shiofmedea

wait a bit it will come back to leveling their power, remember there is Wuxin plot and there is still one sword immortal to deal with

As it was said already in drama, it is not good to be too talented and loved by people at imperial court, No boss likes to have competition

I would say he is like his father, not the bad person exactly but I would not call him good either.

well, he is in competition for throne, he did not gave up all those years even if he was blind, I would say he wants power strongly enough.
He is not the bad person, he is just good enough person.

As much as I agree with you, and I put simillar comment as well, there is one point to consider: XS is clever and good strategist but he is too uncompromising and honorable person to waste on such coruptable position. So on story level it makes sense for him giving up the throne.

I understand him too and do not wish on him this kind of job, I like the guy! But regardless it is pity that when the best candidates pass on the responsability people are stucked with lesser, power hungry ones.

no, he is on lower level that XS at the end of novel

Well, strictly speaking he has rights to the throne based on the previous emperor will. And current emperor is at fault with how he handled his father case. He is just better person for giving up his rights for revange for greatest good.
Which sucks! I don't like how people like current emperor are given the pass only because civil war would be outcome for them paying for their misgivings and better people do not want this to happen. I know he regreted but he still chose easier path and just avoid the topic. It shows what the rotten person and coward he is.

they cut some good fights already and it looks like they will cut another one based on how this 11th prince died

The problem with power and throne here is that the best people do not want it, so the lesser one got it

to be more precise it was that eunuch's master, old Grand Eunuch who is already dead. It was mentioned in one of episodes.

yes, the motive is the same, they want to come out from the shadows and be recognized as the another source of power (preferably the primary one of course :) )
I think donghua did not come yet to the point it was clearly stated.

yes, but second eye helps reducing parallax error in vision and increases depth of perception and gives wider field of view. So on some level it start to be disadventage to only depend on one.
Of course it is fiction so whatever ;)

He is not on Mo Yi level but Mo Yi is consider retired now so he dropped from the list together with first lord of this martial arts city, the one who specialise in wine making.
WuShuang moved to expert list (so he is considered on higher level that people on Young Masters list)

the issue is, if you are not emperor but obviously better that the one chosen to be, there is huge chance you will be killed. See the Prince L case.
In this universe the martial arts world is not independed from emperor so it is not simple case of disapearing. The novel simplified this part for happy ending.

I do not think there is the sequel for this but XS is more clever that his uncle, he disapeared after events.
But I agree with you, I am sure at some point Prince Bai will be tempted to get rid of XS. You can see it in Extra that he is seeing XS superiority and he is afraid about his influance. In the extra XS manipulates events in capitol a bit and gives lesson to Prince Bai (then emperor).

he has grude agains his mother and Wuxin by extension. Plus emperial families were not known for loving type. You will not gain power by being nice, you do it by disposing your rivals, including your father if he lived too long

you can't be top martial artist with one eye, try simple trick with closing one eye and look at something and then do it when closing second one, you will understand the point. It is more for Untamed explanation then for Prince Bai case but it fit for his guard.

I would say it was typical in emperor families. Emperor had many concubines and sons for political reasons and any kind of attachments was rather rare bonus that normal ocurrance. I personaly blame emperor for most of happenings, he made his sons in what they are by his actions and his decissions build up to current situation (plus some other previous generations guys). Still I agree, Prince Chi is the worst
I wonder what would happen if the rightful hair took the throne those years before? Probably it would be rebelion as current emperor strike me as one to not just sit around. He would be bitter.

1. the most powerful is the guy living in the empty city that spear master visited to check if he is going to move agains XS. He is not exactly on Prince Chi side, only by association, rather on his mother side
2 Li Hanyi is second master of the city, They kept her on the swords lists, I guess to avoid enemis of the city to make a move? It was not said in novel, just my interpretation
3 In the last list version XS and Wuxin were tied on first place so no second place,