whoissilmoy

So the real mystery is Why does the emperor protect the chancellor? Is he just a weak ruler or he's laying a trap for someone else? With 5 more episodes, I don't think they've caught the real mastermind yet. A mystery within a mystery. You unlock a box; there's another box to unlock. Maybe in the end, FL has to accept that the truth cannot be made public to protect someone?

it's really keeping people guessing because there's still 5 episodes left - that's enough for another full case

revenge of course

I finished ep 29 and the ML is still in bed heartbroken after two weeks, while the FL has come out of it. I doubt she's forgotten about her revenge. Maybe she will go to his hometown and kill him by herself, or she is looking for new clues. I really thought consort Shu/Cui was a villain since she's the sister of the perpetuator, but she's still showing up as a good person so far - somehow I don't buy it.

ML should have known FL is only pushing him away so she can go kill the guy on her own.

I think the emperor has a reason to go light on the perpetuator. Things are not going well in court. He did tell FL the court is in turmoil now.

or maybe now that the chancellor has been suspended his power is weaken, the emperor knows he has enemies who will go after him, because now that everyone knows he killed Prince Duane, shouldn't there be other people who want to revenge him?

yes, when an actor puts that kind of effort that's call professionalism and true to the craft
since Mo Li came after this, I'm sure they leverage her training for that role too?

yes, I agree with you if the emperor is truly this weak, it was near the end of the dynasty when emperors were weak, unless the emperor did not like his brother as brothers were most likely from different mothers and may have competed for crown.

I did not expect him to be caught in ep. 29. So next five episodes are another mystery?

FL knew that the emperor knew who the perpetuator is, so she should already know that the emperor won't kill him, which is probably why she decided to kill him herself

yes, Bai Lu deserves credit for her hard work to do martial arts in this drama, I consider it a breakthrough for her, because she's never really done this level of martial arts

was it editing? why suddenly the next scene, he's lying in bed sick?

they're both holding that thingamajig and she's questioning whether she should have spurned him

I don't understand why ML is sick in bed.
Yes, the emperor has sons to succeed him
and I don't think the chancellor can take the throne unless he has military behind him

well, you know only 15 years of nightmares, and smell of blood
perhaps the drama didn't' have enough time to show how tormented she's been for 15 yrs
at least like the women before her, she didn't commit suicide after her family is wiped out, instead she learned martial arts to avenge her family, she stayed alive just for that

Pei Yi doesn't care if she dies, ML does. But Pei Yi does care that her father's name is cleared. So, yeah, ML did the right thing. Clearing her father's name really is more important than killing him, in my view.

I'm sure the chancellor will die in the end. somehow.

actually, after ep 29, I've lost faith in this emperor too, unless he's up to something and outsmarting FL. The reason I never suspected emperor is that Tang emperors were strong, of course not the later ones but this drama setting is during strong period. I guess I should know better than to think drama try to follow history, just because it's set in that era.

In ancient China, it was common for a dynasty to start strong under its founder and then weaken after a few generations, eventually giving way to a new dynasty. So it’s possible the drama is simply portraying this emperor as a weaker ruler. But since the story is set in a Tang‑inspired era—where emperors were generally powerful—you’d expect a stronger portrayal. It seems the drama isn’t strictly following Tang history at all; instead, it borrows elements from different dynasties even though it claims a Tang setting.

Maybe the emperor isn’t allowing the culprit to be executed yet because he wants more time to gather other evidence and expose any additional conspirators hiding in his court.

Li Pei Yi set them up and sent them on a wild goose chase so she can carry out her banquet, but I think also to protect them because she knew the battle that will ensue. She doesn't mind dying but she doesn't want her friends to be killed. She was ready to die since she was going to take down the perpetrator on her own.

I think it's like what many have been saying here that the emperor is weak, unless there's more to the story since there is 5 more episodes left. A strong emperor could accept her account, and not punished her severely for what she did, just like he gave light punishment to the perpetuator. Pei Yi rightfully challenged the emperor, "is Li family or Cui family your subjects?" That really pissed him off.

He gave a very detailed confession, and her uncle heard every word. But since both of them were driven by revenge, I can see why their testimony will not be accepted.

I read an article (Sina) that she did 70% of the stunts. She spent 3 months in intensive martial arts, horse riding, and learning Tang weapons and Tang code prior to production. But it nearly left her with permanent injuries.