grapejuice

They don't have any choice but to buy in and become some of the lesser (not ultimate) gatekeepers because they will, otherwise, find themselves entirely buried in the garbage heap as those poor younger women replace them in totality and perpetuity (until it's their turn to be thrown away that is). It's just as bad to make older women out to be villainous as it is to make younger women out to villains. Everyone is just trying to survive in a bad situation made for them by others who are the actual beneficiaries.

I think he just did it to make her feel better about the appearance of her hair. He hid the cut. But at the same time it's truly symbolic and a symbolic confession because the way he tied their hair together was similar to that part of the marriage ritual where the couple each cut a lock, tie or twist them together to keep forever. Essentially he made a commitment to join with her even through ugly bad experiences and their repercussions. Lovely gesture. Nice writing.

Ha!!! apology not accepted :-) I could tell from her acting alone. subtle but not that hard to see.

Well, in those days, it wouldn't be obvious to other characters that this guy want to wait until he's sure that she loves him. Because that wouldn't even be a reasonable thought to expect from most men who don't even recognize women's choices, consent and love as being noteworthy let alone being a deal breaker in this case. The kid is representative of the innocent end of that not caring scale. He isn't even aware. So the exchange also shows that ZL is an important mentor to his young friend who might even end up being a better man because of his boss' teachings and example.

there's book and show spoilers in your comment. and it doesn't matter if the show has aired or not. most of us air on the side of caution and respect people asking for others to use the tags. after all, it's not hard to tick the box and play it safe for other people's benefit instead of getting defensive and refusing for this or that little reason

My thought was that he doesn't want to admit to being wrong or less right than his mother about Yake. So he's keeping up with the 'don't interfere' routine. But, at the same time, he wants his mother to know that he's noticed some of the things that are wrong with his wife in his mother's eyes. He wants to demonstrate that he isn't a fool and/or he wants to play both sides.

The CP probably thought his recommendation would be all good things but you're right, it looks like some kind of inexplicable favoritism that will make people feel all kinds of negative things; jealousy, resentment, suspicion , intimidation. At the very least it would put extra distance between him and everyone else so he'll have to work harder to be accepted as one of the guys. A very mixed blessing.

the crown prince's man, the one they worked with on the salt case, is stationed there. the two of them got along well so he probably thought it would be a help to follow him home ...

I couldn't quite tell if Ms. Yu was just mildly irritated with Ting Yun at the end of ep10, mildly irritated but still watching and hoping, maybe, that she'd do well? or was she really pissed and turning against our girl? Anybody have thoughts on it.? She's too important, smart and influential ... to have it in for you!

@SeoultoCdrama
Remember when her coworker put a robe around her neck and straightened it? He tampered with the necklace so that it would fall off. There's even a scene where she remembers his actions and it crosses her mind while we see him touching the necklace. I haven't seen the ending everyone hates yet but maybe you should watch more carefully before you trash things that were clearly explained. He's jealous. He doesn't like it at all. And he has bigger concerns as well that lean him into sabotage.

I've already seen it. And I understand it. We don't agree on it. We see it differently. I see sense where you do not. And I'm tired of this conversation. Trashy? Completely illogical? No I don't think so and you do. Shall we just stop now?

I think it would be great if we could only rate individual episodes while the drama is airing. No overall ratings or reviews until it's completely finished. That's all I ask and I can't imagine that it would be too hard to do.

Do his previous intelligence operatives have the official capacity to investigate, arrest, try and execute aside from outside interference from the other officials and bureaus ? ... because he has given her and her bureau these powers. Are they a team that he can personally work closely with? Are they in a bureau or other institution that has longstanding, potentially corrupt operatives or do they all have a clean slate with no vested interests like her team? If you're talking about a previous bureau, there would be a corrupt old guard in it. If you are talking about his friend group, they don't operate in plain sight and have the same independent powers that she has been given.

explain it to me then. He actually did appoint her to start a new investigative bureau that had enough teeth to arrest the guilty. It's fact. And I distinctly remember him telling her how alone he had felt surrounded by people he couldn't trust. and how he was promoting her to such a high position because he knew that he could trust her. He was definitely talking about her vs the other court officials. If you're saying that this wasn't his motivation, pls tell me what exactly he was doing and why?

book smart for honours. street smart for survival. but doesn't play go. no common sense strategy in a larger fight. :-( sadz.

Seducing the emperor means death by a thousand cuts ... :-) yikes .... the thought could put a damper on things ...

didn't he deliberately set her up in something that he needed so that he'd have someone he trusted in that role? i think he trusts the bodyguard but does he trust any of the other officials? i got the strong impression that he didn't feel good about any of the people in power positions around him; didn't trust them to get the job done and didn't trust them to be honest with him.

maybe later but, if all you care about is a through c with d as an afterthought? then for now you will be seriously disappointed. Plus where did you get the idea that c-dramas are anything but PG?

If he's the guy in red who hides behind a mask, then he's doing business with the gang. Maybe he made the pills and sold them to the gang or maybe he's bought the antidote and some pills from them. I'm not sure how that would have worked. But he was the first to recognize that she's the princess they've been looking for and so he now wants to save her and her friend. And he couldn't say that it was an antidote so he said it might help and then was happy that it worked beyond expectations? Lots of guesswork in this but it's my best guesswork at the moment :-) Are you and others guessing similar ideas or something different?

If you look at her situation, it's pretty obvious why she's acting distant towards him. And he flat out told her that she was the only person he could totally trust to be a friend who would give him an honest opinion. So she does, whether he likes it or not, because that's what he can't get from anybody else. Maybe the romance could wait until there is no catastrophe going on, until she's establishes herself as a real professional official and earns some respect from the court and the people? No long term relationship could exist until they're both seen to be doing their jobs well independently and then together. You know ... big picture issues first and then maybe they have a chance together.