IrenaK

A heart-shattering episode

This episode broke me. My heart is in turmoil. All of it was such a devastating blow. 😭 💔I cheered for the bravery of some, I cried for the sacrifices of some, and I held my breath for even the tiniest shimmer of hope. The situation now is unimaginable—it feels like the Death Eaters have taken over the world. The streets are empty, and everyone rebellious or "inconvenient" is being killed. The house of cards is crashing, and pure chaos reigns. It was so full of heavy emotions and impossible decisions that it’s hard to even comment properly.All I can hope now is that Yan Xing realizes the true reasons behind Shen Du’s actions and finds a way to pull him away from Lai Luozhi’s clutches. I’m still holding onto the hope that Chui Chui can help—I still think Lai Luozhi might listen to her, even if only a little.But Madam Xu saying this was all "predetermined"? It makes me wonder if this chaos is just a grand plan for someone else to emerge from the shadows as the "savior." Lai Luozhi’s mother is still a mystery... perhaps she is the only straw left to grasp to finally pacify him? 🤔

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I am confused now.

I am very confused after this episode!On one hand, we have the clear villain Lai Luozhi, but on the other—what if he is just a pawn in someone else's game? What did that "Hoe" mark on his chest actually mean?I feel like they resolved the Musician case too quickly; it felt a bit too easy. And then the Empress Dowager suddenly falls ill and hands all that power to Lai Luozhi? Her illness definitely doesn't feel natural. I thought she might be weakening from grief, but now I’m not so sure.So many people seem suspicious now, especially Lai Luozhi’s sister and Princess Runming. I’m hoping the next episode gives us answers about Lai Luozhi’s mother.I have to confess: even though Lai Luozhi is the villain, I felt compassion for him in this episode. All evil deeds aside, his loneliness is palpable. Dealing with that kind of isolation can warp a person's character, and it seems he’s filling that void with an insatiable greed for power. Kudos to Mao Zi Jun—he is playing this conflicted villain brilliantly!

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Lai Luozhi - The Phantom of the Opera (or of the Palace in this matter)?

I cannot unsee Lai Luozhi as the Phantom of the Opera anymore!At first, he tried to befriend Chui Chui while hiding behind a mask. Then he revealed his true face—scaring her at first, but eventually gaining her acceptance as a secret friend. But once he realized she had fallen for someone else, his obsession kicked in. Now he has kidnapped her to hide her from the world in his "dungeon." He better not hurt our Chui Chui!To be fair, I suspect Lai Luozhi only made those moves against Yan Xing because Chui Chui rejected him. I know he has ambitious ulterior motives, but I don't think he would have acted this recklessly if Chui Chui had reacted differently to his confession.I truly hope the Empress Dowager isn't listening to him blindly. I hope she still doubts his words and is only acting along to understand why he is suddenly accusing people she respects. This episode was so intense! 😱

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​Yan Xing truly shined in this episode!

​Yan Xing truly shined in this episode!​Firstly, I have to praise her for the sword dance. It was such a smart move to force Lai Luoyan to reveal her martial arts skills in front of the members of the royal family. Secondly, her steady poise with the Empress Dowager was impressive; however, I couldn't tell if the royal lady was giving Yan Xing a friendly advice or a subtle warning at the end of their conversation. Thirdly, Yan Xing really held her ground with Zhang Xingwei. I felt so proud when I realized she actually did tell Shen Du she was going to her parents' house so they could deal with that man together.​Zhang Xingwei seemed genuinely afraid of something—probably because he’s involved in this conspiracy somehow.​But now, after all the cheerful and sweet moments we had in this episode, I am truly worried. I’m quite sure that Lai Luozhi won’t be happy about Chui Chui’s wedding!

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Everyone likes Yan Xing! Or... do they?

Wow. Another episode filled with so much feelings, tension, and many revelations.At first, I was worried Sun Tan would actually betray Marshal Xu, but he stayed true to his heart and his mentor, dying to protect him. It was a very sad end for such a brave man. 😥 Thanks to Pan Chi’s investigation in the previous episode, we are finally getting closer to the truth of the Shen case. I am so ready to learn all of it! I was also so worried for Yan Xing when she received that invitation to the palace. I even thought the jade cakes were poisoned and didn't want her to eat any of them. What a relief to be wrong! However, all that "nice" attitude and the praises from Lai Luozhi are so suspicious. At least by the end of the episode, our leads have some idea why he’s acting like that. Now, we wait to see what’s in store for the Winter Solstice event at the Prince's mansion!

