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Lin is looking at an apartment option not in her budget to just give way to dreams of possibility. Here Mr Cai is a calming voice that includes infinite options of living space. He was even willing to throw himself in the deal for Lin. He is far more charming than I expected with far more substance than I gave him credit for. Lin has politely and firmly declined and I am relieved as her having his daughter in her life indefinitely is not really a good option. Fan tries to be fatherly with Lin. After destroying her company, stealing her authors all while capitalizing on it financially, he has the brass to say that he always respected her personally and still offered her a place in his company. I don’t think he really hears himself.😝🙄He actually thought he was doing her a kindness and I am glad she made it clear he was not an option for her. Dai is back and listened to He Han’s class. She said it was decent but his writing far better.😂 I have mixed feelings about the AI support backing a real author. I am waiting to see how they handle this transition for authors and their observations about combined efforts. I am curious about why He Han let Lin leave and why he brought the three manuscripts along without talking to her about it. This wasn’t the tangent I expected when reshuffling platforms came into play. Dai brought the same manuscripts to GuYan she did for He Han. Is she the flip side of Fan? If she is I will be very disappointed. I expected more for and from her. Zhao is eating for two and wants GuYan to download a new readers app. He gives himself away knowing too much and she asks if he is being poached. He denies it but reminds her she poached him. She is unique in that she keeps all her trophies on same shelf and guards them equally. Even her future children are on this shelf and not higher. I am relieved that in this episode Cai did not show up in his class or her apartment. This let Lin and Mei talk without stupid questions intervening. The poignant moment was Mei offering to take care of Lin’s dad if he chose not to accompany her when she relocated. At the hospital she is distraught by the choice her parents made without her knowledge or input. She was completely blindsided and unhappy to be double teamed by them. She is losing her company and her mother with little or no say in things. She is the queen of micromanaging so of course none of this sits well. was a double look moment when Lin is drinking outside of the convenient store rather than HeHan. She asks him to start over with her and he declines. He encouraged her to go where she had the most options. So it seems LA might be the next option for her. Even the store owner asked why he didn’t realize she was asking him to start over with her? He Han has no words because once again he is trying to help her career rather than her as a person. I like these two as a working couple and support system, but is it co dependency rather than a true relationship? That is a question maybe they can’t even answer. Does Lin’s footnote comment mean He Han is acknowledged but kept minimum or is it that they are forever tied together in spite of everything? They are still figuring this out. Mei is joining a meeting where her parents are dividing up assets. She sees her young ex bf as liaison for her mother. She has left Shanghai to unspecified location other than city change. Since she finally accepted that her husband would never return, there was no longer reason to hang onto the house. Her dad could care less except he wanted the cash by the end of month. His business transaction…could be business could be a new woman…no way to know for sure. She gets a ride home with her ex who explained he had always kept in touch with her mom. He then shows he has a different perspective as the one who makes the money rather than striving to climb that high. I think he has accepted his dig about her mother clinched any possibility of a relationship, but I also think he wanted her to see that he had far more potential than Bei and he would have loved her exclusively. While Lin is packing up her things there is a picture about Phantom Knight. She changed her mind and takes it back into the apartment. Is she adding to box or leaving for Cai? This has me curious. The episode ends with He Han thinking about what he really rejected when Lin asked him that question. This episode Zhao and Mei seem the most settled with current changes while the rest are in flux. Fan has yet to realize what he has really gained and lost because the dollar signs keep distracting. Dai is getting ready to shake things up but not in the way I anticipated. Is she trying to get the number one authors back to competing? He Han seems better as a person and healthwise since giving up writing, but will this be enough to feed his creative side and keep him content long term? I don’t know that moving so far will be the best thing for Lin, but there is a lot of old sentiment surrounding her in this city. If He Han is so close but remains so far, distance might indeed give her a more positive outlook with completely different surroundings adding a healing influence. Gu Yan is another surprise factor. He is learning the game quickly and now trusts no one. Zhao taught him that. He would be far more likely to use his powers for good under Dai than Zhao, but the AI thing, this is a polarizing notion and it is very unclear if it’s possible for a collaboration of this sort to be a good thing. Will this make writers better? Or try to replace them?
