episode 35 spoilers ahead

spoilers ahead



1.Xiao Q continues to recover but the royal medics report to the emperor that she can never bear a child again. In addition to this, her entire family was banished. The emperor chooses to let her stay because he pities her.



2.In the next scene, Meniang is feeding Xiao Q tangerines. Ru'ian discusses how pitiful she is, since her family was banished and she can't have children. It is very obvious to the viewer that Xiao Q is faking. She takes the time to run off and cries silently. For reasons that make no sense she blames her situation on Meniang as well and vows revenge. Worse, Xia Hui discovers her and essentially blackmails her (she knew, for reasons unknown, that she was faking).



3.Later, Xiao Q's old friends arrive under the guise of feeding her food but they really use it as a chance to mock her. Xiao Q then hears that her family was executed (not true) from them. Later, she has a nightmare about her child and can't unhear its cries. (I pity her).



4.Meanwhile, Xu HUi and Meniang visit Xiao Q in her palace. She confronts them and confesses she faked being ill (surprising Meniang). She then starts a fire and tells them to burn with her, that she has nothing to live for, and can't go through life watching them have the emperor's love. She dies, while Meniang tries to rescue her but Xu Hui pulls her away.



5.Xu hui risks her life to save Meniang because she can't allow her to die and have the emperor miss her for the remainder of his life. Later, Xu Hui wakes to the emperor by her bedside and he is all sweet words. She milks the 'saving Meniang' (I would to if I were her)



6.Elsewhere, Meniang awakens to Consort Yang by her side.



7.Li Mu is approached by Consort Yang's attendant who tries to persuade him to essentially do things for them. He explains he has no desire to do anything like harm the king because his parents made him promise not to seek revenge. He also confirms that he and Meniang are leaving. But she states that even if he has her physically, her heart will always be with the emperor....



Comments: This episode was well executed and it was kind of interesting to see Xiao Q leave so dramatically. I am not surprised if only because your value as a woman was determined by your ability to conceive. With no family, and not even that, she only had a future of people mistreating her to look forward to. Unless she swallowed her pried and toadied up to someone, but then she would be use and maybe disposed. It was a pretty bleak future. I didn't like how Meniang was painted as exceptionally nice (If someone tried to kill me I would not be trying to save them) and how people seemed to know things. I am also losing my patience with this Li Mu subplot and am getting tired of Consort Yang.

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ep 34 review spoilers ahead

(I thought I did a review for this episode. here it is again)

1.Xio Xing (snake girl?) decides that she will make good on BQ's promise to help her one day. It will involve her son who has been sent to the human world.



2.Xnake girl makes the request, as expected. BQ will go to the mortal realm to be his teacher. As luck would have it he is the crown prince and son of (guess who) DH



3.YH goes as back up



4.Su Jin learns of this plan and hopes to use the sea princess to mess things up.



5.Li Jing continues to struggle with his life as his wife seems to have lost touch with reality, insisting that their son is so well behaved because he does not cry.



6.Xuan Nu wants to use a god to resurrect her kid she decides to use BQ's face and steal MY's body and kidnip A-Li

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ep 27 spoilers ahead

1.YH continues to linger somewhere between alive and dead; I mean physically he is alive and continues his duties but inside he is like a dead man.



2. Si Jin is able to gain entry into Xiwu palace (I guess these are the palaces occupied by the crown prince and his harem//) by telling YH that he could use the lamp to make a copy of Su Su by burning her belongings. Si Jin is only banned from entering the palace of beautiful youth and cannot go near A-Li.



3.YH begins burning Su Su's clothes, he plants some peach trees at her palace (palace of beautiful youth), and 300 years pas. Every day he and A-Li bow to the painting of Su Su. Monthly they visit the hut on the mountain. We learn that YH has explained to his son that one day his mother will return (presumably this is the copy he is making).



3.(I love FJ in red and I love her propensity to cause trouble. ) But this is probably the only time where I think I kind of wish she had behaved better. She steals the lamp that YH has carefully been taking care of. Her goal is innocent: she wants to help her aunt awaken MY (not unreasonable). Instead of asking like normal people, she takes it upon herself to steal it. This speaks again to her youth and impulsive behavior. The light goes out. And YH is enraged, believing first that Su Jin took it only to learn someone must have copied her appearance (guess who...?)--Her aunt forces her to return it--she doesn't get into trouble because of the importance of being on good terms with the fox tribe. However it sends YH back to square one in terms of depression.



4.YH is in a bad state. Crying. Very upset. Basically wants to die.



5.Meanwhile a monster tries to kill A-Li. A princess from the sea kingdom intervenes and saves him. She meets YH, whom she recognizes from the war with mermaid tribe as Hua Ye (worse undercover name ever)

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ep 37 summary spoilers! kind of boring episode

1. Xian Nu is imprisoned by the ghost lord. This line stays with me, 'In the 70000 years that we have been married I have never truly understood you'. I am not sure if this means that having seen her behavior around Bai Quian he finally understands her or if it emphasizes that he can never understand her. Either way, she is still his wife, and I think Li Jing is someone really unsuited to be a ruler because he does not seem to want to hurt other people intentionally. He seems to not be happy with the task of punishing her but he tells her that at the end of the day, he is ghost lord first and so he sends her to the Artic and await a day to be punished (he has to skin her and tear her limbs off, I think, is what Ye Hua requested).



2. Of course she is placed in a cell next to the eldest ghost prince. Of course they are going to collude together. Which also begs the question: how is it that two of the craziest people are placed so close together? Must be dumb luck. Or a writer who has new plot line he wants to write.



