Didi

How the Sisters React when faced with Punishment

Spoilers AheadSummary: This episode highlights the intelligence of the sisters. Mo'er is the most clever: she avoids punishment with underhanded ways and even walks away looking like an angel. Ming Lan is wise: she tries to avoid trouble, but once in it, keeps her mouth shut in order to minimize damage. Rulan is the most honest: she can't tolerate indignity or injustice (kind of like GTY) and is not only punished, but she makes things worse by opening her mouth 1)We learn that Gu Ting Ye is called Second Uncle because if you look at the genealogy, he is a generation removed from everyone in terms of birth. I am guessing he is about ten years older than the female lead. For much of the show, he is called Second Uncle.2)Yuan Ruo is surprised to see that Ming Lan gifted the paintbrushes to her sisters. While both girls show off in order to impress Yuan Ruo, it is more like a mini fight as they are competing with one another. After, Concubine lin encourages her daughter to consider GTY as a suitor because he will probably be the next marquis but Mo'er refuses--GTY has a deplorable reputation. He is basically frequenting brothels, gambling, and engaged in all sorts of immoral acts (this is actually a huge farce perpetuated by the Gu family but that is to be discussed later). Side by side, mother and daughter are not that different--both beautiful, graceful, elegant and ambitious,3)Under the guise of returning a book, Xiao tao gives yuan ruo snacks she made and an apology: she basically says her mistress (Ming Lan) knows he meant well and encourages him to basically stop pursuing her in order to protect his own reputation. She also tells him to stop giving her gifts. Now, this may have deterred other men, after all, some may have been offended that a concubine born from a non noble family is so clearly rejecting them, but Yuan Ruo quite clearly is in love with her. He can't back away.4)GTY, meanwhile, is on his way to Sheng manor to study. the personal servant to stepmother Gu, nanny xiang, is trying to chase away a man from the brothel there to collect a debt. Stepmother gu defends GTY, and even though GTY tries to prove the signature (fingerprint) isn't his, his father refuses to believe him and has him caned. (it is unclear if he is doing this because of the alleged brothel balance/debt/immorality or because GTY is s good at provoking his father with his direct and angry words that he caning him out of spite and anger--either way, this is an obvious example of how men and women are treated differently--you would not cane a daughter and a daughter would be in trouble for being caught speaking to a man without a mother/brother/father present). (I think GTY's flippant dismissal of his father's words are truly what provokes him to be caned).5)Big Madame Wu, the wife of a count, arrives with her sixth son. Big Madame gives the order for her daughter to change clothes. Rulan could care less but she must do as she is told. Similarly, Concubine Lin dresses her daughter to be summoned. however, Big Madame Wu is placed in an uncomfortable position while talking to Madame Wu because Madame Wu seems to only be interested in discussing the Old Madame (meaning she would probably have Ming Lan summoned). Rulan is not summoned, and she is bored so she goes for a walk. Concubine Lin believes that Big Madame is deliberately refusing to summon them and as a last chance to gain something from this she sends Mo'er out so she can catch a glimpse of Madame Wu so she knows what she looks like. (in truth, concubine Lin is correct. Big madame is concerned for her daughter, she would never want Mo'er to marry above her own daughter because she can't give lin the satisfaction, and she does not priortize Ming Lan)6)Rulan runs into Ming Lan, and they run into Mo'er. Mo'er goes in to peak behind a screen, and Rulan follows her, dragging Ming Lan,. Ming Lan does not want to be there. Mo'er eyes the guys, and Rulan and her have a heated exchange. It reaches a point where her and Rulan struggle, and they lose their footing. Molan has the bright idea to push Ming Lan and Rulan onto the floor, resulting a very shameful scene. Madame Wu finds it amusing, Big Madame is embarassed, and their father, who is present, is furious.7)Mo'er is not punished. She is able to tell their father that she tried to stop the girls, but faield as a sister by not stopping them. Rulan, who is too honest for her own good, argues with her father until he is red in the face, because she insists that they are innocent and Mo'er is lying (she does this even though they are hit). This results in an even harsher punishment. Note: At the end of this episode Ming Lan and Rulan must kneel for three days, all because of Rulan's stubbornness that she is framed and refusal to admit she did anything wrong. It is important to note how Big Madame and Master Sheng react. Big Madame stands up for her daughter but not Ming Lan. She also lashes out at Mo'er which only makes the master protect Mo'er more. Neither parent really thinks of Ming Lan. Also, Master Sheng is adamant Rulan must be punished harshly otherwise her behavior will never change and get worse. He also insists that even if Mo'er incited her, Rulan had to be there to pushed, so matter what she erred (I want to emphasize the fact that master Sheng said Rulan needed to be punished so that she learns how to behave properly because that is a theme in this story which will come back a lot in the first half--the idea of how one raises one's children.)

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All Grown Up & Morality

Spoilers AheadNote: This episode shows us what the main characters are like, as adults, using the incident of a lost handkerchief. It also sets the political setting by showing us Master Sheng's first day of work as an official.1)On Master Sheng's very first day of work, he is incredibly nervous. He is also clumsy (due to anxiety) and drops something as he observes ministers and officials insist to the Emperor that he designate an heir. While Master Sheng is all about keeping a low profile and locating his item, the emperor bursts into tears and sobs for his on. THIS is the political scene right now, and it is unstable, obviously, because to not have an heir, with an elderly emperor, is not the best for stability.--fast forward a few years--2)The Duke of Qi and Princess Pining's only child, and son, the incredibly gorgeous Yuan Ruo, has lost his handkerchief. He makes the announcement loudly because it is a close body item--if a lady were to discover it, then it may damage his reputation. This tells us he is smart and also concerned about reputation/moral integrity, etc. While waiting for the Big Madame to find it, he stares at Ming Lan with puppy eyes (clearly he likes her).3)Ming Lan shows us she is resourceful by figuring out the servant who is ultimately found with the handkerchief and beaten must be set up. Yuan Ruo overhears it and congratulates her for her smarts. In doing so, when the girl are alone (she is with a friend) it highlights how very different their priorities are: Ming Lan is clearly worried about her reputation, and he is focused on exchanging some words. This shows she has virtue.4)We learn (via flashback) that Mo'er actually planted the handkerchief on a servant because she could not throw it away. This tells us Mo'er is more than willing to harm others to get something done (like her mother).5)Much of the episode is spent with the sisters in school. It is because the setting is a very good way of showing what the sisters relationship is like, and since they are young, it shows what the sisters are like before they change lataer. Mo'er is beautifula and graceful but at times clumsy (she will become even more eoquent). Ru'lan is spoiled and direct (she will become less selfish) and Ming Lan is quiet and simple (but her bad ass personality will shine later). Perhaps the most consistent character is Changbai, the eldest son and Sheng Heir, who is smart and morally virtuous (his character is constantly she same).6)We learn that Ming Lan is so bad at writing that she is punished to transcribe words, but is able to sweet talk her teacher for an extension by promising to cook him food. Yuan Ruo observes this exchange and clearly thinks she is scute. (this will be the basis for him giving her a gift later). He gaves her a paintbrush and snacks for her writing. 7)Rulan sees this exchange, and although she looks jealous, she really just sees it as an opportunity to annoy Mo'er. Ming Lan gives the brushes away, one for each sister,, illustrating yet again how she tries to avoid standing out. If she wanted to keep them, the sisters might think she likes Yuan Ruou, and that would make her a target of Rulan (who would view it as a concubine born overstepping her place), and Mo'er would view her as competition. Ming Lan is practical and does not dare to like Yuan Ruo. In fact, she spends a lot of time trying to dissuade him from pursuing her.8)Mo'er believes she could make Yuan Ruo's her own because they would have a lot in common (Mo'er is a poetry genius) and so she believes she is refined. Rulan wants whatever Mo'er wants. The remainder of the episode focuses on the girls (excluding Ming'er) talking to their mother about the day. Concubine Lin and Mo'er really aren't worried about Ming Lan because they think she is stupid. 9)Gu ting Ye Returns!! He apparently has a mistress....

