mochachen

The writer or director really did her research. I can't take all the credit, I had some idea of it, but it's only confirmed after I read comments on chinese social media. I love going to chinese social medias bc the viewers and fans have so much knowledge of their own culture and they analyze every single detail, from the floral arrangements on the girls' head, to the clothing and even food on the table. What I like about proper historical period dramas are the social norms and the political reactions.

She is more modern minded, she has wits and literate, brave and courageous. So she doesn't want to just be a female, being a SAM and wife. She wants to climb up the social ladder and political ladder. She wants to be respected. Ml's mom said even a royal consort would have to give face/ be courteous to an official of a certain standing (the position Miss Du wanted to aim for). She wants a fair chance at life, she hated not being able to take the national exam like other men.

She's the mastermind of the flower scheme. She was very close to getting what she wanted and then LX ruined her plans. So now she will hate LX and revenge on her. Sigh.

We've reached 30k heat on Tencent, and it's just the appetizer stage. The main dish hasn't even arrived, we still have 30+ eps.

It's all on your preference. If you want idol like romance, where ml and fl make lovey dovey gazes and fall in love in 10 eps, then this isn't for you. Romance is not the main focus, but the survival of each character.

She's so right that Lin household is rich, they don't care for a few hundred dollars, what they need are loyal, resourceful, smart servants/subjects that can assist the masters when needed. So even if LX asked ml's mom to be released of servitude, ml's mom will just award her more instead of releasing her freedom. What lx needs is an opportunity that Lin household can't refuse.

GAAAAH, Lanxiang is so damn smart!!

Miss Du right?? She is the new villiainess! I feel like she's a harder evil boss to kill than ml's ex wife. Since ml's ex wife was illiterate, she wasn't good with scheming. But this Miss Du wanted to enter the court as an official

She is the passing of time. Her character is used as a reference on the seasons passing. Each fruit, flower, veggie she sells is seasonal. Some plantation can only grow and sell in certain seasons. I quite like this sophisticated way of telling time has passed.

Aaaww, Gantang got her name back. I didn't even notice when ml's mom gave her name back.

That's what the novel was. Honestly, I think fl just gave up running and made the best of the situation. However, in the drama we have to just trust the director and writer on the adaptation. I'm sure they will change a lot to make him less asshole

This is more fl focus. You may not know, but the Chinese name of this drama is called Lan Xiang Ru Gu, which means Story of Lan Xiang/Lan Xiang's Story. So you guess correctly, LJQ is ml but not main character.

It was trending of the hashtag that no one wants ml. Which is not a common occurence on dramas haha. I felt bad for ml for a sec.

can't fault what your are saying. I feel like this drama has no pure good or bad people once they have power or influence. Maintaining power is the hardest, and tricks are inevitable.

She tells him at the very very end. In a way, it's anticlimatic bc they already married and they don't really do anything about it afterwards. It's like her telling him what the weather is. But for somereason, I find that refreshing.

I enjoy slow burn. fl will def not like him anytime soon. Instead, I'm going to enjoy ml changing his behaviour towards fl. He already showed a bit of difference to her in the next coming eps' trailer. I will enjoy the lingering glances, the smiles and then jealous look from ml.

None in the novel. There was nothing to clear, fl was trying to live for the present and future. In a strange way, her family being framed and executed had little to influence the novel. Instead, I think it's a reason for fl to behave like a noble woman while born as a servant. She knew caligraphy, painting, guzhen, poetry and excelled in all of them. So these skills intrigued ml and he started admiring her, catching his attention. Not only that, the way she spoke, walk and ate was of a noble lady's manner. ml was perplexed all the time. i think that's the main thing the author wanted to use

They will most definitely tone it down, so I am intrigued to see how the writer will make the romance flow, given that a vast majority of the audience doesn't want fl and ml to get together.

I'm aware and understood everything you mentioned. I know he's a good brother and wants to be responsible for his actions and the collateral damages his family members might and will face after the divorce. But, my point is that he is considerate for his sisters but not for fl. The trailers and promo videos had fl slapping ml during wedding day, and then fl confronted ml that if she was from a prominent family would he force her to marry him without notifying her parents. Sorry, this might've spoiled it for you.

I read the novel so I know what will happen after and who will marry in place instead (regarding ml's sister). But, for fl she never wanted to be his mistress or concubine. The first time, in the novel, was basically a transaction, he save her dad and she give her body to him, in hopes he will get bored of her and shoo her out of the manor in 1-2years. Not to mention she basically tried to escape 2-3x. But I'm twisted that I like to read those tropes heh.

This new character, Miss Du, I'm afraid Xiaolian will be influenced by her and start to have discord between lanxian/fl.

Sometimes I find ml to be a hypocrite. He said marriage is a women's second chance of life, meaning choosing the right man to marry is important. Well, then why did he force fl to marry him when she didn't want to.

I realized not everyone watches trailers, so in light of this i will put a spoiler tag