Brennnndda

I do feel bad for Hu Nian now that she has to play peacekeeper between her two sisters. Wuguli's hurt is understandable because she lost both her husband and son at once...but let's face it. Their deaths were much deserved.
I do love that everyone acknowledges that the only threat is Han De Rang lol
Everyone knows Ming Yi and Yan Yan (and her newly crowned son) would easily be overthrown if Han De Rang wasn't protecting them hahahah

He pretty stays the same.
He isn't your textbook evil character. He's not murderous or crazy. . .he's actually someone with vision and ambitions. Out of the 3 Yelu guys, Ming Yi is the most suitable to be emperor.
What makes him hateful is the way he does things. He's someone who'd be a great ruler but a horrible person to actually be related to or personally know. (He betrays the two people closest to him; he stole his best friend's girl then took a mistress and impregnated her behind his wife's back.)
For instance, in modern terms: if he were your significant other...your relationship would be considered toxic and abusive because he is very emotionally manipulative. He promised Yan Yan her freedom after they got married then basically guilted her into staying with him because he was sick. De Rang continuously says he wants to leave but Ming Yi keeps guilting him into staying with them as an official because he and Yan Yan know they can't survive without De Rang.
Ming Yi hides behind his title as emperor and will find a way justify all his actions because even if they were wrong..his actions weren't wrong to him.

I think he acted like he initially didn't because the wine was sent from her palace. But he says later that he knows what kind of person she is so I don't think he truly believed she would do such a thing.

It's the concubine's son

I think she is hurt that he loves another but she cried because he kept it from her. She asked him if he loved her (the concubine) and he says he needs her..but in a different way than he needs Yan Yan. Yan Yan acknowledges that she's a good person and doesn't blame him for loving another, it's that they've been married for so long yet there wasn't even such trust between them.

It's quite sad that an empress must share the burdens of her husband..but an emperor doesn't do the same. The news of the concubine came at a bad time because she was still dealing with the issue of De Rang's wife. She was already stressed at losing De Rang's trust and now must deal with her husband's betrayal as well.
This was probably the first time she felt truly alone. When she leaned against her attendant and said "I'm so tired," my heart broke for her a bit.

EP 39-40:
Xin Yi and Wuguli have no shame. Xin Yi did the deed and tried to frame Yan Yan but Wuguli blames Yan Yan for punishing him..so much so that she basically rubs it in Yan Yan's face that Ming Yi has a pregnant concubine. Then, Ming Yi tries to get Yan Yan to drop the investigation into Li Si's death. . .all because of useless gossip..**insert dramatic eye roll

I really don't care that Ming Yi fell in love with his concubine like, whatever..he's an emperor. He can take as many concubines/consorts as he wants. My gripe is that he pulled the same bullshit he did when he separated Yan Yan and De Rang. He's still the same despicable, backstabbing asshole he was in the beginning. He betrayed his best friend and blindsided him by taking his girl and now he blindsides the girl he stole with a pregnant concubine. Worst of all...Yan Yan didn't even find out from him...she found out from her spiteful sister. And Ming Yi, of course, is unapologetic about it. He apologized...but it was more of a "sorry you found out" rather than "sorry I betrayed all the years of loyalty and trust you gave me." He may be fine as an emperor but he's a shitty friend, husband, and overall human being and I kind of hope his death is a painful one. He's honestly lucky that neither have ever thought of skinning him alive.

Plus, Ming Yi fell in love with his concubine because he gets peace and solace from her. He can be a man rather than an emperor with her...but whose fault is it that he can't be that way with Yan Yan? He piled all this responsibility onto Yan Yan, which she will have to bear by herself when he eventually dies. He wants a break from politics and palace affairs but he doesn't consider that Yan Yan needs a break too. His decision to marry her forced her to change from the carefree spirit he initially fell for and now that's she different, he found someone else! Ugh...I really cannot like his character.

Tangent . . . it's starting to feel like the ending will be rushed. There's only 8 episodes left but Ming Yi still has to die and Wuguli and Hu Nian still have to revolt against Yan Yan. . .

It's actually funny because the actor who plays the dad did the same thing when he played the father in Nirvana in Fire. He had his oldest son become a confidant for Prince Yu when he himself supported the crown prince.

I think the problem is also Yan Yan. She won't let De Rang go either.

How far along was Tang Yan when she filmed this drama? She looks stunning with the baby bump so I'm kind of hoping the bump is real.