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Episode 24: Plots Abound--And Yes, they Consummated

In this episode, we are confronted with more plots within the palace, Li'er and the emperor continue to grow in harmony, and Han Fei is imprisoned.



1.In a very chilling, but telling, conversation, Prince Yan tells the emperor that it is hard to feel warm in Qin because he is from Yan. The emperor becomes annoyed and then asks him why he pretended to lose at archery and today at chess (after first admitting in the past he had indeed acted on feelings frustration and vented his anger by doing things to hurt others) and then is extremely annoyed when Yan ignores his question and congratulates him on his victory in a very friendly, if tired way after Li Zhong announces it. The emperor states he will be playing chess with Han in the future.



2.On his way out, Yan runs into Li'er who is delivering a scroll on the art of governing to the emperor as a gift. She winds up lending it to Yan.



3.The emperor loses in chess and thanks Han for not faking. It is basically evident that while the emperor is now on top, he is finding that it is very lonely when you have all the power and everyone is obedient to you and fears you (remember he wanted this early on). AND THEN the emperor tells Han he should get married and have kids (it's like saying I know you love Li'er but I am tired of it)



4.That night, the emperor is laying with Li'er and throws a jealous tantrum when he learns that Li'er lent the scroll to Yan. Now this is an important scene, because Li'er doesn't get mad. Just as the emperor has learned how to deal with li'er, she knows how to deal with him. Without getting mad, she calmly tells him, after he insists to know exactly what they talked about, that she won't do as he wants--so putting two and two together I figure he likes it when she is disobedient because everyone tries to please him.



5.Then they go to bed together. So I am certain that they are sleeping together.



6.Meanwhile, Han sees Ru'er and this scene happened already so its botched editing...



7.Then Han runs into Qing'er. They were both ordered to be here by the emperor, thus it is evident he wants them to be together. Then Ru'er walks in (makes zero sense) and tries to imply that they were being naughty. Han leaves, and under pressure Qing'er admits the emperor arranged this.



8.THEN the emperor reveals to Li'er, after questioning Qing'er, that he tried to hook her servant up with Han. Because everyone deserves to be as happy as us! Just like someone newly in love...anyways Li'er says you are basically an idiot and shouldn't have done that without talking to me but he says you wouldn't have agreed....



9.Now Ru'er is just always popping up in the right places, and she observes Han basically telling Li'er that he loves her and is okay with her not liking him back....



10.Jing nurses Lan'er back to health



11.Han Fei is happy with Lady Han...and adorably shy



12.Li Si meets with Ru'er, who plays on his fears of being supplanted by Han Fei to get him to do something bad...



13.At court, it is announced that in spite of their victories they have lost to Zhao(?); Han Fei urges the emperor to take down Zhao and not stop because Zhao will try to use this victory to forge alliances and Li Si takes this as a chance to not only blame it all on han Fei, but to accuse him of secretly communicating with the Han King and then LADY HAN appears with the alleged message!



14.In the next scene, Lady is shown being awarded by Ru'er and then Li'er learns that Han Fei has been arrested. She visits him secretly and basically says I know you are innocent but we will have a hard time of dispelling the lies planted by Lady Chu/Ru'er.



15.The episode ends with Li'er being kidnapped.



Thoughts: While the pacing was good the writing was not so good for this episode. I liked how they set up plots but maybe it was the translations thoughts but a lot of things just seemed really sudden and random. It felt choppy. Not a lot of things made sense. Its like the writers are yet again falling into that problem of moving into another plot arc but failing to transition it very well. I also think not enough attention was given to the consummation, since they built up to. Come on guys.

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Episode 12 Summary: Intrigue Abounds

So this episode had a LOT going on in it:



1. Ruo'er reacts to Min Dai's visit by banning her from ever entering her palace.



2.The emperor stays by Li'er's side until she is recovered. It seems they have a descent dialogue at first before it returns to her saying she hates him again. He seems to be killing her with kindness and takes care of her wounds personally and tells her that she is never to answer to any summons unless he has granted permission first and he tells her 'you are mine'.



3.Li'er is conferred a new tittle--the highest title in the harem beneath the Queen--she is named a Madame for giving birth to a son and given a lot of gifts. At the same time this happens, Ruo'er is tearing up her room as she is enraged.



3.Later that night, she goes for a moonlit stroll and takes out the purple scarf and thinks about Jing and how she misses him. The emperor is behind her and it doesn't seem like he noticed. He does tell her he has changed his mind and will keep the child close, because he believes it will keep her close. He also tells her that as long as she is by his side he is happy and will not force her and will wait until she comes to him willingly. (This seems out of his personality but then you can't call it a romance if he forces her).



--Now a lot of political stuff happens--



4.Ghao, the eunuch who has been serving the emperor, is apparently sympathetic to Zhao as it is his country. He visits the Prince of Yan, who has been held hostage (recall he was drinking with the emperor after his little brother's betrayal) and tells him that the emperor has given Zhao some sort of sign or tacit permission that it is okay to attack Yan. He tells him that this could be a great chance for Zhao and Yan to unite as allies against the emperor whom he suspects may be manipulating the states against each other.



5.Prince Yan points out that he is powerless to do anything as he has been a hostage for years. Ghao sends out a messenger to the Zhao army, but this messenger is caught and forced to reveal the contents of the message: that the emperor plans to use the attack on Yan as an excuse to attach Zhao.



6.The King of Zhao is furious when he learns about this cunning trick and vows to kill Zheng. Unfortunately, he immediately dies after. It could have been a stroke or heart attack from the stress. he bleeds from the mouth so it could have been poison. Anyways, his death scene was fairly dramatic and I liked it.



7. Meanwhile, Ghao Zhao is angry that his messenger was intercepted because this means that the emperor is aware that someone in the palace is plotting against him. he is thankful that his identity isn't revealed but realizes he needs to replan his course of action. So he contacts Crown Prince Jia (recall he worked to incite little brother to rebel with the letter)



8.Li Si makes an announcement that the emperor is looking for new talents to differentiate between friend and foe--this is leaning towards a merit system and not a hereditary one. I think.



9.Needing to change his plan quickly, Ghao Zhao appeals to Ruo'er who agrees to fund him if she in turn does something for him--kill Li'er's child.



10. Elder Disciple continues to sneak into the palace (this made no sense at first but it does later) and she continues to tell him things she shouldn't, like how she has never had sexual relations with the king. He tries to kill the emperor but he was pretending to be asleep--his guards rush in but he escapes (so they were actually aware someone was sneaking in).



11.Tiang Ming is kidnapped and the emperor vows to kill every servant looking after him unless he is found.



--I forgot to add (update) that there is a scene in this episode in which Jing basically breaks down in tears and thinks back on the choices he made/words he said to Li'er regarding her desire to live peacefully in isolation. He is filled with such regret for this --it's a good scene, minus the flashbacks, which I think this show uses far too much of--



Thoughts: So this episode was hard to follow if only because I am bad with names and a lot of people who had cameos earlier were brought in. Also, Ghao Zhao looks really different with his hat off so I didn't make the connection between him and someone else from earlier. I think the king's paranoid makes sense, as it seems he has collected a number of people over the years from other states to secure peace when needed and he has a lot of spies around him. Some of the writing was a bit redundant, like the I hate you stuff. The focus of this episode was clearly politics but they continued to give screen time to the main couple to please viewers watching this purely for romance, i think. Which I can understand; a lot of people abandon a show if it focuses too heavily on palace intrigue. This is something I think that Chinese dramas are superior in writing compared to Kdramas (just my opinion).

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Episode 11 Summary: The Birth of Tian Ming

-We open up with Jing who learns from Gao Nie that his master was basically like the Boutasai (for anyone unfamiliar with it, that refers to an anime called Rurouni Kenshin about a guy who is basically earned a very bloody reputation for killing people) using the mysterious Huyou sword technique but eventually stopped because he realized how dangerous it was. It is evident that Gao Nie is giving Jing a reason to live i.e. turn all of this anger into a goal you can try to reach by training to be stronger.



