Reviews

A rare well written story - I really love this!

Important life lessons but also good chem. Edit after rewatch: this was so real, so relatable, ugh freaking hell so good I love this. This emotional intensity that is genuinely rooted in reality and not just another tv trope is so rare, esp for a shorter cdrama in the modern world setting. Or at least i've only watched a few ones of the same type, like remembrance of things past. These are the good non-idol dramas I freaking love and wish more of. So good. Rated at 9.0 coz of relatablity and character consistency and so much complexity. Although I might not truly understand the latter half of the show now, I feel like if I rewatch this down the line, this show will gradually become more and more relatable. Truly, when commentors say the fl was dragging her feet, that's only coz they haven't grasp the true depth of the plot and the actual problem which is the ml represents too many things for the fl, and their history is an extremely big stone to get over. Like her mom died and the ml is always gonna be coupled with the constant grief she feels plus the trauma of their breakup. The ml was a bit less understandable but i imagine his actions was based on someone who never could properly grieve over their relationship as it ended terribly, so when they reunited, he took it as a sign and seeing as he was in a better place now, decided to proactively chase the fl again. As for the fl, she had even less capacity to properly process everthing and grieve over everything. Their entire relationship was explored better than expected before the breakup, they got thru major fights which made the breakup more understandable and fitting to the ml's character rather than just some typical plot deviceBut the writers did cram a lot of shit into 28 eps which while it was good that it was short, it did feel a bit suffocating at times nearing the end coz so much shit happened, altho ig there were time skips? Ig Imma treat the whole story like a big metaphor for life and love, just like doom at your service and the smile has left your eyes

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Alliances and politics

Seems the Emperor and Prince are working through their differences and forming an alliance. Ye Li and Prince have similar plans. Because they are not speaking, they shadow each other with similar objectives. Since Ye Li’s plan happened first, Lishan kept the Prince out of any speculation about appointee’s demise. Emperess Dowager and Ye Li are truly acquainted. Is the Empress deceived about the “protection” offered to the school or aware of the memorial for the seven lost scholars? Or is their loss the justification the Marquis gives for protection?😝Ye Li had the appropriate means to handle the swindler shop managers. The last one was the first to recognize she was no fool and wanted a proper account. Xiu Yao is determined to send Ye Li on her way and she just gives him a smile and flips a coin to decide their discussion topic. The Marquis was pouting and did not show up for court letting other advisors have opportunity for candidates. A truly capable man was appointed that could actually do the job. Xiu Yao was appointed for his military expertise but there was much backlash in the court finding him unsuitable. I am wondering if the one he wanted to accompany him referred to his horse? 😂🤣 His complete disregard for Ye Lin and his friend was funny. His spy friend deserved it. He is brazen and shameless. He is trying to sound out the new wife but got an appraisal of his horsemanship instead. 🤣I enjoyed watching the scholar/mentor get stewardship of her shops. Old wrongs are being corrected one step at a time. She seemed very calm when chatting about their upcoming meeting with Empress Dowager but either acted or really was discomfited before they went in. She wants to prove herself capable but the chair push up the ramp was a misstep for her. I hope she will leave that task to others in future. She hid her dolls of fate from him but I wonder what she saw in store for them. It will be interesting to see both couples together and interact with the mother in law. I do have to wonder if Empress Dowager was a Lishan prodigy, how did she come to align herself with the Marquis? There is a lot going on and everything is moving at a quick pace. I am very interested in seeing the two princes interact and how the ‘sisters’ get along with each other.

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Cutting trees, making peacocks fly and stopping fights

Ye Li stole the show with Empress Dowager. Lishan’s loyalty was tested a bit and everybody was waiting for Ye Li to stop talking. Prince Li was out of sorts trying to play and injured his hand. Ye Li is called back and Empress Dowager learns her friend is dead. Maybe this will help shake her faith in the Marquis’ protection story. Li used his injury to get stories of Ye Li from his new bride. The sis tells a good story which both showed her to be mean kicking sis off the boat and that Ye Li recovered nicely.😝 The tree was a personal request of a scholar so she snuck into their family yard and cut it down. XiuYao found that a mystery task. 😂😂 She confessed to both the prince and her friend’s dad and promised to send the letter from home to Lishan. She put it in the box with the other unsent letters. Are these the seven massacred at the school or others? Her maid that disappears? She truly has no one left there. Telling her sis to call her aunt is very amusing as well as chastising Xiu Yao for not sticking up for her. He blamed complex relationships. 😝🤣The only thing that tops this is Ye Ying’s determination to make the peacocks fly with her flute playing. I am sure they want to.😂🤣 There was a beautiful scene with the musician playing the flute that the birds reacted to. His mistake was in offering to teach Ye Ying how to play. She is absolutely ridiculous and it was very fun to watch her efforts. Ye Li finds Wu You being beat up by a group of boys and helps him out. She has a very nice sisterly/auntie chat with him that will hopefully get him asking for help more often. She also has a chat with Xiu Yao that he should look after him better and not make his nephew deal with a group by himself. She has also just received news of his new appointment. This episode gave us more of the family dynamics. Ye Ying is a pompous brat even at the palace, but she doesn’t deserve to be ignored by her new husband. Xiu Yao is trying to decipher his wife’s antics and loyalties. Good luck with that.😂🤣 Prince Li seems to have met her first in Lishan but Xiu Yao made the biggest impression. I am hoping the flute accidentally gets broken. 😂🤣