They are both so deluded. And so obsessed. Xian Nu and he are now filled with hate and thirst for revenge; she is willing to risk Li Jing's life if it means she can kill Bai Quian by working with Li Huan. I find these two characters extremely interesting, because members of the ghost tribe are so different from the rest of the tribes--they are much more human in their actions and resolve. And without a doubt more passionate.



3. Third prince explains to Yu Hua the history with Mo Yuan and his relationship with Si Yin in a way that has Ye Hua questioning if he is just a fill in for Mo Yuan (I think they may be the same person, but who knows).



4. Mio Qing (sea princess) is lectured by third prince and tells her to go home; she is wasting her time. It is obvious by her expression that she has become steadily disheartened since arriving. Which may be the first time someone in the show has actually wavered in who they love; everyone else seems to be so obsessed with one person. Of course I don't mind this. But it should be noted if that is in fact true. Maybe there is still hope for the sea princess if she can remove herself from Si Jin.



4. Some guy named Bi Feng confesses to Bai Quian (I like her character a lot but I get tired of the trope of 'every guy loves one girl' and vice versa) Bi Feng shouldn't confess since Ye Hua is pretty possessive. Anyways, we are treated to an awkward scene as Ye Hua interrupts and Bai Quian must reject him in a respectful manner in front of Ye Hua (who I imagine is seeking a confirmation of her feelings) and she hides behind etiquette and her clan, stating she has no choice but to marry Ye Hua.



--I can't help but notice, as I am sure anyone reading and watching can, that she loses her cool facade around Ye Hua and becomes clumsy and shy; it's cute--is it bad that I kind of want her to knock Ye Hua around for what he did to her eyes?--



5. For the billionth time Yu Hua tells Bai QUian he loves her and how he will never leave her. Perhaps residual PTSD froom her memories is making her reject him again and again and again. Perhaps the betrayal of others in the past is impacting her decision. It could be stubborness since she had no control in selecting her partner. Who knows. And now we have to deal with Yu Hua wondering if Bai Quian loves Mo Yuan or not.



6. 18th explains how everyone got drunk that night and Si Yin went missing with Mo Yuan. Who knows how to hold her drink better than anyone else....? Tell me WHY Ye Hua hasn't figured it out yet but he solved the mystery of XianNu so quickly? Come on writers!



7.Si Jin has a plan for the sea princess to follow--we can all bet it is nefarious.



8. I do feel for Bai Quian who has to endure the stares of her friends and family who are clearly suspecting their relationship to be romantic, something she is not ready to admit which makes her more defensive.

___

Overall I found this episode to be more of a 'tying lose ends' and 'setting the stage for more things' episode. It wasn't very interesting and merely granting closure on some things only to plant the seeds for new conflicts.



I won't lie was extremely sad there was no Dong Hua and Fenjiu in this episode. It isn't that I don't like the maine couple, I don't know why, I just like Dong Hua and Fenjiu more perhaps because of how unrealistic their pairing is while Bai Quian and Ye Hua seems far more practical/realistic. It should be noted that the interactions of Bai Quian and Ye Hua are more understated and subtle, a skill that is arguably much more difficult in writing and acting to pull off and make interesting. So i can respect the writing and acting. I also think that my adoration for Journey of Flower makes me more likely to like Fengiu although I might like Fengiu even more because of her mischief-making and reckless behavior.

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Round 1: Ming Lan v. House of Gu

