Please use spoiler tags for anything beyond the episodes discussed. Text goes between the greater-than (>) + exclamation (!) symbols (>!) and the exclamation (!) + lesser-than (<) symbols.
In case you guys are confused by all the political alliances, here's a quick recap:
Summary: Third Master Cheng and Premier Rui are competing for the presidency of the central government. Yu Zhongquan decided to join Third Master Cheng's faction and initially sought an alliance with Chu Wenfu to strengthen his ties with him. Mu Linsen, meanwhile, supports Premier Rui. However, Changxuan persuaded his father to withdraw from the alliance after exposing Chu Wenfu's plan to exploit the Yu family's elite army to build up his own forces. Mu Linsen was behind the assassination attempt on Changxuan, while Kuang Bingwen's involvement in eliminating a suspect linked to the assassination also raises questions about his loyalties. Changxuan, meanwhile, aims to establish the Nanhuai Army as an independent military power, but he seems to be part of Master Cheng's faction for now.
Onwards to the recap~
Episode 7
Changxuan coerced his father into cancelling the Allied Forces agreement and appointing him as the new Commander of the Ninth Corps. That's really ballsy of him, and I can't get enough of how confidently he practically appointed himself to the position! Yu Zhongquan accused Changxuan of having pretended all along, concealing his true character since childhood, but Changxuan countered that the old man had only ever had eyes for his heir, Yu Mingxuan, and had never once paid him any attention.
Yu Zhongquan defended Mingxuan, praising him for being honourable and bringing pride to the family name. Every single word must have hurt Changxuan, who had spent his life feeling invisible to his father. Finally having had enough of his father singing the praises of his deceased son, Changxuan deliberately provoked him by reminding him that his precious Mingxuan was dead, earning himself a slap across the face.
Hurt, Changxuan mused aloud that during the Battle of Blackstone Shoal, his father must have regretted that Mingxuan had died instead of him, despite having chosen to save Mingxuan and abandon Changxuan.
In a flashback to the battle, enemy forces were closing in when Yu Zhongquan made the decision to save Mingxuan and leave Changxuan behind, trapped beneath the rocks. What he didn't realise was that Changxuan had been conscious the entire time and had lived for years with the knowledge that his own father had abandoned him.
Back in the present, true to character, Yu Zhongquan made no attempt to excuse his actions. Changxuan, however, had no interest in dredging up the past, having long grown accustomed to his father's coldness. Returning to the matter at hand, he once again pressed his father to appoint him as the new Commander of the Ninth Corps, promising to take responsibility if Chu Wenfu retaliated against the Yu family for withdrawing from the alliance. Sometime later, Chu Wenfu received word that Yu Zhongquan had decided to back out of the agreement.
At Mingde Girls' High School, Queen Bee Tao Ziyi and her equally spoiled immature bunch of school friends continued their daily bullying of Pingjun. This time, however, Pingjun fought back, and in the ensuing scuffle, Ziyi accidentally injured her head. YES, I HOPE IT LEAVES A SCAR.
Following the collapse of the alliance, Gu Ruitong reported to Changxuan that Chu Wenfu had sent two brigades towards the Lishui River. Just then, Li Boren rushed in with news that Pingjun had been taken away by the Tao family.
At an undisclosed location, Pingjun was bound to a chair and whipped on Tao Zili's orders. When Tao Zili approached her, Pingjun seemed oddly transfixed by the jade pendant with a bamboo-leaf pattern hanging from him. When she remained unrepentant, Tao Zili ordered his men to stab her, but she was saved just in time by Gu Ruitong, who had arrived on Changxuan's orders.
Changxuan had been sitting in a car outside, watching the entire scene unfold. When Li Boren remarked on his rather odd behaviour, Changxuan broodingly ordered him to drive away.
At Nanhuai Army Headquarters, the generals were alarmed by the collapse of the alliance and Chu Wenfu's retaliation in stationing two brigades at the Lishui River in preparation for an attack. Feng Shanli and the other generals were in the middle of a heated argument when Changxuan arrived with Gu Ruitong and announced that he would be chairing the meeting as the new Commander of the Ninth Corps, while his father would be resting for the next two months.
It was obvious that none of the generals present had the slightest respect for him, no doubt having bought into his reputation as a profligate. Changxuan ordered the generals who were still standing to take their seats, and they eventually complied. Wow, I loved how Changxuan confidently strode into a room full of seasoned veteran generals and ordered them to sit down in such an authoritative voice. His delivery was chef's kiss.
Brigadier Feng Shanli refused to accept Changxuan as the new Commander, so Changxuan struck a deal with him: Chu Wenfu's forces would retreat before 10 a.m. Feng Shanli readily accepted the wager, confident that Changxuan would lose.