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I like this start and want to see more

My math here is "Mo Xiuyao + Ye Li = Mo Li"... am I correct about the title? I like this arranged marriage trope, especially since both of them are the least loved children of their parents, and everyone tries to push them down and humiliate them in a way. I really don't like what is being done to Mo Xiuyao, and I loved seeing Ye Li putting that astronomical guy in his place. And I could sense from a kilometre away that the dowry had been moved from the chests and replaced with some cheap stuff... oh, those greedy second wives! They are always like this. My thought is that Mo Xiuyao is pushing Ye Li away right from the start because he has no desire for a pity wife given by his relatives. Nor does he want to be pitied by her because of his disability. Keeping the distance is the best shield he can have. I am looking forward to seeing how their relationship grows, how they get closer, and how they help each other with whatever needs to be done to make everyone pay for what they have done to them.

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chouvery good so far

miura is so cute what tf. yeah i quite liked this episode. it escalated the personal & physical melt+down in a really intense way & i got fully emersed. this was a great follow+up after the『 mega taisen max 』movie that battered me into mush. i liked this episode they did a great job with gentaro so far. the teacher kept twisting & throwing me for a loop like they really went big with the reveals. I ALSO CANNOT BELIEVE THE NEW VILLAIN I HAVE A CRUSH ON IS LIBRA LIKE WOW . . . i am okay how they went about jk but after the movie i am beginning to see where they don’t know how to integrate him in & i feel like this’ll be a larger problem. oh well.

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Cry for justice and a breath of fresh air in the palace

This episode gives so much history. The Marquis’ man was integral to the destruction of Lishan school and the loss of its scholars. I love that Ye Li has the face of royalty and the hands of a servant. I also love that Xiu Yao knew instantly who she was but was too angry about the loss of his witness and evidence to play the part of happy bridegroom. But what a reason to barely arrive at the wedding! There is still a scholar at the capital and Ye Li signaled him. He ran off without communicating unless he is the one that sends messages by pigeon. Ye Li worked diligently making the perfect garb for the new appointee. My thought was that he would become a nice bit of fireworks in an illegal weapons trade. Lishan wanted to send him greetings before he ever reached his post. As horrible as that was, it was a quicker and kinder death than he doled out.😝 Nice to see the Marquis less happy. There is a lot more history of the battle’s change when the cavalry left the scene. It cost half their men but they won. So when the young Emperor is spouting all that stuff doesn’t he realize what actually happened at all? I am glad the Prince got in his face about how his arrogance can literally cost lives. It made far more progress than his mother’s punishment of the servants. What stories have they told him about XiuYao? I am glad the Duke had him spared but he’s been feeling survivor’s guilt and getting the brunt of the blame for something he had no part in. I applaud Ye Li burning that memorial of blame down and getting some light in that study. 👏🏻 I also wonder if there is significance to the wind chimes she hung. Are her dolls like voodoo dolls? Do they represent those she chooses to deal with whether gently like those guards or in flames like appointee?🧐 Hacky sack games at the palace? Even his aide wants to play.😂😂 she is an unknown variable that plays by no rules but her own. She stays within the confines of protocol but uses it to still get her way. I don’t know why the young Emperor refuses to trust him knowing the ill his mother causes with her choice. Maybe he is not old enough to grasp the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I am wanting him to get the Prince out of his traitor lense view so they can work together sooner rather than later. He refuses to let his bias go and that is causing trouble. I like that Ye Li tells XiuYao to not let his life be a drama or show for others. It is time for him to break free and return to his rightful self and rout out the real culprits. She is just the right person to be at his side. Even when young she rescued him and she is far more equipped now. These two together will be a force to be reckoned with and I can’t wait to see it.

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