What a very entertaining episode for tonight, it certainly feed the angst that I crave. Characters deal with real conflicts where their hands are tied, no plot armor to save them, you basically watch them really struggling trying just to survive.
So, lets dwell in today's episode and the different layers this 2 episodes gave us. I love how ruthless Xiao Huan can be when he wants to be. So basically, his hands are tied between 2 cities as both equally need his help.
1) One city is about to be taken over by enemy and need reinforcement.
2) While another city is starving and need foods from the granary. Sending reinforcement meaning the people in the city would starve since the foods will be given to the reinforcement army instead.
He can only save one city and sacrifice another. Thats why he wants to gamble so that he can save BOTH. How can he do it? By asking all the noble people who is rich (leading by the Prime Minister) to give up their grain & supply to help the reinforcement army.
I love the metaphor Xiao Huan made when he ask Prime Minister to chose which one of his sons he wants to save -- like LITERALLY; XianXue or Jueding to show it wasnt an easy decision for him as both cities are important to him -- both people in the cities are his citizen that he wants to save. He cant just chose one and abandoned another like the Prime Minister wants him to do initially. So, Xiao Huan literally used Prime Minister 2 sons as examples -- which the Prime Minister in the end chose to give grain & supplies to the army.
As brilliant as Xiao Huan's scheme in this matter, he miscalculated one thing, that Prime Minister also moved his chess piece as well. Since he knew he's going to lose money and supplies, he doesnt want to be the loser. Thus, he planned for Cang Cang's brother; XianXue to commit suicide (aka staged his own death -- my prediction of course since the nod before he did it is the obvious clue). What he gains from here? We have no idea yet. Like the other schemes, we probably can see the impact in the next few episodes.
Ohh bonus we finally see General Ling Jueding from Episode 1 (his gift of a pair of Golden Birds). I knew he gonna come eventually but never thought it will be this fast. :D
He is a lonely, suffering character who takes in all himself. When people questioned him why, he said 'Because he used to it' -- he used to all this suffering since he is a little kid. Thus he doesn't want Cang Cang to be like him -- trapped in the Palace and lose her freedom. He walked his talk. And that makes him so compelling.
The simple equation in Xiao Huan's mind on why he refused to tell Cang Cang the truth:
Cang Cang: Being lied to for 20++ years (Dad & Shifu) VS being lied for 1 year (Xiao Huan). Its gonna hurt either way but he thought it would hurt less for Cang Cang if he is the bad guy. Well, he miscalculated this definitely. Since he didnt take into equation how much Cang Cang actually love him.
Princess Ying: Xiao Huan failed to save her VS her mother attempted to murder her. Again, he chose the lesser evil even when he is the collateral damage.
What I like about him is that this character flaw of him is consistent and not due to 'love' or 'infatuation'. Thus, it appear more impactful, logical & valid when you see it that way. He will do this for everyone if he can. Trying to protect them with every power that he has, thinking the best for them. That's why even when he is condemned by ministers when he tried to save Preceptor Du, he never bats an eye since he has this little 'pardon' power to save her life. His reputation in front of the ministers doesn't matter.
It's really that medicine or he's just lying to her?
Yeah, thats what she has been doing, trying to find out the truth despite Xiao Huan keep shielding her. When she found out about her shifu, she cry her eyes out, then reconcile with him again. She is capable, but Xiao Huan overprotectiveness definitely a character flaw.
He knows its gonna hurt either way. But he always want to minimize it even when he becomes the victim of it. Like I said, been used by someone for 1 year (Xiao Huan) rather than 20 years (Father & Shifu) -- he thought 1 year would hurt less for her. Well, he is wrong. All hurt the max hahaha
NGL that acting was insane. I felt for him on so many levels (and Cang Cang)
The acting is truly brilliant. It's like you literally see both of their hearts being stomp to pieces in that scene.
I love RJL but I dont think I want to see him in this kind of role anymore in the future. He is too good with this kind of heartbreaking scenes. And PXR was amazing as well.
Honestly, since the day before yesterday, I’ve been debating whether I should stop watching the drama altogether…
I think that's what make it so good and compelling. Since it truly an impossible situation. Their hands are tied. So much at stake. Xiao Huan can only minimise the damage. That's the only thing he could do even when he become the collateral damage to the whole thing.
