Celebrity 
3
Episode 29 made me cry: The story of Pan Yue and his father (it's so touching). And also the princess (the actress is so good). What evil eyes from the villain (what a superb actor), and he looks wickedly and cynically into Pan Yue's beautiful gentle face. Pan Yue's family has been described person by person here (the mother, the father, the brother). And the people on the streets and their ideas. And Yan Cai Wei and Pan Yue's sacrifice. There was everything to cry about in this episode.
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The best part (for me) of episode 13. It's Yang Cai Wei provoking Pan Yue to participate in the event (as the most handsome man). At first she says: Who will be the most handosome man ? Then she points to Lan Jiang (and he also joins in the fun) to provoke Pan Yue and make him participate and go to the event. The best part is her asking: And looking meaningfully at Pan Yue (Ahh, we are looking for a handsome man. I couldn't forget that we have Pan Yue).And Pan Yue falling into their web. (And she thought: He's still the same person I met before, just tease him as always.).PS: And in the history of China, this character Pan Yue (was one of the most handsome men).😁😁😁😁😁😁😁💘😁😁😁😁😁😁😁💘Ahh, I can't forget this part: She opening her eyes, looking at him saying: So beautiful. He then, confused, looks at the stars as if to say: She is referring to the stars and not me.PS: Who was she referring to? The stars, or Pan Yue? I guess it wasn't the stars.🧨😊😊😊😊🥀🥀💘💘💘💘✨✨In this episode, Lan Jiang also falls into a trap and ends the episode with him using his sword against a dozen soldiers.
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Solving cases. Facing powerful people. And the two hearts distrust each other and try to understand each other. Bringing justice to Heyan City. But who committed the crime against my life?
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Each character with their plots, their doubts, their recent developments, their actions in response to pain. And someone's determination to discover the facts, to know what really happened. The difficulty in adapting to the new face, justice for the dead.
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I watch the first episode. I liked the atmosphere of investigation and about dead bodies. The martial arts moments were also great. The meeting of the protagonists was so elegant. Pan Yue's relationship with his father is intriguing. And the actress who plays Yang Can Wei in the first part is very talented. And they two also have chemistry. He is very perceptive and she is very determined and stubborn.PS: That elegant white outfit that Liu Xue Yi wears in episode 1 looks so good on him, it highlights his beauty.Grade 10
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Against the Current Episode 35
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In a moment of high tension, Lin Jin Qi lights the fuse that destroys the weapons depot. He collapses to the ground amidst sparks and flying gunpowder debris, blood spilling from his mouth. His enemy, Prince Han, refuses to accept defeat, declaring he will not rest until Lin Jin Qi is dead, and urges his soldiers to capture him. Jiu Gao arrives on horseback; in slow motion, he reaches out to help his friend, who is swaying unsteadily but manages to grasp Jiu Gao's hand. They succeed, and Lin Jin Qi climbs onto the back of his friend's horse.Later, in the forest on a freezing night, a badly wounded and exhausted Lin Jin Qi leans against a tree. Jiu Gao is reluctant to leave him alone, but Commander Lin Jin Qi orders him to alert a certain Duke and have him send troops to protect the King. Jiu Gao worries that the stubborn Duke will ignore the request, but Lin Jin Qi explains that the Duke has a vested interest in the matter due to past events. He tells him: "Duke, remember the lesson of the great scholar Shen." Reluctantly and fearing for Lin Jin Qi's life, Jiu Gao finally leaves, but only after Lin Jin Qi pushes him, urging him to hurry.On the road near the carriage, Jia Lan urges the troops stationed there to go to Lin Jin Qi's aid, as she is uncertain if he has survived. She realizes from the gunpowder smoke that Lin Jin Qi succeeded in his mission, yet Prince Han still possesses the strength to overthrow the King. Torn between their orders to escort Jia Lan to the manor and the need to help Lin Jin Qi, the apprehensive soldiers rush off to find him. In the imperial hall, Secretary Zhao and his stepson attempt to deceive the king and lure him out of the palace's protection. However, the emperor senses their malicious intent, thanks to the scholar Han, who offers a different perspective on the matter. Consequently, the two are arrested, and the king sets out with a plan of his own to thwart Prince Han.Lin Jin Qi’s ailing brother is hiding in a secluded room with the family’s women and a child; the child’s crying draws the attention of nearby enemy soldiers. To divert suspicion, he steps out carrying the child in his arms, telling the soldiers that he has tuberculosis and the girl is mute. Fearing his illness, the soldiers leave them be. Jin Lam then coughs up blood but immediately swallows a ball of ice to hide it from his wife and the other women. When he returns to the room and reunites with his wife, their hopes are renewed, and they are filled with joy.On a forest path, enemy soldiers are closing in on Lin Jin Qi, who is hiding behind a tree; struggling to stay conscious, he can barely load gunpowder into his pistol. Suddenly, a small troop sent by Jia Lam arrives and engages Prince Han’s soldiers. From behind the tree, Lin Jin Qi smiles at their boldness and the way they joke even in the face of the enemy.While the soldiers clash nearby, Jia Lam approaches unnoticed. Startled, Lin Jin Qi raises his unloaded pistol but quickly drops it. It is Jia Lam; she says, "It’s me, Jia Lam."She manages to help him onto a horse, where he slumps forward. She feeds brown sugar to the horse and offers some to Lin Jin Qi as well; he complains about it. Just as she is about to playfully scold him, he faints, blood spilling from his mouth. She takes him to a cave and gives him water mixed with medicine. He wakes up and tries to help her learn how to use the pistol. It is a near-romantic, life-or-death moment between them. The episode ends there. Let's move on to episode 36.
