KJ2025

General ManMan

I have been confused as to whether Fan and ManMan were cousins or siblings but glad this episode clarified it. Fan was so not the one to be wife to a Wei. BiZhi is a very strong but simple man. That is truly where she should be. She represents what is wrong with the Qiaos. It is not that they are bad, but that they are willing to be selfish at the expense of many. This is what happened now 15 years ago.😝It is not necessarily a crime to put oneself first, but where will her child be if Liangya decides to head for Boya? If she does not give support she can’t expect support either. She has deliberately burned her bridge with ManMan. It is good they have the Qiao flag. They are not worthy of the Wei one. Let’s see if any of the Qiaos that use women as currency will show up for her. 😝 I am annoyed with Lord Wei and his attitude. I want his heart to feel fear as his men tell exactly what she did and that Boya support had nothing to do with it. I want the cousin to feel forever ashamed of her actions and to stay away from ManMan from this day on. Her cousin is now a Wei and no part of her.😝 Ci did a damn good job. I like how he candidly sticks up for ManMan and boldly treats Shao like a brother. I want to see these two grow closer. ManMan did a damn fine job directing waterways. She used all her gpa’s knowledge to literally change the tides. She is kinda awesome. She even managed to message her husband with the boat lanterns. He is still too busy acting like an ass but he will see the right of things soon. Production did an excellent job with battle scenes. Your heart is racing with them as they face off with Liangya’s warriors. They know when to slink off in retreat. Yan’s dad claimed him way too late and he proved that his gma told the truth about what really happened with his mother. Him being sent to the border will let him assist Wei and keep him away from a vile dad. It is a win/win. I did not expect him to look so strong and commanding in uniform. He is going to be a nice asset for the Wei family and hopefully find his own version of ManMan. I still cannot believe she dared to stand alone to entice the enemy army to try to kidnap her. She is as wreckless as her husband in putting it all on the line. She and Ci are the best of Qiao clan….may they both live under Wei flag. Together they will do great things.

Read More

BanXia martial artist

This rendition of the day was fun to see BanXia kick ass.😂 It was a significant change of pace for XuanHe 😝 While admiring her new expertise he is annoyed at finding himself a much weaker rendition of his usual self. His three brothers can tote him around like a sack of potatoes and BanXia can pack a wallop better than he can😂 Rabbit would be enjoying this immensely if he was along. They now have the constable tied up but not convinced and they have found others. They are surmising they must find a person per marvel. They still don’t know how to escape but progress is being made. I am hoping this winds up soon or they can at least escape to a different painting.

Read More

Obsession

The maid is more obsessed than Yan. I could not believe she boldly went to the lord dressed as his wife to tattle on Yan. The b empress convinced her and provided the wardrobe. But what could she have promised to make the woman do something so stupid? What I liked this time was the veiled threat Lord Wei gave her promising punishment for the rumor instigators. I really want to see some revenge on empress and lackey. She really has it coming. I would like to think Lord Wei felt a bit of conscience when he learned the box held Lady Wei’s treasured items. Especially after his obsession with his own box. He should have noticed the second bracelet, but I don’t think he saw past the incense warmer. The fight Yan and Shao had over ManMan is what empress most likely wanted between the brothers. She just likes to be the wedge period. Lady Wei acted rightly in all of this. I laughed when she’s getting yelled at and she says Gao is the only man I know 😝 she never expected Yan to like her in that manner. I think she was happy that after their first interactions that they finally found family ground and could be in each other’s presence peacefully and even friendly. All this talk of dismissed concubines when they were not seen in house I found a bit unnecessary. There was enough controversy in the house with the three and their maids much less other ‘wives’ of sorts to deal with. Since Shao didn’t have any, these others had no pertinence to storyline. This is more Yan’s territory. Shao would not have wasted time camping out at advisor’s house or with generals in office if he had other beds to visit so this village gossip mill was a weird aside. The other gossip however, about Lady Wei has caused some serious issue. Yan has to admit that his admiration for the Lady of the house has grown to an inappropriate infatuation. He has decided to take the rumor mongers home personally and stay there. This saddens his family but he needs to grow up and feel like a man in his own right. He summed it up pretty accurately that he was the well treated family pet. Yu Lou has made a new enemy and one that will soon have some power behind it. Yan has been dismissed his whole life but he will fight tooth and nail to protect Lady Wei. It will be interesting to watch these two spar. Yan is far more worldly and uses similar techniques. They will have a hard time out sneaking the other. Ci has accidentally got himself in trouble with sister. He came home talking about the hunt and showing off his new horse but it was a very lame excuse about lack of invite. ManMan should have sent a more thorough letter explaining. And when the canal building causes Wei to side with their troublesome neighbor. Boya is going to feel left out on another front. She is upset they do not have Wei backing and here ManMan’s Qiao flag planting may work against her with family. This is going to be a stickier wicket to work out. But one thing is clear…the Lord and Lady are making efforts to be a solid united front in spite of their families. I hope gma’s fall did not cause her too much damage and that she recovers mentally and physically from the fall and loss of grandson. She always looked after Wei house well, but, she may have to accept the fact that she didn’t necessarily provide the best option for Yan. He is not a power seeker by nature…but he should be allowed to live as a man and not a treasured pet. Waiting to see the fallout with this and Boya situation. This episode is starting a lot of family growing pains.