-Li'er goes into a very difficult labor. The emperor is so concerned he waits outside the room and hears her labor pains. This is extremely unorthodox and would communicate that either he cares deeply for her or is excited about his child being born. It's a prince, and he hates the child so much he cannot even look it. Li'er thanks the emperor for letting her give birth, and this seems to warm him up a bit. Li'er names him Tiang Ming, which means hope basically, but he refuses to let her see the child and says that when it stronger she can see it every day.



-The emperor orders the child sent away, and Li Zhong STUPIDLY asks if it is to prevent any talk about the child's premature birth--he is lucky the emperor did not kill him. Anyway, Ruo'er is extremely furious about her birthing a prince. Min Dai, another concubine that has received little to no screen time until now, is pleased. It seems she hopes that Ruo'er, whom she seems to believe is only at the top because of the Queen Dowager's favor, will do something stupid out of anger.



-A masked man breaks into Li'er's room. She screams for help, and it turns out to be the guy I've been seeing everywhere but could not remember his name. It seems he is the other desciple that her grandfather took. She explains her panic by being caused by a cat (she is such a bad liar) and then she does what I think is arguably the dumbest thing she could have done--she reveals that the child is illegitimate and that Jing is the father. OMG. Granted she hasn't heard everything that the emperor has said on the topic of illegitimate kids, but she should at least know I hope that he killed his mother's kids because they were illegitimate. Maybe she doesn't know. Could she be more stupid? Maybe the chance to finally talk to someone about the truth was just something she couldn't pass up on...(also, why is her kid there? i thought it was being sent away?)



-Elsewhere, the state of Zhao comes to play tribute. This is really a game of words between two powerful states. The Zhao emissary says Qin is the most powerful state but the Emperor points out that Zhao is very powerful as it is backed by Han and Wei. It must really irk him to have to play this game when he knows that this state has meddled in affairs and tried to undermine his rule.



-In spite of still being weakened from childbirth, Li'er goes to pay a visit to the Grand Dowager. She shows up unannounced, as the Dowager and Ruo'er and other concubines were being entertained by dancers. She had told her worried servant she had to do this, after all, she now has to think of her child. Ruo'er insinuates that the child's premature birth is strange. The Queen Dowager pays attention to decorum and says that this couldn't be likely but notice how she never chastises Ruo'er for her rude comment?



She tells Ruo'er that she must learn palace etiquette now that she is a mother of a prince. And then proceeds to hold her hostage and make her practice.



-The emperor finds out because he goes to see Li'er and is mad that she isn't there. He intervenes and sees the Queen Dowager slapping her around and he brings her back. The Dowager is not upset because she knows from experience that the days are long and she will have another chance.



-Min Dai pays a visit to Ruo'er to provoke and rub this all in her face--



Thoughts: This was entertaining but more like filler. The competition between Min Dai and Ruo'er for power over the harem is probably the best executed part of this episode, I think.

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Episode 7 Summary: Pregnancy

1.Our episode opens with Jing Ke and Li'er. Jing is preparing to go see the Legendary Warrior Giao (everyone is a legendary). She trains along him for old times sake and this is important because they are perfectly in sync as they train, each move mirroring the other. In short, this is balance. This is harmony. These two have known each other forever and they know each other like the back their hands.



---It Rains--



2.Elsewhere, the emperor is planning his next political move. His newly appointed officer, Li Su suggests that the emperor send spies to monitor Lu Buwei who could prove to be an Achilles Heel Later. (this is his former master, which I think is indicative of a ladder climber but that's me). He appoints Zhao Gao to take care of this.



3.Meanwhile, Li'er and Jing are in a cave, waiting for their clothes to dry off. The two reminisce about their childhood growing up. Just as Jing is about to get dressed, she throws her arms around him, and she is the one who asks him if he love her. We already know the answer to this. Jing passionately tells her that he has only ever loved her, and she makes him promise to always remember that no matter what, her heart will only ever belong to him, and then two make sweet love (well, Chinese law prohibits us any skinship so we can make do with our imaginations)



4.Jing leaves, and then immediately after Li'er is forced to walk a bit to the escort sent by Zheng that has been waiting for her. She takes off the scarf he gave her, puts it away and tells herself that she is now dead, and must let everything go. The journey to the palace is filmed much like her arrival, only as she enters the palace, Jing fights his duel. She is forced to part with the dagger her grandfather gave her as weapons are not allowed in the harem. She tells the chamberlain to take good care of it because she wants to be buried with it.



5.In a very poignant scene, she sits in a bath tub of flowers and roses, being bathed and usually in dramas this is always filmed as a great time as you are being pampered but the actress channels in her misery very well, she just sits there, tears streaming down her face, both horrified and upset that this is her future now





6.Meanwhile, The Grand Queen Dowager, who is in charge of the harem, learns from a concubine that a commoner from Wey has entered. This is a pretty big deal because the Emperor did not even notify her, which tells us how much he considers her opinion. In addition, not only has he not had anyone new to the harem, but a commoner--to be in a harem of someone as powerful as Qin, you are almost always a daughter of an official or diplomat, it's like a promise to be loyal by giving a family member. She is a nobody. Still the Dowager acknowledges that this could be good if the Emperor is interested in having kids



7.In a dramatic scene change, we find Li'Er holding a sharp pin to her neck, looking like she is going to kill herself. It ends with her in bed, and a doctor recognizing that she is pregnant. At first he won't tell her, stating he must speak to the king first, but she is clearly confused and doesn't know what is wrong with her until she makes him tell her the truth: she is pregnant, and has been for about a month



8.Meanwhile Jing returns, and learns the awful truth from Tuan because Li'er couldn't do it herself. He rides off, presumably to rescue her.



9.In a very telling scene, the Emperor visits Li'er's rooms for the first time. She sits rigidly on the bed, her hair is up, the clothing she wears is rigid--everything about it is the exact opposite of the warm, soft girl from before. The emperor tells her that she must never think of any other man again. She wants to know why her, why not another? He tells her that he would be bored with a woman just bowing to his every wish. He goes a step farther and tells her that the more she resists, the more excited he will be as he relishes the idea of conquering her.



10.Then, the doctor reveals she is pregnant. The emperor is furious, and insists that it be aborted. She says that if he wants to kill her child he will have to kill her. He pulls a sword and tells her to never think he won't kill her as well....



PHEW

So basically, we learned a lot. Li'er's decision to consummate her love with Jing Ke is very telling because she initiated it. Not him. This is almost like a personal victory because she is choosing for once who she will lay with because she won't have that freedom much longer. Sadly, her desire to protect Jing by not telling him the truth is kind of sad because it is really a decision to protect herself from the storm that will come. She doesn't want to deal with that. It's selfish, but I would probably do the same thing. Besides, if she told him, it would only endanger him and the people around her.



The emperor...my goodness if there was someone lacking in the emotion/relationship department. He is in love with her but I doubt he will he ever tell her. he isn't an idiot. He knows you don't normally force someone to be your lover, whether it's to protect them by keeping close or simply out of lust, you shouldn't do that. For the emperor, his everything is unifying the states. he has risked a lot for that. she is a weakness. so this is really his one selfish action.



Maybe he will treat her cruelly to minimize her value thus protecting her. or maybe he just is clumsy emotionally and thinks that she is probably angry with him, and there is a thin line between love and hate, so if she hates him then at least she is thinking of him. after all the opposite of hate or love is indifference. i am super curious to see how she holds onto herself because even if she submitted he would like it---he is thoroughly in love with her, and unlike Jing, whose love for her is so great that he feels unworthy for her, his is much more human--and certainly carnal.

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Episode 3 Review: A Brother's Betryal

Characters Added (May Have appeared earlier but they take center stage now)



Lord Chengjiao: A beloved younger brother to the Emperor (I will continue to refer to Zheng as this even if it is still a little to early since there are so many Kings)



Zhao Gao: A (eunech, I think) who is a servant to the Emperor



Tuan Du: Minister who betrayed the Zhao royal family



Crown Prince Jia: Last surviving member of the Zhao royal family



Danding Sect: A sect infamous for kidnapping retainers



Historical Context: Basically Zhao is the only state powerful enough that can face Qin.



