KJ2025

Surprise! This is him!

I am watching on Viki and the episodes are set up differently. There are only 8 in total with 20+ mins on most and a few with 30+ mins. So these will have spoilers if watching the 18 episode version. The story begins with a painter (Shi Qi) painting a group of courtesans. She is looking for her sister who has a peach blossom on her shoulder. A wealthy woman (Shen Qin)arrives and wants a painting done. She promises to give location of sister once painting is finished. It’s an odd situation because the meeting is set up at night and while the materials are there, something feels off. She sees Shen Qin being intimate with a prince and thinks she is mistaken to be there. She is told if she leaves there will be no help finding her sister, so she reluctantly stays and follows the directions she is given…..to paint what she sees. The prince wants his lover to marry a general so he can have sway with the military. He has plans for getting her back eventually, but even saying she is pregnant has no sway with this louse of a prince. When the painter is getting ready to leave she feels she has been swindled but accepts her loss. She finds Shen Chin in a lavish pool asking her if she loves anyone and wants to be by their side. Shi Qi doesn’t respond but someone does come to mind for her. When Shen Qin disappears in the pool, she thinks she is harming herself so comes close to the side, where she is forced into the pool. She is carried to a bed where a strange cloaked magical type person with bandages except for her cat eye is all that is seen. When she wakes, she finds she has the face of the rich lady, and in the general’s mansion getting ready to be married. She is in completely shock and is rambling about to find more mirrors. In her search she does find one, but it reveals an interrogation room where the general is killing someone. She faints from the blood and shock. She keeps trying to convince anyone she is not the person with this face, but who will believe her? Someone claiming to be her brother refuses to talk with her and actually sends a maid assassin to kill her. The maid is not cut out for this and is interrupted by the general who rescues Shi Qi and swaps out what is probably poisoned wine. Here is where Shi Qi sees him for the first time and it’s the general that rescued her. He is her savior and the one she always wondered about. When she sees he is to be her husband, she still tries to tell him she is not Shen Qin, but he quiets her and has her make the wedding toast. I did not see him drink but he then has a different look and locks her in the room. Assassins are planted and making their way into the mansion when the episode ends. This was an interesting introduction to the story. It is clear there is a backstory we have no clue about yet and somebody wants the general and Shen Qin dead. How does Shen Qin know about her sister? An interesting fate for the general. He gets the one who will really like him. I am enjoying everything about this episode including the music. It is fast paced and tells a good story.

Read More

Thunder bolt tribulation

Finally our leads can have a bit of romance.🥰 unfortunately the hidden son is causing trouble because of his hatred for Shi clan. This has revealed the true spy in 8 sect. Shi is going to use him to trap Sima Jiao, so leaving things in place. Ruling and sister are now speaking. I am glad for them to get sister time. I guess she had to lose her friends to give her sis priority.😝She has told her sister of her alliance with Shi clan to kill Sima Jiao. Shi’s spy seems satisfied with this tho did tell of little sister’s plan to dig up dirt on Shi clan. It is very sweet how Sima Jiao makes the defense artifact to Tingyan’s taste. He has gone to great effort to protect her. Nianju has returned and decided Sima Jiao will be his one and only master. He is still sad about Ruling but recognizes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. Sima Jiao thought he had protected Tingyan sufficiently for the trial, but discovered that even his aura would get 81 strikes instead of 36. He finds himself taking the trial along with her. He is surprised when she joins him to seal them away from the bolts. He chastises her some for this but she is not going to be deterred helping to protect him.🥰These two really do have the heavens themselves trying to kill them off just for existing. Shi knows that Sima Jiao is trying to find their flame flower. It is going to be a harder battle of wits because he now can prepare. A lotus flower has bloomed in Sima Jiao’s soul plain and the pair produced double flame flowers with their battle against the bolts. I am curious how her extreme cold will merge with extreme heat. Will they cancel each other out, or become something new?

