Reviews

Battle of the fiancé s

Qiao Man finds herself between two armies. Wei Shao is surprised she chooses him. I also think he was touched about the importance she put on the lives of people in general. That the other side shot arrows her way after declaring her a gem was quite the irony. Wei Shao rescues her and she punches his face. I am honestly surprised she could reach that high😂 He is stunned a bit by that and the angry woman squatting on ground beside him mad at men in general😂 All his sidekicks make excuse to leave so he can deal with it. She tells him she’s not marrying period. I am not sure if he was relieved or sorry. She pleads ill and stays inside. Right when he goes to check on her he see she is leaving. He follows her and overhears her chat with big sister. He finds out that she stepped in to marry him so her sister could marry someone else. He thrusts out his chest and straightens his shoulders as Qiao Man tells how ‘heroic’ he is.🤣Little by little he is starting to care about her. In her speech to the people of Panyi, she admits her family failing to keep their word because of building a canal. She speaks of the hardships they went through. She inspires them to help Wei Shao finish building the canal that will join two cities and help crops. Wei Shao found that she learned of his plans reading the annals he gave her and studying the maps. She is claiming the land and people for Wei. It was a very good day with one huge exception. Her grandfather had passed away that night and she did not get to say goodbye. While her family mourns, others were not happy she handed Panyi over to Wei.

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Ring of fire

Wei Shao kicks Qiao Man out of Xindu. She realizes she needs to change her strategy and heads to Panyi. On the way her ex fiancé shows up to rescue her. Her attempt at being in tearful distress😂 I thought he really liked her and just the dad an arrogant ass. But as he laid out his plans for Panyi, his ambition was made clear. He treated Qiao Man like a prisoner and forbade the mayor from speaking to her. She realized his ambition was built on using her family name and holdings. Any respect she might have had for him definitely departed as he laid out his plans to flood Xindu. That he would let innocents suffer and die was more than she could take. She escaped and set fire to the sulphur containers. It caused a lot of damage for the city but their plans made this happen. As Wei Shao’s men reported back he found out what really happened and saw the crappy wedding gifts. I think he saw a bit of what her life was really like. The mayor backed up all their claims. He confirmed the elopement was a lie; that she had been kept a prisoner and the plan to flood Xindu. It also seems Qiao Man dreams prophetic dreams. She pays attention to them and changes things. She has saved the people of Xindu, but Wei Shao’s brother is determined to follow the original order to kill Qiao Man and increase morale. The arrow has been launched and to see what is fated for Qiao Man.

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Wisdom in negotiations

Li Su was sent home in literal pieces. This was a bit harsh but considering the crimes he did, it was equitable as justice/vengeance. His family had to know what kind of a man he was, but if not this was definitely a good reminder. Wei Shao was displeased that he did not have a census of the people and that they feared and ran from him. Qiao Man recognized the people liked her better than Wei Shao. She was winning them over feeding them as reward for helping rebuild the streets and wells. She was still trying to negotiate a wedding in Xindu so that she could keep the seal of Panyi. She recognizes that she needs to direct the people’s loyalty to Wei Shao so she acts like a selfish and cruel bridezilla. The people turn on her quickly but Wei Shao knows what she did. He doesn’t understand why she would help him and thinks it is another trick from her family. She is left to pay the price for her family’s treachery and it is quite a high one. The mayor was bold enough to stand up to him. His advisor again suggested that he surrendered to LiSu to protect the people, not because a coward or bad person. He was returned to mayor status and given the seal of Xindu. Wei Shao was softening up to Qiao Man until he saw his grandfather’s armor piece on the wall. It brought everything to the fore again and he made it almost violently clear his distaste for Qiao Man’s offering of the Panyi seal. She was offering him this to help provide food for Xindu. It is currently overrun with refugees and there is not sufficient food. But again, Wei Shao sees this as a deceptive way for Qiao family to make a truce with him. He wants it very clear he will not make the mistake of trusting them again. He has already drawn his sword on her neck and even marked her and cut some hair. He has a right to be very angry and even unforgiving. But she had no more a part of those events than he did. I am hoping he wakes up to that fact soon before he actually hurts her. She is a courageous young woman that she hasn’t already run away to defy him. She not only deals with his wrath but now the harsh treatment from the Xindu people because of the viscous things she said to make Wei Shao stand up and do the right thing. Ironically she said she gave him the seal because he was ‘kind’. Still waiting for that one. Liu YuNing can smirk quite evilly. Song ZuEr is doing an excellent job being the intelligent, capable woman who can win him over given sufficient time. Wei Shao deserves some kindness in his life and she deserves a man who is brave and strong. I think they are unexpectedly well matched if their family differences can be put aside. That remains to be seen.

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Surprise bride

Qiao Man is a very smart young lady. When talking to her grandfather it was very clear that she understood the politics and strategies of the Wei clan. 14 years ago the two families were allies and that faith was broken when the Qiao family did not come to help the Wei family during a war. Many were slaughtered and the survivor swore he would avenge the deaths of his grandfather, brother and father. The Qiao family wanted to make a truce by allying through marriage. The governor’s daughter was chosen, but she already loved another. Qiao Man was also betrothed, but the family showed contempt for her though the young man I think really did care about her. She was wise to understand the family was part of the deal in marriage and considered her lot would fair better with the Wei clan. She helped her friend run off and took her place with the seal of Panyi as dowery. They were hoping that offering this place would ease the tension between the families. He overheard the women discussing why they wanted the wedding venue there. This would allow for the seal being kept if the groom changed his mind. He wanted to kill her before she ever reached the gate but a wise servant suggested it would be wiser to accept the offer of Panyi with no bloodshed. The reluctant groom agreed only to keep her alive. But once he saw her he was pleasantly surprised. Except for her grandfather, Qiao Man was surrounded by idiots at home, so I don’t blame her for trying her luck elsewhere. But she really threw all caution to the wind having her family’s enemy as a groom.

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