Raymond Ardin

Ruoyao helped him kidnap JL because she thought they were only going to demand a ransom from the Ye family so they could have money to elope. She didn't know that he was going to rape her.

He sent her home in half of a Duke's ceremonial procession (carriage and entourage) in episode 3.

Considering the nature of his job, he most likely has spies in every household.

He's a general guarding the border. Of course he has an army.

Maybe not so much kindness as anger and jealousy that he likes JL. So saving her is mostly to keep him from having her.

The version I watched, they only showed him waiting for her in the alley, she shows up, and they look at each other. Then it cuts to the next day. I don't see anything implying that they did it.

Wow, step-mom is much worse than Shen. At least he was forced by the princess to kill XFF, but she burned her ex alive to protect her secret from her new husband.

They might be related, but not that closely (immediate family or first cousins), otherwise his title would be Prince/King.

Peerage is just an honorific title (Duke, Marquess/Marquis, Count/Earl, etc.), not an actual job. His job is the leader of the Shadow Guards (the Emperor's secret service).

Purple robe is court uniform so it doesn't count (as his fashion choice)

Outside the courtroom, Duke Su said that he had something to tell her in advance. So I think she is prepared!

To be fair, common foot soldiers carry single-edged blades (dao), which were considered a brute weapon. Nobles carried double-edged swords (jian), which were considered "the gentleman of weapons" though they were rarely used in actual battle and more for ceremony and dance.

Beginning of episode 18

Ye Shijie received a secret letter while he was reading her letter, so I'm assuming that was from him.

He can't; the Emperor asked to see her

And they both have the exact same wound lol

I thought it was because he was topless

If Jiang Li's brother is still alive (someone said that in the novel he is alive), then Qiongzhi's death is even sadder because she wanted to join him in the afterlife.

If Jiang Li's brother is still alive (someone said that in the novel he is), then Qiongzhi's death is even sadder because she wanted to join him in the afterlife. Not that the afterlife exists in this story's universe.

She gets her memory back at the beginning of episode 22. But some important things happen at the end of 19.

She gets all her memories back at the beginning of episode 22.