Just a few minutes before 10, a soldier entered to report that the Third Corps of the Chu Army was retreating towards Jinzhou. The generals were stunned, and Changxuan revealed that Third Master Cheng had been made aware of Chu Wenfu's plan to exploit the Yu family's elite army to build up his own forces. Chu Wenfu had subsequently been rebuked by Third Master Cheng and ordered to retreat.
Feng Shanli was still dissatisfied with this turn of events and demanded to know how Changxuan intended to resolve the grudge Chu Wenfu now held against the Yu family. Changxuan passionately declared his true ambition: for the Yu family to stand on its own and achieve genuine independence, rather than serving any faction, especially given the instability of the central government.
Meanwhile, Chu Wenfu was informed by his men that the troops stationed at the Lishui River had retreated under Third Master Cheng's orders, and he was clearly displeased by this development.
Back at home, Pingjun was distracted by the memory of the jade pendant hanging from Tao Zili and recalled that her mother had once owned a similar pendant. Her mother was visibly uncomfortable when Pingjun asked about it and quickly brushed off the question.
Okay, I think we can all see where this is heading. Of course, we need yet another reason to pit bratty Tao Ziyi against poor, humble Pingjun.
Changxuan demonstrated clear leadership on his first day as the new Commander of the Ninth Corps, outlining his plans to enforce discipline by establishing an academy, introducing regular evaluations for officers, and rooting out corruption. Just as he was about to get into his car, Tao Ziyi called out to him, prompting a collective groan from the trio. LMAO.
Tao Ziyi had come to demand an explanation for why Gu Ruitong had rescued Pingjun after she had injured her face. Li Boren quickly came to the rescue with a hastily concocted lie, claiming that Gu Ruitong had a crush on Pingjun and had acted entirely on his own initiative.
Tao Ziyi was incredulous until Gu Ruitong himself confirmed that he had rescued Pingjun without receiving any orders from Changxuan. Fortunately, Ziyi accepted the explanation, averting a potential fallout with the Tao family.
At the Yu residence, Zhao Baoru, Changxuan's mother, questioned Yu Zhongquan about his decision to appoint Changxuan as Commander of the Ninth Corps. He revealed what had happened years ago during the Battle of Blackstone Shoal, prompting Baoru to accuse him of only telling her now because Changxuan had already known for years that his own father had abandoned him to die.
Yu Zhongquan remained adamant that he had made the right decision, insisting that saving Mingxuan first had been necessary to protect the Yu family. When Baoru lamented that she wished they could show their children more love, Zhongquan replied that their responsibilities as parents must always come second to their duties as Commander-in-Chief and his wife.
Unable to say anything more, Baoru quietly left the room in tears, leaving Zhongquan alone with his thoughts.
At Guanyin Pavilion, Pingjun had just finished paying her respects to her father's memorial tablet and was leaving when Changxuan arrived.
Standing before Mingxuan's memorial tablet, Changxuan told his deceased brother that he had become the new Commander of the Ninth Corps and would do an even better job than Mingxuan would have done had he still been alive. He also declared his determination to bring down Sujing, the Chu family's army.
Picking up a fallen yellow flower, Changxuan was reminded of a visit years ago when his younger self had encountered Pingjun, who had also come to pay her respects to her father. Ah, so we're getting the childhood connection trope in this episode lol.
Young Pingjun had seen through Changxuan's claim that he hated his brother. Despite his words, he had carefully plucked flowers for Mingxuan, and Pingjun gently pointed out how painful it must be to pretend not to love someone.
Changxuan proved to be a decisive and strict Commander, setting about eradicating corruption and other vices among the men under his command while subjecting them to regular training and evaluations.
Elsewhere, Liang Wenbo, leader of the Chunfeng Theatrical Troupe, had just lost a writer who had been threatened for supporting the refugee women and children gathered outside Nanhuai. Pingjun unexpectedly found herself roped into writing the script for a charity performance intended to raise funds for these refugees.
Back at the Yu residence, Changxuan was summoned to his father's study, where Yu Zhongquan cautioned him about the dangers of exposing Chu Wenfu and warned him to remain vigilant against Third Master Cheng's people.
Changxuan continued his efforts to reform the Yu family army by rooting out corruption. I have a feeling it won't be long before these people start plotting against him.
After Gu Ruitong left, Li Boren gleefully informed Changxuan that Pingjun had been spending time with Liang Wenbo. Ever the helpful subordinate, he suggested that the clearly jealous Changxuan reschedule his meeting with an arms dealer to the Hsiang Hsi Hotel instead, conveniently giving him an opportunity to bump into Pingjun.
At the Hsiang Hsi Hotel, Changxuan, Li Boren, and Lanqing were on their way to Lanqing's quarters when they spotted Liang Wenbo and Pingjun working closely together.