Spoilers Ahead *The Morning After*1)GTY essentially tells the servants to ignore the rules (she must greet the in laws) because Mi'er was up late last night and this morning (presumably rolling around with him). Unfortunately, her older servants manage to get in and dress her up. The couple is affectionate like any newly wed, and she must go wage her first battle with the Gu clan2)Although her husband insists they paid respects already hence she shouldn't go, she argues otherwise: if she doesn't answer the summons then she appears unfilial towards her new elders, it reflects poorly on the Sheng family, and he appears like a rogue and unfilial to outsiders. He makes it clear he doesn't clear, so Ming Lan instead shifts gears and explains it is common practice the in laws to rile up a new bride. So GTY tells her what she should expect:a) His stepmother will NOT be the first to speak (fourth or fifth house will)b)Fourth Auntie enjoys bullying the weak and cowering before the strong and is short tempered-his stepmother will cue her to attackc)Expect the Gu family to never take responsibility and frame othersd)He does promise they will move out soon3)As expected, everything happened the way he told her. Though this is a wedding breakfast, the goal is to throw a woman onto Ming Lan (the day after she is married! it's incredibly rude!) who is threatening suicide--her her name is HongXiao and she claims that when GTY was younger, he kept her as a concubine of sorts. Further, Lady Qin (Evil MIL) says she freed her and gave her money to marry someone but she simply refuses (big eye roll). Ming Lan plays the stupid card and insists she cannot accept her without her husband's permission (though not actually true, she can hide behind timidness as a new wife entering a new role). Ming Lan comes out with a big card: she will kneel for a day. This way, the elders are the ones who look like they are bullying her (Ming Lan also reasons that they are going to keep attacking her no matter what so she should just 'fall off the horse' instead of waiting to be knocked off)(she also correctly surmises that since Lady Qin desires to appear kind, she must be anxious and trying to figure out how to stop her from kneeling)4)Fifth aunt is aware of how manipulative Lady Qin is and tries to explain it 4th Aunt but the latter seems confused, suggesting she isn't the brightest. 5)Lady Qin goes to 'resuce' Ming Lan from kneeling and respects the boundary that she is drawing (for now). Ming Lan continues to bow her head and suggests she should apologize but Lady Qin brushes it off. Afterwards, Ming Lan returns to GTY and vents her anger. Ming Lan compares Lady Qin to Concubine Lin. Lin she thought was fierce, but Lady Qin is evil and on a whole other level in her eyes. They then discuss how the inner court is like fighting wars, and he again tells her he will always have her back. 6)GTY explains that the emperor wants him to ease the transition from old to new hence he is staying here for a bit. Ming Lan mentions hat she finds Hongxiao pitiful and learns that this is also a framing incident and it was a cousin who forced them self upon her. Framed, he let her into his room because he had no choice. She then tells him that he can have a concubine as long as she is nice and they can live in harmony, which clearly makes him angry, but he lets it go (perhaps thinking I will be patient and she will fall in love). Then he takes her out to see the sights....7)Lady Qin, spends the evening discussing the days events with her personal maid. We learn that fourth auntie (the loud one) now feels like she was used to do the dirty work of Madame Qin. Fifth auntie seemed to say nothing, which angers her because they acknowledge that the fifth aunt is clever and watches the fire burn from the side. Madame Qin calls her a 'white wolf' and angrily states that anyone who framed GTY will have to side with her because he won't forgive them.8)Basically the next day GTY announces he is moving next door, to his own manor, because the emperor gave him a house. The family insists it would be unfilial but he critizies the elders for bullying his wife and making her kneel not even 3 days after the wedding (shocking the men present). Lady Qin blames it on Hongxiao, the uncles then blame it all on GTY. Who then pushes it back on them for lying, and so Lady Qin intercedes as the 'savior' and says just let him go.....9)The Hongxiao issue resolved: Mi'er will find a family for her. Then they ask; how did we get on her anyways? GTY loudly (almost stupidly) asks: yeah who brought her up (LOL). GTY also is now using public opinion and gossip to help put a little fear in his enemies....(I love watching them trade words its like watching arrows going back and forth).10)The Marquis (elder brother) reflects on how the aunts and Lady qin will try to torment them, and he explains that GTY will be the new Marquis--his wife basically says she loves him even without his title and money please don't die--she is being sincere these two really love one another--but it is now becoming evident that the elder brother's long time struggle isn't just his personal issues with GTY (relating to the death of his mother) but extends to the entire clan11)GTY shows Ming Lan their giant new home (it puts her childhood home to shame in terms of size, although we really don't see as much of it film wise) and he explains he needed a place worthy of her (aww) and she explains she doesn't know if she can manage it but he explains if you don't want to do it let others just be my wife (LOL) and she then counters that this basically isn't fair because it will make him look bad and again he tells her who cares12)The episode ends with her returning o visit her grandmother

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Master Sheng Returns & Allegations of Adultery

Spoilers Ahead (caution this is a long review)1)Big Madame makes the decision to have Concubine Lin arrested for 'trying to steal a man' (adultery). She waits until Concubine Lin and the man are alone in a room before sending her most trusted servants to hog tie and bind both of them. Within the manor, news spreads rapidly and upon hearing of her daughter in laws actions, Big Madame immediately 'faints' (it is an act to excuse herself from becoming involved in this matter). Big Madame's goal is to quickly sell Concubine Lin off (another example of her shortsightedness as she is not thinking of family reputation or her husband).2)Concubine Lin insists she is being framed. She demands that the landlord be brought in in order to prove her statements are true (maybe in this moment Big Madame realizes that her case is flimsy hence all the more reason to quickly get rid of her).3)Ming Lan is sent to deliver the words of Old Madame: Big Madame has the authority to decide this case because it is part of her job . Elsewhere, Second Brother attempts to liberate the landlord in order to have him stand as a witness for his mother. As he attempts this, Big Madame brings in a slave seller. The slave seller is clearly uncomfortable with this transaction and does not wish to do it because she can assess this a family mess and she does not wish to anger the Master, who is not present and unaware. Big Madame exerts pressure and she reluctantly agrees.4)Second Brother suceeds and brings the landord, who confirms that this was merely about business. However, because they never signed anything due to lack of time, Big Madame confirms they must have been 'talking poetry' (making love). Concubine Lin demands justice, and is right to do so because this time she did not commit the crime (but in the wake of all of her crimes, I am not without sympathy for the big madame however this is clearly wrong).5)Upon learning of Big Madame's plans to sell Concubine Lin, she again sends Ming Lan out as her messenger. But first, they must intercept the loyal servants of Concubine Lin who have gone to Kaifeng precinct for justice. Ming Lan suggests they enlist GTY for aid, and he intervenes them quickly and efficiently. 6)The second message of Old Madame: a)Both Big Madame and Madame Lin are to be confined while this is investigated because they only have an allegation and no evidence b)the allegations are legitimate because it is the height of impropriety to go into an outside male's room; any person would come to this conclusion not to mention the fact that Concubine Lin went in disguise instead of making it an official visit. Unfortunately, Big Madame has one final say: she has Second Son beat his own mother (an extremely unrefined thing to do) and when he fails, she is caned.7)Hu'aer, who has returned because word has spread that her father has been detained, has come to support her mother. She scolds her mother for her actions because it would upset their father if Concubine Lin was sold, and she may even have committed a crime in having Second Son beat his own mother (unfilial, because he raised her). But she understands her mother's long standing frustration. The conversation shifts to Hua'er's situation, and her mother is extremely upset to see she is still being mistreated by her mother in law. 8)Finally Master Sheng returns. He reports to Old Madame First but she bids him to rest first--only after he leaves does Ming Lan learn her grandmother did not ask what happened because her grandmother concluded the experience was bad, otherwise he would have reported immediately. She wanted him to rest up first. 9)Hu'er is summoned back suddenly and the tired Master Sheng thanks her for coming and promises that after this they will figure out something to help support her in her difficult situation. Concubine Lin then bursts in with her children. Second Son asks his father how his stay in the palace was and his father explains it was a great time, and he was pampered. Second Son does not pick up on this sarcasm and congratulates him, and what follows is his father blowing up at Second Son and has him dragged out, insisting he be beat to death.10)Everyone is surprised by this, and we learn what happened in the palace. He was detained and left in a hallway, and was not allowed to leave even for the bathroom. After spending a terrifying night--of not knowing if he was to be killed or executed or tortured--the emperor arrives and has a talk with him. It seems that some of his spies heard Second Son in a drinking hall gossiping about how Prince Yan would be the new crown prince. Times are dangerous and uncertain without a crown prince (if public opinion were to back him then maybe the ministers would etc. I think is the meaning here). The thing that saves him (because the emperor is confident that he learned this at home) are Ming Lan's words from school when she discusses that the best thing to do is to trust the emperor and be a simple subject.11)Upon hearing this, Big Madame is so horrified she causes this kind of conduct a heavenly calamity (not wrong at all) and her husband repeats this (and it is kind of funny). Big Madame wrongly decides to raise the issue of the alleged adultery, which then leads to Concubine Lin sharing news about Big Madame secretly giving out high interest loans (illegal) for her sister. (The remainder of this scene unfolding is quite funny) Master Sheng loses it on both of them, laughingly tells Molan that her mother and madame have some issues, and then asks if either one of them would follow him into exile. Then he is surrounded by women begging him for forgiveness, and he looks so miserable....Conclusion: This was a great episode, they all, but a lot happened in this one. We clearly see that reputation means the most to Master Sheng and he is utterly taken aback by how his wife and concubine can't seem to grasp the long term importance of this but are instead focused on ruining each other's lives--but their conduct could lead to exile, fines, trials, etc.....

