bonnie

sure, we'd like to think that. But I think there is only one emperor in Chinese History who didn't have a harem. There are so many dramas of emperors who promised to have no other and then either was forced to because of politics or chose to because he changed. In this drama it never shows them even discuss it , for him to even promise he won't. But instead she accepts it as her duty from the beginning. It follows because their placid faces and slow , studied movements throughout the reunion and ceremony shows they are accepting of their roles. They are leaders of the country and all that it entails. That's just my take, but there was zero passion and no promises. imo.

The several early episodes I wondered if I would stick with it. Then it got good about 1/2 way through. Then I had seen some previews of her being tortured in prison which put me off. But I had already watch a scene where Si and Yu Qi were talking and realize everything in going to close in on them so they decide to strike first. So I was REALLY disappointed they completely dropped the ball after their wedding and staying home cuddling and braiding each others hair and got caught by the EP. They had so much evidence to bring and they just didn't. I found that annoying, so I honestly skipped ep37 until ep 39. I don't like separation stories, so that annoyed me, haha.. The last ep is Yu Qi being tied to the palace now hanging in a huge empty room and her looking close up at sticks.. ho hum.. Then they meet, they hug, they dress up and then she says during her empress ceremony she will manage the harem well. AND I'M DONE. I know there were harems , I know the politics, but the idea of this couple , of this man who was so in love and dedicated and funny/sweet to her will have a harem ruined that last bit of the drama for me.. they honestly didn't look happy or warm, they looked accepting and polite. It didn't work for me personally. But that's just me.

Well, these aren't KDramas, but rather CDramas but I enjoyed them.
Blossom
The Double
Are you the One
The Legend of Shen Li
Love between Fairy and Devil ( this came out in 2022)

But didn't you yourself say "Africans" in the above comment, lumping all the inhabitants of the different countries of the African continent into one? I understand you are offended.. I had this same discussion in this comment section with another poster. That day I just looked up for my own info about the availability of clean water on the continent of Africa and found this ( I already posted it, but to make it easier)
"One in three Africans are affected by water scarcity. According to the 2022 WHO/UNICEF JMP report, 411 million people in Africa still lack basic drinking water service, 779 million lack access to basic sanitation services, and 839 million lack access to basic hygiene.. " This was 3 years ago, but you ask "what year are we "? It's still valid. There may be places that are doing well, but there are very many that still are not. And I feel your post is sending the impression that no help is needed, when that's far from the truth. Terrorism has added to the what was already difficult for some. I felt in the end of my discussion with the other poster who took offense like you have, that it would be a more sincere approach if the drama had put info how to reach out and help in the end credits. Since I already responded with my POV to the other poster " Wookie", I don't care to go over it again.

I have always felt he didn't kill her.. perhaps he was aiming his bow at someone else we don't know iwas there.. But who knows? I just wonder how they will show us the truth IF he is not remembering his past life, how would she ( and we) know for sure?

I started watching this for ZWY... I'm not actually a fan of JT. The early episodes made me think I would just drop it. But my shoulder is broken, and I was stuck on the couch , haha, and I stuck with it. The later episodes have gotten better and better. You almost have to get half through this drama for it to take off, but it SO did. And ep 34 slayed me. The acting by the two villainess's in this ep was so electrifying. They really affected me. I am amazed and impressed by these last episodes. They are done so well in all respects.

thank you

Ok, I understand your points, and they are valid. I suppose it would be more sincere if they would add info at the end of those episodes on how and where to help. :/

I would also add, I understand you don't need a 'savior' and find that insulting. But there is good in awareness, and there's nothing wrong with people wanting to help those in need if they can.. If they can 'save' a child, a grandmother, a village, a school, in some way, why is someone's ego more important?

Hi. I understand. I hate it when my country is generalized as if we all feel and act the same way. That's just not true of any country or culture. It's usually insulting as well. But oth, I just looked it up and found this -> "One in three Africans are affected by water scarcity. According to the 2022 WHO/UNICEF JMP report, 411 million people in Africa still lack basic drinking water service, 779 million lack access to basic sanitation services, and 839 million lack access to basic hygiene.. "
I don't know if you read elsewhere in my comments, but I was friends with a man who came from Burkina Faso. He started a non profit to get tools to Africa to distribute to the villages. He went back and forth and lived here for a couple of years and back home for a couple of years. Near the end he collected enough money to drill a well, the first fresh water ever in that area. He died last year, he was such an awesome man. He died here, away from home. But, that's why I understand how you feel, but it's a disservice to people still in great need to give the impression it's not needed or wanted.

