KJ2025

Following the beat of your own drummer

Loved this episode.👏🏻 Yao gets his honor back even tho injured. He did well and has earned back the respect he thought was forever lost to him. It took a great deal of time to round up the spies but WuYi came back in style with his caged prizes. I thought he was going to suggest to northern general for them to try out north’s version using the spies as targets.😝 He was too honorable for that but I bet the thought crossed his mind, He did not appreciate their rendition of him in the storybook.🤣😂How attuned these two are. JiaYu figured a way to hide his injury and protect him via drumbeats. It was kinda awesome how they pulled that off and how production made it feel so real. It was very satisfying to see that arrow hit dead center. And for WuYi to hear his drummer’s directions to out maneuver cheating tricks after victory declared. The Empress dowager disappeared and I was expecting her to try something while he was out on the field. There is no telling what she will cook up now in machinations. I completely despise the low key smug face Tutor Xie’s been wearing ever since his son has become regent. He knows his place and has to keep his arrogant ambition hidden, but he feels more and more free to sow seeds of darkness in his children. The ends justifying the means and all for the greater good. 😝🙄 Tho childish, it was so satisfying to give Empress dowager a neener neener! every time she gave a sour look that her plan was crumbling before her eyes. I do worry about the sister now tho because she has caught the general’s eye with her brave defiance and Empress dowager will see marrying her off to the general as payback for the arrows. Loved the victorious hug between leads after such a long overdue comeuppance to that ass of a general. WuYi finally confronted his mom about removing his brother’s freedom of choice about military service. He called her out for her cowardice and apologized for not being able to guarantee his safety but the honorable thing was to let him determine his own fate without being held back due to a mother’s fear. And now it is clear what the box of scrolls were. Unread letters from WuYi. What I am curious about is if he is Xiao Sheng, why does his mother think he is dead? There is still plenty of mystery about the leads parentage. JiaYu is having positive impact on people. The mom was made to realize that a child not crying out for pain was not necessarily not in pain. She is recognizing how selfish and one sided her love has been between sons. I liked that JiaYu had rebuttal for every point Mao brought up. It was not rudely or without thought but exceptional counters to the points he thought most important. Mao sees that she is growing as an adult and that her intelligence is not coinciding with the direction the Tutor is providing. He wants to fight because he is jealous of the growing friendship between JiaYu and WuYi. They are most likely gonna make him a carbon copy of dear old dad and that will be a damn shame. 😝

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The masks coming off

Empress Dowager wants Xiao WuYi gone. She went to great lengths to set him up and she does not want him to have any military strength. He refuses to give it up and is surprised by a counter move from the Grand Tutor. He has arranged for Mao and the emperor to talk and Mao has pled for WuYi’s life. Here he is asked if he is willing to be sworn to him to live and die together. Mao believes in their friendship and pledges. This leads to two events that are non negotiable. Mao will become regent and JiaYu will marry WuYi to protect Xie family and Mao. We learn that Grand Tutor and Consort An had a child….Mao and he has been strategically placed to become regent. To see the unbridled ambition of JiaYu’s father and him deliberately slaying her guard is kinda surreal. As usual the daughter is the pawn to be sold off to either highest bidder or most strategic politically. What is unique in this situation is that WuYi truly cares for Mao and is actually trying to get him together with JiaYu in spite of decree. It is funny that after misgivings with the wedding wine he uses her own cuff links to bind her. It is just as fun when he reminds her he could have killed her much sooner and releases the bracelet lock. The conversation between the friends about JiaYu. To be fair WuYi knows nothing of her but that she likes to make gadgets and knows how to use poison and knockout powder. So he has to find it a bit annoying having his friend trying to push off how to take care of JiaYu lessons. 🤣Are the parents really his parents or stand ins for the parts? Is the odd behavior an act for her benefit to maintain family secrets or are they just rather odd for real. I think JiaYu likes them. The Empress dowager has taken Mao’s sister as apprentice and wants her moved to the palace as leverage. She will be a way to keep both the new regent and JiaYu in line. Jia Yu and WuYi both think things went down too easily and there is still more things going on, He does warn Grand Tutor that this should be his limit in meddling. Empress dowager’s eunuch was reminded that the Regent needed some space and she should respect that. Jia Yu is wondering what the hell has happened to her life and is most stunned with the images of the father she adored cutting down her guard with a sword and threatening her maid as well. The shoe thing was just weird after the mini bloodbath there between the different factions of guards. The Grand Tutor’s thirst will hopefully be quenched soon.😝 Empress dowager is letting her evil out with the fish. She is resenting the need to pivot and it remains to be seen what her rule teaching will bring to Mao’s life. She seems to want another wedding set up. 😝So the family that seemed so normal —isn’t. 😱 Both parents have kept JiaYu in the dark and have raised her to walk to her own drumbeat. This will hopefully assist in her threading the needle with the palace hierarchy. So I am wondering if it’s mom or dad that actually designed the real military crossbow. Somebody is hiding behind her Miracle Craft Creator label and is out to cause chaos. For as smart as she is with machines they make her rather silly in the common sense department. 😝Officials and Empress dowager were expecting WuYi to go out on a north deployment. He informed them that they could handle the politics personally and his dad would be leading the troops for awhile.

