The First Jasmine Episode 8

An Entertaining Duo and the Mysteries of Grief

Oh, I finally got to see Lin Muran's character, Han Mingxi, and I think I will enjoy him a lot! The dynamics between him and Ye Ying are already such great entertainment. Their scenes will probably be among those I am looking forward to the most! 🤭😂Prince Li I dislike more and more with each scene he's in. And that threat to drown himself in the pond? Yeah.... not a good impression of that character.😩 I am happy his wife has found new people to communicate with (pointing at Han Mingxi), even if he's an "assassin". 😏Xiuyao knows about Qingshuang's existence in A'Li's mind now, and I wonder what he will do when he finds proof that she's not alive anymore? Will he tell his wife or will he play along? 🤔I think at some point someone should "wake her up" the same way she did with Xiuyao's brother's wife. Though the situations are different due to other obstacles A'Li has gone through, the weight of her grief is affecting her in a very similar way.... after all, what were her words in the previous episode? "She has had this dream for eight years. Now it's destroying her. And now it's time for her to wake up." ☝️😔Once they all realise everything, I wonder how long those around her will let A'Li live in her delusional world. 🤔

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Accusations and corrections

The invitation was from a friend of Empress Dowager. She is determined to prove Lishan’s guilt in acting against the Empress. Ye Li’s uncle is trying to smooth things over as best he can. Ye Li finds herself in Prince Li’s quarters after having a collision with a servant. This was supposed to be a location to clean her robe and she finds Prince Li instead. He thinks ChangFu was killed to better his court position. Ye Li set him straight on that notion immediately. He was killed for the 7 lost souls in Lishan and had nothing whatsoever to do with him. She described him as a cicadas and that seems rather apt. He is lost in his delusions because he has plans with no means or will to accomplish them. Ye Ying and his mother watched him threaten to jump in the pond because he wasn’t getting his way. His servant jumped in to keep the idiot from jumping and Ye Li left making it clear they had nothing between them and she felt nothing but contempt for him. Ye Ying and her hunt for an assassin😂🤣 This turned out to be quite humorous and if she gets to look Ye Li in the eye, what is she really going to do? Ye Ying is impulsive and meanspirited but could she really kill or watch someone be killed in cold blood? She seems to be a big part of the comic relief so will see how this plays out. The uncle looks like he is moving half the city into the palace.🤣😂 When asked how long he’s staying he started with two months. 🤣😂 If this is his daily essentials he will need a warehouse for all his possessions. XiuYao has an old friend released from jail. The prince wants help clearing his family and the cavalry from wrongdoing. He needs help collecting the evidence required. The jailed one wants to handle the wording on the Marquis’ memorial . They strike a deal to deal with the Marquis and get justice. The visiting seer friend is trying to steer the Empress dowager, but only partly successful. It is clear Ye Li has answered directly to all questions and has not wavered in what she has said. She continues to be a breath of much needed air even with her scrambled sense of reality. The Prince is now looking into the maid Ye Li wanted the medicine for. It will give him another piece of the puzzle of Lishan. Another is haunted by Lishan and here I wonder if Ye Li is helping create his nightmares since she was out and about late at night. XiuYao is experiencing more pain with his leg injuries but is still very reluctant to let Ye Li try her mountain healing techniques. I like that Ye Li didn’t shirk the invitation nor cower at the accusations. She answered the same as for Empress Dowager. I enjoyed her telling that deluded Prince Li what she thought of him. He is somewhat a tragic figure playing the libertine to survive in the palace. However, he lacks the wherewithal to throw himself unrepentantly into the role or to break free of it and face the consequences. He wanted a future with Ye Li but had no plan in place for where they would go or how they would survive. He is discontent and whiny about the hand he has been given, but doesn’t try to play the cards he’s been dealt. Even Ye Ying doesn’t deserve to be married to him. I like that Xiu Yao and Ye Li are getting closer. 🥰 It is very small steps but promising. Waiting to see what Xiu Yao and his prison friend have in store for the Marquis. Lots going on and many characters involved. It segues smoothly through the various perspectives and past and present. It has been a fun and interesting experience watching so far.

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