Words on the street said Youku planned for a happy ending for this drama. I really need that happy ending after all they they have to go through in this drama.
... so it's like Goodbye My Princess? Imma about to nope outta here if it is lol
The angst and misunderstandings are brilliantly written where it can't be solved with communication but due to their positions.
Like I said, I hate it but thought how solid is the conflicts since it's so well written. I can't even hate it.
But I personally think it's too cruel. I can't even mourned that Xiao Huan lost his only chance of survival by giving Cang Cang that pill. The writer just have to slapped it with the birth control plot right after that. How cruel. Lol
It's really that medicine or he's just lying to her?
He can't tell her since she probably will go insane if she learnt that she has been a pawn her whole life. Even her kidnapping was orchastereated by her Dad. That's how long has the game has started - - since she is a little girl. I don't agree with him but I understand that decision. It's better for her to hate him that she just met 1 year ago, than learning her whole life has been a lie and she has been betrayed by the family that she trusted the most. He always try to minimise the damage even when he become the collateral damage. It's the same with Princess Ying's case. It's better he become the bad guy than learning that her mother is the one trying to kill her.
The thing is, he has no evidence that the PM who put the poison as the poison is from Princess Ying's palace. And even if begs for antidote, the PM won't give it and would rather for Cang Cang to die since admitting he poisoned the Empress is a crime punishable by death. Under no circumstances that the PM would admit to the poison. He is willing for Cang Cang to die in that scheme since he is betting that Xiao Huan will saved her.
Thats a solid conflict. Where his hands are tied due to valid and reasonable reasons.
It's really that medicine or he's just lying to her?
He planned this since she was a little kid. She has become a pawn in his game since her shifu saved her. The event where she was kidnapped as a little girl - - it was orchastereated by her Dad.
That's why Xiao Huan could never tell the truth to Cang Cang. That her life and existence has been a lie since forever. She will become an empty shell if she knew that. So he thought that hating him that she just met 1 year ago is better than her being betrayed by the ones she trusted the most.
It's really that medicine or he's just lying to her?
Xiao Huan did gave his only medicine to save Cang Cang. Thats why she woke up from the coma. But the medicine that he gave her after she woke up is birth control medicine to prevent her from getting pregnant.
And yes you are right. Thats why in the preview for episode 11, you can see how mad the Prime Minister is when he learned about the birth control medicine so his hope of Cang Cang producing an heir is basically gone now.
Well said. From the very first scene of the drama, I already started trying to understand XH. He acted harshly,…
''He’s deeply flawed, but not beyond understanding. And that’s what makes watching him so compelling.''
I whole heartedly agree. Like I said in my comment, all the conflicts that he faced are valid, makes sense and with reasons. I might not agree with it, but I totally understand why he made that decision.
He is layered, complex, flawed yet very compelling as a character. My heart breaks when I see how torn he is between his love towards Cang Cang and his duty to make the country a better place for his citizen. He is just so lonely,.. T_T
Yes, I was just guessing Xiao Huan's character would be quite complex and yes it is. I love the way he makes others…
You are right. The first reaction when she learned that her shifu is a Ghost Leader is thinking someone frame her shifu. But thats just the icing on the top since the real truth is much more cruel. She literally has no one she could trust. Her whole life is a lie. Imagine if Xiao Huan telling her the complete truth how she's just a pawn since she's little. And now with the latest episode, it is more cruel that her Dad even gamble with her life.
Seriously, I'm too distraught with what happened in Episode 10 that I couldnt even cry lol. Tooooo cruel. T______T
It's really that medicine or he's just lying to her?
It is a medicine to stop her from getting pregnant. They cant have a child since if Cang Cang got pregnant and produce an heir, Prime Minister will kill Xiao Huan and become the regent towards their young son. So, the cycle will go on again like when he governed when Xiao Huan is a little kid.