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An impressive start

A dramatic scene opens showing grey earth and grey sky with rain pouring. The Commanding General, Xiao Wu Yi, is informed that the armory director drank poison in prison and the only witnesses left are the three registrars hanging upside down in trees adjacent to a memorial tablet. It is eventually revealed that the director accepted bribes and they gave blind eyes to the sale of repeating crossbows that were used to decimate his cavalry unit and that Prince ChangSha was the mastermind. He exits the scene riding through a field of gravesites that were once his loyal men. It segues to an impressive intro song that keeps the momentum going and returns to his scorched earth plans for the ones responsible. He uses himself as bait with plans to return flames and destruction. It shows him defeated in battle. The scene lightens up considerably when we are introduced to the Grand Tutor’s daughter, Xie Jia Yu , who has a fun scene planned to counter her mother’s attempt to introduce an unwanted suitor. Heads literally rolled as they entered.😂🤣 Her mom gave her credit for ingenuity but was fed up with her behavior and determination to commit to Li Mao. She takes the full blame and punishment for her servant while the Commanding General is entering the city via coffin. Her father is called in to stop the beating and mom discovers no pillow assist and felt guilty. Another guest arrives with loads of betrothal gifts. The actor playing Changsha does an excellent job of making you want to loathe him on sight. His pompous air, stance and overall bearing is distasteful while he obtusely looks down from his narcissist pedestal believing himself God’s gift for everything.😝 This time the mom wants daughter to be hidden from view and not promote any interaction. Her own plan of suitor backfired in a big way with all the luscious gossip floating about. He was not pleased at their firm statement of not wanting her in the palace. He opts to leave but makes a request for the Grand Tutor to show up at his poetry session to offer insight. I love her steampunk clock on the wall and how her mind works as you see her drawings. She is trying to con her dad out of a jade crown for her bf of choice. When that is unsuccessful, she has a servant pretend to be her and they go to make a deal with an unknown buyer. Here she is questioned about making a crossbow that can shoot four arrows at a time. She tells them she can make it but won’t because it was exclusive for the buyer she made it for. She gives the name Xiao Sheng but that’s most likely a name she made up on the spot. She is flippant about what it could be used for and didn’t think about loss of life…at all. She is in for the money and not a care in the world about what mischief her inventions can cause. She was smart enough for plan B where they swap coaches and still make it home. She tells her mom she was copying as told at Qi residence and her servant was with her as witness. They are rewarded with a trip to the celebration and told to have nothing to do with the poetry session. As if.😝🙄 Not even an invite would entice her to go. She apologized to Bai for her rudeness and tricks the cousin into spending way too much for a pottery piece. She made a tea pot that could be used for poison and tracked down the buyer. She convinced the buyer to not use it and was going to get the women snuck out of town when she was intercepted by Xiao’s investigators. She escapes them while the Commanding General makes his way to the poetry session. He brings the dancers with him and then demands impromptu poetry. All the ones bragging about helping kill him were quickly changed to a create a pleasing poem or die scenario. He finishes up with Prince Changsha. He let the Prince know that he originally could have cared less about who was on the throne…..until now. After this plot against the cavalry unit, he vowed to take anyone and anything Changsha wanted or already had and I did appreciate the top knot removal, 🤣😂 👏🏻 He had no clue who the Creator of Miraculous Craft was, but he did know that ChangSha wanted to marry JiaYu. So at the award ceremony, he only wants rewards for his men with a specific request to marry the Grand Tutor’s daughter. Excellent way to end first episode. 👏🏻

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A path forged in blood

We watch as Ye Li buries all residents of Lishan Academy including herself. 💔😭 She does not want to live with all of them gone. We don’t know how long she laid in her own grave before her will to live overrode her grief. Her Gpa appears before her admonishing her to get up and warm herself. He reminds her of the monkeys and to never visit this side of the mountain again. As she leaves, her memories of those buried go with her to survive on the other side. It takes us back to the attack on the Prince where even the youngest of scholars was not spared. The official sent was visibly shaken as he took in what happened. The empty grave with Ye Li’s memorial by it and all the rest with overgrowth showing significant time passage where Ye Li survived alone. He gives his account to the Empress Dowager and she appears shaken. But as the past accounts for itself, it showed a systematic effort to undermine and then oust the Emperor. The way was paved with the blood of innocents that did not agree with Guo Jin’s rebellion. She confided in Ye Li’s mother and Consort Qin, persuading Ye Li’s mother to find the edict that would have saved Prince Wen. We see her argue with the Queen Dowager at being betrayed and costing the lives that were supposed to be saved. After ‘losing’ the edict Guo Jin imprisoned the scholars in their own school and then magnanimously saved Prince Din and allowed JingLi to stay if he presented himself unfit to rule. Her poet that assisted in betraying the scholars and people found himself betrayed and killed. Much later the Marquis met the same end. She unapologetically tried to put herself on the throne and when that could not happen she put her son there, being sure to undermine him so it looked like he needed her guidance to rule. As the truth unfolds the public outrage is being softened by having Queen Dowager leave the palace to go to a place of healing. He is being pressed to take the throne from his mother and whether she really has brainwashed him into thinking she was needed for all decision making or he chose to have others think that, is unclear. He finds the deaths in Lishan a pathetic waste but does he think his mother accountable for the illness that spread through the school and locking them in in the first place? Ye Li has shared her dolls with Xiu Yao and the only one that remains to be dealt with is Guo Jin. She has promised to not act rashly and they are aware she has been removed from palace under the pretense of rehabilitating her health. Jingli has taken over the defense mansion thanks to a painter’s in depth map. It is unclear what plans he has. He knows Ye Li is in the mountain, but I am curious why his man did not report Prince Ding’s location. I didn’t think that was a secret. There is a brief scene with the Han brothers. MingXi definitely does not want to work with Jingli. His allegiance to YeLi is made quite clear. When his brother says he will handle things, I wonder if he can survive the fallout his rescue of the Su witch will cost him. The last players are bing positioned to finish the chess game between them. The will of the people vs personal grudges. Will the voice of reason manage to weave through all these masterminds to achieve a balance between palace rule and protecting the people? It’s a stunning impact of the levels of betrayal for the edict alone. Best friend, family, husband, mother in law, school colleague. Ye Li witnessed it all and the horror that ensued when those in Lishan were isolated to be killed off by another scheme. One that even the master physician could not treat in time. I do wonder what she gained with her demand of Ye Li and Prince Ding betrothal. Just a way to be sure they were kept weak and dependent? The Ye family silent about their assist with the edict by having the girls married off to the Princes? Was she looking for a fill in for the Marquis because he got too corrupt and greedy? Her role in things isn’t that much of a surprise but it will be interesting to see how things fall into place with her son being forefront instead of behind her. Waiting to see what happens the second time Ye Li comes down the mountain.

