whoissilmoy

yes, I agree with you if the emperor is truly this weak, it was near the end of the dynasty when emperors were weak, unless the emperor did not like his brother as brothers were most likely from different mothers and may have competed for crown.

I did not expect him to be caught in ep. 29. So next five episodes are another mystery?

FL knew that the emperor knew who the perpetuator is, so she should already know that the emperor won't kill him, which is probably why she decided to kill him herself

yes, Bai Lu deserves credit for her hard work to do martial arts in this drama, I consider it a breakthrough for her, because she's never really done this level of martial arts

was it editing? why suddenly the next scene, he's lying in bed sick?

they're both holding that thingamajig and she's questioning whether she should have spurned him

I don't understand why ML is sick in bed.
Yes, the emperor has sons to succeed him
and I don't think the chancellor can take the throne unless he has military behind him

well, you know only 15 years of nightmares, and smell of blood
perhaps the drama didn't' have enough time to show how tormented she's been for 15 yrs
at least like the women before her, she didn't commit suicide after her family is wiped out, instead she learned martial arts to avenge her family, she stayed alive just for that

Pei Yi doesn't care if she dies, ML does. But Pei Yi does care that her father's name is cleared. So, yeah, ML did the right thing. Clearing her father's name really is more important than killing him, in my view.

I'm sure the chancellor will die in the end. somehow.

actually, after ep 29, I've lost faith in this emperor too, unless he's up to something and outsmarting FL. The reason I never suspected emperor is that Tang emperors were strong, of course not the later ones but this drama setting is during strong period. I guess I should know better than to think drama try to follow history, just because it's set in that era.

In ancient China, it was common for a dynasty to start strong under its founder and then weaken after a few generations, eventually giving way to a new dynasty. So it’s possible the drama is simply portraying this emperor as a weaker ruler. But since the story is set in a Tang‑inspired era—where emperors were generally powerful—you’d expect a stronger portrayal. It seems the drama isn’t strictly following Tang history at all; instead, it borrows elements from different dynasties even though it claims a Tang setting.

Maybe the emperor isn’t allowing the culprit to be executed yet because he wants more time to gather other evidence and expose any additional conspirators hiding in his court.

Li Pei Yi set them up and sent them on a wild goose chase so she can carry out her banquet, but I think also to protect them because she knew the battle that will ensue. She doesn't mind dying but she doesn't want her friends to be killed. She was ready to die since she was going to take down the perpetrator on her own.

I think it's like what many have been saying here that the emperor is weak, unless there's more to the story since there is 5 more episodes left. A strong emperor could accept her account, and not punished her severely for what she did, just like he gave light punishment to the perpetuator. Pei Yi rightfully challenged the emperor, "is Li family or Cui family your subjects?" That really pissed him off.

He gave a very detailed confession, and her uncle heard every word. But since both of them were driven by revenge, I can see why their testimony will not be accepted.

I read an article (Sina) that she did 70% of the stunts. She spent 3 months in intensive martial arts, horse riding, and learning Tang weapons and Tang code prior to production. But it nearly left her with permanent injuries.

In episode 29, during her banquet, Pei Yi said she was 8 years old 15 years ago, not 9.
He also referred to her father as His Majesty’s brother, I thought her father was the emperor’s uncle. I guessed wrong.

The massacre from 15 years ago is finally acknowledged in episode 29, yet there are still five episodes left. If the emperor was the crown prince 15 years ago, then was the former emperor still alive at that time? Or had the crown prince just ascended the throne? It seems to me FL's father and emperor were only half-brothers with different mothers. In those days, brothers usually have different mothers and plot against each other. Perhaps that's what happened with them since the emperor doesn't want to revenge his brother.

Why can’t she execute the person responsible for her family’s massacre? He confessed directly to her and her uncle. Shouldn’t their testimony be enough for the emperor? Maybe the emperor is simply being portrayed as a weak ruler, but with five episodes left, does the emperor still have secrets? Why does he seem afraid of his own court?

that actress is second daughter of founder of Huawei, maybe that's why they wanted role for her?

yes, I also got that too, I'm just saying I got some mixed message too

There's clearly romantic relationship from the start. ML and FL grew up together as children. ML has always like her, but FL forgot him due to trauma, and ML gone for 15 yrs. The romance is always present in every episode, you can see it blooming because the ML is chasing her in his own quiet, sweet, patient ways. She's into revenge, not romantic relationship but he is quite the romantic type, I think. What star gazing man won't be romantic. But the first 2/3 of the drama, the focus is not the romance but it's always present and always growing. The last 6 or 7 episodes, especial when she's confined to the mansion, the drama starts to feel more like your usual romance drama.

In the drama, FL is 24 and ML is at least 15+13=28 because ML was called a teenager 15 yrs ago. but I think ML character is closer to 30, maybe even early 30's? That's why 15 yrs ago, he was able to carry her out of the mansion to safety.