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Gu Ting Ye Returns from the Dead & Concubine Wei dies

Spoilers AheadOverview: Gu Ting Ye is forced to prove his identity and that he is the one meant to inherit the Bai family salt mines (The Bai family is his relation through his mother) showing very clearly that Gu Ting Ye is stubborn, and smart. Not long after, Concubine Wei dies in childbirth in a supremely tragic way--and it is obvious that Concubine Lin had a hand in it.1)In this episode the Bai family holds the funeral for their patriarch. Just as Master Sheng is whispering on the aside regarding the poor conduct of the new son-in-law for bringing Gu Ting Ye and not telling anyone (who is dead) hence this awful brew-haha-ha has occured since he is a legitimate son of a marquis, the 'dead' boy arrives very much alive. A fight breaks out among the Bai clan, causing Gu Ting Ye to produce his grandfather Bai's last will and testament naming him the heir (it is apparent that the Bai family is behind his near murder). Gu Ting Ye has to prove his case is legitimate, and we learn that he only survived because he and his servant switched clothes2)Having established his identity and legitimate claim, Gu Ting Ye is arguably one of the richest people in the city since he owns all the Bai family salt mines.. I think it is important to note that we see how heavily religion influences people in this show--his Uncle Bai, who challenges his claim, is unable to swear on the soul of his mother (it could also be that if this crime is exposed, he will be charged with an additional crime of dishonoring the ancestors)3)In addition, this show establishes that Gu Ting Ye is the kind of person who considers his friends safety--he did not go to Eldest Brother Sheng because he did not want to implicate him4)Mistress Wei goes into labor after getting into an argument with a stubborn Ming Lan who refuses to go to her grandmother. Concubine Lin overseees everything. We learn the baby is too big to be born.The midwife leaves to get water and Concubine Lin attempts to send Sixth Miss off who refuses. Mistress Wei is left with two young maids who want to be helpful but clearly lack any skill.5)Little Xao tao reports to Ming Lan that the midwife has gone missing. Concubine Lin appears outraged. The servants of Concubine Lin repeatedly try to stop Sixth Miss from becoming involved. She sees that her mother is so poorly treated that even the rags being used to wipe away her sweat are rancid. Her mother tells her to find one of the elders to help with the labor and she rushes to do this whiile Concubine Lin just stands there useless. ming Lan's mother attempts to birth the child herself while alone (!)6)Unfortunately, the elders (nanny's) are either busy or drunk (this can't be a coincidence). Ming Lan is so desperate she throws water into the face of a passed out nanny, but she is drunk as a skunk and unable to help. Sadly, none of the servants interfere (perhaps because they are involved with this plot or they are aware that things might end poorly for them if they help. looked what happened to xiao Die).7)The front gate is firmly closed and no one is around to help lift it. Ming Lan crawls through a dough hole and climbs the outer wall , hurting herself along the way (I truly admire this little girl) and she asks strangers for help to find a doctor. Ming Lan is seen by Gu Ting Ye who immediately helps her. (remember, prior to this they only played the arrow throwing game, in which she won). With his help, they reach the Longevity Hall and she busts inside to get a doctor (it also highlights status, because she is dirty and alone so they must think she is a nobody) gu ting ye gets the doctor and is locked out of Sheng hall.8)Gu Ting Ye illustrates his resourcefulness by creating a grappling hook (I doubt this would work in real life but it looks believable) and he scales the wall (now everyone is watching because he looks like he is breaking in) and he opens the gates for the doctor and drags him (by this point the doctor really does not want to be involved). Concubine Lin tries to send the doctor away and summons officers but Gu Ting Ye illustrates his bad ass fighting skills by incapacitating them and he gets the doctor inside after arguing with them.9)Ming Lan races back with another doctor, and the doctor tells her that it was already too late by the time she arrived at his place--the baby is too big and won't come out. Ming Lan is in shock. For a child, you can tell she is upset and terrified but the reality hasn't quite sunk in (this child actress is fantastic)10)Ming Lan's mother's death is so sad. She explains to her how she got a doctor, and her mother tells her to give the knee guard she finished making to him. Since she has nothing left, she gives her a scroll she made. Mistress Wei tells her she must survive, she mustn't stand out (Ming Lan begs her basically to stay) and her mother makes her call her mistress (she is technically only allowed to call the legitimate wife mother)11)Ming Lan calls her mistress Wei as she asks and then tells her she will be alone when she is dead, so Ming Lan promise to go to grandmother's (a ton of blood gushes out, presumably from her uterus) and she dies this is so sad I cried buckets of tears.12)Servants, Concubine Lin, the doctor, Gu Ting Ye all watch her as she cries her eyes out, and Gu Ting ye tries to comfort her by saying he has no mother so she must cherish herself, but Ming Lan faints13)Now the house must deal with the scandal of Concubine Wei's death. Big Madame (in a theme that will repeat itself again and again) must clean up this mess. Concubine Lin acts very well and begins to implement her plan of convincing Master Sheng that this is her fault because she was unable to be stern. She assumes responsibility but in a very superficial way, she blames a ton of other factors for what has happened. She faints, and this causes Master Sheng to panic (is he stupid?)14)Big Madame does not want to make a big deal about this death, but Hua'er points out that this is a great opportunity for her to use to make herself look good in the eyes of Master Sheng because it will enhance the family reputation if they give Concubine Wei a grand funeral. Hua'er also tells her not to ask for the keys back, just appear devoted in managing the funeral (essentially this means that Master Sheng hates being told what to do)

