AleksandraSucur

the problem is many of those powerful figures are even more incompetent. And if they are not, they are corrupted or easily swayed. That's why the emperor is able to play balance of power game among them.
Lord Chen (Capital Chief Investigator) seems the only normal (he also discretely helped XQ) but he's too low in ranking, I suppose

Have no idea, but it would be logical for a happy future of the Dafeng and the script relies on logics up to this point, independently of the general fantasy setting

glad to be of some help ☺️
I get why you had to replay, actually, the English translation is not up to the level of the drama, I also must replay certain scenes because don't understand subs

Right! It is a well known riddle called "double negative" or "liar paradox" from Raymond Smullyan "What Is the Name of This Book?", one of his Knights and Knaves riddles, with paths (not boxes) to choose.
The riddle is some times replicated in movies to choose which door to open to get out to freedom

focus on the XQ question: "if you were him, what would you answer is the item in that box?"
If he is a liar-responding guy, he'll respond "nothing" (bc the box is not empty he must lie what the truth-guy would state)
If he is a truth-responding guy, he'll respond nothing, bc. he is called to truthfully say what would the liar guy respond.

it was obvious from the start she was the only ruler material in this story

GP is the only ruler material in that realm. Selfish emperor, frightened lacking CP... nobody comes anywhere near. She is not only skillful and competent, she has her mind on information, intelligence, capacities and potentials of everybody in that state! She is not petty and nothing superficial deviates her thoughts.
Ofc she is the number one! Not only in the "realm sect"

yup, you've grasped the point. Her aides are too servile (according to her spoiled wishes) and subpar to be true aides, espc. when compared to organised Grand Princess's aides who gather useful infos and intelligence from everywhere. Besides. when compared to the frightened (thus, lacking) CP brother or even the selfish Emperor, Grand Princess stands out in this story as a unique and the best ruler material, bc. none other has her skills.
Li'an comes nowhere near. We know what she really needs is not to win an impossible competition in order to "help her brother" but to free herself from that stupid fight (ignited by their mother) and those bonds/obligations. Their family relationship is not among equals: she cares a lot about her mother and brother, while they don't catch even a simple thing such as that she doesn't like that cake any more. This type of care is a care after an idiot child, her mother defending her stated "she is too spoiled to have 'a kept man', she doesn't even know what 'kept man' means" (implying: she is just too dumb and ignorant).
The only person who can pull her out of that misery is a person who trully cares about her, about what she really needs to break through... and that person will probably be our ML. He likes her since the first glance and his liking paradoxically deepened due to all the stupid things she had done while trying to win him over, because he wasn't sincere either at the beginning, he just needed a "Grand Princess" to back him. She is at fault with him but he is at fault with her, too, this fact bonds them independantly of all the rest.
Meanwhile, the more interesting story is also unfolding, all pieces of the puzzle just drop into the right place. All the cases he investigated starts to connect, hidden friends (member of the realm sect) start to reveal, as well as foes.

Don't forget Li Yunchun (the rule abiding Aramis), only with him they are fully d'Artagnan & the 3 musketeers! 😂😂

the writer(s) deliberately boosted (even exasperated over 10-11 episodes) that readiness to pick a silly fight only to crash her to the ground in ep 18.
Her only focus in life was her sister and how to compete with her, while ignoring important events happening around her. Even when understood the reasons why she was so, the audience could not relate with such a person.
But after such a huge humiliation, the audience will be more compassionate towards her.
Great writing!

She disgraced herself so much in front of the entire palace that from this point onwards she can't go anywhere lower than this, her character can only start to build up from the ashes left by the blow.
Turning to ashes all her silly scheming, childish affectation, competitive attitude towards her serious sister, truth hiding, petty arguing and arrogance - in such a single blow was - just awesome, kudos to the writers!👌

It was also a high time for us to see kinder and more humble side of her character, because the old side doesn't serve the plot anymore.

Me too ❤️

I've enjoyed all 5 Rurouni Kenshin movies, that production indeed recreated a thrill I've felt watching Bruce Lee's movies as a kid mixed with the geist of great adventures (such as Pirates of the Caribbean) I've watched later with my son. A pity these 5 movies were not distributed in Europe, I'd love to see them on the great screen. Maybe the 5th fell a bit behind the previous 4, but that's normal

I've never cared about "the source material" unless it's some literature masterpiece and even in that case the drama adaptation can be a disaster
That's why I only follow the drama and this one is good, whatever is written in the novel

No, he will win this game before returning to the reality

yes, it's fun and the copper gong aids are simply awsome, but don't complaint about who (as I)'ve told you the FL will "grow on you better". Without her we wouldn't have this angst (caused by her sabotage of Grand Princess attempt to save the soldier Ryan XQ) and her clear dedication to... well, clear the doubts he is her kept man 😂
Am I really the only one who loughs since ep 1?

the grand princess is a ruler material, not good for ML who wants a peaceful life.
Besides, ML is in the game, it doesn't matter at all whom will he choose, he will come back to the reality sooner or later

that's why we all watch this drama :)))

you are right that's my fault I've dropped following stories I've followed back than. ☺️

you're right, I haven't seen the S3, my son grew up meanwhile and stopped going to the cinema with me 😂😂😂