I don't like how he treated her at all but I cannot hate him for it. The poor man was in shock to even think that…
Yes! Emotionally, it will be too much and too dragging to prolong their separation and longing for each other 😅 And I am also getting curious about the truth about Lishan so thankfully, it moved forward
By his own admission, he did not treat her like she deserved to be treated - he wouldn't even be alive without…
And that is exactly why I said empathy works differently for different people. I did say what he did was a mistake, the divorce and the burning the pastry wrapper. No one here said he was right, what we said is we understand him. That's the difference.
As for the maid, yes, he knew about her. But to what extent? He knew something was wrong, but he didn't know the full depth of Yeli's trauma. He did ask a doctor but confronting Yeli about it might also not be a good idea since he did not know how deep her trauma is. Look at how Yeli reacted in Lishan when the eunuch told her she was all alone. It is why he also gradually ease it by telling Yeli "to let Qinshuang go home" bc he thought it was only her maid and that the reason it happened was bc she was lonely in the mansion, not lonely/traumatized bc of Lishan. And again, if not for this separation, he wouldn't have understood how much she was actually suffering. What he saw in the mansion was only a small part of it.
And you're also looking at the situation entirely from Yeli's perspective. You're saying he discharged his pain onto her, but are you putting yourself in his shoes as much as you're putting yourself in hers? At that moment, he had just learned what he believed was the truth behind the tragedy. On top of that, he genuinely thought and believed Yeli only pitied him. Meanwhile, Yeli was terrified of being abandoned and couldn't explain herself.
To me, it was a scene of two hurt people at the height of their emotions. One reacting from grief, anger, and heartbreak, the other from fear, trauma, and abandonment. I also respect your opinion but I've seen hate and harsh words towards the ML here and on other platforms that is why I wrote this. I just don't think understanding him and sympathizing with Yeli are mutually exclusive.
I still see a lot of hate towards the ML here and on other platforms. I guess empathy works differently for people. Because there are people who can see the standpoint of two people and understand them without having to hate one or diminish the other.
Some are empathetic only to Yeli. And honestly, I find it weird how some discussions have turned into a gender war. I've even seen people saying the reason everyone sympathizes with Yeli is because she's a woman but pain and suffering know no gender. Both of them have been hurting for 8 years, just in different forms. Yeli suffered from severe mental illness and loneliness. MXY lost his brother, lived with the aftermath of that tragedy for years, and spent 8 years crippled. Why are we acting like one person's suffering automatically cancels out the other's?
Let me ask you this. If Person A lost their mom and family and developed depression and mental illness because of it, and Person B lost their brother, suffered so much emotional distress that they became physically disabled, who is more pitiful? What if Person A was male and Person B was female? Would it change how you view them? Because from what I've seen, people keep saying "but Yeli suffered more." Yes. Right. But does that mean MXY didn't suffer at all?
I know it was extreme for him to choose divorce. But is this new in cdrama? We have seen countless separation and divorce arcs used to push the story forward and make the leads realize they can't let go of each other. And people keep saying he made Yeli's condition worse. No. Yeli was already like that for 8 years. She just started to heal bc MXY is helping her ease it. The divorce didn't worsen her illness.
And let's talk about MXY's perspective for a second. He heard the last words of a dying man. It was the Marquis story on his side about the tragedy that destroyed MXY family, killed MXY brother, caused countless deaths, and affected thousands of families. Of course he was emotional. Could Yeli have explained things right then and there? Maybe. But I also understand why she couldn't. She was scared and traumatized. That's the tragedy. Neither of them were in the right state of mind to communicate properly. What I don't understand is why Yeli's fear is understandable but MXY's reaction is treated like some unforgivable crime. He made a mistake but the anger towards it is too much.
And story-wise, how exactly was the plot supposed to move without this happening? How was Yeli supposed to go back to Lishan? She was happy after leaving the mountain. She literally said she didn't want to go back. During their entire marriage she never chose to return or visit. Why? Because subconsciously she didn't want to face that place. Some things need to happen for the story to progress.
By Episode 32, MXY was already willing to understand Yeli's suffering. He literally acknowledged his mistakes and admitted fault. Yet people still act like nothing he does is enough. You can dislike his actions. That's completely fair. But some of you have become so focused on judging him and throwing hateful words to him that you've stopped seeing him as a someone who was also carrying 8 years of pain and trauma. I don't see a villain and a victim here. I see two people who suffered because of the same tragedy and handled that suffering in different ways. And for everything that I've said, my heart breaks a lot for Yeli like I just want to hug this girl but I have never hated MXY bc as much as I understand Yeli, I understand him too.