He marries Li Si...partially because of Ming Yi's scheming

I think Hunian would've been the best choice as empress. As the eldest, she knows how to care for others since she raised her sisters. She's wise, capable, and responsible with a sense of self and duty. She's firm but also extremely kind. All Yanyan really has is her stubbornness with a hint of recklessness which makes me question why everyone thinks she has the destiny to be empress.

I think Hu Nian is the most likable out of the 3 sisters. She's reasonable, wise, and capable. Yan Yan is too willful in a reckless sense. She endangers her family just to prove that as a woman, she can be more than a wallflower. Yan Yan and De Rang are an example of immature first loves so I think their romance should be cheesy lol

I just don't understand why, if he was truly a "good" father, he would allow his 3 daughters to marry into the 3 branches. He knows the 3 men don't get along and that each branch is vying for the throne. As such, hoping at least one becomes empress is too cruel because it would mean he is willing to sacrifice 2 of his daughters as casualties. Obviously, he favored Yan Yan because his money was on her to win the title...smh

I haven't read the novel but from what I understand, Wulugi's husband and son will die because of Yan Yan. Wulugi tries to poison Yan Yan to avenge them but the latter finds out and has Wulugi killed.
Hui Nian falls in love with a slave and Yan Yan opposes it. Eventually, she will have Hui Nian killed as well.
Their sisterhood was doomed the day each branch claimed each sister.
There's speculation that Yan Yan has Li Si killed and Yan Yan and De Rang end up getting married later on. The latest music video Tencent released also shows them together in their old age with Yan Yan saying something along the lines of "every one I've ever loved has left me, the only left is you, De Rang"

Yeah..makes it really hard to root for Ming Yi. He knew he would have to deal with their lingering feelings when he chose to steal his best friend's girl.

The only things similar is that the female lead ends up marrying the second male lead...and all 3 are a mix of historical/political dramas. Execution and details are quite different.

Normally in dramas like this I would 100% agree with you. I think it is so ridiculous when women of high statuses in dramas get whiny or try to run away when they have to marry for political reasons. When you are born into a life of privilege, something must be sacrificed. In historical times and in highborn families, sons fight on the frontlines for their countries while daughters marry for their's.

I'm personally not disgusted with Ming Yi's decision to take Yan Yan from De Rang..but rather by how he chose to do it. I am actually on De Rang's side this time. From De Rang's perspective, he's not mad because Ming Yi took her (this is proven because De Rang was the one who told Yan Yan they had to live for more than just love when she said she'd commit suicide on her wedding day), it's more because Ming Yi did it in such a backstabbing, cowardly way. He chose to betray their 10+ years of brotherhood to do so. De Rang would've bled himself dry to help Ming Yi but Ming Yi didn't even have the courtesy to tell them of his decision...instead he sends his decree and blindsides Yan Yan and De Rang. He literally sent his betrothal gifts to her while Hui Nian was going through what she thought were De Rang's betrothal gifts.

Then instead of coming clean and sincerely apologizing, Ming Yi makes up all these excuses to justify why he did it including going so far as to brazenly say "I know Yan Yan and she wanted an opportunity like this." Ming Yi wouldn't be where he is without De Rang and he repaid that debt with treachery. It's like what De Rang said to his father.."for a man who betrays his friendships, how can you guarantee he won't betray his promises to the people?"
De Rang's decision to leave wasn't because he was having a tantrum, but rather because his entire belief system was shaken to its core and shattered by the person he fought so hard for; someone he thought was his brother.

I think it depends on your preference of dramas. If you like historical political dramas then you may love this. If you prefer dramas where romantic love is the main focus then you may not like this.

I actually thought she tried her best. It was a very tough spot where the leading men from the 3 branches each claimed one of the sisters. She pleaded for Yan Yan and Da Rang and initially tried to help them. Unfortunately, she was forced to play the "bad" guy for the sake of her family. Out of the 3 sisters, Huinian was the most lucid, the most reasonable, and the one most willing to sacrifice herself. She's actually my favorite out of the 3. Wulugi is too materialistic and self-centered and Yan Yan is too willful and stubborn.

Running Man was my introduction to variety shows and it brought so much laughter to my life. I loved watching their name-tag races, especially when Running Man were pitted against another team because their teamwork made them shine so brightly! Sadly, I lost interest and dropped it shortly after Gary's departure.