mysteryqueen9

Oh, I see. I kind of assumed she was just guessing FX will be revealed a prince sooner or later to public (I mean, this is typical checkhov gun, if you introduce a character having a secret identity is gonna be revealed sooner or later)

I will watch it then. Talking about female centric dramas, one thing that has been bothering me in recent dramas is when in theory we are going to have 2 main characters, FL and ML, both equally important, and then FL is overshadowed shamelessly by ML. It happened with "Who rules the world", and worse even, in the drama Fighting for love (this one a terrible drama) where FL was in theory MC but she was used as a punching bag and a prop for ML (who btw is played by the actor that plays here CP)
I hate mary sues but I get it that somehow it seems they are very well liked in chinese dramas. I would recommend you for Strong FL but with some real character and not miss perfect: The Story of MingLan, Story of Yan Xi Palace, Love Like the Galaxy, and definitely A Journey to Love. A Korean classic would be Empress Ki. If you would like modern recommendations I also have some.

Though I agree is low for JOL is understandable, since most people wait until drama ends to rate it, and trolls rate it quickly so they can lower the rating: I usually wait till the end too but I was so annoyed with seeing some evident trolls that I rated it already.
It's funny because it's easy to see who genuinely doesn't like a drama and who is just a troll, and in many dramas less famous, I see they are not very prevalent here on MDL, but when a drama is a high traffic one, the level of trolls is incredible. And here at least the comments limit to the story, in idol dramas you can see the battle between the toxic fans from one actor/actress and the haters of said actor.

Agree!! I also loved Sword Snow Stride (I think it's from the same director), Tale of YanXi Palace, Scarlet Heart and Story of MingLan, and The Untamed, I think they are my preferred costume drama (though sadly the Untamed is so censored, but even then it's a great story)

This is not a spoiler since it was already revealed in S1. Perhaps you forgot it or you haven't watched S1 (in that case, I strongly suggest to see S1, because this is a sequel and you will not get a lot of info) And don't take this the wrong way, I say this as a person who doesn't understand all the spoilers people are giving of big plot elements without using the box of spoilers, but this isn't one.

I am so used to scripwriters using a popular novel to catch viewers' attention and then changing so much the plot that it's a new brand story, that this makes me so stunned and at the same time so happy. Every time I think of Princess Wei Yang drama and how it has nothing to do with the novel, I get angry

Now rewatching ep 15, I finally realise that Cheng Ze's look at CP sobbing reminds of a scene of Derry Girls (best comedy show ever) where Sister Michael looked like that to Clare and said: "Well, I think it's fair to say that we all just lost a bit of respect for you there, Clare."
I literally felt so much cringe when seeing CP. Emperor must be so amused by these court sessions, it's like these people are not graceful nobles but mummers on a play..

Oh, I didn't catch that. But even if he outed Cheng Ze, he wouldn't gain anything (if he revealed where he was when Haitang defeated him, he would be accused of planned murder and kidnapping FZH, and probably of slandering a prince because the word of a servant against a prince...) and he would suffer a terrible death for betraying Cheng Ze. FX couldn't help him at all the moment he was trapped in his scheme. And personally I think Bian is 100% loyal to Cheng Ze, though I have not watched today eps yet.

What I coincidence, yesterday I was just thinking about that drama and if I should begin it. Is it good?

someone posted the link here on MDL

That's why I say he is inflexible to the point of breaking before bending. FX is a perfect example of being a good person and pursuing justice and punishing evil doers but in a very cunning and smart way: he doesn't always abide to the law, he likes to play tricks to outsmart others, but he is a very resilient adaptable person, who observes where the limits are, and while FX loves pushing people's limits, he is masterful in knowing who he can mess with and to what point. I agree Censor Lai was suicidal, but I don't think it was because he didn't know the consequences, but because he couldn't live with himself if he acted in a way that wasn't true to his own values. He chose to die for his ideals and not bretraying his own moral values, we could say.

Loved the actor. both there and in Scent of Time. Though Censor Lai is even more inflexible imo.

I read just some scenes and chapters (not the whole novel, it's more that 700 chapters) but I think he really just loved her a lot like she was his sister, and CPP is an eunuch

It's pretty good, I recommend it, both chinese and korean version (though both versions have some differences). I didn't know when I started watching (i first watched the korean one) that it was gonna have angst, so I was totally fooled by the first half of the drama that is quite lighthearted and then it hit me hard. Prepare tissues. But it's a masterpiece.

