tsuyoi_hikari

That synopsis is from the novel. Which all happened in the first 4 episodes on the flashback when they first meeting each other. The meat of the story is their lives as husband and wife. Like usual, MDL synopsis is misleading 90% of the times.

But of course, they will join hand later but it probably happened in the last 5 episodes of the drama.

I agree. Thats why I said its his character's flaw. His selfless behaviours is indeed character flaw. But he loves her too much thus it clouded his judgement. He just wish she will never know forever, just like she has been living her life before meeting him.

From the trailer, it was never meant to be power couple as this is angst filled show. The trailer is not misleading at all.

But the angst made sense so I'm actually okay with it and enjoy all the conflicts lol

He doesnt want to tell her since he doesnt want her world comes crushing down. It was never whether she will believe him or not. Thats why he let her go in last night's episode. He wanted her to never know this AT ALL so she can continue living her carefree life. He doesnt want her to be like him -- trapped in the Palace and never trust anyone since everyone is always scheming against him.

Sometimes, knowing your existence has been all lie will crush you. Remember when Xuanye figure out that he is a ..... in TDHR? How he question his whole existence and become depressed even more?

Aside from the scheme Xiao Huan play against Prime Minister regarding the 2 cities. I want to know what Xiao Huan meant as he is did not have ''soft spot for women'' when he play sachi with the Prime Minister in last night's episode. From Prime Minister's expression, he knew he didnt completely won that round. Is the soft spot for women refers to the Birth-Control Medicine? To imply that he did save Cang Cang by giving Cang Cang his lifeline medicine BUT he didnt have feelings for her? They kept making various chess moves all over the episodes and we need to keep up to see the repel of the water later.

And also loving another metaphor regarding the 1 baby and 2 Mums scenario as well. The real Mum lose but and the fake Mum won. Prime Minister just want to shade Xiao Huan regarding the pill he has to give up to Cang Cang. :( Xiao Huan, despite doing the noble things as in give up his chance for survival lose while Prime Minister who is the real evil guy won with his reputation stay in tact. Its so funny since he taught Xiao Huan all the right things when he taught him as a young Emperor YET he did everything against his teaching in this game of power. AND, shamelessly say it outright in front of Xiao Huan's face how he went all out against his teaching haha. What a terrible and a shameless guy.

Yeah, you are absolutely right. Both of them are chess masters. The Prime Minister knew from the very beginning how Xiao Huan will forced his hands with the supplies. He knew he has to give anyway whether he likes it or not and General Ling Jueding is his son after all. But he just doesn't want to come out empty handed with the deal. Thus she staged the whole thing with Xian Xue.

But I need to know why. Most likely for Xian Xue to do his other stuffs like Moon Eclipse or some other things. But why he needs to do it in front of Xiao Huan esp in front of Cang Cang? Cang Cang already hate him anyway. There is no need to wage war against them anyway. Or is it just for Xiao Huan to stop tailing Xian Xue? Just as simple as that? Or is there more to the whole scheme?

Yeah, thats why I said 'staged his death'. He is 100% still alive. The nod that he gave his adopted father is the clue.

What a very entertaining episode for tonight, it certainly feed the angst that I crave. Characters deal with real conflicts where their hands are tied, no plot armor to save them, you basically watch them really struggling trying just to survive.

So, lets dwell in today's episode and the different layers this 2 episodes gave us. I love how ruthless Xiao Huan can be when he wants to be. So basically, his hands are tied between 2 cities as both equally need his help.

1) One city is about to be taken over by enemy and need reinforcement.

2) While another city is starving and need foods from the granary. Sending reinforcement meaning the people in the city would starve since the foods will be given to the reinforcement army instead.

He can only save one city and sacrifice another. Thats why he wants to gamble so that he can save BOTH. How can he do it? By asking all the noble people who is rich (leading by the Prime Minister) to give up their grain & supply to help the reinforcement army.

I love the metaphor Xiao Huan made when he ask Prime Minister to chose which one of his sons he wants to save -- like LITERALLY; XianXue or Jueding to show it wasnt an easy decision for him as both cities are important to him -- both people in the cities are his citizen that he wants to save. He cant just chose one and abandoned another like the Prime Minister wants him to do initially. So, Xiao Huan literally used Prime Minister 2 sons as examples -- which the Prime Minister in the end chose to give grain & supplies to the army.

As brilliant as Xiao Huan's scheme in this matter, he miscalculated one thing, that Prime Minister also moved his chess piece as well. Since he knew he's going to lose money and supplies, he doesnt want to be the loser. Thus, he planned for Cang Cang's brother; XianXue to commit suicide (aka staged his own death -- my prediction of course since the nod before he did it is the obvious clue). What he gains from here? We have no idea yet. Like the other schemes, we probably can see the impact in the next few episodes.

