Reviews

Cutting ties and preparing to battle

XuanQing is more like his uncle than I gave him credit for. He knew what he did was outrageous and he wanted it to look like he was all out for the documents. After YanYun gave him the 40 lashes for bringing a charge up against him, he told his nephew that all the documents were already in the capital with the emperor. After cutting ties XuanQing hit his head on a post and swallowed poison. He had no intentions of leaving alive. He knew he had to make it look like complying with Fu and he went all in, but like his uncle he found a way to defeat Fu’s plan. He told his uncle his real feelings and accepted his fate. Yan Yun’s cry of anguish over his lost nephew was heartbreaking. I had no sympathy for the fool that threw his life away, but for the one who had raised him and gave him every chance to be sorry and come back. His mother wants him removed from the family registry because she is all about appearances. Qin Zhao was asked her opinion and she left it up to YanYun. We don’t know what he decided. Fu knows that XuanQing failed with his mission and is dead. He now knows the documents are in the capital with the emperor and plotting his next move.The Ji family are relocating to Songjiang. This will hopefully keep them out of harm’s way. Yao’s mom is far from happy since all their businesses are north not south, but Gma Ji has agreed to the move. Yao told his mom he was going but remaining in the capital to be with JinZhao. Chen and JinZhao go to the temple where the emperor is waiting. This time, Chen makes it a point to give JinZhao is cape to keep warm. Ye Xian is also there. Both want the position to be envoy. Chen, as usual gets his way but JinZhao is also included in the decision. They both know what’s at stake, but she has received protection for the Ji’s and asked for 300 muskets to send north with YanYun. The court is wishing him well on his journey and Chen very articulately and ceremoniously cuts ties with Fu. He paid respects to the man his mentor was and reminds him of the man he has become. Fu actually did mourn his favorite student. He said he considered him for his replacement. I would almost believe him but his work ethics are polar to Chen’s. Even after saying this he plots with his wife for Chen’s life. The delegation party never reached it’s destination and only Fu’s two men made it back alive. Before Fu can blame Chen household JinZhao already prepared the emperor with a list of weapons bound for the emperor. He listed them off for the court that if Chen was colluding with the enemy why send the weapons to him rather than the second prince? This argument shut down the court and he brought the attention back to the two men that came back. They are going to be interrogated and Fu looked a bit less pleased. There is a cute scene with Ye Xian and JinZhao with the white kitten. And another when he comforts her after Chen’s departure. He is also present when she tells the emperor her idea for saving the Chen family. JinZhao comforts the Chen household and leaves her the properties that will take care of the family just in case. JinZhao is going to find YanYun and her guard with Yao and her brother in tow. The emperor is well aware of who is colluding with the northerners but Chen has to find the evidence. This is a battle of wits pitting mentor against student and it’s riveting because they are so well matched. JinZhao is going with no news means he’s still alive. She just needs to find him.

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Min Hyeon Ju is the 1st guy both Choi &…

Min Hyeon Ju is the 1st guy both Choi & Se Ok r fantasizing about murdering, but haven't acted on.... yet - kinda hilarious. & like him am also wondering; why is Choi going to these extreme lengths to help/ keep Se Ok safe?!? is it just so she will operate on him? or is there another reason?!? hope we get answers soon. ******************************************************************btw the woman that help Choi (guess she's kind off a detective, fixer type) idk why Choi continues to employ her cause she isn't just doing her assignment's, she actively poking her nose where it isn't meant to be. like following him & seeing him get rid of Kim Myeong Jin, saving & having him put in that mental hospital - like why? cause of her stupidity his son now is lying in ICU. also if she had Kim Myeong Jin's ring how that Mental hospital manager have it on his hand?!? weird - either way Choi needs to worry about her IMO.

