tsuyoi_hikari

Hey! Its nice to see you here. 🤗

Yeah, he is simply putting a show since it is excessive and very showy -- on how cold he is in front of all the servants & guards. Remember when he asked her to beg to marry him? Did he really need to do that? 😂 All the episodes later shows that it only an act he put to make her life easier at the palace.

Okay, regarding whether Xiao Huan truly love Cang Cang or not, this is another aspect I like about the show. In many dramas, do you notice how there are always monologue at the back to tell the audiences how the characters feel? But with RJL superior acting, those monologue are not needed since we can know how he truly feel from his nuanced expressions everytime he sees Cang Cang. The great yearning he has towards her is portrayed excellently through his eyes and small gestures. Same with PXR, she will emit this hatred towards Xiao Huan but her expressions will soften sometimes to show how much she actually loves him despite his 'betrayal'. Under capable actors, monologue are not needed as we can judge how the characters are feeling from their acting alone. :D

See you around.

Thank you! ❤️ I will definitely will write each day if there is actually nuance in the show that I can analyze. I hope there is more to come since layered script like this is what hold my attention. :D

I'm so happy to read that the drama is better and much more complex than the novel. Now, I feel bad for questioning the writer's abilities since I didnt enjoy her previous works. Her previous works also didnt have this kind of nuance writing so I thought the original IP must be good since the script is actually well written so far. I really hope the writing didnt falter at the end.

And yes, the acting are marvelous! RJL is doing his usual magic and he is an angst king so he definitely suited this type of roles. He is majestic and so charismatic as the Emperor with his aura and presence. PXR did so so well as well. Her bubbly personality then the empty shell she has become later is such a contrast. And the tension between the leads are amazing.

And I love the supporting casts so far. The 9th Prince is my favorite! I love when he said a tame peacock is like a fowl 😂 since he is so right -- since whether they are so showing or secretive, people who meant harm will find them eventually. He is petty, yet he is generous at the same time. Look like he didnt care about anything, yet we know he has his own goals and ambition. Looks like a fool but he is actually brilliant. In simple words, he is fabulous.

I'm very surprised on how much I actually enjoy this drama. NGL that I've been nervous about this drama for 2 years since they announced it since the track record of the writer and director is pretty questionable. 😅 And it was a drama that RJL forced to film before he leave Huanrui so it wasnt the usual kind of quality scripts that he chose on his own. But so far, I really like how it is written and shock that the quality of the writing wasn't bad as I expected it to be.

First, the writer used lots of show instead of tell. The fact that she didn't over spoon-feed the information to the audiences is definitely a plus as it meant, the writer trust the audiences' judgement and intelligent. For an example, when Xiao Huan gifted Cang Cang the golden bird gift from general Ling Jueding. And once she got it, while she reluctant for him to go back home with her, she instantly agreed as she perfectly understood what he meant. We have no idea who is this General Ling Jueding -- but he has the same surname as Cang Cang and table work at the capital would kill him as he is a soldier. That little clue is for us to connect how he & Cang Cang are family and Xiao Huan just used this to threaten her and let her do things 'willingly' according to what he wants.

Also, the part where he gifted her the 'finger' of her brother. The first time we saw that scene, all we could feel is how twisted he is in the head. But later, that scene actually show his grace instead of how ruthless he is. By right, Cang Cang's brother crime is punishable by death, but having his index finger chopped is a way for Xiao Huan to cripple his martial arts and also served as a warning that next, it would be death if he keeps doing evil things.

I also enjoy how layered and multi dimensional are the schemes. Its not just between Xiao Huan and the Prime Miniser but it was everyone against each other -- 5 layers of multi-dimensional schemes between various party at court. Due to this, Xiao Huan hiring his brother to accompanied his Scholar is truly a brilliant move that use his brother -- that he knew is very capable but at the same time put threat towards the Prime Minister and the Empress Dowager which is his arch enemies. He didnt have to dirty his hands since he just play around with their own political ambitions with each other to achieve his goals.

The drama also touched that while Xiao Huan did love Cang Cang genuinely, it also deal with a fact that he needs to use her due to her Empress position. The position that she has can helped him doing good thing for the nation but at the same time, it also meant he needs to use his wife for his political ambition. Is it wrong? Or is it allowed? Thus making this whole dilemma very interesting and thought provoking. Also, they add another layer while he also used her for his political ambition, he also need to protect her as well. Like the cold attitude -- I wondered since the beginning on why he has to be so cold towards her in front of the servants then we got our answer in this episode that it is to protect her so Empress Dowager wouldn't give her a hard time in the harem since she is an 'unfavored' Queen. But of course, someone fool like the Empress Dowager will believe this kind of shallow scheming but for high level schemer like the Prime Minister or the female preceptor, they could read Xiao Huan like a book and this love he has towards Cang Cang would soon will be used as against him as his fatal weakness.