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Against the Current Episode 34
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As Lin Jin Qi recovers, he holds onto the edge of her garment and asks her to keep talking to him. He reveals his concerns, noting that the current emperor is more benevolent than the previous one and expressing hope that Prince Han will abandon his ambitions. "The Lu family—father and son—are very petty; be careful of them. I will reinforce your security," Lin Jin Qi tells XLX. "Han Lian, you placed third in the imperial examination; do you blame me for the imperial decree?"The emperor is informed that Prince Han intends to visit the tombs to bid farewell to the late emperor and empress—the parents of both himself and the current emperor. At this moment, the emperor acknowledges their shared maternity and hopes Han will depart peacefully for his fiefdom. Before that, however, the emperor grants Lin Jin Qi an important insignia, authorizing him to outrank many officials and make decisions—specifically, allowing him to supersede Commander Chen Qi (a veteran who served the late emperor) and the arms inspector. Lin Jin Qi accepts the token and vows to deliver supplies to the soldiers, demonstrating the emperor's benevolence.Lan Xian visits a Buddhist temple to seek blessings for the birthday of Lan Xian (the maid whose identity she assumed). Upon leaving the temple, the head monk mentions something strange: all the dogs in the village have been killed—an act the locals attribute to "ghost soldiers." Lan Xian immediately finds this fact suspicious.Shortly after, she encounters Lin Jin Qi, dressed in a black mink coat over a red outfit. He appears somber; following a ritual, he hangs a wish upon a tree. He asks Lan Xian if she wants to know what his wish is. She simply replies that, whatever it may be, she hopes it comes true. As the two of them walk on, we see an inscription on the ribbons hanging from the tree: “May our love last forever.”For Lan Xian’s birthday, Lin Jin Qi prepares a special moment—the most touching one for me in an episode filled with moving scenes. He tears up because, while talking to her, he glimpses tears in her eyes. He doesn't understand her feelings, yet he realizes she is deeply sad. He asks if he has done something to upset her; she apologizes, saying she was the one who made a mistake and upset him. Seeing the sadness in both their eyes as they fail to understand one another brings a tear to my eye as a viewer. It is as if there is something neither of them can quite reach. She is slightly tipsy and says she will stop before she gets truly drunk. When the maids return with more food, they find LJQ alone and sad, drinking by himself.When Lan Xian meets her friends from the opera troupe at her home, she learns of something related to Prince Han’s sinister plans. The troupe had not been summoned, and she connects this fact to the incident involving the dead dogs.Lan Xian meets Yuchan and the other maids and discovers that LJQ is about to deliver supplies to Prince Han’s troops. She asks for a carriage so she can warn LJQ. She gives Yuchan a code phrase to deliver to Lin Jin Qi’s brother, Jin Lan (who is ill): tell Master Jin Qi that he wants to eat rice and beans cooked over a straw fire.When Lin Jin Qi arrives at the troops' camp with the supplies, he walks into a trap intended to kill him. The commander allied with Prince Han has put a price of 100 taels on LJQ’s head. LJQ, having already been warned by Lan Xian, breaks free from the villain; as LJQ leaves—refusing the invitation to enter the barracks—the villain says, "I'll let you live a little longer."LJQ gets into the carriage and speaks with Lan Xian, who explains everything she has discovered. Combining this with his own information, he decides he must leave immediately to thwart the enemy's plans. As he mounts his horse—looking every bit the handsome soldier in his gallant armor—he rides a short distance toward a nearby tree. Suddenly, Lan Xian calls out from the carriage, "Lin Jin Qi, be careful." He pauses for a moment; the camera shows his serious expression as he remains facing forward. Then, a youthful smile breaks across his face; he turns his horse around, approaches the carriage, and plants a kiss on Lan Xian—one that is both passionate and cautious—prompting her to shout his name as if slightly annoyed (or perhaps not?). He rides off, calling out, "If you want to slap me again, save it for when I get back."At the Lin household, Jin Lan receives the coded message sent by Lan Xian. He immediately grasps the situation: Prince Han is staging a rebellion against the current emperor—a move that could implicate Lin Jin Qi—and troops will need to be held in reserve somewhere. He tells his wife he is feeling better, noting that he has taken better care of his health over the past year and is strong enough to handle the situation.Lin Jin Qi