The First Jasmine Episode 1

I like this start and want to see more

My math here is "Mo Xiuyao + Ye Li = Mo Li"... am I correct about the title? I like this arranged marriage trope, especially since both of them are the least loved children of their parents, and everyone tries to push them down and humiliate them in a way. I really don't like what is being done to Mo Xiuyao, and I loved seeing Ye Li putting that astronomical guy in his place. And I could sense from a kilometre away that the dowry had been moved from the chests and replaced with some cheap stuff... oh, those greedy second wives! They are always like this. My thought is that Mo Xiuyao is pushing Ye Li away right from the start because he has no desire for a pity wife given by his relatives. Nor does he want to be pitied by her because of his disability. Keeping the distance is the best shield he can have. I am looking forward to seeing how their relationship grows, how they get closer, and how they help each other with whatever needs to be done to make everyone pay for what they have done to them.

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The family of charity

This episode introduces us to a family with two daughters marrying. The one from the first marriage came down from Lishan mountains and the other has been the favored daughter. An imperial sign was taken during wedding preparations and the search is on. Because of the search the matriarch had to give up the keys to Ye Li’s dowry boxes and it was clear they were ransacked and exchanged. She very wisely gets the transfers of all her mother’s gifts that night instead of waiting for ceremony. The plaque is found in the pond and the family of charity looked more like the family of filth. I don’t know if that’s a younger sibling, but their plan worked to get her dowry returned before leaving the house. The eldest was promised to Prince Li but the engagement was broken and she was offered a betrothal to Prince Ding instead. It is clear when she is forced to walk by his entourage that Prince Li might have been forced to alter his plans, but did not have the spine to stick up for her. The crippled Prince in spite of his attitude seems a much better candidate. They have not given us the history as to why she was banished or what Ye Li’s mother saw in her husband other than a pretty face. It is even more a mystery why she was betrothed to Prince Ding. Ye Li argued directly with the minister to get her betrothed to the ceremony. Here was her final surprise. Tho a cripple, he wasn’t a weakling. He scares her with a fake seizure and makes it clear he has no interest in their marriage. I guess the humans are better than the mountain monkeys, but they don’t seem much kinder, they just bite differently. I like Ye Li’s pragmatic approach to dealing with her relatives. She recognizes her place but refuses to be cheated and diplomatically gets her things returned, including her groom.😂 I am curious how she and Prince Ding will interact after his very direct snub.

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