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Fu is entrenched by young emperor and is showing his displeasure by interrupting every question he asks Chen. When he finally gets miffed enough to exit, Chen is told why he was really invited. This young man is very damn smart and while I feared him keeping Fu close, he is going with keeping his enemies closer. He knows Fu wants to kill off the Marquis and family so he appoints Chen with the job of saving them. JinZhao and Ye Xian’s sister are talking and this is where the sis finds out YeXian never told JinZhao the extent of his feelings. I am sure he planned that with his jewelry gift for their meeting originally planned for the next day. QingLan thought she had the upper hand telling YeXian about JinZhao’s engagement. She had no idea the tempest she released in him with those words. The actor gave a stellar performance in his shock, grief and then rage over the news of JinZhao’s engagement. His drawing of sword in that setting against his own family and JinZhao is his default poor display of temper. He still needs to rein that in or it will be the death of him. Serendipity has YeXian and Chen collide and Chen masterfully shuts down his attacks and calms him down. He says loudly that it would be too damaging for them to fight over a woman, while he quietly tells him Fu’s plans and how to counter them. No matter what he does his dad cannot give one positive word to Ye Xian. Your heart hurts for him as he keeps getting slammed from every side. JinZhao cares for him like a close friend and brother which is why she felt he needed to learn her news directly from her. But things didn’t turn out that way. She has pleaded to Chen if Xian can be saved and he said yes but it would involve hurting her. QingLan is downing wine pitchers with Chen’s sister and forbidding her to be friends with JinZhao. Ms Chen isn’t worried because they will be sisters in law which is better than friendship. QingLan agrees with his drawing sword tactic. They truly are a good pair. QingLan thinks she has ordered JinZhao to talk to Chen. JinZhao is confused at her hostility but doesn’t have time to dwell on it. Her aunt Ye is being pounced on by the Gu women to the point she said give her a divorce. Waiting to see the outcome of that. Distancing herself from the Gu’s is not a bad thing. She knows it won’t jeopardize her friendship with JinZhao because in spite of her name, she will always consider herself a Ji. Fu and Wang are trying to include Chen in their noose. If Chen doesn’t deal harshly with the Marquis he reveals his real intentions. I truly despise all these old schemers that hide from punishment and inflict grief on the people and any official in their way. 😡🤬Chen is promised his position if he closes the case while they still strategize how to get rid of Chen. Fu’s goal is to wipe out the Ye family. Chen has broadcasted loudly the attempt on his life by Ye Xian so he will have reason to look biased in judgment. He knows what Fu expects thus the confession. What I wonder is if this is the price for the Marquis to save his family and assuage Fu’s desired vengeance. Can the young emperor intervene with a signed confession? Not a good place to stop.
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Frost is being pampered with treats by YeXian and young Emperor. It seems Fu is quite comfortable having his favorites in standby and can get his food faster than the crown prince. Ye Xian told him that there were records kept on everybody in court except for one and wasn’t that odd? After agreeing YeXian had the most odd story the young emperor tells the court he is abolishing the position of inspector. That was unexpected news. Fu is seeing he is making his own decisions without consulting him first. Chen is speaking with his former colleague and it is decided that his wife will be the matchmaker. He also wants Chen back in the office. Lian is doing her best to try to draw attention to herself. She wants opportunity to brag about her upcoming wedding. The other Gu girls let her know they would rather she vacate the room than brag about her wonderful fiancé. The matriarchs are talking and Ms Yao is graciously suggesting the wedding gifts could be kept as compensation for the broken engagement. She is getting more and more snide when a servant runs in announcing Ms He. Ms Yao is escorted out but makes excuse to stay. Lian hears all about YanYun’s proposal to JinZhao and has a tantrum that would make a three year old jealous.😝🙄Ms Yao is changing her tune because there is no way her husband can outshine Chen in any capacity. So I think her miscreant son will not be enthused to hear he is marrying the wrong Gu girl. Lian is forced to make the rounds apologizing and gives Lan her favorite hairpin. Lan tries to get her to keep it since it was a gift from gma. Lian is the epitome of ingrate and tells her to keep it or toss it. Lan was at first smug about getting things broken off, but she did try to warn Lian that her fiancé was not a nice person. Lian has known him since grade school bla bla bla and won’t believe anything but that Lan is jealous. JinZhao has a meeting with gma and cousin where they make sure this is her real choice for a husband. Gma Ji was persuaded by the divorce decree at the ready and cousin was convinced when each question received a louder yes. Gma gave her the bracelet she received as a bride and cousin hands her a huge roll of cash saying half her daowry. I was surprised he didn’t tease her if she was going to burn this batch of gifts too.😂🤣 He looked her straight in the eye and watched her closely for any doubt and she passed his test of being happy and convinced with her decision. She is nervous later and Chen is there to support her. She finally tells him she likes him and ready to take the gamble. There guards are so cute wanting to stay and peek and equally hide and give them privacy. 🫣🥰Ye Xian’s sister is concerned about how their marriage will effect her brother. JinZhao has been trying to contact him personally because she wanted to tell him face to face of her plans. Unfortunately duties kept him busy and he is finally hearing about it. At the end of the episode JinZhao is walking with his sister and having a chat. The biggest change of things from the Gu’s is gma handing over every item JinZhao’s mom had left for her. She realized that JinZhao would hold them accountable and she wouldn’t get credit. 😝🙄 But even if Lian felt shorted, she did the right thing albeit for a selfish reason. She also encouraged her daughter in law to discipline Lian. I think it’s a bit too late for that but if her fiancé will leave Lan alone, those two deserve each other.
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The drummers had their own thugs to beat up the other one. These two knuckleheads. The uncle gives him a shot to vent his rage if things aren’t settled between them and he decides they are beat up enough.😂 Uncle is pressing an alliance with Huang’s wife to get their kids pushed through auditions. He even buys a hog to seal the deal and get meat for the entire troupe. Against all odds they both got their misfit kids included. The cook’s son sharing the sugar candy was a sweet scene until security’s thug son showed up. This time Laidi scored points for thwacking him upside the head with a 2x4. As little as she was this was a fair hit. I’m tired of him picking on the little kids. That shiner of hers will make her even more popular for holding her own against him. Huang’s wife congratulated her and commented how he beat on her kid too so nobody is upset except thug’s mom. The examiners had interesting reasons for keeping these two and it always finished with Huang’s greenest grass comment.😂🤣 The lead is pushing for them to seem a small family and uncle doesn’t go for it. She is married and there needs to be some propriety shown for the child’s sake if not her own. Huang was more accepting of things until he heard the drummer getting top accolades from the troupe. They were not best buddies to start with and this has put Huang in an especially vengeful mood. I did have a laugh out loud moment when he thought he was going to return the hog head his wife had been cooking all day. She didn’t say anything but slammed a cleaver into a butcher block cutting board and he quietly returned it to cooking spot.😂🫣The one significant thing of Laidi’s audition was her venting all her anger and angst about leaving home. She screamed that uncle and sheep song at the top of her lungs and let it all out.😂😂This is not the destiny she wanted, but this was her accepting her fate and doing things her way.