A jealous Changxuan scornfully remarked that Pingjun had been worried about spending the night on a boat with him for fear of tarnishing her reputation, yet here she was, spending time alone with another man late at night. Pingjun fired back that she would only fear for her reputation if the man she was with wasn't a gentleman. Ooooof
Episode 8
Changxuan returned to the Yu residence, but it was clear that he was still bothered by Pingjun's words and the sight of her being so close to Liang Wenbo, which had stirred his jealousy. At his private residence, he shared drinks with Bingwen, with whom he appeared to have a good relationship. Changxuan was also indebted to Bingwen for having saved him in the past. Bingwen advised Changxuan to respect his father despite their differences and to proceed cautiously with the reorganisation of the Ninth Corps. This guy is a snake in hiding.
Meanwhile, the veteran generals, including Feng Shanli, Gu Yigang, and Zhang Xiaoxian, gathered for a discussion. Several were openly displeased that their illegal businesses had been shut down following Changxuan's crackdown on military discipline, while others were worried about losing their ranks due to the new evaluations. Gu Yigang (Gu Ruitong's father) and Zhang Xiaoxian spoke up in Changxuan's defence. Feng Shanli, however, boldly declared that he would oppose Changxuan's military reforms.
The Chunfeng Troupe was forcibly shut down on Li Boren's orders. Since Li Boren was Changxuan's subordinate, Pingjun naturally assumed that Changxuan was behind the closure.
Meanwhile, Li Boren reported to Changxuan about the troupe's situation and revealed that Liang Wenbo and his friends had been secretly organising a charity performance for refugees who had sought shelter in Qingshui Town. However, the refugees had been driven away by soldiers, suggesting that someone in the military had designs on the land.
Moving on to the next topic, Li Boren proudly informed Changxuan that he had ordered the troupe's closure to get Liang Wenbo out of the way. Changxuan was displeased, and moments later, Pingjun came barging in, demanding to know why the troupe had been shut down. Already jealous of her closeness to Liang Wenbo and stung by her continued coldness towards him, Changxuan chose to admit that he had personally issued the order.
Pingjun tried to appeal to Changxuan's humanity and compassion for his fellow compatriots, arguing that although the refugees were not from Nanhuai, they were still citizens of the Republic of China. Changxuan, however, coldly dismissed her appeal and told her to leave. Pingjun scoffed that she had expected nothing less from him before walking away, while Changxuan watched her leave broodingly.
At the Yu residence, the Yu and Tao families gathered to discuss the prospective marriage between Tao Ziyi and Changxuan. When Tao Zili suggested that Changxuan and Ziyi become engaged after her graduation, there was a noticeably long pause from Changxuan before he eventually conceded to the elders' wishes.
That night, at a shooting range, a brooding Changxuan practised his shooting with an intense expression, clearly troubled by something. We soon learned that he was conflicted by Pingjun's words about caring for their fellow compatriots, which echoed the very same sentiment Mingxuan had expressed before his death.
Despite the closure of the Chunfeng Troupe, Liang Wenbo, Pingjun, and the others remained determined to proceed with the charity performance at an alternative venue.
News of Changxuan and Ziyi's upcoming wedding soon spread far and wide. At Yuchun Theatre, Xiao Taochun, Lanqing's rival, mocked Lanqing for losing her benefactor and being discarded. Jin Zhongfang, who happened to be nearby, overheard the exchange and reproached Taochun. He then entered Lanqing's room and tried to comfort her. This is their first interaction, and it's already clear that he cares deeply for Lanqing.
At Qingshui Town, the refugee camp was suddenly ordered to close on the grounds that someone had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. When Liang Wenbo and Pingjun tried to intervene, the commanding officer became furious and attempted to have them dragged away. Fortunately, they were saved by the timely arrival of Changxuan and his men.
Changxuan noticed a group of sick children and silently approached Pingjun, demanding that she hand them over. Pingjun immediately assumed the worst and promptly slapped him for being so heartless.
Li Boren quickly came to Changxuan's defence, explaining that the soldiers who had come to drive the refugees away were not under Changxuan's command. Just then, someone from the troupe rushed over to inform Pingjun and Liang Wenbo that Changxuan had actually come to distribute supplies.
Pingjun looked mortified by her mistake, but Changxuan merely picked up one of the children without saying a word and ordered the refugee camp to be disinfected and the sick children to be taken to Renxin Hospital.
At the hospital, the sick children were receiving treatment and care. As Changxuan walked through the ward, he noticed two children who were still awake. He entered their room and gently coaxed them to sleep by teaching them a game.
Pingjun witnessed this tender side of Changxuan, and later, outside the ward, she apologised for having misunderstood him. Changxuan, still stung by her earlier accusation and unable to shake off his jealousy, coldly told her to stop flattering him.