arrives at Commander Chen Qi’s barracks, warns him of Prince Han’s rebellion, and asks him to mobilize the troops. However, Commander Chen draws a pistol and nearly shoots LJQ and Nan Ke, who throw themselves to the ground to dodge the bullet.But LJQ was prepared and struck the wicked commander first with another pistol.Once outside the tent, LJQ alerted the soldiers to what had happened and urged them to unite to stop Prince Han. Suddenly, Prince Han himself arrived with another troop, spreading lies about LJQ and twisting the facts. He shot an arrow at Lin Jin Qi; it pierced the hand LJQ had raised to protect his heart. NanKe wept in desperation, begging him to wake up.With a sinister expression, Prince Han ordered them to take LJQ’s body away and behead him. However, NanKe rebelled and overpowered the four soldiers; meanwhile, LJQ regained consciousness and removed the arrow, which had been blocked by the rectangular gold insignia she had received from the emperor.Prince Han went to the armory, but LJQ had arrived there first—using the insignia that authorized entry—and had already taken all the weapons.The camera shows LJQ, her hand bandaged and bloodied, about to light a gunpowder fuse. Prince Han, his face twisted in rage and malice, recalls the events and realizes how she survived. The camera shows the fuse igniting. The episode ends. (What will Episode 35 bring?)
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Against the Current Episode 33
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Lin Jin Qi learns from his sister, Xiu Wan, that Xiu Lai was on the verge of taking her own life using arsenic; had it not been for Lan Xian, his sister would have died. He and his siblings are devastated. Lin Jin Qi bows in gratitude to his wife, Lan Xian, who arrived just in time to prevent the tragedy.Scholar Han and Xie Zhao are receiving congratulations for their rankings in the imperial civil service examination. The Emperor and his ministers are making promising plans for the two young men.The Emperor is informed of the reason for the absence of the Shense Guard Commander, Lin Jin Qi. He learns that she is at the magistrate's court due to a petition filed by her sister, who seeks a divorce from her husband because of the abuse she has suffered at his hands.In the courtroom, the abusive husband, Liu Jun, stands beside his kneeling wife, Xiu Lai (Lin Jin Qi’s half-sister)—though it appears she is effectively the only one on trial. The husband seems poised to succeed in his plan to keep her bound to him in both life and death (as he himself puts it). However, the plan devised by Lin Jin Qi and Lan Xian unfolds successfully in two stages. Ultimately, realizing he is in deep trouble, the abuser agrees to the divorce and consents to hand over the children to the care of his soon-to-be ex-wife.Yet, he is sentenced to receive 100 lashes. Xiu Lai is also sentenced to 100 lashes, as is Lin Jin Qi. Lin Jin Qi proposes taking his own 100 lashes along with the 100 intended for his sister. (A strange look from one of the judges reveals an intent to kill Lin Jin Qi), but Lan Xian intervenes, exposing the plot against her husband's life and threatening to report the matter to the Emperor. Consequently, they replace the executioner with an older man and reduce LJQ’s sentence to 100 lashes. During the punishment, the cowardly Liu Jiu’s screams can be heard, yet LJQ remains steadfast as he endures the blows. Even so, he smiles proudly at the wife who stood up for him.On the way back, while being carried on a stretcher and bearing bloodstains on his body, LJQ witnesses the acclaimed Scholar Han passing by in a procession. Lan Xian smiles happily for her friend and whispers, "Congratulations." Seeing this, LJQ looks at his wife and holds her hand—affectionately yet possessively—shifting her attention from Scholar Han back to himself.At the end of the episode, he is in bed recovering, muttering about how cold his wife is. She notices he has dismissed the maids. Why won't she soften and come tend to him? He employs a strategy: he splashes a little tea on his face and pretends to groan in pain. Lan Xian rushes to his side. He tells her he simply wants her to talk to him. (She mentions that her defense of LJQ regarding the care of Xiu Lai was driven by a desire to avoid further suffering over her brother's injuries.) LJQ hears no admission that she is worried about *him* specifically. Nevertheless, Lin Jin Qi is touched and thanks her. He asks how she possesses such extensive knowledge of the empire's laws, given that few people have access to those documents. She replies that she learned it recently for her plays. It becomes evident that he is getting closer to discovering her true identity. She makes a move to leave, but Lin Jin Qi affectionately holds onto the fabric of her garment, as if asking her to stay. The episode ends there. We shall see what Episode 34 has in store.
