Ashes to Crown Episode 12

The truth hurts

At the start of the episode, we are already thrown into the backstory of the forbidden love between Chu Ling, General of Chu, and Alan Ruoyin, General of the Northern Desert. And that love story is worthy of its own drama, to be fair! The story is tragic, but it perfectly explains why things are the way they are and proves her mother didn’t abandon her because she didn’t want or love her… It was the only protection they could give her.

Zhao’s reaction there is completely justified—the truth came so suddenly, and she feels betrayed and deceived by the people who mean the most to her. And as usual, the moment she’s overtaken by her emotions, A’Jiu is the only one who can reach her, make her see reason, and calm her… He’s like an unbreakable pillar, the constant support and the only one she trusts, but even that is shattered by something that happened years ago—now, due to a change of events, causing a butterfly effect and leading to Chu Ling’s death much sooner.

The scene where Zhao confronts A’Jiu hurts. More than the one with the parents. And of course, it was pouring buckets. Why wouldn't it? The surprise on A’Jiu’s face regarding the effects of the Bloodburn Pill was genuine, yet he chose not to explain himself and instead accepted whatever punishment Zhao would give him. Calling him "Xie Yanlai" already draws distance immediately. However, her arrow misses and her answer for that mercy only grows the distance more: “You claimed you owed me. Now we are square.” OMG!

P.S. I don’t like it one bit that Yanfang is teaching Xiao Yu anything. Please, I hope he is smart enough to filter Yanfang’s words… He probably knows he’s a villain thanks to Zhao and is just playing along? I hope, I hope!

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