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Ming Lan....married to Yuan Ruo?

SPOILERS! After the funeral of his father, GTY has a heart to heart with Eldest Brother Sheng. Elder brother tells GTY that he will be getting married in two months. GTY decides not to go in order to avoid creating any rumors and instead leaves immediately with Rong'er to find his son. The episode then shifts to Yuan Ruo who celebrates his mother's birthday and introduces a new food to the family--stir fry--it's all the rage. Unfortunately, Yuan Ruo chooses a day that should be, well, all about his mother to present to her his request to marry Sheng Ming Lan. I felt very bad for his mother and him, because she was uneasy the moment he mentioned marriage--she will have to be the bad guy--because she knows that her son can't marry just anybody. Marrying Ming Lan as a first wife is simply a fairy tale thing, not a reality. The consequences would extend far beyond humiliating his parents--it could humiliate even the royal family since she is after all a princess. I think it is extremely unfair, and I feel for Yuan Ruo, but I think this episode shows that he is used to getting what he wants because he seems to have a sincere belief that his parents would consent. It is incredibly naive of him to believe his mother when she agrees to go offer for her (come on we know she marries GTY so its obvious his mother is not going to propose). Ming Lan receives the message that his mother will support the marriage in secret. Her grandmother is not pleased and wants to stop any hint of gossip. Her grandmother seems angry with Yuan Ruo telling her this thing because it will be disastrous for Ming Lan's reputation. Her grandmother confronts her about this and makes it clear that she needs to think about her future--she reminds her of the facts that their difference in status is huge. If they marry, she will be miserable because of his mother, and her grandmother is confident he cannot protect her. I.e. she wants her to think about being happy, not about love. Elsewhere, Gu Ting ye saves the life of an important group of men who essentially become his best friends much later on (its the emperor, Prince Huan, and general Shen)(they never really explain how he learns to fight so well but I presume they are taking into account the fact that he is from a military family so its ...natural?)

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Painful: A father dies and a Monster is revealed

Spoilers AheadThis episode is one of those major transitional episodes because a big enough event happens that causes life changing choices to occur. After the mistress of Gu Ting Ye ruins engagement after engagement with her theatrics, Ming Lan meets her and concludes based on her evidence (or in this case performance) that she has a bad personality. She tries to tell Gu Ting Ye this and it triggers an argument before he storms off. Later, Gu Ting Ye has a heated argument with his father in which he basically confronts him about his mother, her treatment and death, and his father is extremely defensive, refusing to admit any responsibility and instead shifts blame by focusing on Gu Ting Ye's behavior (incidentally, this episode actually highlights how similar these two are in terms of temperament). His father suddenly coughs up blood (I am not sure what could have caused this) and Gu Ting Ye naturally panics and runs to his stepmother, who sends him away to get an imperial physician. GTY returns and no one will let him inside to see his father. his elder brother goes so far as to fist fight him in front of the house, and after his father is dead is he allowed to see him--this is a pivotal moment because it allows Gu Ting ye to see his stepmother for what she really is (an evil witch) and helps give him the final push he needs to abandon this Gu family of his. It's so painful to watch because he is clearly wracked with guilt, and he must contend with the entire Gu clan throwing false accusations at him including his mother making up lies about what actually happened. He realizes that the end game for everyone has been to expel him from the family. GTY tells his stepmother directly that she disgusts him before leaving. The eldest Sheng son goes to see him and keep him company. This is just awful, because everyone who has hurt him feels justified for doing what they do: his stepmother just wants the best for her son, his eldest brother wants to help his mother rest easy knowing that the son of the woman who (in a way) resulted in her death is not having an easy time, and his family all disdain him for being born from a low class woman.

