tsuyoi_hikari

She really died for nothing. I want to say it was dumb but to her perspective, it wasnt really a dumb decision since that is the only way to stop the wedding and made the Emperor step down. The problem is Madam Rongguo's moral which is flawed which lead to everyone downfall.

Oh yes, about her being abandoned is definitely one of the biggest cause. But that would make her very one-dimensional as a character as women or 2FL in general always being painted as a 'jealous' woman with only one motive in her head which is the ML. This is the usual problem in a lot of Cdramas -- the lack of 3-dimensional characters. While in this drama, even the supporting casts such as The Emperor or Lu Yu were 3-dimensional and wasnt just there as props.

So, when the script added that part about Ziming and how angry she is that the Emperor even destroy that small 'consolation' prize, it actually add layers to her character which I appreciate.

I want to point out something regarding Madam Rongguo's 'coup' in Episode 33. She actually had it planned properly but she underestimate the Emperor and her betrayal and killing of Jiang Ci's master add to her failure. Again, this drama is doing show instead of tell. :D As you can see, the one who supposed to protect the Emperor at the Palace is Wei Zhou's Guanming guards. And Madam Rongguo already took them under her wings aside from her own pretend guards that she planted secretly. It turned out, the Emperor had another set of guards which is led by the Chief Eunuch Hong -- that is why you see him disappear for a while after informing the Emperor regarding Madam Rongguo and comes back with the secret guards and sword in his hands to protect the Emperor. And when Madam Rongguo foolishly killed Jiang Ci's master, now even the Guanming guards that supposed to be on her side also no longer support her. Thus, her foolishness and greediness that bring her the downfall.

But to what extend all the accusations that Madam Rongguo said about the Emperor is true? I guess all of it tbh. The drama love to do deceptive storytelling which is they always show misleading scenes but at the same time scattered clues all over the story to give us hints on what is the truth. They first did it with the Elders at Yueluo as I had fun guessing who is the spy at that time. And now they did it again in this arc. We see in this arc, the Emperor is innocent yet I believe he is the true chess master of the whole thing since clues of him being sinister and suspicious is all over the story since the beginning. Madam Rongguo have this deep hatred towards him not because she is one-dimensional (due to jealously that the Emperor didnt chose her) but the fact that he truly caused the death of her husband with his suspicious nature. Once anyone become too strong, he will try to contain them just like he did with Lu Yu. Lu Yu knows it, Madam Rongguo knew it since they knew the Emperor deep down. Madam Rongguo decided to live a new life that is why she got pregnant with Pei Yan (it wasnt a loveless marriage with Ziming) but even that, the Emperor cant leave her family alone and made her and her son suffers. Thus, her revenge is actually justified.

Episode 32

I actually like the idea of enemies working together with each other. I really do since they have the same goal anyway. However, like Wei Zhou, I really do not trust Madam Ronggue AT ALL. I love how they show Wei Zhou rejected her offer with tea 'This tea is nice, but I dont want it' then the camera proceed with the focus of Madam Ronggue pouring the tea anyway towards an empty chair after he left and said 'Its not him to decide.' -- thus we kinda know what is her next chess moves which is Jiang Ci's master. This woman!! 😤

Episode 33

I knew it!! Shouldn't have watched this episode without Episode 34. Heed my advise everyone, do not proceed until Episode 34 & 35 available. 😂

It is not. There is a lot of BTS of the kissing scenes and NG of it between him & Dilraba.

Also, the BTS of kissing scene in Forever & Ever is also more spicy than what we got in the drama.

Also, he done a lot of very passionate kissing scenes in Glory of Tang Dynasty with Jing Tian.

I can go on since he did not have that No Kissing rule that people has been spreading around.

He did not have no kissing rule. The last drama of his with lots of kissing scenes is The Blue Whisper (2022) which has more than 5 kissing scenes. 😅

You are spot on with this. But the story as well want to point out that fate has always been destined but it depends on us to change it. I think thats the main point of this whole story.

