so far

Absolutely phenomenal. Really enjoyed the first half, the way in which they blended humor with the serious almost perfectly. Just a great watch so far. Also found it kinda hilarious the way the producers literally just put the split in to get around the censors, and just sent the two parts one after another.

Absolutely phenomenal. Really enjoyed the first half, the way in which they blended humor with the serious almost perfectly. Just a great watch so far. Also found it kinda hilarious the way the producers literally just put the split in to get around the censors, and just sent the two parts one after another.

Only watched the two first episodes, and the family is as usual terrible, but the way they have played it left me laughing rather than annoyed, as I usually am at these shenanigans. I guess it is the fact that the entire family is like an acting troupe. No one is really convincing anyone else, they are just putting on a show for each other. Makes for a lot of fun, at least for the time being.

Bear in mind it is after a single episode watched, but there were several hints. First, that EGH feels his sister's emotions and that he feels her death. Second, that he feels NDH's emotions now as an adult. Third, they lived and live in the same neighborhood, which was also where the sister disappeared - could be wrong, but I think the specific place she disappeared from is right beside NDH's family restaurant. Fourth, as you mentioned their adroitness in dealing with the dead body (and her own mention of it as being a surprise to her). Lots of things that don't match up yet of course, but early days.

I think her family killed off EGH's sister for her heart, and that NDH is connected from that. Don't think they are siblings. Really intriguing premise for a show this, though.

I have had so many jaw-drop moments from this show. Legit has some of the most incredible scenes, twists and climaxes. As for PGW, I think everything so far indicates that the King he overthrew was a "tyrant" who tried to suppress the nobility and rule by his own decree. He is terrified of allowing such a monarch back in power, and that is a primary reason for his compulsive need for power and control. He even says as much to his son - that the reason he can be so morally upright is because he has never had to face hard moral decisions of the sort PGW had to face. I see him very much as a tragic villain in a lot of ways, and a fantastically played one at that. YJ is absolutely fantastic as well - the struggle between her and PGW was incredible to watch. Only need our ML to step up and get his head in the game, and we will be all set for fireworks :P

First, her friend was not going to survive, despite the Eunuchs promises, it was pretty clear she would eventually be discovered and killed as an imposter. So how can it be considered protecting those she holds dear from the village, when she is sacrificing them to free herself. Second, she said it pretty straight forwardly herself - she loves the MC and wants to be with him. Now that she knows the truth and has settled for still loving him (that is what happened when she learned that he had run to her for comfort after his father's death, when they met on the bridge at nights), how could she abandon him to a horrible fate in the palace? At least that is my interpretation of it. Agree it is fantastic so far.

Assumed it was the actress who was killed off.

I dropped the show after episode 4 (just too much to watch on the weekends, and this one was the one that jumped out to me the least), but going to give it another shot. You got me intrigued.

Knowledge of the fake seals was limited, so when HC returned his fake seal everyone outside the inner circle thought it was the real seal being stolen. When that got taken, there were no new leads, so the search has fallen apart. At least that is what I surmised from what they covered.

1. My impression is that Xiyun officially is living in the palace of Qingzhou, or at least that is what others are told, while BFX runs about and explores. Her brother and close family know her hidden identity from what I can see. As for the generals, some of those close to the ruling family likely know, but for the rest they are just following orders and are kept outside the circle of knowledge.
2. Prince HC would be all for a match with BFX over HCR if he knew that BFX and FXY are the same person. As for which is the better political match, I think there are strengths and weaknesses to both. Since Youzhou is surrounded by Jizhou (HC's kingdom) on one side and Qingzhou (FXY's kingdom) on the other, I would assume a HC-FXY marriage would very quickly break Youzhou between them, attack from both sides and split the gains. However, HCR has the whole added religious "sainted" reputation, which would make for a powerful force as well on an empire-wide scale. So for Jizhou I think the FXY match would be better tactically, while with HCR it would be better strategically.

Sorry about the tangent and speculation. Find the show and its world quite fascinating and well developed.

His father cannot accept another member of the royal family being Hei Fengxi because the only reason he can think of for a power like the fountainhead to exist if led/owned by a member of the royal family is to depose him.

If it was an outsider, the king could recruit him and take control of the fountainhead like that. However, Hei Fengxi is famed for his cunning, intelligence and power - and Lan Xi is a candidate to succeed his father. If both are one and the same, then why would anyone want the old king, when there is a shinier, more talented model waiting in the wings?

Mix of paranoia about how secure his throne is, distrust of his sons and an inability to accept a power as significant as the fountainhead and house of jade being outside his control.

I would assume it is both him showing off his martial talents, and “capturing” the good omen.

Ravens are known as carrion eaters and thus death, which is a good part of why they are associated with bad luck. However, death is hardly a bad sign if it is for your enemies. So here he twists the perception from being a sign of their own death, to a sign that they will kill plenty of enemies. As for the updraft, there was a cold wind, which is again usually interpreted as a bad sign, often associated with death. However, by claiming it is an updraft - i.e. that the wind is moving towards the heavens - he is putting forward an interpretation that the omen is connected to the heavens, and thus a good one. Hope that makes sense, I can see why it might not be particularly easy to work out.

Entire first episode is basically just set up, preparing the stage for the actual story, which begins when the ML turns up at the very end of the episode. It is worth watching for the context, but it isn't the most engrossing watch. Episode 2 and on should be much, much better.

FL was revealed as Empress Sun in episode 14. Actually really liked this episode, bumped it up half a rating for me with the shift of Empress Hu and reveal of Yao as Sun.

I loved just about everything about this drama, but one thing I honestly wish they had included was Deok Im's funeral. You had the funeral in the very first episode, setting her path, so having her leave the palace one last time as Ui-Bin would have fit thematically and closed out that bit of symbolism. However, I just want to emphasise how incredible of a show this was.

Any idea when subs for the show might come out?

Oh yes please! Just in general I really, really hope that we get more reality-based historical dramas. The last several years have basically just been a bunch of costume dramas with very little connection to actual history.