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The two leads continue to bicker and Laidi’s uncle promises to beat the drum hard to make the understudy mess up. He discovered the plank he used for a bed was needed in stage backdrop and Laidi is dressed as a scarecrow to fill in the space. Kudos to her for holding her arms up for the entire performance. Things backfire for the prior lead as the strong drum beat made the understudy perform confidently and the audience loved it. The directer took credit for the addition of scarecrow. The understudy was grateful for his assistance and shows she will vote for Laidi in tryouts. The leader uses double entendre for the drum beats. Ya had to laugh when she had Laidi call out her uncle by name and call him a jerk for singing practice. The police are investigating the anonymous letter and uncle turns it into a drum session/class. I loved how he demonstrated his style with the fly. That was a nice bit of humor. The wife is faking the degree of her injury and the uncle catches them arguing. He can’t get his niece to sing yet but she is known as the snake thrower and scarecrow. I feel bad for the cook’s son that has a small bit of talent he should be allowed to demonstrate. His father refuses to let him try and gives him more chores. Laidi wanted to change places because she wants to go home. She loves her sheep and misses them. The lead complaining of her uncle at night time and back to the drum entendres. She knows the young girl doesn’t understand but still needs to vent. The uncle had charmed both leads and they fought over him. What we learn is that she married from spite and the other girl was severely injured from a fall so the uncle got neither girl. The uncle is trying all kinds of antics to get the votes Laidi needs to stay. At the end of the episode he is called out from the movie and a bag is put over his head. This drama continues to let you see the life behind the magic of performing. The audience gets to see the glamour and the stage crew and seamstresses handle the work part that sets them up to be entertaining. Their unique lifestyle is the closed village that feeds, clothes, trains and doctors their own to perform for the politicians and wealthy. It is both magical and unforgiving. Laidi still only sees it as keeping her from her sheep and home.
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I am relieved Ye Xian wasn’t trying to dig up dirt on Chen like Zhang was. But what was discovered is that Fu removed all the incriminating evidence on him. There is a basic rundown of everybody else with an average of 10 serious charges against them. Fu has really placed himself well and is the most powerful next to crown prince. The family team up on daddy Gu and decide they are entitled to 100k as compensation. Lian is becoming the petty tyrant of the girls and there seems no end in sight of her mean spirited acts. Her maid pays the price by being forced to be an accomplice. Things reach a head when she goes through Lan’s room demanding things. They fight over a necklace that ends up broken and Lan has a nice slap mark on her face when JinZhao intervenes. When she hears the outrageous sum they think they are entitled to she rebuts with giving appropriate compensation via info from ledgers and that gma would dispense it. She also demands compensation for the necklace Lian broke. Things are far from settled because even though JinZhao was quite fair in compensation, gma decided that the businesses profits would be shared after a year. This was actually not a bad proposal for the entire family to benefit but Lian’s mom proves apples don’t fall far from the tree. She is angry and feels slighted not getting her way so this isn’t over yet. Lian continues her meanness by pushing Lan’s maid into the pond. Lan retaliates by meeting up with Lian’s betrothed. He is a troll and shouldn’t marry anybody. He reminded me too much of Wang Zan.😝Lan is smart and knows his family wants to break off his engagement because her uncle is never going to get promoted. She knows that her father knocked down to 7th rank makes her even less likely to be accepted by his family and she runs away. Lian actually deserves him but this will be interesting to see what happens. Chen and JinZhao had a walk by the temple. The setting is perfect and they can speak comfortably and privately. Who knew the most sentimental wedding gift he could give her was an undated divorce decree? He even left a second copy with gma Ji. He is the one that understands her biggest fear is losing her freedom. He truly had nothing else to offer her possession wise she would remotely want. This decree offered her freedom at any time for any reason. He shouldered the blame for her wanting departure and wished her a life of happiness as she chose to spend it. Her single tear on the document was a poignant moment. He gives her choice to stay because she wants to not because she is obligated in any way. There are no strings attached and no secret agendas for politics or property. He could not have given her a better declaration of love. ❤️ There is a reason he made four drafts of it first. He finally tells his mom his choice and she is unhappy. But as he lays down the reasons of his choice and the fickleness of the court when power shifts and positions lost, his sister sees the bigger picture. Mom is still not thrilled at all but she knows he has made up his mind. I think she also knows he really loves her and will not deviate from his choice. So she resigns herself and tells him to do as he pleases. I really hope when she meets JinZhao she will learn to love her. JinZhao could really use a mother figure that cares for her and she will not find that in the Gu family. There was tension between the daughter in law and other brother in law… there is some story there. Ye Xian gets a visit from QingLan who boldly told his guards she was considering being the commandant’s wife and they better let her in.😂🤣These two have a very lengthy stare down and neither gives way. He then pulls out his meds to show her what a weak boy he was.😂🤣 She was not the least bit concerned and then directly asked him about JinZhao. 😂🫣 He’s taken aback by the question but she gives a list of all the things he has done for her…including his wingman white kitty. 😂🤣 She reminded him she could do her homework on people too. She successfully stunned him to the same degree JinZhao tends to do. This throws him off because he didn’t think that was possible. This young lady has gotten under his skin and he doesn’t know what to make of it. I was afraid at first she was going to be a petty bully like Lian but she is as feisty and independent as JinZhao. I am not sure I can picture their life together like I can with Chen and JinZhao. But if they paired up life would never be dull for either of them. I find myself wanting her to succeed in her quest of conquering Ye Xian.