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Death before dishonor

He toasts to the guests assuring them he will take care of Ye Li and never leave her alone. He is lucky they do not know he already broke that promise. 😝After the meal, Xiu Yao gets Ye Li to lay down and rest. He tells her of fearing death before they were together. He then adds that with her he is no longer afraid because they will be together. He looks at her with such adoration. ❤️ While she slept, he explored the grounds and found the cemetery for the scholars. Ye Li had even made her own memorial tablet. It was heartbreaking to see that she had done all of this by herself.💔😭For the first time in a long while she had some real rest and woke up to find her husband hard at work chopping wood. He already had breakfast ready and bamboo shoots gathered so they hunted for mushrooms together to finish up meal supplies. He made a chair for her that would let her enjoy the moonlight in the courtyard. He mended the bed and windows and helped her copy the books that needed compiling. She showed him the best spot for seeing the moon but it was not a clear night. He chatted with her about scenes changing and needing appreciated no matter what light they were in. There was never nothing to see. The changing light just made different things visible. She teased him for acting like an old man rather than one in his twenties. They were supposed to see the moon and stars not speak on deep subjects. 😝He encouraged her to go to a different place. The bridge where statues of monkeys resided. She was told to not cross the bridge because monkeys had taken over. She would stay safe as long as she did not cross it. Xiu Yao told her no monkeys were there and as she turned back they disappeared from view and she was seeing what really was there. They continued their walk til they came to the cemetery. She looks down and sees her memorial first and then runs to each one. There is a flashback to what happened. The school was united in rejecting Guo Jin’s rule. They would not betray the emperor no matter the cost. It was not meant to be a death pact to defy her rule, but sadly, that’s what the epidemic did for them. The medicine supplies were waning and Ye Li was determined to get help. They were just as determined to believe in their doctor of medicine and that they would pull through. They did not want to cooperate with the new rule in any fashion and locked her up to prevent her from getting help from the guards. When everything was almost lost, she sent QingShuang to get help. But the poor girl was too sick and weak and died a few steps from the shed Ye Li was locked in. She breaks out to find everybody dead. At the palace the pompous Eunuch was telling his tale how they all ran away and only Ye Li was left on the mountain. Fortunately before more lies could be made up or believed the young Emperor comes in with Prince Ding’s assessment of the area. He confirmed that all were dead, but that they had died from a plague several years ago and only Ye Li was left. The Empress dowager sent an officer of the court to investigate. There is sounding signal that they will be coming and Prince Ding set it up for two days later to give Ye Li some time. The scene goes to Suixue Pass where it is far from the desolate scene it once was. The peace the princess had envisioned had come to pass. Spy Feng and his escort arrive and commenting how even painters are making a living. Their conversation is noted by someone. They run into MingXi and ask him what kind of death met Su ZuiDie. Either we are just told she was killed and died miserably, or he is lying through his teeth to not reveal his brother’s part in her rescue. Back to the mountain YeLi is talking about her missions coming down from the mountain. With the Marquis doing all the evil work he was doing, it was clear he had the consent of Empress dowager and something needed done to correct that. She tells him of her 4 dolls Lu Fangchu, Ye family , Marquis MuYuang, and Empress Dowager. We now finally know what happened In Lishan Academy and why. It was the last stand for the old Emperor and their refusal to accept the rebel Guo Jin who gained access to the throne by abusing and suppressing all opposed and choosing to rule by the same means. The empty mountain top has the remnants of the ideals they prized and paid with their lives to uphold. Here the histories were not rewritten to cover betrayal and deceit. But the ramifications for that stand was the loss of the great majority of the best and the brightest. This explains Ye Li’s determined purpose in righting that wrong when she descended the mountain.

