Brennnndda

From the newest trailer released (I haven't had a chance to watch the episodes yet), their relationship is giving me Ye Hua/Bai Qian vibes.
In the trailer, an immortal said to Ying Yuan, "I want you to know what it feels like for you to do everything for her but have her hate you" or something along those lines. Makes me wonder if the drama will follow the outline of TMOPB where Ying Yuan takes all the love punishments for Yandan but because she becomes disillusioned and disappointed by him, she ends up not knowing all his sacrifices until the very end and it becomes too late or something.

Part 1 was slower paced and they've only just gotten engaged...it makes me worry that Part 2 will try to cram the bulk of the story into 29 episodes. Especially since she isn't in love with him yet.

You know what's amusing?

We praise and laugh that the emperor loves/adores LBY so much and essentially is the mascot for LBY+CSS yet his relationship to LBY actually mirrors CSS's mom and Cheng Yang. So why do we resent her for adoring Cheng Yang so much? Perspective?
We don't know the princes so we can't see how the emperor's affection towards LBY affects them...but CSS is the MC so we see how her mother's relationship with Cheng Yang hurts her.

He's so annoying. He literally follows her around and insults her then wonders why she doesn't give him the time of day.

Does Cheng Yi not dub himself? His voice sounds more like the voice actor who did Si Feng. It sounds different from the first trailer that was released.

Did this just air out of nowhere? What a nice surprise!

I agree and if I were her, I wouldn't care about romance either. It's upsetting that they are forcing Lou Yao into a marriage with her...but she can't afford to cater to his or Shao Shang's feelings.

Her priority is her brother and herself..and it seems selfish, but life is no longer a dream of happiness for her; it's survival.

I believe the woman was her wet nurse, not her mother.

Agreed on the Lou Yao front, which is why I also think Zhao Jun is a better match for him. She comes off as a bully to him, but she also seems like someone who would be able to protect him even if he doesn't protect her. From the small scenes we've gotten of them before, rather than bullying him, she just seemed frustrated with him.

CSS is great..but she also wouldn't have a standing in the Lou family and I think the stress of always being oppressed would get to her as she got older. CSS needs someone who can guild her while letting her spread her wings and Lou Yao ain't it.

One thing I think characters have to learn is that love is not everything. People need to be able to live on for more than love. It's a reason why I respect LBY right now. He didn't woo CSS, not because he didn't want to ..but because understandably, his priorities are elsewhere.

I personally like Zhao Jun..as of right now.
I think she did care for Lou Yao (how could she not when they were engaged for 10+ years and they grew up together)..her saying "You dare steal my husband but won't get in a carriage with me" to CSS wasn't malicious (in my opinion), it's just that the girl is filled with nothing but venom right now and all she knows to do is spew it.

Yes, she was the one to leave Lou Yao...but I think it was partially because she also saw how meek he was (especially during the lantern scene in episode 6). If he fought for her, I think she would've showed him more respect. It seems like she chose Prince Xiao over Lou Yao because he was more assertive. Her priority right now is probably protecting her brother and herself from those who would take advantage of them..and though extremely unreasonable...all I see from her is desperation.

It feels like her eyes are wandering but at the same time..not. When she's around him, there's a pull between them but when they are separated, he doesn't linger on her mind the way she does on him. Even when she had those interactions with him in earlier episodes, she always cordially bid him farewell went towards Lou Yao (as she should since they are together).

It's perfectly fine with me that she doesn't feel anything romantic for him now because those feelings will grow as she does which will probably be better than the puppy love she has with Lou Yao.

Even with the previews for next week with this 5th princess (◔_◔)

CSS is out there literally just trying to live a peaceful life and bi***** won't leave her be

I hate how everyone essentially says "The emperor won't do anything to us..we contributed to the building of the nation decades ago" ...

(In the Xiao clan case) Yeah? Well, last month you slaughtered an entire family because you rebelled and they wouldn't join you..your contributions 25+ years ago doesn't exempt you from punishment and a painful death (◔_◔)

Yeah, there was a tint of crazy in those eyes...kind of like Zhao Jun's when she decapitated Prince Xiao (no judgment...they gotta do what they gotta do)

All the ladies in this drama (besides CSS, Yang Yang, and Qi Qi) work overtime at being bullies.

She's not romantically interested in LBY though. He's caring, sure..but that doesn't mean she owes him her affection. As of right now, she's technically with Lou Yao. If anything, it'd be weird for her to be engaged with Lou Yao yet have her eyes wander toward LBY

Watch the scene again, you could see the emperor's eyes twinkle while he smiled a bit at the end of the scene lol

Of course he was probably happy that the chance for his Zisheng to make a move has opened up again

I mean...technically she's only 15 (not sure in the book)..but considering her young age, what did he expect lol

I think it bothers him that she doesn't like him (like, not even as a person) hence why he's so antagonistic when he sees her...he's nursing his wounded pride -__-

Maybe he only thought that because his mom (biological aunt) adopted him or something...so he's thinking he's a Ling and a Hou maternally when he's actually a Hou and not a Ling at all?