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JinZhao is doing well presenting her case but the judge is claiming out of his jurisdiction. She gets his attention with Sun because this crime is local. He is still dragging feet so,she opts for the grievance drum to get her case heard. This is usually accompanied by 40 lashes unless it gets approved by a local official. The irony is that daddy Gu is in the perfect office to approve his own investigation. While he is jailed he has not been officially charged and still holds his office. So the drum is beaten and Chen is worried because they had discussed this as not being an option for her. The judge is being pressured to dismiss the case but when she brings in the body of the missing official it is something that cannot be ignored. Wang had sent his own men out to find the body, but crafty JinZhao diverted them with a fake and brought the real body to the courtroom. She also implied he was murdered and when he was saying that could not be proved until an autopsy she interrupted him again. He’s annoyed wanting to know what it is this time?😂She proclaims to the people her father was framed and offers 3000 bags of grain and 50K taels of silver to provide relief for the people. Instead of revolting they are telling the judge Gu was obviously framed and he needs to release him. While this is going on Chen and YeXian have a conversation about Zhang and Wang. The Song family bribed many and all their dealing were recorded by an old accountant with an old ledger. He recommended YeXian bring both back. This will get rid of both of their problems. YeXian and the accountant were attacked on the way back by Wang’s men and a combo of YeXian’s guards and Chen’s archers took care of them. The accountant was quite willing to cooperate after that. YeXian made me smile when the arrow buzzes by them and he notes Chen’s men in the outskirts. He and the leader exchange nods and he goes back to looking bored in his carriage.😂The crown prince tho quite young is a smart cookie and gets to the crux of things rather promptly. He is familiar with the Ji family but wants to know the connection with the Gu’s. He is made aware that JinZhao is the connection between the families. Chen intrigues Fu by asking for a meeting. Chen requests mercy for the Gu’s because he is interested in JinZhao. Fu remembers her from the spring outing and gets a sly grin at the young man in love. Chen is a master of getting the right thing done even by wicked plotting officials. When all the granary officials were in the same room he noted the degree of corruption and how under other circumstances this would be investigated even further. It had nothing to do with him being concerned for the people but the extent of the money he wasn’t seeing.😝 He doled out punishments and had Gu knocked down to 7th rank and relocated to a poor province to be better aware of what poverty felt like. Chen was removed from his duties and the rest were treated according to rank with the top officials being held most accountable. Fu and Emperor are discussing things when YeXian brings in the ledger. Wang is brought in and will now be tried for his wife accepting 3800 taels of silver. While his punishment is being considered and the crown prince not wanting his job vacant, YeXian reminds him Chen is still in prison. Fu sees things lining up too neatly but he cannot complain or he will incriminate himself. Ya gotta love the irony of Chen departing while Wang is entering. Wang really isn’t concerned because his buddy Zhang is in charge of the prison. He starts sweating a bit when he learned Zhang was also in trouble about the grain and his enemy YeXian is now in charge. The Gu men arrive home and everybody is greeted but daddy Gu. I guess his demotion didn’t put him in the same tier with the rest of the family. JinZhao was shopping and Lan at least acknowledged him, but he was the lone figure going back to the house. The scene moves to a door where only the token is honored. It is the penal colony equivalent of the mute guarded hall of the nobles. He Xian notes the chest with intel on Chen. We know he has stuff hidden about his canal days and Ye Xian knows where to find it. The scene then moves to JinZhao trying to locate Chen. She is so tentative with the whistle but then he’s there embracing her. I totally hate the hat but that shows her his rank is restored and things are settled for now. JinZhao has made progress with her family and is known by name up to the crown prince himself. Chen is paving the path for them to be married with no naysayers blocking the way. He is indeed a very clever man.