Read More

His healer the demon

Shi is outraged his work has been destroyed. There is hint that another flame has been created. I am still unsure if it was destroyed or has hidden itself. Sima Jiao was very close to success in killing himself along with the bloodthirsty elders. Tingyan is resigned to die with him but really wants to live. He adjusts his efforts at last second to fly off. While he is gone, Shi assesses the damage. His son wants to know where Anxue is and Shi lies that Sima Jiao killed her. He wants romance torn from his son to complete his diabolical plan and his son almost fell for it. He pieces together things his dad told him and decides to respond this way….that he would avenge Anxue. Shi never considered that his son would consider love THE most important thing. He has created his own secondary nemesis but doesn’t realize it yet. Tingyan finds them transported to a beautiful location with a fisherman waiting for them. Sima Jiao knows who he is and asks if he is to be killed or saved….the reply was either one. The fisherman is an immortal that put a bead on Sima Jiao to give him mercy. If he found the one that could teach him this, he could be saved. The proof would be sg]he could break the cord and feed him the bead. She is stunned when she breaks the cord. The immortal is somehow tied to Fengshan line. When she proves she can heal him, the immortal declares his tie completed and severed. He disappears and little flame takes over. Sima Jiao’s body is healing nicely, but his soul is a mess and still fading. Tingyan is challenged to enter his spirit realm and heal him. She manages to get inside where it is a fiery mess and his life experiences floating by. She resonates with his pain and hugs him, refusing to let go. Her fish surrounds his being and stops the flames. Seems three joinings will cure him. After second time his spirit world is a spring garden, all blooming and beautiful. For the third time he is much more aware….and episode ends. There is a brief aside where Nianju wakes up and Ruling lies to him. She convinces him to stay hidden while she goes to look for them. I cannot decide if I am going to like her or resent her tie to black snake. The jury is still out.😝

Read More

Prison visits

Everybody pleads for He Yan before the emperor. He restores honor to Xiao family, gives He Yan her general status and Chu a significant promotion. The squad visits He Yan and to sign up under her command. The reading of the edict by magistrate Yang was especially poignant. The Xiao family honor is restored and Yang apologized sincerely and expedited receipt and reading of edict. It was late received, but he acknowledged how he was used, recognized the harm he caused, and repented his prior actions sincerely. Sometimes that is all one can do. Xiao Jue recognized the effort and sincerity of the magistrate and accepted the apology. The edict was hung in the ancestral hall and the sons bowed and shared pride for their father and legacy. Xiao Jue then introduces his soulmate to them who promises to take care of their son. Yan He says they owe him tonic for their deception and Cheng promises to comply with the order. Ms Song corrects him that she will handle it. 😂 He Yan visits her brother in prison. He still feels robbed of his identity and that her honors were rightly his. She reminded him that she started all over as He Yan and reached same status a second time. He could have accomplished that as well had any real effort been made. He wants them to kill him but they aren’t taking the bait. He shrieks incessantly that he is the general. I am not sure he has convinced himself. As they are leaving the prison, they run into Chu and politely inquire why they are there. Chu notes the handholding and his mouth twitches. He is not letting He Yan go and it’s a damn shame. His guard is lovely and capable and already loves him. She is worth a hundred of the spoiled brat Xu girl. He visits the chancellor and they finally agree to disagree. The chancellor only asks for his daughter to be treated well. Here Chu dropped an unexpected truth. He had no affection for his daughter but would see she is well taken care of. Here the father slams his head into the jail bars trying to choke Chu. His shock killed him. To his credit, Chu pleaded for the daughter with the emperor and rescued her from stupidly lipping off to the guards. She has no idea how low her status now is, or how her meanness and malicious behavior will backfire. She finally understands the deal with Chu and storms out. In courtyard Chu tries to get He Yan to take him to dinner. Xiao Jue counters that they will treat him to a sumptuous feast. Xiao Jue jokes that he will be happy to retire if life is now peaceful. He Yan counters that she wants to be a general and how did he feel about being supported by her.😂