Also, while Cang Cang knew and broken hearted that Xiao Huan used her for the reform idea, she also think clearly that she also did something wrong when she attempt to use him to get the Phoenix stamp and also when she spikes his drink. While its no doubt he did many wrong things towards her, she still have a clear head that think wisely and that make her rational and not emotional.

Okay, so there goes a wall of text and congrats for anyone who read it till the end. 😂 TDLR version: I enjoy the scheming and mind games in this drama and thought it is cleverly written. The end.

Ohh thats great to know. :D

Pretty good. I actually dont believe how much I actually enjoy it. They show the angst first and later tell us the story on how the 2 leads met and fall in love. I think its a pretty solid start. The chess game is pretty apparent and easy to read now but I think there must be more layers to it.

Watched all the 4 episodes and my goodness I need to get used to this fast paced -- mini drama editing. I really not used to it but kinda liking it as well since everything just moved so damn fast. By episode 4, we are back to present time and I think the rest of the leads' relationship and how it blossomed to love will be revealed later bits by bits like how he gifted her the hairpin, the scene where she hugs him tightly or the fireworks scene and etc..

I like how they set up everything in the first episode. We know he is a puppet king, we know who is the chess master and we know how our FL is the pawn for everyone in the drama. I enjoy the scheming but I wish there are more mysteries in the drama. I mean, everytime any character made an appearance, I knew exactly who they are, I think keeping a bit mystery in the drama would make it more compelling. But alas, there are probably more layers in the overall schemes thats why they are more generous to us now with the information. But I think everything that moves right now is totally in line with the move planned by Cang Cang's Dad. I think Xiao Huan, despite being clever is 2 or 3 step below the mastermind as per now. He should have known that killing Cang Cang's Shifu is all part of the bigger plan of Cang Cang's Dad. He probably aware of it but go ahead and kill him anyway. And we are being presented with one secret which is what did the Shifu meant by 'Emperor's Promise'.

But I really like the addition of the 9th Prince since we know he is not the typical bad guy. I dont think he is a bad guy at all. He probably will join Xiao Huan later but I like the fact that he knew his brother just by looking at his back lol. And he also not listening to his mother or willing to be anyone's pawn or inside anyone's game but he did have an objective -- we just need to know what it is since I dont think throne is his goal.

Ohh just want to add that I like how they are making Xiao Huan kind of twisted a bit in the head. I mean, the way he just manipulated Cang Cang to do all the things willingly including begging to marry him is pretty interesting. And he just show the gift of the 2 birds from the general and she willingly invite him to her house when she initially reluctant, since she understood what he meant perfectly. I think he needs to tone down with the mind games -- like the finger gift is pretty uncalled for or else she will keep misunderstand him. 😬

And I dont remember the last time I see RJL in an idol drama focused glorified lens. Made me giggle a bit everytime such scenes happened lol.

Thank you! Thats really sweet of you. 🤗

I have no idea actually. I think I download it from Dramacool last time.

Yeah, I felt the same. ❤️ I need my dramas to be well written and his dramas does it for me. Thats why I especially struggling to find something I like this year and ended up rewatching Demon Hunter's Romance (lol) instead and watch other serious dramas (like The Narcotic Operation) since lots of idol dramas are just weak scriptwise and it glares like sore thumb for me. I hope this draught will end soon. Now I'm watching Kdramas to change air.

Amazing! Thats definitely one way to look at it. And I think you are right. They always have hairstyles opposite of one another which kind of imply they are on opposite sites. Nice for you to realize that. :D

Ohh thats so sweet of you to say that! ❤️ I hope RJL keeps choosing amazing dramas such as this so I can write more reviews discussing the details in his scripts. Its always one of the most thing I look forward to when I watch his dramas -- it always full of depth and nuances and not to mention that sometimes very thought provoking as well.

Hi! Its nice to see you here as well. 😀

Yeah, I did notice the hairstyles as well but I think they just separate it between official and non-official duties. Like Wei Zhou wore both hairstyles in the Capital -- hair down during his non-court days while his hair up at court. While Pai Yan only let his hair down at Nanling which is his hometown. I personally think it didnt mean anything but if you see it as something different, I'm interested to know your thoughts.

Thank you. 🤗 Yes, I hope you notice all the small details in the scripts since its all clues to the whole story. Even the jersey's number or cars' plate numbers are all served as hints to us.