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Now we know why the third author was invited by Zhao. Lin even gave her a future favor to be sure he was taken care of. Lin has made a huge jump as a boss after the failure with GuYan. She accepts Zhao for what she is and while disliking it doesn’t hold a grudge. I respect her for choosing not to burn bridges. It is wise and requires much strength. Mei’s parents….there are no words in how to define them and they make things as difficult as possible dealing with them. She finally figured out how to shut up her mother and override her suicide blackmail. She jumped first. I wonder if she saw the safety barrier first or just said to hell with them and jumped to be rid of them. I was frustrated with her for not kicking her mom out over the dress. I thought it was a cop out to delay things. But that hospital scene where she told them their daughter was dead and she had nothing more to say to them ever….that was well done tho extreme.👏🏻Lin is the only grownup yelling at all of them. The mother then thinks she has the upper hand with the wayward husband. He at least spoke truthfully and then smiled at her foolishness and walked away. While she choked on her bile in the hallway, I think it finally settled in that she was the broken old one with no one to care for her. Lin deserves a medal for getting through this day. After the emotional drain of Mei and her parents, she comes home to miss delulu that wants to write books to be equal in status to HeHan. She even admits her love for him. Lin would never be jealous of her for obvious reasons but to deal with her so calmly when she has her mother and Mei pressing her mind… speaks volumes for her character as a person and how naive and self deluded Cai is. She is so smart and still refuses to read the room and grow up. I was just starting to have hope for her and she falls off the cliff of delulu and wants an audience to support her efforts.😝 Lin is moving out and taking Mei with her. She reminds Cai that Mei would envy her having a good father. The stupid smile on Cai’s face. She truly has no clue and it’s by choice. Her two roommates offered friendship and she chose the fantasy. When things are restructured, I really hope Cai isn’t part of things. I want to be done with her. Mei is finishing things off with Bei. About damn time. She looks like a shell but she has a seed of true independence inside of her. I am curious to see what she does with it. Zhao has done it. She’s pregnant. She wasted no time in letting Ling know he will be the father of twins. He refuses to have them aborted but lets Zhao know he hates her. I hope Hellfire and Brimstone 2.0 make her morning sick every day of her pregnancy. Mimi is taking HeHan through a tour of his classroom where 12 have been selected. There is miss delulu and HeHan has no clue. He congratulates her for making his class and assures her it is because she is talented. She is all cheesy smiles and I just wanna smack the sh.t out of her for being so foolish. In spite of herself I still hope HeHan gives her a soft landing. I feel charitable because he created her delusion and fed it well til he glimpsed the consequences. He is still unaware she has not deserted her desire for him. Glasses guy was the culprit and smart Lin figured it out with the insurance lady. She does keep a closer eye on things than I gave her credit for. He at least slightly redeemed himself not trashing the launching of the third book and she gave him grace and didn’t cause him further grief than cutting ties. She has to take some responsibility when they saw HeHan as the core of the company rather than her. That is the mistake they all had even up to Fan. This was her poor boss skills overriding her master editing skills in the public eye. She does have to own that …and she does…with eyes to the future now. Dai has come on the scene and she looks like the pissed auntie getting ready to deliver an earful….HeHan can’t wait.😂🤣one episode a day is depressing…the cast and crew are delivering complex characters and scenes. Now the looooong wait til tomorrow.
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Wang had his Gma go to the Gu residence to force a proposal on JinZhao. Glad to know she keeps a dagger close just in case. After he had a dip in the pond, she made sure Chen noticed him. Chen invited himself over and then received a very tasty meal.😝😂 I am sure daddy Gu is wondering over his tastes since JinZhao knew it so well.😂🤣 He gets invited to stay the night and actually accepts. JinZhao is strolling by where he is staying believing he is in the guest room. She overhears her uncle and gma talking and now understands why her mom paid 20K taels of silver. It covered the uncle’s embezzlement of funds so her father couldn’t be implicated and lose his job. While they are plotting, her lantern gives her away and she’s almost caught by her uncle. Who she is caught by is Lord Chen. He is forward without being aggressive. Their first kiss is everything it should be. And for that to be her very first kiss….it is sigh worthy. 🫣🥰❤️ she is caught by her cousin leaving and the rumors fly. JinZhao has a very strong constitution because she still remains unconvinced Lord Chen is right for her and vice versa. She hears all the rumors Lian had her maid start except Wang Zan’s name was used instead of Lord Chen. The gma knows that their embezzlement secret is out and wants to keep everything quiet, but jealous granddaughter had other plans. When cornered in the fabric store, JinZhao accepts the challenge and is heading out to confront Wang with mean girls in tow. First his butler shows up to apologize and then a beat up Wang apologizes in person.😂🤣 when she looks up Ye Xian is smirking and looking pleased with himself. Chen handled it with the servant but in this moment, I’m wanting to hug Ye Xian for getting that lecherous creep beat up. This guy needed a lesson to discourage what he viewed as husbandly rights and duties. I love the friendship he and JinZhao have. JinZhao has heard of the drought conditions in Shanxi and the word gets to Chen. He has checked in on JinZhao to be sure she’s ok and let’s her know he will be away a few days. He asked about someone showing up to apologize for Wang and she finds out Chen had him for accepting a bribe. She didn’t comment that YeXian had him show up personally a little worse for the wear. 😝😂Lian comes in with a new hairpin all pleased with herself just in time for her gma to wallop her.😂🤣 That was as satisfying to watch as seeing Wang beat up. Chen has tried to dissuade his mother from believing or passing along gossip and I am really curious how her first meeting with JinZhao will go. Chen is full pressed pushing romance and can’t wait to see his next move to woo her.
