Reviews

A Marriage Proposal from a Worthy Suitor

When Jia Lan finished her theatrical performance—having enacted that moving story for the soldiers—everyone applauded, including the Marquis (who was also the commander) and Lin Jin Qi. The Marquis spoke to Lin Jin Qi and hinted that he wished to marry this exceptional maidservant. He asked, "Can you give her to me?" Lin Jin Qi gave him a look—one that signaled refusal, though subtly masked—and then offered a flimsy excuse to avoid handing Jia Lan over to the gallant soldier. The soldier glimpsed the real reason behind Lin Jin Qi's refusal in his eyes. He smiled inwardly, as if to say, "You can't fool me, Lin Jin Qi." The commander had told Lin Jin Qi that he had lost his wife and now had an 11-year-old daughter who needed a mother. Lin Jin Qi promptly offered a solution: her sister Xiu Wan was available. As Lin Jin Qi and Jia Lan walked away from the commander to head home, a beautiful, poetic scene unfolded. His possessive gaze upon her—however veiled—hinted at a magical connection beginning to form between them. Walking at sunset, one following the other, the camera captured the pair silhouetted against the sun; Lin Jin Qi’s large strides across the earth moved in rhythm with Jia Lan’s steps. Upon returning home, Lin Jin Qi proposed this solution regarding Xiu Wan—whom she believed would be inconsolable without her romantic match. When he informed his mother and aunt that the 32-year-old commander wished to marry the young woman, they were delighted; however, in that era, a 32-year-old man was considered old, and they immediately implied that Xiu Wan would not be pleased—even though the two older women, Lin Jin Qi’s mother and aunt, undoubtedly saw him as a worthy match. Xiu Wan, along with her sisters and Miss Du Cui Que, had overheard everything from behind the door. Devastated, Xiu Wan wanted to storm in and pick a fight, but Cui Que led her away—likely to find a solution. Xiu Wan soon declared, "I don't want to marry an old man." Xiu Lai, the observant sister, watched from the sidelines; it remains unclear whether her expression stemmed from her own love for the Marquis or from distress over her sister's unhappiness. Her thoughts often seemed enigmatic. Yu Chan fell seriously ill, developing a skin rash, and Jia Lan quickly sought help from Lin Jin Qi, who agreed to provide the family physician—who was currently attending to his sister... ...the younger one, who was also suffering from some minor itching. In this episode, it seems their health issues have been resolved—we’ll see if that holds true in the next one. However, the observant sister’s gaze—directed at Miss Du Cui, then at the lake, and finally at her own sister—was enigmatic. I can’t tell if she suspects something regarding the lake or if it’s just her usual suspicion of Du Cui (which is well-founded). So, that’s the end of this episode (and we’ll see what Episode 16 has in store).

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The Person Who Stayed Beside Him

Niran had kept practicing judo because winning made both of his parents happy. But after they separated, the reason he had worked so hard began to disappear. His father would not understand him, his mother was going to marry someone else, and his secret wish for them to become a family again could never come true.Cheewa probably did not fully understand the sadness Niran had been carrying. Still, he could feel his pain. He did not force Niran to explain anything—he simply sat beside him and stayed there.When Cheewa told him, “Whether you win or lose, I’ll always be by your side,” he gave Niran the unconditional love he had been longing for.Their own little universe is surely connected.

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