Kate

I am not disagreeing and my comment was not really about that.
It was just analysis of what I feel the intent behind the characters existing is, and how for me these intends do not quite match well storytelling wise.

hot take on leads, maybe? 😅

So yesterday someone (sorry don't remember who 🥲) replied to my comment saying it's obvious through the writing that Lin Jinq does not know Lan Xiang at all, and honestly yes. Which made me think, that this whole after marriage arc is as much the story of how Lan Xiang is going to fall in love with him, but also him falling for her as a complete person, understanding her and adjusting to her.

When we think about it, him and Lan Xiang barely spend time together before they got married. He truly does not know her at all. He saw bits and pieces of who she is as a person and he fell in love with these tiny moments. But now that they are "forced" to interact together he starts to truly understand who she is as a whole completed person, not just an idealized idea he had.

He liked how smart and witty she was, how she followed his lead. How he could trust her choices - but all that was in the bubble of her working for him, being his servant. Now that on technicality they are on similar levels, and she can have her own ideas, he does not understand her choices. He loved how she used her skills to help him, but now that she is using her skills for other things, he is surprised. He planned their whole live based on his imaginary perfect for him version of her and now he is confronted with reality and honestly he has no idea what to do and how to deal with it.

And that idea kind of makes it easier to watch? Because he truly needs to completely change the way he thinks of her and them together, what she wants, what he wants, what they can have together as a couple and how each of them wants to achieve it. He needs to accept his ideal outcome cannot come true. Which makes him more dynamic and interesting character - even if frustrating to the CORE.

But that makes me thing.. maybe he is not the problem here. Writing wise only, the character for sure is the problem 🤣 Lan Xiang is just... too perfect and I wish she also had at least one major flaw she has to overcome. Because her character has no real arc nor real path for development, because she does not need it. Her whole presence is determined on her reacting to things happening around her and to her. What the character does is always in response, rather than proactive or directed to future plans she has herself.

I wish they dived earlier and deeper into her wanting to write plays and explain in greater details why it will be hard. This could have been the focus of her story - how no matter the circumstances, her status, she has a goal and she will achieve it. But it's been just a few short scenes connected to her dream.

I still love her character, and I love how she is the one that brings the connections and is the catalysts to so many touching moments, BUT I find myself far more emotionally moved by people she interacts with and their stories, than Lan Xiang herself.

edit after I saw first 10 minutes of episode 32 - I think that's a deliberate choice for Lan Xiang to be this "perfect" character that does not really need character development - she is the storyteller, a way to convey the hardship of all the female characters in the drama. I still think it clashes with how ML was written and what is his purpose storytelling wise, but I guess I will just focus on appreciating what both of them bring to the table.

The way she started to cry when Lan Xiang won her freedom, it was just so real and saw raw 😭

Like 2008/2009 🤣 and had mdl since 2013

can we talk about Ji'er? 😭😭😭

Can we talk about Ji'er? What a journey 🔥

I honestly think her arc was the most moving for me, I cried like a baby and I love the development here.

She was never a bad person, but she was someone who was competitive and felt like they always have to find the opportunities and use them. With lack of experience and young age she was not able to correctly assess risks and that brought her trouble. She was naive and childish in how she view the world, and then the world made her mature in a drastic circumstances. But she never lost that spart and drive. She just redirected it into more reliable and honest ways.

Even during her maid era, she was spoiled and made many mistakes, but she was never evil. She did think about herself first in many occasions, but in a really honest way - example how she slept through the night when Lan Xiang was keeping the water hot "If you're too timid to get any sleep, you can't blame me" - not like she wanted to use Lan Xiang to get more sleep, but she would also definitely not fight to have more work herself. Or how she shared sweets with Lan Xiang right before the turning point of her stay in Lan's residence.

And then when they met in the brothel - she could easily turn bitter, and even blame Lan Xiang for not stopping her in the past and being more direct. But she knew it was partially her fault, and instead she was grateful remembering how Lan Xiang actually did try to warn her and cared for her. And now she decided to help her back even if she risks truly awful punishment for it. Honestly, her not fearing being beaten up was just sad, when she said her punishment would be just taking more clients. As if that fate was less harsh than beating up.

So now that she gained freedom, found her goal and honest path while still keeping that spark in her - I am just so happy for her. I also adore how she truly was THE ONLY person who treated Lan Xiang exactly the same whenever she was a maid or now Lin's wife. She was the only one who did not care for the title and saw the person in front of her. That's why her calling her name and hugging her like that was just so heartwarming, because I feel like it was a healing moment for both of them. Ji'er decided to live for her own name, not a title, and by interacting this way with Lan Xiang, she indirectly also acknowledge the fact Lan Xiang is just herself, with or without any titles and that's what she values and loves.

"Not as a maid of the Lin Residence, not as Young Lady Shuang, not as Concubine Lu. I want to truly live as Lu Ji'er once. (...) From this day forward, the person who will treat me best in this world is myself" 😭

And can we talk about Liu Mei Han? What a performance. I think she stole the show for me. I love every second of her performance and how expressive and raw it is. I cry even thinking about that scene in the brothel.

I don't think ALL he cares is his happiness and he does not care for her, but rather he is way too confident he will make her happy and can fix whatever mistake he makes 🤡

yep. Honestly him being this dumb and selfish does not bother me writing wise. I strongly believe good drama is supposed to make me feel all types of emotions. 🤣🤣

He is so obsessed with Scholar Han it's ridiculous. And it's even more frustrating that Lan Xiang told him it's not like that and when he suggest she has any intentions towards Han, it's insulting towards her. Coz he basically accuses her of being ready to cheat at any given moment.

