Yulsa

and even the normal people in Ye family! (her sister and uncle)

i think they were together in lishan. probably grew up together and were very close

Duke Hua seems suspicious to me too. Something about him being the one who was supposed to retrieve the edict doesn't sit right either. There's been a lot of discussion about how YL's mother shouldn't have taken the edict, should have just waited for Duke Hua. But then why did she want to get it? Something is missing. We definetly know she wasn't stupid, she is from Lishan after all... So she wouldn't have tried to retrieve it without a valid reason? So far the narrative was that her mother was taking the edict to her grandfather who were coming down the mountain. but in preview to 36 they say Duke Hua convinced them to lock up the mountain. So were they coming down? Or did they plan to stay inside? If they were coming down, how did they decide to stay inside...? something isn't adding up.

tbf MXY isn't the room. everyone except for him are cheerful. and none of them know he had a falling out with his wife

lol, finally an adequate comment! MXY really believes that he's doing her a favor by setting her free. He thinks she was miserably lonely in his mansion, taking care of him because of obligations to her mother and his brother. From his perspective she imagined Quinshang because she was pulled away from her and others on the montain and on the lonely trip to marry him she congured her up to deal with separation from her. He doesn't even know Quinshang is dead. Plus he just got a pep talk from his sister in law about how divorce can be a sign of love. He really isn't trying to hurt her but to let her go back to where he thinks she was happy...

when did MXY learn about Li Fenbai?

He's not angry. he's hurt. there is a big difference... he genuinly thinks she never loved him

that would be so insanely out of character, they might as well bring cellphones to record for evidence and show to YL

exactly! MXY explicitly told her that his brother's downfall was trusting the wrong people. But YL knows that the 'wrong people' in this situation is her own mother. So she can't be open with MXY because she feels guilty and probably expects that he'll hate her when he finds out. She only hopes to do the part she feels she owes - find the edict to restore the family name, heal his legs cause she promised it to his brother. And underneath it all she doesn't trust that he'll want to be with her once he finds out the backstory.

i read a large chunk of the novel and dropped. i think the drama is way better

i've seen a lot of comments here and on reddit about how 'this is not a romance drama'. and i'm genuinely wondering, are we all watching the same show?

Because the one i seem to be watching is the most genuine and realistic portrait of two mature, scarred people growing closer together, supporting each other and learning to trust. Isn't that the true 'romance'? Everyone can give you candies and look at you with googly eyes, but having someone there for you at your lowest and sticking by you, that's what real relationships are about.

I feel like there is way more intimacy in the way YL falls asleep on his hand or folds into him when she's scared or fully out of control. Or when MXY lets her help him off his chair at her mother's grave and actually trusts her enough to let her try to heal his legs, even though bone-breaking is involved! They are gentle with each other's feelings too: YL specifically tells him the Mo Jing Li backstory so he doesn't misunderstand and feel jealous. MXY reacts to her claims of monkeys in the mansion like he believes her, just so she doesn't feel scared and distressed. That's kindness and consideration. How is that not romance?

These two are there for each other at all times, without the fake staged drama most idol shows have.

honestly, the most romantic show i've seen in ages

not to mention this is the most realistic and well crafted romance story i've seen in awhile too

Love that it's finally ML's turn to be there for Ye Li. She's been there for him since day one and he was so focused on his own issues that he didn't even realize his wife talks to invisible people. I think it's a reality check for him that she needs support too, and it's now on him to save her from her demons.

episode 17 spoiler

i think she schemed to get the information from her father, to get her sister in the pond etc. But grandmother was a variable she didn't account for. That completely shocked her and almost cost her her life.
I like how the story doesn't make Ye Li an all powerful god who can be prepared for her contingency (i find the trope of characters who predict and ready for absolutely ready kind of tiring and too taxing on suspension of disbelief). As intricate as her plans are, there are unexpected variables that pop up and stress that she's only human. Just like with gradma being a wildcard, so was Han Mingxi during the kidnapping. Brings it home that she's only human

i think the grandmother reveal is such a huge shock to her that she just completely shuts down.

Ok, i'm totally loving how the sister in law is defending A Li. But did anyone else notice that she jumped to protect BOTH A Li AND Third Uncle? She is not just standing in front of A Li, she's shielding them both...

episode 15 spoiler below

to be fair, she trained in the best academy in the country, ran by her own grandfather. makes sense that she learned it all

yup. i think the same thing. thanks for sharing more of the clues! Ye Li is truly unreliable narrator