Ahem: There is a Lot going on in this episode.



-We open up to where we left off: Zheng is at the bedside of Li'er. In a flashback we receive more information on her harrowing intervention to save his life when they were children: when Zheng was fleeing Zhao state, which was holding him prisoner at the time, soldiers were sent to kill kill him. Li'Er, who couldn't have been older than ten, uses her body as a shield as a soldier prepares to kill him. But he fails, because Jin appears and stabs him in the back. Thus these two were both responsible for saving his life (I bet Jin will regret that!).



-Elsewhere, the Chancellor Lu Buwei reflects upon his current state, and his loss of power. He regrets sending the Marquis to seduce the Queen Dowager and appease her lust (while there is nothing wrong with that, her weakness causes problems) (the audience is also treated to an over the top man-seducing woman scene). But it is evident he only has regret because his plan failed.



-Meanwhile, we go to Jin (I forgot to add it but last episode he was fleeing pursuers who were after Li'er). He led them outside the city to protect her. He reveals to the warrior who rescued him-Lu--that they were actually looking for him. Jin explains he has no idea why anyone would be after Li'er. Warrior Lu suggests that since Gongsang (gramps) died for the state, and she is his only heir, that these pursuers, whom he recognized as the Danding Sect, must be after the Legendary Huluo Sword Tecnhnique Guide (sounds like something out of Dragon Ball Z).



-Jin wonders if the guide is the blue piece of silk master left him (OMG HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT?)



-MEANWHILE, Chancellor Lu Buwei is meeting with the Queen Dowager. They are discussing the current plan to send, in total, 100,000 troops to deal with the Shandang rebel army, whom they believe to be assisted by Zhao State. Chancellor suggests that Lord Chengjiao be given the lead over half of these troops, something the Queen is initially against until Lu Buwei explains that it is an opportunity to test his loyalty to the king



(now why would Lu Buwei do something like that when everything that Lu Buwei does is for Lu Buwei? Well that is quickly explained!)



-In a shocking flashback, we learn that the previous king, on his death bed, asked Lu Buwei to write an edict naming Chengjiao as the crown prince. Lu Buwei scoffs at this and tells the king that he owes everything, including his title, to him so he and the Queen decided that his eldest son, Zheng'er, would be a much better choice. He laughs and walks off--says a lot about somebody if they can do that on the death bed. He could have just let him die but he had to have that final dig.



-We then go back to Li'er, who awakens. Zheng continues to masquerade as a merchant, and after he asks, she explains she protected him because her grandfather taught her to use martial arts to protect people. The King of Wey enters, and she gets on her knees to greet him, showing him a great deal of respect and regard. The king of Wey awkwardly follows along with the ruse Zheng has concoted. Here they learn that she has been looking for the Warrior Lu and that Pu Yang City has fallen to Qin. Both men are shocked.



-She is surprised the king still does not know, and Zheng explains that Qin closely guards Wey, that he is essentially under house arrest, and no person or news is allowed in without the Emperor's permission. Both men leave as a retainer of Zheng calls him out to deliver news. He learns of Lu Buwei's collusion with the Queen to face Zhao, and he views the plan to summon Chengjaio as a plot, but for what end he does not know. he advises his brother to not go. But his brother explains that the Queen has always despised him and unless he does this, then it could be bad for him.



-The Emperor returns to Xiangyang (the capital, I think), but just before leaving the King of Wey presents him with an extremely cheesy gift (you have to watch the delivery). He supposes that the Emperor must care for Li'er. But the emperor refuses to acknowledge this, suggesting that the King of Wey would probably kill her if he did not know that she was important to him. He says that whether she lives or dies is all up to her (he wants no weaknesses!).



----shortly before this scene we also learn, though his thoughts, that the emperor has always been in love with Li'er and most of his conversation with her is trying to figure out if she is single--



-Meanwhile, Jin has tracked Li'er down. He is happy she is fine, and as they leave he asks the King of Wey how Li'er was allowed in considering the tight control exercised by Qin--wouldn't they have needed the Emperor's permisison (der) but the King of Wey gives a vague answer and Jin let's it go.



-Back in the capital, Zhao Gao intimates to the King that the use of Lord Chengjiao is likely a plot that may lead to rebellion--but this angers the Emperor and he snaps at him



-Elsewhere, Chengjiao is visited by a hooded man, purportedly sent by the Crown Prince Jia (of Zhao). He tosses him a note, and it is written in red--to make Chengjiao the crown prince because Zheng'er is not my son--i.e. this is the last will and testament of the previous king. At first, Chengjiao is disgusted and flings the note away. But the hooded man shows his identity--he IS Jia--and shares a sad story about Zhao--that his family may have survived were it not for the betrayal of a minister, Tuan Du, who led to Qin executing the entire family. This is important, because he then points out how odd it is that Madame Ziyu (Chengjiao's mother) died suddenly in a drowning accident--and how convenient it was.



-Chengjiao puts the piece's together--it seems that Lu Buwei, Zheng'er's supposed father, planned with the queen to kill his mother, making it easier to put Zheng on the throne. Now he is angry, and he wants revenge! He revolts. Playing right into Lu Buwei's hands.



-Back at the capital, the emperor gets a shocking notice of revolt from his brother. Ministers are shocked. Lu Buwei throws himself at the emperor's feet, pleading and explaining he has always been loyal. Zheng believes that he was pushed into this, and that his brother has a reason. He personally leads troops to fight him.



-He sends his brother a letter offering him an out and forgiveness (which shows how cherished he is because the emperor trusts no one). Chengjiao meets him on the battle field and tosses the testament at him, and Zheng'er is outraged and doubts the veracity of the letter (meanwhile, the Zhao prince waits in the woods). But his brother won't be appeased and demands that Zheng'er give him the throne, which Zheng announces he will never give up.



-End Episode-



My Thoughts: Phew, so that was a mouthful. I think it's important to point out that the show does a good job of incorporating multiple historical interpretations. For instance, it is strongly believed in China that Zheng was born out of wedlock, which has blackened his name a bit, but recently a lot of historians have questioned this.



I think that the use of color is important in this series. For instance, when Zheng is just the merchant, he dresses in white, maybe implying that he dons an entirely new role and is a different person but in reality he wears black, the colors of the Emperor (apparently this has to do with the elements and the reigns of emperor's, and black is the color of water because Zheng was born in the 'water' dynasty. It was also a very expensive dye so it shows wealth) . Incidentally, it is interesting that Zheng wears white because in ancient china that was a color of mourning. It is also ironic that his brother wears blue, because blue can symbolize tranquility and trust (yet here he is, a rebel). Black can also be a symbol for Winter and unknown times---it is currently winter and I would say this is an unknown time...



http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/colours.htm



I also think it is worth noting that Zheng, in spite of his feelings for Li'er, is not making that a priority. His priority is the stability of the state and revenge at the moment. He refuses to let her (at the moment) be a known weakness to his person.

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Episode 2: Disguises (are bad)

New Characters That Are Introduced:

King of Wey: A young man who may be related to the Emperor (not sure) he is fairly weak and something of a scholarly type



-Our episode opens up with a flashback to Emperor Zheng's childhood. It seems he met both Li'er and Jin Ke as a child. She saved his life, and she left such an impact that to this day he has kept the material she used to dress his wound ( a bit odd). Clearly our romance will be easier to establish as he already has lingering feelings for her.



