mimi0108

It is impossible to overcome this. What the mother did in episode 24 is literally the end of their mother/daughter bond.
By her words, she could have signed the social death of her daughter (who would invite her if, in front of the royal family, she says that her daughter is rude, useless and unworthy), the impossibility of CSS to marry (after such humiliation and the end of her reputation, no one would marry her) and could have signed her death (suicide because of a tarnished reputation was commonplace at the time).
On top of that, she hurt her daughter, showing that she has no esteem, respect or love for her. It's over.

The proposal scene was excellent in the sense that it managed to show a lot of different emotions and stakes.

We have the point of view of LBY who is in love, a little scheming and takes advantage of the occasion. We see him happy to ask for this bride, anxious to see CSS's family refuse, saddened and concerned about the humiliation CSS suffers, worried about the consequences it could have if the emperor gets angry about her father, surprised and happy to discover CSS's respect and admiration for him and, at the same time, his concern seeing her hurt by her family and possibly feeling she agreed to marry him more out of pressure than sincere liking.

We also have the point of view of CSS, completely taken aback and whose voice is muffled until the end. Her surprise, shock and apprehension upon hearing the proposal, the humiliation and pain felt when her mother belittled her in front of the entire royal family, the fear of seeing her family punished or exiled by their refusal, the astonishment and interest to learn how much LBY loves and considers her, her feeling of helplessness while her fate is being decided by others, and then her decision (not really made freely) when the Emperor finally lets her express an opinion.

The scene subtly mixes the different issues and feelings of the characters in the face of a destiny that is being played out. We feel excitement for this romantic proposal and at the same time sadness and indignation for CSS whose opinion is only taken into account at the end (when she no longer really has a choice ) while the decision concerns her life. We also feel resentment and anger for CSS' parents who show they are the ones who know nothing about etiquette, and not their daughter. We want to applaud the emperor for supporting his adopted son and letting CSS speak. And sympathy for the empress who realizes CSS' suffering.
It is both a romantic proposal, a forced marriage and the breaking of a family bond.

Thanks! x)

The problem is that the mother does nothing but belittle and criticize her daughter. Since the time she came back, she still hasn't taught her etiquette, it's scandalous! As CSS thinks when entering the palace when her mother quickly tries to teach her a few polite phrases "you didn't teach me that before, now it's too late".
I know the mother has her own demons, pain, guilt, misunderstandings about her daughter's personality and mindset (raised by her enemy) but there is a limit. The mother goes down the wrong path by ignoring her daughter, not educating her, hurting her, belittling her and lamenting that the cousin is more like the girl she hoped to find . Instead of questioning herself a little, of studying and understanding her daughter, she only hurts her and doesn't give her the slightest merit. Worse, while she keeps complaining about her daughter's lack of manners, the mother is the most rude and impolite there is: she humiliates her daughter in front of family, friends and even the emperor, she defies the Emperor's edict and speaks so badly of her daughter that after that CSS could never have married if she had not accepted LBY.
CSS sometimes questions her own attitude in front of her parents, apologizes, makes herself small and shows her real feelings. But her mother never does, she is always mean and hurtful to her child even when she is wrong simply out of pride or fear that by showing another side to her daughter, she won't listen to her anymore (as if she was listening without it...).

When LBY tells CSS what happened with the He family, the translation says "hardly any of the family's women and children survived".
However, he explains the county didn't suffer the same terrible fate as that of Hua (where CSS was in episodes 12/13). Is this a translation error and in fact almost no women and children of the clan died or does it just mean that only the He family (including women and children) and the soldiers lost their lives but that the people were spared?

I have a problem with a translation in episode 21, if someone can help me:

2 episodes per day, 3 days per week.

You're welcome x)
I think he will perform military feats not to mention the fact the emperor loves him and after 5 years things have calmed down.

LBY will take revenge on those who caused the death of his clan and slaughter them all. For this, he will be exiled by the emperor, despite his love for him.