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The lead singer is not so impressed with Laidi. She was expecting an older girl that could sing and was pretty. The uncle defends her and they start off by scrubbing her down and finding the girl under the sheep dirt and smells. She sees costumes and wigs which amaze and alarm her. She is told to eat and not begrudged food. The snoring contest between lead singer and Laidi 😂🤣 The cook’s son befriends Laidi and shows her where to find hidden food. She is soaking in the atmosphere and waits a full day before saying anything. Nobody knows what she is capable of yet. Not even she. Singing practice isn’t going so well but she gains cool points by calmly picking up the snake and tossing it out the window. Politics are dangerous at this time and the stunt with the letter has caused far more attention than usual. This changed who judged the tryouts making it look less and less likely Laidi could be pushed through. The understudy has been given the lead role and a secondary drummer wants uncle’s place. While the men started to argue, the new lead says she doesn’t want to perform with him. It is hard to describe this drama because it is one to just watch and absorb. The story flows smoothly and the dialogue is limited. It is more experiencing the artistic life of the troupe with singers , musicians and acrobats practicing. They are their own community and treat each other like family.
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We finally see Mei’s father in a scene where he is not slapping her.😝 She should take a close look because that is Bei in 20 yrs and no prize. I chuckled when she told him to take care of the mom himself if she showed up. Mei is good at cutting to the chase so she leaves him a stack of cash and leaves. He should get his suit out of cleaners but it’s for sure he will piss the money away and she will still have to pay for it. Zhao is feeling the hormones from the shots and crying buckets of tears. It is sad that her recollection is stopping tears at 5 and 6. She recognized that early her parents lack of concern and equal love of mahjong. She even predicts that after this sea of tears she will probably not cry much in the future. Mei finds her and cries with her. It is not that she thinks it is a good idea, it is just they both are making similar choices that won’t end well. They both are driving their fates to bad endings with no good reason why except that is where they choose to go. GuYan is a petty little sh.t and demands they drop Lin’s book to third place. They announce he is SanSan and the buzz moves to GuYan. He is now the center of attention with two books. His talent deserves recognition but his tactics are much more meanspirited than HeHan’s slaps at the award ceremony. He wants to completely demoralize Lin the way he felt they did him that evening. Lin knows Zhao’s tactics so she saw the writing on the wall early on and was waiting for the other shoe to drop. He would be far less bitter had she done her real job on award night and looked after him like a good boss than disciplining him like a good mentor. She is feeling the pain of lacking in that skillset as the numbers drop. HeHan has done all he can to shift the book’s pacing and be less mediocre but GuYan’s revenge is hitting home hard with no letup. Fan is all smiles at their livestream while they announce collaboration with Zhao’s company and reveal GuYan as SanSan. Mei’s comments weren’t from the right view. The true backstabber was her good buddy Zhao. She is not really aware of all the side deals and snide interactions between her and Lin. GuYan doesn’t feel remorse and it all started with his resentment of being completely ignored and left alone on what should have been his first major triumph as first place author. Lin and HeHan were too busy talking about breaking his trophy and putting on their couple act. Zhao has no reason to be nothing but smiles at this point, but when the dust settles, her hellfire grin will show and GuYan will taste ash while he’s churning out two projects simultaneously. Lin gets it and accepts her bad luck but it’s a very bitter pill. HeHan and Mimi team up for a counter livestream promoting the new book. Lin even goes public with meeting the author in a dating app. Her poignant novel excerpt is beautifully bittersweet. 💔 She is getting to tell her mother goodbye and use her grief to engage readers. Only she and HeHan know why she sheds tears. Even Zhao might stop her gloating and give a minute of silence if she knew the real reason behind Lin’s tears. Fan is already preening like the great overseer and Zhao is reminding GuYan of his place in the pecking order. His tasting of ash has started. He knows she is not interested in the new author but resents that in spite of it all Lin and HeHan support each other. It is undeniable and right before his eyes. It seems Lin’s mom and company will pass at the same time. She is deciding if she should pull the plug or suffer a bit longer trying where her company is concerned. HeHan tries to encourage her to keep going but she accepts that no miracle will save her company or have her mom wake up. They embrace knowing that even though unsuccessful, they both did their absolute best to salvage a bad situation. The author was surprisingly grateful and aware of the actual degree of his talent. He is a decent person and I hope he continues writing. He was such a jerk in EoM that it was surprising to see him be nice and accommodating. Lin gives him Zhao’s contact information because she has already made a safety net for the mediocre author. She can now place another trophy in her room and relish it was at Lin’s expense. I am sure she now feels she has reached a milestone in her career toppling Lin’s company and pushing Lin to such lengths to try to save it. What I would like see happen is a dark horse enter the platform arena. I want to see Dai and Lin collaborate and knock Fan off his throne. Once he falls, the rest will follow. I also hope there will be a moment of time where Lin can tell her mother goodbye and her mother is aware. This episode truly exploited tears at all levels and it was magnificently done even with all the black characters. It just made them shine all the more. These deeply flawed and multifaceted characters draw you in to their stories even when they are rather an unlikable group. The actors are giving stellar performances and the music has brought out all the feels of rebellion and heartache and hope. For once I am glad I have to wait for next episode. My heart is very full of all their emotions and needs a rest. Well done cast and crew to make me so moved with characters I would rather slap than hug😘👏🏻
