Ahjummai

They're probably waiting for the satellite tv broadcast to end before the next part will be released. For sure sat-tv will move schedules to give way for part 2 given how high their ratings are now.

I kinda like the changes they have made for the political side. It was a bit messy in the novel with Changfeng and Danniang being pulled here and there by it. In the drama, they are active participants so they can flesh it out some more.

It's because China added a newer rule where there should be a long period between part 1 and part 2. Immortal Samsara came out when the 40ep-max rule was just implemented so they just split it and aired part 2 quickly after. But people are saying that since Flourished Peony Part 2 is named differently, it might have found a loophole to air it quickly. 🤞

The subs in that part was also flying fast. In case you missed this part: Prince Ning suggested to Liu Chang's father that they can adopt a child from their distant relatives to continue their family line if they wanted. It was something done during that time by adopting still within family ties, it's not a total outsider but still not the same as a child of their "own blood". So this suggestion still mocked them so it wasn't enough to get them to sign.

Yes because Prince Ning holds the military power and have very strong political network. He is on the verge of usurping the throne so they need to cut him off before that happens.

When they took Mudan to court for falsifying her identity, Liu Chang's father told the judge to also remove her from their family registry (kick her out versus divorce so her dowry is still theirs) and pay them back the money she took (the carriage she took and left near her family's home was filled with her dowry money and items of value).
So when she became a slave, she was also without any doubt no longer married to Liu Chang.

He would not be allowed to take in other wives or concubines. In other words, with the County Princess infertile he would never have a legitimate heir and thus end their blood line.

As I said, feelings are valid. But look at the words of OP and how accusatory it is like the producers willfully and deliberately hoodwinked people. They did not.

Saying the producers tricked them isn't correct either. It doesn't need deep research. Feelings are valid but reacting poorly and wrong accusation is incorrect.

If you are the type who would not watch a drama that's split into two, then it is part of your due diligence to check. People have been talking about this before the drama started. Of course, when the drama started the discussion turned toward the episodes.

we've known before it aired.

Those are older dramas. It's a new-ish law around the time of Immortal Samsara iirc

It's legal. They have stamped concubinage papers that's why everyone knows it now. It's just that they agree that it's not "real" so they don't have husband-wife obligations to each other.

Yes. They filmed Part 1 and Part 2 together, but had to split the drama to comply to the maximum-40-episode per drama rule.

If you mean with the other concubine, it was unavoidable. JCY needed to remain in good terms with Prince Ning because of his and the emperor's plans. It's not like he didn't try to dissuade Prince Ning who was a bulldozer that could not be stopped.
JCY explained this to Mudan and she understood the situation. Him taking her as a concubine became a precedent, so JCY could no longer refuse Prince Ning. This was not the first time Prince Ning tried to tie JCY down to his side with a marriage, but he was able to refuse before. Be glad that he only push another concubine and not a legal wife. Prince Ning definitely have enough power among nobles to get him a noble daughter to marry if he wanted. So Mudan is still the higher ranking concubine being the first and being the favored one (the one JCY visits).

In the novel, there is no concubine and Mudan is the legal wife. But in the novel, there are many other families with concubines and their dramas.
With the drama's message of women helping other women and Mudan's kindness and understanding, maybe she won't become a big headache but an ally giving misinformation to Prince Ning instead of being Prince Ning's spy.
But we'll only know when Part 2 comes out.

I'm eating up their chemistry and this fake marriage era. I will definitely rewatch the last few episodes over and over until they release Part 2.

I know she only got her karma, but as a woman, I can't wish that kind of damage on any woman (esp during that period where continuing the family line was considered very important). I pity her for the specific injury, but I do not pity her misfortune.

JCY definitely has fallen in love and knows how he feels but he's not willing to totally act on it. He still has reservations. It seems there's still some back story aside from his mother's failed marriage that's holding him back.
Mudan accepts JCY as a confidante and someone she's totally at ease with. But still not willing to consider romance at this point.
JCY being both patient and also waiting to get some confirmation of affection from Mudan.
Part 1 ends with the main couple in mutual understanding but can be coupley even among friends and outside.
Can't wait for Part 2 to get more of this fake-but-real couple. I'm greedy after getting a taste of this sweetness. Also... the clip I saw where Mudan gave JCY a peck on the cheek won't happen until Part 2

I love scene where DaFu and XiaoChun interrogated the couple on how they are suddenly getting married out of the blue. HWFand JCY started with lies to half-truths to indirectly confessing their feelings.

The subs may be bad, but I'm still squealing at every interaction of our CP. HWF and JCY are too cute.