Read More

I will destroy antiquities for you

Lady Yu Lou continues to make her presence known. She’s marked the books so that Lady Wei can’t see them. Even Lord Wei sees through this stunt. Here Wei Yan shows him his options with her. He laughs at Wei Shao’s jealousy and points out his double standard. The poet returns from his travels with a rubbing from the ancient writings. Not to be outdone Lord Wei brings back a tablet he has damaged on the way home. There is a humerous scene where she tries to make amends for her husband’s arrogance and ignorance removing an antiquity. Lord Wei puts things in perspective for the empress and prepares to send her home. She sure hopes to make headway with Wei Shao but fails. That lackey knows they have not consummated their marriage but has jumped to the wrong conclusion. These two are very tunnel visioned. They play games for themselves but too arrogant and non concerned to take in all the facts and feelings of others. I hope all her play of Liangyu Lord forcing her to marry bites her in the ass. She needs to be soundly refused by everybody. I hope Yan gives handkerchief back soon. I was hoping he would take Yu Lou to task and instead gives her something to hold over him. It is fun watching the poet teaching weight training to the warrior.😂 General Liang having a good time with this.🤣 Wei Shao can’t boot him out of the gate fast enough. 😂 Yu Lou shows up but her offering is leveraged by Lord Wei giving credit to his Lady. The poet wisely just says thank you and leaves. They are now considering allying with Bingzhou for water but this will then make Boya vulnerable. I want BiZhi to get some much needed help from a good source. I hope the writer has a plan for it.

Read More

Love and conquest

Ci did well.The lackey broke the weapon amd Lord Wei loaned Ci Bagong’s spear. This was very unexpected by everybody, especially the empress. Young Ci than kicked the lackey’s ass to include a sneak dagger attack. 😝 The maid and her general did well at the betting tables😂 These two are damn cute🥰 Lord Wei is seeing that not all Qiao’s are cowardly. I wish BiZhi could also have proven himself. But with the two vipers coming into play maybe it is better his strength is a hidden weapon. Funny that I considered Yan the viper with empress not long ago. He is misguided and sad but finding his way. He is seeing how life could be and I hope this story allows him some happiness besides being a bystander. Liangya is a different place with the new master. I don’t think he set out with intent to kill his father. But the hate he could show to an innocent boy is a huge shortcoming. I am hoping a general hid the boy rather than tossing him in the tomb. It would be nice for a less savage heir to show up. The step mother should not have been so greedy to push the elder completely aside. He might have been contented being a general. She kinda got what she deserved and the whole land is going to pay for her power seeking. The ex finally realized why ManMan could not accept him. She wanted love not conquest. Power is not important to her…the strength of the people is what matters to her most after husband. He saw the love between them and realized he and Lord Wei were significantly different in how they treated her. I am surprised that he could self reflect with that degree of honesty and that he did not hold that against the peony empress. I think he even suspected how she would act after receiving his gift. Lady Wei will know that this is not the truth. I am not sure how they can boot the b out of their land but hoping something presents itself. I am glad Lord Wei followed young Ci. It is not out of possibility for ill to befall him after his success at the hunt. He is truly capable and needs to be protected. Liangya not cooperating with the canal building is a big negative. Lady Wei coached young Ci well into how to persuade many. She is very capable. I hope they get Boya in the mix to work against that tally the empress has. I would like her ‘birthmark’ to be as exposed as she did to how the ex gained power. She wants to be puppet master but is playing a dangerous game even for her. I really don’t know how this will play out. They need BiZhi’s strength to combat the one general. I think when they see the success of Ci’s visit they will be somewhat comforted and know that ManMan is still fighting for them. Waiting to see how the writer navigates all these political negotiations.