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Against the Current Episode 32
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Lan Xian tells her husband she wants to continue writing plays, but under a pseudonym so as not to bring shame upon the family. LJQ is somewhat displeased but respects her decision.His subordinates tell Lin Jin Qi about the play she wrote, which uses caged birds and eagles as metaphors for women's lives. Lin Jin Qi immediately understood whom Lan Xian was referring to in her "fictional" story.In the next scene, we see LJQ’s half-sister, Xiu Lai, revealing to her maid that her husband beats her severely every day; after squandering her dowry, he still blames his wife. The maid joins in the plea, begging LJQ’s aunt—Xiu Wan’s mother—for help, as Xiu Lai wants to divorce her abusive husband, Liu Jun. The aunt, however, is more concerned about the potential impact on the upcoming marriages of two other young family members and advises Xiu Lai to endure the situation a little longer.Xiu Wan, however, refuses to accept this and goes to Lan Xian for help, recounting the tragedy of Xiu Lai’s life. Xiu Wan explains that when LJQ was eight years old, he took matters into his own hands, using a club to beat a male relative he held responsible for a woman's tragedy; as a result, his grandfather took him in to raise him personally.Lan Xian finds a way to inform LJQ of the problem without telling him directly. She hires some thugs who track down the abusive husband, Liu Jun; they beat him up and throw his own penchant for wife-beating in his face.In the following scene, we are in a courtroom where a battered Liu Jun and his father beg a magistrate to punish Lin Jin Qi, assuming he orchestrated the ambush. It is at this moment, through the villains' own words, that LJQ realizes his half-sister is being mistreated by her husband. LJQ twists the wrongdoer's wrist, causing him to flee—no longer feigning a broken leg. Jiugau, LJQ’s servant, remarks that the slap LJQ gave him acted like a cure. Liu Jun’s father—the abusive husband—storms off, vowing to take revenge on Lin Jin Qi.Meanwhile, Xiu Lai is about to swallow arsenic powder when Liu Jun is thrown through the doorway; he lands near her, causing the powder to spill onto him (though he does not ingest any).Just then, Lan Xian arrives with the maids and Xiu Wan to rescue Xiu Lai, but a group of malicious women, acting on Liu Jun’s orders, tries to block their path. Lan Xian fakes an injury causing Xiu Lai to bleed; this frightens the Liu family matriarch and the other wicked women, causing them to back down and let the group escape with Xiu Lai to the Lin family home.Upon arrival, a doctor examines Xiu Lai and predicts a full recovery within three years.In the next scene, LJQ and her siblings discuss how to resolve Xiu Lai’s situation. They want her to divorce and return to live with them. However, Xiu Wan’s mother opposes the plan, prioritizing upcoming marriages within the family. Xiu Wan feigns tears, arguing that if she were to marry and suffer abuse at her husband's hands, she would have no family to help her—leaving her at the mercy of her husband's cruelty, just as the aunt intends to do with Xiu Lai. This time, Lin Jin Qi’s aunt is moved by the argument. The episode ends here. Let’s move on to episode 33 to discover Xiu Lan’s fate.
