Won

LOL

Luv GJC, grandma Ji and Ji Yao's bond. Happy that the Ji's family successor or 1 of the key successors, Ji Yao is such a capable, reliable, trustworthy and good guy. This is what a blessing in disguise is like, GJC being unfairly abandoned with grandma Ji her whole life, but grew up strong, intelligent, strategic, kind, and fearless under her grandma Ji's care and guidance.

Yep, Ji Yao's remarks seemed to indicate he's wondering how GJZ would know, understand what is in love.

#2 - CYY's 5th brother died very young about 5-6 years old [death contributed by 4th brother who was around 8 years old], hence, he naturally left without any heir. Later, CYY & family adopted Chen Xuanqing [CXQ] as 5th's brother's son as a way to continue his brother's lineage i.e., the 5th branch in the family. CXQ's biological parents are not related to the Chen's family. Is explained in epi 9-10. CXQ's biological father died a criminal but he saved CYY before, hence CYY & family adopted CXQ.

Ending of ep 18 was great. Jin Zhao, please never back down, show your paternal hypocritical relatives what a smart powerhouse you are!

Think CYY is in his 20s, could be mid or late 20s in the drama. In ancient China, people marry, fight, go to war, can be a bureaucratic elite if smart (esp from noble powerful families) very young, also seen in other Cdramas.

Nanny was concubine's wet nurse, who has taken care of the concubine her whole life. She stayed and supported the concubine when the latter defied her parents (she came from a rather noble family, broke ties with them, which is a very serious offense in ancient China) and marry the good for nothing husband. Hence, the nanny is a mother-figure and a pillar to the concubine.

And the rest of the cohort as well. Their looks speak volume.

Think so, is usually a no no, for unmarried noble young ladies to attend to men, especially not family member.

Yep, but he did ask CXQ to decide and choose whether to go ahead with his suggestion for his wife. If he did not accept it, then he has to prepare for the potential consequences after he became an officer of the court.

Yes, CYY, brought CXQ to his biological father's cenotaph, and explained to CXQ who was his biological father and why is advisable that he marries the daughter of a particular family (sorry can't remember that family's surname) as the head of that family is the only other person who is aware of CXQ's past at the moment. But once CXQ rise in officialdom after he passed the imperial exam (as he's expected to do well in the imperial exam), people will tend to dig up his past, so with a father-in-law who's already aware of his past, may help him weather the potential storm.

Per the drama, CYY's 5th brother died very young, around 5-6 years old, hence, he naturally left without any heir. Later, CYY & family adopted Chen Xuanqing as 5th's brother's son as a way to continue his brother's lineage i.e., the 5th branch in the family. Chen Xuanqing's biological parents are not related to the Chen's family. Is explained in epi 9-10. I didn't read the novel but I understand there are differences between drama and novel and it may seem that Chen Xuanqing is ML's son in the novel but definitely not in the drama.

FL’’s character 🙄 too naive despite managing on her own & family’s household/estate for years, brainless at times, tedious. So skipped many episodes. Like the Emperor & ML’s, ML & his 3 friends relationships.

Is so funny & entertaining. Entire cast acted well, IU with her exaggerated actions & looks, too funny. ML perfectly cast as the fairytale handsome prince. No need to think too hard & compare with other actors or dramas, just enjoy the ride. 🙌🏻🔥

Yes, you are right. It was a scheme to get the emperor to expedite the land equalisation approval. I can guess who encouraged him to do it despite that Chen Yanyun said no to his help since it was a dangerous task & he has a wife & daughter. The meeting in the jail was heartbreaking, both have to maintain their act of opposition.

Don't think he has anyone or a partner because in the scene where his friend, Nie Fengming volunteered to help him achieve his goal regarding land equalisation, he told his friend no because is a dangerous endeavour and he said his friend has a wife and daughter whereas he's single. I think we know who put Nie Fengming to do it still and cost him his life, while angering the Emperor which resulted in the land equalisation plan being approved.

Engaging and entertaining so far, worth watching. FL is exceptionally brilliant, in that she's calculating and astute. Hope it continues this way.

In my view, she's totally against the Grand Prince because she's afraid that her son will not formerly succeed the throne. The Grand Prince is the Regent now, which is the acting Emperor. The son is still so young and yet she wants him to attend and manage formal events himself, trying desperately to garner public's support. She stopped the former Emperor (her husband) from abdicating the throne and "inadvertently" caused his death (not sure of the entire circumstances surrounding that fire and the former emperor's death at this point in the drama). When fire broke out again in the palace at ep1/2 (can't remember which epi), her first instinct was to blame and slapped the Grand Prince, indicating an unwarranted and unjustified fury at him. She wants to control the Grand Prince (and get him to prove his loyalty to her/young emperor or so she said), hence she asked him to marry and of course, to marry someone of her choosing, never expecting the Grand Prince to choose a bride himself, and a commoner and an illegitimate child at that. Obviously, there's a whole chunk of the backstory between the former Emperor and the Grand Prince as well as the Queen Mother which we are not privy to at this point.

Thanks. Thought it might be the case based on what I briefly gathered from the novel.

I only read the ending, was curios about 2nd prince’s fate too but I didn’t have time to read novel in its entirety, so I don’t know. Sorry.