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At this point in the story they are not just 100% committed to each other, but their communications with each other, direct & indirect are really tight. They are completely in sync right now with each other and with how they view all the problems surrounding them. Hopefully the writers will let them stay this way through the rest of the story and not contrive any annoying misunderstandings or other tropes. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, in Jingxiu, Xia Jingshi continues to be a complete a**hole to Xi Yang and she is spiraling towards despair as she has basically landed in hell. It's really difficult to watch her story play out. The dynamic between psychotic Murong Yao and his father (one of the few sane people) is also completely messed up. So many crazies in this drama. PM Zhuang Shen may be the craziest. At this point it's clear that he is prioritizing his vengeance even over power and that means he's willing to burn everything down in pursuit of his vengeance. Later, we get an interesting scene transition between Xiyang getting her hand injured by rose thorns by the psycho Xia Jingyan in Jingxiu all the way to the scene of the Marquis Murong going to pay penance at the Susha Palace with thorny canes on his back, cutting into his flesh.
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Because this one provides the most important backstory piece yet (Hint: The story of how ML's mother died.). Very emotionally intense episode.
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Kinda wish she'd put one of those arrows in Murong'Yao's one good foot, though. Nevertheless she was a total boss, making sure her man safely got out of that deathtrap. Sadly, the episode then shifted to the depraved mess that is the Jingxiu royals and of course, the doomed marriage between Xi Yang and Xia Jingshi. Lots of skippable stuff there. It's too painful to watch that mess and so far nothing really plot-interesting is happening there other than to re-inforce just how messed up they are and the disaster that ML's sister has married into. Then there is a mostly-skippable montage of the ML's memories of his friendship with Murong Yao but thankfully that's followed by a nice scene as Fu Yi Xiao comforts her man. Finally, I absolutely loved the reveal about the Emperor after PM Zhuang went on his crazy rant. I was already suspicious after the Empress' stupid rant so wasn't surprised. Ugh, more disgusting Xia emperor behavior - just how far are they going to take this? We already are disgusted by him. No need to really take it any further, please. Finally, episode closes with Fu Yi Xiao is dressed in red & black, ready for war!
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The Xia family, royals of Jingxiu? Or the Zhuang family in Susha? Because man, both families are pretty messed up. I gotta call out a bit of acting that was special, though, by Ding Jia Wen, as 2nd Prince Feng Chengyang. The way his character reacted when told by his grandfather to become Emperor, standing there, nervous and barely able to comprehend what was happening, with tears running down his cheeks - that was impressive. We finally get the lead couple back together briefly, for an emotional, bittersweet reunion as FL finally gets a chance to warn ML about Murong Yao. Then we get a long sob-story exposition behind Yao's insanity. Unfortunately, instead of truly resolving things, in typical c-drama fashion the ML lets Yao live on. You know he'll cause further trouble down the road.
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At least in the latter, both Feng Sui Ge and Feng Xi Yang seem sane and normal. And even little step-bro Chengyang seems okay. Stupid and childish but nice. Nobody in the Jingxiu royal fam seems sane or nice. I understand she got herself into this mess because of her own naivete' but I do feel awful for Princess Xi Yang because she's basically an innocent kid who has been sucked into this black hole mess. Aside from that, this episode seems to be about full reveal to the audience on all the main villains in the Susha court, clarifying that Murong Yao and PM Zuang are colluding together. We get insight into just how F'd up and full of hate the latter is. And we see a potential crack between PM Zuang and Murong Yao in that the former is at odds with the latter's father over who the royal heir should be. Fu Yi Xiao certainly understands the importance of Murong father to the son and takes advantage of it.
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In an earlier episode Yi Xiao had indicated that something about Murong Yao made her uneasy. Plus of all the main characters who would have inside information and means, he is one of the few tall enough to be the masked man. Further, Murong already was seen to be involved with Ruyan. So the reveal was not that surprising. This episode is a bit annoying because it features (a) some noble idiocy on the part of FL (doesn't tell ML about her plan to trap Ruyan and the masked man) and (b) contrived separation of the leads. But fortunately it's clear that not only does ML quickly figure out that she's up to something involving Ruyan (and thus the masked man) but his actions to help her signal to her that he's aware and helping. Their ability to communicate indirectly is cool.
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She's definitely playing out the stereotypical 'naive innocent fool' character that stupidly creates unnecessary drama and irritates the viewer. Xia Jing Shi is such an awful person for her to fall for. And it's obvious later that he completely manipulated her in order to try to target her brother. Kinda ridiculous how she is unable to see what a coward he is, basically using her like a shield. Question: Given all the physical beat-downs he has taken, how is Xiao Wei Ran still alive in this story? Meanwhile, the chemistry between Fu Yi Xiao and Feng Sui Ge during their roasted meat dinner is fantastic, funny and cute. And then the fireworks at their camp on the cliff to end the episode as both ML & FL fully confess to each other!!