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Against the Current Episode 31
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In a battle of wits and ruthless cunning, Lan Xian and Xiao Tang vied for the freedom of Jier and Xiaopu. Lan Xian won the day with a proposal: How could they secure the money so it wouldn't end up in the pockets of the family's men, but rather in Xiao Tang's own? Lan Xian explained her plan by recounting a story she had read in a book. Xiao Tang handed over the documents, but that alone wasn't enough; Lan Xian also had to hit the target in a game resembling golf. (Xiao Tang is unaware that Lan Xian is actually Jia Lam, a young woman from a slaughtered aristocratic family; thus, she knows how to navigate the world of the aristocracy. Lan Xian succeeded in her plan. Jier, Xiaopu, and Yunchan were all overjoyed and moved, with Jier, in particular, embracing Lan Xian in gratitude.Meanwhile, Jier, Xiaopu, and Zhi—the young woman who had arrived in rags from the brothel—shared a dream of going to the city of Quinzou to build a new life. They wished to establish a household of women, but this faced many legal obstacles. Lan Xian consulted the law books but found no solution. She then humbly asked Lin Jin Qi for help. He agreed, saying, "We are a couple; that shouldn't be a problem. Besides, I’ve already made arrangements in Quinzou with an elderly lady I know there; she is in charge of helping young women." Yunchan advised Lin Jin Qi on how he could return to sleeping in the master bedroom with his wife and find peace of mind (a humorous moment). He readily accepted the advice.As the young women bade Lan Xian farewell, they received a gift: 500 taels, which Lan Xian had raised by pawning her jewelry. When Lin Jin Qi found out, he was upset that his wife had pawned her jewelry. He wanted to solve the problem for her immediately, but Yunchan advised him to trust that Lan Xian would find a solution. Lan Xian wrote plays for the capital's opera troupe and earned the money within three months; ultimately, however, she handed the funds to Lin Jin Qi, as he had already redeemed the jewelry. She told him she wanted to continue writing plays—despite it being frowned upon by society—a decision she had made before...) ...marry him. The episode ends. What does episode 32 have in store for us?
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Against the Current Episode 29
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Lan Xian unexpectedly offers to let Lin Jin Qi wear the blue jacket her mother made for him. Lin Jin Qi immediately understands that she wants her parents to be happy and not worry about their marriage. She says that since she can no longer be with them, she doesn't want to cause them any trouble. At her parents' home, Lin Jin Qi and Lan Xian try to keep up a harmonious facade, but when Lin Jin Qi mentions that he will be going to the capital for about three years—implying Lan Xian will go too—she seems to suggest otherwise. However, her parents agree that the couple needs to stay together and shouldn't be apart for so long. Lan Xian's parents seem to like Lin Jin Qi, and he reciprocates the feeling.Yuchan brings a gift, which Lin Jin Qi accepts on behalf of himself and Lan Xian to give to someone else.The girl who was rescued from the brothel suddenly reappears, looking like a ragged beggar. Lan Xian and her parents take her in, tend to her wounds, and feed her. During a conversation, Zhi reveals to Lan Xian that Jier is likely in the capital; she found the family crest of the household where Jier had been sold.Lan Xian unexpectedly finds several reasons to agree to go to the capital, but Lin Jin Qi thinks she remains adamant. He then acts impulsively: he slips a natural sleep-inducing remedy into Lan Xian's cup. Just as she is about to tell him she agrees to go to the capital with him, she falls asleep. Lin Jin Qi carefully lays her down on the bed and says he couldn't bear to be apart from her (and urges her to leave behind any feelings for the scholar Han). "The past cannot be changed, but the future can be built." When Lan Xiang wakes up (already aboard the ship bound for the capital), she finds Lin Jin Qi acting cautiously, trying to apologize and win her favor so she will forgive him. He says, "Lan Xiang, don't take it to heart; you might get sick." But Lan Xiang remains serious and silent, seemingly ignoring him.At the port, Lin Jin Qi—handsome in his fur coat—looks troubled. An older friend speaks to him playfully and confidentially: "Don't look so pitiful; you can win your woman over. Be persistent and bold in your actions with her—woo her, you know? (Don't worry about your clothes.) Do you understand?"However, there is a somber moment in this episode. It takes place in the family's ceremonial chamber, where Lin Jin Qi and his grandfather are having a serious conversation. Lin Jin Qi is on his knees, bowing respectfully to his elderly grandfather, who offers him counsel. "Lin Jin Qi, a promotion is seemingly a wonderful thing. But in reality, being close to the Emperor is like being close to a tiger. I hope you haven't done anything you might regret in the Emperor's presence." Lin Jin Qi tries to stammer something (recalling how he helped the deposed prince escape because he believed the prince had been wronged), but before he can tell his grandfather, the old man cuts him off: "I don't want to know." His grandfather continues, "You defied your parents' wishes to win your wife. But when the Emperor opposes you, will you defy him as well?" Lin Jin Qi’s eyes well up and his expression betrays the urge to weep, yet he holds back the tears. He assures his grandfather that he serves the nation and the Emperor, and that he would never do such a thing.Yet, the episode ends on a humorous note. LJQ decides to put his old friend's advice into practice. Seeing Lan Xian with her back turned as she tidies up, he rushes to undress. Just as he is removing his first layer of clothing, Lan Xian turns around, confused. Embarrassed, he says, "I'm taking off my clothes." She simply says, "Oh..." and pays him no further mind. However, she walks forward and discovers Lin Jin Qi’s bathtub filled with hot water. Just then, LJQ approaches from behind wearing a sheer white nightgown—left slightly open—and bumps right into her, causing the garment to slip off his shoulders and fall down his back. Both of them look startled. The episode ends there. (Will this "drastic" approach help Lin Jin Qi win over his wife? We shall see in Episode 30.)
