PeachBlossomGoddess

Its a bit strange this arc - I thought Zhu Di has successfully eliminated the Japanese pirates during his reign. I guess maybe that's why the drama keeps insisting this is fiction not history.

I think at this point she just realizes that Ms Du is very clever and strategic. So she is watching her. Idk if she has her all figured out yet - of course she would not be privy to Ms Du's scheming with the flower pin.

Their resentment comes from the clear social stratification of the times. They are from the hereditary military junhu 军户 class. That means all their descendants are legally obligated to be soldiers. That is why even though Du Zheng saved Jinqi's life, the Lin family does not consider them qualified to marry into their family. Du Zheng's sons will all have to enter the military. But if he marries a noblewoman, his sons get elevated and can serve as part of the elite imperial guard/jinyiwei or in better positions in the military. As for his sister's sons, the only way for them to escape the junhu class is for her to marry up into the noble class. That is why she sets her sights on Jinqi.

I feel a bit bad for them. It sucked to be in the military class. And of course Du Zheng did save Jinqi's life. They probably feel the least the Lins can do is to help them escape or elevate their military class. That said, aiming for the heir of the Lins is a tad ambitious of Cuique. She could aim at Second or Third Lin Master, who both have concubines but not wives.

I think its too early to guess her motives but she is definitely on to Cuique. But then so is Jinqi and his mother Madam Qin. I think they'd best arrange a match for Cuique asap. Xiuwan can wait.

The Blossom director is excellent - he can make silk purses out of sows ears - which he did. Give the man a medal! Sadly none of her other directors will be able to pull it off.

Princess Gambit was an atrocity. MZY is on my HELL NO list. She only has two expressions - stuck up and damsel in distress. Honestly she is even more nauseating than Angelababy.

lol - no thanks I like my modern creature comforts.

Grandpa had to resign. Not sure what his 2nd uncle does or whether he has an official position.

Going to Shanghai is easy peasy but getting the tickets to that is not.

I enjoyed the character and her story arc but I feel like it’s over at this point and she should just exit. Bringing her back after her character and plot arc ends is just beating a dead horse.

I think it’s very hard to save someone’s life on the battlefield without help from the enemy which just seems implausible to me.

I think he is torn - he has genuine admiration and respect for Jinqi but his sister wants the man and he has no interest in her.

I think Changmin is alright. But that Changzheng is a total asshole.

He thought she was going to say - let me have your baby.

No worries - I wrote a detailed walk through of the word play on Cuique's name itself in the discussion section but not of the other ones:
https://mydramalist.com/754367-the-story-of-xiang-lan/discussions/155236-ep-11-what-s-in-a-name-cuique-word-play

Sorry typo - Lin Jinlan. Corrected.

I think maybe saving the ML was just a happy coincidence which he then turned into an opportunity.

I don't remember what exactly the matriarch said but maybe she though only Grandpa Shen and the FL's dad (who were the only officials) would be sacrificed. She thought her other two sons and the women would be spared but she was prepared to accompany her husband.

I think she knew she needed to come clean about her ability to read. After all, the ML knows and so does grandpa Lin. And she was starting to tentatively trust the ML - she knew he didn't have to let her off at the library. It was a job only she could do and an important one. If she did it well, she could set herself free. It didn't hurt that she also likes to read. Its a good job - much better than making tea 24/7, watering plants or cooking. So it was an opportunity she decided to seize.

I think the FL was rightly wary of the ML and tried to steer well clear of him until she overheard him telling Yuchan to let the Xingtang scandal slide. Then she realized he is not a bad guy and will not kill her callously. That is why she is was prepared to help him and bailed him out from the pesticide incident.