Anyway, can't wait for the next episodes and for the truth about Lishan to finally unfold publicly. ALSO, I also think Princess Lingyun is still alive 🤔 I want ZY and her to meet and be able to express themselves as them not as people hiding identities. So hoping she is still alive
I haven't cried this much in a cdrama for a while. My tears just kept falling. I could feel Ye Li's pain, heartbreak, and helplessness. Even the storytelling scene where she heard how the story ended completely broke me.
Two people are hurting. I understand Ye Li's suffering and I cried for her because she never deserved any of the consequences she had to bear. But I also don't understand why some people dismiss MXY's pain. It wasn't only about believing Ye Li stayed by his side out of guilt. That 8-year ago tragedy took almost everything from him too. He lost his brother, the lives of those soldiers, the futures of many families, his own dreams, and he spent eight years crippled and lived with no direction. Did we all forget the first few episodes?
Ye Li wasn't at fault, yes, and even MXY knows that. That's exactly why he only said he couldn't feel for her mom's suffering. And just when life and hope finally started returning to him, he was hit with the belief that the person he loved had only been helping him out of guilt. Anyone would be hurt by that.
Neither of them has healed from the past. They're both carrying years of pain, and that's what makes these episodes so heartbreaking.
Anyway, ep 32 later. The days feel twice as long while waiting. I wish they'd just release the express today 😂
Anyone who watched ep 31 already, do you think it's better to watch it with ep 32? I didn't like how I was craving for the next ep after ep 30 🥹 1 ep per day is a torture lol
I can only blame myself for watching ep 30 minutes before the release of ep 31 😭 I have already watched this drama late and I was still able to keep up
the episode limit was lifted late last year, there's been two dramas, sword into plowshares and the lead that…
I haven't heard that oneeee! 😅 But I just searched for it and it's a recent drama as well. I thought you meant a drama where YZ was the lead too lol
Ikr! Her other dramas since Immortal Samsara have been getting that S1/S2 split just to pass the rules, and they even did that 1-year gap before the 2nd part could air. I remember many dramas doing this, and the ones that didn't split ended up with rushed endings that most of it ruined the storylines. It’s good that the restriction was finally lifted
the episode limit was lifted late last year, there's been two dramas, sword into plowshares and the lead that…
Ohh I see. I haven't watched sword into plowshares but the other drama you said I guess is Flourished Peony by the same lead. I watched that one and even though it is on the same story continuation, they separated it into 2 dramas (the S2 being in the name of blossom) and there were talks then that the title will be different bc the censorship doesn't allow the same title for S2 as I heard back then. So technically speaking, it doesn't really exceeded the 40-episode drama yet. And yeah, since I haven't watched the other show you said, this is the first drama I saw that did 40+ episodes in one go 😅 I didn't know they lifted it since last year. Thanks for letting me know 😊
Just finished this today and really enjoyed it! It gave me similar vibes to Flourished Peony with its strong focus on career growth rather than romance, which I didn't mind at all. There were a lot of setbacks, but the resolutions were satisfying. The cast was excellent, and every character felt memorable. The Tian family frustrated me so much by the end, and I cried more than once, which shows how attached I became to the characters throughout the drama.
I do wish the ending had shown Li Zhen getting married. She went through so much and deserved a little more happiness. Overall, a really good drama.
One thing I'm curious about bc I don't know if I am not updated is how did this end up with 42 episodes? Did the episode limit restriction get removed, or is this drama an exception?
Good drama. Great fighting scenes. Aside from the fight in the rain, I also really liked ZZ's final fight with Zhu Ming Yuan. Both scenes were very well done.
The friendship dynamic was nice, but the friendship conflicts started to feel a bit repetitive. Someone hides a secret so the others won't worry, they eventually find out, everyone agrees not to hide things anymore, and then they end up doing it all over again lol. It's not necessarily a bad character arc, but it became a little repetitive for me.
It was also so good to see YY, AF, and ZRN together. Since this is a wuxia drama with a strong focus on martial arts and politics, my thoughts are that the fighting scenes were excellent, but the political aspect was not as strong. I was expecting more scheming, strategy, or political maneuvering, but it didn't quite reach that level for me.
