Ep 21: I have to appreciate Mrs. Yu's attempt at keeping FYK and YJX marriage intact. She doesn't like FYK but would still support her as a woman and wife. Of course it maintains a good image and reputation for the Yu family, but still.
I may be reading too much into this but ZL mentioning that Granny Fu died around the time Father Fu got implicated in the illegal salt trade. And then we have here Father Fu keeping Granny Fu buried outside his hut while he plays the devoted son grieving his mother, a show of filial piety. Did Father Fu kill Granny Fu so that he could buy time to get back his position????
I saw a very interesting take about ep 19 in Threads. This made me rethink about how I saw episode 19. And it…
I never thought of it this way but it makes so much sense when I think about it. And also it gives more context to that scene when the E put ZL as assistant censor. ZL looked shocked. I think he understood what the E was saying. I am giving you authority openly, if you fail, you will take responsibility.
This honestly makes this mission all the more dangerous. And this made me realize why ZL was so desperate in the willow-whatever banquet.
I saw a very interesting take about ep 19 in Threads. This made me rethink about how I saw episode 19. And it focuses on the Emperor, ZL and FTY.
So ZL gets an edict from E to investigate Li. It was in secret and ZL knew what it meant - if he succeeds he gets credit, if he fails he will be impeached and punished without the E being implicated because it would appear that ZL acted beyond his rank. And the reason why he said that he did not have a fiancee was because he was mostly afraid of this abandonment by the E and wants to keep FTY safe.
when Li died, ZL saw an opportunity that could keep him somehow protected. Accused by other ministers, he goes to court and admits that it was his excessive interrogation that killed Li, saving the E the trouble of ordering an investigation had it been poisoning. When ZL gave the E that blank report, it could have gone in 2 ways. One was the emperor give it back to ZL to fill up the names or second, the E fills it up himself and admit that ZL acted according to his orders. E chose the second and thus bringing ZL from a dispensable sword in the shadow into the open, a sword that the E would have some degree of protection as the E claims ZL as his sword.
However, the E also doesn't fully trust ZL. E needed a scabbard to sheath this sword, to control it. And so during the banquet, he casually asks when ZL would marry FTY and ZL understood what it meant. The E is using FTY, his weakness, to control him. FTY is the E's scabbard. By answering that FTY is at a banquet at the Yu residence, ZL was telling E that yes, ZL keeps an eye on FTY and cares for her. This was to somewhat pacify the E doubts.Meanwhile, FTY knew that ZL was in the capital for a mission and knew that he was staying away to keep her safe. But when Mrs Yu mentions that the E gave ZL a name and asked about their wedding, she understood ZL's position with the E.
And then they step out and ZL is there waiting. ZL had to be there. He needed to show the E and everyone that he and TY are still engaged. But FTY also knew that ZL declaring to be unbethroed and then suddenly bethroed again would not fly with the nobility. And so she acted cold as if she was mad. This way it would seem that it wasn't ZL who was purposely staying away, it was FTY who was giving him the cold shoulder.
2 
This honestly makes this mission all the more dangerous. And this made me realize why ZL was so desperate in the willow-whatever banquet.
🤯🤯🤯🤯
So ZL gets an edict from E to investigate Li. It was in secret and ZL knew what it meant - if he succeeds he gets credit, if he fails he will be impeached and punished without the E being implicated because it would appear that ZL acted beyond his rank. And the reason why he said that he did not have a fiancee was because he was mostly afraid of this abandonment by the E and wants to keep FTY safe.
when Li died, ZL saw an opportunity that could keep him somehow protected. Accused by other ministers, he goes to court and admits that it was his excessive interrogation that killed Li, saving the E the trouble of ordering an investigation had it been poisoning. When ZL gave the E that blank report, it could have gone in 2 ways. One was the emperor give it back to ZL to fill up the names or second, the E fills it up himself and admit that ZL acted according to his orders. E chose the second and thus bringing ZL from a dispensable sword in the shadow into the open, a sword that the E would have some degree of protection as the E claims ZL as his sword.
However, the E also doesn't fully trust ZL. E needed a scabbard to sheath this sword, to control it. And so during the banquet, he casually asks when ZL would marry FTY and ZL understood what it meant. The E is using FTY, his weakness, to control him. FTY is the E's scabbard. By answering that FTY is at a banquet at the Yu residence, ZL was telling E that yes, ZL keeps an eye on FTY and cares for her. This was to somewhat pacify the E doubts.Meanwhile, FTY knew that ZL was in the capital for a mission and knew that he was staying away to keep her safe. But when Mrs Yu mentions that the E gave ZL a name and asked about their wedding, she understood ZL's position with the E.
And then they step out and ZL is there waiting. ZL had to be there. He needed to show the E and everyone that he and TY are still engaged. But FTY also knew that ZL declaring to be unbethroed and then suddenly bethroed again would not fly with the nobility. And so she acted cold as if she was mad. This way it would seem that it wasn't ZL who was purposely staying away, it was FTY who was giving him the cold shoulder.