Like without Jiang Ci, Wei Zhou would be very suicidal in his dealing with his revenge and quest for truth -- he will crash and burnt together with the Emperor to get what he wants. But upon meeting Jiang Ci and how she thought him about hatred, hope, love and happiness, he may have a new destiny awaiting for him at end -- where he truly get the 'peace and happiness' he desired -- ''Nirvana'' like the title of this drama.

Or just like Pei Yan, sure he is obsessed and will forever trapped under his mother's thumb but I believe that meeting Jiang Ci served as a key for him to break free from her clutches and later comes to terms with Jiang Ci's feelings towards him.

''The way Jiang Ci will always acknowledge he is beautiful no matter what. ''

Yes, because that is what his character supposed to be. Wei Zhou/Xiao Wuxia is based on real historical person Murong Chong which is also known as Phoenix Emperor. In history, he is known as very beautiful, very vicious and that is what Ren Jialun's role is in this drama. I thought he play and look that part really well. He is not supposed to be bulky or brawny like a general/commander for this role (like Xiao Qi in The Rebel Princess).

I have watched until Episode 32 and I must say my fave part would be the Poem Banquet part at the Eastern Palace. All of them are speaking in riddles with flowers as the topic but actually sending their personal message to Jiang Ci. And Jiang Ci, the clever girl that she is responding the opposite and burnt them with her reply. Of course, Wei Zhou got the best poem as he is referring to Liangjiu flower but instead, he got Allamanda from Jiang Ci which is 'beautiful but poisonous'. He indeed got the biggest burnt in that scene. 😂😂

The whole scene is like a smart people conversation with each other. Poetic, seemed unharmed exchanged of literature piece but laced with poisonous message. And of course Lady Dong was quick to notice that and give Wei Zhou the chance to reply to Jiang Ci with that flowers that she gave him at Yeuluo.

I love how they are at their angsty part of the relationship but the show still managed to make it healing as well. There is thorn, but there is hope as well. Just like he was given the poisonous flowers, but he gave her back flowers to show that all flowers will bloom again just like their love. Or like how the Liangjiu flower has been dead for 20 years at Yueluo yet bloom again just like 'Hope' which seemed to be the main theme of the drama. I love all this hidden message that we can get from the subtle storytelling. ❤️

I just finished Episode 28 and I have to write my thoughts and get this out of my chest.

Boy, what an episode! So many things happening at the same time! 😂 I always took pride in predicting scheming dramas (like during the Yueluo arc, I knew the spy and the good elders from the get go despite the deceptive storytelling) but I did not expect the plot twist regarding Jiang Ci's identity and also the military advisor of Lu Yu to be Wei Zhou's spy. I knew he always have spy planted everywhere but this spy is indeed very unexpected. Now it all makes sense all his advices to Lu Yu seemed deadly at first like digging the tunnel but the outcome is a failure lol. Its all made sense now.

And again, Wei Zhou is indeed always the cleverest man in the room despite he always face a setback. But man planned 2 or 3 steps ahead ALL THE TIME. We thought he is joining hands with Pei Yan and will give him the account book? Naah, he has another plan at the back with attacking Lu Yu's camp at the rear. With his spy always beside Lu Yu, he always has the uppar hand in everything -- and now it made sense why he always so calm during the war. He has everything calculated. He only need Pei Yan to buy him more time which is 5 days for Mr Ping's man to reach the capital and bring his shadow sect squad to do the deeds.

And can we talk about Jiang Ci's shifu? All she need is to utter that Wei Zhou's father is the only one who knew the whereabout of Prince Qi so Wei Zhou's father is the one who murdered Prince Qi. Now we know for sure that it was the Emperor all along to be the chess master of this whole mystery. He killed his brother Prince Qi to take the throne while blaming Yuelou and capturing it and its all part of his grand master plan to be the Emperor at that time. Wei Zhou still do not know this truth at this point so, it will be shock later when he figured this out. I love when dramas slowly making sense like pieces of puzzle -- it makes the viewing experience much much more rich and interesting.