Read More

Secrets revealed

The banquet was quite the event. He Yan started speaking up after Wutuo representative questioned their loyalty. Everything continued to escalate after that. Official charges were brought against He RuFei, and when chancellor Xu tried to overturn things charges were leveled at him. He Yan’s mother came with the needed evidence to prove He RuFei’s collusion. He Yan told the court chancellor was trying to hide his involvement. There was a moving scene with her mom speaking up for her. She did her best to get a horrid son to repent and when tossed aside told her daughter to live. Her blood was like war paint on He Yan’s face. I am not sure if the He’s poisoned her or if that was how she opted to end things after proving her daughter’s innocence and that she was the original and only true General in the family. The truths started water falling after Chu spoke up and had the chancellor’s own hand written letter to Wutuo promising market site. The chancellor then tries his ace. A coup with He RuFei calling upon the guards to secure the villains. Here there was an interesting power shift. The 9th battalion was there and they secured the true villains. He Yan reminded her “brother” that she had fought side by side with most of these men, so how did he think they would honor his command? As they are escorted out to be tried and executed I can’t help comparing the actor of He RuFei with the actor David Tennant and his spitting vengeful character on Harry Potter. It is very similar.😂 As they are escorted out the emperor reminds He Yan that as a member of He household, she has deceived the emperor…and the episode ends….

Read More

Return victorious

He Yan got a twofer in knocking them out. Daddy fainted.😂 Here I have no clue why she didn’t gag big mouthed bro to get max time. She was touched by her mother’s remembrance of her and gains her puzzle box. Unfortunately it did not have the letters inside. He RuFei gloats with chancellor that he still has them, protected by his life. Xu is thinking no problem, his life for the letters when time is right.😝 The Sun son gets the ledger, but here again Chu hurts as much as helps because he destroyed the ledgers. Here I am not sure if lying, but don’t think so. He’s not that good at it under viper’s stare. And, if this is the copy, his master would recognize handwriting. So it was in his best interest to seem accommodating to both sides while actually to neither. At court chancellor knows exactly how to shut Xiao Jue up and is successful. Building a market in Mingshui is unacceptable. He knows Xiao Jue won’t keep quiet about it and he is now under house arrest. Li has returned and the spy in tea shop has been arrested. This news gave Xu pause. There is finally a chink showing in that political armor. His daughter is used as the witness of Chu’s innocence in finding out about it. Chu has learned sly lessons well from his master. What I did not anticipate is that Xu is so arrogant he thinks emperor is either to be his puppet or replaceable. Here I am hoping he is as delusional as He RuFei. I don’t even want to imagine Wei under these two.😝He Yan’s mother comes to see her. She is introduced as a member of He house but not as her mother. I am not sure if she is trying to keep her mother safe, or remembering the mother that denied her at school and temple. We really don’t know what the mother’s circumstances were to have an opinion or cast judgment. He Yan dons her uniform for banquet. She is determined to reclaim everything she has lost. Her friends are gathered outside her door to support her. Xiao Jue has two words for her…..return victorious.

Read More

The curse of the bloodline

The young Fengshan master currently has no real life. His father is being paid to produce children with Sima blood. This is evidenced by the flame birthmark. The son truly loves the one he wrote poetry with and who bore a daughter, but he sees them safer without him. Sima Jiao agrees. The greed of the cultivators has no limits. Tingyan refuses to accept that and holds out hope they can help the couple live somewhere in peace. They know where Yan is supposed to take the children but do not know the destination yet. They are planning to find a way to stop this. Ruling has her sister under lockdown, but it won’t hold her indefinitely. They have the same goal to save their family and people. They just greatly disagree on who they must kill to achieve that end. Sima Jiao cherishes Tingyan so he does everything possible to keep her safe and happy. Tingyan is still processing this information. She is trying to get Sima Jiao to notice people’s tells as to when or when not telling truth without using his truth spell. A bit at a time he is noticing his surroundings more and his revenge less. It will probably take Tingyan a thousand years to get through to him.😝I think she is up to the challenge. It is cute they see each other as body pillows. He tested Ruling for loyalty about Tingyan and she definitely passed the test. What he failed to do was ask what her intentions were for him. Here is where I wish he would have questioned the younger sibling.