Of all the CSS contenders, Yuan Shen is the worst, in my opinion.
He has never sought to know her, is rude, arrogant and intrusive. His pride took a hit when she rejected him and he keeps putting her down in front of others like he only sees the worst of her when deep down he wants her for himself.
He interferes in her home, forces her to take lessons with him, doesn't respect the other students and keeps bothering her. He has no respect for her, for her mind, for her talents and opinions. He constantly imposes himself in defiance of her desires and the disgust she feels for him and acts almost like a pervert. CSS' shiver of disgust in episode 18 made me want to slap him.

Happy 🙂

Even though it can be frustrating because she deserves all the information, it also shows how much he loves and respects her. He knows she wants a stable life in a stable family. His life is not stable any more than his family. He loves her enough not to offer her a prospect of a difficult life with a military husband when he thinks she has found a nice, calm and obedient boy of her age.

It's a shame because the 3rd aunt is adorable, but her husband, the 3rd uncle, is definitely involved in the rebellion and arms trafficking (with maybe Lou Yao's family).
Coincidentally, the uncle asks to take a detour to another state (in order to avoid arriving in Hua County at the time of the massacre) then sends his wife and niece away to be alone. Then when he learns they've been attacked, he asks Lou Yao a weird question to make sure Lou Yao is the only one who left the group and then keeps fainting so unconvincingly all the way through. And, strangely, they don't meet any rebels on the way and arrive once the matter is settled and General Ling leaves. I think the uncle is definitely involved and hides a dark personality (able to sacrifice his own wife). As for knowing why he spared Lou Yao, for me it's either because the latter's family is involved or because the uncle was waiting to see in what state he will find his wife and niece before deciding to get rid or not of the boy.

Thanks, it's good to know. Let's hope the drama don't disgress on this because it will be a shame. The cousin is really nice and I don't like when they make them have a 180° turn because it's toxic and so unrealistic if the person didn't show an once of bad mentality to become a bad and vicious person.

I like the fact Niaoniao and her cousin are close. But I've eeen so many dramas in which the nice and quiet friend/sister/cousin becomes crazy and a villain so I'm scared.
Can someone who have read the novel tell me if the cousin will remain good or not, please.

She is unable to stay awake in the operating room or abandons the operation and her patient to vomit. Yet she blames everyone but her. She doesn't try to find a solution to her problem, doesn't realize the seriousness of her acts and prefers to whine when the fact she is unfit for the moment is pointed out.
I have trouble with the writing of this character who seems immature, capricious, irresponsible and delusional. The ML, despite his flaws, is shown to be very competent and it bothers me that the FL is such a mess compared to him.

Will FL ever get better? I'm on episode 4 and she really annoys me.

Thanks for your answer! I'll try it x)

I'd like to watch Mouse but I'm afraid it's too violent. I don't like horror movies but I've seen several thrillers and as long as the violence isn't too graphic, that's fine with me.
What about in Mouse? Is it gore? Is the violence very graphic? Is this a horror drama?

The ML left the army in 2000. It's the year they called each other.
I think the drama end in the same year, 2005 or maybe one year later.
I agree the ending is confusing and a bit frustrating.
On the other hand, I understand the need for the FL to distance herself from the ML at this time. He always ends up hanging out with his high school friends (who aren't necessarily good friends) which gets him into trouble. He also lies to her to hide the big scar of his past that still haunts his present life and, when she finds out, tries to discuss with him and support him, he freaks out and leaves the house in a worrying state of anger (he's going to wreck a car and hit his buddy).
They took 11 years to get together because he kept getting into trouble because of his acquaintances. It's understandable she needed to distance herself from him after having such a weird fight. Moreover, she doesn't leave him for long, just a few weeks.
But, for me, the simple fact he makes a dedication at the radio to her a few days/weeks later seems a little weak to forget everything wrong between them.