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Against the Current Episode 28
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Lin Jin Qi and Lan Xiang are each in their own beds. Lin Jin Qi speaks so she can hear him: "I'm sleeping where you slept, with my head on your pillow." He adds playfully, "It's like sleeping with you." She, meanwhile, looks annoyed. In this episode, we see Lin Jin Qi being flirtatious and patient. Yet Lan Xiang remains stern; she had even hidden the fur coat her mother had sewn for Lin Jin Qi. But he spotted it, and the two ended up tugging at opposite ends of that beautiful blue coat—the very one we now know he will wear so often. During this tug-of-war, Lan Xiang gets wrapped up in the coat and ends up in Lin Jin Qi's arms. She is not pleased about it at all. (Or is she?)There is a moment where the whole family is gathered, including the elders and a very important lady of the family. They have to make an excuse for Lan Xiang's silence—a local custom. They claim Lan Xiang made the fish soup, but the grandfather shows no interest in eating it. To break the tension, Lin Jin Qi announces that he is going to the capital to assume an important post assigned by the Emperor. He invites almost the entire family to join him. He states that Lan Xiang will go with him (though she doesn't want to). He offers countless reasons with a patient, playful manner, telling her she would have to endure her family's nagging all on her own and that it would be better for her to go with him. But she remains adamant.In another scene, Xiu Wan is kneeling on the ground at the gate where the family is gathered. Her sister arrives with her husband, the Marquis. However, the three of them—and Lin Jin Qi, who soon joins them—are all friendly and understanding. Xiu Wan’s mother had suggested that the grandfather allow Xiu Wan to accompany her and her son—arguing that Xiu Wan might otherwise miss the chance to find a husband—but the grandfather had refused. However, Lin Jin Qi later entered the room and, with the backing of the Marquis and Xiu Rui, argued that it would be best for Xiu Wan to come along; the grandfather then consented.Jiu Gao disappointed his mother by going to great lengths to ensure that certain prospective brides would not want to marry him (as he intends to marry Yu Chan). His mother was deeply upset and went to confide in Madam Lin. When she remarked, "A mother's heart is with her son, but her son's heart is with a stone," one could sense Madam Lin identifying with the situation regarding her own son, Lin Jin Qi—who, by her account, had often disregarded her wishes.In the following scene, the patient Lin Jin Qi stumbles against a pillar while chasing after Lan Xiang and offers an excuse for his mother's harsh words toward her. "Lan Xiang, are you angry?" he asks. "My mother was just rambling." The episode ends there. On to Episode 29: Will Lin Jin Qi manage to convince his wife?
