PeachBlossomGoddess

Well she was eventually taken down by a woman, her daughter in law no less, so definitely have both eyes on the Crown Princess (Yunning's mom). And this looks like its taking place late in her reign, her grandsons are fully grown already and she definitely removed at least one if not two sons...

Yeah I think there is some Wu family internal politics going on as well but I think their interest is more in fighting against each other rather than to remove the empress. They were not that important family until she became empress. I think something happened to to his father that is not revealed yet, He may be faking it to appear non-threatening.

They both look too heavy to me to be the dude.

👍👍👍don’t lurk too much, jump in!

It appears You Jie is the front runner as viewers choice for villain of the day. While I think he is a suffocating brother, he seems too obvious to me. I also think it is important to note his surname is Wu; thus his family’s rise to power is directly a consequence of their relationship to emperor Wu and is indeed why they are entrusted to be the imperial family’s Inner Guard. They should not have a grudge against her over all the people she annihilated along the way. They also have everything to lose if she is removed as succession is still based on primogeniture. Even Wu Tzetian was not able to change that.

Good thing he doesn’t have another parent left for him to kill.

Well he’s been gone 9 years I think. But also he doesn’t seem sad his bro is dead,

Looks a bit too rotund but possible.

Yeah that’s pretty good too.

Returns to the Baili Mansion after a long absence? Wouldn't he go home to his own mansion?

I don't understand why Liu Shi:

He doesn't even look pretty. He is the ghastly vase you hide in the darkest corner of the house.

Ah ok - I think they are both great shows you should watch them both when you can.

Yes indeed. I like both. Luoyang is plot driven so I expect the plot to be tight but this one is not so I care also but not as much.

In the novel the "villains" just conspired to take down a despot. There are two parts of the novel and I the second part Ji Chang, General Tang and Tilan are all written as almost if they are protagonists. Which makes a lot of sense the emperor becomes so dark he is the villain and FJM is his enabler. When they made him less dark in the drama, they didn't do such a great job in the villain design. But it is ok, I don't think the story is that much plot driven anyway, not even in the book. Also in the book there is only one giant rebellion that they were all part of. In the drama they had two, first Ji Chang and then the General Tang led one.

Well I am quite sure about the one baixi for one emperor part. And I guess technically most baixi by definition don’t outlive one emperor or if they do it’s not by a lot? So it must be possible just never happen before? I feel towards the end they just wrote whatever to make the outcome they want so it’s the least of the logic holes. The giant one that must be in general tangs head is much bigger!

Yes and that’s why he never killer himself, he couldn’t bear to kill FJM. He said precisely that when he told Haishi about the baixi. Yeah I wouldn’t expect the novel the way it was written to be adapted faithfully.

In the novel he started out as a smart, good emperor but he became darker and darker after Zizan died and by the time the whole thing comes to an end, he is a raging despot. He as daring the heavens to strike him down because he wanted to die. FJM never gave up trying to turn him back into that bright carefree boy he grew up with.

1. Yes the poison was from Zhunian; i.e. Suolan.
2. He was signalling Ji Chang.

Don't think there will be much romance.