Read More

Emperor’s story trumps magistrates’ charges

Who knew our generals mirrored emperor and wife? That was a huge slap back to the conspirators. It won’t stop them, but they are going to have to work a lot harder. Xiao Jue’s confession before the entire court. ❤️ She graces my view, occupies my mind, and claims my heart.🥰❤️ The empress wanted to give them a standing ovation. Welcome home Marquis Wu’an. 🥳 Their private moment interrupted with peeking family.🤣 Ms Song is there to greet her and has already told the family about Ms He. They are gathering things so she can be free to dress as a lady. I am sure a part of her would rather have the option. She is used to needing the sword by her side with this group. Xiao Jue’s sibling has welcomed the new girlfriend to family. They are already making wedding plans. Ms Song interrupting the parental meeting to snatch back her marriage contract.🤣😂 Her mother blaming her father for both of them😂 These two are also fated. He RuFei meets chancellor Xu and when Xu wants to toss him reveals he kept incriminating correspondence. So now they are at an impasse of mutual survival or destruction. I like how He Yan handles the painting…I’ll hang on to it.😂 They are teaming up with Chu to get needed evidence. It’s about damn time. This is one thing all three are on same page about. I grinned at He Yan circling to prove no weapons attached at her home.😂 I am worried her mom isn’t present. I hope they get reacquainted. Her reluctance to drink tea they give her.😝 He RuFei draws a sword on her and the episode ends there. He already knows she can kick his sorry butt so not sure what he is trying to prove here with a witness. Xiao Jue gets the job of meeting with Chancellor to discuss He RuFei and the mastermind pulling his strings. They have not yet revealed what Chu’s job is. I am hoping he comes to He house with a warrant to search the place.😝 It will be a long wait til next episode. The small victories are piling up and the generals can finally be a couple in and out of uniform. 🥰

Read More

Grudges and revelations

He Yan learns from Yan He how Xiao Jue looked after her in class. She knew on the ointment but did not realize he had been her benefactor of good will for quite awhile. He RuFei missed his chance thanks to Chu for assassin dart, so he countered with Xu’s daughter. This was contrary to Xu’s directions, but he was too vain and petulant to care. The scene with the pouch❤️ As he lists off all their firsts, it just cements the foundation of friendship and love they have built on for longer than either realized. When he tells her she has the moon and hands her his wife’s to be pendant.🥰❤️ Her use of familiar name as they walk to the banquet and the barbs exchanged with fake general. Loved that she got to kick her brother’s ass publicly. They still don’t get who the real general always was. The spoiled brat came through and told on He Yan demanding a body check. 😝The emperor reveals the conversation he had with Xiao Jue. That was a very candid conversation to have with one’s superior. He touched even the emperor with their love story. The black/white only view Yang and Xu now twist it to show how this could undermine army and make it a regular practice. I fear once again Xiao Jue will bare the punishment. I really want the emperor to do something about the Xu’s, I am most tired of their machinations and colluding. So now to see how he chooses to handle the court with this revelation. 🫣😬