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Mei and Bei seem to really be making a go of it. The heart wants what the heart wants. But while this feels inevitable, it’s not ringing true for me in spite of her insistence of going through with it. It just doesn’t feel like even a chance of a true happy ending. He’s wanting her to be his plus one at a wedding to introduce her to his friends and has agreed to meet her mother. She came at him in righteous indignation and while I loathe her tyrant routine over Mei, I could only applaud her contempt of Bei. He deserved every bit of it. She has every right to be disappointed in Mei’s choice, but to threaten suicide if they marry is over the top. This new form of blackmail is far more than repugnant, it’s the only guilt level she can subject Mei to that could keep her suppressed. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around her determination to follow through with Bei. Prior marriage aside this man manipulated her as deliberately and as obscenely as her mother does. Why is this her choice for freedom? She is as masochistic as Zhao in her choice for a spouse. Neither ring true for even a remote chance of true happiness. I did like that he threatened to sue the mom if she continued to abuse Mei, but her threat of suicide is hard to work around. Part of me wishes she would have told her to go ahead so she can’t continue to ruin her life, but the end result is the guilt would take over where the abuse left off. Her mom knows this and thinks she has won. Gu Yan is nursing his wounds and unhappy in HeHan’s trappings tho the game vibe is actually kinda cool. Zhao introduces him to Ling and they have chilling smiles while they remind him his home and his friend’s expansion are dependent on his performance. He has one day to think through the contract they want him to sign. He is reminded of Lin’s warning that once his performance dropped Zhao would go elsewhere. Holding on and supporting through the drops was not her style. Lin was always the best choice as mentor because she understood the realities of inspiration and output. Where she failed in equal measure was being the boss. She is just very bad at it. GuYan sees two hellhounds before him waiting to take him to hell. He has already signed away his soul and now he’s tasting the ash of the prizes he was offered in exchange. This is where Ling deserves the wife his betrothal price bought. They really are bookends — one hellfire and one brimstone. Lin has also sold her soul for a very cheap price to try to save her company. She has a very obliging author with a very crappy book and it unfortunately is the best of the lot after GuYan. He Han strongly advises against this and sees it as tossing her effort and money away on a lost cause. She asks him if he would consider starting something new with her and he just can’t. This time it is not about working with her, he just really is currently emptied out in the creative dept and has no inspiration at all for trying a new series. Lin collapses when getting her new author coffee and HeHan finds her crashed at her desk. What he does is tutor the author as much as he can and leaves a manuscript ready for her to edit and update. He truly loves her and this was just a sweet under current of support for her even while realizing they are both putting lipstick on a pig and seeing if any will consider it anyways. He did an excellent job making your head hurt with his while he fought off a migraine trying to get through this mediocre attempt at a book. It is sad when the willingness is there but the talent is not. I enjoyed the sweet exchange between him and his favorite convenient store manager. I will hate it when he sells his store but glad he reunites with his son. That ledger of alcohol free days is a beautiful gesture. They really didn’t need a mournful Cai in the background lamenting his tenderness towards Lin. It might be an epiphany for her, but nothing has changed. She just finally sees the reality that has always been with her rose colored idol worshipping glasses off. She should be embarrassed she was so far from reality rather than think she has anything real to mourn. There were no what ifs or might have beens. She was never part of the equation at all. The only good part is she finally realizes it. Maybe we will finally see the grown up Cai that isn’t an annoying HeHan worshipper at the expense of real life. If she was set up this way for viewer sympathy, she’s not getting it from me. She will finally stop annoying me with her childish fan act and be the bright driven editor she was always supposed to be. Mei recognizes the signs because she always does. Lin sees it as an idol crush and doesn’t take it seriously. This again is why she’s a better mentor than boss. She never really sees what’s right in front of her. GuYan has learned dark ways from Zhao well…he bypasses gray to go to black saying he will sign the contract if new author makes no traction. Zhao goes with giving hope so the higher they think they are the harder they fall. I want to see all of them fall with Fan going first. I still find him more vile than Zhao’s tactics because he makes sure to profit from all of them. HeHan is selling classes online ironically with Mimi’s help. She looks and acts like a grownup now and I’m hoping Cai will soon follow suit. Zhao is secretly doing IVF and will get Ling’s sympathy long enough to get pregnant. He just won’t realize until too late what her agenda really was. This episode was lots of yin yang pull and they keep swirling. I just wish they were more equal strength. GuYan will come to regret his scorched earth approach but he refuses to suffer alone and wants to take Lin with him. Misery after all likes company.
