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This senior actor has already spoken quite reasonably and gently. Have you not seen the criticism and malice from ordinary netizens—the male audience—hiding behind their keyboards? They have turned mocking him into a culture, a way to gain popularity.

I watched Love Between Fairy and Devil and Story of Kunning Palace, but didn’t become a fan of Zhang Linghe through them. Recently, I got hooked on him because of Chasing the Jade, so I started watching Loving You. I pulled an all-nighter to finish it a couple of days ago—it’s sweet, heart-warming, totally worth watching, and super cute.

The core reason Wei Yan sought to kill Crown Prince Chengde's consort and Qi Min was political purge and the consolidation of power.

After Wei Yan turned against the old emperor and took control of the court, the bloodline of the former Crown Prince (Chengde) became the greatest potential threat to his authority. As long as Qi Min, the legitimate imperial eldest grandson, remained alive, it was possible for other factions to rally around him to challenge the child emperor installed by Wei Yan and his own dominance.

Therefore, regardless of whether the crown princess died by self-immotion or was killed, Wei Yan had to ensure the complete eradication of the crown prince's line to eliminate any future threats. This was not a matter of personal vendetta, but rather the cruelest aspect of power struggle.

I also think that he does not deserve death, but within the framework of this story, it is understandable, as it is an era of feudal traditions and monarchical rule. Wei Yan was executed, and the original method of execution was one of the most severe punishments in ancient Chinese history, lingchi (slow slicing). He committed regicide by killing the old emperor, the ruler of a nation; even if it was out of justice or self-preservation, killing the emperor made him a traitor to the state, a great act of treason. Moreover, due to personal feelings, he turned back on the way while supporting the crown prince's reinforcements, causing the death of 100,000 soldiers, as well as Xie Zhen's father and Crown Prince Chengde. In ancient times, there was a concept called "house retainer." The more powerful a force, the more clansmen it has. House retainers and their masters have no blood relationship; being granted the master's surname is an honor for a house retainer. Often, only a few particularly outstanding, capable, and loyal subordinates would be granted the surname. For example, the Wei family's army is called the Wei Family Army, and the Xie family's army is called the Xie Family Army, which is another term for the Bloody Cavalry.

Consort Shu, Qi Rongyin, was not actually pregnant. It was a rumor fabricated by the imperial physician on the old emperor's orders—a pretext used by the old emperor to psychologically control and torment Consort Shu.

Seventeen years ago, Crown Prince Chengde and his consort (Qi Min's father and mother), Xie Zheng’s father Xie Lingshan, and Wei Yan’s childhood sweetheart Consort Shu—all of them were killed through a conspiracy orchestrated by the old emperor in collaboration with Prince Changxin.

The ultimate goal of this elaborate scheme was to wipe out Wei Yan and his entire clan. However, Wei Yan struck back, killing the old emperor and forcing him to abdicate in favor of a child emperor. The general who refused to cooperate was Prince Changxin, Sui Tuo—an accomplice of the old emperor.

That is why, as the son of Crown Prince Chengde, Qi Min harbors deep hatred toward both the family of Prince Changxin and Wei Yan.

The death of Consort Shu was the trigger, which led to Wei Yan’s rebellion and the subsequent change in imperial power. The self-immolation of the crown princess was the outcome—an inevitable part of the political purge against the bloodline of the former regime after the new imperial authority was established.

Consort Shu (Qi Rongyin) died in Qingyuan Palace: In order to frame Wei Yan, the old emperor ordered people to douse Qingyuan Palace with tung oil and set it on fire, burning Consort Shu alive.

Crown Prince Chengde's consort died in the Eastern Palace: After the Jinzhou tragedy (in which Crown Prince Chengde died in battle), the crown princess devised a fire to protect her son, Qi Min (the imperial eldest grandson). She invited Princess Changxin and her son to a banquet, then set the Eastern Palace ablaze, perishing in the fire together with the real son of Prince Changxin, Sui Yuanhuai. This allowed Qi Min to assume Sui Yuanhuai's identity and survive.

Consort Shu and the crown princess are two different individuals. Consort Shu's death occurred earlier in the timeline. The old emperor used Consort Shu's death to lure Wei Yan, who was dispatching troops to support the crown prince, back to the capital—indirectly causing the crown prince's death.

This program is not only broadcast online but also airs daily on Dragon TV. Given the strict censorship, content that cannot be included in the main show might be why they try to sneak a bit into the previews?