That said, it was still a good drama overall. One thing I kept wondering, though, who shot the arrow at the end? lol
Anyway, I'm glad I stayed until the end credits because I had been looking for BYT. Everyone in the cast did an amazing job
So yes, I finally finished it yesterday, and it was really good. To be honest, I watched it without too many expectations, and I didn't even know the plot or theme. I thought it was going to focus more on romance because of the edits I've been seeing (btw, Cisha is so handsome 🥹)
I’m so glad that this drama had a solid plot instead of a messy one. I tend to prefer plot-driven stories over heavily romance-themed dramas, so I really enjoyed the political aspects and how the writers kept both the villain and the leads on equal footing. It had the right balance of cleverness and femininity because even though GJZ is an independent and capable woman, she never overshadowed the other characters. She relies on others when she needs to and stands up for herself when she wants to.
As for the acting, I was also happy to see RM and CS once again, this time as the main lead couple. They were both amazing, especially in the final part where everything became so emotional. Another standout was WW. He just keeps improving, and I really loved his character. His character development gradually grew on us viewers throughout the story. I also believe the ending was fitting, contrary to what some viewers think. Personally, I prefer endings that feel realistic and emotional rather than ones that simply cater to the audience's desire for everyone to be happy in the end.
Everyone did a great job, but lastly, I want to appreciate Zuo Ye. Yes, his character was incredibly annoying, but his acting? Especially during the opera clown scene up until his final moments, it was really good. I hope he gets bigger roles in the future.
As for the ending, although I was expecting a more grand punishment for the villain, I do think they rushed that part a little. Nonetheless, it wasn't enough to become a major disappointment for me. And the way I cried when Ye Xian's letters were being read 🥹. He really grew on me. I didn't even cry when Zhan Zhao's MZE died because, as I mentioned earlier, I didn't really know what kind of story this was going to be. I initially thought it was a romance drama, so major character deaths weren't something that ever crossed my mind. Unlike in ZZA where it's a wuxia drama with lots of fighting, so characters being killed off is something you naturally expect, if that makes sense.
Anyway, it has been a really good watch. A genuinely enjoyable drama. Congratulations to the entire team!
I've always wonder bc I dare not read most of the comments, why some here said they didn't like the ending. And I guessed it, I smelled it lol I knew it the moment there was a mention of "war". I'm currently on ep 39, while GJZ is reading the letter...somewhere, someone cut the onions. I also just want to say I love Winwin here, he did so great!!
Finished this drama days ago and honestly, it was really good. It felt like a new and refreshing story where humanity itself became the main focus.
Recently, I came across a post listing dramas they thought were overrated, and most of them were xianxia dramas. Their reasons were mostly about the usual xianxia formula, which made me remember how this genre often challenges your morality and perspective.
That’s why this drama felt like more than just something to pass the time. It wasn’t only focused on the characters or their individual stories, but also on their perceptions, beliefs, views, and choices. It makes you question yourself too. if you were put in the same situation, how would you decide? Which side would you stand on? I really appreciate stories that can do that. Tbh, I just remember commenting because I came across a video about theories on how scientists/professors/inventors were gone or died after an invention or a cure. I'm not saying it's a fact lol but it was a theory I have watched on how these people are gone because they kill businesses. Somehow the part about the "demonic cultivators" who only wanted to thrive through craftmanship felt like that and that’s also why I don’t really understand comments focusing too much on screentime instead of the plot and the overall purpose of the story.
I also read that this was RJL’s end-of-contract drama. I’m not sure if that means like a bad thing, but honestly, this drama was good, and I think both RJL and WHR did great here. Also, I’m glad the drama didn’t hold back with the character deaths lol. I’m a bit sad that viewers automatically dislike dramas just because many characters die. If it’s necessary for the story, then why not? For me, a sad ending doesn’t automatically make it a bad ending 😅
Overall, definitely a good watch. I still have questions about how this connects to AMBF. I know Wushuang is the connection, but I’m curious about how everything ties together. I’ll probably search more about it if I have time.
I barely remember S1. All I can remember are some parts and how it was amazing when I watched it. Now, S2 has been in my watchlist for years because I am always thinking if I need to rewatch S1 before watching this. Is it necessary? Thanks
This is sooooo good! I actually like Immortal Ascension that I even proceed to watching the donghua and it's amazing getting to see YY in a wuxia drama. It just feels a little heavy watching the "political" part of the recent episodes because it feels way too close to how our government is now. Anyway, still don't get it why Youku removed this but luckily it's in Viu. Liking the fighting scenes as well esp the one where ZZ fought after talking to that magistrate. That was good 👍🏻
As for the maid, yes, he knew about her. But to what extent? He knew something was wrong, but he didn't know the full depth of Yeli's trauma. He did ask a doctor but confronting Yeli about it might also not be a good idea since he did not know how deep her trauma is. Look at how Yeli reacted in Lishan when the eunuch told her she was all alone. It is why he also gradually ease it by telling Yeli "to let Qinshuang go home" bc he thought it was only her maid and that the reason it happened was bc she was lonely in the mansion, not lonely/traumatized bc of Lishan. And again, if not for this separation, he wouldn't have understood how much she was actually suffering. What he saw in the mansion was only a small part of it.