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The contest was very entertaining. Chen made sure he hit center mass every target. He was showing off his skills. When his perfect match showed up he deliberately started missing targets. But his follow-up with a double arrow shot proved he was more than capable to keep up and was letting her win. He ticked her off enough she threw down her arrows and stomped off declaring them unsuitable.😝🤣 JinZhao volunteers for her turn and things get very interesting. They match arrow for arrow and he teases her with sweet nothings in her ear.😂🥰 She even calls him out for trying to fluster her. While they wait for the unexpected third round he explains why he did not fight his mentor’s choice but chose an alternate way to discourage it. When she asked about the horse he was very sneaky and planned far ahead. He noticed JinZhao favored osmanthus scent and had his horse trained to the scent so it would go right to her and be ready to ride. As far as marriage goes, JinZhao doesn’t see what’s in it for her yet and admitted she didn’t see any benefits for him either. He said he wanted one who was not entrenched in politics or a particular side in the court nor did he want tied to their families indefinitely. He wanted somebody neutral to be by his side. He mentioned that it was to his benefit that she was independently wealthy and that he liked her. Then he looks her in the eye and said he believed she liked him too. She was more than ready to leave for round three😂🤣 This was different because doves were inside gourds and a direct hit was much more difficult. For this I saw two doves released and am really not sure how she won. She was declared winner and Wang Zan wanted a round. Ye Xian and guards show up and arrest a noble and wife in the audience. He looked very good on horseback and the cape was an impressive sight. The hostess called him out and he responded in kind. She challenged him to a sword fight and he said they either arrested or killed people and went on his way. 😂🤣 I like these two. She is exactly what he needs and vice versa. They will challenge each other in a good way and enjoy it. I hope we get some screen time with them or maybe the equivalent of a double date. The event ended soon after because as impressive as YeXian looked he was kind of a killjoy. Fu already figured out that Chen didn’t want the match but his wife had already given him an out so Fu couldn’t push it. He accepted he was out maneuvered but didn’t care for it. He also noted Ye Xian was the arresting officer and wasn’t happy at that promotion either . And I think Chen might have been in the know about the officer and wife that were arrested. When they returned Lian was Queen gossiper and regaled the older ladies with the events of the day snidely saying Chen let her win. She was just commenting on how scary YeXian was when his sister arrived. She watched with amusement as JinZhao held her own when the matriarch tried to slam the Ji family. She now understands why her brother likes her and she would like to approve, but their family is in too hard of straits to have anything but a top tier match. I think she would be pleased with the one now interested in her brother. At the Chen home XuanQing is trying to get support from his brother to apply for an appointment working with Beiman delegates rather than staying in school. The fringe benefit of this is his marriage can be delayed for another year. He still treasures the gift JinZhao gave him for his exams but he doesn’t stand a chance against big brother where she is concerned. The next day Wang Zan shows up and wants a match. JinZhao shrewdly says next spring outing. He is not to be discouraged and becomes entirely too handsy and her maid/bodyguard took care of him. He now is seeking revenge and has mentioned to his family he is still interested in spite of her poor manners. Chen’s guard mentions that a proposal was in sight and Chen was far from pleased. Lan has rather meekly approached JinZhao to do business and is refused. JinZhao explains that she can’t do business with one unwilling to take risks and Lan needed to make money and did not have enough to lose any. What I am hoping is that the restaurant she wants to change to a women’s only business and clientele, that she would give Lan a job so she can support herself. It would be good to see them ally like in the first few episodes than stay estranged and at odds. She doesn’t deserve to be forgiven, but she does merit a means to earn a living because her family is a waste of nobility status. Chen’s mismatch requested a meeting with Ye Xian and he said he was too busy. When she asked the servant for his exact words, she got a good laugh. These two complement nicely and she sees him the way he first saw JinZhao—a much needed breath of fresh air from the boredom of every day noble life. Unfortunately the episode ends right when things get interesting for both couples. Hoping Chen takes care of Wang. JinZhao needs a bit of backup with him.
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Big bro Yao teamed up with JinZhao to get the 20k taels the Gu family cheated her mother of. Lian is being spiteful because the debt came from her dowry price leaving 2k taels and a very unimpressed future mother in law. JinZha further annoys her by making her pay for her own silk, so by the time they get to the restaurant, Lian is in full b mode. She is caught snooping and Mr Gao corners JinZhao into drinking. He is a louse. What was rather disturbing for Lian was to see her future father in law cuddling up with a servant. JinZhao accommodates the jerk and gets out of there graciously. Chen follows her thinking he has to explain himself for the women in background. She assures him she is not concerned nor is she drunk—-as she stumbles a bit returning to her table. Liam is invited to the spring outing and making a show of not including the Gu girls. The Chen family invited them so all three girls end up going. They have fixed it so the Gu girls are the plainest in dress. JinZhao takes it in stride and runs into XuanQing. She learns her friend is his fiancée. There is a horse conveniently there so she rides off to not be a threesome. The horse decides to have a bit of a tantrum and rears several times. Not only does she hang on she whips the horse and threatens more punishment if tries again.😂🤣 She finds herself ogled by the shocked nobles and sees Chen with another girl. She is far from happy and ready to go home, but the girl that is being matched with Chen finally gets her to agree since prizes changed to much needed donations. Chen has a,ready tried to present himself in a bad light with her.😂 will he show off his skills for JinZhao or suppress them for his match? We will find out next episode. At Least JinZhao looks much more like herself in the rich shades of the riding clothes. They are getting ready to show off their skills. Lan is being picked on by her cousin and I am hoping she gets rescued. She can’t help it she’s pretty when she pouts😂 Snobby Lian should make herself accommodating if she hopes to get a boost to her dowry gifts. She is outdoing herself being mean and petty. Looking forward to the contest with mixed genders and hope the girls kick their butts. 😂🤣
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The story begins with the drummer from an opera troupe going home to get his niece to return with him to the city to train as a singer. The family wanted her to bring her fiancé along but that was not an option. The middle sister was the extra mouth to feed. A baby brother had just been born and they did not want the third child. Second daughter finds herself traveling with her uncle. The oldest sister wept bitterly because she wanted to sing. The middle sister wept bitterly because her father didn’t want her. The uncle was told if things didn’t work out to not bring her back. Her adventure begins. The troupe is an interesting group and there are already rivals for parts and partners. The filming is beautiful, the cast quite good and I really liked all the music. Even the opera.😂 Very enjoyable first episode.
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