Read More

Playing the long game

Ruling figures out where Tingyan is. She still seems gray but her feelings for Tingyan seem to be sincere friendship. Poor Hei Nianju still has not figured things out yet. His human lessons are fun. She is trying to teach him how not to be cheated or taken advantage of. He says the words like a parrot, but I don’t think the meaning of the terms resonate with him yet. The man with the flame on his back has every appearance of being a scumbag. He is found in a brothel and has a plethora of concubines. When they ask him about his birthmark, it triggers a severe PTSD reaction. Neither truth or soul searching can get through his terror to determine the truth. The children of the concubines are being stolen and surmised to being used for nefarious purposes. It is looking like Shi is using a relative of Jiao as a stud and the women as breeders to produce a specific bloodline. He is trying to breed a workaround to Jiao. The concubine he really loves gets the daughter’s name and some explanation of why they tried to steal her child. Her love revealed Sima Jiao’s impersonation and she thanked them for saving her daughter. After seeing how Sima Jiao was treated since birth, it is a scary notion as to what these poor babies are being used for. I hope they find them alive and that Shi’s plan unravels soon. The 8 sects using children as ingredients for their schemes is disgusting. I want their plans to fail and the demon sect to get relief from their plight. Their crime so far has been simply that they exist. The hypocrisy and arrogance of these sects feigned superiority over them needs wiped out. This feasting on bloodlines also needs to go. I wonder what their world could be without literally feeding off each other but working together?

Read More

Kill lesson tested

These hypocrites over who plans to harm whom. They are a duplicitous lot that deserves whatever they get. At least Shi tries to calm things, but in spite of his appearance of kindness, is it real or feigned? Sima Jiao moves killing lessons along and shows her best places to strike. She is not enthused with the lesson. Tingyan uses his gift to make snow for him. When she slips, he lets her fall flat and hints she could do more with his gift. When the two palace girls try to kill her. He lets them. I am not sure if she actually died there or if he just wanted them to think that. He heals her or revives her? It is enlightening to see the reactions to his truth flame. They belt their evil plans and intentions right out. What magic is thumbs up😂 Her biggest evil so far is kissing up to the boss to get more free time and healing from her poison. It has to be a refreshing change for him to see someone only concerned about her safety and no interest in him at all. Ruling is growing on me slightly since she gave snake his heart back. Surprise…naked human male here.🫣😂 she gives a good glance before handing him coverings.😂 Sima Jiao now knows he visited Tingyan first, but in gratitude. He showed his allegiance to his master. At first, I was afraid he set him to guard gate to test Tingyan to kill him. I really hope that scenario never presents itself. I am relieved to see those old greedy heads of state there instead. He knocks them all out but has injured himself to see how will play out with Tingyan. The old man tells her to kill him or she will die. Sima Jiao confirms this is true and asks for her to show him what he taught her. He holds the sword to his throat and expects her to respond…..and it ends with a wait til next episode.😭 He let them know this night would be his weakest and the best time to kill him. He even let the one girl’s spirit escape to let them know. What I am wondering is which he wants most…relief via death or Tingyan’s refusal to kill him?

Read More

Battle of Jiyang

They have managed to disable the battering ram and they have divided the elite group into two. They are presenting themselves as the two most hated of the Wutuo, General Fengyun and Princess. She is ordered to come back alive. The battle is fierce and an unexpected deputy general is fighting. He Yan leads another group to the water where they battle face to face with spears. She manages to take down the leader but not before he kicks her out over the water. I know this is a trope of the underwater kiss, but it is such a poignant moment for these two. He gets to kiss and save the woman he loves and together they get to hear the victory cries of the city. Their jubilation is cut short when they learn Liu BuWang was killed. He fought bravely, but the weapons were poisoned and the number many. He smiled at the end knowing his sacrifice helped keep the city of his princess safe. He sees her young version smiling at him and she disappears as he draws his last breath. The princess sees the bracelets and knows that he never betrayed her. She still was unclear about why he did not show, but she knows it was something beyond his control. The bracelets told her. She will always regret not seeing him the night he was outside her window playing. It will haunt her with bittersweet memories. She saw that he kept her dish as one of his favorites 20 years later. It let her smile. He Yan had a very intimate candid talk with the princess. She was warned to hold on tight to the one you love and not waste a moment. To be sure you say what you want them to hear so that there are no regrets. Xiao Jue guarded the door for her even as she guarded him when he mourned Que. He called her ugly for lying about her feelings. He continues to tell her candidly to her face to be freely herself in his presence. That anything less is unacceptable. As they talk of her history with her master she reveals he was one of less than a handful of people that had treated her kindly in her life. He is moved and reached out his hand to her, but rather lost in thought or gentle refusal, she does not take it. Her grief was laid bare and he made sure she was left undisturbed. The ladies had the kitchen brigade ready with kitchen utensils poised for use. While it may be silly in retrospect, they were just as determined as the males in their families to fight for their home. If manage to kill one would be good and two even better. These women see that they can unite and be more than they thought possible. That they do not have to hide and wait to be saved but can use what they have to defend themselves. They went from a group of sniping jealous women to sisters in arms fighting for home and family. Chai Anxi has been found and Drs Cheng and Song taking care of him. Chu makes his presence known and everybody wants to interrogate him about Minshui. Xiao Jue must acknowledge him because it is his job to investigate, but the added guards make it clear that all questions will have both parties present. I was not expecting to be tearful during the conversation between the princess and He Yan. I was actually pouting some yesterday that so much time was given to the princess’ story. But because they had, I understood the tacit understanding between these two women about the worthiness of this man. That his life mattered and that he accomplished good things in a quiet unassuming way. That his teaching mattered and that their continued works would be his legacy. That’s a pretty powerful behind the scenes message about how these two women became who they were by meeting him.