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The Benevolence of Empress Dowager

That Eunuch will now realize that some breakfast is better than no breakfast. 😝When they arrive he pompously addresses the guards where Prince Ding asks if he may go in. I don’t know what they thought they would see, but none were prepared for what really was. The ravens should have been first clue. I think that is the most exercise that eunuch has had in a long time. He has his version of what happened and runs back to palace. Xiu Yao writes a letter to the Emperor and sends his man down with initial findings. I am sure he has requested to investigate the matter. It is heartbreaking to see the few areas Ye Li has been using amongst the dust and decay. Xiu Yao is shook to the core as he starts processing the obstacles his wife dealt with so calmly. He now knows why she has the hands of a servant when she returns with soup ingredients. He can only hold her and feel remorse for his selfish judgment of her and her mother. She notices his hair and wants to know if it turned gray because he missed her. 😭Everyone is sent back to the capital except the Prince. He has apologized over and over for not keeping his promises but that he will stay by her side now. He takes in where she studied for ways to cure him and the chair she had designed. He sees the monkeys that tormented her. He knows she is fragile and does not see this place as empty. He is determined to find out what happened and bring her home. He adjusts to her view when she introduced him to friends and family and returns greetings. She has tables prepared for everyone and his heart breaks for her. He survived hell but sees her captivity as far worse. As alone as he was, it was not this. She had to provide everything needed to survive while all those protecting guards did nothing to assist. This is the benevolence from the palace letting them devote themselves to their work without hindrance.😝🤬 There are no words strong enough to convey her courage and fortitude to survive. Here, short term memory of real life seems to be buried under her memories so she can continue surviving here the only way she knows how.😭 She looks at him so lovingly telling him not to blame himself. She sees him so clearly while the rest of the world is tuned out except for her fond memories of those she cared about most. After letting us see all this, I want Xiu Yao to find out what really happened to these people and help Ye Li come back to reality as it really is, not how she dreams. I am hoping they get justice for the school that produced leaders and officials but not protected by any of them. 🤬 we get a quick scene of spy Feng walking to Cangbai on the road where he first met his merchant princess. Til the last episode ends I will hope she is alive,they find each other, and have a good ending together. For once I was glad only one episode. This was enough heartbreak to take in for one day. I hope for Prince and Princess Ding their joy becomes greater than the sorrow they endured.

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Restitution

Ming Yue and MingXi are still fighting over their path choices. Usually it’s the older brother with better advice but not this time. He has opted to do the dirty work of JingLi and Su Zuidie. Even his brother can see how foolish it was and that he would be one of the first silenced not rewarded. For now they will have to agree to disagree, but MingXi has made it very clear he will kill Su Zuidie at first opportunity. Shows how much JingLi really cares for Ye Li or he would have already killed her.😝😡 YuSheng and Feibai are still fighting. He actually carried her off during a performance. 🤣😂She does make it clear she will not marry a poor man and not to even ask her if he can’t keep her in the style she is accustomed to. The Marquis is a bit surprised to see his other son. Qin told him exactly how he contributed to provide evidence for the charges against him. He then asked his father if he was so valued after all the things he had done for him, why try to kill him. Had it been the ‘only’ son, would he have expected him to do the dirty work and silenced as well. The lack of response spoke volumes. The ‘only’ son just might become a decent person. He has left food and money to bribe the guards chaperoning Qin so they won’t give him a hard time about the money and food they give Qin. A carriage follows them and it’s Lin TingLan. She gives him a blanket and two melons so he will know she was there to give him hope. She will leave it to chance to find each other in Qianchuan. When her guard asked why not accompany him there she had a good response. He broke the law and deserved the punishment. But she is hoping to meet him there when he’s starting his life over. Ning shows up and she’s snotty as ever. Considering she wants a favor you’d think she wouldn’t be so rude and abrasive. This time she wants to consider adopting a child to carry on JingLi’s bloodline. Here Ye Li gave her very sage advice. To not throw her life away getting boxed in and causing a child to be the target of JingLi’s crimes. When Ning pouted at her for talking too much Ye Li was the smiling big sis to say but I’m right aren’t I? 😂 Feng the spy has left the capital to clear his head and grieve privately. I still keep hoping she’s hiding somewhere to find him. Ye Li has taken Xiu Yao to hear a storyteller’s tale where she keeps questioning him about the pair of unlikely lovers. He doesn’t know how similar the story is to his situation yet. When he was on the way to the prison, I wish she would have told him about her mom after all that running instead of promising to go hear the end of the story next day. The Marquis has promised his case will be closed after an audience with Prince Ding. And now dreading tomorrow’s episode as much as wanting to know how they will resolve things. And I do not want to hear about the death of Su Zuidie. I want to see it and know she is really dead. The actress did an outstanding job because I hate her on sight.😝

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Paintings , Poems, Princess and Patient

