mysteryqueen9

What gave it away was this ep (maybe ep 5 or 6?) when he was at the lab and his scientist told him they didn't have barely anything of the precious ingredient to make more super strength drugs.

Oh, I understand completely that he has to be extremely cautious, wary and have a lot of spies. In fact, in one of the earlier eps he said he had spies in almost every place in the city and out of it where he has employees and shops. The issue and where lies the problem it's that he put that mole as a super close maid of FL when he was already in love with her and he did that because he wanted to have control over his beloved woman. Yes, it was in ep 2 if I am not mistaken, very early in the story. He loved her already, and FL was indignant because among other things, he used said mole to follow her everywhere and arrange "coincidental" meetings.
And about the things she achieved in your opinion"begging" him:
-Divorce. She didn't ask him, she went to Eldest Princess and he was the one to bring it up, telling her "why would you ask my mom and not me?? I will get it done faster.
-Her brother's justice. She never begged him, she just asked him how was the investigation going. And it's weird she would ask him for help when it happened in his house and he had begun his own investigation?
-Release of HRZ. HRZ was in prison in the first place because of ZXW's scheme and instigation lol. Who would she asked for help if not him?
-Whitewashing FL's family. If he wants to punish her family it is understandable because it was a big crime and he is the lord who is above her father. But wouldn't you beg for your family if you love them, even if they did wrong?
I would understand the hate to FL if she was stringing him along, but she has never given him any reason to believe she wants to be his wife. Though it's pretty obvious she has feelings for him, but she has been very straightforward in her rejection out of fear of the obstacles.

Why do I feel Ryu Si-O wants FL as a human rat lab for his experiments?? He gives me the creeps, though damn that scene with the blue velvety bathrobe, the actor is so sexy

Oh I never said in the future ZXW wouldn't compromise and let her leave in the south or do whatever she wants. I am talking about his standing right now, though ofc when things get too out of hand he will realise he should let her do whatever she wants.
It's funny because I don't hate the Lord, in fact I want a happy ending between him and FL in the real world. That doesn't mean I agree with his poor life choices in the last eps.
I have only accused him of behaving too controlling and not respecting her wishes, which is a fact, though he will eventually realise he must respect her choices. And yes, he will eventually let her leave, that is pretty obvious, I guess after thinking she died because of him (fake posion) and when he realises she is alive he will agreeable to everything if she is safe and happy.
What I don't understand it's why if he eventually lets her go that means he did nothing wrong in your book, but if she is the one that repents it means nothing. Ofc I am not comparing their crimes, FL did x1000 times worse, but I am curious
And why would I curse you?? lol I wouldn't curse someone on the internet for not sharing my POV

Yes, I am making things out of thing air LOL. That's why he said in ep 24 he would agree to everything but not leaving to the countryside. That's why in latest ep 26 he said "I also said that I would not let you leave". And ofc he never force her, that's why she willingly revealed framing Mu Yao ?? Oh no, let me see he forced her to confess with incriminatory evidence he just stole from her with the help of a mole.
It's funny being accused of inventing things when they are not assumptions, they are statements, conversations of the characters, you are denying the blatant truth.

I will answer you politely though I am beggining to think you are a troll, after all in one previous discussion we had you swore that you were done with this "shitty"show and "stupid" FL and here you are again. Ofc you are free to watch and comment, the problem comes when you get disrespectful and aggresive for a show that is fiction and that worse, you don't even like lol, and I am talking about how in other comments you accused viewers who disagreed with you of being dumb feminists who supported FL for having a vagina and hating ML for having a c*ck.
I wonder indeed as you seem to do if we are watching the same show. He was never going to send her to the south with her family to leave peacefully, that is absolutely false. He was going to keep her by his side and marry her, that's why he forced her to make a confession at the banquet, the most populated place possible, because he wanted to boost her reputation and smooth the way to marry her. That's why inmediately after her confession he goes all about "you are a sensible woman. You put righteouness before family. You set an example for all women". He even said in prev episode "I will NOT let you leave me and go leaving in the countryside with that man. Everything I do it is so you stay by my side"
And again, you have all the freedom in this world to have whatever opinion about this show, but do it in a proper way, even if in this particular comment you were pretty tame (only talking in condescension) I have seen several offensive comments of you hating on "feminists who hate men". Dude chill nobody hates men LOL

