Brennnndda

true..

I agree. I don't particularly like YY. I feel like she hasn't been able to prove that she is the only one suited to be Empress. There's nothing special about her that would make people covet her so much.
I had hoped to see epic battles and smart political maneuverings but I've been disappointed. I wanted to see a huge battle against Song Dynasty's Yang Generals.

I facepalmed so hard when HN said "you and Yan Yan forced her to commit suicide. Why couldn't you guys give her a way out?"
uh. . .WHAT?! HDR even bluntly says, "If Wuguli succeeded then Yan Yan would be the one who's dead" and HN didn't even flinch or care when he said that. . .like wtf?!

It seems like HN meets her slave lover in the ep 45 or 46. But at this point, does any viewer even care anymore? He's probably going to be a plot device that forces HN to rise up against YY. So much potential of a drama wasted with paper thin characters.

EP 44:
I give Hu Nian a lot of credit for trying to maintain peace. . . however, her constant pleading between YY and Wuguli is downright annoying. It's constantly "please understand her" and "please, let them go this one time." I understand she's trying to protect the bonds between them but it's also very frustrating that she doesn't pick a side. The problem is that no one ever thinks they are in the wrong and instead always blame YY. YY has shown them mercy too many times to count. . .and for both Hu Nian and Wuguli to condemn her for not always giving in to them is too ridiculous.
I think the biggest problems with the relationships between the sisters and their husbands is that Hu Nian and Wuguli did not hold the same level of respect that YY held with Ming Yi; which now makes me grateful YY married for political advantage rather than love like the other two.
Hu Nian and Wuguli were kept in the dark about their husbands' activities but YY stood at the forefront of all the political sabotage and assassination attempts. To think that Wuguli couldn't even comprehend her husband deserved his fate many times over makes her stupid and makes life stressful for everyone. YY never attacked Xi Yi or Yansage first, she's always on the receiving end yet her sisters blame her for their husbands' treasonous acts. Then of course, Hu Nian blames Yan Yan and De Rang for Wuguli's death. . .Wuguli was not a child...she chose her own fate.

I just loved Han De Rang so much when Yan Yan questioned if there's anyone she can trust or if there's something that won't change. His declaration of "I won't" comes at a time when she desperately needs someone on her side.
Sometimes it feels like he stays by Yan Yan not because there's this grand love between them or because she's helpless without him (even though technically she is), but because he doesn't want her to wallow in loneliness or be consumed by her own sadness.

There was Queen Dugu starring Chen Xiao and Chen Qiao En. It's based on the Emperor who founded the Sui Dynasty. He made an oath to his wife that he'd never take a consort/concubine and he didn't until after she died.
I think men like him are very rare in history though.

When Yan yan's son was crowned emperor, I believe he was in the audience

I think they pulled a Romeo and Juliet scenario where she thought he died so she went into battle intending to die only for him to actually be alive while she ends up dying.

It's so exciting!! 4 years of waiting for The Wolf and it gets released all at once!!

I do feel bad for Hu Nian now that she has to play peacekeeper between her two sisters. Wuguli's hurt is understandable because she lost both her husband and son at once...but let's face it. Their deaths were much deserved.
I do love that everyone acknowledges that the only threat is Han De Rang lol
Everyone knows Ming Yi and Yan Yan (and her newly crowned son) would easily be overthrown if Han De Rang wasn't protecting them hahahah

He pretty stays the same.
He isn't your textbook evil character. He's not murderous or crazy. . .he's actually someone with vision and ambitions. Out of the 3 Yelu guys, Ming Yi is the most suitable to be emperor.
What makes him hateful is the way he does things. He's someone who'd be a great ruler but a horrible person to actually be related to or personally know. (He betrays the two people closest to him; he stole his best friend's girl then took a mistress and impregnated her behind his wife's back.)
For instance, in modern terms: if he were your significant other...your relationship would be considered toxic and abusive because he is very emotionally manipulative. He promised Yan Yan her freedom after they got married then basically guilted her into staying with him because he was sick. De Rang continuously says he wants to leave but Ming Yi keeps guilting him into staying with them as an official because he and Yan Yan know they can't survive without De Rang.
Ming Yi hides behind his title as emperor and will find a way justify all his actions because even if they were wrong..his actions weren't wrong to him.