Well perhaps you don't need help but there are still many on the African continent that could use help, clean water, tools etc. I don't know why you speak for all the countries of Africa, and why when you are clearly wrong.

I feel like you are misguided.. I had a friend who's from Burkina Faso who started a non profit to take tools to Africa to disburse to the villages. Sadly he died a little over a year ago while here in the US collecting donations for his people. I have seen the photos and movies of his family and village and was with him during his face time calls to them. Hestayed in the home of mt friend while here. He grew up in a village and was inspired in his youth by a Peace Corps worker. As an adult he had come to the US several times to raise money and collect items to be shipped home. He recently had been donated enough money to drill a well for water to be shared by all. The FIRST well they've ever had, the first fresh water. There are many places in Africa that still suffers from lack of clean water, poor nutrition and poverty. Your outrage gives people the impression that that is not still a very real concern and does a disservice to those who are truly in need.

Yes, I'm sure your right about the 'on the spot 'thing:) Alto there have been ruthless leaders and their families throughout history that were capable, but not the norm. I understand this is a drama,( fairytale) , but it's not fantasy, so we're supposed to accept these characters as living in their real world. That's the way I am judging them.

Sure, but if we just take this drama alone as a lesson , she already knows that offending certain people can have long range repercussions including frame ups, status loss and death for the very people she's living to protect. That's why sure it's fun to see her stand up and call people on their cr*p, but it's for dramas sake.It's not something I can applaud the character for her wits.

When you say "You do realize that not all people are the same right" aren't you being a little too condescending? You are prob "mouthy" ,as you put , because you live in a time and place where your whole family couldn't be annihilated for your words or actions..Or everything you entire family owns confiscated and you are all exiled like criminals. You speak so lightly about bringing your own death because you want to say what you want to say. But living another day to take down the evil people is the wiser move imo, you can't do much for yourself or your family if you're dead. I remember a scene from Schindlers List where a jewish woman architect in a concentration camp was standing up for her professional POV and the German office picked up his pistol and killed her like she was an annoying gnat. It affected me how she was there one minute and gone the next, over what? Read the room, use your wits to stay alive. Are there deaths that are valorous, heroic, meaningful? Of course, but in this drama to have her bait the CP in front of everyoneat a banquet is the kind of showy pridefulness that endangered the people she wants to protect. It's just a ploy device in a drama to stir us, but it doesn't make me respect the character.

Yes, that's what I thought really. He's prob the crown prince, born of the empress.

thanks, this makes the most sense. And a rumor that Si could be the generals daughter is prob a rumor because it was believed that he met Su Ke secretly at the temple and was having an affair.

So can someone spell out the timeline for me in this life. Are Si's brother and sister older than her, or younger? Because Su Ke was engaged to the general and then they had to break up and she married An Cheng. But she died right after Si was born. So those two kids must have come before. And evidently An Cheng was married to ? or engaged to the woman who became his sister in law, ( is it Yi?). They said it was 'annulled' , so I don't know if it'a marriage or engagement. The drama leads us to think that the general is actually Si's father, but he swears he never saw her again after he was married. And I don't think Su Ke was meant to have some kind of affair with the general after she's been married and given birth to the first two children.. And she wasn't alive after Si was born. What am I missing?

I think it was about the indignity of it. She refused to allow the humiliation. Altho she handled it so readily and used it to get that maid's info that I wonder if we're are also supposed to think she knew it was a possibility and planned for it?

I always thought it was odd just how aloof Prince Yan's mother could be to him.. Now I wonder if he's not really her son, she was always odd and uncomfortable about it?? If thats true, was there some kind of switch and perhaps Yan either has a more powerful mother making it clear for him to rise to the top in the end, or a more common mother making it easy for him leave the palace at the end with Si?