gingermintrose

Are you a poet? You summed it beautifully. Yes, I have that one too.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0vGAMojMvP8XlFINADtTyn

I'm enamored with him. I love his and Shen's story arc!

I have Shen's and Wen's love theme on a loop...https://open.spotify.com/track/5X6ZUTDcfEZusAAeZgMQnC

What an amazing beautifully written story. Intelligent and heart-wrenching, of love, hate, revenge, and hopelessness and redemption. So inspiring and acted brilliantly. It took my breath away. Highly recommended. 10 in my book.

Ran Yan's relations to Ran Yun Sheng is in her father's side. The penalty for treason at that time was annihilation (death) to all family and extended family. I know it is cruel. Ran Yan was spared of death because at the end she helped recover the Marquis of Pearl along with Xiao Song. Her half sister committed suicide and her father died of age. But because Fox was a descendant of the former emperor and his cousin was a traitor, she still had to receive some punishment, in this case her banishment, not death, in Suzhou and not being able to be with Xiao Song.
If you remember in the episode where Xiao Song and Ran Yan finally unravelled the mystery of the pearl in the secret compound of the Xiao Manor, Fish was horrified to learn that his grandfather was a secret supporter of the former emperor of Sui and that he was tasked with the pearl, hidden within the Xiao family. Hence, Fish can't possible just hand the pearl to the emperor because it would have implicated his whole family of treason. That's why at the end, he had to ask Sang Chen to hide it at the base of the emperor's seal so that it would not be linked to the Xiao family. Fish made it that the pearl was hidden at the base of the seal al along and it was within the palace. Clever, huh?

SjS is so behind. Suffers a great of stress about his sexuality in the process!!!

First, Ran Yun Sheng is Ran Yan's cousin, a descendant of the deposed emperor of Sui.
So On your first question, I speculate that Xian Song being brilliant will maneuver to have the Emperor's edict overturn. All through out the story he was successful in these maneuvers against very fickle Emperor of Tang. For examples: he thought of a way to have the emperor walked into the Ran Yan's trial with the help of San Cheng which acquitted the Fox. He could go in and out of jail as he wanted to, this means that he had his ways, This is also true why in spite of the edict, he was able to visit Ran Yan and see her wafter one year. He is just simply brilliant. I do not think there will be a Season 2 though. I love the fact that he is so strategic!

Yes, Shifeng and Luo Hou Ji Du at the end, there is definitely an emotional connection there!

So funny, I was thinking of the same thing. That kind of pants is actually called "jodhpurs" popular at that time! Easy on the hip and tight at the bottom like breeches. But I love the styling of Qu Manting's wardrobe and Shen Jushan's non-military uniform. Check his ensemble in tweed in 2 button jacket with notch lapels, matching vest and silk cravat and that slick hairstyle (groomed with pomade). I want that styling for my man, or I will order a Shen Junshan for myself. Hehehe

Toby Lee in Arsenal Military Academy is phenomenal. I really like his subtle demeanor and piercing eyes. Check his first film "Soul Mate" with MA Sichun and Zhou Dongyu, Toby shows his character's vulnerability and poignancy through his subtle acting - an incredible feat for a beginner. I become a fan right away.

So, I just watched SoulMate, the film starring Ma Sichun and Zhou DongYu, Toby Lee's first film! Although it centers on these two powerful actresses, Toby held his own as their love interest. His expression is so arresting and emotive. His persona seems to change from each performance. He was deliciously funny and cute in Miss Truth and then I totally melted with his portrayal of Shen Jushan in Arsenal Military Academy. I can hardly wait to see him in his next drama!

Yes. Miss Truth first and I love Xiao Song as a character, but here in AMA, his role is poignant. He definitely looks great here with his natural hair and boy, that physique, plus a set of eyes that mesmerized you. I'm definitely smitten!!!

Something about Toby's eyes... Not pretty handsome but he has a gaze that's alluring. I definitely loved him in Miss Truth and AMA just confirms how mesmerizing he is in any role.

Contrary to almost everyone's opinion, I really love the arch of the love story between FL and ML. It is a slow simmer and if you are not into that, then you are like to be disappointed. With dramas, we are wired to feel a strong attraction right away between the FL and ML. A deviation of that doesn't suit our sensibility, I love the bickering between Fox and Fish. I see sexual tensions behind the bickering which is hilarious and endearing. That's how they sort their feelings. . The strong girl who will not yield to a nobleman who is used to order people around. And a male lead that is brilliant and has no qualms to use all kinds of devices to have his fox by her side. Not too obvious, but strategic. I really like that all of them have human flaws. The ML is arrogant but his steadfast, the FL is fickle-minded when it comes to the affairs of the heart but courageous and unyielding. The second male lead can succumb to sacrifice but is a cold-blooded killer. I blame the editing (to shorten the length of this drama) that skews the storylines and love angles. It has skipped too many emotional parts that would have painted the arc of their love transformation seamlessly. This is one drama that I hope stuck to being a bit longer than 35. I miss the Fish and his Fox.