serhine

I had lost my original comment, but this is what I wrote as of episode 8 as to YWS's development with GZY:

At first, YWS is very deliberate as to her approach to GZY (all her actions were aimed at luring him in). At first, that was all there is to it. She got him. Hook, line and sinker. And she knows it. But GZY isn't what she imagined. He's sincere and truly kind. We first see YWS looking at GZY with new eyes when he rushed to stand in front of her, to protect her, BEFORE her identify was confirmed. Then he just had to follow that up with the medicine and the cute pillow tuck in during the smoke fiasco. When she touched the fox tail ornament, she actually looked confused (and this time it's genuine, but we gain new information about YWS thoughts and feelings). And when she looked at GZY from where she was lying down, we know something had started to form. And we know this to be true because when they had their first long conversation, YWS ended up sharing something personal (more personal than GZY will ever guess). Somehow, when GZY is involved, YWS ends up becoming emotional and revealing something personal (either to GZY or to us the audience). And this trait is not found in her first mode (the original YWS in #1). But when she's with GZY, his actions make her remember her moments with her sister. Why? Because both care for her and when she feels GZY affection, she remembers her sister's as well. And that's why it's only with GZY that YWS gets to become her true self ("girlish" as her sister said). The YWS in front of GZY may have been originally an act, but now with each episode, as we witness YWS witness GZY's kindness and sincerity, she is also slowly responding with hers.

And truly, I'm excited to watch YWS coming to terms with her feelings (something she has set aside most of her life, probably more so when her sister died). We're still a third of the way, but judging from what we've seen so far, I don't think I have to fear about YWS killing GZY. She may even protect him with her life. And as for GZY, we don't even have to guess what lengths he'll go to in order to protect her.

Re: the comment that called YWS ruthless and why she shed tears during the confrontation when she is not an "emotional robot" lol

YWS is not "ruthless". She is strategic, meticulous and only does things that serve her best interest (which is understandable considering her situation), but she never does it at the expense of innocent people. I have yet to see a scene where she is shown to be ruthless.

Even the times when she had poisoned the original chosen bride and planted the poison powder in another bride's room, it was never to harm them (the first was to get the bride medical attention so the other deadlier and more undetectable poison SGQ gave her will be discovered in time, and the latter was to get the bride with the asthma out of the miasma-filled valley and back to her family). Even towards SGQ - YWS shared her knowledge about the route and patrol so SGQ can roam the place, YWS didn't open the hidden weapon when she found the pouch (SGQ even thanked her because it could have gotten her in trouble had she done that), YWS volunteers to share the antidote with SGQ (even though she was going out of the residence at such high risk).

That's also why YWS is a chi, regardless of her ability. Because there are probably plenty of nasty things she has to do to "upgrade", but she doesn't care for all of that.

And with ZiYu, even though YWS is acting in front of him, whether she knows it or not, this act is crumbling. We have been shown multiple occasions where YWS was soft and vulnerable (a genuine reaction to GZY's sincerity towards her). And I say genuine because on some of these soft moments, GZY is not even looking at her (the moment she first saw him differently - during the bride identity verification, when he saved her and kiss her and afterwards, you can see her looking at him with soft eyes even when he's not looking. And when she was locked up in the room when she supposedly betrayed him and they had that conversation with a door in between, GZY cannot see her at all but we see YWS emotional and conflicted, because even if she was still putting on an act, part of her doesn't want him to think she did betray him. She has already mentioned to SGQ that at the end of the day, YWS will fail GZY/she will let him down. She would not phrase it that way if she was "ruthless".

And the latest scene is proof that her act is slowly crumbling. I bet the brothel assassin lady had never really wanted HYS to pull the trigger. It didn't make sense for them to hurt GZY early in the game, when nothing has been set in place and plans are still forming. It would only sabotage YWS's mission and I don't think they want that, at least not yet anyway. But in that short moment, calculating YWS panicked. When she realised there was even a tiny chance that they would hurt ZiYu, she panicked. She was terrified and angry and helpless, hence the tears. It was real. She didn't even show GZY those tears, wiping it quicker than you could blink. YWS is still set on her mission, she's still partly putting an act (keyword is partly whether she's aware or not), but YWS is also slowly becoming attached to her target and that is as clear as day (but another keyword is slowly, I don't think she's in love with him yet. I give her a 6 or maybe even 7 as of ep 13 as to her feelings for GZY, but she is definitely slowly starting to have them).