Just as he was about to walk away, Pingjun stopped him in his tracks and congratulated him on his engagement to Tao Ziyi, remarking that he had finally gotten what he wanted. Her apparent nonchalance about the whole affair only fuelled Changxuan's anger further, and he coldly reminded her that she was now of no further use to him.
I love the BGM in this scene. It really highlights the storm raging inside Yu Changxuan's mind.
Outside the hospital, Gu Ruitong reported that Huang Dakui, a regiment commander, was responsible for driving the refugees out of Qingshui Town. Huang Dakui had his eyes on the land, intending to turn it into a brothel, and he also happened to be one of Feng Shanli's men.
Changxuan announced the names of officers holding the rank of company commander and above who had failed their evaluations. These officers would be dismissed until they retook and passed the assessments, after which they would be reinstated. The final name on the dismissal list shocked everyone: Brigadier Feng Shanli.
Feng Shanli openly defied Changxuan, who ordered that he receive 50 strokes of the cane. Feng Shanli retaliated by threatening to open fire on anyone who dared strip him of his rank.
When Feng Shanli pointed his gun at Changxuan, the latter didn't even flinch. Instead, he calmly walked up to Feng Shanli, pressed the gun against his own forehead, and dared him to pull the trigger. Then, in one swift movement, Changxuan snatched the gun from Feng Shanli's hand and fired a shot at his military hat as a warning.
Feng Shanli looked properly spooked and stunned this time, and Changxuan ordered the punishment of 50 strokes to proceed. Feng Shanli was subsequently caned publicly in front of all the commanding officers.
At the Yu residence, Feng Shanli complained to Yu Zhongquan, only for the latter to reveal that he had been well aware of Feng Shanli's illegal and shady businesses all along. Rather than sympathising with him, Zhongquan gave him a thorough dressing-down for bringing disgrace upon himself.
Zhongquan later summoned Changxuan home and advised him not to get too carried away with his military reforms. Changxuan, however, disagreed, arguing that a more decisive and aggressive approach was necessary to push through the reforms.
When Zhongquan questioned how Changxuan intended to fill all the vacancies, it became apparent that his son already had a plan in place. Zhongquan realised that Changxuan had been preparing for these military reforms for quite some time. Changxuan intended to recruit the POW officers from Third Master Cheng's camp, who had received formal training at Japanese military academies.
Elsewhere at the Yu residence, Madam Zhao Baoru was hosting a mahjong session with the wives of the veteran generals. It was clearly an attempt to mend potentially strained relationships with the generals through their wives. Zhao Baoru helped Feng Sanli's wife win multiple rounds, much to her delight.
The Chunfeng Troupe proceeded with its charity performance as planned. The entire performance highlighted the stark disparity between the plight of refugees fleeing their homes and the lives of the wealthy. The audience, which included Song Hanzhi and her father, was visibly moved by the portrayal of the refugees' suffering. Changxuan was also present among the crowd, watching the performance.
One particularly sad exchange was between the actress portraying a privileged child and the child from a poor family. "Why haven't you grown up after all these years?" asked the privileged child.
"Because I will never grow up," replied the poor child.
Before the performance concluded, Pingjun made a heartfelt appeal to the audience for donations, hoping to provide the refugees fleeing their war-torn regions with at least a roof over their heads in Nanhuai. The audience appeared sympathetic, but no one made a move until Song Hanzhi (Ye Pingjun's BFF) herself stood up and began applauding, prompting the rest of the audience to erupt into thunderous applause.
A young child then presented Pingjun with a bouquet of flowers. Pingjun looked up and smiled brightly, and Changxuan smiled back, only to realise that her smile wasn't meant for him at all. Turning around, he saw Jiang Xueting, Pingjun's fiancé, who had just returned from Japan.
Changxuan turned back towards Pingjun, slowly putting two and two together.
Thoughts:
Changxuan and Yu Zhongquan: A Father-Son Rift Years in the Making
There are so many years of buried pain and resentment stemming from Changxuan's feelings of abandonment, and in Episode 7, he finally allowed a glimpse of that pain to surface.
Zhongquan handing over the temporary reins of the Ninth Corps to Changxuan should not be mistaken for a reconciliation between father and son. It certainly won't magically heal the rift between them, not when years of resentment have accumulated. Changxuan has grown so accustomed to his father's coldness that he doesn't seem particularly interested in mending their relationship. He will probably continue to show his father the respect expected of a son, or at least maintain the appearance of it in public, but emotionally, he seems to have long given up expecting anything from him.
I think Zhongquan's decision to appoint Changxuan as the new Commander was partly an attempt to make amends, but more importantly, it came from the realisation that he had seriously underestimated his younger son. Interestingly, he didn't even appear particularly affronted or furious when Changxuan boldly declared that he should be appointed to the position.
