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If you look at the title of the drama 兰香如故 (Lan Xiang Ru Gu) - it tells you right there who the key character is here. This is a more woman centric drama focusing on the lives of women in these times from lowly indentured servants to wives of the rich and influential. And how in many ways, they are equally bounded by the constraints put upon by society. I don't understand the commenters complaining about LXY being relegated to second banana and not given more depth in his role. I think he is amazing here and this drama will serve to skyrocket his popularity. Hey, he does owe it to Seven Tan to some extent because it is her name that is the main draw as he is relatively unknown compared to her. There are actresses in the C drama that are "king makers" like Seven, Dilraba, Yang Mi, Zhao Lusi and a few others where lesser known male leads have shot to fame being in viral dramas with them. I and so happy to "discover" a new favorite actor in this drama and have been checking out his previous works. He does not have a lot in his repertoire but I am positive after this drama, he will be offered many more scripts. And I will be there to check those out.

From what I have seen of the drama (more than halfway now), I feel the director and script writer have earned my trust so I am going to be patient to see how the story develops. This is not an action flick or an idol drama but more a slice of life in ancient times. I really appreciate their attempt to show us how actual people in these roles might behave under these circumstances (with dramatic license of course or it would not pass censorship).

Waiting for comments on the wedding scenes and after. The comments on the Tencent video were lit sometimes covering half my screen LOL. Some commenters thought she was over-reacting to the situation while others were like slap him again! But it's kinda fun to see the roles reversed where he is seeking so hard to please her as she gives him the coldest shoulder. While I keep thinking - dang girl the man is so fine how can you be so mean to him? Esp when he smiles with those dimples? But then have to remind myself at this stage in the drama, she has zero romantic feelings for him and he just snatched her in marriage without her parent's consents or hers. I think she considers it highly disrespectful so she felt no obligation to be nice or gracious about it.

Folks - stumbled on this video that interviews the director and actors (with english subs!). The director and actors give very thoughtful perspectives on the drama. Worth watching if you want to understand the motivations of the characters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB8OViCAc24

We are only halfway through the drama LOL. Evil women involved with the ML. I would say 3 as of last count.

LOL that is so funny! Thanks for sharing

He's no dummy. I am sure he suspected before this scene that she came from a different background. You can see how different she acts to her parents. Once she mentioned the Shen household and the parents reactions, he connected the dots.

LOL. Those of us who did are like...wow...no way this is a faithful recreation of novel.

Aside from the one-sided feelings Scholar Han has, I think they have a wonderful kinship/friendship. So much that I hope he does return as a friend in rest of drama. Maybe helps her out in some way. I also like they made him so likable. I agree that this drama is very thoughtful (super kudos to director and script-writer) about taking us now on the journey of XLX and Jinqi. It is their turn now to learn to grow together and appreciate each other. Makes us the audience really anticipate the drama even more. No lazy plot resolutions.

LOL best euphemism I have heard for brothel so far. You'd think from the name, they host concerts at Carnegie Hall or whatever the equivalent is in ancient China.

I think her character is mainly about survival versus being an independent woman. She wants to be free of servitude and I think she got along quite well with scholar Han. Just no passionate feelings but this drama is more realistic to the time where being compatible is probably more than enough for 2 people to get married. He did say that with time, they could grow to be more fond of each other and we the audience could totally see that happening. So I think he would have treated her well and as an equal which would not be a bad thing considering how she had been treated as a maid. He's handsome, kind, respected, treats his family well, and educated with excellent prospects for a commoner. This really reminds me of Love Like the Galaxy where the second male lead was the gentle scholar type and Niao Niao (Zhao Lusi's character) wanted a peaceful relationship.

Their reaction was to showcase the distinction between educated and non-educated and also how XLX while content to remain a humble commoner because of her past trauma, would never really reach her potential at this level in Chinese society. Also they are not well versed with royal court machinations which XLX and her master, having been the on the unfortunate receiving end of being seen as defying the Emperor. know all too well. Also, they worked so hard to escape the Lin household and now for their daughter to be brought back in against her will.

Totally my plan. Have rewatched Love Like the Galaxy at least 5X now LOL.

I see it not so much as him saving her but as she saving herself. He and Furong were just sitting in the boat. XLX is the one who escaped and found them. So I think the director wanted to show she is no damsel in distress waiting for a man to save her. So it makes it more dramatic later when the ML forces her hand in marriage and we can expect sparks to fly here!

Reasoning for #4: In a later comment which I agree with - its dark on the dock so singing was a way for them to alert XLX if she happened to escape and there are guards all around looking for her so they can't very well be yelling her name. Operatic singing carries so they probably figured if she managed to escape, she would make her way to them and they could easily escape in the boat.

In a later comment which I agree with - its dark on the dock so singing was a way for them to alert XLX if she happened to escape and there are guards all around looking for her so they can't very well be yelling her name. Operatic singing carries so they probably figured if she managed to escape, she would make her way to them and they could easily escape in the boat.

LOL same here. Just go out and entertain all the relatives and strangers dear!

This kinda reminds me of Love Like the Galaxy when ZLS and the 2ML could not hold a candle to Leo Wu's general. To this day, LLTG is still the most epic C-drama romance drama for me. I am hoping ATC turns out to be the same.

LOL agreed!

Wow, all the women involved with the ML are super toxic. His ex-wife, Du Zheng's sister, and now the Duke's daughter. If I were XLX, the ML would be a super red flag for her given she is so focused on survival and staying out of trouble LOL. So I am not surprised she has no interest in him given how practical minded she is. It does seems like if she were to choose between him and scholar Han, she would choose scholar Han. So I am super interested in watching how she changes her mind and comes to love him. Excited for all the upcoming episodes. Even though we are halfway there this drama does not seem draggy at all. There are so many plot lines that need to be resolved in upcoming episodes. I also think the director/script writer did a phenomenal job in weaving in the political backstory into the everyday lives of the characters. Usually in C dramas, the political plot is separate and becomes a snooze fest as we fast forward to the romantic scenes. Here, romance it there but it is just a part of the whole story. Loving it and I have always loved Seven Tan but also psyched to discover a favorite new actor in Liu Xue Yi. So manly and serious and then he smiles, and the dimples appear.