LJX: The Wei family and Lu family have been close for many years. If we can improve this relationship, won't it…
The Duke, like the stepmom, gives pretty great zingers. After their last scene together, I’d like to see them hanging out more. I think they’d be a lot of fun for us to watch. Haha
Does the stepmother always enter a scene with a “yo!” 😅?
Yes, but in Mandarin it’s an interjection to express surprise - and in the stepmother’s case, often a feigned one bc she’s funny and sarcastic like that.
The one who died is from the first household and he was the eldest. The children are numbered by birth order and…
Likewise, my parents’ families also number by gender. I’ve only seen this straight birth order numbering without regard to gender in period dramas, though, so I’ve just assumed it’s an ancient practice. 🤷🏻♀️
Both the 1st master and 2nd master had 2 sons so there should be 4 bros in total. The one that died should be…
I always thought Chen's second son was older than Shenyuan, too. During the literary event he was even called up as the oldest. But I guess that was just the dad not acknowledging Shenyuan until he was forced to at the end of that contest. I think Ep 31 was where we finally heard Shanyuan being referred to as the 4th, and it makes sense because otherwise I never could square away his birth order with his sister's, Yiyu. With today's new info I think I've finally sorted it out! (See my other reply to this thread.)
I see LJX is in trouble from comments below he's been called delusional, psycho and that serves him right. Now…
The one who died is from the first household and he was the eldest. The children are numbered by birth order and not by gender. As best as I can tell, the children fall in the following birth order: 1st Brother (1st household, deceased), 2nd Sister (Luo Yiyu, 1st household), 3rd Brother (Luo Shenyuan, 2nd household, Maid's son, male lead), 4th Brother (Luo Shanyuan, 1st household), 5th Sister (Luo Yilian, 2nd household, Concubine's daughter), 6th Sister (Luo Yixiu, 1st household), 7th Sister (Luo Yining, 2nd household, female lead), 8th Brother (Luo Xuanyuan, 2nd household, Concubine's son).
This is based on the fact that the 3rd brother and 5th, 6th, and 7th sisters are referred to as such often enough that I am certain about their birth order placements within the family (especially 3 and 7, oh, how we are familiar with those titles, hehe).
Also, in Ep 31, when Luo Shanyuan was departing for the military, Luo Shenyuan referred to him as "fourth little brother" and he also called himself, "fourth older brother" when speaking with his bio sister, Yixiu.
In Ep 1, Yilian referred to Yiyu as "oldest sister," and in the episode where the literary event ends, Yiyu and Shanyuan are walking away together and the latter refers to the former as "older sister." That means in addition to being the oldest of the female cousins, Yiyu is also older than her bio brother, Shanyuan. Meanwhile, we know Yixiu is the youngest of those 3 bio siblings.
Xuanyuan also refers to his bio sister, Yilian, as "older sister" often enough that we know she has to be older than him and as the 6th and 7th positions are already occupied, we can only assume then he is the 8th child in the overall family. That said, I think the drama sometimes loses its own count of the Luo children because in the scene where stepmom is instructing which sister is to oversee which brother's preparations for the first exam, she says that the "fifth sister" is close to "si lang" (how one would refer to a fourth male child of a family) and that has always left me confused because we know Xuanyuan is younger than Yilian. Moreover, in Ep 31, Shanyuan is referred to as the fourth child of the family. I can only conclude that an error was made in Ep 18 (I think it is, when Stepmom referred to him as si lang).
I really have to compliment the screenwriting in this drama. I thought the two NYE dinners were brilliantly done. On the one hand you have the Luo family. "Another year has passed and with each year, we have less and less people." A prosperous family is suppose to grow and expand, but with just a few words and a sigh Stepmom reminds us of what this family has been through.
On the other hand you have the Duke's family. The drama doesn't have to spell it out for us, but we can see instead how Yining is the obvious outsider when she can't join in the conversation or the memories that the other two children share with their grandmother.
Fortunately, we know, with time, both those familial environments will change.
What I love about the Duke is how generous he is with the FL - expressing understanding over her current discomfort, never pushing, and giving her the space to adapt and accept. Still, I agree with his mother that while his desire to make amends for the past is understandable, any signs of obvious favoritism are not going to serve Yining well when it comes to integrating her with the other two children. I did appreciate how Grandmother Wei counseled Lady Zhao after the dinner, but then she kind of ruined it when she told Lady Zhao how she would always be her favorite. In this regard, I wish the two adults could meet somewhere in the middle by letting Lady Zhao and Ting know that their hearts are big enough for all of them, as equals (because favoritism never serves anybody well), but also reminding them that acceptance of Yining as a new family member is also a reality.
My favorite parts of today's episodes were 1) Yining finally accepting the Duke as her father -- I loved seeing his obvious delight over her acceptance, but I especially loved when she said to LSY later that the word "father" is now filled with warmth. And 2) LSY's reminder that when when she feels lost between her old and new families, she'll always have a place with him. <3
Unlike somebody else we know, I appreciate how LSY only ever shares his thoughts and advice with Yining but otherwise lets her make her own decisions and on her own timeline. Growing up as she has, it's lovely to finally see Yining with strong support around her!
I am in ep 22 the hats they wear for court appearance is so long in the sides as if they are maintaining social…
Actually, you're not necessarily wrong. :)
"The futou worn by the Song dynasty officials had an extended reclined feet; it was developed by having two hard ribbons made out with iron wire or bamboo strips attached at the back of the futou. According to the Pedantic Remarks of the Confucians by Yu Yan, this form of futou might have been developed to prevent the officials from whispering to each other during court audience with the Emperor."