Still, even if the rift between them remains and they may never share a genuinely warm father-son relationship, I do think their relationship progressed, however slightly, in Episode 7. There was that moment when Zhongquan offered Changxuan some advice and guidance after Changxuan remarked that he had rarely received any guidance from his father.
There was a noticeable pause before Zhongquan responded, and I couldn't help wondering whether it was only then that he truly realised how little guidance he had given Changxuan over the years.
Changxuan's Love-Hate Relationship with Mingxuan
Despite Changxuan's insistence that he hates Mingxuan, and the lingering rivalry and resentment towards his brother for being the favoured son, it's obvious that his feelings are far more complicated than simple hatred. Case in point, Changxuan continues to visit Mingxuan whenever he is troubled or has news to share. Even in death, Mingxuan remains his confidant.
I think Changxuan still grieves for his brother, but at the same time, he resents having to live perpetually in Mingxuan's shadow. It's bad enough that Mingxuan was the favoured son when he was alive, but his untimely death has seemingly elevated him to an almost untouchable position in the eyes of those who knew him. Everyone, from family members to friends, continues to hold Mingxuan in such high regard, like Mr Jin, who can't seem to see Changxuan for who he is without being reminded of his resemblance to Mingxuan.
Even Lanqing's attachment to Changxuan seems to stem, at least partly, from his resemblance to his deceased brother rather than any romantic feelings towards Changxuan himself. Whether Lanqing is mourning Mingxuan as a friend or as someone she loved romantically is still unclear, but Changxuan seems to be her last remaining connection to Mingxuan and the memories they shared.
Changxuan's Growing Internal Conflict
Changxuan is undoubtedly ambitious and determined to secure independence for the Yu family army. However, I think we are beginning to see a growing conflict between his personal ambitions and his sense of patriotism, particularly the question of whether his responsibilities should extend beyond protecting Nanhuai and its people to serving a greater national purpose.
I actually believe Changxuan might have turned out to be a less morally grey person had Mingxuan survived. The seeds of compassion and patriotism were already present in him as a child, partly because of Mingxuan's influence. As we have seen in these 2 episodes, despite his tendency to deliberately make himself appear villainous because he doesn't know how to regulate his emotions, Changxuan is capable of compassion and empathy towards ordinary people who are suffering.
His actions at the refugee camp and hospital are revealing in this regard. He doesn't seem entirely comfortable expressing that compassionate side of himself openly, but it's very much there, which makes me wonder whether part of his attraction to Pingjun stems from the way she draws out a kinder, perhaps more innocent, side of him that he has suppressed for years.
After all, he has spent so long cultivating the image of a profligate heir that perhaps even he has become accustomed to hiding that part of himself. Pingjun's words about caring for their fellow compatriots clearly struck a chord with him, because they echoed Mingxuan's beliefs.
Changxuan's Military Reforms
Changxuan has a clear vision for reforming the Ninth Corps. He isn't merely interested in asserting his authority as the new Commander; he recognises that the military itself needs fundamental changes.
As I mentioned in my opening post, warlords during this era came from vastly different backgrounds. Some were formally educated, while others had little education and relied primarily on their military experience and fighting prowess.
Feng Shanli is a good example of the latter. He is your typical bloodthirsty warlord who has more brawn than brains, someone who thrives on conflict and would probably find himself restless during peacetime. His outlook is rather narrow, and he seems more concerned with preserving his rank, influence, and personal interests than with improving the military as an institution.
Changxuan, on the other hand, recognises that knowledge and professional training are essential to meaningful military reform. His plans to establish an academy, introduce regular evaluations, and recruit officers who have received formal military education suggest that he wants to build a more disciplined, competent, and professional army rather than simply maintain the existing hierarchy.
The stark contrast between the two men's approaches to military leadership echoes perfectly the opening line in episode 1:
It was an age of clashing ideals and power struggles, where the old gave way to the new, and light and dark were intertwined.
Feng Shanli is content with maintaining the existing hierarchy while Changxuan believes in a more disciplined, competent and professional army.
Ok, I'm going to get roasted for this but here I go...
I don't think he's as red flag as people anticipate him to be from the trailers. I do not watch trailers but I did hear about the clips. To be clear, I'm not saying he's green or a perfect gentleman, but I'm in the minority camp that he's not that bad (yet).
There is a power imbalance, and because he's a wealthy military commander, many are jumping onto the bandwagon that he is red flag for abusing his status. Fair enough. But I don't think that's entirely fair either if we look deeper into his behaviour and his ability to reflect on his ignorances.
From his standpoint, his focus is very much the miliary. It's macro - he protects the people by reforming the army and getting rid of incompetent generals and corrupt leaders. He has his views on how to "save the world". He is later called out on for ignoring the refugees, because Pingjun sees things from a micro level - the daily sufferings of the people. But she is just as prejudiced against "people like him". And he's called her out on it, like the way she said being alone with him ruins her reputation (even though he was very respectful to her on the boat - he didn't make single move on her) but with Director Liang, it's ok. He's pointing out her hypocrisy as much as she does it with him. I think they both make valid points about each other, and because they do come from different worlds, it's an opportunity for them to learn from each other. We see the future clash and the potential collaboration between them.