This drama is truly driving me crazy. I know I'm coming for angst, but I never thought it would be this cruel. 😭
I forgot the last time I actually feel THIS helpless watching a drama. Probably at the end of One & Only? But seriously, it only the 10th episode! 10th freaking episode! Why you have to be so cruel to your characters? Its not even the climax yet. 😑😖
I thought I already feel so helpless that Xiao Huan had to give up his only medicine to save Cang Cang. And I thought that the tears are for the fact that he has to let go of his only chance for survive but NOOOOOOOOO, the writer has something more cruel awaiting us. THE BIRTH CONTROL MEDICINE. No wonder why he look so sad before he said it -- like his heart is truly breaking...
But really, such a good writing. A conflict that truly deal with high stakes situation. No matter how much he wanted to be with her, they really cant afford a child since the whole country would be in peril because of that. I seriously have no idea what would I do if I'm in the same situation.. But seriously, I hate this but at the same time amazed with how solid is the conflict.
Now I need to watch Forever & Ever just to wash off his horrible feeling.... 💔
Appreciation of how complex and multi-layered Xiao Huan is as a character:
First, lets cover one of the first things that happened in Episode 1. What I love in scheming dramas is that you can traced back the scheme when it first started. Going back to the scene when Xiao Huan made Cang Cang begs to marry him -- all in my mind at that time is that really necessary for him to make her begs like that? And the answer is yes since now with the latest episodes, we knew that he actually prepared 2 moves by doing that. First goal is to tell the Prime Minister that Cang Cang meant nothing to him -- thus in the future, Xiao Huan can actually use her to make the Prime Minister agrees to his political proposals which he eventually did in the latest episode. Second goal is to protect Cang Cang so she will appear unfavored in the harem thus she will be free from Empress Dowager's schemes. Its like a domino effect of how one scheming resulted with the trail of effect that benefited the schemer at the end on different levels -- this is what chess game is like on how you can plan a move 2 or 3 steps ahead. And in this case, it seemed that Xiao Huan is ahead in this game of throne between him and all his political opponents.
Then further down the episodes, the Phoenix Seal incident truly seal the deal on how swift, quick and smart Xiao Huan is in seizing every opportunity that comes his way whether he predicted it or not. I bet he is the one as well who alerted the Queen Dowager to come and intervene so he can use that chance to ask for the Phoenix Seal for Cang Cang -- using the Empress Dowager's past crime for it until she cant say no while still showing he has no affection for Cang Cang or want to protect her on the ''surface'' since he is mad because Princess Ying tried to kill him and not because they are hurting Cang Cang (though this is actually the real reason on why he stormed to the Cold Palace). All of this is truly brilliant! Everytime I analyze Xiao Huan's action, I'm just more impressed with how brilliant, graceful and calculated he is. There are always layers in every of his moves -- like the times where he gifted Cang Cang the 2 gifts before.
I also like the fact that while Xiao Huan is the cleverest in the room, yet sometimes, he miscalculated and lost. Thus he has no plot armor to shield him making watching the drama quite nerve-wrecking aside from the angst. He has so many things on his plate. Either juggling his imperial duty, trying to reform his court, trying to protect his citizen, winning against his political enemies, staying alive from the poison that slowly killing him, protecting his wife, to fighting the emotion inside of himself how he is dying when he hurts her, dude is just so tragic and lonely.
And last, regarding his decision for not telling Cang Cang the real truth. To be honest, I find Xiao Huan's overprotectiveness dumb 🤪 but there are layers to that decision. I think its all started when he listen to her story about her Shifu and how they met. With that small information, he knew that Cang Cang is a pawn since early age and she has been used by the people that she love and trusted the most which is her Dad & Shifu. Remember when he asked her whether she is close to her Dad and Shifu? -- that is not just lip service but served to tell us on his decision later. He thought that being betrayed by everyone she ever trusted could kill her world -- imagine that your whole life is all lies and you just a chess piece since forever. So he thought if she needed to hate someone, better be him that she just met 1 year ago -- which he also underestimate her love towards him at the same time. He wanted to preserve her innocent as long as he can. All his overprotectiveness made sense and supported with valid reasons.. We might not agree, but at the same time, we understand it. This is certainly a character flaw that making him human and interesting as he is not perfect, made mistakes and hopefully learn form it in the future.
great explanation. could u create a discussion continue if u have time . i also very interest abt this mind game…
Thank you. I try to post a comment on daily basis if I have the time. :D
His position makes it difficult for him to show his love. That what makes this drama interesting as its complex with so many high stakes situations. Everything has reasons and would be revealed later. We just have to read between the lines to read the real motives of all these characters.