-Zheng proceeds to his throne, and in the background a narrator reveals that the year is 238 B.C. and we learn that Zheng was initially born in Zhao, that he was captured and taken hostage as a child and this event clearly traumatized him, and that at 13 he was made the leader of Qin, only to see his name smeared by the activities of his mother and her lover's, including the Marquis. Personally, I think that this has all the hallmark makings of a man who is 1)paranoid and doesn't easily trust others and 2)may have a low opinion of women, especially those who are weak, like his mother



-The retainers to the Marquis are brought in, and these rebels beg for forgiveness. His ministers suggest that these retainers be left free and made commoners because they were merely following the orders of the Marquis. Zheng reasons that if he let's them go, it will establish a precedent and also send the wrong kind of message (remember, his position is not stable and his reputation is that of a weak person) thus he not only has them executed but tells his ministers that in the future, whoever defends traitors will be executed



-Meanwhile, Li'er is travelling through Wey looking for the Warrior Gaojian (the guy from episode 1?). She is travelling in disguise as a young boy, Sun. I did not know this until much later because she looks like a girl (like they made no effort at all to hide it). I will give them a bit of freedom and assume that maybe the time period had strict rules on clothing, so maybe others mistook her as an effeminate boy (a stretch)



-Li'er and Jin are at an inn, and discussing whether or not the newly crowned emperor, who always treated her family with respect and courtesy, will continue to do that. On the other side of the room, dressed entirely in white, is the emperor travelling in disguise. After Zheng rescues a young girl, Jin is moved by his noble act and they all drink together. Only Li'er manages to remain sober. She escorts Jin to his room, where he drunkenly reveals that he basically is in love with her. She goes to bed, and a drunk emperor goes into the wrong room--hers--and they are both surprised in the morning, she that he is in her bed, and him at her prudish behavior. He maintains it isn't a big deal because they are both men before going down for breakfast. Jin is surprised to see him leave her room but tells her that its fine since her identity was secret (so nice and trusting!)



-Over breakfast Li'er reveals that she hopes for peace and no more bloodshed in the future while Jin reveals who they are looking for and that maybe all the states will unite against the tyrannical Qin--after the meal, they reject his invitaiton to travel and part ways



-Meanwhile, Lu Buwei, the incredibly powerful Chancellor responsible for making Zheng the new king, is torturing the Marquis. He wants him to essentially kill himself, saving him from the horrible execution in store for him. The Marquis rejects this stating that he is afraid that he (Marquis) will reveal to Zheng that Lu Buwei made him seduce the Dowager in order to get her out of the way.



-Zheng walks in--having heard all of this--and LuBuwei recognizes that the jig is up. he tells the king that since he heard everything he submits himself to death--but the emperor stops him and tells him that if he demoted and/or killed 2 officials back to back it would send out the wrong message and make all the ministers/nobles afraid. He tells him that he will let him go, to stick to his job, but promises him that one day he will eventually have his revenge over everyone whoever humiliated him (I imagine this includes Lu)



-Zheng visits the King of Wey who we learn is weak and clearly terrified of him. He calms him down, tells him he isn't there to kill him but that he only wants to learn about the customs of Wey--and this seems to be motivated by his memory of Li'er (he has a flashback)



-Meanwhile, Lu (chancellor) learns that Gongsun is dead, that Pyang has fallen, and sends messengers out to bring back his only heir--his granddaughter (I have no idea why she is important)



-Afterwards, the Emperor is at an inn having lunch. Li'er comes in because she lost her precious hair pin given to her by her grandfather (convenient). Jin is off looking for it. She is about to sit down with Zheng, when men come in and attack him. She defends him (So I was wrong,she has some fighting ability) but gets stabbed. Zheng ignores his safety and takes her to the Wey mansion where he tells the King of Wey that if anyone finds out he is there, he will kill him (perhaps he is suspicious that he sent the assassins?).



-Zheng learns that 1) she is a woman and 2)it appears he knows she is Li'er because she talks in her sleep, calling out for Jin, and he seems to recognize that pendant she is wearing

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episode 40 spoilers ahead

Another ten episodes have passed. In memoriam, gone to soon:

1.Pure Consort Yang (suicide, ep 37)

2.Sui Rebels

3.Concubine Xiao Q (and her entire clan)(episode 35)

4.Eunech 'Assassins' (Li Mu thought they were there to kill; really sent to detain them)(ep.37)

5.Servants charged with taking of Prince We's children

6.Noble Consort Wei (suicide, ep 32)

7.Concubine Xiao Q's fetus/abortion/miscarriage (ep.31)

8.Prince Wei's personal attendant (killed by Meniang)

9.Countles soldiers during the military expedition

10.Li Mu (ep 40)

11.loyal servants to the emperor...



Might be dead

1.Minister Wei (consort Wei's uncle)(last I recall, he was arrested)+Wei clan

2.General Hou (may have committed suicide)



1.The emperor meets with general Rengui and they learn Prince Wu will arrive with troops in the morning, so they can counter attack. In spite of this, the emperor chooses to lead a scouting mission, against the advice of his generals, because he has always led his own scouts.



2.Meniang and Li Mu meet up with Prince Wu, who learns that the emperor has been surrounded. He rushes off, and Li Mu agrees to go with Meniang to support. The latter two discover the emperor. His men wiped out, he is surrounded by soldiers who used their bodies to shield him (dramatic scene).



3.After revealing her identity, she and the emperor live. Li Mu volunteers to stay behind to buy them die. He dies epically, it takes a lot to kill him.



4.The emperor is poisoned, but manages to recover. They are successfully in suppressing the attack and the 30,000 rebels surrender. They will be incorporated into the Tang military. The emperor is told that they have added 10 cities and have captured the military leader of the rebellion. It is a victory. (FYI it is a capital offense for a woman to be in the military so she must keep her identity secret).



5.It seems the crown prince has not been responding to letters. It may be because he is ill...



6.The emperor visits the ill soldiers, at Meniang's request. She begs him to return back to the capital, on behalf of the wounded soldiers....



-Poor Li Mu...

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episode 37 spoilers ahead

Spoilers Ahead



1. As Prince Wei parades through the city, headed towards the palace, with the new crown prince, Prince Wu (Ke) visits his mother, Consort Yang. (In a very deliberate move by the writers, she has no make up on). Consort Yang reveals to her son that she has plotted for revenge her entire life, in order to avenge her family (the Sui) but most importantly, to avenge her husband Yuanji, one of Li Shimin's brothers who was murdered in his attempt to seize the throne. She explains she has carefully bowed her head in humility and raised him to be honest to slide under the radar of the emperor , waiting for this moment. She explains to her son that he must avenge his birth father (yes, she was pregnant it seems when Li Shimin made her his concubine) and be prepared to commit both fratricide and patricide to take over the throne that was stolen.



2.Prince Wu is horrified by this command and shocked by his mother whom he has never known, it seemed. He accuses her of being the most treacherous and malicious woman in the harem, farm worse than Consort Wei. He refuses to do it multiple times, but the admission that his real father is not the emperor seems to give him the strength to do this for her.



3.Elsewhere, Meniang is dressed as eunuch and enters Li Mu's rooms only to find a bunch of dead bodies and a note: this note warns her about Consort Yang, reveals her treachery and plot for revenge, and tells her to stay put until the violence passes. Never being one to sit on the side, she rushes to prevent a tragedy.



4.Prince Wu agrees to see her and they have an intense confrontation. Meniang not only calls him out on his indecisive behavior, but explains to him that he has no way of knowing if the emperor is aware of Consort Yang's treachery. She uses the former crown prince's rebellion as a way to impart some advise: the crown prince believed that all the men beneath him were loyal but some weren't. He was betrayed by Chengji. The emperor was notified 2 weeks before the rebellion occurred, how does he not know that now? Regardless, if he opens the gate, it will appear as if he is assisting in the rebellion of Prince Wei. She gives him the advice that the departed Chancellor Wei gave her: when the curtains fall, make sure you have no regrets. And he clearly has regrets. Prince Wu thanks her, explaining he was probably looking for a reason to change his mind. He orders the gates closed.



5.Meniang uses this opportunity to explain Prince Wei's treachery, how he instigated the crown prince and Prince Wu is shocked by the extent of his brothers duplicity (I imagine it makes it easier to confront him too). Meniang suggests that he send troops led by Fang (the head of the guard) to corner him from the rear that way he will be surrounded, and the prince agrees that is a good idea.



