ibisfeather

You should get the novel readers to spill; I only repeat what they have said -- the son was conceived during an encounter which was not consensual for either (?) and not well-lit. She doesnt know what he looks like, and she ran off from the palace, a crime, carrying an imperial heir, an accidental crime.

The Demon Lord look ,up from under his brows!!!!

ep12-13
two thoughts:
beans -- what happened to that little poem for emergencies, 'in case of emergency pull this chain'? There must be a legal situation coming up in the future where ChangYu will use that poem. And what was the 'meaning'. Although the word 'meaning' comes trippingly off the lips of the over-educated for who grass...something.. spring elicits a little lyrical observation out of nowhere.

literacy -- an insuperable obstacle to their life together. She cannot read or write well. Their relationship only works when they are in her territory. In his she would be lost.
He is teaching Ning to write. Has he been teaching ChangYu too? Poetry is a bridge between their worlds?

9.1 crrazy!

If only Guo Dali had told who hired him! So many malevolent forces! We are wandering around in the dark here!

ep10
The falcon returns was used as his/YZ's message to ChangYu -- that the tamed bird will return, even if you let him go.
He hesitated for a long minute until he strode over to pinkie-promise with ChangNing.
They have that connection the new lovers have -- messages are sent and received without needing much explanation. A sort of confidence that the other one is listening and will understand when they need to.

Qi Shu and Qi Min are related royals, right? They seem similiar -- a little self-centered.

I take it the real problem for Lu Qian isnt just that she ran away from the palace? But that she is hiding one of the imperial spares, her little son by Qi Min.

And Gongsun had a little wistful hope in there somewhere -- before he found out his secret Go partner was a woman? Before he found out she was the Grand Princess? He knew what he was talking about when he said to Yan Zheng that private emotions are hard to control, I guess.

I had the idea that when she goes to look for Yan Zheng (not knowing he is Xie Zheng the Marquis) that she would take along the 3 Mans and Grandma's darling as her little troop.

ep11. So ready for a move in the action -- to Luyuan Academy? Or the county town and the big restaurant?

Ok. Next conundrum to share. Which group of attackers had which goals? The murder of Uncle Fan, Meng LiHua and Wei Qi Lin is more a part of the larger plot, so that doesnt bother me now, but...

Goals of various assassins:
1. "token" (?)
2. letter
3. murder of Fan women

How many different groups of attackers?
1. Those who ambushed the ML to begin with, and/or the white-caped set who reeved the mess over again afterwards -- they lost his body and the token,
2, Those who attacked the Fan house while the court case was going on...
3. ep9, the Xie death warriors, iron type whose timing was exact, interrupting the tangerine kiss.
.....did I miss any?

No, this is great, just this far. Thanks!

Inviting spoilers on ChangYu's parents from anyone who is navigating between the drama and the novel. My questions under the spoiler veil below.

Ep9
Who is ChangYu's father? Her dad Fan Erniu was a Wei servant. General He alerts someone in the Wei family to the girls' location by sending a long-hidden letter.
Is her mother still Meng Lihua?

If CY is the daughter of Chacellor/Uncle Wei, and Uncle Mei is the twin of Xie Zheng's Mom (dont really understand the relationship chart but that is what I got from it), then the 2 lovers are cousins?

yes, what was that? Was he going to tell her that she and Ning were fostered out?

Ep9
The origins of the Fan girls! That was a surprise! So they are the daughters of the Wei clan? Of Chancellor Wei himself? Which means what? Has YanZheng become the brother-in-law of that raw idiot Wei Yuan? So...
the Fan father was the..retainer?.. of Chancellor Wei? Who was teaching YanZheng as well martial arts? Was that the Chancellor, whom 'YanZheng' called Uncle, or was it the man who came on the scene shortly afterwards?

Ep8 -- great range!
I laughed so hard at GongSun's image of the butcher lady!
Wept when Changyu misunderstood the signs.
so good.

Good information, thanks.

She is jade. But also he is like a piece of jade found in the snow. Smooth, valuable.

Another charming point about this show, the title isnt randomly invented. The two mention jade and gold, as in you dont even recognize gold inlaid with jade when you see it. Not sure of the quote.

And here I thought it was a perfect characterization of a hypocrite!