And you're also looking at the situation entirely from Yeli's perspective. You're saying he discharged his pain onto her, but are you putting yourself in his shoes as much as you're putting yourself in hers? At that moment, he had just learned what he believed was the truth behind the tragedy. On top of that, he genuinely thought and believed Yeli only pitied him. Meanwhile, Yeli was terrified of being abandoned and couldn't explain herself.
To me, it was a scene of two hurt people at the height of their emotions. One reacting from grief, anger, and heartbreak, the other from fear, trauma, and abandonment. I also respect your opinion but I've seen hate and harsh words towards the ML here and on other platforms that is why I wrote this. I just don't think understanding him and sympathizing with Yeli are mutually exclusive.
Some are empathetic only to Yeli. And honestly, I find it weird how some discussions have turned into a gender war. I've even seen people saying the reason everyone sympathizes with Yeli is because she's a woman but pain and suffering know no gender. Both of them have been hurting for 8 years, just in different forms. Yeli suffered from severe mental illness and loneliness. MXY lost his brother, lived with the aftermath of that tragedy for years, and spent 8 years crippled. Why are we acting like one person's suffering automatically cancels out the other's?
Let me ask you this. If Person A lost their mom and family and developed depression and mental illness because of it, and Person B lost their brother, suffered so much emotional distress that they became physically disabled, who is more pitiful? What if Person A was male and Person B was female? Would it change how you view them? Because from what I've seen, people keep saying "but Yeli suffered more." Yes. Right. But does that mean MXY didn't suffer at all?
I know it was extreme for him to choose divorce. But is this new in cdrama? We have seen countless separation and divorce arcs used to push the story forward and make the leads realize they can't let go of each other. And people keep saying he made Yeli's condition worse. No. Yeli was already like that for 8 years. She just started to heal bc MXY is helping her ease it. The divorce didn't worsen her illness.
And let's talk about MXY's perspective for a second. He heard the last words of a dying man. It was the Marquis story on his side about the tragedy that destroyed MXY family, killed MXY brother, caused countless deaths, and affected thousands of families. Of course he was emotional. Could Yeli have explained things right then and there? Maybe. But I also understand why she couldn't. She was scared and traumatized. That's the tragedy. Neither of them were in the right state of mind to communicate properly. What I don't understand is why Yeli's fear is understandable but MXY's reaction is treated like some unforgivable crime. He made a mistake but the anger towards it is too much.
And story-wise, how exactly was the plot supposed to move without this happening? How was Yeli supposed to go back to Lishan? She was happy after leaving the mountain. She literally said she didn't want to go back. During their entire marriage she never chose to return or visit. Why? Because subconsciously she didn't want to face that place. Some things need to happen for the story to progress.
By Episode 32, MXY was already willing to understand Yeli's suffering. He literally acknowledged his mistakes and admitted fault. Yet people still act like nothing he does is enough. You can dislike his actions. That's completely fair. But some of you have become so focused on judging him and throwing hateful words to him that you've stopped seeing him as a someone who was also carrying 8 years of pain and trauma. I don't see a villain and a victim here. I see two people who suffered because of the same tragedy and handled that suffering in different ways. And for everything that I've said, my heart breaks a lot for Yeli like I just want to hug this girl but I have never hated MXY bc as much as I understand Yeli, I understand him too.
Anyway, can't wait for the next episodes and for the truth about Lishan to finally unfold publicly. ALSO, I also think Princess Lingyun is still alive 🤔 I want ZY and her to meet and be able to express themselves as them not as people hiding identities. So hoping she is still alive
Two people are hurting. I understand Ye Li's suffering and I cried for her because she never deserved any of the consequences she had to bear. But I also don't understand why some people dismiss MXY's pain. It wasn't only about believing Ye Li stayed by his side out of guilt. That 8-year ago tragedy took almost everything from him too. He lost his brother, the lives of those soldiers, the futures of many families, his own dreams, and he spent eight years crippled and lived with no direction. Did we all forget the first few episodes?
Ye Li wasn't at fault, yes, and even MXY knows that. That's exactly why he only said he couldn't feel for her mom's suffering. And just when life and hope finally started returning to him, he was hit with the belief that the person he loved had only been helping him out of guilt. Anyone would be hurt by that.
Neither of them has healed from the past. They're both carrying years of pain, and that's what makes these episodes so heartbreaking.
