People are calling this show a masterpiece. They’re being generous. However the show is so good, so good that because it started in 2025 I’ll make it my favorite CDrama of 2025. Like I said the show is not perfect. The schemes sometimes weren’t scheming logically, but because of how subversive the romance was, and how well they wrote all the females in the show, giving them power, intelligence, agency, giving them the opportunity to put themselves first, I loved every minute of the 36 episodes I’ll say it again those women were cutthroat. All of them. And I lived. I need to digest it a bit more. After that I’ll go find a new obsession. Any suggestions?
We've had women who are well written in cdramas so there's nothing wrong to admit that RSB was not that well written.…
I agree with you. I’m also obsessed but like you I have some criticism about RSB latest schemes. The show is not perfect. I like the romance, live for MC’s dynamic, and the themes. But the plot in these latest 7 episodes ain’t plotting. I’m waiting for the last episodes to see if they can explain some lose ends. That’s why I mainly comment about the romance. To me RSB schemes were kinda on point till she faked her sister’s death. Even then I was questioning the logistics of it. Before she was always able to benefit from her pursuers fights, and overcome her relatives schemes while being as gracious as possible. That I admire. Also her crying on her sister’s empty grave , pure acting so LJL could feel guilty and not pursue the case was ruthless. But her schemes went down hill with the “book” case and the one with YunShu. I get the motivation behind them but not the thought process… and the logistics. Somebody please help me understand. The twist about YunShu’s(YS) attacking the grandma was all an act played by both RSB and YS. I’m sorry but that doesn’t make sense. I get the motivation, but the logic behind it is so flawed. Why would you accept to pretend to attack your grandma(not just any grandma, THAT Grandmother) with your adversary especially after being defeated by her? Also what about the risks? YS, girl why?! I get the catharsis and I was screaming “tell her!” while you were reading your grandma, but there’s no catharsis worth the possible punishment if that old hag would choose so. When it comes to RSB, why would she come up with the plan of staging an attack with a knife with your defenseless grandma who’s bedridden? And I hate the old hag, but even if the risks were all calculated it was simply cruel. She is resourceful surely she could’ve found a better option to get similar results. Whoever wrote this plot point clearly prioritized spectacle over logic. Having Yan Bailou(YBL) being exposed on the wedding day in front of the whole Rong clan was masterful. Yes, she had LJL’s help but without him YBL would have been exposed by her anyway. I get the motivation, logic and the execution was cathartic. I thought we went back on track but then YS twist happened so… IDK. I’m going to wait until it finishes.
When it comes a romance I don’t expect it to be the conventional sweet and wholesome couple. I just want it to make sense for the characters that we’re following. Those two are highly intelligent, cunning, and when it needs to be, ruthless. So it’s expected that their relationship is full of games. That’s foreplay to them. When it comes to their romance we’ve two characters that are attracted first and foremost by each other’s intelligence. They built a foundation of trust and respect that you can only have when you recognize that you finally found your match. When LJL offered to be at her service willingly, on his knees and with an indenture letter(the guy is so extra 🙄), HE established their dynamics. In their relationship she leads and he follows. At that moment he was asking for her protection while he was trying to figure out his own identity, but also he was testing her character, and RSB was testing him too. Throughout the story she testes him several times to be sure if he’s a good match, and he rises to the challenge every time. Hell, he gets a kick out of it. And She indulges him in his antics. Like I said that’s their foreplay. Also that is what people call courtship. The show has been nothing but consistent with these two. Also RSB is a protector at heart. That’s one of the ways she shows love. The scheme she played to ruin Jiang Yi Qian was risky. She basically lied to an official who was personally sent by the empress. Imagine if LJL was found to be implicated in that scheme? His whole career could be down the drain and he could be jailed for that. Yes she got a kick playing games with him but keeping him in the dark was a way to protect him. And LJL understands that. Just like RSB understood him when he left her at the altar because of his sense of justice.
Can we appreciate how cutthroat these women are When Yun Xi finds out that the father of her daughter basically stole the kid she’s low-key impressed. She’s like, he learned to lie! How cute! Then she finds out that he was being used and implicated her too and she like, what a weak man
Okay, I signed in just so I can comment about this show, ‘cause I’m obsessed so if you’re reading this know…
THEORY: TBH I have a suspicion that that was her plan. She allowed the two women’s location to be known, because of the oath that she was forced by the grandmother to swear. Because the only secret between our couple was M. Yang and Wanwan. Knowing LJL’s character he would pursue this matter till the end so is better for him to “betray” her before marriage, because after marriage it was the Rong laws that would be enforced and RSB would be forced to kill him. To me it was a calculated move from RSB to let LJL know about the two women. Both a test and a way to let him go, free from the burden of being her husband. Also that way the Wei Clan case will be resolved and M. Yang will finally be free.