Read More

Vipers in attendance

It is truly a shame that BiZhi could not compete at the deer hunt. He would have been awesome. ManMan’s ex is truly evil…he entombed his little brother with the parents he slaughtered. I don’t have words for him. He and peony empress are quite suited for each other but I wish them thrones in hell rather than seeing what collateral damage they are willing to cause. I am happy her bold lie about Ci was found out. I am not sure that will keep him safe from the lackey, but at least he is shown to be an honorable young man. He is about to face his first meanspirited opponent. I hope for him, but the evil ones have been winning lately. I am just hoping no loss of life or limbs with this battle.

Read More

Dreamers and schemers

They should not have changed the sweetness to a dream😝 It is funny that he was so jealous of General Liang’s gift. I hope all the gems he wanted on the heart guard will actually let his heart be guarded🤣 Lady Wei did her hubby proud making his concoction of heart guard to order. He knows she has ears to the ground in all things to come up with that without talking to him. I am especially glad she got this gift in before visitor made her awful presence known. The empress wannabe is a major piece of work. 😝 Her bold lies might be undone by the brother arriving or he could become victim of her scheme. The foolishness of the men in Lady Wei’s clan caused this mess. They really are useless. But Wei Shao should have taken ManMan with him when he first encountered his “guest” she went to great lengths for this masterpiece of deception. Now the invitation is removed from sis and BiZhi which is very unfortunate. This could have formed a strong alliance with Boya. I hope the brother arrives and meets with Lady Wei first as he might be shot first asked questions later from any other Wei on the premises. WOW! ManMan dodged a major psycho breaking off from the ex. He did not seem so violent but I am sure that wasp of a stepmother caused the change of character. This was the part I was hoping a dream sequence. He is now going to show up at the hunt and it seems all the vipers are gonna be there. The hunting venue has turned into a snake pit. Lord Wei had the right of one thing….why can’t ManMan just be his wife and not a political pawn. But I am disappointed that after the grain debacle that he made no effort to find the truth with his wife. She brought her efforts to him. He was up front about withdrawing the invitation so that is major progress. However, he could really use the strength of loyal BiZhi to help deal with the amalgam of power seekers arriving. 😝

Read More

Wishes and regrets

Lord Wei conveniently dispatches the poet and hides the song written for his wife. He realized he was capable of writing the blessing himself. Her smile indicated she knew the author and his gentle encouragement for her to read before the crowd was quite sweet. This festival is like the wedding ceremony they should have had. Everyone noticed the affection between the two. The lantern was another sweet event. She takes a very long time to write her wish. Wei Shao stays behind under pretense of work to make his generals fish for her lantern. He is very disappointed when he sees he is not mentioned on her list. He pouts huge, but after the day they had he had a right to feel he should be included. Word gets back to her and she rightfully called him petty. However, she also agrees that he has reason to feel slighted and feels guilty. She has a meal prepared with all his favorites but he never shows. She then hits up the wine jug. Lord Wei comes home to find Lady Wei a drunken mess. She is running around like a child and being super cute and ridiculous.😂 she does tell him why her wishes were only family. They are the regrets that she can only wish them well from afar. He now understands a bit of how isolated she must feel being completely away from her family. I don’t think she is the loser except for her brother and cousin and BiZhi. All the rest are proving themselves to be hiding behind the currency of their females.😝 Lady empress and bully general meet and she finds out the real last wishes of her husband. I think she knew it was a lie about having her locked away, but now she has proof. She also has the power of military tally to back her up so she is gonna be nothing but trouble when she gets to the Wei’s hunting venue. If she is sick too, is it possible the evil dad was poisoning both of them? They are really stretching out a forehead kiss breaking it into two episodes.😝 I am not thanking production for this dramatic effect.🙄