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The Empress Bows Her Head

Spoilers Ahead1)Empress Dowager takes the initiative in punishing Consort Zhou for her actions. 50 slaps to the face. The General attempts to intervene but the eunuch falls, and accuses him of interfering with justice. Later, he reports to the Dowager and informs her that the Shen house acted as predicted.2)The court wants blood. The emperor was the matchmaker for General Shen, hence he bears responsibility. General Shen allowing his household to act this way reflects poorly on the crown. The empress believes that Duke Ying will see this through because it involves his only child. ..3)Ming Lan meets with her friend, Madame Shen, Ming Lan tries to assess the situation with the general (her husband). Madame Shen explains she has turned her husband away and she praised the empress dowager for personally visiting her. Ming Lan now sees where this plot is coming from.4)Ming Lan visits the empress. Only after all the ladies who have come to fawn leave does she (the empress) delay Ming Lan under the pretext of asking about her pregnancy and she asks Ming Lan what she thinks. Ming Lan is frank. After they discuss the salt issue (and she learns her husband almost died for the first time) she explains she would protect her husband no matter what (see where this is headed now....?) The empress afraid that they will lose the support of the Duke of Ying to the empress dowager. The purpose of the marriage with the general was to merge with old subjects. So Ming Lan tells her what she thinks: she tells her a story of the three kingdom period in which in which a subject punished themselves to show loyalty and to basically undermine the enemy. (she is telling the empress she needs to bow her head and take the blame). 5)The empress makes a difficult choice. She takes a crown of hers and takes an enormous pear off of it. She She has it sent to the Ducal Zhang family in order to apologize to them for sending Consort Zhou to the General's House, leading to him favoing her. Then she removes everything so that she is only wearing a white robe, and walks by everyone (servants) in this garb (it is humiliating when you think about it) to beg forgiveness as she was the matchmaker. Her hair is even unbound, which is a huge deal....6)The Emperor is listening to the prime minister update him on the latest of empress dowager's work. They are trying to figure out a soution in the face of her attacks, because he must do something in order to avoid appearing biased--and that is when the empress appears, head bowed, begging publicly for forgiveness not as an empress but as a member of the shen clan; she is apologizing on behalf of her kin..7)In her apology, the empress states she has failed the state her family and the teachings of dowager empress. the emperor helps her to her feet and says 'you are my empress' and 'your mistake is my mistake' and tells her that together they will beg the empress dowager for forgiveness (it is great because the empress has to forgive them now this kind of behavior is unprecedented)(in destroying her pride the empress has won this round and the empress dowager must forgive them)..8)General Shen loses a year's salary and will be confined for a brief amount of time in his home to reflect. His Consort is sentenced by empress dowager to be slapped 50 more times (her face is already tore up) and to be forced to live her remaining days in a simple room. Her brother is to be caned 30 days and pay the Duke of Ying 10,000 taels which will be promptly handed over to the daughter. Her other brother is to be exiled for a separate crime. (bye bye consort)(this is called getting off light I don't know what they were thinking).9)The daughter of Duke Ying is lucky. Her parents have a plan: she could go live in a convent for a bit and when this has died down return, if she doesn't want to go back. MW Consort Zhou is dragged away in front of her surviving sister on the same day that a party is being held to showcase the shen couple as 'together' Ming Lan takes care of this issue for her friend quietly and explains that while this is unfortunate, at least her family and children can still have a future..10)Ming Lan lectures the general like Momo Kang. She spells out his mistakes: 1)You favored Zhou too much as she was your wife's sister 2)You took her in as a concubine 3)As a result of all of this, not even the empress can scold her because of the service her sister provided . Ming Lan reminds the younger sister of the general to think about how this incident if not contained would have destroyed so many lives. This is the best result.

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Ming Lan Uses An Actual Sword to Protect a Friend in Labor