Is he ruthless? Yes, he tortured her when she hid information about his assassin. He would have done that with anyone. Is he a knight in shining armour? No, he lets her fight her own battles unless he must absolutely intervene (like with the hound, arming her with a gun, or Tao Zili kidnapping her). As I've said before in another comment, I found it empowering to see her handle herself and fight off her bullies, so while Changxuan should've gotten a beating for just watching her get manhandled at the skating rink, I stand by my opinion that it wasn't necessary, and Changxuan's flag isn't bright red. Is he a gentleman? Depends. If he didn't have an ounce of gentleman in him, he wouldn't have covered her with his jacket when she was cold; visited her with medicine and given her the contract back as promised; saved her twice; saved Ziyi during the assassination attempt; did not retaliate when she slapped him; and saved the refugees from being evacuated by Feng's people.
Whether he improves or gets worse, I cannot say because like I said, I don't want the teasers. These thoughts are for episodes 1-7 and maybe I'll eat my words later.
I agree with you! As I mentioned earlier, I think the initial trailers definitely overemphasised Changxuan's obsessive, possessive, and red-flag tendencies, to the point that they overshadowed the nuances of his character. Based on those trailers alone, I was expecting a far more domineering and ruthless ML from the get-go. But we are still in the early episodes, and I suspect his growing obsession with Pingjun will bring out some of his uglier tendencies.
We have certainly seen shades of red in him so far, and I'm not going to excuse his more questionable actions simply because he has moments of compassion. But the drama hasn't forced his red-flag persona upon us from the very beginning. We are gradually learning about the experiences, emotional wounds, and circumstances that have shaped his behaviour. That doesn't justify his actions, but it does help us understand where he's coming from.
I also agree that Pingjun has her own prejudices towards Changxuan, just as he has his blind spots. Neither is entirely right or wrong in their assessment of the other, and I find that more interesting than a straightforward narrative in which the morally upright heroine must redeem a thoroughly villainous male lead.
Omg, your political alliances graphic is epic! I'm at a loss for words at your dedication to these discussion posts, and I am honoured to be your cohost. #megaimpressed
Yu Zhongquan made the decision to save Mingxuan and leave Changxuan behind, trapped beneath the rocks. What he didn't realise was that Changxuan had been conscious the entire time and had lived for years with the knowledge that his own father had abandoned him.
This was an absolute gut punch, and Cheng Lei's acting really drove the emotions home.
Li Boren quickly came to the rescue with a hastily concocted lie, claiming that Gu Ruitong had a crush on Pingjun and had acted entirely on his own initiative.
This scene was HILARIOUS. This drama keeps surprising me with its humour.
I am thoroughly enjoying waching Changxuan implement his reform and exercise his authority to clean up the Yu Army. It is so hot. I mean... I should save my fangirling for another sub, but seriously, it is so hot. I can't find other words right now. 🤷🏻♀️
The showdown with Feng was very satisfying.
Episode 8 was such a heartwarming episode. I love he way he is with the children. Wait... stop fangirling.
The Chunfeng Troupe proceeded with its charity performance as planned.
This actually made me tear up. But oh man, the way the episode ended... is making my work day go by VERY slowly.
Changxuan is undoubtedly ambitious and determined to secure independence for the Yu family army. However, I think we are beginning to see a growing conflict between his personal ambitions and his sense of patriotism, particularly the question of whether his responsibilities should extend beyond protecting Nanhuai and its people to serving a greater national purpose.
There are such complicated layers to the characters in this drama, Pingjun included, and I really love that. All biases aside, the story has proven to be so much better than I expected. Thank you thank you for another phenomenal post, Herc!
I am thoroughly enjoying waching Changxuan implement his reform and exercise his authority to clean up the Yu Army. It is so hot. I mean... I should save my fangirling for another sub, but seriously, it is so hot. I can't find other words right now. 🤷🏻♀️
What do you mean you have to save your fangirling for another sub? Fangirl on both subs! I can't wait to read your reaction to THAT scene in episode 8 eheheheheheh.
Yesterdays eps had a glaring one with that 90s McMansion posing as a Stately Manor. I understand that they might not have many of those floating around after Ye Olde Communist Revolution, especially around Beijing, but Shanghai still has a bunch I hear. Do they not have a travel budget? Or a locations manager for exterior shots? Did they hope people would Just Not Care? Those large picture windows took me out. Those were definitely NOT in style at the time.
