sifeng

Lmao there was a clip of Zhao Lusi and Ding Yuxi in some sort of FaceTime interview and the question asked was who is a better kisser Ding Yuxi or Zheng Yecheng and Lusi chose Zheng Yecheng (because she says he's older and his "technique is there").

that's kind of pretentious coming from Mango TV whose recent dramas have all tanked.

Yang Zi's voice acting was really impressive. Completely different tone than Tong Nian or Jin Mi.

I wish that was true. I remember that the Love and Redemption trailer had been out for like a year before we officially got a release date.

I just watched the trailers. In terms of cinematography/sets etc. I actually liked the Golden Hairpin the most, but in terms of CP energy, I actually think the Long Ballad looks to be the most promising. I'm most excited for Golden Hairpin, and then Legend of Fei (I love wuxia!) I guess. But, overall, I was actually most impressed with the Sword Snow Stride trailer

if you liked Sha Yi in here you should watch the episode of Go Fighting! where he was a guest (the first time) it was hilarious!

What did she do?

1. Duan Zhenyu likes Jiang Xiaoguo
2. Jiang Xiaoguo and Zhou Xun like each other (but as of episode 35, they haven't admitted it yet)
3. Liang Shuang and Zhao Youxiu like each other (but as of episode 35, they haven't admitted it yet)
4. Duan Jiabao likes Zhao Youxiu (she tells her friends in episode 35)
5. Xiong Zhi likes Duan Jiabao and they date from episode 10 ish to 34.
6. Shi Tou/Luo Yan and Lu Ran like each other and date from episodes 10 ish to 35.

The trailer looks really good!

Mary Sue has a different meaning in Chinese entertainment. She isn't a Mary Sue by western standards but fits the Chinese "plain mary sue" standards.

which trailers were released?

I mean, yes he was a little careless, but how was he supposed to know that "singing" meant "peeing"?

the leaked pictures of the costumes are really pretty!

First of all, I never said that girls liking him was unrealistic, I said that in combination with all of his other talents, it seemed unrealistic that he could be a ladies man while also being everything else. If he's not perfect than what are his negative qualities? I never said Xiao Nai isn't a good boyfriend, and one of the few redeeming aspects of this show is that the OTP is refreshingly healthy, however, I want to see three-dimensional characters that have struggles. I don't want to see two dolls falling in love, I want to see real people. There's nothing wrong with Xiao Nai's character from a moral aspect, as the matter of fact, he should be the type of person girls like, but from the perspective of an audience member who wants to be entertained by an interesting relationship that has to go through actual hurdles (like actual relationships) with characters that struggle (like actual people), he is just boring. Someone not being perfect doesn't mean their automatically toxic or abusive. No one is perfect, does that mean everyone is toxic? That is such a bland way of looking at life and people. Just because someone has struggles and negative qualities doesn't mean they're automatically a bad boyfriend.

Her love interest (Zhao Youxiu played by Liu Junfeng) appears in episode 21 I think.

All the Chinese viewers literally think Xiaoguo is a Mary Sue because two (or maybe three if you include the fencing captain guy) guys like her. If they have reason to like her then why shouldn't they? Just because talented people like her doesn't mean she's a Mary Sue! Also, the real "romance storylines" haven't even started yet and they're just assuming this. It's so annoying that they don't even know what "Mary Sue" means and they just use it as an insult. I totally agree with you about the Liang Shuang and Jia Bao "sismance" and the Xiaoguo and little brother couple.

Surprisingly I really like this drama. I like the character traits of each of the characters, and I appreciate they are trying to go the more "mature" route instead of trying to make an overly unrealistic and draggy plot. Hopefully this quality sticks for all 40 episodes. (I have no idea why anyone would think Jiang Xiaoguo is a Mary Sue. Anyone who says that definitely does not know what a Mary Sue is.)

After watching the 2003 version I actually think Su Qing as Ah Zhu could fit really well

This (and the fact that Yang Yang and Zheng Shuang had a total of three expressions) were the two reasons I never finished this show. How can this guy be good at basketball, good at the game, good at being an entrepreneur, look good and attract all the girls in the school? He has no negative qualities. That's just boring to watch. Same thing with the girl. I am not going to lie, this drama is one of the most overrated dramas ever.

perhaps that's part of the point. There's no way that YL and the emperor could ever have a normal love story because he's the emperor. Also, a bunch of the concubines don't actually love him, they love the power that comes with him.