MadelineMaureen

Final episode 34.

Duke Ding would have remained completely loyal to the Emperor and his wishes aka the Crown Prince. So if the Emperor would have died with his last decree being that the Empress "joins him" so to speak, to keep the peace amongst the royal court, Duke of Ding would become her biggest threat. The Emperor knew she was trying to take his best knight off the board and he did his best to remove his teeth and claws so he would no longer be perceived as a threat to her, but it was too late.
He was trying to remove the Duke of Ding's power just long enough to wait until called on once more. But because of the political maneuvering from the other side and shady assassinations he wasn't able to save him.

The plan was always to set the trap and get as many people comfortable as possible before springing the trap. He miscalculated with calling his bestie back to the capital. But once he knew there were too many snakes in the grass to take out on his own that was when Song Mo and Ji Yong became the most valuable assets on his chess board. Emperor got a bonus queen piece with Dou Zhao being so quick on her feet and willing to trust not only her husband, but her friends as well. They put loyalty to the people above their own family first and trusted.
He needed the coup to happen how it did. He put safety nets in place, but every player on the people's(Emperor/Crown Prince) side knew the risk and were willing to sacrifice their life for it. Also, it's extremely hard to undo a "kin slayer" title, so trying to not kill direct family is usually best. I personally loved Prince Qing's punishment. He stripped all the family that sided with Qing of their titles/positions and a large chunk of there assets at the end.
The only messy bit was the fact the Crown Prince wasn't in charge when he, the Emperor, went down. That would have never actually happened unless he was a literal child or there had not yet been a crown prince chosen. An Empress can't rule like that unless the next male heir is underage at the time. But maybe there is a true reference to something like that happening and I'm just unaware as Chinese history isn't really my strong suit.

That slide into a hug....sirs and ma'am, yall didn't need to go that hard/make it that cool, but I thank you for it.

He trained her himself and has known her since childhood, he knows how smart she is. He also knows that she trusts her husband and would do anything to back him up. The only time his plans deviated from the start was when he realized he had feelings for DZ and was worried about her safety, knowing that he was about to slap an UNO reverse card down hard on the royal family & court, and her proximity to her husband could get her hurt.

Hello fellow commentors who have finished the drama.
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please and thank you.

I just need to say that I was right to defend some characters that everyone was hating on....imma leave it at that cause there are enough people spoiling with full summaries in the comments without even checking the spoiler tag.

I was like "I just don't get that vibe from him" because of his repeated "clean up" comments and with how arrogant Prince Qing is...also in previous life both Ji Yong and Song Mo made sure that Prince Qing died, so in my mind Ji Yong was smart enough to realize he is not a side worth fighting for. (and now I can't unhear my last sentence as a Mulan song)

All legal sites are linked in the page above the cast list. If you don't have access to any of those send me a dm and I'll send you a few alternatives.

Happily Ever After, Five year flashforward for Epilogue after satisfying conclusion to other storylines . Plus extra bonus scene at the end of the credits.

I'll be rewatching on VIKI on my very large television once they air. I had my phone inches from my face with covers over my head as the sun came up.🤭

Happily Ever After, Five year flashforward for Epilogue after satisfying conclusion to other storylines . Plus extra bonus scene at the end of the credits.

Y'all this one is for the romance girlies.
Can officially say with my whole chest that this was the best period drama of the 14 that I watched this year. Probably the best Cdrama of 2024, at least of the 23 that I watched.
From start to finish cinematography, lighting, direction, action, acting, musical score, story/writing were top tier. The added little extra bit of running comedy with the slaps will forever live rent free in my head. I promise you, if you are someone who enjoys period dramas and romance you wont regret starting this one. The only spoiler I will give in this comment I'll add below under a spoiler tag. It is the most common question I get from binge watchers who wait until the end of show to start watching.
Sad Ending, Open Ending, Happy for Now, Happy Ending, or Happily Ever After?

I'm not sure current BSE is even related to the orphanage. The only reason I think he could still be connected is if he was saved by the grampa(fisher) and was secretly living with him. As we didn't see baby pictures of him in the home just preteen/young teen photo and memory. (he also knew the layout of the villa near the orphanage)

If the grandfather of the real PSE was killing kids or trying to kill his own grandson and the current PSE witnessed it...kind of hostage exchange maybe. The grandpa(fisher) guy doesn't give "I'd sell my grandson" vibes.(could just be because I've always liked that actor so I might just be going based off of personal feelings towards real life person and not character)

But if his nightmare was based on 1st person memory and not him putting himself in place of someone else, current BSE might be a victim of grandfather/real BSE.

100% believe kidnapper and PDJ are OG BSE and an orphan/victim of the Baek family. Which one is which....idk just yet for sure. but leaning kidnapper real BSE because of the banging on the door and anger/emotion issues he displays as an adult.
I wonder if both twins are alive, and if any of the other orphans are alive as well.

Honestly the man deserves an award for not slipping and saying "My wife" when referring to Hui Ju when he got all "lets go". 😏🤣

A lot of people do not realize how much goes into a normal(average) dermatologist visit in SK. For the most part her face and features haven't really changed...she just looks paler and like her make-up is applied differently than when she was 23.
Also her eyebrows are lighter for When the Phone Rings and she has her bangs(fringe) grown out and tucked behind her ears. In I Am Not a Robot she either has her bangs covering her eyebrows or shorter darker hair with no bangs(fringe).
I had to look up pictures because I was trying to figure out exactly what the OP meant, cause to me she looks the same. But I've been watching her for years so I can recognize her without needing the reminder of her other work.

If he was one of the twins wouldn't the nun know it? JSW was one of the orphans, but I think she would have remembered that he was one of the twins.
PDJ definitely one of the twins though.

She was 23 when she made I'm Not a Robot....she is now 30...that's the biggest reason. Styling of make-up & hair has also changed a lot.
Any type of Skincare or tweaking done to the face/skin...so she was a bit tanner when she was younger. Shorter hair with a warmer toned brown can also influence how one perceives someone else.
So to sum up...Age, natural & human intervention skin changes, hair color & styling, make-up techniques changing over 7 years.

Song Mo aka Catcher of Dou Zhao😂

I liked that he teased her a bit with flirting with 406. It needs to brought back up in the next episode along with her spicy pics she sent him as 406. Cause that's the only reason he teased her like that.