Read More

Identities revealed

He Yan wakes up and she wants things to be back to business as usual. She does not look forward to gossip of them sleeping on the boat. Xiao Jue doesn’t seem the least bit worried and says to go greet them openly. She orders flatbread for breakfast and they note wutuo soldier using winter survival techniques with ingredients added to tea. They follow him and see a small group with a child in tow. There is something off and it’s obvious the child is being abducted. Just when they go to intervene, Liu Bu Wang shows up and rescues the child. She turns out to be the princess’ daughter. He is surprised He Yan has discarded her male disguise and is assured it is to help her keep it. The uncle is happy that child is rescued and says he will take care of the spies. He offers Liu Bu Wang an invite to go see the princess and he declines. He offers to use fortune sticks to predict their future and it is danger upon danger. The child hears him playing zither and says it’s a song her mother plays for her. When the child is recovered they take her back. The princess is all business and asks the general why he is pretending disguise to get a meeting. The uncle is chastised for being duped and she isn’t happy they are there. She was a bit surprised at the news of wutuo spies in number and starts investigating. She lets her visitors know their assistance is not needed or wanted. Chu shows up also confirming wutuo spies. He has figured out he was spared because of his mentor’s talisman. So he knows they are collaborating. As they all exit he and Xiao Jue exchange barbs. I liked his ‘I got married’ dart. 😂He is letting Chu know who is number one and who is number two. 😂 He Yan finds herself in a private meeting with Princess who is very interested in how Liu Bu Wang is doing. She then changes her mind saying he was too cowardly to show up. He Yan assures her that her master would never be delayed unless something very important happened. The rest of the episode tells the story of a runaway princess that was captured and rescued by a handsome young man. He takes her home and says he must meet his master and will be back in two days. She waited much longer and eventually gave up. There is definitely a backstory here, but no more info from this episode.