Oh now it made sense why Jiang Ci is so clever. His Dad is the Crown Prince so she inherited that one from him. Also her kind nature and high moral -- its all link back to her parents and her shifu's teachings. I'm dreading the angst that about to come! T_____T

The drama is very well written so no wasted scenes in it. If anyone think there is a filler scene, think again, its actually served to story/plot somehow.

A lot of RJL's dramas are like this, full of details and depth so I always had fun figuring it out. For an example in Forever & Ever, there is a scene of him picking up a coat when he wanted to visit Shiyi's parents. People can easily pointed it out as a filler scene but its actually not as the scene showing him picking a black color coat and then change it to blue. Why? Because Shiyi is wearing blue on that day. Zhousheng Chen knew Shiyi loves to wear matching color outfits thus he do thing that can appease his wife silently -- just like his love in the whole drama.

I'm right now at Yueluo arc and I love it even more! Probably my favourite arc so far? Aside from a few issues like the acting of the supporting casts are a bit bad, etc, I didn't allow it to hinder my enjoyment of this arc at all. I love how healing this arc has been despite probably it is the saddest with how the flowers no longer grow at Yueluo and how Wei Zhou's people is rejecting him despite he has been fighting for them his whole life. 😢 Again, he no longer cry -- I guess he's been training himself to be unaffected with disappointment so it was Jiang Ci who cry for him instead.

And I love all the scenes of them together -- their chemistry is really sizzling -- almost blinding. I love how she touched him with the swing and tease him with it, and he drew on her face or just their interaction with each other -- it was really wholesome and sweet. RJL and Landy got great chemistry here, I'm loving their each moments together.

I think the foreshadowing about how the ending wouldn't be a sad ending is apparent even more in this arc as well. Aside from the theme song (Someone at the end of the world never leaves, I brave the grim haze to be with you once again) or the trailers which hinted it will be a happy ending (Those who love each other will eventually meet again), this arc has the the old lady read Jiang Ci's fortune -- ''Support each other through thick and thin. With perseverance, better days will come eventually.'' Then the Phoenix that Jiang Ci drew on Wei Zhou's mask about being burnt and rises again. And later the reference of Wei Zhou is a cat with nine lives. Somehow, I'm positive we will get a good ending for this drama. :D

They cant give us sad ending after all of this message lol. The whole arc is about healing and letting go of hatred and how hope will grow again just like the flowers.

You have to watch at least until Yueluo arc ends which is Episode 25 since I really like this arc as it is so healing. They have many sweet moments together and a lot of foreshadowing about a happy ending. At least 3 in this arc alone. :D

I watched the Yueluo arc and I'm more convinced of a happy ending now.

Aside from the theme song (Someone at the end of the world never leaves, I brave the grim haze to be with you once again) or the trailers which hinted it will be a happy ending (Those who love each other will eventually meet again).

This arc has the the old lady read Jiang Ci's fortune -- ''Support each other through thick and thin. With perseverance, better days will come eventually.''

Then the Phoenix that Jiang Ci drew on Wei Zhou's mask about being burnt and rises again is another huge clue.

And later the reference of Wei Zhou's is a cat with nine lives. Somehow, I positive we will get a good ending for this one! :D They cant give us sad ending after all of this lmao.

From his wording, I understand he meant the novel ending and not the drama ending. I just wish to remain positive since they ended their filming with both of them in Yueluo's outfits so my guess the drama will have them met again at Yueluo?

Plus, I watched the episode last night when the old lady read Jiang Ci's fortune and she said another line of foreshadowing of getting though good and hard time together -- then after all of that, good days will come. This one another strong indication of a happy ending. I chose to believe it will be one haha.

From his wording, I understand he meant the novel ending and not the drama ending. I just wish to remain positive since they ended their filming with both of them in Yueluo's outfits so my guess the drama will have them met again at Yueluo?

