Respect to Chancellor Gao. His final scene really left an emotional impact on me. And the way Xiao Wenjing and Gu Yu acknowledged his sacrifice. From the very beginning, Chancellor Gao's priority is the Xiao imperial line and the country. For the country, he was ready to abandon Gu Yu (because he doesn't trust Gu Yu at that time) and he was also willing to sacrifice himself when the time comes from it.
Commander Wang, too. I will also remember your sacrifice. I love the way the drama portrayed Commander Wang. In his first appearance, I disliked him, and then there were quite a few plot twists. He didn't appear much but his scenes were all important to the plot.
I was stunned when I saw their current status. I must have skipped the scenes when Gao was taken down, and Gu…
It was implied in the conversation between Huai An and Xiao Wuyang when Xiao Wuyang woke up for a brief moment. Xiao Wuyang recalled Gu Yu and Baiwenhu army sacrificing themselves for his safety, making sure he got out. However, after saving Xiao Wuyang, Gu Yu has no time to escape himself. But he couldn't let himself be captured or killed, and so he hid in the canal.
Most likely Chancellor Gao got crippled and demoted to lighting up lamps in the palace by Yan Fengshan as a punishment for going against him.
I just wanna say that AvenueX slaughtered Vendetta of An so badly in her 5 drama recaps. She said that this drama…
At this point she just hates Cheng Yi. Because I am a massive fan of NiF, like it's my fav drama of all time too (rewatched the drama more than 10 times, read the original novel a few times, own the physical books), but I don't see how it is a copy of NiF??? Like from the start, Mei Chang Su's goal is different from Xie Huai An. NiF has more palace politics but VoA right now doesn't have that much palace politics yet. A significant part of NiF is also the relatioship and dynamic between Mei Chang Su and an old childhood friend but VoA has no such dynamic? VoA even has its own interesting relationships.
And I can list like over 10 more differences but I won't because it's spoilers. I can understand if some people find both dramas similiar on the surface but anybody who says this drama is a copy of NiF has lost their credibility.
Cheng Yi's acting and line delivery is so good. It matches the character and the script so well. I'm Chinese myself and I love the way he deliver his lines according to the character. His own voice/lines always give me more emotional impact.
Xie Huai An is so petty and vengeful and I support it 100%. At a temple, Yan Fengshan sat down and spoke to Bai Wan before killing her (indirectly). Xie Huai An did the exact same thing to Wang Pu, telling him an old story in a temple (lol) and causing him to die in front of Yan Fengshan.
Oh yes I agree that Wu ZhongHeng might be the ultimate villain. I was surprised to find out that he was Huai An's and Xiao Wenjing's teacher back at the Grand Academy. Yan Fengshan also spoke very highly of his intelligence. But I wonder how did a Tie mo person like him become a teacher at the Grand Academy and then ended up being imprisoned by YFS? What is his role in everything? I'm really curious too.
The dedication!! Omg...Gu Yu, Chancellor Gao, and everyone else. Although Yan Fengshan may have won big this time, Huai An and all his allies have not given up 😭😭😭I actually really respect Chancellor Gao. Although he was ready to abandon Gu Yu before, he's goal and priority is the country. He's a grey character and also a really smart character.
Didn't expect that I'll actually feel kind of bad for Wang Pu but this drama did it again. Also didn't expect him to go out like this but I'll take it.
We got a glimpse at what happened at Chen Valley 25 years ago, quite brutal indeed. I wonder how does it tie to Yan Fengshan's eventual betrayal?
Gao isn’t dead. He’s the crippled guy who was struggling to get into the throne room
It wasn't explicitly shown or mentioned but now that Yan Fengshan controls Chang An, Chancellor Gao probably got crippled and demoted on Yan Fengshan's orders.
Why do I feel like Xiao Wu Yang will be killed? I do not see him stay on that throne at all.
I think Xiao Wuyang himself doesn't want to stay on the throne if possible 🤣. He is a general, the best ending for him (if he were to die) is to die on the battlefield.
Wow I can't believe I really like Episode 14 even though it's a "slower" episode. Despite lacking action, I was eating up all the dialogues. I wasn't expecting some (minor) plot twists. People were not kidding when they said it was like the calm before the storm!
Not telling his sister the truth left her vulnerable. She couldn’t protect herself and be cautious about someone…
Tbh, I think Huai An did well by letting her live a normal life. It's just that Yan Fengshan has too many shadow guards and his information network is so wide. I actually think if Huai An never wrote letters to his sister, she may be able to live. There's no use to tell her, it's not like she can protect herself well enough even if she knows. Yan Fengshan is just too strong!
Episode 13 was very very sad but also very beautiful. The first meeting scene of Yan Fengshan and Huai An was quite well done. Yan Fengshan killed Bai Wan but he seemed protective of her resting place. His eyes when looking at Huai An seemed to have a lot to say. He was most definitely a close friend of Liu Ziwen and a close uncle of the Liu siblings. I'm guessing that the wooden bamboo thing with "理" engraved on it was given to Bai Wan by him. I'm so curious why did he and Huben Army betray Liu Family.
I believe that Yan Fengshan is a grey character. He did so many bad things but there's an even bigger enemy and that is the Tie Mo people/country? The man that Yan Fengshan imprisoned is from Tie Mo. I remember something along the lines of "As long as you stay here, the world will be at peace," describing that man. I think Huben Army betraying Liu Family has to do with the imprisoned guy.
Bai Wan/Liu Li's death was really heartbreaking but I'm glad to know that she at least knew her real name and who her real brother was before dying. I still hope that her death is fake but that is 99.9% impossible 🥹.
How dare Y FS takes residence at general Liu 's house. The insult is too much.
That's the very interesting thing. It makes me so curious why did Huben Army and YFS betray Liu Ziwen? Yan Fengshan was probably Liu Ziwen's most trusted friend and subordinate. He wanted the Liu Family's house because it reminded him of "old friends".
Commander Wang, too. I will also remember your sacrifice. I love the way the drama portrayed Commander Wang. In his first appearance, I disliked him, and then there were quite a few plot twists. He didn't appear much but his scenes were all important to the plot.
Most likely Chancellor Gao got crippled and demoted to lighting up lamps in the palace by Yan Fengshan as a punishment for going against him.
And I can list like over 10 more differences but I won't because it's spoilers. I can understand if some people find both dramas similiar on the surface but anybody who says this drama is a copy of NiF has lost their credibility.
Cheng Yi's acting and line delivery is so good. It matches the character and the script so well. I'm Chinese myself and I love the way he deliver his lines according to the character. His own voice/lines always give me more emotional impact.
We got a glimpse at what happened at Chen Valley 25 years ago, quite brutal indeed. I wonder how does it tie to Yan Fengshan's eventual betrayal?
I believe that Yan Fengshan is a grey character. He did so many bad things but there's an even bigger enemy and that is the Tie Mo people/country? The man that Yan Fengshan imprisoned is from Tie Mo. I remember something along the lines of "As long as you stay here, the world will be at peace," describing that man. I think Huben Army betraying Liu Family has to do with the imprisoned guy.
Bai Wan/Liu Li's death was really heartbreaking but I'm glad to know that she at least knew her real name and who her real brother was before dying. I still hope that her death is fake but that is 99.9% impossible 🥹.