gmat6594

More bluster than childish. Sheltered rather than spoiled. Not a diamond in the rough, but a warm sun hidden behind the clouds. Luo Shu could flourish as her heart had a home. By comparison Han is like the moon. Reflects our desires, but a flower does not blossom under the moonlight.

Royal Rumor is pretty good, but the playing field between the FL and ML is less even. But she is very scheming and is a warrior's daughter. The old soldier that protects the FL is very endearing. Uncanny Destiny is also good. The FL is a born leader. The men around her are funny and endearing.

Good points. Yet she was instrumental in getting her Father to admit his guilt. Just like Menglin embezzled the grain with good intentions. I think that the writers side lined both but the purpose it not made clear. Luo Shu moves up in life on her own merits so Menglin is must be side lined? Magistrate Han moves up on his own merits without a patron. At the cost of both loves? Does punishment for crimes need to be made clear? Does it fall in line with current moral standards or censor standards? Was the ending for the censors, the audience or the scriptwriter and director's whim?

I hope that people read your comments are are moved to watch or finish watching this drama. Thank you.
I think that Qin Yi prevented the team that burned Luo Shu's house from killing her along with her parents was what he meant by saving her.
The elder Qin used Qin Yi's plan to silence the father as a means to curry the favor of Gov Qi. So Gov Qi was complicit in her parent's death. That's why Qi Yanjin tells Menglin in ep. 25 "That she is destined not to be with us." Some salami slicing going on here.

Have you seen the beginning of ep. 18? He acted when Han dared not. That is when Menglin in increments stretched over until ep. 32 prompted Luo Shu's admission that she gave her heart to him. He is really more blustery than childish. And in ep. 23 watch how the Qi Mansion maids treat him. As a beloved younger brother. Finally in ep. 33, trying to escape Qin's rogues, Lian Shu leads the three to his late parent's abandoned house. He had been sold to the Qi Mansion as his family didn't have enough to eat. Menglin looks at how poor their house was and thanks Lian for sticking with him. Then he says in the next life, you be the master and I'll be the servant. Luo Shu smiled at that. Not so much growth as hidden reserves of courage and empathy emerges when appropriate. I often come back to re-watch the scenes with Luo Shu and Qi Menglin as they are often touching. I don't rewatch the parts with other characters.

Considering that the lead screenwriter and the 10 other screenwriters were women, it seems strange that Qi Menglin wasn't written to be more endearing to watchers. Unless you liked his character, viewers who shipped Han and skipped Menglin's scenes missed much. He deserved her love. From ep. 1, her playing style and choice of which song to play attracted his attention. Not that she was a beauty nor that it was an auction to win the right to deflower her. Her playing the pipa was bold and heroic. Not coy nor gentle. He wonders who would deserve such beauty. Whereas Luo Shu's attraction to Han was more obvious, her appreciation of Menglin was more subtle and in increments or in fits. When he asks her to guide him in Linfen and has her carry all of the goods, she turns the table by having him donate it to the poor. But he isn't angry and then the boy cries and says that he hasn't eaten. When he offers his snacks, the camera switches to Luo Shu looking at him. It isn't the only time that they show her thoughtful look after he has done something good or unexpected. The childish outside hold a kind and giving heart.
Luo Shu's journey to reach her goal in life should have been given a more prominent part of the story. The trial of Gov. Liu and the showdown with Qin Yi should have ended a couple of episodes earlier. We should have seen Luo Shu establishing herself as a businesswoman .
Also unfortunately the writers and the director seems to have wanted to make the contrast between Magistrate Han and Qi Menglin as opposite as possible. It wasn't helped that Menglin was the butt of jokes by his servant and his wealth and class caused friction and resentment from Luo Shu.
MDL shows only one screenwriter, but if you look at the baidu page, it lists the other 10 screenwriters.
Luo Shu could not be happy with Menglin as long as his Family was rich and powerful. And his Father had Qin Yi burn her house and kill her parents. Menglin had to lose his wealth and the Father punished. At the end he is happy to wait for her at home. When he went to help his Father at the risk of his life, he asked Han to take care of Luo Shu as he knew Han loved her and was worthy of her. The two prison scenes in ep. 32 and 36 are very touching. He is not willing to have her face death by his side and he doesn't want her to become the widow of an executed criminal. Whew Wrote too much Sorry.

Agree. Watched it many times. A Familiar Stranger might be the best of the dramas that I mentioned, but Deng Kai isn't in it and the ML starts cold but is not toxic, It's a great love story.

Butterflied Lover is the better of the two but he is the second lead but with his own romance. Some thought his ship was more interesting than the CP. Not me, though. The director and screenwriter have done some well regarded mini dramas. A Familiar Stranger, Provoke and The Killer is Also Romantic are good. the director moved up and recently did Blossom. Governor’s Secret Love has him as the ML. The director or screenwriter needed to tighten up the story.

Governor’s Secret Love if you haven’t seen it might do. If you haven’t seen it already. Butterflied Lover is another.

Why not to the end?
Only peeked at the end.
The second ending was such a downer that I will get to it when it won't feel so painful.
He comes across as becoming a pawn once he become the Emperor. That's why two two old men gleefully gave a hand bump. None of his friends stayed with him and the FL chose to travel with her Father. None showed any remorse. It is one thing to be a lonely ruthless Emperor but it is another to be kept in a gilded cage.

Who might be the wife, then?

He only trusts his two disciples so they rode with him. The later disciples had to walk behind. I believe that they are following Ranran's lead. I think that she may also know why Qingge decided to change him.

Very insightful. The synopsis would indicate that Lingyu will have to establish her place in society first and that she and Lu Yun will support each other but not have to be dependent on each other. Of the three, one controlling with an evil face, one controlling with a nice face and one meets his match.

She wants to use the inheritance to restore the fortunes of her clan members who became poor when her parents died and their property was held by the crown. Marriage to Prince H would not allow that.

Seems so. Today only one episode. 14.

Open ended. When Han tracks her down two years after at the end, she lives a life of seclusion and with prayers. Han says that the feelings they had ended up running deep. Her eyes and mouth betray feelings. Then he says that he will wait for her. In the next life, too. She tries to brush him off, but he then reaffirms that he will wait for her. She stares at him. Is there hope behind her eyes? Han dithered too long and always cared for Luo Shu more than her. Was there fear that the old embers for Luo Shu could spring to life at any time?

Largely one way. But her fate is to open her store, not be married with him. imho

Used squid ink but by any other name, onion juice that won't reappear.

Mr. Kong. Advisor to Prince H. So far he has not been named, but tracked him down in the Baidu baiken page for 怎敌她千娇百媚. He is on page 3 of the cast.

Saltpeter is used in the manufacture of gunpowder. Without firearms shown in that period, it might be used in an explosion to destroy the palace and royals. The party smuggling it into the capital would seem to be planning rebellion or a coup d'etat. Whether the Prince H is involved or just his advisor Mr Kong is not clear yet.