However, the cowardly emperor resorted to despicable and underhanded means to protect himself. He first promised…
What he did to his sister is wrong. Yes. But I think this was also his way of protecting her. After the battle, it is pretty clear who between the 2 men is more powerful. Li Huaian was knocked out before the main battle began and was out of the picture for most of it. XZ, on the other hand, achieved great merits in the battle. He was one of the main players in leading the army against lord cangxing and forced him to retreat. So between the two, XZ is definitely the better one in terms of power. And power= protection. Marrying the princess to him would be better politically for the emperor (since he and the xie family would be closer) but also logically (XZ>li huan an ). Plus, the princess is also closer to XZ than Li. She expressed her interest in him (even if it was when she was 6) and they’ve grew up together. They’re def more comfortable with eachother than she is with li. So emotionally, that marriage makes more sense. On the other hand. Yes he did set up the plot against the Marquis. But he did that in response to XZ threatening mutiny. (And Wei Yan suggesting he found someone better to be emperor) But the emperor cannot afford to outright offend XZ, he could nothing but scheme. He staged a setup fully with the intended to humiliate XZ. This can be seen either as petty revenge or an attempt to weaken XZ reputation/power. He did not know his sister was there no did he know of the fire (Qi Min did that). Now of course, what he did was still f-ed up. What he did is by no means righteous. But I don’t think he’s really in a position to think about the morality of it all. He’s just trying to keep himself alive
I lowkey feel bad for the current emperor. Is he a useless emperor? Yes. But I honestly don't think it's his fault. It's no secret that the emperor have no power. He only got his throne because of Wei Yan, and so if Wei Yan wanted to, he can replace the emperor with another. On the other hand, the Tutor Li is unreliable. The emperor is (in a sense) Wei Yan's men, and he and tutor li had always been at odds. There would be no reason for Li Tutor to help him and if anything, Li tutor probably wants him gone the most. That way Wei Yan would be weakened. And so, the emperor, the existence which should (in theory) be the ultimate supreme ruler, respected/fear by all, is constantly walking on eggshells around his subjects. He cannot afford offend anyone- having to lower himself in front of a Marquis. Even at the threat of rebellion or having his throne usurped, he can't do anything. Even when he knows everyone is talking bad about him behind his back, he cannot do anything. He is truly, a useless and weak emperor. But is it even his fault for being weak? He never even wanted to become emperor, he wanted to quit (ep 34) but he cannot quit. Wei yan needs a puppet so there's nothing he can do but to be that puppet. But it's not like he even afford to quit. The only reason why he even is still alive is because he is the only with with royal blood. As soon as another person who is able to become the emperor shows up- the current emperor is as good as dead. Wei Yan would want an easier tool to control (Yu Bao'er) and Tutor Li wants power over the throne (Qi Ming). Nobody would have a use for the puppet emperor anymore. You can argue that he's not fit to be emperor. He's jealous of his ministers, stupid and useless. But was he even given a chance to ever succeed at all? He seems to be a very young emperor. In the current timeline he look already looks very young. Not to mention he succeeded the throne 17 years ago. At best, he was a teenager, at worse he's a child when he inherited the throne. And like I mentioned before, Wei Yan wanted someone easy to control. So the emperor probably never had the chance to rule/learn before. And if anything, his stupidness is probably want even kept him alive until now. If he had been smarter, he would've been a threat to Wei Yan. And he cannot afford to be a threat to wei yan. Plus, anytime he tried to do something he's instantly shut down by either Wei Yan or Tutor Li. Over 17 years of being conditioned like this, it's no doubt he ended up like this. As for the jealousy. You have to understand that nobody is on his side, everyone is his enemy or is just using him. So of course he would be threatened (unlike Yu Bo'er). And he's after all, the emperor. someone of the highest rank. And he was completely disrespected by a Marquis whom cut off his enuch's ear and threaten munity. Who wouldn't be threaten and even jealousy of this show of power/arrogance. who wouldn't feel indignation when you, as the emperor, have to walk on eggshells 24/7 while some one of a lower rank so be so bold. So all of this is to say, I really don't think the emperor deserved that ending. he was not a bad character and I never disliked him. (yes he tried to go after Changyu but like half of the male cast did. Plus, from his pov he was being very benevolent to her- offering her a life of luxury and comfort). He could've stepped down without going stupid. He too could've/should've enjoyed a peaceful life.
