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KJ2025 LanXiang was very shrewd and got the scholar involved in their lot casting. He was impressed enough to leave them his calling card. This worked out to their advantage. JinQi knew something was up but gave her credit to be shrewd enough to stay out of earshot. All the other maids were killed. LanXiang never took life for granted for even a second with her circumstances. Even as a noble her family didn’t survive so how much less as a maid? The cousin was killed on his way out of the city and I could not feel anything about his loss. Once he threw his beloved away like trash he had no more use. It was further revealed as the family argued that the loss of her baby resulted in her being unable to have any more children. This was the Zhao secret and why they wanted bailed out by the Lins. The men were after her money immediately and she made it clear that her dowry, betrothal gifts and current cash were all hers or she would make their scandal public. She looked her dad in the eye and dared him to kill her. I don’t blame JinQi for getting rid of her. But I kinda wish she would have explained her circumstance so he could have helped her find a way out. Their time together did not have to be acrimonious even if they agreed being a couple served neither one of them well. Now that she’s returned to her family the management is changing and going back to the Lin style of management. His number one seems to be a nice one and she was let out of her arranged marriage and his family sold off so that she couldn’t feel threatened by them and could just be. The maids are speculating if the master will want to get married now and how does the change in management effect them? I am wondering what skills Lan Xiang is going to mention. I’m glad the girls are getting to stick together. They are like schoolgirls at a slumber party with their celebration of their new circumstances. Zhao gets back at Lin by pretty much halting the shipments of much needed supplies for the military. From the sound of things JinQi is not threatened by going straight to the top to handle the problem.
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Maria I thought it was unnecessary to start another story in the last episode. I couldn't even cry when I saw Duke Su's friends dying because it was so sudden. This episode wasn't well built.
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Against the Current Episode 39
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CdramaMaven4762 We didn't get enough of the FLs perspective to feel her commitment to their romantic life. Huge ball drop for such an otherwise momentous episode.
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IrenaK It's terrible what the Qian siblings have done to Zhou Wenxin and his wife. He has to play a devoted and obedient husband to Qian Huaijin, while his beloved wife is blinded, works in the elder Qian brother's basement grinding medicine, and by the looks of it, is being sexually abused by Qian Huaiyi... 😰😠 That family is rotten. The only one who maybe could get some pity points from me was the "eccentric" brother who died... but even then — I would still consider whether to give him any. 😒But who tried to frame Chengming? Feiyan's "brothers" from the Tianxiang Sect? 🤔Now I am crossing my fingers Feiyan kills Huaiyi. Not only for his wanting to kill Chengming, which I doubt she would ever allow, but also because Huaiyi deserves that and way, way more. 🤨🤞
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All the maids went with Ms Zhao to her mother’s bday party. What she was unaware of was JinQi and scholar guest showing up. Her dad was more than happy to show off his library and little did they know (except for JinQi) that they had walked in on a tryst. I am curious about why JinQi’s man was dressed as a woman, but he was quite pretty too.🤣 He warned Lan Xiang not to go back or she would die. But LanXiang was not going to let the friend that saved her die. So back she went and they found themselves trapped behind casks as people went in and around the library. It was a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation because nowhere was safe. Inside the library Ms Zhao learned what a coward her lover was. They had the tragedy of a lost child between them. We will most likely never find out their story and after his groveling to her father about what a seductress she was and how it was all her fault….she won’t want to remember it. 😝 His lament of his love for her reduced to that😝🙄 There just aren’t words for it. Guess he’s been wearing the girl clothes too long and forgot how to be a man. 😝Here she was taking blows from her father when she should have told him to hit harder.😝JinQi used this opportunity to get the father to agree to a mutual divorce with no one at fault. He presented two other scenarios that were far less appealing. Charging her with adultery, or her death and no burial in the ancestral home. After hearing that and seeing his daughter in disarrayed clothes he agreed to the divorce and low and behold JinQi had the thumb dye all ready for them. He left with document in hand to find his scholar friend while they sorted out their family issues. Lan Xiang told her friend to listen to her if she wanted to live…so next episode we will see what she did and whether or not it included the visiting scholar. Well that’s one way to get rid of an unwanted wife. 🤣 She even contributed nicely to make it happen. I am glad they are separated, they should have never been. The last thing these two families needed was each other. However, she was the one female that used her brain and did not want the men in her family to decide her fate. I am hoping the aftermath of this mess will have her on a path sans family. Then she might have a chance of success and happiness. She did not deserve that marriage any more than he did. What will really be interesting is how his family will react to this turn of events. His mother is going to be overjoyed but downplaying it and his father will probably find reason to complain and find fault.
