budoboo

Agree we need to give it time and that the final judgment should be rendered much later on in the drama. Still, for me in the here and now, there is cross over confusion betwen the written character and the acting portrayal- " like she's a sweet strong gentlewoman that lost her mom since childhood and was raised by her dad traveling and doing business she barely knows anything aside traveling with her da" - yes it is a good solidly built character backgournd. The writing is outstanding. The acting, however, from the FL up until now is not on par with either the script or the fellow actors. The net result is a compromise of the drama itself.

Ouch. 😂 😂 😂

No sense in being shy - intelligent, insightful, researched, informed, view point-flexibility, mountain climbing 😅 - all great answer making skills. Woohoo.

Feel the need to call out iQIYI decision making again this year (starting last year for that matter). Who is managing the 'big picture' over there? Was this FL actress chosen for political reasons? Part of the power game? Management shift? Mess of a business? Why throw away good money and an award worthy drama (possibly even historic) and select such a glaring and compromising FL actress? Assume she is good in her contemporary rolls (never watched so can not verify). Here in this outstandingly acted drama she literally has no place. I am gonna call out management in lieu of the actress. And, so far, its a drama crime - lets see how it goes in later episodes.

Not sure I can agree. Both Ci Xi & Su Zi Xuan are the boss bitches in the room in every scene they are in. Its not just behind every man its behind all the men. Said it before will say it again - its not the character, plot, timing, voice over - its that the FL actress is 100% not right for the role.

Me too!

Well put. I like your writing style Nepeta 22 . Not sure why I never noticed it before.

That is the script. The acting sucks so far.

My favorite kiss scenes (ala Story of Kunning Palace ) is when the ML eats the face off the FL like he is verifiably hetero.😂😂😂

We should have a question answering icon on this site. Maybe a gold flower after the VIP status bar maybe? If you want a steller answer ask ____ or ____. < ----insert PBG.

So well put.

You make good character observations that I support. However, in this instance, its the FLs acting. Its not just a little bad. Its Meng Zi Yi bad. She is out of place and out acted in every scene. She is bringing down the status of the drama already and we are only on episode 12. I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume its due to her being a comtemporary drama actress. Its one of the most tragic miscasts in 2025. Period.

Afkingmen.

Refer to episode 11 and his convo with Li Qin: First, he got away from it via the Dao way. He aligns himself with the natural forces swirling around him and acts according to true principle. The men in the room were going nuts over the gold. He stepped away from the energy and took wu-wei. Its also the very reason why he has so little after his success with the 8 Families. When his time comes it comes and with it will be powerful 'natural' energy. Second, he has no attachment to wealth objects as he sees and feels himself to be a criminal ghost and in turn free from want (by not having rights). The friggen writing is superb.

exactly.

Good catch! Been having an unsettling 'what is coming up next' feeling about Li Wantang beyond what the script calls for. No wonder - ffs Royal Nirvana traumatized me. Watching it was like being punched in the heart/head in a dark room when you could not see it coming. Never got used to the darkness of the drama nor the out of the blue 'is this really necessary to advance the story' sadistic punches. One of the only dramas I had to stop watching. That being said, Huang Zhi Zhong acted his arse off in that drama and is giving it a real go here.

Or both. Add in the contrast given ML's acting chops too.

Thank you!

Let me second that. ♥️ Ranks high on my hot as hell trapped by a crazy woman recently escaped list.

Its mongolian throat singing no?