but yeah that's just my stupid rant. Pursuit of jade otherwise did a really good job at writing satisfactory ending for everyone (even if the villain's ending did make me cry multiple times)
I think he isn't officially a sword saint but has the power of one. In episode 23 even the scholar sword saint admitted that the 5 sword saints will become the 6 sword saints. As for why he isn't officially recognized as a sword saint, i think it's the same reason why he isn't in the Bai xiao tang's top 10 ranked list. (all speculation but that's what makes the most sense to me)
On the other hand. Yes he did set up the plot against the Marquis. But he did that in response to XZ threatening mutiny. (And Wei Yan suggesting he found someone better to be emperor) But the emperor cannot afford to outright offend XZ, he could nothing but scheme. He staged a setup fully with the intended to humiliate XZ. This can be seen either as petty revenge or an attempt to weaken XZ reputation/power. He did not know his sister was there no did he know of the fire (Qi Min did that).
Now of course, what he did was still f-ed up. What he did is by no means righteous. But I don’t think he’s really in a position to think about the morality of it all. He’s just trying to keep himself alive
I lowkey feel bad for the current emperor. Is he a useless emperor? Yes. But I honestly don't think it's his fault. It's no secret that the emperor have no power. He only got his throne because of Wei Yan, and so if Wei Yan wanted to, he can replace the emperor with another. On the other hand, the Tutor Li is unreliable. The emperor is (in a sense) Wei Yan's men, and he and tutor li had always been at odds. There would be no reason for Li Tutor to help him and if anything, Li tutor probably wants him gone the most. That way Wei Yan would be weakened. And so, the emperor, the existence which should (in theory) be the ultimate supreme ruler, respected/fear by all, is constantly walking on eggshells around his subjects. He cannot afford offend anyone- having to lower himself in front of a Marquis. Even at the threat of rebellion or having his throne usurped, he can't do anything. Even when he knows everyone is talking bad about him behind his back, he cannot do anything. He is truly, a useless and weak emperor. But is it even his fault for being weak?
He never even wanted to become emperor, he wanted to quit (ep 34) but he cannot quit. Wei yan needs a puppet so there's nothing he can do but to be that puppet. But it's not like he even afford to quit. The only reason why he even is still alive is because he is the only with with royal blood. As soon as another person who is able to become the emperor shows up- the current emperor is as good as dead. Wei Yan would want an easier tool to control (Yu Bao'er) and Tutor Li wants power over the throne (Qi Ming). Nobody would have a use for the puppet emperor anymore.
You can argue that he's not fit to be emperor. He's jealous of his ministers, stupid and useless. But was he even given a chance to ever succeed at all? He seems to be a very young emperor. In the current timeline he look already looks very young. Not to mention he succeeded the throne 17 years ago. At best, he was a teenager, at worse he's a child when he inherited the throne. And like I mentioned before, Wei Yan wanted someone easy to control. So the emperor probably never had the chance to rule/learn before. And if anything, his stupidness is probably want even kept him alive until now. If he had been smarter, he would've been a threat to Wei Yan. And he cannot afford to be a threat to wei yan. Plus, anytime he tried to do something he's instantly shut down by either Wei Yan or Tutor Li. Over 17 years of being conditioned like this, it's no doubt he ended up like this. As for the jealousy. You have to understand that nobody is on his side, everyone is his enemy or is just using him. So of course he would be threatened (unlike Yu Bo'er). And he's after all, the emperor. someone of the highest rank. And he was completely disrespected by a Marquis whom cut off his enuch's ear and threaten munity. Who wouldn't be threaten and even jealousy of this show of power/arrogance. who wouldn't feel indignation when you, as the emperor, have to walk on eggshells 24/7 while some one of a lower rank so be so bold.
So all of this is to say, I really don't think the emperor deserved that ending. he was not a bad character and I never disliked him. (yes he tried to go after Changyu but like half of the male cast did. Plus, from his pov he was being very benevolent to her- offering her a life of luxury and comfort). He could've stepped down without going stupid. He too could've/should've enjoyed a peaceful life.
but yeah that's just my stupid rant. Pursuit of jade otherwise did a really good job at writing satisfactory ending for everyone (even if the villain's ending did make me cry multiple times)