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Wow, cousin almost looks prettier than she does. His comment about safe being a man while dressed as a woman. 🤯His feet gave him away to Lan Xiang. Now she knows it’s a tryst plus the ledgers and she doesn’t want killed for knowing about it. She’s got that story running through her head and has survival on the brain. She made a woman excuse and Feng sent her to buy soup. She deliberately runs into a customer leaving to prove she was not near tryst site. After the commotion she is forced to kneel til she looks like a popsicle. Feng has got herself out of the equation but joined in with Lan Xiang’s friend that with the bday banquet coming up it was not worth conflict with Lins over a mere maid. It was a sweet and poignant moment as her friends helped her thaw out. I am glad these three help each other. It was very brave of her friend to plead for her as it was just as likely they would both be in the snow kneeling. I was annoyed that Feng let the poor girl take all the blame but this did allow LanXiang to go home. She did what all kids do, came home for money.🤣😝 She needs funds to pay the shop for compensation costs and then all forgiven. She also finally got the pouch her mother made for her. She sees her mother’s hands and takes the littles amount possible from them. JinQi has done his homework and knows LanXiang can read. He blackmails her into spying for him. I respect her for not drinking his tea and not commenting inadvertently about how safe he can keep her family. 😔I think they are both appreciating the blossoms because they were that pretty when she was heading to her engagement party. When everything was happy and beautiful. He reminisces about what should have been and I think she remembers her last trip with her mother and her last wish for her to live. JinQi’s servant was very stoic about having hot tea hurled at him. I don’t even think he flinched. JinQi was right that she would be furious if he was a no show. Now to see how many maids accompany her. Next preview show lady trying to escape and hubby coming to block her exit.
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It was such a save with Lyu Ruhui! 😮💨 Also, I find it very interesting that Liang was kind of speaking with a dog, but on the opposite side of the wall sat another man and wrote everything Liang said... So, my question is — did Liang say all that to the man by pretending he was telling that to a dog, or was that man using this habit of the silly guy to get info for someone else, possibly the real Lyu Ruhui? 🤔And, honestly, I kind of love the tension between Feiyan and Chengming. Their cover could be blown any moment just because of how reckless he sometimes is around her. I tell you, if he keeps doing it like this, they both will get in trouble! 🫣P.S. I don't know for how many episodes I already wanted to tell this, but I do love how they have a different intro song for odd and for even episodes. 🤗
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Against the Current Episode 40
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jeoneungd “If I betray her for the sake of a son I have never met…”Can there be truer words of love? Episode 40 beautifully touches on the old rules of inheritance, where having a son meant continuing the family name, property and title. But Jin Qi asks a much simpler question…what is the title of Marquis worth if getting it means betraying the woman he loves?This series has always been about the strength of women in a world ruled by men. And perhaps Jin Qi’s greatest strength is realizing that some traditions are simply not worth protecting.A title can be inherited…but love has to be earned.
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Kamen Teacher SP Episode 1
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nero truong i enjoyed this a lot ，i was confused at first at this being a prequel but after shohei’s death but i thought it was rather cool to explore how he was able to be kamen teacher again. his hesitance to dawn the mask again for the first time was so good & really effective pacing. there’s two major halves to this special which could’ve been four episodes of the regular season but they flowed into each other really well ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ i feel like this show really understands what we’re thinking. i think the only draw±back is the dialogue is too dramatic at times like when eacxh student finally screams out they start saying overly typical & obvious things. this was cute though. i also like how weirdly lower+production this felt it was so cozy. i honestly really liked this special ，kubota masataka is really fun to watch & i really liked maya.
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The Lin couple are playing cat and mouse to get to the truth about the usury loans. JinQi is kinda scary looking towards the shopkeeper but I gotta appreciate his smirk as he watches the shopkeeper move well away from the coal brazier. LanXian got tagged with fixing lady’s favorite stole where reward or punishment will be received depending on quality of work and satisfaction of lady. While she is admiring it JinQi arrives with a work authorization to be paid in silver. He is wanting her seal and using this as an excuse. The account book has already been received with cousin’s seal noted inside. She did not get a chance to confirm with her seal yet. What was of note is that LanXiang recognized the couple seal and hid it from Jin Qi. First Lady noted this and had maid reward with most disliked silver ring. There is a sweet scene of the three maids in quarters. The one notes the other two have been promoted and she tries to warn the one that likes to eat what to avoid. The cliff notes was follow LanXiang 🤣 It was a special time because there aren’t many fun memories in this household. Both of the new second level maids confirmed they are not interested in being heir carriers. I am sure the irony of this hits LanXiang as this was once her dream. Mr Xu has been scammed again but the other girl’s mother is a night soil collector so she got the loving handmade gifts to LanXiang for them. I liked how the girls compared clothes and outsmarted mean girl at the door. Interesting how opera singers sing discord about public opinion. She covered it well but I am sure was well aware the effect her song had on lady. Next preview shows JinQi trying to get LanXiang to be his spy and promising to keep her family safe. She already knows how THAT turns out.😔
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Against the Current Episode 39
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Episode 39 is worth rewatching. I already thought this was one of the best episodes of the series, but watching it again made me realize how much I completely missed the first time.This episode is really about change and time.The jumps in time aren’t just there to move the story forward. They show us how much everyone has changed. I especially loved seeing the young lotus root vendor again…now grown up and with a son of her own helping her sell lotus roots. Such a simple scene, but it tells us that life has moved on.And those two years apart for Lanxiang and Jin Qi weren’t wasted either. Their love needed that time. The seed was already planted, but the separation gave them time to heal, grow and finally understand what they meant to each other.But there is also a much darker story happening. Listen to the poem. Watch the crickets. Listen to the story about the general who was betrayed after the Emperor trusted a eunuch. It isn’t just a story from the past…it is a warning. People hungry for power can be like ants eating the roots of a plant. At first you don’t see the damage, but eventually the whole plant can die. And with that hunger for power comes war and death.Then watch Jin Qi walk away from the palace. Lanxiang and Jin Qi have always looked at duty differently. Jin Qi believed in serving the Emperor and doing what was right. Lanxiang had already seen what palace politics could do to an entire family. Now Jin Qi finally understands what she has been trying to tell him.He leaves the palace and comes home. And for the first time, husband and wife are looking in the same direction. Only then do they finally consummate their marriage. After all those episodes, all those secrets and two years apart, it doesn’t feel too late…it feels like the right time.Even that part of the episode is filled with little symbols…the birds, the gourd, the ducks and then her pregnancy. One part of their lives has ended and another has begun.And then…the cricket returns. Maybe they can leave the palace behind…but the past may not be finished with them yet.Wow. I watched Episode 39 the first time for the story. I watched it again and discovered the story underneath the story.
