noor1234

You should watch him in KTPH - you'll hate him! Good actor.

I'm following KTPH, have stopped watching BOP except for the scenes featuring the second lead couple.

The best thing about this drama is the second lead couple. The female heir to Marquis who works as a manly guard is one of the best 'fake-man' portrayals, she can easily pass off as a guy, even though she's pretty & has a chest! The aloof Deputy Justice Minister is cute & I am forwarding each episode just to see their interactions.

The ML's character is intriguing (dangerous+gentle aura & a mission) & is a catch, but has turned into a pathetic simp who is constantly rejected by the overbearing, rude & dismissive FL. The uniqueness of the FL (her cold logical nature fit for a queen, usurpation of another woman's life as her own) is lost because she is unlikable as a person & unworthy of the effort unless ML has a deep-seated inferiority complex. I don't know what her priorities are anymore, because the plot has come to a standstill over the course of 5-6 episodes, where ML has to prove he is worth HER. Meanwhile her character has shown zero self-awareness or growth & story is moving along to show her as queen bee, all in all authority fixing all wrongs - when frankly she has no role in active politics or title. She just happens to have a powerful general as father & bro. She has zero accomplishments of her own to merit this kind of attention from ML & others or have this kind of power. I don't like stories that dumb down everyone so that the lead (in this case lead actress) can shine.

In this regard, there's more of a balance, humor, conflict, passion & angst in the second leads relationship than in the ML+FL who are just going round in circles with him being p***y whipped. I will also say there's more equality in their bromance / romance relationship even though girl-guard is rich, while dep. minister is from humble background but the relationship is on equal footing, unlike that of FL+ML.

I had forgotten SFL had saved ML's bro & in fact she also got rid of the poisoned arrows that dowager had arranged for ML.

Interesting! I thought this scene was from upcoming episodes, not the end. But it'd be interesting if this was the ending.

Ok that makes sense.

Based on this interview alone I think: 1) SML will by the end help ML achieve his reform even if shit hits the fan over his sister / crown prince/ tutor etc. stuff in upcoming episodes. Idea as per statement: 'Although he’s the Prince of Qi, as he gradually witnesses the desire for power—or rather, as he sees everything I’ve sacrificed in carrying out these reforms—he also wants to contribute more of his own strength to this world.'
2) This drama most definitely is sliding towards a SE - even if ML+FL get together in coming episodes, by the end ML will be dead, and the FL free to roam the world & make inventions with the money & title he leaves her. I'm basing that on the statement above 'by the ending relationship also has a very strong sense of fate and destiny'.

Actually dowager's cruelty is aimed at holding on to power that she will NOT have once the son dies without heir - that's why she's against anyone who threatens her reign. She's corrupt to the core with no regard for 30K soldiers, Lu/An massacre, Qin territories, etc.

SFL's cruelty is just to safeguard her brother's life - if his true parentage becomes known, he will be killed off (for deceiving this emperor). So she did it not just to keep SML as a regent. It's to protect him.

Oh, it's definitely with SFL OR mother gave it to ML (they showed a flashback where they were quibbling about it).

I think he's heart broken over her death. That's why he disregarded the divorce to claim her again as his wife to give her an esteemed 'titled home' burial. He thought it really was an accident (he'll find out SFL's murderous involvement in Ep.17 as per trailer).

LOL!

Ep. 15-16: I don't mind SFL killing FL's mom for her brother's future. But it DOES shorten her own life - I'm sure her eventual death, ML's status as heir & FL's feelings for ML will push SML to go after ML in future episodes. The irony is that everyone - ML, FL & SML - worked to save her life & liberty by stopping that marriage to Eagle King. That 'cause' / 'karma' song by Duan Aojuan is so perfect for this drama. The lyrics say it all.

I hate to see grand tutor's face (he's playing FL's cute fake father general in the simultaneously airing 'Blossoms of Power' which I've stopped watching because of overbearing FL & simp ML). But he not only wants to see his son ascend the throne, but also wants justice for the An/Lu family massacre 20 years ago - which led to empress & 'crown prince's' death - which was what even his ex-wife wanted to talk to him about.

But my god, the way he said he rather wished FL had died instead of ex-wife & how he announced to EVERYONE (including SML/regent) that she was not biological daughter so couldn't be part of mother's funeral & disinherited her outrightly! He's grief-stricken but he showed he doesn't care at all for the girl he has raised. I hope his own son stabs him in the back or front before this drama ends!

This drama has been made in the style of short vertical dramas, scenes change, each character has a scene to push the story / plot forward.

All those punches to fake Cui Jun's face by ML did not remove the supposed 'mask' on his face?

I did not feel sorry for the dumb Master (weapons maker) who was still crying over Northern queen who had betrayed him SPECTACULARLY, even when he was dying! What a loser!

The main couple needs to have more scenes together, intimate & otherwise. I guess 'don't get kidnapped' (by him, when saying goodbye) & 'don't overthink it' (by her, in dungeon) is also a form of buddy / love language.....

Can anyone explain the meaning of the 'biting of ML's hand' in Ep. 16 when in fever she calls out his name after her mom & dad & he asks 'do you even know what you are saying?' - did she bite it because she wanted to hurt him even in delirium as she already suspected him? I did not understand that move.

Yes, but ML's royal lineage has to be a plot arc down the line.

Ep. 13 was a very good ep.

I think SML will probably flip only when he finds out that ML has a claim to the throne - in Ep. 13, ML got a lot more powerful (as general & administrator) & is bound to get more popular, so grand tutor will manipulate SML to get rid of his friend. BUT I am really hoping that SML survives in the series & thrives (& works with ML to bring peace). This is a time-pass fluff drama with very good music & I don't want stress of death of any of these 4 main people.

Yes, the bickering is well done. I hope they stay like this till the end.

@lela2004 You're being crazy. ;) There is no coming back for the 'Eagle King'/ general who likes to target practice on real human beings from enemy territory...... He would've just shamed the feisty LLJ into submission & ridicule once she was in his hands. He's a sadist.

Good grief, the scheming grand tutor of Key to Phoenix Heart is playing the role of FL's (fake) cute general father Duke of Wei in this drama!

This drama has very good OST & instrumentals/ BGM.

But ML in Ep. 11 did say he 'fell in love at first sight' so that's the biggest trope of all. A bit of a bummer considering I thought he liked her later on after interactions & knowing more about her.