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Family betrayal

Fu already has ammo since he was told Chen specifically sent away XuanQing. Fu has figured something big went down between them and his smile says it all. 😝XuanQing is performing opera and is going even more psycho. Yao has been investigating and they are making progress investigating the sect. The hand signals are a quiet giveaway that they now recognize. They have traced back the funding to a name but not the who. QingLan has joined the party of wanting info about Chunyuan sect. They are responsible for killing her mother. Chen is speculating about Fu not knowing the real culprit is the wife. XuanQing has gone all out seeking Fu’s assist to stay in the capital having no clue what his parentage will cost him. His hatred of Chen runs deep and that is something he and Fu have in common. XuanQing is being forced to impeach his uncle by perjuring himself before the emperor and court. They beat his poor servant and know about the murder and his parentage. He looks like a little king with his chest puffed out claiming vindication over YanYun. Too bad he isn’t even impressing the empty chair.😝 YanYun refuses to defend himself because he has to maintain the reputation of his wife and family. Fu is all smug and pleased with himself and that little twerp nephew kept one page of JinZhao’s letter as evidence. So that one page from her is how he wove his little tale of self delusion. He really has no clue that he has just kicked to the curb the only person on the planet that could have helped him. Chen’s guard has reached JinZhao and she is riding as fast as she can to get back. QingLan has already had a chat with her aunt about the Chunyuan sect. Too bad she missed the prayer session. She knows her aunt is lying and they quietly assess each other. QingLan is going to protect Ye Xian and Ms Fu is going to try to keep her niece quiet. Looks like lots of family laundry is going to be aired. I am very relieved that this is a shift of plans already in place. The emperor was quite angry with Fu’s manipulations and quite aware of the situation except for XuanQing's hatred when he promoted him. He now knows how to handle things while Chen is dealing with the charges. XuanQing has moved on to the Ji house and treating them like captives. He wants Chen to beg or he will reveal whatever secrets are between the Ji’s and YanYun. I am hoping JinZhao’s dagger is not still poisoned. It looked like the one Ye Xian gave her. That slight cut could still be trouble. Nice whip work from YanYun. That insolant brat needs whipped. Fu has him completely deluded not realizing he will be squashed like the cockroach he is once no longer useful. This is building up to the final showdown between Chen and Fu. It is turning into a no holds barred fight where the best strategist wins the court. It’s no wonder that Ms Fu treats QingLan like a daughter since she seems to be instrumental in having her mother killed by the sect. The fight between these two will be on a par with YanYun and XuanQing.

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Chunyuan sect and Chen’s promotion

Fu is not happy with Chen and makes it clear that Wang will be shielded. He insincerely tells Chen how important he is to the court and that he should rest. Wang is encouraged to pack up and go home and lay low. Fu looks like practicing for prison in his opera scene.😝They have a brick tossed with the Chunyuan sect symbol. Fu knows Wang can’t be investigated because half of the court will be found guilty. During the night he and wife died of carbon monoxide poisoning because of coal vapors and their servant was murdered. I find I callously don’t really care. Two troublemakers out of the way. 😝Ye Xian is called in to investigate. They learn that the servant was part of the Chunyuan sect. Fu thinks Chen will be home resting so he has the court all convinced Chen was responsible for their deaths and that it must be handled swiftly and without mercy. Chen surprises them by showing up and pointing the finger at Fu for hiding evidence against Wang and Fu counters by getting his own investigators ready to haul Chen out. The young Emperor is obviously out of his element here and is nervous on what to do. He is saved by YeXian showing up. They have marked the servant’s body with the Chunyuan sect symbol to put the blame on the sect. Fu falls into the trap and has to agree and sends Chen home to recuperate rather than prison like he’d planned. Fu’s connection with the sect is via his wife who told him that there would be no markings on the body because their sect forbade it. Fu now knows he’s been played but he already cast judgment. YeXian and Chen are called in to see the young emperor. He is pleased he snuck out, greets JinZhao and teases how his top two men were jealous over her.😂🤣 They take his teasing in stride because they know that both of them are the emperor’s only real defense against the court’s corrupted officials. Fu was originally idealistic but over time he became an ends justifies the means sort of official to expedite his agenda. He will have no issues misleading the young ruler and that is where these two are stepping in. The emperor has his mother agree to promote Chen and he becomes the Emperor’s guard. Fu wants to take 30% of military funds to pay of other projects and Chen disagrees in court. Chen and Ye Xian figure he is confident to take the funds because he has a spy network behind enemy lines. JinZhao is worried but he’d rather fight head on than have plots in the shadows. Chen has shown JinZhao the mecca of files on officials and Zhang did an excellent job of clearing most of them out for Fu. Fu didn’t count on his protege having photographic memory to still keep tabs on his misdeeds. JinZhao has sent her guard to Shanxi to work with Ping on learning more about the Chunyuan cult members. QingLan loves her stubborn man 😂🤣She called the Chens out for involving him in their games. I agree with her but they have to work together to balance the power Fu yields. Things are moving up to the key players and it’s getting real with permanent consequences. This episode was all about taking the gloves off and battling head to head for control of the court. Ye Xian and Chen are in the two most precarious spots, right by the young emperor.

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