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Against the Current Episode 27
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The wedding rituals begin. Lan Xiang, fully dressed as a bride—complete with the beaded tassels hanging from her headdress—kneels on the porch before her parents, who offer advice on living in harmony with her husband and his family; everyone is teary-eyed. Mr. Lu is also present at the front of the house. Then, the groom arrives—beaming—accompanied by a massive procession of smiling people. Someone shouts, "The groom has arrived!"—a cry repeated over and over. Finally, the groom dismounts to collect his bride. He enters and bows respectfully to her parents, who regard him with a touch of tenderness. Her father advises the groom on ensuring his daughter's happiness in her new home, and the groom vows to do everything in his power to make that happen. As the wedding party nears the site of the actual ceremony—with the bride in a carriage and the groom on horseback with his entourage—they suddenly encounter an obstacle on the road. It is another procession, bearing news that the scholar Han has ranked first at the country's most prestigious academy. Han’s entourage demands the right of way, blocking the path of the wedding party. A servant of LJQ confronts the man carrying the red placard that officially confirms Han’s success. Finally, LJQ appears and dismounts. (Murmurs are heard: “Is he marrying a mere maid?” Scholar Han approaches as well. LJQ bows respectfully and asks Scholar Han not to interfere with the couple's auspicious moment; they need to pass right then to receive their blessing. Scholar Han speaks sarcastically, noting he expected LJQ to cite the King's decree to demand passage. Scholar Han then decides to clear the way. LJQ tells the servant that this wasn't done for his sake, but for someone else's.Upon arriving at the wedding: LJQ is overjoyed, but a moment of tension arises. In front of Lin Jin Qi’s entire family, the bride refuses to perform the wedding bow. A pause ensues, and LJQ grows anxious. LJQ’s parents seem confused about what is happening. A woman standing nearby gives Lan Xiang a gentle push on the back, urging her to perform the bow that seals the marriage. Reluctantly, Lan Xiang bows, and Lin Jin Qi smiles in relief. Later in the wedding ritual (with no parents present, only other men), Lin Jin Qi stands before his bride. The ritual requires him to lift her red veil. He lifts it solemnly, enchanted by the sight of her face. However, she glares at him and slaps him twice, telling him he has crossed the line. For a moment, he stands stunned. The men all withdraw, leaving the two of them alone.In another scene, Lin Jin Qi sits at a table with the same men who attended the wedding, sharing drinks. Despite everything, LJQ is radiant. The men wonder how he will resolve the situation. LJQ says confidently, “After the storm comes the calm.” The Marquis and the others laugh.The next scene takes place in a bedroom: Lan Xiang is with her old friends—three maids. She says she wants to sleep in the small room. Her friends tell her that isn't advisable... ...that. And one of them corrects the other. "Remember to address her as 'Madam,' not just 'you'." With teary eyes, Lan Xiang looks at the three of them and asks, "Will you still be my friends?" Overcome with emotion, they all say yes.Suddenly, LJQ enters the room and asks everyone to leave so he can be alone with his bride. Once they leave, Lan Xiang sulks; she wraps herself in the quilt to hide, remaining silent and turning her back on LJQ. He sits on the edge of the bed and tells her he has loved her ever since she left the pavilion. He acknowledges that what he did—had it been done to him—would have been grounds for killing someone. He also knows she doesn't love him. "I will give you time to accept me," he says, though he vows to do everything in his power to make her fall in love with him. He speaks with the bearing of a soldier fulfilling a duty: "You, Xu Lan Xiang, can only be my wife in this lifetime." He then moves the small step-stool aside and leads Lan Xiang to her room, laying her down on the main wedding bed. She asks what he intends to do. He tells her that, for tonight, he will sleep in the small room while she sleeps in the main one. The camera cuts between the two of them lying in their respective beds, lost in thought. Yet, despite everything, LJQ is happy. (So, let's move on to Episode 28 now.)P.S.: I forgot a crucial scene. He went to offer her some food. But suddenly, he saw her take an angry bite out of a cookie bearing the Lin family symbol. He doesn't realize she is remembering the day—back when she was a teenager—that the Lin family rejected her in favor of a marriage to LJQ; at that moment, she had been holding a cookie with that very symbol while weeping in her mother's arms. (There is unresolved past trauma involved, and he isn't even aware of it.)
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Against the Current Episode 26
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Lanxiang drinks to console herself over recent events. Master Lu asks to stand by Lan Xian’s side at the wedding, given that she has no family and he was her only master. The Xu family agrees and thanks him for everything he has done for them. Lanxiang’s parents had worried she might be humiliated by the Lin family, but Master Lu assured them that wouldn't happen. Jia Lan added that doing so would defy the Emperor's decree, so they wouldn't dare. Master Lu also noted that, within the Lin family, this moment would serve as both a sword and armor—actually protecting her.However, her words while weeping by the wall were unsettling; she spoke as if the marriage didn't exist. To her, it would be a final separation; the wedding would take place, but for her, it wouldn't be real. She delivered a monologue—harsh words spoken as if she were conversing with Lin Jin Qi.Meanwhile, Scholar Hu was on the other side of the wall, listening to her weeping. Yet, what he said through the wall was simply an acknowledgment that Lan Xian hadn't wanted to marry him either. She was a free spirit who wished to chart her own path. (Only then did he realize that he, too, had in some way been trying to force a marriage).Lin Jin Qi, for his part, was enduring a terrible ordeal before his entire family. He was humiliated in front of his grandfather, parents, siblings, and cousins. His grandfather and parents spoke harshly to him because he had defied their wishes to force the marriage with Lan Xian. Lin Jin Qi explained that he had acted that way knowing they wouldn't approve; he loved Lanxiang, and that was why he had gone against them all. Calling him "ungrateful," his grandfather declared that he would be punished. Lin Jin Qi then lay face-down on a wooden bench, and a servant began beating him with a heavy club. He is wounded—blood seeps through his clothes—yet LJQ stands firm; only his facial expression betrays the pain he is feeling. Everyone is distressed, and his ailing brother looks as though he might collapse. Nan Ke weeps uncontrollably as he watches his master, commander, and friend being treated this way. But at that moment, his sister Xiu Rui arrives—dressed as a married woman (a stroke of good timing)—prompting their grandfather to call a halt to the punishment (though not before LJQ has already endured many lashes).In the next scene, we see Lin Jin Qi—battered but happy—lying face-down on his bed, recovering from the ordeal. His siblings gather around to comfort and tease him, and he smiles. It is revealed that Xiu Rui’s timely arrival was actually part of LJQ’s plan; he had known what awaited him but had refused to back down from his decision.And in episode 27, we will see the long-awaited wedding take place.