HQ really did an uno reverse in ZXW's plan. That's what happens when you treat people in your game as chess pieces, they are human and they will rebel. Ofc FL was going to take the blame for her dad, she loves her family more than anything. ZXW shot his own foot with this plan, he wanted to take advantage of forcing FL to confess to boost her reputation, and make her such a good woman that put righteousness before her family to smooth the way to get married, and now everything has blown up. I personally don't think HQ's taking the blame is that surprising, he should have seen it coming (imagine also in what position he leaves her before her family, if they loved her any less she could be seen by them as a traitor, it's really an awkward position).
I loved how she was like "everything is going down the drain, so let's go and disfigure this trash now" It's an even better revenge that death, taking the one thing she desires above everything (MYF's chance at marrying at Zhong Manor)

The argument "her own brother is unimportan"t is simplistic and unfair. That's simply not true. Her brother is already dead, while she can save a life here; and you forget she knows that with Lord covering the matter, she can't get justice for her bro because she doesn't even have proof, she knows Meng YiFei is responsible because she gave herself up being so chill and not surprised after being told there were 2 groups of assasins (info she shouldn't know if she were innocent)
So she used her knowledge to strike a deal advantedgeous for her and save a friend's life, full knowing she anyway had 0 chance to get justice for her bro with Lord's interference.
She was getting what she could of a shitty situation already lost for her, what shows how cunning she is and what a marvelous restrain she has over her own emotions.
And I never said she is a saint, but she adknowledges it. ZXW did not, acting like a high and mighty person.

I think you are misinterpretating my words (or perhaps I explained myself in confusing way). I don't believe a person must pay for the wrongdoings of their love ones. What I am trying to say it's that Lord is not going to make her father pay for his crimes with his life. He said: "I will spare your family if you reveal it". She had previously announced she was going to leave with her family to the countryside, her father with no power after resigning. That is atonement already, so unless he thought insufficient said punishment /and it should not, since he has already promised to spare them), threatening her with the incriminating letter makes 0 sense if he is seeking for justice. She is even willing to give up her life. That's what I meant, that she is willing to compromise in a lot of ways and she is only begging for her parent's lives, while he uses the evidence to make her submit to his will. And for the record, in that times people thought that family REALLY should pay for their relatives's crimes. That's why Mu Yao became a slave after her father was falsely accused. So in FL's mind, it makes sense suggesting taking her life in exchange to spare her parents.

For a man willing to let the woman he loves marry his adopted bro, even if that meant putting a smile and seeing said woman a lot at family meetings, he sure is acting all possesive obssesive now.
I am not hating on ZXW, and I understand some points he has, but at the same time I am baffled by the things he is doing and pretending FL will love him in the future despite of that.
Leaving aside the matter with HRZ imprisonment, where we could argue the fact he did out of fear for FL's safety (though I still mantain it's because of jealousy), imagine if you discover a man put a mole as your close servant who is monitoring your every move, hell he could know even the colour of her panties xd. We could again argue he did it out of concern?? Ofc in part it is because of it, but he even used said spy to STEAL incriminating evidence that is a death sentence for FL's family, and he uses that incriminating evidence to extort FL.
And yes, he is using it to blackmail her to submit to his will, because previously FL promised she would go away to the countryside with her parents and lead a discreet and plain life. So the idea of Lord using that evidence to get justice done because he has a duty as the Lord blablabla doesn't make any sense, when she had announced her intention to leave and never turn back, her father resigning and losing all power, and when ZXW has promised FL he will spare the Hua family. So he is not doing it for justice, he is just grabbing her weakness to control her and bend to his wishes. I know he himself believes he is in the right, but he has done a very dirty move just to ensure she will not leave to the countryside and "abandon" him.
And I see a lot of people hating on FL for being an ungrateful person, but imagine if someone put a spy on you, play with people's lives who are dear to you and manage to take a hold of your weakness to make you submit to their whims. FL has every right to not trust him or be angry. He is playing her like a toy, and nobody likes to be a toy in another's game.