Some people in the comment are so weird with how they think this drama should be directed, what should be included…
Sometimes I think they may be only watching the previews and then reading out of context what others say about the drama and book, and then write their own parallel drama. It’s the only explanation I can come up with. 😝
Yeah he is a petty man. But LYN did turn his world upside down. Qiao is a terrible bitter person but she was the…
Yes, that’s what I was saying - he had the child with a servant (not a concubine or a wife). Status is not the same (in society). But the Duke is at least doing right by the child.
(LYS’s “problem” was how he was conceived with the maid getting the dad drunk. The dad blamed her for that and thus, the son too. He seems to have a knack for that, btw, seeing as how he also held LYN accountable for her mother’s actions. Oh blessed Dad… eye roll 🙄 In any event I mention that only to say, it might have been different for LYS if he’d been born from a consensual relationship, despite being born from a servant. Who knows.)
Yeah he is a petty man. But LYN did turn his world upside down. Qiao is a terrible bitter person but she was the…
The Duke does not have any concubines. This was discussed during that scene where Grandma was telling the women of the family (minus Sixth sister, as she was confined to her quarters then) that she had received an invite to the Duke’s manor. Someone asked about the little boy, if he didn’t have a wife or concubine, and grandma answered he was born from a servant before cutting off the gossip.
Some people in the comment are so weird with how they think this drama should be directed, what should be included…
I also agree with you! I think the story telling and pacing has been great. Everything connects in logical ways when they need to and it’s just overall engaging.
Some people in the comment are so weird with how they think this drama should be directed, what should be included…
Since I’m sure many were also convinced this scene was cut to favor the second couple, I kinda felt compelled to point it out - no, it was saved for a more meaningful moment. (I can’t resist serving the crow 🐦⬛) 😝
And THAT is the key difference between LSY and He Who Shall Not Be Named.
The other one remains as annoying as ever, but as he walks her around his creepy wedding chamber, all I can think is how pathetic he is…. Gross.
*raise your hand with me*
😂😍😝
This is based on the fact that the 3rd brother and 5th, 6th, and 7th sisters are referred to as such often enough that I am certain about their birth order placements within the family (especially 3 and 7, oh, how we are familiar with those titles, hehe).
Also, in Ep 31, when Luo Shanyuan was departing for the military, Luo Shenyuan referred to him as "fourth little brother" and he also called himself, "fourth older brother" when speaking with his bio sister, Yixiu.
In Ep 1, Yilian referred to Yiyu as "oldest sister," and in the episode where the literary event ends, Yiyu and Shanyuan are walking away together and the latter refers to the former as "older sister." That means in addition to being the oldest of the female cousins, Yiyu is also older than her bio brother, Shanyuan. Meanwhile, we know Yixiu is the youngest of those 3 bio siblings.
Xuanyuan also refers to his bio sister, Yilian, as "older sister" often enough that we know she has to be older than him and as the 6th and 7th positions are already occupied, we can only assume then he is the 8th child in the overall family. That said, I think the drama sometimes loses its own count of the Luo children because in the scene where stepmom is instructing which sister is to oversee which brother's preparations for the first exam, she says that the "fifth sister" is close to "si lang" (how one would refer to a fourth male child of a family) and that has always left me confused because we know Xuanyuan is younger than Yilian. Moreover, in Ep 31, Shanyuan is referred to as the fourth child of the family. I can only conclude that an error was made in Ep 18 (I think it is, when Stepmom referred to him as si lang).
On the other hand you have the Duke's family. The drama doesn't have to spell it out for us, but we can see instead how Yining is the obvious outsider when she can't join in the conversation or the memories that the other two children share with their grandmother.
Fortunately, we know, with time, both those familial environments will change.
What I love about the Duke is how generous he is with the FL - expressing understanding over her current discomfort, never pushing, and giving her the space to adapt and accept. Still, I agree with his mother that while his desire to make amends for the past is understandable, any signs of obvious favoritism are not going to serve Yining well when it comes to integrating her with the other two children. I did appreciate how Grandmother Wei counseled Lady Zhao after the dinner, but then she kind of ruined it when she told Lady Zhao how she would always be her favorite. In this regard, I wish the two adults could meet somewhere in the middle by letting Lady Zhao and Ting know that their hearts are big enough for all of them, as equals (because favoritism never serves anybody well), but also reminding them that acceptance of Yining as a new family member is also a reality.
My favorite parts of today's episodes were 1) Yining finally accepting the Duke as her father -- I loved seeing his obvious delight over her acceptance, but I especially loved when she said to LSY later that the word "father" is now filled with warmth. And 2) LSY's reminder that when when she feels lost between her old and new families, she'll always have a place with him. <3
Unlike somebody else we know, I appreciate how LSY only ever shares his thoughts and advice with Yining but otherwise lets her make her own decisions and on her own timeline. Growing up as she has, it's lovely to finally see Yining with strong support around her!
Grandma: You're making me upset again. Why did you say that on New Year's Eve? You're making me miss Yining.
Camera pans to LSY.
Look on LSY's face: Imma gonna take care of that for next year's NYE dinner, Grandma.
:D
"The futou worn by the Song dynasty officials had an extended reclined feet; it was developed by having two hard ribbons made out with iron wire or bamboo strips attached at the back of the futou. According to the Pedantic Remarks of the Confucians by Yu Yan, this form of futou might have been developed to prevent the officials from whispering to each other during court audience with the Emperor."
Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futou
(LYS’s “problem” was how he was conceived with the maid getting the dad drunk. The dad blamed her for that and thus, the son too. He seems to have a knack for that, btw, seeing as how he also held LYN accountable for her mother’s actions. Oh blessed Dad… eye roll 🙄 In any event I mention that only to say, it might have been different for LYS if he’d been born from a consensual relationship, despite being born from a servant. Who knows.)