Reviews

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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Bringing luck to Xiu Yao

Ye Li is quite good at quietly gathering intel. With the lamp placing, she could verify Cheng’s name change. His name on her shoe sole.🤣 And Prince’s aide for believing it could work.🤣😂 Quite the irony that the seer demanding the trees removed, became tree food. 😝The Marquis is gaining a stronghold to keep the young Emperor at bay. There is clear evidence of weapon smuggling, but the one with the proof was killed and the evidence removed. I love that every time Ye Li is with the Prince she finds ways to show him good luck. He has been the pariah for so long that he does not see good fortune being a part of his life. He is desperately trying to find the imperial order that made his brother go back to the palace. He is struggling in his dreams so I am not sure if true or his dream state that told him it was burned. The young Emperor was so close to getting the Marquis put in place but the empty position now has the Marquis’ man put in and unfortunately with the Empress Dowager’s blessing. She doesn’t see her son having the maturity to reign and she has full confidence in the Marquis in spite of Cheng’s deceit. The Prince is aware of the changes and Ye Li makes even a spider weave good fortune for him. I like her progress with the Prince. His spy🤣😂 he will definitely be good comic relief. Story continues at good pace and this is truly a large puzzle board of battle of wits from every corner.

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Divine punishment

Ye Li gets all crowned up to visit her sister in law who doesn’t show up. She is still in mourning and has been out of touch for at least a year in everything that’s been happening in the palace. Her son reminds her of the highlights she has missed. The minister of astronomy bureau has it in for Xiu Yao. His fake ceremony to remove the darkness is reprehensible. He takes great satisfaction in personally striking the Prince and reminding him same time next month he will be back. 🤬 Ye Li tries to offer some comfort but she gets tossed in the spring instead. Here I am glad she comes up with wet hair like she should. I couldn’t figure out at first all her reminiscing about the mountains, but she is trying to trigger the memory of their first meeting. It is unclear if he doesn’t remember or simply doesn’t want her to know if he does. I like her returning his mischief back at him with her fake feint. She is making a little progress. She will get her way with him eating and he will be rewarded with her departure. 🤣 She bargains well. Already she has lost the progress she made with her dowry. The shops were stolen, the books cooked and they think they have won. I am not sure if this is her family or the palace doings as grudges are everywhere and run quite deep. The Empress Dowager finds her son gambling and punishes all of them. Her son wonders if he would get any teachings from her at all if Lishan was still open. There is a push to keep her running things and finding the young Emperor incompetent. The eldest brother and Xiu Yao were set up and somehow Lishan involved so Ye Li is determined to repay the debt her clan owes. I also think she was pleased with the groom swap. The minister’s wife is making a big to do with lantern placement that seems to cause controversy next episode. The pace is good and the actors are excellent in enveloping you into their story. I am curious about the uncle and what betrayal the Ye family did that set up her mother and two princes.

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Revange drama

Poor Fu Yin, I hate crying for stupid people, but how can I not cry with Fu Yin? I feel like watching my own little sister make mistakes and not being able to help. I can sympathize with her desire for revenge, just as I support Fu Tao's, but I wish there were another way for her to achieve it.It's as if another drama is unfolding with Fu Yin as the protagonist. Her relationship with Lu Qi worries me, mainly because I fear feelings might develop (since she thinks Lu Han Xing was the arsonist that killed her mother). I won't lie, I'm really enjoying this storyline, because I've seen many similar dramas before.The Lu family are lions that eat lions. There's not a single person there who's a good person (save for Ying ying).Seeing Zi Fang take a beating was good payback for abusing Rou'er, so now it's even for me. I felt disgusted by the price and by the man that beat him.

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Self-righteous evils

This drama is not a romance drama, it's a drama that has romance in it, and I like it. I'm intrigued with all (and I mean all) the plots. That being said, I miss romantic scenes for the main couple.I feel terrible for Fu Yin, I just wish she would give up on this revange and go back to Du Ning.This episode was eye opening regarding the Empress's cruelty. She demonstrated a complete disregard for the human lives of those beneath her, such as when she ignored Princess Xin Nan's servant, Lady Situ, and threatened people with decapitation... Once again, the themes of power and those who abuse it being addressed. How could this terrible woman have such good children, and how could Consort Yan, who so far seem so kind, have the demon Zhou?I understand her, because she is the mistress of the harem, so if someone is poisoned and dies, the responsibility for that person's death falls on her. Therefore, strict restrictions must be imposed to prevent this behavior, but I, personally, believe that, in the small world that is the harem, exceptions should be made on a case-by-case basis. I saw a comment saying that both she and the emperor are self-righteous evils and that's why they get along so well, and I agree.

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The family of charity

This episode introduces us to a family with two daughters marrying. The one from the first marriage came down from Lishan mountains and the other has been the favored daughter. An imperial sign was taken during wedding preparations and the search is on. Because of the search the matriarch had to give up the keys to Ye Li’s dowry boxes and it was clear they were ransacked and exchanged. She very wisely gets the transfers of all her mother’s gifts that night instead of waiting for ceremony. The plaque is found in the pond and the family of charity looked more like the family of filth. I don’t know if that’s a younger sibling, but their plan worked to get her dowry returned before leaving the house. The eldest was promised to Prince Li but the engagement was broken and she was offered a betrothal to Prince Ding instead. It is clear when she is forced to walk by his entourage that Prince Li might have been forced to alter his plans, but did not have the spine to stick up for her. The crippled Prince in spite of his attitude seems a much better candidate. They have not given us the history as to why she was banished or what Ye Li’s mother saw in her husband other than a pretty face. It is even more a mystery why she was betrothed to Prince Ding. Ye Li argued directly with the minister to get her betrothed to the ceremony. Here was her final surprise. Tho a cripple, he wasn’t a weakling. He scares her with a fake seizure and makes it clear he has no interest in their marriage. I guess the humans are better than the mountain monkeys, but they don’t seem much kinder, they just bite differently. I like Ye Li’s pragmatic approach to dealing with her relatives. She recognizes her place but refuses to be cheated and diplomatically gets her things returned, including her groom.😂 I am curious how she and Prince Ding will interact after his very direct snub.

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Fu Yin!!!

I feel like I cursed Fu Yin and Du Ning... that poor man, this directors are allergic to happy relationships. I understand Fu Yin's heart, but the plan itself is so silly... At the beginning of the series, I didn't realize that Lu Qi and Lu Han Xing were different people, so I thought Lu Qi had orchestrated the fire, but now I'm not so sure and don't want to go back, so I will find out alongside Fu Yin. And also, Lu Han Xing is having an affair with the green-tea maid, giving her stolen objects and telling her way too much, why I feel that situation will blow up terribly?I want to see more of our main couple; I miss their cute moments. Now all I see is the demon Zhou, but at least Rou'er is setting more boundaries now. Talking about crown prince, I'm happy he and his brother reconcile, and listening to good outside advice, but I hate prince Han's suggestion to forgive crown princess. If he ever did so (and his attitude worries me a little) he would have been unworthy of Chen Ji sacrifice.

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