I cannot agree more. I absolutely feel the same way about everything. Also, she is willing to exchange her life for her family's evil deeds as repayment but ofc ZXW will never accept that,so she can't get a deal with him in that matter.

She accused ZXW rightfully of being a bit of a hypocrate because he was going all high and mighty on the one hand about how HRZ was a dirty murderer and he had to pay for his crimes blablabla when on the other hand he knew Meng Family were the real masterminds of Hua Sheng's murder but he was hiding the truth about that matter. And yes, FL was seeking justice for her bro, it's IMO absolutely understandable, and it is also understandable to want to protect your family even if they had it coming. That doesn't mean I don't agree they should be punished, but as a person with feelings is understandable protecting your love ones even if they are the ones in the wrong. ZXW was acting like a strict rule abider "I am just being fair and wanting to punish evil deeds", being a sanctimonious person while at the same time keeping worse crimes hidden just because it didn't benefit him to expose Meng Family. Again, I understand why ZXW kep the truth hidden temporarily, but I don't agree with his sanctimonious manners specially when the reason why he wanted HRZ punished was not out of justice, but because of jealousy and wanting a threat away.
I completely agree with you in that they are feeding us with that cheesy music a "romance" with 0 chemistry between HQ and HRZ the guard.

Yes I know, but he does it a lot, not just in this situation, like how she asked about her brother's murderer and he was like "do not care about this matters, I will handle everything", boy, the one that bit the dust is her bro, ofc she will get to the end of the matter and can't let others "deal with it"; and I felt he didn't do it because he was afraid she was in danger, it was more about jealousy.
At the end of last ep when she was interrogating the son and daughter in law of the evil master of HRZ they said they were forced to testify against HRZ even after they told the truth about the case. I really hope it wasn't ZXW the one to force them to testify even knowing the truth, because that would crack even more his strained relationship with HQ and I want a happy ending between them.

No, it was not a scenario of "if I don't act quickly she can be in danger". ZXW is very resourceful and that lord was very notorious for mistreating terribly his slaves, that was precisely the reason HRZ stepmother sold him to that family in particular. He could have met FL first thing after knowing the info and tell her everything. After that, he could have denounced the crime to the Magistrate. He was jealous and he exposed himself in his arguement with FL when he said "I can't stand how he looks at you", and "you knew how he felt about you". And I don't want FL to be with the guard, I want her to be with the Lord but he did it because of jealousy and she caught him lol

I love ZXW, and I want him to end up with FL, but ZXW has done things in a wrong way, and FL has all the right to be annoyed at him for this. ZXW should have given all this info about Hua Guard to FL, she isn't a dumb girl and she should be the one to decide if HRZ is a trustworthy person with all the info at hand. ZXW schemed to have HRZ arrested and it is only after that he gives FL the reasons, all very "paternalistic", showing a very meddling attitude "how could I let such a person to work under you, it is very dangerous!" like HQ wasn't a grown up woman who can make her own judgements. And he was all flustered when FL very rightfully pointed back how could he know all her movements?? and changed the topic. I love him really, but HQ has all the right to be annoyed at ZXW for believing he has a right to interfere in her business and having guards following her every move.