The Direct Cause of Wei Yan's Bloody Purge of the Palace and Forced Seizure of Power:

The Stimulus of Consort Shu's Death: Upon rushing back to the capital, Wei Yan discovered that Consort Shu, Qi Rongyin, his childhood sweetheart, had been burned alive in the Qingyuan Palace on the old emperor's orders—her body doused with tung oil. The old emperor then turned the tables, falsely accusing Wei Yan of setting the fire and murdering her, thereby "proving" the crime of Wei Yan's illicit affair with the consort.

The Old Emperor's Elaborate Trap: The old emperor had devised an intricate scheme to eliminate Wei Yan. He used Consort Shu as bait, spreading false news of her critical illness to lure Wei Yan back from the frontline in Jinzhou. When Wei Yan secretly visited the Qingyuan Palace at night, the old emperor had already laid an ambush, planning to capture him red-handed and execute his entire clan, the Wei family, under the charge of "defiling the imperial harem."

Imminent Annihilation for Himself and His Clan: Wei Yan knew full well that if the old emperor's plot succeeded, not only would he be executed, but his entire Jinyang Wei clan would be exterminated to the ninth degree. He was pushed to the brink with no way out.

Deeper Political Background:

The Old Emperor's Fear and Scheming: The old emperor had long held a grudge against Wei Yan for reckless words spoken in his youth at the Eastern Palace about the emperor "abdicating." Furthermore, the Crown Prince Chengde enjoyed excessively high prestige, backed by three powerful families—the Qi, Xie, and Wei clans—making the old emperor deeply insecure about his throne.

Framing for the Jinzhou Tragedy: The old emperor intentionally engineered the fall of Jinzhou City, leading to the deaths of the Crown Prince and Xie Linshan. He then shifted all blame onto Wei Yan for "abandoning his post." Even if Wei Yan did not rebel, he would be executed for the capital offense of delaying military affairs and causing the Crown Prince's death.

Wei Yan's Specific Actions of "Striking First":

Bloody Purge of the Palace: Wei Yan led his remaining forces back to the palace, slaughtered its inhabitants, and forced the old emperor to his death. This was not an act of usurpation for ambition, but a desperate act of counterattack and revenge when cornered with no alternatives.

Installing a Child Emperor: He placed the young Nineteenth Prince on the throne, consolidating all power for himself and becoming the supremely powerful Chancellor who overshadowed the emperor.

Wei Yan's Complex Psychology:

Protecting Consort Shu's Posthumous Reputation: Wei Yan could not reveal the truth because explaining his reason for returning to the capital would implicate Consort Shu, confirming the rumors of their "illicit affair" and forever branding her with the disgrace of "adulteress" after death. He preferred to bear all the infamy himself to preserve the清白 (purity/reputation) of the woman he loved.

Twisted Atonement: Wei Yan harbored complex feelings towards Xie Zheng. He was responsible for the extermination of the Xie clan and felt guilt towards his deceased sister (Xie Zheng's mother?). Therefore, he decided to raise Xie Zheng, teaching him civil and military strategies. But when Xie Zheng truly began investigating the truth of the Jinzhou case, Wei Yan did not hesitate to ruthlessly attempt to eliminate him.In essence, Wei Yan's bloody purge of the palace was the desperate rebellion of a man pushed to the absolute limit by imperial power. He was both a pawn in the old emperor's game of thrones and a tragic figure doomed to bear eternal condemnation.

The Direct Cause of Wei Yan's Bloody Purge of the Palace and Forced Seizure of Power:

The Stimulus of Consort Shu's Death: Upon rushing back to the capital, Wei Yan discovered that Consort Shu, Qi Rongyin, his childhood sweetheart, had been burned alive in the Qingyuan Palace on the old emperor's orders—her body doused with tung oil. The old emperor then turned the tables, falsely accusing Wei Yan of setting the fire and murdering her, thereby "proving" the crime of Wei Yan's illicit affair with the consort.

The Old Emperor's Elaborate Trap: The old emperor had devised an intricate scheme to eliminate Wei Yan. He used Consort Shu as bait, spreading false news of her critical illness to lure Wei Yan back from the frontline in Jinzhou. When Wei Yan secretly visited the Qingyuan Palace at night, the old emperor had already laid an ambush, planning to capture him red-handed and execute his entire clan, the Wei family, under the charge of "defiling the imperial harem."