At the beginning of the episode Xiu Yao and He Li have sweet couple time. After a nap she makes him bbq. He says sweet husband words and lets her know others may consider Ms Su beautiful, but that for him, no other woman existed that could outshine her. 🥰 I think he passed her exam.😁 Empress dowager and consort chat about XianKun. The consort tells her how much she believes in her master and her. There is something just a bit off with her look and immediately handing off the gift without really looking at it. She then has a chat with her son who is annoyed with reading worthless stories based in superstition. His mother teaches him with examples that superstition can be used to one’s advantage if spun correctly. Xiu Yao tells Ye Li he has to leave the capital for 4-5 days because Jin Chang is actually alive and he is gathering evidence. They learned an old Marquis’ confidante that was supposedly executed is actually nearby and handling weapon smuggling so Xiu Yao and others head out to capture him while they wait for Qin to become conscious. Ye Li proved to her uncle and consort that their master was a fake with the disappearing dragon trick. She pointed out celestial events from his time and repeated them. Her uncle wanted to know her purpose and it was that she’d promised general Wen and her mother she would clear the Ding name. She is not wavering from that objective. There is a prison scene where the consort is told to get the edict and hide it without the Empress dowager ever knowing she had it. That it implicated the Empress dowager, Marquis and Ding family. She was to keep it safe because one day it could save her. because there will be a day it saves her life iFeng the spy is happy because his girl will meet him in seven days. She had been married and she doubted his interest if he knew her past. Once that was cleared up Feng was singing in the rain happy to claim the woman he loved. Wait til he finds out she is the visiting princess. 😁 Ms Su enters a shop where they speak in code and she enters a secret room to meet with Han Mingyue. They are plotting to cause trouble between Cangbai and Dachu so the peace talks will fail. He is jealous of her past sweetheart Prince but she says he’s her enemy. The Empress dowager is reading and handed a book of hibiscus poems. When the words on a leaf are read she wants it shut. and when another was passing her the poems about hibiscus, she demanded it to be shut. The consort chats with the Empress dowager and the reminisce about less happy days when the Empress mistreated them. XianKun rescued her and introduced her to Empress dowager and assured the consort that if she stayed by her side, her life would be happy and blessed. She asked about Empress Dowager’s childhood name and it is Furong. (Hibiscus) She leans in the Empress dowager and what should be a touching scene doesn’t feel like it. The Empress dowager told her to leave the past in the past and that the way things are now is the present and future. In the preview they have set up the princess and Ye Li. It is so obvious the dagger is placed in Ye Li’s hand.😝😡

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Calm before storm

The Marquis is telling his son to leave til things quiet down. He even starts the same way he did for Qin how he had everything planned for him. His son challenges him with the question if he would be killed if ever in the way. He has every right to challenge his father. Maybe now he will grow up to be less of a wretch. 😝 The Marquis orders him to go home but 50/50 son will comply. When she gets back from the shop Xiu Yao admits he looked at the letter box and peeked inside. She surprises him by bringing the box over and letting him see all but the bottom two letters. They were all music compositions she thought he would enjoy being away from the school. Ye Li and Xiu Yao are very cute being playful. This was exactly what Su Zuidi needed to see. They ‘accidentally’ run into Ms Wen and guest. The timing seems rather planned by the guest.😝 she was sure they would be more like strangers and got confirmation that Ms Wen’s opinion was more accurate. Her slow sad talk to Ms Wen was so fake and annoying.😡 Her bringing up Xiu Yao’s mother and special preparations for dessert were a bit much. I like that Xiu Yao offered his wife first bite. There was no way she would eat it, but the attention was given to the right woman at the table and the other two noted it. 😝Usually calls from work are aggravating, but the Prince was more than happy to be called away to report to the office.😂 Ye Li shrewdly let her unwanted guest know where her family members were located so she would no longer be lonely. Or, if serving the princess she should do that well. She knows the gig is up with the wife and leaves. Her carriage is blocked so she chooses to walk back. She runs into the same drunkard that knocked her down earlier and repays that slight with a dagger in the belly. Ye Li gives Fei Bai some first aid and asks if he’s found master Zhu. He tells her he’s returned to the academy and she seems happy and satisfied at that response. I hope soon we get to see what he saw at Lishan school and his opinion of events. Ye Li has her next plan in the works. She checks on the time and date of a solar eclipse and wants her uncle to get the consort out of the palace. She has it timed so she is available to assist the consort from her carriage. Feng the spy meets with his penpal and he uses that double sided coin with her. Too bad he is completely unaware he has won her over in spite of himself. 🤣 She continues her male disguise and he is unhappy she hasn’t fessed up to being a girl. Xiu Yao is called to check up on him and listens to his lament for a reasonable time. When he is chided about not giving advice, Xiu Yao responds that if he liked her to let her know early as he walked out the door. 🤣 When he gets home he finds Ye Li asleep and carries her to bed and the episode ends. Dragons, rain and edict news coming up. I hope the enemy Ye Li is referring to is not her spouse as this preview implies. 🧐😬

