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Episode 11 (My mini-recap):⬇️

Episode 10: Meeting new characters (a new journey)
A young woman—the sister of the soldier who saved Lin Jin Qi’s life—has arrived and will be living at the Lin family estate. She appears very accomplished, particularly in the art of creative paper-cutting. Lin Jin Qi’s mother spoke about her brother: She had aspired to a high-ranking court position but failed to secure it, and consequently, remained unmarried past the age of nineteen. Meanwhile, Lin Jin Qi continues his journey of facing his soldiers and proving his mettle; he shared some interesting information with a soldier who enjoys mocking him. Within the Lin household, we are introduced to Lin Jin Qi’s four sisters—though they haven't formally introduced themselves yet (we know who they are thanks to the trailers). Lin Jin Qi shared a delightful lunch with his mother—eating with such gusto that he looked like a child—accompanied by the soldier who had saved his life; his mother remains deeply grateful and will not forget that act of heroism. Jia Lan and the other maids underwent an assessment of their work skills. The funniest and most lighthearted among them revealed her culinary talents and was assigned to assist Miss Du—the newly arrived sister of Lin Jin Qi’s friend. Jia Lan quickly demonstrated her aptitude with books, though she was careful to mention that her writing wasn't particularly good (hard to believe; perhaps she didn't want to appear *too* skilled, as her old excuse about learning from a monk via sutras would no longer be convincing). Lin Jin Qi also spoke with the head maid—their interaction revealed a warm, friendly bond, akin to a long-standing friendship; she even remarked that he remained the same caring and kind person he had always been. This episode also featured happy moments for Jia Lan and her fellow maids during a cultural and folk festival; the Lin estate seems to be a place of great joy. Finally, Lin Jin Qi entered the room carrying narcissus flowers that someone had asked to be delivered. And at that moment,
Lin Jin Qi’s grandfather revealed that Lin Jin Qi is not the uneducated man his father once described (“he became a soldier because he wasn't good at his studies”). In fact, he had been an excellent student under his old teacher—his grandfather. He demonstrated that, despite having wielded a sword in battle, he still knows how to use a brush and write with beautiful calligraphy. Lin Jin Qi even quoted a lovely poem.
“You taught me, Grandfather”: “In misfortune lies a blessing, and within a blessing, misfortune lies hidden.” “A loss can turn out to be a blessing.”
His grandfather also mentioned, with a worried look, that the Zhao family had risen in the king's favor, becoming even more powerful. Someone seeking to curry favor with them might try to cause trouble for Lin Jin Qi. Yet, Lin Jin Qi appeared unconcerned, saying he knew this was bound to happen.
Once again, we see foreshadowing of events likely to unfold in future episodes. (But now, I’m off to watch Episode 11.)

Episode 10 (My mini-recap):⬇️

She shows off all her qualities for him to admire and speculate about...💓😊

Thank You ! Yes, it’s an interesting drama—every single episode.🥰
I am posting my recaps in the episode guide here: https://mydramalist.com/754367-the-story-of-xiang-lan/episodes. For each episode (starting from episode 7).

Episode 9: A day of joy and enemies lurking in the shadows

The old scholar—guardian of the library—speaks with the two young women about riddles inscribed on the ground or on tree bark, an advanced skill mastered by accomplished literary figures. The old man realized that Jialan possessed this ability, while Lin Jin Qi listened closely to the conversation between the old teacher and the two young women—one who understood nothing, and the other who grasped the meaning hidden between the lines. Did Lin Jin Qi notice something? Jia Lan once studied calligraphy and the art of crafting clever riddles with her grandfather—why is this being highlighted here? Will it play a role later in the drama? And what does Lin Jin Qi realize about Jia Lan's true identity?
It is a cozy evening; the young women are happy, having been promoted and settled into the Lin family pavilion. Everything looks promising and full of hope. Lin Jin Qi enters with an imposing air, wearing a mink coat that perfectly complements his elegant, masculine style. Dashing, young, and handsome—the very image of a young general. He walks into the soldiers' quarters only to find them mocking him over his failed marriage. A subordinate is outraged and points out the recklessness of their mockery, but Lin Jin Qi speaks calmly and deliberately, maintaining his commanding presence (though he still needs to win the soldiers' trust, doesn't he?). He was the hero of the last battle, defeating the enemy and bringing back a severed head as a trophy of victory—a feat that made his soldiers proud. Yet, what has happened here?
P.S.: The treacherous lover who ran off with the money met a lonely, ignominious end—what a tragic fate. Meanwhile, Xiao Tang is confronting her father; how will this play out as the story unfolds? Her father and brother had cast aside her former maids, leaving them like abandoned ghosts, silenced and devalued. What else does the Zhao family plan to do to hold onto power? Old Man Zhao still finds satisfaction in something—but what is it? It all comes down to the pursuit of power. Young General Lin Jin Qi, what further schemes will these enemies lurking in the shadows devise against you and Jia Lan? (We shall see in the upcoming episodes.)