Read More

Man man the muse

Yan inadvertently got into mischief when a lady with a crush stole a flute and spread gossip to trap him into marriage. He was trying to find the face for his goddess. After Lady Wei came to his rescue and defended him at home and had the rumors stopped he was deeply touched at her kindness. It seems this has pushed him into admiring her in particular. I am still not completely convinced that he covets her to take away from Lord Wei. I see him viewing her as the ideal woman. Unfortunately the obsessed young lady believes it is her face he painted. Lady Wei kept her stubborn Lord comfortable away from home. She then thought about the treasures in his box and removed her kindnesses from his day. She sent his box to him as a reminder of who and what he felt most important. Even he recognized that her thoughts went to pendant. He finally came home and had a candid conversation about the significance of the pendant and his brother. What he did not explain was the promise he failed to keep. He has learned the familiar nickname for her is ManMan and he said it🥰 Progress is being made. Binzhou is causing Boya grief and her cousin is hoping BiZhi will get an invite to the hunt.I do not think the generals and Lord Wei get the significance of the letter Lady Wei received. I do hope an invitation is extended because the Qiao family is useless for any assistance that is not construction and engineering😝 The new poet😂 He is the sober version of Yan🤣 He most eloquently writes the praises of Lady Wei but uses her maiden name Qiao. He is shot down by both Lord and Lady Wei and I think there will be future discussions between the married couple. It has been a long time coming. He has never had a problem sorting the lands he oversees, but this two pronged appreciation from more worldly men will hopefully kick his butt in gear defending his wife and publicly appreciating her as a wife and not just a brilliant mind. It is not often the husband recognizes the intelligence of the wife before acknowledging her beauty and importance to him.😂🙄 He may finally start seeing her as a whole person that he can desire as well as appreciate as work colleague. We can only hope he will recognize his ManMan as well as the Lady Wei.😁

Read More

Proposals

The general tried so hard for a romantic interlude. It failed on a grand scale. 😂 The prefect is made to question why Wei Shao would accompany the shipment of seed. There is a plot for an ‘accident’ on the way to Rongjun. Wei Shao saves Qiao Man from her runaway carriage and the couple is safely reunited. 🥰Wei Shao was grazed by an arrow. The wound was slight but the blade was poisoned. Fortunately the poison’s effect was minimal and he only needed a couple days to sleep off the toxins. In the interim Lady Wei started improvising. The prefect rejects winter wheat proposal which also negates canal plans. They know who is behind the conflict but cannot openly challenge him. They are on his home turf and he is family tho disloyal. So calm thinking and smart tactics can save the venture. While Wei Shao heals, Qiao Man receives a visit from prefect. She invites him to play go. She loses the first game but we aren’t told of the second or if either player noted tactics of the other while battling in game. His shoe is lost and he is detained even longer. This causes doubt and speculation by traitor Wei which they anticipated. While actually returning the prefect’s shoe, the general drops the box and makes a big show of jewelry being inside. This lets traitor’s spy think prefect is being bribed. After that she has two generals pretend to offer marriage proposals to the prefect’s daughter who is already engaged to traitor’s son. Now what is interesting is that this caught the daughter’s eye and she likes the general.😁 Unexpected serendipity as the lady’s man general seems equally smitten. 🥰Wei Shao has finally become conscious and Qiao Man runs to him.🥰 She runs to his side and hugs him close. He notes that he needs a bath and she determines to help him clean up. 😁 He is trusting her more. The rest he got from her massaging temple acu points was the first time no nightmares. They are forging themselves into a strong couple and together they will be formidable. They are also making themselves favored of the people. I can’t wait to see how she gets her way with the winter seed. I only wish a couple more episodes available. 😁