Honestly, the show is so much better than the book. There’s a lot of content that was incoherent such as the…
I'm actually very happy to read that the drama is much better than the book. I thought the reasons she has to marry him and willingly to do that is pretty awesome. And we blame him for forcing her to beg for this marriage but it is also revealed later that he only did this for show -- to tell the Prime Minister that Cang Cang meant nothing to him. Thus in the future, Xiao Huan can actually use her to make the Prime Minister agrees to his political proposals which he eventually did in the latest episodes. All this trail of events not only made sense but connected to each other and making all the 3 characters motives clear, rational and valid. Its like a domino effect of how one scheming resulted with the trail of effect that benefited the schemer at the end on different levels -- this is what chess game is like how you can predict someone moves 2 or 3 step ahead. By acting cold towards Cang Cang, Xiao Huan achieved 2 goals which is to protect her while also using her for his political moves towards the Prime Minister in the future.
Okay regarding their relationship, I actually really like that one as well. Most of the complication is due to external forces and high stakes situation -- not that something that can be solve with communication. Thats why I like how intelligent they made Cang Cang is. She is mad, but at the same time, she understand him. Thats why they can have the scenes on the roof top where they can actually talk instead of her giving him the cold treatment and treating him like he didnt exist. I think we will get a lot of this kind of scenes in the future. Its like he will use her, then she found out the painting and feel like he actually understand and love her then her reaction is soften towards him. I think this cycle will repeat itself. I also like she also used him for her advantage since she is unwilling to be just a pawn.
I thought for the first time, Love & Crown is the perfect name for the show. Its truly a battle of between their duty & responsibility (crown) and the love they felt for each other. While I find Xiao Huan's overprotectiveness is stupid, I also understand like you said, he wanted to protect her world since knowing she has been used since she is little as a pawn by the one she trusted the most (Dad, Brother & Shifu) could kill her world. So he thought if she needed to hate someone, better be him that she just met 1 year ago -- which also underestimate her love towards him at the same time (of course, he miscalculated this). All his overprotectiveness made sense and supported with valid reasons.. We might not agree, but at the same time, we understand it.
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So, lets dwell in today's episode and the different layers this 2 episodes gave us. I love how ruthless Xiao Huan can be when he wants to be. So basically, his hands are tied between 2 cities as both equally need his help.
1) One city is about to be taken over by enemy and need reinforcement.
2) While another city is starving and need foods from the granary. Sending reinforcement meaning the people in the city would starve since the foods will be given to the reinforcement army instead.
He can only save one city and sacrifice another. Thats why he wants to gamble so that he can save BOTH. How can he do it? By asking all the noble people who is rich (leading by the Prime Minister) to give up their grain & supply to help the reinforcement army.
I love the metaphor Xiao Huan made when he ask Prime Minister to chose which one of his sons he wants to save -- like LITERALLY; XianXue or Jueding to show it wasnt an easy decision for him as both cities are important to him -- both people in the cities are his citizen that he wants to save. He cant just chose one and abandoned another like the Prime Minister wants him to do initially. So, Xiao Huan literally used Prime Minister 2 sons as examples -- which the Prime Minister in the end chose to give grain & supplies to the army.
As brilliant as Xiao Huan's scheme in this matter, he miscalculated one thing, that Prime Minister also moved his chess piece as well. Since he knew he's going to lose money and supplies, he doesnt want to be the loser. Thus, he planned for Cang Cang's brother; XianXue to commit suicide (aka staged his own death -- my prediction of course since the nod before he did it is the obvious clue). What he gains from here? We have no idea yet. Like the other schemes, we probably can see the impact in the next few episodes.
Ohh bonus we finally see General Ling Jueding from Episode 1 (his gift of a pair of Golden Birds). I knew he gonna come eventually but never thought it will be this fast. :D
Cang Cang: Being lied to for 20++ years (Dad & Shifu) VS being lied for 1 year (Xiao Huan). Its gonna hurt either way but he thought it would hurt less for Cang Cang if he is the bad guy. Well, he miscalculated this definitely. Since he didnt take into equation how much Cang Cang actually love him.