SPOILERS AHEAD1)The Big Madame Sheng is thoroughly humiliated by Old Madame for ignoring her repeated requests to a)stop helping Auntie Kang and b)allowing her to visit. She is commanded to kneel all day, in front of the servants. This is humiliating because she is the head of the house. 2)The Evil MIL considers what steps to take next since Auntie Kan has proven useless. Her servant explains that Ming Lan is a formidable opponent. So Evil MIL says at this point there are only two choices: a)utterly destroy the enemy or b)choose her own path (I think that may imply she herself dies). She explains that her husband loved her elder sister the most, even though she wasn't that great, but he still let her die to save the family. She states that no matter how great a person is, how virtuous and kind, in the end people will love who they love (i.e. he never loved me) and he was only so easy to manipulate because her sister died. She says that seeing how passionate Gu Ting Ye is reminds her of the old master and her sister. She decides to kill Ming Lan in order to cripple Gu because at this point she no longer cares necessarily about winning. 3)Evil MIL breaks down in tears, making her more empathetic, because it seems that the only thing she has ever had is her son, and so she essentially wants him to have the world (let us not forget that people who do bad things often rationalize their crimes)4)Meanwhile, Big Madame Sheng sobs in the arms of Hua'er and complains that in the end it is always her suffering. She can't help but go to her sister because her sister at least validates her. But Hua'er tells her that Auntie Kang is evil and that Old Madam is just thinking of her and the family--her sister never does anything for them and only hurts others. Plus, Ming Lan is a good person they don't Auntie Kang to receive help from Ming Lan5)The Wang family comes to visit, but Ming Lan leaves suddenly because her friend the wife of General Weibei is going through child birth. She gets there immediately, While she heads over there, her husband lectures her for sneaking in a daughter of his as a concubine secretly and her son even begs her to stop these games (this is important) but Auntie Kang is unrepentant and defends herself, saying she does it all for the family6)Ming Lan arrives and sees that the household is without anyone in control. She sends someone to go fetch back the general and the Duke and Duchess (the parents of the woman in labor//the duke is also a general). they then learn that the imperial physician is detained by consort Lancao and they are saying he has gone (seems awfully familiar)......7)Ming Lan supports this woman (can you believe we didn't have pain numbers until the 19th century for birthing?!). We learn that she is in premature labor after an altercation with the consort. It has turned the baby sideways. Now I am not a doctor, but that isn't at all right (they will probably need to use forceps or just yank it out, an incredibly painful thing to experience and dangerous). Ming Lan is does not buy the lies that the doctor is gone. So she takes matters into her own hands. She grabs a sword and prepares to do battle..8)Now what she is doing is extremely risky. She brings a bunch of servants with her to get the doctor. The consort and her brother appear to say they sent him home. She has the courtyard searched and holds a sword to the consorts throat. they find the doctor and bring him back. because she is followed by the brother in law of the consort, she cuts him and angrily tells him she saw this trick before and won't see a repeat9)Ming Lan is such a bad ass. She guards the door with her sword into the dark hours. The general is lectured by the duchess who accuses him of not properly protecting her daughter from sinister thoughts (the daughter is special because she is their only child and she had her late in life--hence they will do anything for her). The duchess is so grateful to Ming Lan she insists she call her auntie.10)The general is quiet, head bowed in the face of these angry women (it is a little funny because he fights battles) and in typical male fashion is useless when it comes to that critical time--he just paces back and forth helplessly while listening to the sound of his dying wife. The duke/general arrives and collapses, both believing she is about to die.....and then they hear a baby's cries----she survives..11)The Duke, with his wife by his side, calmly tells the General that he must get rid of his consort (but this is no easy thing, Lady Zhou's older sister died for the empress). So then he asks for an amicable separation and reminds him that his daughter did not have to marry him and they could easily have her remarried. he refuses to separate, so they take their daughter and leave......

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A Cat Fight

Big Madame seems to have given up on persuading her daughter, who is just as stubborn as her. Rulan explains she has no interest in marrying the count because 1)she has seen her older sister have problems in her marital house 2)it would be hard for anyone, and she even might feel bad for Ming Lan because as an illegitimate daughter she will be at the mercy of her relatives. ---Ming Lan continues to give gifts from the Marquis house to everyone. Mo'er is throwing a tantrum and rudely rejects them (this feels like a set up to me, Ming Lan KNOWS Mo'er wants to marry this guy). Worse, Ming Lan's servant triggers Mo'er where she is most vulnerable, by basically saying that no matter what Mo'er does she will never be like Ming Lan who has a great character and dignity (remember, Mo'er has this big inferiority complex)--Mo'er then runs to confront Ming Lan IRONICALLY she accuses Ming Lan of lacking virtue and being in danger of dragging the family down--Ming Lan is defensive and then Mo'er FREAKS OUT and gets into a fight and tries to CUT HER FACE--this is the scene Big Madame walks into.......Ming Lan indeed has a cut on her face--Concubine Lin comes in, and then Mo'er becomes the victim and even accuses Ming Lan of starting this fight and hitting her first!!Old Madame intervenes and Mo'er thinks she is off but she is about to be interrogated...Master Sheng is brought in to sit in on this interrogation....and so Mo'er changes her story AGAIN and now says she didn't realize what she was doing. Ming Lan says she believes that this is in retaliation for offending her at the Jiju match. She reports she threw mud at her at the Jiju match....but it was all to protect her reputation....and Mo'er confirms that Ming Lan did it on purpose (confirming it happened), so then Ming Lan says it was because she was about to attend a man gathering.....Ming Lan did it for the family! CONCLUSION: Ming Lan was smart in framing her argument because instead of defending herself she instead appeals to her father placing reputation above all else---Ming Lan wins this match

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Gu Ting Ye Returns Home!! Master He is OUT

Spoilers ahead1)Yuan Ruo receives permission from his parents to propose marriage to Ming Lan after he passes his exam 2)In his typical sarcastic form, Gu Ting Ye apologizes to his stepmother (who feigns a convincing show of concern) for returning not just well, but successful 3)Elder brother accuses him of returning simply to brag but Gu flips that around and accuses them of hiding to avoid being caught up in power struggle 4)Further, Gu Ting Ye announces that one day he will be the Marquis (revenge!) and scolds them soundly (how do they keep up this act of not apologizing to him? I just couldn't do it) THEN insists he will take the spear that he said he would come back for away before leaving.....after all, he has soldiers with him LOL 5)Gu Ting Ye stops by to visit Young Master Sheng and catch up an this is how we learn that he is now the most eligible bachelor in the city 6)This is where he learns that Sixth Miss is contemplating marrying the young son of the He family (what an easy life she will have if she marries him) and this is where he very vaguely alludes to a problem that the He master might have (but it is so vague I only notice after rewatching this episode) 7)Gu Ting Ye goes off to do some battle 8)Master He runs into a mysterious woman, a cousin, who begs him to let her be his concubine because she is all alone (He is so easily swayed b his natural care for others....) Ming Lan catches them and this is how we learn she refuses to tolerate a concubine like this because it would just be an unfair scenario with problems galore because it would insult his cousin to be only his concubine--she is giving him some time to think it over--8)she runs into Rulan who appears to have been secretly talking to a young man......