Rip Censor Lai. His death is sad but completely realistic, since the first time he appeared on screen, I wondered how he had remained alive having such a honest and 0% scheming mind, making enemies everywhere. He had a fatal flaw, and that is being inflexible to the point he will sooner break than bend, which drove to his death. Here is my take on this:
The Emperor had protected Censor Lai's position in court till now since he is honest and righteous to a fault, so people has this idea of a fair person to control corrupt ministers, and the idea that the Emperor is benevolent and fair so he rewards loyal brave ministers who dare go against the mighty. But now Censor Lai has dared go against the obvious wishes of the Emperor (punishing lighty Second Prince and Fan Family) and he even dared accused the Emperor or playing favouritism. The Emperor is sending a clear message (and warning) to the Court: I may give you power and a voice, but I can take it back as well and punish you if you dare acting out of line, because I am the one with the real power and you must always respect me and my wishes. And imo it was specially a warning to Prime Minister. If you pay attention, in FX's first impeachement the Emperor was dissatisfied with PM because he dared played with some ministers to create a rift between the princes. He was overstepping (which CPP and FJ later discussed) And in this impeachment session, Emperor kept asking PM his opinion, even though PM never participated, not a single time, if not to answer the emperor.
So imo it's not that the emperor is just trying to protect Cheng Ze, yes, he is protecting him and FX and FJ, but first of all, giving a lesson to the people who is trying to overstep the limits.

I agree with you, I think the problem for this people is that although the vibe hasn't changed, the story has entered another arch where even though there are a lot of comedic moments, the story is darker and heavier in politics, and it's not their cup of tea. Though it surprises me that people didn't expect it when it's very common in Chinese historical dramas: a great example of this is BuBu YingXin (Scarlet Heart) that is a great drama but the plot passes from being fluffly and comedy like to angsty and sad since the middle of the drama.
I personally love both Season 1 and 2 equally.

I think that in the book FJ and YQM were never a thing, just really good friends. No romantic feelings in either of them.

The thing is he had no other option. If he had outed Cheng Ze, the one to suffer most would be him because all his family would be killed (Cheng Ze and the emperor would take revenge on him) and they could even say he is a traitor who slandered a prince because someone bribed him or whatever. No matter what, he was done for the moment he was caught in the crossfire between FX and CZ. Which is very sad but realistic in a feudal world.

Zhang Ruo Yun and Duan Duan's chemistry on screen is unbelievably good. I remember thinking so when I watched Sword Snow Stride (super recommended drama) and in S1, but here in S2 they are killing it: best enemies ever !!

I personally don't think Second Prince was lying when he said he was excited. I think we have seen again and again from how much he obsesses and delights in FX' schemes that he really gets a thrill from most of FX's actions. Second Prince is a very manipulate cunning and meticulous person, so I guess he enjoys having a "worthy rival" to play with. The problem is that in last eps he is realising he isn't the one to control the game. And though I agree he is afraid of dying (which is a very normal feeling) I disagree with him fearing death most of all. What Cheng Ze fears most is in fact revealed in the letter he sent to FX in S1: he fears losing the game of thrones we could say, losing in his biggest ambition (getting the throne). In fact, I think the two moments in the whole story where we can see truly Cheng Ze's real self are with the letter he sent FX in S1, and in ep 12 where Wan'er reveals how she sees real Cheng Ze.
Wan'er says he is always full of schemes and when he argues she must see him as a terrible unfeeling man, Wan'er denies it, saying he is just keeping his feelings very well hidden inside him. That was the only moment we see a certain type of vulnerability. So I think his great schemes to be emperor is his main motivation to live because without that, he would be purposeless, since he seems pretty detached but inside he seems emotionally neglected, as his family (and himself as a result) is pretty shitty. First Prince is a good man, but he wasn't raised with the same kind of expectations as his siblings. So the thing is the Royal Palace is poison.
I haven't read the novel but I have indeed read some chapters or certain scenes. And CP and Cheng Ze are tragic villains, in the sense they are just a result of their upbringing. I am not trying to justify their actions in any way, but to give credit to how complex and interesting their characters are: they are just not mere monsters without emotions, because they have some rediming qualities:
Big spoiler from book: CP after failed Rebellion begs FX to forgive the soldiers and people who have helped him, or at least to save their innocent families. He doesn't beg for himself. Cheng Ze waits until FX comes to see him after Rebellion to kill himself, but he gives a suicide letter to FX so nobody can try to put his death on FX in any way. And Eldest Princess says a very painful but real truth: we are all fish in a fishbowl, referring to the imperial family.