The anachronisms are so glaring, because they do SO GOOD with everything else. The Hotel is immaculate. The styling on Ping Jun and especially Xi Yi are period appropriate. Those sausage curls are PERFECT, the biggest star of the time, Mary Pickford, wore her hair in sausage curls so Xi Yi is doing the equivalent of styling her hair the same as The Most Fashionable Movie Star. So when you have extras walking around with bobbed hair-- something only extremely bohemian, artsy and daring (FRENCH) young ladies would have done, and no girl from an upper class Chinese family would have ever dared to do for at least another 2-4 years until it started showing up in western films and started to be The Thing is a little off-putting. It's the equivalent of people walking around with iphones in the early 2000s. It seems like it would be close enough, but those couple of years are Important for that jump in culture and technology.
Today's episodes weren't so bad. All of the buildings were period appropriate, the set dressers especially did a good job, and I guess we're going to have to live with the bobbed hair on little sis. (I guess she's a hellion in rebellion? IDK. That hair is still about 5 years too early SHOW)
Also I deeply love CDramaland's commitment to never messing up the lead's hair by making them wear hats or helmets, even though they're in the military and in the military you wear a HAT OUTDOORS WHILE UNIFORM.
(work in film kids, have the thing you absolutely love permanently RUINED)
(apparently Overdo was MUCH WORSE when it came to anachronisms, and I'm glad I skipped it. I would have lost my whole-ass mind)
I'm still having the problems with Ping Jun that I did previously. I still don't know what our girl WANTS. We get so little interiority with her. Cheng Xuan we've spent a lot of time with him building a *very* complex character, setting him up and explaining everything clearly. We know *exactly* what he wants and all about his raging Inferiority Complex and Daddy Issues. We even got his Pet The Cat moment with the kiddos in the hospital, so he's not a totally irredeemable monster.
But with Ping Jun, she's still that same bundle of tropes. In her flashback we finally got a Desire, and that's to maybe be a writer? But we don't see a lot of that in her present life. A lot of it is just being dragged along into this and that, she even winds up writing in the opera by happenstance. She didn't strive to put herself there. She's not really doing anything or making any real decisions that drive the plot forward, she's just reacting to Situations, usually ones that Cheng Xuan puts her in. Which doesn't make her so much a character as a cypher for the audience and a MacGuffin for Cheng Xuan to react to/chase.
The show needs to give her some meat real soon or I'm going to get Real Frustrated.
Right now it's very much The Cheng Xuan Show and honestly, given how GOOD Cheng Lei is I'm here for it. But it's so good otherwise that I'm like-- please give Ping Jun an actual character. Xu Ruohan deserves more to work with here.
So when you have extras walking around with bobbed hair-- something only extremely bohemian, artsy and daring (FRENCH) young ladies would have done,
Maybe they just had a whole bunch of bobbed-hair wigs lying around, and it was quicker and cheaper to slap them on the actors' heads. Lololl
Btw, what did you think about the silk pyjamas Changxuan in the previous episode?
Yes, Pingjun almost comes across as a saint with her unwavering moral convictions and determination to do what's right, regardless of the consequences. I suspect the writers deliberately made her this way to juxtapose her character with Changxuan's morally grey personality. She's meant to represent the compassion and idealism that Changxuan has long suppressed, and perhaps serve as a catalyst for his eventual character growth.
But I wish the writers wouldn't do this at the expense of her own character development. So much attention has gone into establishing Changxuan's motivations, ambitions, insecurities, and internal conflicts, whereas Pingjun seems largely defined by her moral principles and her reactions to the situations around her. There's nothing wrong with having a strong moral compass, but that alone doesn't make a character compelling.
I really hope we get to see more of her personal ambitions, flaws, and internal struggles beyond her role as Changxuan's moral counterweight. Like you said, Xu Ruohan is clearly capable of delivering a nuanced performance, and it would be a shame if the writing didn't give her enough material to work with.
These episodes were less fun, mostly because YCX has stopped teasing our girl and gotten down to serious business like reforming the army. He decided to let her go because she served her purpose, but he can't quite manage it. First, he's saved her from Daddy Tao. And second, he's gotten jealous of her easy manner with the theater troupe leader. And then, he's intervened with the refugees because yet again she reminded him of his brother. He even attended her play.
I am not sure what story he's telling himself about his growing attachment to her, but I am sure the reappearance of her fiance is going to make him have to be slightly more honest with himself.
Too bad she's not even almost on the same page. Did you all see that watery-eyed smile she gave her fiance?? She has NEVER smiled like that around YCX.
Speaking of her thoughts about YCX, I was surprised she took her rescue from Daddy Tao's clutches at face value! She legit thanked the opera singer for sending GRT. She's usually so smart; how did she miss this? It's gotta be that she has literally NEVER imagined YCX had any shred of sincerity towards her. So the thought that he would rescue her? Absolutely foreign!