Read More

Truths and trips

The empress escaped Yujun without being brought to justice but going home proved more challenging. Yan found out what happened to his mother and chose her family over father’s. It was a harsh line gma gave him. But she candidly put all her cards on the table and explained her position. As a man it had to be difficult to choose the family you love but have no power or position—or the family you know caused pain but will make you heir with highest honors, I am glad love won out. Now that he knows his mother’s story that might be what creates the biggest character change in him. It will put his lifestyle on a different judging balance. For Wei Shao to leave him in charge had to be a good feeling. The empress hears that her husband has passed and that his last wish was for her to be confined in palace. She has guessed who really made this choice, but her seed venture to trap Wei Yan and Shao cost her the opportunity to be on the home front to put her empress plan in motion. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer gal.😝 These idiots don’t even know what she looks like. They think she will be stupid enough to keep forehead decoration and just head to the palace to be imprisoned. They don’t even recognize her carriage and that gee…she might be in there with her lackey.I don’t feel the least bit bad for her but she can hide in plain sight without the face paint. She didn’t completely buy the empress plan or she would have had it tattooed and not just painted. For all the adulation she let herself receive because of it, she had no issues wiping it off and going what mark?😝She and Yan may have a battle in future. I am glad she can’t bring Wei family to her side. She has successfully burned that bridge. The ruined seed has been replaced and WeiShao finds himself heading to Rongjun to help oversee canal engineer. He does not completely trust because he is engineer from Qiao family. Qiao Man has finagled a trip for herself with him. She is planning to visit cousin while there. This time I don’t think visiting her family the only objective. She admires her husband and wants to know him better. Away from his mom and gma will let them both learn more about each other on their own. Her dazzled gaze watching him read. I laughed out loud when he feels her forehead wanting to know what’s wrong with her?😂She even tells him she finds him fascinating and he really doesn’t hear her. He is in mansplain mode about the canals and their history.😂 His general has an idea for a detour that promises better food and atmosphere. Let’s see what unfolds for both couples.

Read More

Male vs female viper—who is most evil?

Wei Shao, as usual, is a very thorough master landowner. He keeps eyes on all accounts and tries to keep ahead of calamities for the general populace. He is still hiding from Qiao Man after Yan tells her Wei Shao read her letters home to him. She is rightfully angry but both of them need to be more open about state vs personal matters. They continue to work better as a pair but there is plenty of bad blood between their families. Now that the canal will be extended to Rongjun, they see the new couple as an even bigger threat. Yan is handed a dagger to kill Wei Shao so he can be heir. He is considered a bastard so that is why he is allowed to live such a reckless life. He makes it clear he doesn’t care what happens to Qiao Man…to include death, but he draws the line at killing family. At least he has one. Qiao family is skeptical about wheat seeds. They see it as feeding enemy troops in future. This is what got them in trouble 14 years ago.The empress is fixing it so that she will arrive alone and like Yan is a favorite of gma. How is it that she is most attracted to vipers of the worst sort. That building collapse actually had her smiling. She is a piece of work willing to leave a trail of dead if they get in her way. This party bodes ill for everybody.😝

Read More

Puppet master

Seems dear uncle is simply puppet to break up any chance of Qiao / Wei alliance. There is reasonable circumstances to hold grudges…but these two work so much better together for the good of everybody. The only fallout is with meddling family members intent on stirring things up. I am disappointed that Wei Shao has such little regard for her strategic and tactical ideas. The more she shines the more that covetous lech uncle wants her. He is definitely in it for whatever perk he’s been offered, but she definitely has his attention which takes some doing since he is so jaded about women in general. He is too free in her personal space and I want him flattened for that. Wei Shao should not have returned drawing. He should have just said that no woman looking like this was interested. Now he has his drawing of her to drool and moon over. He is really a sad shadow of a man thinking he is God’s gift to women. The bruise over tavern girl’s eye shows his real treatment of women. That Gma is so willingly taken in by this creep is sad and disheartening. He is going to cause some real trouble and it won’t be for himself alone. I can only hope his lecherous ways pays him back in bodily afflictions that will keep him from breeding or living to ripe old age. I guess he is the Chinese Hugh Hefner of this drama😝🙄I don’t see him finding a way to redeem himself or even wanting to by the end of the drama. Wei Shao is at least warned and is loosely monitoring things but I don’t think he is aware the depths this uncle could go. I am not even sure the uncle is sure. He is determined to be the serpent to test their marriage and that is most likely not going to end til he is gone. I vote for permanently but will settle for relocated. Qiao Man has put so much effort into this bday party. It remains to be seen if it will be a triumph or debacle. I just hope Wei Shao sticks close to her no matter the distraction so that whatever happens he will be there for her. The dam has been opened and the canal filled so one bit of good news.