Oh, I don't think she doesn't care for ZXW, and it's not that ML has done "wrong", but he has done things in a less than right way.
FL believes in Hua Guard's innocence, and why shouldn't?? She is not a stupid biased person, so she knows that although the facts are important, you need further info. Imagine if someone one day gives you evidence that suggests your dear family member/friend has done something bad. Would you directly cut your relationship with that person inmediately, or would you ask that person their version of the story?
Even if Hua Guard is a murderer, the fair thing would be to know the reasons and how he tries to justify it. After all, FL would be an ungrateful person if she just dismissed Hua RZ after how in her everyday life she has seen over and over again how much he does for her, how he has risked his life for her. What bothers me is that FL would do absolutely the same for Qianzhi, because she sees her close servants as siblings or dear friends, but people keep hating on her just because she treats right people who has only done good for her.
I love ZXW, and I want him to end up with FL, but ZXW has done things in a wrong way, and FL has all the right to be annoyed at him for this. ZXW should have given all this info about Hua Guard to FL, she isn't a dumb girl and she should be the one to decide if HRZ is a trustworthy person with all the info at hand. ZXW schemed to have HRZ arrested and it is only after that he gives FL the reasons, all very "paternalistic", showing a very meddling attitude "how could I let such a person to work under you, it is very dangerous!" like HQ wasn't a grown up woman who can make her own judgements. And he was all flustered when FL very rightfully pointed back how could he know all her movements?? and changed the topic. I love him really, but HQ has all the right to be annoyed at ZXW for believing he has a right to interfere in her business and having guards following her every move.

I know ZYL and ZXW are not blood related, and of course ZYL doesn't get a chance to inherit property. That doesn't change the fact that even though everyone knows they are not blood related, society knows ZYL is an adopted son and treats him as part of the Zhong family. The fact that ZYL's household falls under the power of ZXW further proves my point that they are, for all that matters, members of the same family and like brothers. Yes, ZXW doesn't call ZYL brother, but he calls FL "sister in law" multiple times.
If you really think the Princess doesn't have power in this situation, I think you misjudged how things worked in Ancient China. Even if it was a male dominated society, elders had a lot of power, and their children (even if one of them was the lord of the house) had to obey them and treat them with the utmost respect because if not they were exposed to being accused by society of lacking filial piety, and it was like a crime and that would destroy your reputation.
Leaving aside ZXW's power as an elder, she has a lot of power as a princess, and if you pay attention when ZXW was talking to magistrate Wang, he threatened him in the matter related to the assasination attempt. "What would have happen if it was my mother, the Princess, attacked? How would you have explained it to the government??" That proves that Princess has a strong backer in the royal family and her influence.
And I am confused by your comment about Princess favouring ZYL over her own blood son?? That wasn't what happened at all. Princess threatened FL because she was worried over her own son, ZXW. She said she feared that love relationship would crack the relationship between brothers, and that would hurt ZXW (she was afraid of the pain her son would experience over losing his friend ZYL) and it would damage ZXW's reputation. It was not over ZYL's feelings lol
I think we agree in that we disagree in everything XD.

Yes, I agree, poor FL, I hope drama has a happy ending

even if that were the case like you said it is a dream, what really matters is what happens outside of the dream. Though I don't think ZXW is the type of person to just "let it go and suck it up, we can't do anything" like ZYL. Maybe he is just letting the matter rest temporarily and he is bidding his time, that would make sense and it would be the smart thing to do, wait and retaliate at the right time.
But I totally agree with you, FL can be happy with or without a man

Sure, FL is not some meek lamb who would be afraid to go against her elders and other's opinion, but the reality of the matter is much more complex. I think, given what a confident and decisive person our FL is, she really has feelings for ZXW taking into account several moments of hesitance she has at rejecting him. She even said in ep.19 or 20 when he was chasing her something like "our feelings don't matter" that imply she also has feelings for him.
But FL is very pragmatic realistic woman. Her only motto in this 2 life is to achieve saving her family and herself and living a peaceful life, avoiding danger. A relationship with ZXW goes against everything she has promised herself to do. She knows it could most probably end in disaster for her, even if she wasn't a sensible smart woman the princess has threaten her in a very forward manner the day she went to give back the bracelet. So of course she doesn't want to involve herself in such a risky relationship, specially after all the suffering and pain she got in her 1 life, and the root of all was her ill fated love, that caused her to become jaded in love; so she would reject ZXW's love, and not precisely because of her lack of feelings for him.