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Ha ha! The way they used this phrase multiple times in the opening conversation between Ling Xueying and Yi Xiao over how much time the latter was spending with Feng Sui Ge .... and then Lu Ke shows up, says that very phrase and she leaps up to go with him to see Sui Ge .... hilarious! Things turn dark soon after as she walks straight into an obvious trap that reveals Xia Jing Shi's connection with the death camp that brutally trained her as a child. Fortunately she is rescued by ML. Later, Xia Jing Shi and Feng Xi Yang finally get married and it's notable that the Emperor stares intently at Xia Jing Shi during the bowing ceremony. Seems like he sees right through him? Finally, the episode closes with Sui Ge and Yi Xiao exchanging gifts. But why do the subtitles describe the sculpture as a wolf when it looks so much more like a bear? A very fat wolf?
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This is largely a guess, but given how bothered Yi Xiao is every time she encounters Mu Rong Yao (ML's childhood friend) I'm guessing it's because he is probably the man behind the mask. He's also one of the few main characters who is tall enough to be the masked guy. I also speculated it might be his father, the general, but the latter isn't tall enough. The show is also going to great lengths to paint him as a harmless dandy, so that is another indicator. He may also actually have an obsession w/ ML - that might explain why he wanted her dead so badly after she shot ML.
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as she has fallen in love with Xia Jing Shi, who does not love her and is a true piece of crap as a human being. She's been too sheltered and too limited in her understanding of people. On the other hand, this is the hand fate has dealt her so maybe she isn't wrong for trying to be optimistic and as positive as possible? Meanwhile, we get a really important heart-to-heart between Feng Sui Ge and a still burning-mad Fu Yi Xiao that makes it clear that the two of them are far more alike than was apparent before. Both have suffered similar brutal betrayals in their lives and both are burning for revenge. This by itself isn't a great basis for romance, but it strengthens the point of their partnership. The scene in the prison was pretty intense. First it raises the question of dealing with official duty versus moral duty - the unsaid response is that moral duty should trump questionable orders. Then FL makes a very cold, dramatic gesture by bringing the roasted sweet potato as their last meal together. Wei Ran is pretty much completely broken by the end of this scene. Finally, the episode loses some points with the impossibly stupid contract FL is forced to agree to to save Ning Fei by sending him to the impossibly stupidly mysterious people who live outside either kingdom Just utter contrived plot garbage. And suddenly there is some sort of connection between Feng Sui Ge, his mother's death, doctor Ling and the mysterious people he is sending Ning Fei to? WTF? Oh well.
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We get a really cool fight scene between Yi Xiao and Wei Ran that uses shadows and sparking blades to great visual effect. I don't like that she lets him off at the end, though. That makes no sense. Fortunately, Feng Sui Ge shows up to tie up that loose end. We then get Yi Xiao once again drinking like a fish to drown her sadness over Wei Ran's betrayal. This is getting ridiculous. How much more abusive drinking can her liver take? I like how Feng Sui Ge deals with the angry, stupid Ning Fei ... by simply telling him the flat-out truth! He's figured out that Ning Fei is too stupid to be one of the true bad guys and he is more useful if he's guided to support Yi Xiao by the truth. And then man, does Li Qin know how to look bad-ass. Her face as she walks past Ning Fei with bow and quiver, so grim like an angel of death ... wow.
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but in actuality, she is using his poisoned condition as an excuse to feign sympathy and concern in order to try to get him to drop his guard. Weiran's simply not very smart and already has given himself away. This episode, like the last one, moves very slowly as it is basically one conversation after another filling out exposition and details. Not bad, but kinda treading water. Watching Yi Xiao pretend to be nice to Xia Jing Shi is okay at a plot level but it's also cringe because he's so slimy. I hope they don't drag this phase out too much longer. We get maybe 2-3 minutes tops with both Fu Yi Xiao and Feng Sui Ge in the same room in this episode and that doesn't help. Also, the directorial technique of constantly doing close-ups on a character tightly clenching their fist to indicate anger/tension/whatever is getting old. Way over-used so far in this drama. Maybe they should rename this show, "Fated Fists"??
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They are both involved with hiding what happened on the cliff from her. What isn't completely clear is just how much aligned they both seem to have other agendas. Fu Yi Xiao seems to have figured out that at least Xia Jing Shu was involved and seemed absolutely disgusted by him trying to hold his hand, but she is acting towards him as if she trusts him. So the schemes within schemes is starting to get rolling.
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Right now, the scenes of Fu Yi Xiao spending time with her former 'brothers' make sense because she's looking for clues to restore her memory. But they are, frankly, annoying and kinda skippable. The Ning Fei character is just absurdly annoying and Weiran is clearly super-cautious about something that probably won't be revealed until later. So these scenes are a drag and annoying. Overall, the pace of things has really slowed down with the whole "Xia Jing Shi reunion" as there is a lot of slow back & forth exposition around his backstory with Yi Xiao and the maneuvering between those two and of course Feng Sui Ge.
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Makes me a little suspicious. Ning Fei seems as dumb as a post and very irritating. Not sure quite what to make of Xia Jingshi just yet other than he seems likely to be the psychotic obsessive type. This episode is a little frustrating because for the first time in a bit the FL & ML are sort of at cross purposes because she understandably is anxious to get her memories back while he is cautious and wary of allowing contact between her and Xia Jingshi.
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