Read More

Ladies of the house

Wei Shao’s mother has hit a new low. She drugged her own son and had him locked in a room with crush girl. She did her best to seduce him and even in a drugged state he cast her off.😝 He didn’t even try the door but kicked them off their hinges. He looked massive when doing that. He tries to dilute the drug but tried to consummate his marriage. He didn’t. He took a long cold bath and settled himself. I missed something in translation at the very beginning. I did not understand that her wedding took place keeping her from grandfather memorial but that she would be allowed a year to mourn. I did not realize mourning gave her permission to stay chaste for that interim. No wonder the devil in red dress thought she had a chance.😝 The gma has her own spy network and knew the truth of the matter before calling in Qiao Man. She did not spread tales of her husband but used battle wounds as reason for ice and plead ignorant of east wing events. Gma likes that she protected her husband well.😁 I am glad Wei Shao takes his mother to task and gives her three days to marry off crush girl and get her out of the house. I was even more happy that gma had her own timetable and kicked her out immediately with promise of helping her marry. And when mother bear thought she was hid from both in law and son cutting loose on Qiao Man.—that new wife rebutted her soundly pointing out that her complaints and concerns were all about crush girl and not her own son. Mom really gets irked and flipped the table but daughter in law not only held her ground but even more vehemently argued for her husband. Putting the mom firmly in place….all with Wei Shao hearing the entire conversation. 🥰No one has ever stuck up for him without some sort of expectation in return. I hope he finally sees what a treasure his wife really is. He has avoided her because he is ashamed of forcing himself on her. I was getting annoyed with him for lacking two words…l’m sorry….however, when he knelt by her asleep planning to put ointment on her wrist…actions speak loudly. She woke and cowered away from him which shamed him more. He is planning a trip to Panyi to hide from her and she is deciding what to do.

Read More

Warriors return

WeiShao thinks he has all the high ground about Qiao flag in Boya. He greets his wife with a huge meal having all Boyan specialities. She chokes down most of the protein overload and they finally begin talking. It is not pleasant but they both have a better understanding of each other. He finds out she now knows of his troops in Panyi and it is his turn to look guilty. He leaves with troops to take on Boya neighbor. This will take care of bully general so it’s a good thing. What he doesn’t know is that Qiao Man has had Boya start mining at a strategic location that will end up making an underground tunnel to sneak troops through. It’s a brilliant plan and will be unnoticed in the fog of war. When he comes back two months later he claims his fair share of the main suite.😂 personally, I think he has been due this since wedding night. It was kind that he allowed them separate areas to get accustomed with each other but it is getting about time for them to actually be husband and wife. She accepts the changes because she knows her strategic move in Boya was a bit underhanded tho necessary. Just as he originally saw adding troops to Panyi. She notices that Wei Shao is scared of the dark and restless so she talks with advisor and gma. Gma is currently my favorite character. She lays it out plainly the pain that was caused with three generations killed in one night. The loss she still feels and the pain she and Wei Shao still experience. She challenges the wife to be a true ally and help him deal with the pain and grow together to learn to live with more happiness and less fighting lines. The mentor offers his insights as well and lets her know the ball is now in her court to get things on a better track. She has no clue of his never ending nightmare of that fateful night and found herself at the tip of his sword. She has surmised that it was traumatic and also involves his fear of the dark. For the first time she offered him true comfort and while he doesn’t remember it, he sees her cloak and acknowledges the fact she was there for him. True progress is being made for both of them to start healing.

Read More