Okay, I signed in just so I can comment about this show, ‘cause I’m obsessed so if you’re reading this know that this is a long ass comment. You can pretty much tell what a show is about just by the very first scene of said show. If it is done with intention and care the show runners will make sure to make it clear. In the first scene you watch Rong ShanBao(RSB) discard a lover after caughting him with the plantation overseer. She punished only her lover not the girl. Everything in this scene tells that this woman is strong, powerful enough to choose and discard her own lovers without fearing judgement. She prioritizes sisterhood and prosperity of her family over human emotions. In this scene the way Nazha portrays the dominance, the quiet threat of violence in her eyes is chilling. You know what’s more chilling? The restrain. RSB is in full control. She only lets you see what she wants you to see. And then the switch to a sweet, reassuring smile when she’s talking to the overseer? That establishes the complexity of this character. So I’m sorry for the people who started watching only because of Hou MingHao ‘cause you’ll be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, he is phenomenal, both character and acting wise, but the show is not about him nor his character. It’s fundamentally about strong and powerful women, that prioritize themselves, their dignity, family and values over anyone else even a man, especially a man. All, and I mean ALL the women in the show are like that. The grandma and her 3 husbands(one she’s is punishing for decades), the governess with her boy toy, Rong Yun Xi with the father of her daughter, Rong Yun Shu with Bai Ying Sheng… hell, even Rong Yun Yi with her loud mouth can read a man like it’s bible study and judge their characters. In fact the ones that prioritized the husbands over the family are outcasts. So it’s only natural that RSB as the future head of the family is being careful, and making sure that LJL won’t betray her in the future. Then She chooses him. Regardless of the risks, and against her grandmother’s wishes. Only for LJL to leave her at the altar. The humiliation! Even that brat Yun Yi felt sorry for her. Not just that but he went and exposed the two people RSB fought so hard to protect and hide? That must hurt. What does his actions in their wedding day say is that he prioritizes justice over her. And that’s commendable, but the message is clear, he doesn’t put her first. To other people it says that he betrayed her. Instead of retaliation, like we’ve seen in the very first scene of the show she remains calm, she understands, and is even willing give him a second chance. That’s love that only someone with deep understanding of their beloved could feel. Yet LJL has to earn that second chance. Him groveling, following her like a puppy and helping her with the Rong family’s affair is him showing her his sincerity, plus he’s not doing more than his duty as a magistrate, given that the Rong’s case is directly linked with the corrupt official’s case.
Like I said the show is not perfect. The schemes sometimes weren’t scheming logically, but because of how subversive the romance was, and how well they wrote all the females in the show, giving them power, intelligence, agency, giving them the opportunity to put themselves first, I loved every minute of the 36 episodes
I’ll say it again those women were cutthroat. All of them. And I lived.
I need to digest it a bit more. After that I’ll go find a new obsession. Any suggestions?
The show is not perfect. I like the romance, live for MC’s dynamic, and the themes. But the plot in these latest 7 episodes ain’t plotting. I’m waiting for the last episodes to see if they can explain some lose ends. That’s why I mainly comment about the romance.
To me RSB schemes were kinda on point till she faked her sister’s death. Even then I was questioning the logistics of it.
Before she was always able to benefit from her pursuers fights, and overcome her relatives schemes while being as gracious as possible. That I admire. Also her crying on her sister’s empty grave , pure acting so LJL could feel guilty and not pursue the case was ruthless. But her schemes went down hill with the “book” case and the one with YunShu. I get the motivation behind them but not the thought process… and the logistics.
Somebody please help me understand.
The twist about YunShu’s(YS) attacking the grandma was all an act played by both RSB and YS. I’m sorry but that doesn’t make sense. I get the motivation, but the logic behind it is so flawed.
Why would you accept to pretend to attack your grandma(not just any grandma, THAT Grandmother) with your adversary especially after being defeated by her? Also what about the risks? YS, girl why?! I get the catharsis and I was screaming “tell her!” while you were reading your grandma, but there’s no catharsis worth the possible punishment if that old hag would choose so.