6.Elsehwere, the Emperor is updated on the situation. When he learns that Prince Wu is confronting the Prince of Wei (but did not notify him, as would be appropriate) he suspects that he may have a plot too. He tells his attendant to have General Li wait. Which ever one of his sons survives this confrontation and heads to his palace will be apprehended by him for treason. He says the children should fight it and if they cannot survive this then they cannot be emperor.



7.Meanwhile, the new Crown Prince is busy working over Li Jifu, a scholar who has a knife at his throat. He explains to him that he should assist him because Prince Wei is not going to win. His odds are worse than the crown prince, who at least had a general and an army to back him. This convinces the man, who cuts his ties and then runs screaming 'I am sorry I cannot go along with your plot Prince Wei forgive me' while Zhinu runs for safety. Prince Wei's close attendant and friend, Du tries to charge an attack but Meniang kills him with an arrow. She orders everyone else to lower their weapons, while Prince Wei is surrounded, unless they too wish to die. They obey. Prince Wei laughs and says while his older brother could not be crown prince because of bad timing, he could not be crown prince for having no support. Prince Wu states it is more than that, it is destiny and neither he nor himself is fated to be the crown prince. He laughs in derision and then Prince Wei insists Meniang will bring down the dynasty of allowed to live.



8.The emperor is notified that Prince Wu and Meniang managed to end the rebellion without any bloodshed and that Prince Wei is currently under arrest. however, a prince has been injured (stabbed) and the emperor rushes to see him...



9.In a stunning end, Prince Wu visits his mother with Meniang. She is livid that her son has failed to follow through with his plans. She blames meniang for persuading him but he insists it was his choice, that he could not live with the murders of his family on his conscience. She drinks poison (prepared in case they failed) and curses her son and disowns him, all the while insisting she hates the emperor and expresses hate that fate has allowed him to go unpunished for his evil deeds. She blames herself for raising her son to be honest. She also tells Meniang that the reason she has allowed her to live so long was because she has always believed she is indeed the calamity Wu and believes if she failed, at least Meniang would ruin the Tang dynasty. Just before dying she tells her that at least she will have some satisfaction since Li Mu is going to kill Li Shimin....



Comments: Another EXPLOSIVE episode! I never thought consort Yang would die like this; I thought she would stick around to cause some problems for Meniang. I respect her position: in her eyes, she has merely been surviving, bidding the time until she can have her revenge. In her eyes, Li Shimin is a cruel monster no matter how kind he may have become. He is only able to do so because he wiped out his enemies. She hates that he wins. She has the same respect that I had for Consort Wei, although Consort Wei's death had a bigger impact if only because she had more screen time.

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episode 36 review spoilers ahead

spoilers ahead--Naming of Crown Prince--

WOW a lot happens in this episode.



1. Meniang strolls with Xu Hui and in her short conversation her she 1)Thanks her for saving her life 2)Begs her forgiveness for suspecting her of colluding with the Prince of Wei (yes, she tells her this) and 3)Explains that she trusts her now, more than ever (this just about made Xu Hui's day)



2.Meanwhile, Li Mu goes through Menaing's bag of belongings that she will take when she leaves, at the urging of the maid serving Consort Yang, and discovers that in the belongs is a box, and in that box is a wilted flower (guess who have that to her? uh-huh). He breaks down in tears.



3.Elsewhere, Prince Wei visits his father and directly confronts him over the issue of who will become crown prince. His father asks him to recommend a candidate. Wei bites the bullet and tells him that he should be emperor because 1)He is a skilled strategist 2)he knows a great deal about the kingdom because of his work on Geography of the land 3)He wishes to see the legacy of Tang endure and wants to expand their territory 4)He makes a blood oath, insisting that he will not harm his brothers and will kill his own sons and make the prince of Jin his crown prince. The emperor applauds his honesty and explains to him that the courtiers believe he is narrow minded and would kill anyone who goes against him but today he disproved that. However, he tells him not to kill his children as they are his grandchildren. He dismisses him and tells him he will send him a message (it strongly implies he will be named crown prince). Prince Wei leaves, and we learn he essentially read his father and told him all the things he believed he wanted to hear.



4.Wang De summons the chancellors, and the Emperor explains to them his conversation with Prince Wei, including the blood oath he made. He asks them their advice. The chancellors are shocked, and explain there has never been a precedent of an emperor killing his own children in order to make a brother his crown prince. Another states that whoever made this statement is either a lunatic or a treacherous hypocrite. They all believe he should not be made crown prince (keep in mind, they are also thinking that if this guy could so readily kill his sons for power, what's stopping him from killing nobles who challenge him?)



5.Prince Jin is made the crown prince. Elsewhere, Prince Wei excitedly awaits the edict sent to him by his father and is shocked to learn that it is a command to stay away from the morning assembly for a month to rest. He knows that this means his little brother was crowned prince. Wei is so shocked he cries and then faints.



6. Elsewhere, Consort Yang's personal attendant congratulates Zhinu and she listens to him excitedly explain that now his brother are safe. The attendant passes on a message: she believes that he should directly visit the prince of wei and warn him to stop pursuing the throne because courtiers are planning to impeach him with evidence that he essentially instigated the previous crown prince's rebellion (there is nothing to confirm this, other than her word). Zhinu readily decides to visit his brother (if he knew his brother he would know that this kind of information would trigger him to do something stupid because the fate awaiting him is permanent exile).



7.Meanwhile, Meniang meets with Consort Yang and confirms that she will still leave with Li Mu and wishes her luck. We go to Li Mu who has a guard of Yang's people suddenly in his room, assuring him that they are there to ensure that the two get away safely (yea right! they will probably murder them once they are outside of the city!) Li Mu, not being an idiot, chooses to kill them all.



8.Meanwhile, Prince Wei shows he has truly snapped and decides to kill his sons in order to prove to his father that he is indeed a man of his word (he believes that his father chose to give the crown to another because he did not believe him. not because he thought he was too ruthless.) He grabs his sword and nearly kills his sons however Zhinu arrives and yells at him, calling him crazy. He tells him he came to warn him about the impending impeachment and urges him to kneel before their father and ask for forgiveness to avoid the fate of their older brother. He also reveals he only wanted to be crown prince to protect his brothers. This makes Wei laugh, as he truly cannot believe he lost to this kind of weak person. He takes Zhinu hostage and plans to drag him to his father, have Zhinu confess his reasons for wanting the crown, in order that the emperor will see who is better suited for the throne. (Yes, he has lost it. and also, I am more than certain this is not historically accurate. but it is very interesting)



9. Meanwhile, Consort Yang summons her son and explains to him that Prince Wei has basically lost his mind over this and is essentially staging an insurrection. Her son wants to intervene but she forbids it. She takes out a relic of the Sui dynasty and orders him to give it to the head of the royal guard. Once he sees it, he will follow any order that he has. She explains that with the royal guard he can both Wei (for treason) the crown prince (make it look like Zhinu did it) and then go to the emperor with Wei's head. He will be the hero, and the emperor will have no choice but to make him crown prince. Wu is shocked because she is insisting he rebel. His mother tells him that now is his chance, she knows he wants to be crown prince, and she has swallowed her pride for years for this moment. She also encourages him to kill the emperor if he refuses and blame it on Wei (ambitious). (In her defense, it is highly unlikely that she or her son will survive whoever becomes the next king.)



--So stuff got REAL--

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episode 34 spoilers ahead

Spoilers Ahead!



1.We open to Li Mu/Li Gu strangling Zhinu. He leaves him alive, he states, because it would break Ru Yi's (Meniang) heart if he died. Zhinu points out he is going to leave him alive for the exact same reason. He also calls him a coward for sneaking looks at her but Li Mu states his kind of love involves giving her a choice to choose her path (so progressive!).