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A father’s love😝

The Marquis asks Qin to kill the official in jail. He tells him a kind story and the poor kid believes it all. He did sneak in and kill the prisoner , but the Marquis’ guard killed him. He was left by a wall like garbage covered with a cloth. His ‘only’ son heard what his father said and tried to warn Qin. He was appalled at what his father did. What is surprising is that there is a heart in there that can express true concern. Ye Li gets called away after her shop closes and ends up being part of a fight in the brothel. Her assassin guard refuses to leave her til he repays two lives. I actually like him and hope he has a good end in this story in spite of his area of expertise. The Empress Dowager and her guard are discussing the Marquis. She tells her guard that killing his own son meant he was beyond redemption. He comes and admits fault for his misdeeds but it’s wrongdoing groveling repeat too many times. Her let bygones be bygones doesn’t go over well with him. It seems he saw this son as a last remnant of east palace and chose to cut ties—permanently. What disgusts me most about him is he tries to absolve himself from the actual deeds by having others do his dirty work. A Marquis should have military experience and he did not challenge the Cangbai general, he lets his son get blood on his hands because he is not the ‘only’ son. He has such a trail of blood and corruption claiming every last bit was for his Empress dowager. 😝He knows how to work the court system and how to shut up enemies, but he didn’t watch over his own house and that’s going to finish him off. Su Zuidi has infiltrated the palace. Whether serving the princess or trying to gain feelings from Prince Ding is still to be determined.🧐 The story the Prince recounted and the story the steward told Ye Li are polar about the status of her family members. They are low key but have homes and jobs so she is lying through her teeth and Ye Li well aware. Her motives will hopefully show soon to get her out of their home. That box of letters is a Pandora’s box Xiu Yao wants to look through. He even browsed the outer envelopes but has yet to read them. I also wonder if Ning read them before sending them over. I think she still wants help from Ye Li to find JingLi and hoping these are clues. Xiu Yao was angry at her late return and they had an adult disagreement. He told her why he was grieved and she responded directly to his misgivings. The end result was marriage consummation. 🥰🤣 The next day when he woke with her gone, she had left him a note as to her whereabouts. Mutual respect goes a long way to keep trust and peace in the home. The episode ends with her memory of trying to see the Prince after he rescued her. She went to the location where he was supposed to be and nobody was there. She stops reminiscing to see her smiling husband heading her way. I truly love how he meets her eye level when she is seated. He is every bit the adoring husband before her. With that said I liked his teasing answer to her question. 🤣😂 They enter her shop as the episode ends. Preview shows Su Zuidie repaying the drunkard and Marquis’ miscreant son asking dear old dad if he is next on the kill roster. Long wait til tomorrow. 😭

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Ring of fire

This episode Xiu Yao is determined to give Ye Li his undivided attention. His spy friend is lamenting that all the things he shares with the prince, with one exception, is handed over to the wife. Ye Li is fun because she doesn’t choose to reciprocate with shop giving. Her shop is her shop.🤣 She is trying to figure out why he is there and reluctant to follow him to work. Xiu Yao is surprised with her reading choices. He is becoming more attuned to little details. Making a shade for her while she sleeps.🥰 At first I wondered why he stood up at work, but who is gonna show up at the office after hours? 😝 Finally making progress and suggesting consummation of marriage. Her response why?🤣😂 When he was disabled she liked teasing him about intimacy, now that he has control of his movements she is less assured. 🤣 Here I actually think she doesn’t want to break up her evening ritual of girl talk with QingShuang before sleep. It has been her staple since coming down the mountain. She does not want to relinquish hold of her maid yet. Her prince is being very gentle and reminding her they both have lost parents and should rely on each other for comfort. He is taking baby steps to win her heart and trust but he is also not giving an inch back. He is determined to keep them moving forward .🥰 Things are heating up catching the runaways. One is in custody and one killed himself rather than disclose information. All roads seem to lead to east palace. The Marquis is aware who killed Yuan Fang and why. He is making his way along with Xiu Yao to JungLi’s quarters. Ning is doing her best to stick with her husband no matter what, but when she asked about that night rather loudly with too many ears he sends her out to return to the Ye house. She is still refusing to leave when fire breaks out in JingLi’s room. There are bodies found after the fire and one seems to be the prince. I am still waiting because that seemed too easy to end things. There are plenty of guys they could have fill in for him in the capital. Now everyone is headed for east palace to find remaining rebels. The Marquis is on his pedestal about executing judgment and I wonder if that will extend to his miscreant son?😝While he is spouting his intentions Xiu Yao reminds him of the orders he had from Empress Dowager in handling the case. The Marquis still intends to head out, but to assist or supress is always the question where he is concerned. Ye Li is not convinced Jingli is dead. The physician there gives probable indicators, but on a severely burned body, I’m with her, that requires a big grain of salt to be 100% convinced. Waiting for next episode to see who is dead and who isn’t after the fire dies out. The excitement continues as the plots come to light. If she becomes convinced JingLi is dead, how much grudge will be removed from Ye Li’s heart? and what changes to Ye household if Ying returns?

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Finding a cure for the heartbroken