Read More

He Yan learns to be a lady

Xiao Jue chose to deliver the message himself. He sees He Yan sad and offers candy. She is sad because it is her mother’s bday. She smiles at the gift and regifts him a piece. They reminisce about childhood memories and he tells her his last piece from mother was given to a blind girl planning suicide. She remembers but knew he saved her from plot to kill her. Ms Song learns via pulse the true gender of He Yan and she helps with disguise. Cheng is pouty because he had hired a makeup artist and had spent quite a bit of money. Xiao Jue and He Yan are posing as a married couple and they are trying to figure out a skill she can do that will make her an accomplished lady. She is so capable in many things but being ladylike in any capacity isn’t one of them. 😂 He ends up trying to teach her a song to play. It is an intimate moment and he’s sharing a thing he loves with the woman he is learning to love.🥰 His guard now also realizes and I think relieved that she is a girl. They do make a nice looking couple. He has sent his guard and others to find Chai Anxi before Chu does, not realizing that is exactly what Chu is hoping for. Let them do the legwork. I think it took the entire trip for He Yan to learn to sit like a girl.😂 Chu notes them arriving and is making plans. So is his mentor. He is helping plot the defeat of the city by giving intel about secret entrances. He is also determined that Chai Anxi dies soon. I get annoyed that Xiao Jue didn’t help her with stairs on the way to their room. He is forgetting that gentlemen have a role too.😝 Their room was turned into a honeymoon suite, complete with erotica screen.😂He Yan seems much more familiar with this than Xiao Jue. She even offers to show him pictures from better artists.😂Xiao Jue had enough of her teasing and started leaning in, and right when things get interesting the screen collapse and they are buried under a red veil. When things start getting steamy his guard comes in and kills the mood.😂😝🙄 I am hoping that He Yan is spared a performance at the banquet unless she can sword dance again. She does that beautifully. Everybody is on the hunt for Chai Anxi. What does he know that the chancellor wants silenced?

Read More

Retribution and mercy

Lei Hou is not what I expected. He wanted justice for his village and his family, so when the opportunity presented itself to get revenge on the one responsible for this destruction, he grabbed tight with both hands. I am hard pressed to find fault with him on this. He thought Xiao Jue had no honor. And when the longevity locket was presented he felt justified. When he gets to leave with his brother, he gives them his ‘love poem’ and considers them even, with Xiao Jue having many more to go. Lei Hou is on the path to healing, but it will be a much longer journey for Xiao Jue. It is a sweet opening scene with Xiao Jue hovering over He Yan. She is mending and Mr Shen comes in bowing apologies. They lost several in the battle and he felt guilty that he did not do his job well. He presented the defense plan He Yan had drawn up for him. Xiao Jue looked it over and gave it to He Yan wanting an explanation. He told Shen to leave and has a chat with He Yan who is all about her photographic memory. He knows she is lying but chooses to let it go for now. He also tells her she can join the elite guard where she immediately assumes she will be the one in charge. Cheng is so funny as he tells her straight up ‘do you think I am that stupid’ as she spins her tale. He just goes with I will believe whatever you say and then mumbles uncle is gonna fall so hard.😂 She takes her meds and he leaves her the candy she gave him. She is both annoyed and pleased. I like her light reading, ‘The Art of War’😂 Xiao Jue talks about what happened at Que. They were outnumbered 30k to 3k with one possible option to survive. To empty the reservoir and drown the troops. If the rain lessened, the village would be spared, but it turned into a torrent instead. He made all the plans to get them out, but the weather worked against him. Most of the village got swept away. He stays up all night doing sword drills and reflecting on all those souls lost. He Yan guards over him through the night and then hugs him after assuring him as a general he had no other option and he had done the best he could. There are times when the extent of a soldier’s grief is truly only understood by another soldier. She understood his grief as a fellow commander and this was a healing and sorrow sharing hug. Her being a girl was a fringe benefit, but it was shared grief of being responsible for mass casualties. This is the toughest cross for a soldier to bear when civilians are included in the death toll. She ends her hug by collapsing and both of them being chastised by Dr Cheng.😂 They cannot decipher the encrypted message until she notes the sulfur smell and they both yell ginseng soup. They eyeball each other because this technique was exclusive to his father’s training. She is rolling her eyes in her mind because she can’t just say your dad personally taught me this technique. She gives books credit and he lets it go. There is a date and meeting set up. They do not know if real or fake intel but the technique itself revealed that one of their own wrote the message. One officer they thought dead is the best possible option of who, because there was a very limited number of people that knew how. It ends with a flashback of Chu finding a man collapsed on the street. They take him in to get him help and find out he is from the Xiao army. He is tailing them closely but not including himself with them. The deputy general Chai Anxi.

Read More