PeachBlossomGoddess

I think TRS has better plot, but maybe more intricate than casual romance watchers want. And the romance gave us frostbite instead of diabetes. Both leads acting also not in the same league as this.

I thought his Hao Chen was fabulous. I just couldn’t believe he was so into that airhead FL. Her Sifeng is still ringing in my ears.

Nothing screams forced marriage more than emperor bestows. Imagine the emperor giving away women that don’t even belong to him like chattel in an empowerment drama!😅

She didn’t have her trusty needle handy.

This arc is a bit ridiculous - spending so much on a flower would for sure make Lanxiang remember her, the father dealing with the failed kidnapper personally and the sword as you said. It just seems they aren’t smart or interesting villains.

You are reading too much into my comments said and at this point having a conversation with yourself. We don’t have to agree it’s cool.

I can see Tong Hua’s fingerprints all over this Scholar Han arc. Scholar Han is Tuscan Jing, the boring, safe doormat choice that allows Lanxiang to move on from a past life that was too painful and full of loss. And Jinqi is Cang Xuan, pulling her back into her world by fair means or foul. Dammit - where are you Xiang Liu??!?

I didn’t dismiss Jinqi or say he is less smart I just said it’s not that fair to compare them. As for the rest I fail to see the point of trying to pretend the social divide doesn’t exist or is easily overcome.

So far the ML’s choices are a loan shark, pesticide, a pimp and a maid. Yeah no brainer! And disappointing. I want both leads to be tested by real, viable options.

No nobody knows. It was historically never proven he lived. But Zhu Di, his uncle spent his life paranoid that his nephew and his line somehow survived.

You are right, TSY and SWL had pretty good chemistry as well. But I am Chinese living among Chinese people so its hard to fool me with ages. In Go Ahead, TSY looked visibly A LOT older than SWL to me - which she is and I can tell right away. So I can't say I thought it was her best chemistry. I was also in the minority that found Go Ahead boring after a strong start and dropped it. I didn't like Zhang Xincheng's character or acting.

Yups.

So far, scholar Han has seemed quite smart to me though of course it isn't a fair comparison with Jinqi, who is armed with the access and privilege of a nobleman. But sometimes its not about marrying the smartest guy or the best guy whatever that even means. Its about having a shared vision of the life you want together. Lanxiang has not looked back, she is moving forward trying to live her best life. Is her best life one that will socially exclude her parents or one that will include them? Of course if she were head over heels in love with Jinqi then of course nothing else matters. But so far, that is not the case.

Nah this is on CCTV. We will get 2 a day until the end.

He is indeed a good guy. And so boring and suitable and yada yada yada....I can't even muster up the energy to not like him.

No Zhu Yunwen was the deposed emperor. And he and any of his descendents are just ghosts. Ghosts in the guilty conscience of an emperor that did terrible things to seize the throne.

Indeed there are many societal and other obstacles between her and Jinqi as endgame. The drama hasn't even made the case for why him. But we are only halfway, let's see what happens.

Its the same dynasty. The current emperor (Zhu Di) deposed his nephew (Zhu Yunwen). According to official history, Zhu Yunwen and his two sons died in the palace fire. But wild history is that they survived. We will never know the truth.

True, but you could argue Lanxiang shores up Jinqi in similar ways. And I don't think Scholar Han is that dumb - he already saw Jinqi's intentions and he rebuffed him wrt Scholar Shouyi bc he wasn't willing to be bought by him. Not on team Scholar Han but I think we need to understand that Lanxiang may not wish to reclaim her place in society. What good did being Lady Shen ever do her? Does she want her children to one day be subject to the whim or an emperor like she was? So far the drama narrative hasn't made the case for why Jinqi? And how do her parents fit in?

The SML is perfect for her. Too perfect.