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Mo'er's Secret Romance Exposed

Spoilers Ahead1)Our episode opens up with Mo'er and Liang Chu (the Count's Sixth Son) embracing one another in their love nest. She casually mentions the issue of marriage, and he tells her that he can't approach his mother right now. This triggers an argument as she insists that if the news gets out, she is ruined, and he will be scolded. She has given him everything, and if he won't marry her she should die (it's clearly an act).2)The door bursts open and her father comes in and all her father can do is scream (I think my father would do the same). Liang Chu is shocked and can only say 'Sheng' and her father tells her she has ruined the family--he runs out after issuing orders for her to be bound. Later, Concubine Lin comes to the main hall and pleads on the behalf of her daughter who just got 'caught up in the moment' (?? in this time a well bred girl does not get 'caught up in the moment' and have sex. the jiju tournament with Yuan Ruo is a better example of 'caught up in the moment' and look at what that did)3)After her tricks don't work (she fake faints) Concubine Lin continues to make excuses. Her father wants to kill Mo'er and cannot even look at Concubine Lin. Big Madame simply stares ahead and is silent. The arrival of her son is the last line these two have as Master Sheng says he will not kill them because his son still needs to study (this matter is still a secret at this point) but the real thing saving these two is the fact that no one outside the family knows.4)Big Madame is celebrating her victory when her eldest daugter Hu'er arrives in a panic because the entire city is gossiping about the Fourth Miss Sheng slipping in the temple and being caught by Liang Chu and that it is a huge scandal. Big Madame's joy quickly changes to horror--even though it isn't the truth, this is more than enough to ruin their family. 5)Elsewhere, Old Madame takes medicine and listens to her son who apologizes. She casually says she is fine, she just got so sick she coughed up blood. She points out the facts: Hu'er is in a panic, Rulan wants to kill herself one minute, the next she wants to commit murder. How can a son who is so careful get so schemed by his wife. He always forigves her, defends her, accepts her excuses of being 'muddled' but how can he not do something about her when these mistakes have piled up over the years. Mo'er she says should have been a good girl but she was raised Concubine Lin and so she values gain and greed and will do anything for it. How could he have forgotten that it was only last year he got locked up in the palace--what if this matter gets out?6)Concubine Lin has a BLOW OUT confrontation with Sheng, because she lets slip the fact that she knows about the city gossiping about Mo'er slipping and being caught--something she should not know. Master Sheng is in tears and horrified at how she can turn her daughter, for all intents and purposes, into a slut (this is the word usually used in dramas) for the sake of a title and riches--never mind that she will have a difficult life being concubine born--although Concubine Lin refutes this and says that though Hu'er has problems it's because she has 'no measures'. This leads to her essentially telling him that it was okay for her, why not her daughter (i.e. you and I had a similar story) and then the light bulb goes off in his head and he confronts her--did you manipulate me? do you not love me? was I a plot?--she doesn't know what to say, and says she will be whatever he wants her to be, so he slaps her--and she just laughs and tells him that he has no choice but to make sure Mo'er is married because if not the whole family will go down.7)Alone in her room with Hu'er, Big Madame is so upset but also sad. She learns from Hu'er--after seeing she is upset--that her mother in law took her son away, hired poor servants to watch him, and the kid was crawling and knocked a smoke pan over. He wasn't burned, but her daughter, who was visiting, saw this and intervened, and in doing so her hands are now covered in blistered :/ 8)For the sake of her children, Big Madame bows her head to visit Madame Wu. It is extremely humiliating because Madame Wu was never interested in Mo'er, and this Mo'er has basically broken every rule. Madame Wu poses a compromise: give me Ming Lan as the legitimate wife and Mo'er can be the concubine (NIGHTMARE)9)Old Madame is ENRAGED. She screams at Big Madame and and Master Sheng, insisting this is retribution. She carefully raised Ming Lan and now she has to be wasted because of Mo'er? The sixth son is worse than that loafer Gu she states, but unfortunately there is nothing that can be done. Ming Lan overhears this and says she doesn't need to marry--which is ignored by everyone, because even if she doesn't marry, what about Rulan and the rest of the family? 10)Mo'er has a confrontation with Hu'er who comes to deliver food--she learns that Madame Wu rejected Big Madame and that they are considering tossing her out into the streets--but Mo'er insists that Old Madame will go. This triggers Hu'er, asking her if she has no shame, and Mo'er defends herself, explaining that this is to ensure she has a stable future, but someone who has everything handed to her wouldn't understand11)Ultimately Old Madame goes, begs Madame Wu, and they agree to marriage. Mo'er is overjoyed. And runs to see her mother. The episode ends with her out loud stating that Rulan can now eat her words, Mo'er believes tht everyone must admire her since she will be the legitimate wife and does not listen to her sister-in-laws words that she is basically entering a wolve's den--so she stops and just wishes her well.

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