Anyway, ep 32 later. The days feel twice as long while waiting. I wish they'd just release the express today 😂
Ikr! Her other dramas since Immortal Samsara have been getting that S1/S2 split just to pass the rules, and they even did that 1-year gap before the 2nd part could air. I remember many dramas doing this, and the ones that didn't split ended up with rushed endings that most of it ruined the storylines. It’s good that the restriction was finally lifted
I do wish the ending had shown Li Zhen getting married. She went through so much and deserved a little more happiness. Overall, a really good drama.
One thing I'm curious about bc I don't know if I am not updated is how did this end up with 42 episodes? Did the episode limit restriction get removed, or is this drama an exception?
The friendship dynamic was nice, but the friendship conflicts started to feel a bit repetitive. Someone hides a secret so the others won't worry, they eventually find out, everyone agrees not to hide things anymore, and then they end up doing it all over again lol. It's not necessarily a bad character arc, but it became a little repetitive for me.
It was also so good to see YY, AF, and ZRN together. Since this is a wuxia drama with a strong focus on martial arts and politics, my thoughts are that the fighting scenes were excellent, but the political aspect was not as strong. I was expecting more scheming, strategy, or political maneuvering, but it didn't quite reach that level for me.
That said, it was still a good drama overall. One thing I kept wondering, though, who shot the arrow at the end? lol
Anyway, I'm glad I stayed until the end credits because I had been looking for BYT. Everyone in the cast did an amazing job
I’m so glad that this drama had a solid plot instead of a messy one. I tend to prefer plot-driven stories over heavily romance-themed dramas, so I really enjoyed the political aspects and how the writers kept both the villain and the leads on equal footing. It had the right balance of cleverness and femininity because even though GJZ is an independent and capable woman, she never overshadowed the other characters. She relies on others when she needs to and stands up for herself when she wants to.
As for the acting, I was also happy to see RM and CS once again, this time as the main lead couple. They were both amazing, especially in the final part where everything became so emotional. Another standout was WW. He just keeps improving, and I really loved his character. His character development gradually grew on us viewers throughout the story. I also believe the ending was fitting, contrary to what some viewers think. Personally, I prefer endings that feel realistic and emotional rather than ones that simply cater to the audience's desire for everyone to be happy in the end.
Everyone did a great job, but lastly, I want to appreciate Zuo Ye. Yes, his character was incredibly annoying, but his acting? Especially during the opera clown scene up until his final moments, it was really good. I hope he gets bigger roles in the future.
As for the ending, although I was expecting a more grand punishment for the villain, I do think they rushed that part a little. Nonetheless, it wasn't enough to become a major disappointment for me. And the way I cried when Ye Xian's letters were being read 🥹. He really grew on me. I didn't even cry when Zhan Zhao's MZE died because, as I mentioned earlier, I didn't really know what kind of story this was going to be. I initially thought it was a romance drama, so major character deaths weren't something that ever crossed my mind. Unlike in ZZA where it's a wuxia drama with lots of fighting, so characters being killed off is something you naturally expect, if that makes sense.
Anyway, it has been a really good watch. A genuinely enjoyable drama. Congratulations to the entire team!
Recently, I came across a post listing dramas they thought were overrated, and most of them were xianxia dramas. Their reasons were mostly about the usual xianxia formula, which made me remember how this genre often challenges your morality and perspective.
That’s why this drama felt like more than just something to pass the time. It wasn’t only focused on the characters or their individual stories, but also on their perceptions, beliefs, views, and choices. It makes you question yourself too. if you were put in the same situation, how would you decide? Which side would you stand on? I really appreciate stories that can do that. Tbh, I just remember commenting because I came across a video about theories on how scientists/professors/inventors were gone or died after an invention or a cure. I'm not saying it's a fact lol but it was a theory I have watched on how these people are gone because they kill businesses. Somehow the part about the "demonic cultivators" who only wanted to thrive through craftmanship felt like that and that’s also why I don’t really understand comments focusing too much on screentime instead of the plot and the overall purpose of the story.
I also read that this was RJL’s end-of-contract drama. I’m not sure if that means like a bad thing, but honestly, this drama was good, and I think both RJL and WHR did great here. Also, I’m glad the drama didn’t hold back with the character deaths lol. I’m a bit sad that viewers automatically dislike dramas just because many characters die. If it’s necessary for the story, then why not? For me, a sad ending doesn’t automatically make it a bad ending 😅
Overall, definitely a good watch. I still have questions about how this connects to AMBF. I know Wushuang is the connection, but I’m curious about how everything ties together. I’ll probably search more about it if I have time.