Anyway, I can describe YWS any other word, but never ruthless. She just wants simple things, a simple life, freedom, her sister, and I think as the story progresses, ZiYu's safety.

Yes yes yes

Prolly Lady Wu Ji lol

True. And during the memory flashback when LWJ made GZY dress up and LL was worried about the rumours, LWJ said the SW wouldn't believe them as if saying not to worry about them. Indeed very suspicious.

But didn't the previous SW did leave the valley when he first met ZY's mom? Though not sure if I missed any detail and whether that time was when he wasn't a SW yet

I also thought the tear fell because part of SJ's anger was directed at him in the end, not because he felt bad for seeing SJ at that particular circumstance.

Whoever changed the new poster, thank youuu!! No more stiff neck lol

I think with the kiss, like her lies, there was also some truth/feelings mixed into it. You can tell from the way she looked at ZY when he wasn't looking, back in the room when he wrapped a coat around her.

One of the good examples that tells YWS is meticulous and always considers everything is when she dove into the pool to rescue GZY, she brought a rope with her. I bet no one thought she would bring a rope! I mean I thought it was funny lol but it honestly showed just how much planning YWS does and she doesn't actually do anything that doesn't benefit her or that harms her (and by extension GZY because of the mission). So let's believe in her and see later.

Raised my hands up to YWS in that scene. For the people always wondering about her making mistakes and stuff, that scene is actually a very good example of showing YWS being one step ahead of everything.

I just found it funny how the rope was revealed

By the way, did anyone else laugh out loud at the rope? It was brilliant but also too funny. Before they showed it, I was imaging GZY swimming back down to rescue her. I had not expected him to be pulling her up by the rope she gave him lol

I think what made it obvious that YWS was just playing SGQ was the latter's promise to YWS. SGQ said that she'll put it a good word for YWS if she helps her with this.

No way did YWS did all of that just for that good word SGQ promised.

And YWS only acts if it benefits her (and GZY by extension because of the mission), not anyone else.

The closeup was really good! For some reason I couldn't stop staring at their lashes lol

Lmaooo. I said he would never be an enemy but I also said he could still be linked to Wufeng.
Shame on me! Sorry Jin Fan!

I guess just a precaution. He was probably thinking his identity as a red jade guardian might be accidentally revealed to GZY if he went with him. There are probably other people from the back hill who knew (being the youngest red jade guardian had probably made some waves), and who knows if they'll run into them or something and accidentally reveal to GZY.

If not GZY's father, then the person whom GZY's mother had loved.

Someone said that GZY's mother may be from the back hill, and I think that's also right. And it was true that she was in love with someone, and it was from Xue lineage. That's why every time her mother is shown on the bridge, it's snowing, and what she is longing for in those moments is not actually freedom, but the man she left on the snowy land. Also explains why the blue haired child have positive feelings for GZY.

Whether GZY's his son or not, it's because GZY is his beloved ex's son.

I think the blue haired child was lying though. Copying my earlier comment below:

Minutes before that, the servant referred to GZY as a crybaby (he can't believe the crybaby is now the sword wielder). Also, when GZY apologized for not looking for him, the servant said you were too young so I didn't take your words seriously. So the servant was the child before.

If you notice, when the blue haired child said it was actually him who was the child from before, they showed the face/expression of the servant right after,

The reason he lied was probably because of his identity, that instead of the child from before, he was actually the unseen man that was together with the child at that time.

Trueee but I will gladly choose 1 episode a day everyday rather than 3 -4 days with 2 episodes each and then waiting for 3 days before the next episode

It's not him. I think it was just a cover up. Minutes before that, the servant referred to GZY as a crybaby (he can't believe the crybaby is now the sword wielder). Also, when GZY apologized for not looking for him, the servant said you were too young so I didn't take your words seriously. So the servant was the child before.

If you notice, when the blue haired child said it was actually him who was the child from before, they showed the face/expression of the servant right after,

The reason he lied was probably because of his identity, that instead of the child from before, he was actually the unseen man that was together with the child at that time.