Princess Ying: Xiao Huan failed to save her VS her mother attempted to murder her. Again, he chose the lesser evil even when he is the collateral damage.
What I like about him is that this character flaw of him is consistent and not due to 'love' or 'infatuation'. Thus, it appear more impactful, logical & valid when you see it that way. He will do this for everyone if he can. Trying to protect them with every power that he has, thinking the best for them. That's why even when he is condemned by ministers when he tried to save Preceptor Du, he never bats an eye since he has this little 'pardon' power to save her life. His reputation in front of the ministers doesn't matter.
He knows its gonna hurt either way. But he always want to minimize it even when he becomes the victim of it. Like I said, been used by someone for 1 year (Xiao Huan) rather than 20 years (Father & Shifu) -- he thought 1 year would hurt less for her. Well, he is wrong. All hurt the max hahaha
I love RJL but I dont think I want to see him in this kind of role anymore in the future. He is too good with this kind of heartbreaking scenes. And PXR was amazing as well.
Words on the street said Youku planned for a happy ending for this drama. I really need that happy ending after all they they have to go through in this drama.
Like I said, I hate it but thought how solid is the conflicts since it's so well written. I can't even hate it.
But I personally think it's too cruel. I can't even mourned that Xiao Huan lost his only chance of survival by giving Cang Cang that pill. The writer just have to slapped it with the birth control plot right after that. How cruel. Lol
Im too distraught that I couldn't even cry 😂
I know this since this is normal in palace dramas lol
The thing is, he has no evidence that the PM who put the poison as the poison is from Princess Ying's palace. And even if begs for antidote, the PM won't give it and would rather for Cang Cang to die since admitting he poisoned the Empress is a crime punishable by death. Under no circumstances that the PM would admit to the poison. He is willing for Cang Cang to die in that scheme since he is betting that Xiao Huan will saved her.
Thats a solid conflict. Where his hands are tied due to valid and reasonable reasons.
That's why Xiao Huan could never tell the truth to Cang Cang. That her life and existence has been a lie since forever. She will become an empty shell if she knew that. So he thought that hating him that she just met 1 year ago is better than her being betrayed by the ones she trusted the most.
And yes you are right. Thats why in the preview for episode 11, you can see how mad the Prime Minister is when he learned about the birth control medicine so his hope of Cang Cang producing an heir is basically gone now.
I whole heartedly agree. Like I said in my comment, all the conflicts that he faced are valid, makes sense and with reasons. I might not agree with it, but I totally understand why he made that decision.
He is layered, complex, flawed yet very compelling as a character. My heart breaks when I see how torn he is between his love towards Cang Cang and his duty to make the country a better place for his citizen. He is just so lonely,.. T_T
Seriously, I'm too distraught with what happened in Episode 10 that I couldnt even cry lol. Tooooo cruel. T______T
I forgot the last time I actually feel THIS helpless watching a drama. Probably at the end of One & Only? But seriously, it only the 10th episode! 10th freaking episode! Why you have to be so cruel to your characters? Its not even the climax yet. 😑😖
I thought I already feel so helpless that Xiao Huan had to give up his only medicine to save Cang Cang. And I thought that the tears are for the fact that he has to let go of his only chance for survive but NOOOOOOOOO, the writer has something more cruel awaiting us. THE BIRTH CONTROL MEDICINE. No wonder why he look so sad before he said it -- like his heart is truly breaking...
But really, such a good writing. A conflict that truly deal with high stakes situation. No matter how much he wanted to be with her, they really cant afford a child since the whole country would be in peril because of that. I seriously have no idea what would I do if I'm in the same situation.. But seriously, I hate this but at the same time amazed with how solid is the conflict.