I think he acted like he initially didn't because the wine was sent from her palace. But he says later that he knows what kind of person she is so I don't think he truly believed she would do such a thing.

It's the concubine's son

I think she is hurt that he loves another but she cried because he kept it from her. She asked him if he loved her (the concubine) and he says he needs her..but in a different way than he needs Yan Yan. Yan Yan acknowledges that she's a good person and doesn't blame him for loving another, it's that they've been married for so long yet there wasn't even such trust between them.

It's quite sad that an empress must share the burdens of her husband..but an emperor doesn't do the same. The news of the concubine came at a bad time because she was still dealing with the issue of De Rang's wife. She was already stressed at losing De Rang's trust and now must deal with her husband's betrayal as well.
This was probably the first time she felt truly alone. When she leaned against her attendant and said "I'm so tired," my heart broke for her a bit.

EP 39-40:
Xin Yi and Wuguli have no shame. Xin Yi did the deed and tried to frame Yan Yan but Wuguli blames Yan Yan for punishing him..so much so that she basically rubs it in Yan Yan's face that Ming Yi has a pregnant concubine. Then, Ming Yi tries to get Yan Yan to drop the investigation into Li Si's death. . .all because of useless gossip..**insert dramatic eye roll

I really don't care that Ming Yi fell in love with his concubine like, whatever..he's an emperor. He can take as many concubines/consorts as he wants. My gripe is that he pulled the same bullshit he did when he separated Yan Yan and De Rang. He's still the same despicable, backstabbing asshole he was in the beginning. He betrayed his best friend and blindsided him by taking his girl and now he blindsides the girl he stole with a pregnant concubine. Worst of all...Yan Yan didn't even find out from him...she found out from her spiteful sister. And Ming Yi, of course, is unapologetic about it. He apologized...but it was more of a "sorry you found out" rather than "sorry I betrayed all the years of loyalty and trust you gave me." He may be fine as an emperor but he's a shitty friend, husband, and overall human being and I kind of hope his death is a painful one. He's honestly lucky that neither have ever thought of skinning him alive.

Plus, Ming Yi fell in love with his concubine because he gets peace and solace from her. He can be a man rather than an emperor with her...but whose fault is it that he can't be that way with Yan Yan? He piled all this responsibility onto Yan Yan, which she will have to bear by herself when he eventually dies. He wants a break from politics and palace affairs but he doesn't consider that Yan Yan needs a break too. His decision to marry her forced her to change from the carefree spirit he initially fell for and now that's she different, he found someone else! Ugh...I really cannot like his character.

Tangent . . . it's starting to feel like the ending will be rushed. There's only 8 episodes left but Ming Yi still has to die and Wuguli and Hu Nian still have to revolt against Yan Yan. . .

It's actually funny because the actor who plays the dad did the same thing when he played the father in Nirvana in Fire. He had his oldest son become a confidant for Prince Yu when he himself supported the crown prince.

I think the problem is also Yan Yan. She won't let De Rang go either.

How far along was Tang Yan when she filmed this drama? She looks stunning with the baby bump so I'm kind of hoping the bump is real.

He marries Li Si...partially because of Ming Yi's scheming

I think Hunian would've been the best choice as empress. As the eldest, she knows how to care for others since she raised her sisters. She's wise, capable, and responsible with a sense of self and duty. She's firm but also extremely kind. All Yanyan really has is her stubbornness with a hint of recklessness which makes me question why everyone thinks she has the destiny to be empress.

I think Hu Nian is the most likable out of the 3 sisters. She's reasonable, wise, and capable. Yan Yan is too willful in a reckless sense. She endangers her family just to prove that as a woman, she can be more than a wallflower. Yan Yan and De Rang are an example of immature first loves so I think their romance should be cheesy lol

I just don't understand why, if he was truly a "good" father, he would allow his 3 daughters to marry into the 3 branches. He knows the 3 men don't get along and that each branch is vying for the throne. As such, hoping at least one becomes empress is too cruel because it would mean he is willing to sacrifice 2 of his daughters as casualties. Obviously, he favored Yan Yan because his money was on her to win the title...smh