2.Elsewhere, Wang Gong Gong tells Meniang not to be discouraged despite being demoted to a palace maid because the emperor still thinks of her. He reminds her the hardest thing for the emperor to do is to trust someone (he once drank wine his brother poisoned). There are a number of books on the table waiting for the Emperor to read. Gong Gong explains that Chancellor Zhangsun has detailed and followed the lives of descendants of all the people the emperor has killed, to be aware of their movements in case they seek revenge (historically, this time period frequently allowed family members to live in order that the persons executed had people to make offerings to them in this life. Executing entire clans was uncommon and developed after this period)



3. The emperor either trusts her or has another game to play because he allows her to make copies in his presence and even tasks her with waking him from his nap. It is highly evident to the viewer that she cares for him. Before she leaves she 1)manages to steal the book with Li Mu's info in it 2)admits to the emperor that while she knew about the crown prince's rebellion she did not know he had plans to depose him/make him retire and the emperor congratulates her for finally defending herself which pleases him. We also learn after she leaves that the emperor told his servant to tell her everything that was relayed to her (so he is planning something)



4.Elsehwere, Prince Wei contends with the issue of Zhinu. Because of his appearance the courtiers are neutral to him again. He maintains he is not worried about his little brother because Meniang is pulling his strings. His primary concern is why the emperor is delaying the naming of the crown prince. He believes he can gain this info through Xu Hui, who is friends with Meniang because he believes the emperor may tell the latter. In addition, he comments on how women can be scary: Xu Hui's jealousy is so powerful that she would kill Meniang in order to avoid living with the guilt that she betrayed her (thus he can let another do his work).



5. Elsewhere, Xu Hui reads about Chengji (the man she suggested as the mole) and learns that there is no way it could have been him, and suspects that Meniang is suspicious of her....



6.Later, Meniang is summoned by the emperor. So is Li Gu. Li Gu is told to wait outside Ganglu palace. The emperor points out that the book with Li Xiaogong's info is gone (he is a relative of Li Gu). he wants Menaing to read the summary that was prepared before it went missing. He then asks her if she has anything to say. She refuses to say anything and asks he punish her. He slaps her so hard she bleeds and tells her to get out and that he never wants to see her again. She leaves, and stops Li Gu from rushing in. She tells him that everything tonight was not accident and that he should leave (the emperor is aware that there is a connection between them and that he is in the city and of his identity). Li Gu yells at her for allowing her dignity to fall for such a man who mistreats her. He finally says he will leave the city on the day of his parents death day. After, she burns the record on Li Gu.



7.Meniang suddenly chases after him and tells him that she has gambled a lot on this love and gotten no return. She agrees to leave with him and will ask Consort Yang to help her.



8.Meanwhile, the emperor has a meeting with his people and confirms they have evidence and the identity of all the people in Wei Yuanchen's clique (at court and in the army). Arrests are made, and Minister Wei is arrested (He is Consort Wei's uncle)..



9.Meniang visits Consort Yang and asks for her help to leave. She explains she is leaving because Li Mu's parents were burned alive and he alone escaped. She explains that the emperor did not tell this. Consort Yang suspects she is doing this for the emperor's safety but she denies it (oh it is totally for him). Yang agrees to help her. In regards to Prince Wei, they plan to plant a false rumor before she leaves because Meniang suspects he is nervous and his spies will be everywhere....



Comments:More drama. I look forward to seeing this dance with the emperor end because his inability to trust others (which I can understand) can lead to a lot of issues.

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episode 25 spoilers ahead

25/96



1.(I actually flubbed a little, since I am reading from notes. Consort Wei expresses her doubt at the beginning of this episode)



2.Wang Gong Gong delivers a message to Menieng to go to Ganglu Hall. Here the emperor is getting drunk in his room of candles. (Can I just say I find Xu Hui more deplorable than Consort Wei because Consort Wei, you know right away what she is about but Xu Hui is betraying her sister, basically)



3.The emperor is drowning his sorrows. He tells her that he killed someone, and as a result the Tang dynasty and state are better off for it. He's helped stabilize the state (this is like a life lesson to Menieng--the end justifies the means). He is sad, explains that he lit a lantern for the Crown Prince who is alive, even though he killed Chengxin (I wonder if he feels like now he has to depose his own state for stability). He says she is the only one who can drink with him, that his own son tried to kill him over this valet, and that he learned it was because Changxin resembled Changxun, and that he did not deserve to die the way he did.



4.Seeking to cheer him up, she coaxes him outside, and succeeds and putting a smile on his face.



5.Meanwhile, the Crown Prince is visited by Li Zhi, they drink together. (Li Zhi is consistently portrayed as an innocent nice guy, oblivious to the games around him).



6.Courtiers wonder if the Prince of Wei is going to be the new crown prince. Prince Wei learns that half of the crown prince's followers have left or defected to his side. However, the emperor still has not mentioned the incident at all even though everyone knows what happened. This makes Prince Wei impatient, especially since he is trying to 'cleanly' depose him (i.e. he sets the trap, and the prince's reactions lead to self incrimination; the crown prince could have made it though if he weren't so weak)



7.The emperor meets with his advisors and the issue of the northern rebels comes up again. Some say that now is the time to act since the northern revolt is in disarray and its leader is a bad ruler, however this bad leader is good at war, and they can't afford a loss. Hon. Wei changes the topic to something everyone has been wondering: who will run the state after the emperor leaves.



8.The emperor essentially says he will decide in a month whether or not to depose the prince and asks if Hon. Wei had deceived him from the start. He explains to him that he was always loyal but is responsible for not teaching the prince well. He again begs him to give the crown prince a chance, which triggers the emperor into anger because he has given him many opportunities. He storms out. Wei follows him, collapses, and finally gets the emperor's attention. The emperor hears him out. Hon. Wei tells him even if he does not want the crown prince to rule who will replace him? It cannot be Prince Wu, who is a good military man but terrible statesman with Sui blood to boot. It shouldn't be Prince Wei, because he is a schemer and would make a good advisor (however the emperor admits he has yet to form an opinion about Wei).



9.On his way back, the emperor encounters Li Zhi who admits he is troubled after visiting the crown prince. he tells the emperor that he would like to help shoulder his burdens. The emperor is happy to see Li Zhi (probably thinking ah, one who might be a good candidate...)He tells Li Zhi that he is a good child, and encourages him to see him more.



10.Honarble Wei visits the Crown Prince and is upset that he has relapsed into drinking. He leaves, stating that the crown prince doesn't even want to help himself and doesn't know what to do as he coughs up blood...



11.Meanwhile, Menieng has made the choice to try to help the Crown Prince. Xu Hui tries to deter her and says that she is playing with fire (basically) since she almost got killed because of the prophecy (true). She encourages her to leave him alone. Menieng explains that she feels obligated to help since he saved her life.



12.Crown prince is visited by crown princess, and here we learn that he has been faking that he is drinking water (!) what is he planning?? Later that night, he buries some of Chengxin's belongings and the Crown Princess, who has brought Wu, tells her that she is worried, that he is pretending to be drunk and meeting with people she does not recognize. The prince (unsurprisingly) overhears them and wants to know why Meneing is helping a drowning guy. he complains about all the injustices done him and she basically tells him to grow up, that this is going to happen all the time if he becomes emperor and he needs to get over it. She suggests he learn to swim (someone had to say it). He laughs and says he has already lost the crown but not the kingdom--he is planning to revolt!

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episode 24 spoilers ahead

24/96!



--IN WHICH XU HUI SETS TRAPS--



1.Xu Hui discusses the strange incident with Xiao Q seeming to want to mend the rift. Xu Hui only tells her that she went to visit her and became angry, and feels guilty for ruining the chance. She carefully words everything, appealing to Menieng's desire to actively help, and Menieng falls for it: she volunteers to deliver food to Xiao Q and help mend the situation. She doesn't know that this food may contain the necessary goods to induce a miscarriage.



2.Meanwhile, Prince Wei is irritated that his plan to use Chengxin has flopped now that he is dead--he wanted to kidnap his mother and blackmail Chengxin. But he has a back up, because he has learned that Chengxin is not actually dead...He has a letter sent to the Crown Princess, and orders that it be delivered anonymously.