After viewing the finest pieces of celadon, it is revealed Xiu Yao is the shop owner.😂 He pleases his wife even more by giving her his shops. His spy friend is less than enthused as he was the one managing them. But he is completely on Ye Li’s side when Xiu Yao shares his secret of being able to stand and walk. He is keeping this a secret for now and keeping admittance to his quarters limited. Ye Li asks for QingShuang and Xiu Yao continues his homework about Ye Li’s background. Uncle Wen isn’t happy and has taken his trove of treasures back home refusing to see anybody. He knows most of the Ye happenings but did not see where his mother’s role was in misdeeds. I like that Ye Li met it head on and told her mother’s story and how gma came at her with a knife. He did not comment on her defending herself. In her mind, the tree that struck down gma was her mother’s doing and that karma moved the wheel of justice where family failed. I tend to agree with her and think uncle might too. She reminded him that she was also his family. After processing her news, he got down to business as to why else she had visited. It comes down to convincing the one who has the edict to make its presence known. Ye Li knows she will be inspired by her uncle’s master, but how to get a dead man’s words to move her is still in the works. Ye Li smiles with Xiu Yao about being the hidden tiger. She doesn’t mind at all him keeping the secret of his healing and enjoys teaching him. After asking about her maid, Xiu Yao watches his wife more closely and sees her constantly talking to her. What he thought was Ye Li simply speaking aloud, was her chatting with her closest friend. He spoke to a physician how best to help Ye Li and what would cure her. He learned that in this case, there was no medicine that could ease her mind, she was manifesting the person she was closest to because of heartbreak and loneliness. Xiu Yao thinks about how she left the mountain alone and arrived at the palace alone. The doctor said that her heart must be filled with another to take the place of the one she wished with her. The prince takes this to heart and is making himself more available. I wonder if he knows of the box of unsent letters that she is constantly writing. I love that he wants to make her heart full with him.🥰❤️The one thing verified by the doctor is that other than seeing one who has passed and treating her like still there, her interactions with the living were quite normal. She just needs a living friend to ease her heart over the loss of her maid. The prince wants to be that friend for her. He finally reads the notes his friend gave him on Ye Li. His friend actually approves and tells him to take good care of his wife. The Marquis’ sons continue to spat. This episode shows the marked difference between them. Young Qin openly snubs the brother and that causes resentment. But here we see him torturing a guard made pariah and it’s solely for his amusement. He flaunts this in his brother’s face and makes it clear he was the reason Qin didn’t get the prefecture position he wanted. He is young to be so vile and deliberately cruel. At some point these two will openly fight each other and it’s unclear how the Marquis will respond. I have to feel sorry for the official who hast to keep the hostility at bay. The mother’s arrival broke up this round. I am curious which tree this one did not fall far from, mom or dad? Waiting to see what Xiu Yao’s next move will be to gain his wife’s heart.🥰

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Time for healing

It is surprising that Ye Li simply sends her gma off with good wishes. The second surprise is the step mom. There is a hidden agenda with her that we don’t know yet. Neither reveals the other’s secret and both are content with the outcome. Ye Li makes it clear she only has hard feelings for her father and she does not blame her for marrying him. Li just cautions that it might not be in her best interest, but she is free to live her life as she chooses. She even offers some kind thoughts about Rong and Ning. Ning in particular is surprised because she’s been especially mean to her and jealous she has JingLi’s attention and affection. The decree is with Qin Zheng who is a top supporter of Empress Dowager. She has a chat with the Marquis’ son and hints he should get along better with Qin. It seems these two are brothers of different mothers which adds to their competition for the Marquis’ attention. Jingli is still healing and Ning figures out he is injured. She also knows he left the Ye house which he denies because he was too drunk to be able to leave. She has no clue what his agenda is and I am sad that she is stuck with one who has no interest in her whatsoever as a wife. His friend flat out asks him why he doesn’t work with Xiu Yao and he can’t say because he covets the one he spurned. Ye Li presents Xiu Yao with a walker and asks him to try it out. The actor magnificently displays the overwhelming surprise and satisfaction of seeing the world eye to eye with those around him again. It is a very moving and poignant moment for all of them. ❤️ He has the maid’s remains identified and returned to the family and promises to follow it up with charges and punishments for those involved. This seems to satisfy Li. Their ‘walk’ together was sweet and ended up with pinwheels like children. Both are enjoying the freedom of just being. He takes off work to practice walking and shares his joy with the neighborhood children by having a stall with treats and coins for their enjoyment to share his happiness. He also wants to give happiness to Li and she chooses shopping, but when they get to town she refuses to shop in competitor’s shops and he thinks it is not beneficial to solely shop in her store. He reminds her that the coins spent would be his and not hers so she agrees. 😂🤣 She is looking through their selection of goods and wants to see the good stuff. They were reluctant until they figured out who was doing the shopping, and at episode end they were taking them to a private room for a special showing. So now I am curious what the step mom really wants from the Ye’s. What will happen when Jingli and XiuYao face off with matters other than loving the same woman? Watching affection grow between Ye Li and her Prince as he heals. 🥰And finding out why next preview shows Li heading down the mountain with the decree? 🧐