I still LOVE the drama, but I guess I have to admit that Lin Jinqi is rather dumb bish 🤣

rant coz I cannot believe what I just witnessed in ep 29 🤣

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK 🤡🤣

I honestly feel like I;m being trolled right now. Listen, I was fine with the marriage and the way it went. It was either him taking that drastic choice or losing her forever. Not moral choice, but I could understand it and understand where he comes from.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DRUG AND KIDNAP HER TO CAPITAL NOW? 🤡 He learned nothing from that forced marriage and I have no words to describe how I feel right now. He has her. 2-3 years apart from her? Well tough fucking life my dude, you should deal with it. But nah, this bitch of an ass decide to drug her and take her to capital away from her family against her will (as far as he knows).

And THE FUCKING ADACITY TO TELL HER UN-FUCKING-CONSIOUSE BODY TO NEVER DRINK CARELESSLY. SHUT THE FUCK YOU, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT DRUGED HER 😭😭

And the bish be like: I promised to be transferred quickly back, but I never promised I won't fucking drug you and take you away against your will.

One shitty choice was a mistake that happened out of pure desperation, but now this shit is becoming a pattern. I am losing my mind 🤣🤣🤣🤣

AND THE FACT HE THINKS SHE WANTED TO STAY FOR FUCKING HAN, WHEN SHE TOLD HIM IT;S NOT THE CASE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS BRAIN 🤡 Are you saying you are taking her away not even out of your own want to be close to her, because you are worried she will have a hard life with your family without you, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE SCARED AND JEALOUS OF SCHOLAR HAN? I'm speechless.

Honestly, Lin Grandpa slays. Lin Jinqi needs someone to talk some sense into his little brain. He does make a lot of choices without taking to others, thinking what he decides is the correct thing. But then it's other people who have to face the consequences of his actions...

Also baby girl, why are you not flipping after waking up? why are you so calm? Where is another slap?

The thing is... I would never trust him again, ever. I could rationalize his choice for the marriage, but the moment he yet again forced me into something, I could NEVER trust him. What's next? I wanted to have kids and we've waiting so long so I drugged you so we can have kids? I cannot with him drugging her. I would never ever eat or drink with him ever again 🙂

FUCK NO. HE IS SIILING WHILE EXPLAINING HOW HE DID IT AND HOW HE WAS PRETENDING TO DRINK. fuck no... that's psychotic 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 he is too old to be this stupid...

I need less scenes with leads together 🤡

I also saw a preview on youtube of no idea which episode, but omfg Scholar Han lives rent free in Lin Jinqi's head 🙂

For Ji'er it was for sure the owner, but for Madam, she was for sure beaten by Jinqi's men 😅

obviously Lin Jinqi 🙂🔥

But especially when you know its all your son's doing. < this, I was hoping that she will direct all her grievances towards her son after she found out Lan Xiang did not want this marriage in the first place so it's sad to see she still takes jabs at her 😭

I guess he must have taken that advice to heart 🤣

The celebration when he was going to get her, and her crying saying goodbye to her parents. This gives me the scene from episode 2 I think, when they showed him getting married all happy, and then cut to her walking through the house alone, tripping, having no one to catch her.

I'm actually crying for Lan Xiang. The way she did not want to let go of her mother's hand...

The whole clash during the procession. It's already hard on Lan Xiang as it is, making more drama around it is literally not helping. Especially how we all know she is going to struggle with people looking down on her, and they were able to keep it under control bringing up the emperor's decree. But now this dude be like: this marriage ain't that important, Scholar Han passing the exams is more important - which it is, that's the first place, big deal. But in Lan Xiang's situation is just... bad. It was played in a comedic way, and later as a face off between to dudes, but all I could think about was poor Lan Xiang waiting...

Also, I might be bitter, but convenient how he placed 1st when we never saw him study, just singing songs with Lan Xiang 🤡

"We mustn't offend him, we mustn't."
"I already have"
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Well, I am so glad they were both civil about it. Coz I was worried for my baby girl 🥲

I love how she is just not smoothly following it. How she did not want to face him and bow to him. MAKE HIM SWEAT GIRL! 😈😈 OMG AND THAT SLAP. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES THE SLAP IN FRONT OF SO MANY PEOPLE OMG YES! I LOVE IT YES! ONE MORE PLEASE HAHAHA The way she slapped that smile off of his face was just perfection. Love it.

Also, he truly looked scared after that slap and her saying "You've gone too far". I feel like for a second he truly thought this is not something he can fix.

I kind of want to know what he was manifesting in his delulu head. He knew she does not want it... so like... what did he think would happen during the wedding? 🤡even his mother knew better. Not her saying "Good for her, he deserved it" for the slap 🤣

The scene when she asked all the maids if they are still friends, I cried so much. Lan Xiang needs all the support she can get right now.

Why are men like that 🤡 both Lin Jinqi and Scholar Han legit told straight to her face: I know you have no feelings for you, but I went with the proposal and marriage anyway 🙂

Also, I knew he won't force himself on her in the bed. That would make no sense with how his character is written.

it can be more than one thing, you know that? Marrying into Lin family will be a cage for her, since there are many restrictions and expectations put on noble families and their conduct. But she also feels the life is not fair how in both cases - ending their pervious engagement and now being engaged she had no say in it, and just has to follow what was decided for her and basically her whole family. She is also sad she won't be able to live with her family. I assume later she might feel awkward/bad about her friends now being her servants. The situation is more complex than one reason to be upset.

I took day off today, scheduled last week so not to watch the episode, but the timing could not be better 🤣