When it comes to RSB, why would she come up with the plan of staging an attack with a knife with your defenseless grandma who’s bedridden? And I hate the old hag, but even if the risks were all calculated it was simply cruel. She is resourceful surely she could’ve found a better option to get similar results. Whoever wrote this plot point clearly prioritized spectacle over logic.
Having Yan Bailou(YBL) being exposed on the wedding day in front of the whole Rong clan was masterful. Yes, she had LJL’s help but without him YBL would have been exposed by her anyway. I get the motivation, logic and the execution was cathartic. I thought we went back on track but then YS twist happened so… IDK. I’m going to wait until it finishes.
When it comes to their romance we’ve two characters that are attracted first and foremost by each other’s intelligence. They built a foundation of trust and respect that you can only have when you recognize that you finally found your match.
When LJL offered to be at her service willingly, on his knees and with an indenture letter(the guy is so extra 🙄), HE established their dynamics. In their relationship she leads and he follows. At that moment he was asking for her protection while he was trying to figure out his own identity, but also he was testing her character, and RSB was testing him too. Throughout the story she testes him several times to be sure if he’s a good match, and he rises to the challenge every time. Hell, he gets a kick out of it. And She indulges him in his antics. Like I said that’s their foreplay. Also that is what people call courtship.
The show has been nothing but consistent with these two.
Also RSB is a protector at heart. That’s one of the ways she shows love. The scheme she played to ruin Jiang Yi Qian was risky. She basically lied to an official who was personally sent by the empress. Imagine if LJL was found to be implicated in that scheme? His whole career could be down the drain and he could be jailed for that. Yes she got a kick playing games with him but keeping him in the dark was a way to protect him. And LJL understands that. Just like RSB understood him when he left her at the altar because of his sense of justice.
When Yun Xi finds out that the father of her daughter basically stole the kid she’s low-key impressed. She’s like, he learned to lie! How cute!
Then she finds out that he was being used and implicated her too and she like, what a weak man
Also that way the Wei Clan case will be resolved and M. Yang will finally be free.
You can pretty much tell what a show is about just by the very first scene of said show. If it is done with intention and care the show runners will make sure to make it clear. In the first scene you watch Rong ShanBao(RSB) discard a lover after caughting him with the plantation overseer. She punished only her lover not the girl. Everything in this scene tells that this woman is strong, powerful enough to choose and discard her own lovers without fearing judgement. She prioritizes sisterhood and prosperity of her family over human emotions. In this scene the way Nazha portrays the dominance, the quiet threat of violence in her eyes is chilling. You know what’s more chilling? The restrain. RSB is in full control. She only lets you see what she wants you to see. And then the switch to a sweet, reassuring smile when she’s talking to the overseer? That establishes the complexity of this character.
So I’m sorry for the people who started watching only because of Hou MingHao ‘cause you’ll be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, he is phenomenal, both character and acting wise, but the show is not about him nor his character. It’s fundamentally about strong and powerful women, that prioritize themselves, their dignity, family and values over anyone else even a man, especially a man. All, and I mean ALL the women in the show are like that. The grandma and her 3 husbands(one she’s is punishing for decades), the governess with her boy toy, Rong Yun Xi with the father of her daughter, Rong Yun Shu with Bai Ying Sheng… hell, even Rong Yun Yi with her loud mouth can read a man like it’s bible study and judge their characters. In fact the ones that prioritized the husbands over the family are outcasts.
So it’s only natural that RSB as the future head of the family is being careful, and making sure that LJL won’t betray her in the future.
Then She chooses him. Regardless of the risks, and against her grandmother’s wishes. Only for LJL to leave her at the altar. The humiliation! Even that brat Yun Yi felt sorry for her. Not just that but he went and exposed the two people RSB fought so hard to protect and hide? That must hurt. What does his actions in their wedding day say is that he prioritizes justice over her. And that’s commendable, but the message is clear, he doesn’t put her first. To other people it says that he betrayed her. Instead of retaliation, like we’ve seen in the very first scene of the show she remains calm, she understands, and is even willing give him a second chance. That’s love that only someone with deep understanding of their beloved could feel. Yet LJL has to earn that second chance. Him groveling, following her like a puppy and helping her with the Rong family’s affair is him showing her his sincerity, plus he’s not doing more than his duty as a magistrate, given that the Rong’s case is directly linked with the corrupt official’s case.