3.Meanwhile, Crown Princess is going through Chengxin's things because she wants to know how he managed to obtain her husband's attention (she is fixated on her husband but I think she truly loves him; she tolerated Chengxin when she thought he might help the prince). She receives the mysterious letter and is shocked to learn that Chengxin is alive on Mount Mong (I won't lie, I thought maybe that Prince Wei hired an impersonator, but it's true) The crown princess arrives and sees both Chengxin and the prince there, meaning the crown prince has lied to the Emperor for this man. She leaves. So she doesn't hear the Crown Prince talking to Chengxin, who will shortly leave for Mongolia and live quietly....The crown prince should not have hesitated but immediately sent him away...



4.Menieng visits Xiao Q who is with Consort Wei. Xiao Q manages to steal a satchet without anyone noticing. I don't think she should trust Xu Hui; I know she is desperate but Xu Hui could easily kill two birds with one stone and make it look like Menieng was helping her miscarry.



5.Xu Hui continues to wreak havoc, and it is so easy for her because she has a pristine reputation. She is able to convince the princess, who came to speak to Menieng, to talk to her. Xu Hui learns that Chengxin is alive, and she plots. She tells the princess that they can help the crown prince by having Chengxin killed. She encourages her to see Honorable Wei, since she knows his schedule, she knows exactly where she can meet him clandestinely...



6.Next, Xu Hui meets with Menieng, tells her what the crown princess tells her, and tells her where the emperor will be to help divert attention, but she basically does that to get her out of the way. As she leaves Xu Hui coldly whispers that it is her fault for siding with Menieng (sums it up perfectly)Meanwhile, Xu Hui sees the emperor, suggests they go to the gardens, and he just happens to see and overhear the conversation between Crown Princess and Honorable Wei: he hears her tell Wei that Chengxin is alive, and first Wei does not believe her, but then he does and he says he will take care of it...The emperor is ANGRY



7.Afterwards, Xu Hui encounters Menieng and plays the dumb card and talks about how upset she is that she messed everything up but Menieng tells her not to worry about it...



8.Meanwhile, the Crown Prince is with Chengxin. He reveals that the reason he has been so attached to him because he resembles a cousin he cared for deeply, Chengxun (I know, of all the names). He shares that all of his friends, everyone he cared for, were guarding Xiaongu Gate and were killed by his father. he says he wants to see at least one friend survive.



9.Chengxin goes into the woods and he runs into....the Emperor! The emperor accuses him of being the worse for manipulating his son into lying to him. Chengxin says they are merely good friends, he tells him this is his fault and that the crown prince is innocent. The emperor hesitates, especially when he hears that his son is attached to him because he resembles Chengxun. The crown princes comes outside, and Chengxin yells at him to turn around and run, but he does not and he sees his father behead him (OMG!) and the prince is so upset he pulls a sword on the emperor and tries to kill him (OMG!) But the emperor gets through his rage when he basically calls him crazy for trying to kill him over a valet. The crown prince is arrested....



10.That night Prince Wei burns paper for the people he has killed (so this is called Joss paper burning, usually done in veneration of the deceased, typically you burn like money to help the dead have a life of luxury or shorter stay in hell)(I am somehow cynical that he possesses guilt over his actions) He assesses the situation and states they have about a 70%chance of seeing the prince deposed.



11.Consort Wei is strangely vulnerable around him, ruefully asking if they will ever finish scheming but he is reassuring to her (are these two lovers? if she is to be empress wouldn't that mean he plans to marry her?) (they are also strangely vulnerable and we see that circumstance and fate seemed to make them into these ruthless people: he lost his mother because of scheming and she lost the ability to have children. the two were taught very bitter lessons early on that no one is to be trusted and you can only survive by eliminating everyone else)



12.Prince Wei reassures her that the emperor would not let sentiment get in the way of reason. he also suggests that she take the opportunity to take out Menieng at the same time she disposes of Xiao Q...



---I have mixed feelings. The emperor almost did his son a favor by being the one to kill Chengxin, that way he did not have to do it. But he is also a hypocrite, in my book. In addition to this, Crown Prince really continues to demonstrate that he would not be the best emperor if only because he cannot handle criticism or injustice--he rails against the plots against him without understanding that this is the reality of being emperor and he needs to get better at the game if he wants to survive--

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ep 16 spoilers ahead

16/96!



1.At the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince discusses with Changxin that General Hou is returning, having just defeated a Tibetan arm that was invading Jianun Circuit. He says his presence will be good for the Crown Prince as Hou, Du Zenglun, Yu Zhining, Li Ji, and Wei Zheng are all loyal to him (it seems now is the time to consider building up alliances). A clandestine meeting his been arranged at a sword school (not sure who will be in attendance).



2.Elsewhere, Hou Junji arrives. He is so respected that he can enter the council room with his armor and weapon and does not even have to bow to the emperor when in army (he still bows). Just before he appears, Crown Prince nominates him to take care of the issue of Qu Wetan who has colluded with Mongols, disregarded orders, and is blocking trade routes in the desert. Minister Wei objects, and is in the middle of calling Hou old as he walks in. This naturally annoys Hou who becomes belligerent, but stops when the emperor tells him to. He then sarcastically compliments Minister Wei and says there is no way someone like Wei could be treacherous or backstabbing (bwahhaa)



3.Hou receives the order and the crown prince is smug (this is a victory for him). Elsewehere, Prince Wei meets with Consort Wei (I was confused before, although they have the same name there is no relation)--he plans to use the calamity to his advantage and use it to take down Cairen Wu and discredit the crown prince. He encourages Consort Wei to remain patient and to not let her personal feelings get in the way.



4.At Xingyun court (Master Li/Taoist/astronomer) someone breaks in and hides just before he enters. Someone--Cheng Gong Gong who serves Consort Wei and tortured Wu earlier in the series--appears with an offer to ally with him and set up Wu. He wants to set her up as a witch, and plant incriminating evidence. Master Li refuses, and makes it clear that although he believes Wu should die, he will not assist in crimes. After he leaves, he calls out the intruder...



5.The intruder is Wu, and she knocks him out, she uses his knife to threaten him, tie him and, and basically rips into him about how he is a hypocrite, casually destroying peoples lives without thought or care, and hiding behind the 'good of the state' when all he and the ministers care about his power. Master Li disagrees and claims his intentions are pure and he is guided by reason and she accuses him of having no heart and breaks down in tears. The emperor comes, and Master Li conceals her presence, and then she thanks him but he makes it clear they are not friends, he merely does not seek to unjustly harm people (uh-huh)



6.The ministers congregate and learn ants outside the city have clumped together to form a sentence that shares the calamity with everyone (an easy trick that you can do with sugar or honey) while the commoners whisper that the crown prince lacks virtue (you can cause rumors very easily) They blame it on the crown prince and his lack of virtue.



7.The Taoist goes into 10 day seclusion and will have a name of who the Wu to kill is,



8.Chong'er, the son of Minister Wei, questions if Wu is a threat. Minister Wei says she is a threat, not to the current emperor but the next one. He says to not be blinded by kindness--she is extremely smart and capable and should be treated as a danger.



9.Worried for her safety, the emperor restricts Wu's movements so that she will be by his side by day and will only leave the palace with him, and will only accept food from a pre-approved person.



10.Elsewhere, crown prince lets off some steam during a sword duel and expresses his extreme frustration over Cairen Wu and how it implicates him.



11.Master Li mysteriously dies, and in his hand clutches a note, with Ru Yi's name on it (how convenient). Crown Prince wants to demand Wu's death, but his tutor cautions him. he tells him that he is always watching Prince Wu but that there are other princes--he tells him he should be worried about Prince Wei whom he knows is close with the Wei clan and Consort Wei. He cautions the crown prince and suggests he ally with Cairen Wu because 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' and she could be a friend in the future...in addition to this, he needs the harem on his side moving forward and since Cairen Wu is smart and favored by the emperor, he should use her.



12.Elsewhere, Xu Hui continues to hear whispers from the same eunuch, and while he praises Wu and says that although Xu Hui is ignored what ever good things happen to her will roll over to Xu Hui (its like saying, the emperor doesn't care about you but don't worry you will get the scraps). Xu hui looks increasingly anxious....

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