Ti02

Mao is Grand Tutor's illegitimate son. But FL is not the biological daughter of Grand Tutor. Who her father is, we don't know yet. Grand Tutor's wife may or may not be her biological mother, we don't know.
Hence Mao and FL are not half siblings. No incest.

See that's a rumour, so I cannot be sure of it. But I remember reading in X that Dai Luwa was casted but then then it was changed to Aimi.

I did not check previews actually.

Till Aimi is not forced into it, I have no problem too. The bts, live, interviews, all fun. Its very evident Aimi is grateful for the opportunity. Yes, minor with an adult, I get people's concerns. But blame it on the producer, director, Aimi's agency and her parents, why bring another actor into it. And if you are bringing actor, then why only him? Why not the supporting actors as well.
Since when do actors have so much power to decide who their co stars would be.

I am shocked by the hate on the guy, since the drama started filming, he has been harassed so much. Its so weird, most of these people don't know basic facts, but they have to write essays moral policing people.

I read somewhere, the FL was actually someone else but they casted Aimi later. Most of these people also don't understand that actors after signing a drama, cannot opt out of it, they have to pay compensation, might get blacklisted. Actors from agencies are more under pressure. Plus its not Hou Minghao's look out who would the actress be. He has to do well in his role, why will it be any of his concern about his co-stars. This is on the director, producer, Aimi's agency and her parents.
And I am saying it in a very general way. This is my first Hou Minghao drama, its not like I have been a fan of him since years.

Umm the age thing has been repeatedly said here. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Plus to watch a drama or to not watch it, completely your wish. Some people watch it for actors, some for the plot and story, some might feel its against ethics and morals hence they won't watch it, and even criticize others for watching it. Again your opinion.
But stop THROWING words like "pedophilia" without knowing its actual meaning. This means being sexually attracted or having sexual relationships with a child.
Age of consent in China is 14. Legally, morally, ethically children are the ones who are below age of 14, in most places. Above 14 and below 18, are minors, not children.
This is acting/filming with a minor.
Get your facts correct!

This is a spoiler, it gets cleared in ep 6. But it wouldn't have been an incest regardless.

Yeah they are.

That's a bestowed title. ML's mother told FL, that ML's dad used to be stableboy and she was a butcher's daughter, hence they have no strict rules in the household. They are not directly linked to the royal family as such. It seems ML's dad became a general, gained power and hence was bestowed by that title, making ML the heir currently.
ML is not crown prince, hence his wife won't be crown princess. She is the principal wife of the heir, someone said there is a translation mistake.

Yeah. https://mydramalist.com/790870-que-gu#comment-26763878

His wives do not have a romantic relationship with him. They are friends. In fact they are really supportive of FL with ML. His wife has a romantic partner, we have not seen him but in episode 6, but we are told his name. His concubine Madam Rui is more of a confidante/doctor to him, had a husband with whom she shares a child. The husband may have died, but she is not over him. That child calls ML "father" though.

He has a wife, and a concubine, the concubine Madam Rui has a son. FL is the secondary consort.
But you have to watch till episode 6, to get full grasp of ML's relationships with them, its a little complicated. Or I can spoil it for you, but depends if you would like it or not.

Wu Yi does not have a relationship with the royal family. His Xiao Family are family of generals, noble family. His dad is a general, his brother is injured in his leg hence doesn't. He is the heir of his family.
Until and unless there is a twist, we don't know till now.

Yup haha, that's not his half sister. But then he is the SML, so he will never get to be with FL anyhow.

I did not see those scenes. Its possible I am wrong, just a theory. But its also possible ML doesn't know it yet, or when that scene happens he knows but he hasn't told it to everyone.
Even he is ill, has 3-5 years to live, but hopefully he gets cured, how is all eligible rulers ill in this drama, haha.
Cdramas also tend to show MLs not wanting throne/power for peaceful life, they could also go that route, but then they need an eligible ruler for the throne, ahh.

Its really weird actually. ML and SML are really good friends. SML actually sacrificed his peaceful life for him (if he is not acting idk, there can be twists and turns). FL likes SML, even in episode 6 they are holding hands and having happy moments. She and ML know their marriage is fake. I know fake marriages turn into real ones in dramas, but when FL is in an active relationship, with a good person, that would be weird.
Then they really need to make SML very nasty now, for everyone to collectively hate him, and for FL to finally feel betrayed, cope up and fall for ML. They only have 22 episodes for that.
Haha its complicated.

I saw the trailer few weeks back, but nothing from it I remember as such to give a clue. I have not checked previews either.
But in episode 5 or 6, when FL's mother was remembering Empress Wenxi, they showed she was pregnant, and a child, and then saying the child was lost somewhere, and the next scene, it was ML reading a scroll.
But this is not why I thought he is the long lost son. They have spoken about the long lost son, 2-3 times by now, even in a restaurant, a story teller was speaking about this. Emperor will not live long, Mao is not of royal blood. The throne would go to whom them. It has to be someone important, and already introduced. I feel its ML.

Madam Rui Sheng had a husband and the child is with him. Though its really cute when he calls ML father.
But I really thought even if they don't say it, but ML's first wife and his brother secretly like each other, but she wrote someone else's name. Ahh.

Empress Wenxi or whatever her name was, she was close to FL's mother. Empress Wenxi had a child who is lost who FL's mother is trying to find. 300% that child is ML.
Its just not me right? We all can guess that?