Now I need to watch Forever & Ever just to wash off his horrible feeling.... 💔
First, lets cover one of the first things that happened in Episode 1. What I love in scheming dramas is that you can traced back the scheme when it first started. Going back to the scene when Xiao Huan made Cang Cang begs to marry him -- all in my mind at that time is that really necessary for him to make her begs like that? And the answer is yes since now with the latest episodes, we knew that he actually prepared 2 moves by doing that. First goal is to tell the Prime Minister that Cang Cang meant nothing to him -- thus in the future, Xiao Huan can actually use her to make the Prime Minister agrees to his political proposals which he eventually did in the latest episode. Second goal is to protect Cang Cang so she will appear unfavored in the harem thus she will be free from Empress Dowager's schemes. Its like a domino effect of how one scheming resulted with the trail of effect that benefited the schemer at the end on different levels -- this is what chess game is like on how you can plan a move 2 or 3 steps ahead. And in this case, it seemed that Xiao Huan is ahead in this game of throne between him and all his political opponents.
Then further down the episodes, the Phoenix Seal incident truly seal the deal on how swift, quick and smart Xiao Huan is in seizing every opportunity that comes his way whether he predicted it or not. I bet he is the one as well who alerted the Queen Dowager to come and intervene so he can use that chance to ask for the Phoenix Seal for Cang Cang -- using the Empress Dowager's past crime for it until she cant say no while still showing he has no affection for Cang Cang or want to protect her on the ''surface'' since he is mad because Princess Ying tried to kill him and not because they are hurting Cang Cang (though this is actually the real reason on why he stormed to the Cold Palace). All of this is truly brilliant! Everytime I analyze Xiao Huan's action, I'm just more impressed with how brilliant, graceful and calculated he is. There are always layers in every of his moves -- like the times where he gifted Cang Cang the 2 gifts before.
I also like the fact that while Xiao Huan is the cleverest in the room, yet sometimes, he miscalculated and lost. Thus he has no plot armor to shield him making watching the drama quite nerve-wrecking aside from the angst. He has so many things on his plate. Either juggling his imperial duty, trying to reform his court, trying to protect his citizen, winning against his political enemies, staying alive from the poison that slowly killing him, protecting his wife, to fighting the emotion inside of himself how he is dying when he hurts her, dude is just so tragic and lonely.
And last, regarding his decision for not telling Cang Cang the real truth. To be honest, I find Xiao Huan's overprotectiveness dumb 🤪 but there are layers to that decision. I think its all started when he listen to her story about her Shifu and how they met. With that small information, he knew that Cang Cang is a pawn since early age and she has been used by the people that she love and trusted the most which is her Dad & Shifu. Remember when he asked her whether she is close to her Dad and Shifu? -- that is not just lip service but served to tell us on his decision later. He thought that being betrayed by everyone she ever trusted could kill her world -- imagine that your whole life is all lies and you just a chess piece since forever. So he thought if she needed to hate someone, better be him that she just met 1 year ago -- which he also underestimate her love towards him at the same time. He wanted to preserve her innocent as long as he can. All his overprotectiveness made sense and supported with valid reasons.. We might not agree, but at the same time, we understand it. This is certainly a character flaw that making him human and interesting as he is not perfect, made mistakes and hopefully learn form it in the future.
His position makes it difficult for him to show his love. That what makes this drama interesting as its complex with so many high stakes situations. Everything has reasons and would be revealed later. We just have to read between the lines to read the real motives of all these characters.
Okay regarding their relationship, I actually really like that one as well. Most of the complication is due to external forces and high stakes situation -- not that something that can be solve with communication. Thats why I like how intelligent they made Cang Cang is. She is mad, but at the same time, she understand him. Thats why they can have the scenes on the roof top where they can actually talk instead of her giving him the cold treatment and treating him like he didnt exist. I think we will get a lot of this kind of scenes in the future. Its like he will use her, then she found out the painting and feel like he actually understand and love her then her reaction is soften towards him. I think this cycle will repeat itself. I also like she also used him for her advantage since she is unwilling to be just a pawn.
I thought for the first time, Love & Crown is the perfect name for the show. Its truly a battle of between their duty & responsibility (crown) and the love they felt for each other. While I find Xiao Huan's overprotectiveness is stupid, I also understand like you said, he wanted to protect her world since knowing she has been used since she is little as a pawn by the one she trusted the most (Dad, Brother & Shifu) could kill her world. So he thought if she needed to hate someone, better be him that she just met 1 year ago -- which also underestimate her love towards him at the same time (of course, he miscalculated this). All his overprotectiveness made sense and supported with valid reasons.. We might not agree, but at the same time, we understand it.