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Trust given and betrayed

Ye Li is diligently administering Xiu Yao’s treatment and pain meds. She is exhausted and cold so he offers her a place by him. She runs off and he shows his disappointment when she arrives with pillow in hand. 😁 He shares his nickname and gives her such an adoring face at adding him and his happiness to her to do list. She is the first in a very long while to truly care about him as a person with no agenda. 🥰 The Marquis is receiving funds from his last weapons deal and lamenting the loss of his cronies and being blamed for Huan Fang’s death. He has no way to prove his innocence. There is hatred between his young servant and son. They both by for first place in the Marquis’ eyes. It seems the Marquis has gone vegetarian at the Empress Dowager’s strong suggestion. His son tries to give the carp to the young aide who refuses to take it. The official offered to take it to calm things down but it is clear this fight is not over between the two young men. Ye Li is quite the chess player and finally Xiu Yao tries his hand at the game. He too is defeated. Her skill at avoiding the stone dish collapse hints of sword skill. She diverts his attention by claiming menial chores as the reason for callouses. This hints that when she saw master Zhu she was the one fending off the snakes. Xiu Yao keeps asking about the lack of people as her life stories seem very solitary compared to the number that should be there. She keeps changing the subject to not give direct answers to people count. Her father sees a seer about his first wife and is told she is dead. He doesn’t believe it so visits Ye Li. She makes him cut to the chase and he asks about her mother. She very calmly states she has been dead eight years. This throws off her father who had no clue. This seems odd he has no clue but he feels even more haunted now with his nightmares. Since he deserted his family, he deserves the guilt.😝The spy friend learns that Ye Li employed the assassins on their way from the temple. As the details play out it was manipulation of events to get him to trust her with his leg treatment. He was so disgusted and angry to be so well played by the wife he was beginning to love and trust. He portrayed his absolute rage so well it was palpable. She cannot defend her actions and is finally pushed to see how they looked from his eyes. He is noting the Lishan related events and has sent his spy friend to keep digging and get to all the truths. He recalls an event with his brother where he is being strongly admonished for rescuing Ye Li and her mom from the bandits. He is reprimanded for leaving his post and that things played out as they did because he left. The empress Dowager has summoned Xiu Yao to the palace. She is irate that a trustworthy good official was killed. She has given Yuan Fang’s case to him and he is told to find out who killed him. No matter who it turned out to be she wanted them held accountable. It is not viewed as a bad thing by his colleagues so they embrace the new task. It is Ms Ye’s bday and ye Li and uncle are heading for the festivities. Xiu Yao has not accompanied her and it is not clear if he will go or not tho gifts had been prepared. Ye Li’s uncle tries to give pointers about keeping the peace in marriage. She responds that he takes others’ experiences to pass along as his own and is this what he learned from his Lishan mentor?😝 On the way Ye Li sees a scene with a distraught mother and stops the carriage. She gets out and recalls a scene with her mom striving to get the decree to save the prince. We do not have any confirmation if it still exists or was destroyed, but we can all hope with her it is yet to be found tho posthumously for the prince. Lots of emotions for our couple in this episode. Ye Li plots as well as she breathes and Xiu Yao is now aware of it. I hope he can set aside their differences to continue his leg treatments. She is having to accept the her plot to get him to accept them, may be the very thing that causes it to fail. Waiting to see if we get a peek at the Ye bday celebration and how Yuan Fang’s murder investigation goes.

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Frames and fractures

This episode gives us the tragic life of Jing Li. He was set up to take the fall for Empress Dowager since his fateful trip home due to Gpa’s illness. The Marquis had Lishan set up and destroyed en masse the loyalists to Emperor at the palace. He arrived home with no family or support. Jing Li was immediately under house arrest for three years while the Empress Dowager gave up in gaining the throne directly and putting her son there instead. The Marquis tortured Jing Li as a boy to give up the names of the Lishan scholars so that the Marquis could have them killed. This even included a boy his own age. These souls are what Ye Li can never forgive. His servant gives him straws to grasp but there is no chance she will change her mind. This false hope has him on a tangent to gain the throne by his own means. He starts off killing Yuan Fang who was a chief advisor and confidante to the Empress Dowager. He was chief investigator of the weapon smuggling case and intended to prove the Marquis guilty when Jing Li killed him. He was a good man and another righteous soul added to Jing Li’s list of innocents. What this evil deed accomplished was put a chink in the Marquis’ armor and a bur for the Empress to not forgive. They have reached a point of contention with this that dims his grievances with Xiu Yao in comparison. It is unclear why the Empress Dowager favors him, but for now this keeps him safe while the Marquis is expected to find the real killer or accept the blame for the crime. I don’t really know how to feel about the tragic Prince. He was caught in a web of deceit and blood that damns him with no escape. It is also unclear why Ying was tossed into it with him. She has now seen the role he must play for the palace and refuses to play along. There is still decency in him because he rescues her and shows regret for accepting a wedding he should not have. The bodies are racking up around him and his plans aren’t revealed yet, just that he has chosen this course and plans to see it to the end. Is Zhu one that has been dead? Fei Bei asks her again if she was sure that’s who saved her from the snakes. Like Xiu Yao did with the monkeys, he will continue a search where he doesn’t expect to find anyone. He has an unexpected skill as an orthopedist. Ye Li has come to him to rebreak Xiu Yao’s legs and reset them so he can heal. I am glad they did not try to show this. He has already endured long needles and med regimen and this is the toughest stage of his planned procedure. He must endure the rebreaking of the bones before he can heal. He is well aware that any missteps could result in permanent paralysis but chooses to take the risk. The trust in his eyes as he looks at her🥰 They are exquisite as a pair and their flaws just accentuate there complementary natures and abilities. It is still a mystery why the Empress Dowager made them a pair, but it was a perfect choice. There are still too many schemes and now Jing Li is added to the mix. But there does seem to be a coordinated effort, even if by accident, to undo the Marquis’ machinations and reveal him for the wretch that he is. He has lost four of his most loyal cronies, so that is definitely a step in the right direction. I am hoping they don’t drag out the recuperation of Xiu Yao and get him back on his feet soon.

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