And yes, Ren Jialun indeed always picked great projects so his dramas are usually full of layers and nuances in the scripts. I always feel complete satisfaction every time I finished his dramas since they are usually very well written like this drama. ❤️

Yes, Li Chun is in Joy of Life as Si Lili. She is awesome in that role -- a spy with a mission. She has one scene with Zhang Ruoyun in a prison where it was really nerve-wrecking. I highly recommend the drama if you havent watch it yet. Easily my most favorite drama in any language. One of rare dramas that I rated 10/10. The script is simply brilliant.

I know. He loves kids and kids love him. There is the way he handle them that makes you know that he really care. He will be busy talking to all the crews but he made sure he holds Andy's hand so he wont feel neglected amidst all the adults. And he will talk to him while looking at him in the eyes. And when Andy hugs him, no matter how busy he is, he will naturally hugs him back. Kids know when someone pay attention to them and naturally will cling to them. You cant fake that kind of bond.

And yeah him and that lil girl. I have many gif of them together. ❤️

I know! They are inseparable. Like they will hold hands, then went into the bus, then come out from the bus, they will hold hands again. How cute is this lol?!!

I wonder if he is like this to his own son. He seemed like a really wonderful father.

2 kids? That wonderful. A girl is another one?

Yes, I do watch the BTS and I thought the 2FL is like Orphan House owner and the kid is one of the orphans lol. I thought that way since the last 3 months. 🤣

This makes me happy since during the BTS, I can feel more chemistry between him and the 2FL and it turned out because they are playing husband and wife. Im happy since I like the actress who play the 2FL -- she is Si Lili from Joy of Life.

I'm so excited. You have no idea. 😂 Out of all his unreleased dramas, I'm most excited with this one since the writer is an award winning writer. So this news just makes me even more excited.

Thank you! :D

This is too cute! The kid really cant let go of him. He will hug him or constantly holding his hands. ❤️❤️❤️

So, the 2FL is his wife and the kid is his son in the drama? Is this confirmed?

So, him and the FL is strictly only co-workers?

This is such a wonderful news. I always wanted to watch him in a father's role. ❤️

Like all his other dramas, I think the love relationship in this drama gonna be a supportive and a healing one as well.

Shin Ha-kyun is in this?

Hi! Its nice seeing you around here as well. 🙂☂️

I'm so glad my summary of the drama made you want to watch it. I just adore this drama so much for the healing script and how creative it is. It made me think for a very long time about some of the things that happened in this drama even after I have finished it. And yes, thats my interpretation of the ending as well since all the hints and clues supported that.

About whether Shan Shan knew about Jia Zhen's toxic behaviors, I would say he didn't know from the beginning -- just like in his 'Pursuit' script, we don't know who is the mastermind initially. However, he can sense the cracks starting when we see him waiting for Jia Zhen while he is entertaining all the guests and later that night, we saw Shan Shan watching Leslie's movie 'A Better Tomorrow' -- a story about 2 brothers which kind of reflect his relationship with Jia Zhen. Then afterwards, he can sense it slowly more and more with how many people around him highlighting it to him on how toxic Jia Zhen is. So, he incorporated it in his 'Pursuit' script sub-consciously about Jia Zhen being the true mastermind. The betrayal is huge thing for him, since he loves Jia Zhen very much -- he is one of the reasons Shan Shan is a sunshine despite his tragic past -- Jia Zhen is part of the reason why Shan Shan is as carefree and happy as he is. That's why he didn't pursue to sue him at all -- he even give him credit for the writing, money and etc -- because he still treasures the relationship. That's is why what Mr. Cao said about the stage and how it is easy to go to the dark side is so powerful since once you cross over, you cant really go back to how things were. Shan Shan chose not to go to the dark side and remains he higher person at the end.

This is also highlight how professional is Liu Xia. Usually, people in toxic relationship did not see the relationship as the outside people see them because they are so used of these small abuses. That is why a lot of people in abusive relationship keeps staying in these abusive relationships for decades, since they refused to admit and leave. That's why if you notice all Liu Xia did is let Shan Shan see, how wrong is Jia Zhen. She didnt saya Jia Zhen is an evil guy and Shan Shan should distance himself from him but her approach is to let Shan Shan see how Jia Zhan really is slowly. That's why she will ask him 'Is this normal?' 'Is your brother always do this to you?' and giving advises on how to mend the relationship rather than asking Shan Shan to cut Jia Zhen off from his life. Had she do this to Shan Shan, Shan Shan will cut Liu Xia instead since Jia Zhen is like family to him. Thus, Liu Xia's actions totally matched the behaviours of a professional psychologist and the way she approach this matter makes Shan Shan see who Jia Zhen truly is on his own -- his own time and his own terms. So, you can say that sub-consciously, he always knew the Jia Zhen is bad, that's why we can see it slowly in his 'Pursuit' script as we watched the drama that his sub-conscious always reflected in his scripts -- no matter how small and subtle it is.

And thank you so much for your kind words. 🤗🤗🤗