Ohh bonus we finally see General Ling Jueding from Episode 1 (his gift of a pair of Golden Birds). I knew he gonna come eventually but never thought it will be this fast. :D

He is a lonely, suffering character who takes in all himself. When people questioned him why, he said 'Because he used to it' -- he used to all this suffering since he is a little kid. Thus he doesn't want Cang Cang to be like him -- trapped in the Palace and lose her freedom. He walked his talk. And that makes him so compelling.

The simple equation in Xiao Huan's mind on why he refused to tell Cang Cang the truth:

Cang Cang: Being lied to for 20++ years (Dad & Shifu) VS being lied for 1 year (Xiao Huan). Its gonna hurt either way but he thought it would hurt less for Cang Cang if he is the bad guy. Well, he miscalculated this definitely. Since he didnt take into equation how much Cang Cang actually love him.

Princess Ying: Xiao Huan failed to save her VS her mother attempted to murder her. Again, he chose the lesser evil even when he is the collateral damage.

What I like about him is that this character flaw of him is consistent and not due to 'love' or 'infatuation'. Thus, it appear more impactful, logical & valid when you see it that way. He will do this for everyone if he can. Trying to protect them with every power that he has, thinking the best for them. That's why even when he is condemned by ministers when he tried to save Preceptor Du, he never bats an eye since he has this little 'pardon' power to save her life. His reputation in front of the ministers doesn't matter.

Yeah, thats what she has been doing, trying to find out the truth despite Xiao Huan keep shielding her. When she found out about her shifu, she cry her eyes out, then reconcile with him again. She is capable, but Xiao Huan overprotectiveness definitely a character flaw.

He knows its gonna hurt either way. But he always want to minimize it even when he becomes the victim of it. Like I said, been used by someone for 1 year (Xiao Huan) rather than 20 years (Father & Shifu) -- he thought 1 year would hurt less for her. Well, he is wrong. All hurt the max hahaha

The acting is truly brilliant. It's like you literally see both of their hearts being stomp to pieces in that scene.

I love RJL but I dont think I want to see him in this kind of role anymore in the future. He is too good with this kind of heartbreaking scenes. And PXR was amazing as well.

I think that's what make it so good and compelling. Since it truly an impossible situation. Their hands are tied. So much at stake. Xiao Huan can only minimise the damage. That's the only thing he could do even when he become the collateral damage to the whole thing.

Words on the street said Youku planned for a happy ending for this drama. I really need that happy ending after all they they have to go through in this drama.

The angst and misunderstandings are brilliantly written where it can't be solved with communication but due to their positions.

Like I said, I hate it but thought how solid is the conflicts since it's so well written. I can't even hate it.

But I personally think it's too cruel. I can't even mourned that Xiao Huan lost his only chance of survival by giving Cang Cang that pill. The writer just have to slapped it with the birth control plot right after that. How cruel. Lol

Im too distraught that I couldn't even cry 😂

It's like birth control pill. She has to take it reqularly. It's not 100% proof though as she could get pregnant as well.

I know this since this is normal in palace dramas lol

He can't tell her since she probably will go insane if she learnt that she has been a pawn her whole life. Even her kidnapping was orchastereated by her Dad. That's how long has the game has started - - since she is a little girl. I don't agree with him but I understand that decision. It's better for her to hate him that she just met 1 year ago, than learning her whole life has been a lie and she has been betrayed by the family that she trusted the most. He always try to minimise the damage even when he become the collateral damage. It's the same with Princess Ying's case. It's better he become the bad guy than learning that her mother is the one trying to kill her.

The thing is, he has no evidence that the PM who put the poison as the poison is from Princess Ying's palace. And even if begs for antidote, the PM won't give it and would rather for Cang Cang to die since admitting he poisoned the Empress is a crime punishable by death. Under no circumstances that the PM would admit to the poison. He is willing for Cang Cang to die in that scheme since he is betting that Xiao Huan will saved her.

Thats a solid conflict. Where his hands are tied due to valid and reasonable reasons.

He planned this since she was a little kid. She has become a pawn in his game since her shifu saved her. The event where she was kidnapped as a little girl - - it was orchastereated by her Dad.

That's why Xiao Huan could never tell the truth to Cang Cang. That her life and existence has been a lie since forever. She will become an empty shell if she knew that. So he thought that hating him that she just met 1 year ago is better than her being betrayed by the ones she trusted the most.

Xiao Huan did gave his only medicine to save Cang Cang. Thats why she woke up from the coma. But the medicine that he gave her after she woke up is birth control medicine to prevent her from getting pregnant.

And yes you are right. Thats why in the preview for episode 11, you can see how mad the Prime Minister is when he learned about the birth control medicine so his hope of Cang Cang producing an heir is basically gone now.

''He’s deeply flawed, but not beyond understanding. And that’s what makes watching him so compelling.''

I whole heartedly agree. Like I said in my comment, all the conflicts that he faced are valid, makes sense and with reasons. I might not agree with it, but I totally understand why he made that decision.

He is layered, complex, flawed yet very compelling as a character. My heart breaks when I see how torn he is between his love towards Cang Cang and his duty to make the country a better place for his citizen. He is just so lonely,.. T_T

Thank you. ❤️