Calla

the moment lanxiang imagined her little cousin running down the hall towards her, i immediately started sobbing. the last time they were both there, they were both young, innocent, and happy. seeing a grown-up lanxiang in the same frame as the memory of her cousin, who will forever remain a child, broke my heart. fate is too cruel.

i have much to say about this episode, but first -

did this grown man of noble background... really just used his own half-naked body... as an offering... to get out of punishment?

i can't with this guy. 😂😭💀

the ending of ep29:

yeah, i was a bit shocked that lanxiang behaved that way too, since she's normally so careful when it comes to concealing her true feelings. but i guess this forced marriage brought back a lot of painful memories. we keep seeing her lost in thought, zoning out, so i'll just take it as her emotions getting the best of her...

i don't see it as xiuwan trying to be mean-spirited or belittling xiuru during that conversation though. xiuru lost her mother at a young age, so there was no one there to look after her best interests. on the other hand, xiuwan's mother is alive and well, consistently advocating for her and doting on her. as someone who has also lost her mom, i see xiuwan as very blessed. at least she's grateful enough to recognize her privilege.

but you are right about how xiuwan has grown up. it is amazing to see her development after only one year of reflection. she's hurt, and maybe even a little jealous of xiuru, but she's also doing her best not to be bitter. she has come a long way.

exactly! 😂

well, we feel bad for lanxiang, but most of us have been rooting for jinqi, so we deserve that slap. 😅

LOL. you're too funny. 😂

i just started ep27, and all i have to say atm is that i feel so protective of master lu and lanxiang's parents. they are some of the best adoptive parents / mentors a girl could ever ask for. nothing terrible better happen to them or else i wlll riottt.

ohhh, nice. i will check it out. thank you!

wait, the 3rd sister will eventually leave the city for good? so in the novel, the fl never sees her again?

also, speaking of the novel - did you enjoy it? is it better, the same, or worse than the drama? and do you recommend it? i'm like 70% done with my current novel, and i am looking for something else to read after.

i feel bad for saying this, but i'm lowkey happy that jinqi put an end to all the duets. i have so much respect for the opera style of music, but i was getting tired of lanxiang and scholar han constantly breaking into song lol.

nope, i meant what i said lol. i was referring to the reunion of lanxiang and ji'er at the brothel in ep23.

each of my bullet points is a different episode. i just didn't mention a timestamp in case others haven't gotten there yet.

and the girl master lu and lanxiang's father redeemed was zhi. she was the girl who slashed her own face to avoid being used as a prostitute. she is not ji'er's servant.

SO gooddd. this drama continues to deliver!

ohhh, interesting theory! just imaging the shock and anger on the father's face if that is true is cracking me up lol.

as of ep25, here are my top 3 most powerful moments so far:

- the shen women's tragic fate
- lanxiang and ji'er's unexpected reunion
- lanxiang and master lu's heartfelt words

i bawled my eyes out in all three scenes. such great writing, acting, and directing.

he really is. he gives me the creeps.

props to the actor, i'm sure he's a lovely person irl lol.

that's exactly what it is. i know i shouldn't expect anything good to come from these characters, and yet i still find myself disappointed that there is no growth in any of them. i guess this family really is beyond saving.

and speaking of dumb xie family members, the 2nd madam takes the cake. she is the only spouse to have given birth to sons for the xie family — she has two! she practically won already, so why must she still scheme, lie, and steal even at her grown age? all she had to really do was sit back, enjoy her favors as the reason why the xie family has any heirs, and wait for her husband to die so her sons can take over the family's wealth and estate. smh.

her whole reason for hating the fl was that the fl's mother supposedly killed her own mother, the 5th madam. but even after finding out it might actually be the 2nd madam who did it, she still hates the fl. she was so smug when she found out the fl might have died from falling off a cliff... so hypocritical and dumb. but then again, most of the xie family is hypocritical and dumb. it must be a genetic thing lol.