IDK, I have good feeling about this one. I wish we will get our happy ending. :D

Did he really said it will be a sad ending? Because what I got from what he said is that he didnt purposely chose to act in IPs known with sad endings like Glory of Tang Dynasty, One & Only or this time around, this drama. But he never said it will surely be a sad ending for this drama. I could be wrong though but wish to remain positive. 😂😭😤

I dont know. I had the feeling it wouldn't be a bad/sad ending. The foreshadowing about the ending is in the theme song so I'm pretty positive they are going into that route instead. Also in the trailers, they always said this phrase 'Those who love each other will eventually meet again' if that is not foreshadowing about the ending, I dont know what is lol.

And usually from my experience, they usually wont betray the lyrics of the theme song. So, I actually am very positive we will get a satisfactory ending for this one. :D

I still havent caught up with all the latest episodes (still jet-lagged 😤) but I'm on Episode 20 and I must say the awesomeness upped even more after Wei Zhou's identity revelation. Before this, Pei Yan is playing 3D chess in the dark without knowing his enemy's identity but I never thought the fun is upped even more now everything is up in the light. I just love the puzzle way they are talking to each other when Pei Yan is searching for Jiang Ci in Wei Zhou's room. And I love how quick-witted Wei Zhou always is (like the time when Jiang Ci threaten him with a hug and he turn that hug into evidence that he cant swim was all kind of brilliant lol) -- everytime Pei Yan tries to put him in disadvantage, he will turn the situation around by revealing it was Pei Yan all along who used Jiang Ci as his pawn -- all for Jiang Ci to hear while hiding away inside his cupboard. 🤭

And may I say how I should never look down on either one of them -- they are always on the moves and never seem to sleep. Pei Yan talk with He Xingyou about him figuring it out all along that he has transferred the account books via the wild road and he has got it just show again and again on why he literally need nobody to help him anyway -- if he wants something, he will get it himself, on his own. I'm so glad Jeremy actually in something that worthy of his talents. This complicated character suit him to a T. And just when I thought Pei Yan got the upperhand, Wei Zhou also figured out the same thing and stealing the other part of the account books on the same night. And now, despite he is getting the wrong book, Pei Yan will be doing the dirty work for him anyway by bringing Lu Yu's treacherous rebellious act to the Emperor in order to save his mother. It was all kind of brilliant! All this smart scheming are bringing me life. I live for this kind of content. :D

And I love the scene where Wei Zhou is having a nightmare and Jiang Ci pet his hands him to calm him down. He was so restrained even when he's in his private time -- he just grip his blanket tightly and still suppressing whatever things that haunt him in his sleep. This makes my conversation with Emotional-Vegatable1 a few days ago even more apparent on how she pointed out how restrained Wei Zhou actually is even in his crazy and unhinged phase -- like he could make a new wound on Jiang Ci everytime he faces her but instead, he just poking her wound instead to remind her. I love the consistencies in the writing and you can see how its all adds up to the layers of his characteristics.

Also, the part when Yifei told Wei Zhou the possibilities of Jiang Ci to be the student of the Yan sister -- on how you could see from his face -- how all his inside is crumbling down for the possible fact that Jiang Ci could be the student of his enemy is just amazing. RJL is bringing his A game here and I'm a happy fan.

And now I'm moving to Yueluo arc and I love when our main couple works together like this. I guess the cat clay figure will be their love language? I love how she keeps giving him that cat and he always look reluctant to take it but take it anyway. 😂 I love how he started to really wear himself down around Jiang Ci now. In the straining of his shoulder scene where she is putting medicine on him, the stare that he gave her is the confident stare -- like he had her on the palm of his hands. But now, all those confident stares are gone -- when she falls down on him or when he saw her washing his face and neck or when he found her hugging him in his sleep, it was 'Oh noes, I'm in deep trouble' face 😿 since now it is him who is in her disposal. Love this slowly but gradually transition of their relationship. ❤️

Thank you 🤗