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A lot of tension

This episode felt heavy and tense. This is likely the beginning of the storm I was expecting after those joyous moments in previous episodes.Once the old man from the Wuman Tribe started telling Dai Si’s story, I knew right away that the man from Great Cang would be Lai Luozhi (The Black Fiend). The revelations in this episode showed me there is no room for the benefit of the doubt with him anymore.I hope Yan Xing interrogating Sun Tan won’t cause trouble for Shen Du, but we know how these things usually turn out! Either way, I can only hope Chui Chui can somehow stop Lai; she seems to be the only one he cares about for some reason, and she might be the only one he would actually listen to.I really want to learn the backstory of Lai Luozhi. What made him turn out this way? It’s still a riddle what his link is to Chui Chui’s mother (I believe she was the one he visited in the graveyard), making me wonder if Chui Chui is actually his sister. Or maybe he visited someone else there and wants to avenge—or even resurrect—them?We still haven't gotten any closer to the truth about Shen Du’s father’s case. I suspect these cases are linked in one way or another, and solving one could lead to the other. We shall see!The tension is increasing. I don't understand why so many people think this show is too long or boring—to each their own, I guess! 😉

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Shen Du is the best husband in the whole world!

OMG, the twists and tension in this one!Just as I was getting over the touching and heartwarming moments in Shen Du's secret lair and the sweet bed scene, they dropped that bombshell. WTF, Empress Dowager!!! A decree for Shen Du to marry the Princess? Even after seeing how affectionate he and his wife are toward each other?I’m starting to think that everyone wants to see their union fail (maybe except for Yan Xing's family and ofc their biggest shippers—Jing Lin and that Uncle in Shen Mansion). I am so proud of our Shen Du—he stood his ground with the straightest back there could be. Yan Xing should be the happiest and proudest woman in that entire universe for having such a caring, loving, and loyal husband! ❤️👏

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So many emotions in one episode

This episode brought a lot of different emotions. It started with action, then brought tears, then happiness, then some action again, and in the end—just joy!Shen Du and Yan Xing have such a beautiful relationship and trust. They care for each other so deeply that I just melt! However, I both liked and didn’t like Pan Chi's actions here. By finding the cure, he felt like a genuine guy who wants to help, but then—asking Shen Du to divorce Yan Xing after realizing she's fallen for him? Come on!I get that he's worried Shen Du might have an aura of danger around him, but doesn't he realize that separating them would harm Yan Xing in so many other ways? Now I am not sure if I want to trust that guy.On the other hand, we have Jing Lin—the ultimate shipper and shield for our Shen couple. Cheers to that! He’s so funny when he accidentally runs into their intimate moments. 🙂But, despite all the joy we got in this episode, I am really worried. We still have so many episodes left, and I have a feeling that this brief peace and happiness is just the silence before the storm.

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I am wondering....

I am very relieved that Shen Du and his senior brother, Mo Qianzhi, could find common ground in the end. I'm also relieved that Yan Xing finally revealed her secret mission of spying on General Mo to Shen Du. At least that’s not standing in their way anymore! I loved how Shen Du reacted to General Mo's only condition for the peace talks; I wouldn't have expected any other answer from him.However, I’m left wondering... A few episodes ago, Yan Xing asked Shen Du what he would do if she and someone from his kin (meaning his brother) stood on opposite sides. Shen Du’s answer was simply that she was also his kin—no further explanation. I believe that if there were no other way, he would clearly choose Yan Xing.But what if the roles were reversed? If Shen Du stood on the opposite side of Yan Xing's kin, which side would she choose? I’m wondering this because of the letter written by Shen Du's father, which may have been forged by Yan Xing’s father. Even though Shen Du decided it wasn't him back then, what if it was after all? That would be a heart-shattering turn of events for everyone.

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Let's hope not everyone is a villain!

I had a feeling the Mo character was behind the killings. I actually thought he might be harvesting organs from different people to put into Xiu Xiu’s body to resurrect her! My theory wasn't quite right, but it was somewhat close... Now, I just have to hope Pan Chi doesn't turn out to be a villain too. You never know who is truly "vicious" in these dramas (except for the leads, of course!). I’m also wondering about the Black Fiend's role. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because of his friendship with Chui Chui, but I’m leaning toward him being a "villainous villain" after all. I believe we’ll soon focus on clearing the name of Shen Du’s father. Or maybe the Hou case and that one are linked somehow? Other than that, I’m truly enjoying how our main couple is blooming! And to be fair, during that bath scene, I already suspected that Shen Du could already see in the dark! 😉

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