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Against the Current Episode 24
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How did this couple miss each other? He gallops past just as Lan Xiang walks by, leaning on the elderly woman for support.Back at the brothel, Lin Jin Qi failed to recognize Jier, leaving her feeling frustrated and insignificant. Lin Jin Qi questioned the brothel madam, who offered excuses that highlighted Lan Xiang's cleverness. He maintained his usual stern, intimidating air of a man dutifully performing his job—though in this instance, his primary goal was finding Lan Xiang. Meanwhile, Lan Xiang ended up at a pier, where she spotted Scholar Hu chatting and singing with a female performer from the opera troupe. Relieved, she joined them to eat, talk, and share in their merriment. Later in the episode, back home, Lan Xiang and Scholar Hu conversed across the wall separating their houses—even singing a duet together once more.Lin Jin Qi arrived on horseback just then and immediately recognized their voices through the wall. Deeply upset, he turned his horse around and rode off in the opposite direction, leaving his subordinate looking on with anxious concern. Meanwhile, Scholar Hu gave Lan Xiang the remaining funds needed to buy Jier’s freedom—repaying the debt for her earlier rescue at the brothel and fulfilling his promise to retrieve the girl. She also informed him of a plan involving the theater troupe at the Marquis’s wedding, intended to ensure that those guilty of crimes would finally face justice.The Marquis’s wedding scene was quite compelling, and the couple appeared happy. The voice of the actress from the play echoed through the air as soldiers arrived—a move that had seemingly been orchestrated in coordination with Lin Jin Qi. However, they were unaware that a deadly plot, hatched by the wicked minister, was about to unfold. The king insisted on staging a theatrical performance, ignoring the apprehensive advice of his closest allies, while the villain secretly gloated over the impending disaster.Meanwhile, Jia Lan—determined to exact justice against the wicked, cynical royal woman—pressed ahead. The two women confronted each other behind a wall, overheard by someone neither suspected: the king himself and his subordinates. During this exchange, Lan Xiang confronted Manny with the truth about her criminal act of kidnapping. Manny arrogantly claimed to be above the law, but the king, having overheard everything, decided to put her on trial. Manny was stunned—in disbelief at the turn of events—yet she managed to maintain her composure. Her father, the villainous minister, appeared to be suffering from a leg ailment, yet—illness notwithstanding—he remained steadfast in his malevolent schemes. Earlier, while Lan Xiang was performing the role of a ghost, she had boldly spoken some hard truths directly to the indignant Manny, who was watching the play from the balcony.At that moment, Lin Jin Qi realized it was Lan Xiang on stage and was taken aback, though the two did not meet or even lock eyes. Lin Jin Qi had to leave, but before doing so, he solemnly charged the marquis with protecting Lan Xiang with all his might during his absence, then hurried away. However, the episode ended with the marquis in a dire predicament: the king—who had insisted on performing despite all warnings—was struck dead by an arrow on stage, leaving the marquis surrounded by enemy soldiers and facing overwhelming odds. However, earlier on, he and Lin Jin Qi had discussed a strategy they intended to put into action (Lin Jin Qi had noted that he lacked sufficient troops, but they could orchestrate something that would appear to be something else entirely). "Juan Baichuan, do you wish to rebel?" shouts the Marquis, surrounded by enemies. And that is the end of the episode. Let’s move on to Episode 25.
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