Imminent Annihilation for Himself and His Clan: Wei Yan knew full well that if the old emperor's plot succeeded, not only would he be executed, but his entire Jinyang Wei clan would be exterminated to the ninth degree. He was pushed to the brink with no way out.

Deeper Political Background:

The Old Emperor's Fear and Scheming: The old emperor had long held a grudge against Wei Yan for reckless words spoken in his youth at the Eastern Palace about the emperor "abdicating." Furthermore, the Crown Prince Chengde enjoyed excessively high prestige, backed by three powerful families—the Qi, Xie, and Wei clans—making the old emperor deeply insecure about his throne.

Framing for the Jinzhou Tragedy: The old emperor intentionally engineered the fall of Jinzhou City, leading to the deaths of the Crown Prince and Xie Linshan. He then shifted all blame onto Wei Yan for "abandoning his post." Even if Wei Yan did not rebel, he would be executed for the capital offense of delaying military affairs and causing the Crown Prince's death.

Wei Yan's Specific Actions of "Striking First":

Bloody Purge of the Palace: Wei Yan led his remaining forces back to the palace, slaughtered its inhabitants, and forced the old emperor to his death. This was not an act of usurpation for ambition, but a desperate act of counterattack and revenge when cornered with no alternatives.

Installing a Child Emperor: He placed the young Nineteenth Prince on the throne, consolidating all power for himself and becoming the supremely powerful Chancellor who overshadowed the emperor.

Wei Yan's Complex Psychology:

Protecting Consort Shu's Posthumous Reputation: Wei Yan could not reveal the truth because explaining his reason for returning to the capital would implicate Consort Shu, confirming the rumors of their "illicit affair" and forever branding her with the disgrace of "adulteress" after death. He preferred to bear all the infamy himself to preserve the清白 (purity/reputation) of the woman he loved.

Twisted Atonement: Wei Yan harbored complex feelings towards Xie Zheng. He was responsible for the extermination of the Xie clan and felt guilt towards his deceased sister (Xie Zheng's mother?). Therefore, he decided to raise Xie Zheng, teaching him civil and military strategies. But when Xie Zheng truly began investigating the truth of the Jinzhou case, Wei Yan did not hesitate to ruthlessly attempt to eliminate him.In essence, Wei Yan's bloody purge of the palace was the desperate rebellion of a man pushed to the absolute limit by imperial power. He was both a pawn in the old emperor's game of thrones and a tragic figure doomed to bear eternal condemnation.

In the original work, she was burned alive passively—trapped in a room and set on fire. In the TV adaptation, it was changed to her actively choosing to die by fire, likely because she might have believed it could protect Wei Yan.

The Direct Cause of Wei Yan's Bloody Purge of the Palace and Forced Seizure of Power:

The Stimulus of Consort Shu's Death: Upon rushing back to the capital, Wei Yan discovered that Consort Shu, Qi Rongyin, his childhood sweetheart, had been burned alive in the Qingyuan Palace on the old emperor's orders—her body doused with tung oil. The old emperor then turned the tables, falsely accusing Wei Yan of setting the fire and murdering her, thereby "proving" the crime of Wei Yan's illicit affair with the consort.

The Old Emperor's Elaborate Trap: The old emperor had devised an intricate scheme to eliminate Wei Yan. He used Consort Shu as bait, spreading false news of her critical illness to lure Wei Yan back from the frontline in Jinzhou. When Wei Yan secretly visited the Qingyuan Palace at night, the old emperor had already laid an ambush, planning to capture him red-handed and execute his entire clan, the Wei family, under the charge of "defiling the imperial harem."

Imminent Annihilation for Himself and His Clan: Wei Yan knew full well that if the old emperor's plot succeeded, not only would he be executed, but his entire Jinyang Wei clan would be exterminated to the ninth degree. He was pushed to the brink with no way out.

Deeper Political Background:

The Old Emperor's Fear and Scheming: The old emperor had long held a grudge against Wei Yan for reckless words spoken in his youth at the Eastern Palace about the emperor "abdicating." Furthermore, the Crown Prince Chengde enjoyed excessively high prestige, backed by three powerful families—the Qi, Xie, and Wei clans—making the old emperor deeply insecure about his throne.