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Shadow Punisher Episode 1
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Increíble primer episodio! La ambientación histórica, la cinematografía y las escenas de acción están a otro nivel. Ese toque de misterio y fantasía te engancha de inmediato. 10/10.
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So far, this is my favorite episode. It is so funny, and I did not expect that the story will go that way.
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Ji”er is munching candy and being her usual self. What was interesting is she chose to share a piece with Lan Xiang. They were the. Called into first Madam’s quarters and accused of theft. Ji’Er was found with a maid’s ring and her showing off the money she sent home and the candy she bought didn’t work out in her favor either. She was beaten until Lan Xiang knocked over a vase and Ji’Er remembered the punishment the slave holder was given for killing a slave without just cause. This stopped this part of her punishment, but it was far from over. She was put in front of everybody in the servants quarters as a cautionary tale to not steal. She and her entire family were sold off to different families and made an example in the slave quarters. The girls were reminded that their actions could also bring punishment to their families. The Xu’s were made nervous when the head maid inquired about their names directly. She was making it clear she knew who to punish if Lan Xiang messed up. What was bittersweet was LanXiang’s smile and forced cheerful goodbye as she encouraged her parents not to worry about her. She truly is a thoughtful daughter still in spite of all the trials and chaos. All this was in retaliation for Ms Zhao’s maid/friend being married and sent away. This broke Ms Zhao as this was her one friend and confidante, plus the maid handled the books. Jin Qi started it all by finding the cases brought against his wife for usury. His mom decided that stopping her was top priority and the shop holders secondary. She started by giving the maid a severance package if her dreams if she married as requested and left. She shocked her mistress by doing exactly that. She was sorrowful and knelt in apology, but at the end of the day she had to consider her own survival. Ms Zhao’s mom shows up for a visit and it wasn’t received well. It seems the Zhao women were held hostage by not being allowed to read or write and accepting the fate doled out to them by the males in the family.😝😡 I am not certain but I think this Zhao daughter at least knows how to read. She realizes her family is useless for her and that their objective is to get an heir via the Lin family. Tbh, I think she is as disgusted with how her family handles things as JinQi is. I am not sure why she is using her seal along with her cousin’s to verify transactions. It makes the reading simple but it holds the seal bearer accountable. So I am not sure if this is the cousin keeping her responsible if caught or if she is outmaneuvering him to get the cash required to take them away from the Lin house. The maid taking over for the first maid overhears she is not useful. I am not sure how that will go over with her treatment of the two now to be promoted. What I am sure of is she was tired of Ji’Er giving all her work to Lan Xiang and hid her ring in Ji’Er’s clothes to get her kicked out. To cover her tracks, Ms Zhao pretends the silk she just bought was to promote the two 3rd maids to 2nd. The one that likes to eat had all the latest gossip not really thinking about how that could effect her. The tale was of an adulterous pair who killed off any servants that knew about it to prevent witnesses. While the girl was acting like it was a thrilling piece of news, all Lan Xiang heard was that she was even more at risk to the whims of the household and being sold would be the least of her worries. When the matriarch asked for the household keys back there was an odd tension between first madam and top maid. That makes me wonder what side deal those two have going. Now it’s to be seen if Lan Xiang will reveal her ability to read and write or keep it well hidden and play dumb. Power shifts between Zhao and Lin families are going at a much quicker pace now that JinQi is home. I think the biggest irony is that in spite of her words, I don’t think Ms Zhao wants to visit her family any more than JinQi does.
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This episode made me realize that some things are good keeping to yourself. I like the way how this episode ended.
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