Episode 9 (My mini-recap):⬇️

👏👏👏

I think both of them are perfect for their roles. If they were played by actors who looked like teenagers, I wouldn't like it. That’s something that already annoys me every day. And you’re exaggerating: Liu Xue Yi is a young actor in his mid-thirties with a distinctive look. Yet you treat him as if he were some decrepit old man with his teeth falling out. Please...
PS: And I’m on the side of the actress who plays Xiao Tang; on the TV show where she appeared alongside the lead couple, she said: "Liu Xue Yi, you are amazing." (I agree with that opinion.)

I see him as being around 28 or 30. He still fits the part well at that age. And for this period of the story, he definitely has the right profile.

No, because you don't think that way: This drama is more realistic, and back then people of a certain age didn't look so young. Maybe that's why they married almost in childhood (to still look young). And he doesn't look 40, he looks his age (36). And he's handsome, and young, but not a teenager. (He has the beauty of a perfect profile, almost sculpted, very perfect for portraying that era.)

Datawin Film Observation
1 hour ago from Weibo web version
The ancient social family drama #兰香如故#, starring #刘学义#,

is currently airing simultaneously on CCTV-8 and Tencent Video. According to Datawin data, the popularity index broke through 2 on the second day after the series aired; within just 3 hours of airing, #林锦岐# Tencent Video character popularity surpassed 50 million; So far, Tencent Video's in-site popularity has surpassed 28,500, and the market feedback has been impressive just three days since its premiere.
In the drama, Lin Jinqi is a complex male character full of inner contradictions. Born into a family of civil officials, he threw himself into the battlefield, and, beneath the sharpness of a military general, is swept up in the shackles of his family, leaving him powerless. Externally, he acted decisively, bearing the heavy pressures brought by his family, subordinates, and court struggles alone; Though inwardly he is not good at showing his emotions, facing multiple dilemmas in family and marriage, he tends to hide his pain inwardly and rarely has outbursts of intense emotion. Liu Xueyi's inherent classical charm perfectly matches this highly grounded ancient general persona. Breaking away from the usual floating male lead trope, he avoids dramatic shouting to create conflict, instead relying more on micro-expressions and pauses in expressions to convey the character's lonely undertone of endurance and burden, portraying a sense of tearing apart from the character's calm and self-controlled appearance but deep wounds within.
In the first week, facing marital upheaval, Lin Jinqi resolved the conflict with dignity, avoiding clichéd narratives of melodramatic rage, making her character a highly recognizable memorable point. Liu Xueyi uses restrained handling to portray the character's deep fatigue and melancholy, allowing the audience to understand the real-world trade-offs behind the character's choices. Related scenes continuously raise discussions about the character, confirming the audience's direct recognition of the actor's fit with the role.
From an industry perspective, the costume drama sector increasingly desires male actors who can take on heavy narratives and adapt to major real-life dramas. Liu Xueyi delicately dissected the complex grayscale characters, breaking free from instrumental settings and proving his talent for taking on major costume dramas. The series is still in its early stages, and we look forward to Liu Xueyi continuing to uncover more aspects of Lin Jinqi, bringing viewers richer performances.
https://weibo.com/1104220301/Ri3TMi8lu

Oh, no!!!

Yes, a shortsighted view. And I’m not going to waste my time on him anymore. (He’ll watch his drama.)

That’s true. And it’s the kind of character portrayed by an actor who is perfect for the role—one who manages to draw us into the plot. (Fortunately, most people are able to recognize and appreciate) the actor's captivating performance and presence.

P.S.: I do wish he would star in a *xianxia* again, though.🤩 (He wants to play a terrible villain, but I want him to be a hero again). He was perfect as Yuan Zhong—another complex character, but in a *xianxia*—in *A Moment But Forever*.

Weibo Post
Xuemian Envelope
3 minutes ago

#LanxiangRuguCCTVDramaFanClub# The TV series "Lanxiang Rugu" will hold a CCTV fan event in Beijing on September 15 at 1:00 PM. Six lead actors, including Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi, will be in attendance. This marks the first official in-person gathering since the series' premiere.

I. Event Overview
Date and Venue: September 15 (Monday), 1:00 PM, at the Wanda Central Business District in Beijing—just four days after the premiere.

Broadcast Platform: The entire event will be livestreamed simultaneously on CCTV Drama and the CCTV Video digital media platform.

Livestream Reservation: Online reservations are now open. Viewers can reserve their spots in advance via the Weibo link.

II. Participants
Lead Actors: Tan Songyun (as Xu Lanxiang/Shen Jialan) and Liu Xueyi (as Lin Jinqi) will attend. This is their first joint appearance since the series' premiere.

Special Guests: Li Meng (as Zhao Xingtang), Ye Qing (as Yu Chan), Liu Meihan (as Lü Jier), and Wu Tiantian (as Lin Xiuwan) will also participate in the event.
https://weibo.com/7814240314/Ri3YqrFzG

I think it's more about the ability to be cold and spy.

👏👏👏

Testing her intelligence and her ability to live among the wolves.

We are watching two different stories. (Keep watching your story). And I’ll keep watching mine. Bye.