Framing for the Jinzhou Tragedy: The old emperor intentionally engineered the fall of Jinzhou City, leading to the deaths of the Crown Prince and Xie Linshan. He then shifted all blame onto Wei Yan for "abandoning his post." Even if Wei Yan did not rebel, he would be executed for the capital offense of delaying military affairs and causing the Crown Prince's death.

Wei Yan's Specific Actions of "Striking First":

Bloody Purge of the Palace: Wei Yan led his remaining forces back to the palace, slaughtered its inhabitants, and forced the old emperor to his death. This was not an act of usurpation for ambition, but a desperate act of counterattack and revenge when cornered with no alternatives.

Installing a Child Emperor: He placed the young Nineteenth Prince on the throne, consolidating all power for himself and becoming the supremely powerful Chancellor who overshadowed the emperor.

Wei Yan's Complex Psychology:

Protecting Consort Shu's Posthumous Reputation: Wei Yan could not reveal the truth because explaining his reason for returning to the capital would implicate Consort Shu, confirming the rumors of their "illicit affair" and forever branding her with the disgrace of "adulteress" after death. He preferred to bear all the infamy himself to preserve the清白 (purity/reputation) of the woman he loved.

Twisted Atonement: Wei Yan harbored complex feelings towards Xie Zheng. He was responsible for the extermination of the Xie clan and felt guilt towards his deceased sister (Xie Zheng's mother?). Therefore, he decided to raise Xie Zheng, teaching him civil and military strategies. But when Xie Zheng truly began investigating the truth of the Jinzhou case, Wei Yan did not hesitate to ruthlessly attempt to eliminate him.In essence, Wei Yan's bloody purge of the palace was the desperate rebellion of a man pushed to the absolute limit by imperial power. He was both a pawn in the old emperor's game of thrones and a tragic figure doomed to bear eternal condemnation.

Consort Shu (Qi Rongyin) died in Qingyuan Palace: In order to frame Wei Yan, the old emperor ordered people to douse Qingyuan Palace with tung oil and set it on fire, burning Consort Shu alive.

Crown Prince Chengde's consort died in the Eastern Palace: After the Jinzhou tragedy (in which Crown Prince Chengde died in battle), the crown princess devised a fire to protect her son, Qi Min (the imperial eldest grandson). She invited Princess Changxin and her son to a banquet, then set the Eastern Palace ablaze, perishing in the fire together with the real son of Prince Changxin, Sui Yuanhuai. This allowed Qi Min to assume Sui Yuanhuai's identity and survive.

Consort Shu and the crown princess are two different individuals. Consort Shu's death occurred earlier in the timeline. The old emperor used Consort Shu's death to lure Wei Yan, who was dispatching troops to support the crown prince, back to the capital—indirectly causing the crown prince's death.

The death of Consort Shu was the trigger, which led to Wei Yan’s rebellion and the subsequent change in imperial power. The self-immolation of the crown princess was the outcome—an inevitable part of the political purge against the bloodline of the former regime after the new imperial authority was established.

Tonight at 6:00 Beijing time, the remaining 5 episodes will all be released. Tencent Video has already displayed the finale release time.

You didn’t catch the hints from today. When he was recommended to teach etiquette, that suggestive background music started playing, and his tone shifted noticeably. He said he wouldn’t look down on a fourth-rank female general and would do his humble part to assist—implying he’s preparing to climb the social ladder once again by attaching himself to a woman. After studying for so many years, even if removed from his post, he could still take on other work. Educated individuals were highly valued in ancient times. Of course, if he lets this setback crush his spirit and spends his days complaining, blaming fate for its unfairness—well, there’s just no helping him.

However, the cowardly emperor resorted to despicable and underhanded means to protect himself. He first promised his sister in marriage to the Li family, then to Marquis Wu'an. In Episode 37, he plotted against Marquis Wu'an by lacing his wine with a potent aphrodisiac, luring him to the abandoned palace, and then exposing him to incense containing a paralysis-inducing drug—all to render the Marquis utterly defenseless. A righteous person would never engage in such vile tactics.

I can’t wait to read your comments and party with you all on the 26th.

Actually, that's not entirely accurate. A letter of betrothal is only recognized by the two families involved in the marriage arrangement. The formal marriage process involves first exchanging the betrothal letter, then holding the wedding ceremony, and finally reporting to the local authorities for official registration. Only after these steps are completed is the couple considered formally married in the eyes of society. If he doesn’t retrieve the betrothal letter, he cannot marry another woman.