Noway

Yeah, princess will be found in 26, but after that she'll have nice long scenes with ice cube in several following episodes. I remember I survived episodes with them being separated quite well, hope you do too! There were a lot of things happening between the main leads in the meantime.

There is indeed kisses issue here... just one side couple will kiss more or less for real. Hugs are very nice though, and happening quite often.

They have very nice relationships, and there are a lot of things going on, so it never felt like they drag either plot or relationships line.
Princess will become much stronger, but I think she is cute when crying, and creators used that, haha.
The person whose displeasure is the most painful for ice cube will punish him (teasing).
As for his father, I bet he will be one of your favorite characters about episode 35-42.

Ice cube will consider Changge dead for about 15+ episodes, in the meantime he will find a cute fireplace to melt from. He will then do one last attempt, and after punishment will rapidly evolve.
As for loving, they kind of don't say it often in this drama, but their actions speak louder than words. Main leads are totally not blind about each others feelings, but Changge is being careful.

And yes, Leyan had to work so hard to get some truth from Hao Du, I loved all that pressure she put on him, aghdkfnfujf. The whole dialog was so good, them gradually opening up about what they really want from each other.

I think Shuyu saw that Hao Du cared about Leyan, but for Shuyu he was also just a good guard. When Hao Du attacked him for doing nothing, Shuyu just answered that it was not his business.

I am most surprised that Changge was also just waiting for some miracle. Or if her plan was Sun fighting, then it was a bad plan from the beginning.
It would be better, if there were more fights, maybe first ones even not between Sheer and others, but any Ashile warrior vs Tang/tribe warrior. It would just look more realistic.
Or they could play it like this: that emperor asked Leyan to bring whom she wants to fight for her, while he will forbid all other nobles to fight.

I'd rather ask, where were hundreds of noble Tang warriors... :D That friend of Crown Prince was weird plot choice.
Leyan would never ask, because of many reasons.
Others, I think, were waiting for Shuyu to show up.
Hao Du quite succeeded in being invisible shadow.

A bit too little haoyan, I want one hour more... two hours... ten!

Episode starts on a bright note, but I actually feel sad for Leyan - how could it be possible, that the half of Tang nobles didn't come to compete for her?.. And I am a bit frustrated that Changge suggested Sun to win over Sheer, and then lose to Shuyu, but... the last time Sun and Sheer fought, it was not easy at all, did she forget that? Sun's reaction is hilarious though.
The scene with Hao Du and his father, on a serious note, feels more relevant. It's great that Hao Du first talked with Du Ruhui, or more like Du Ruhui talked with him)) What if his actions gonna do more harm than good? He had to be sure. "Ultimate victory", yes, go, Hao Du, go for it!
Wow, I haven't seen before the translation of Leyan and Shuyu talk, and I still need to process this, The concept of protection vs love pays back later in quite fascinating way.
I thought people were joking that Changge wanted Sun to just jump down from the balcony, but it wasn't a joke? :D :D :D
Hao Du's entrance is epic! "I am the soldier of Tang", just like that, no names, no fame needed.
Shuyu's top-1 out of top-5 showing up at the wrong time! It's good he showed up, good for him, really. But for Hao Du it was a knockdown.
"We surrender. Hao Du, stop fighting. I accept my destiny".
"I won't surrender. And you can't accept your destiny".
This is so beautiful! Pride who? Tang who? Just two people, worried about each other.
Everyone: great! we won!
Leyan: (crying her heart out)
/I really need emojis here/
Hao Du with the marks on his face, which look more like lipstick print than like wounds, is so adorable!
This is one of the best "sort it all out" scene I have ever seen .
It could go wrong in so many ways, but it didn't. It could be too short or too rushed or too unbelievable, but it wasn't.
They were both so nervous, that my screen was sweating.
Leyan, my brave baby, she literally attacked him more fiercely than Sheer, haha. I'd even say that while Hao Du is totally selfless (in love), she is selfish enough for both of them, and so she wanted all of this to be for her, wanted him just for herself, arjgjds;djnfnd.
Love this scene! Love it from the first to the last sentence, so well written, well thought, well acted, haoyan are so shy, and brave, and happy, and anxious, all these emotions just radiated from them.
Girls' chat afterwards is very cute, both of them look gorgeous.
This arc had its logical flaws but delivered some thrill and A LOT of emotions.

Episode 42 recap, mostly haoyan, because it was mostly about them *_*

He is adorable! I like literally all side characters, and that there are so many really, really kind people among them. Kindness is not boring, do you hear me, drama creators?

♥
We surrender. Hao Du, stop fighting. I accept my destiny.
I won't surrender. And you can't accept your destiny.
♥
(sobbing)

Yeah, I also like their other scenes more, wedding is just a closure.

Ep 47. Check this scene on @dramachin9u insta with eng subs.

"If you want, I... " - what, Hao Du? What did you want to suggest, I really want to know. I am absolutely sure it's not marriage, you have not yet ran to that base on your baseball field of not daring. Assasinate all Ashile men at the age of 10-60 or what? And Leyan, why were you looking at him as if he was about to tell the most important thing in your life? SHUYU, this is one of your top-5 bad moments to show up.
Leyan's idea to fake her death was not that bad. She suggested it to the wrong person.
I sense some clash of priorities between Changge (worried about Leyan) and Mimi (worried about Mu Jin) haha.
"Princess, if you really like him, I can abduct him and bring here", hahahaha, Hao Du, professional date doctor. (in fact, I am crying)
Angry Sun in the scene with Khatun, me gusta.
Mu Jin looks so different with his hair up, I can hardly recognize him.
Guys.......... I lowkey ship Sun and Sheer, don't kill me.
(few moments later)
Guys.... I ship Sheer with Mimi too.
Send help!
But her story about their childhood? So sad(
The discussion of marriage in palace is like a good legal thriller, but that phrase that princess can't participate in discussion, cause that's interfering into politics and she is impertinent?? Oh, f*ck you! And I know it was exactly like that in those times, and she would have no rights at all(
The following scene of envoy meeting is very thrilling too. And I knew, I knew that it was Changge who suggested the damn competition!, hahaha. But... after everything what was discussed in palace, emperor agreeing on this option is kind of... ooc? Or he was just charmed by Changge (lowkey shipping them too, don't kill me -2).

Finished ep 41 with subs, a small recap:

I didn't know him at all before watching TLB! But he caught my attention with his first scene and then a few weeks later I wake up in the morning realizing I am absolutely in love with Liu Yuning.

Apart from Hao Du running like victorian lady, the other thing which makes me giggle even at some dramatic moments is Sun standing with his arms at sides and a bit behind, as if there are invisible balloons under his arms, hahaha.

(ashamed) (not)

I'm watching on viki (with pass), yes.