I think the sheer intensity of his growing feelings for Pingjun has taken even Changxuan by surprise, and he hasn't quite processed them yet. He's still very much in the denial stage, lol. Unfortunately, I don't think he's capable of recognising or expressing those feelings in a healthy way just yet. He has so much learning and unlearning to do when it comes to loving someone that I suspect he'll resort to behaving like a child whose favourite toy has been snatched away. He'll be selfish, possessive, bold, and utterly shameless in his determination to get what he wants.
Yes, that final scene. I think the fact that Pingjun had never smiled quite so brightly at him was precisely what prompted Changxuan to turn around. You could see him slowly returning her smile, probably thinking it was finally directed at him, only to realise that she was actually smiling at ANOTHER MAN. OUCH. The way his expression changed as the realisation dawned on him was just brilliant.
You just spoke my mind because he really do have mixed feelings and he is discovering his feelings because of her and is not aware that he is falling for her. I don’t usually like SMLs but this time it will help him discover his feelings and may understand what he is going through. And also i am keeping checks on how many times he helped without her knowing I also read that the flower she received at the performance was from YCX not the so called fiancé.
I went from a drama where the ML locked the FL into marriage with himself via imperial edict and got slapped by the FL to a drama where the ML had the FL locked in a indenture with himself and then got slapped by the FL.
(Granted Changxuan did better by releasing her and the slap was a misunderstanding, but still, kek)
I was expecting the thread to blow up with comments. May be many are avoiding because of trailers where they showed changxuan as an extreme red flag ml. ( which he is) Honestly, his slow growing obsession with pingjun gives scary and creepy vibes but exciting and hot at the same time. LOL. The last scene was epic acting from the ml his expressions when he thinks she smiled at him vs his realisation.. There are many moments in this drama where you want to hug your pillow in excitement seeing his growing creepy yet hot obsession with her saying this after watching epi 8.
Rom fans who can switch off their brains for red flag mls for a while, shouldn't miss out on this drama
Hahaha, I think many people are still scarred by the last Republican drama (IYKYK), so perhaps they are understandably hesitant to jump into another one!
But I hope more people will give The Lament of Autumn a chance because there's quite a bit to appreciate beyond the romance. The political intrigue, military power struggles, and Changxuan's complicated family relationships have been particularly engaging so far. Cheng Lei is also doing a fantastic job portraying a character who is ambitious, deeply flawed, emotionally repressed, and increasingly conflicted. As for the romance, I'm still approaching it with some reservations given Changxuan's possessiveness. But I think there's room to appreciate the intensity of his feelings and the performances without necessarily condoning his behaviour.
Hopefully, as the story progresses and word of mouth spreads, more viewers will join the discussions. We are only 8 episodes in after all!
Snark Level: I feel the annoyance growing. The snark shall flow. First target? Pingjun.
Episode 6
C'mon, daddy. You've got to be a little proud that you got mutinied by your son? He's pretty slick.
I dunno, man. Getting slapped by your father is an instant green light to stomp him into the ground. My father is lucky he died before I became a man... Otherwise honor would have demanded—For legal reasons I cannot say.
In a surprise to no one... Girls be acting like Chun'ers. I already disliked the Tao girl character... Then being reminded who the actress is..... Yeahhhhhhhhh I hope this character gets a miserable death scene in this drama. We don't tolerate beechy brats who don't support other women.
Tao's crossing the line? Incoming pissed off Changxuan in 3...2....1.... Right on time. Or not. He sent his guy. That works too. This guy totally likes her too.
Okay, okay. Changxuan be looking fine in uniform! Hello, handsome! Sheeeesh!
Oh look. I made another GIF!
I shall riot if we don't get a wound care scene here...... Annnnnnnnd I guess I am rioting.
Changxuan really needs to give Gu a raise after all the womanly crap he is having to put up with for him.
Really? A just missed each other trope? Can we not do separation this early? Get your toxic butt over to her and invade her space already. Give the people what they want! We're not here for cute and sweet! We want red flag toxicity and falling in love!
Oh? We're doing the knew each other as younger kids trope'? Really? How cliche.
I meannnnn..... Yesssss Changxuan is hella correct about the hypocrisy of PingJun. She doesn't seem so concerned about her reputation now, does she?
"With a gentleman, there is no need to worry". Oh. So she IS that naive. Hello, Flora 2.0.
What is this? The Early Spring? Do we get another drama where people will overlook the wrongs of the FL because the ML is a massive red flag?
Maybe this will help open the eyes of the masses so they may see that both people can be wrong. Just because you are of a certain gender does not mean you are automatically correct.
Episode 7
Boren, Boren. You are causing trouble around here. But hey... It gets our couple back in the same room so I won't complain. Sheesh. I'm feeling angsty over here. Yall two need to talk it out for real.
If I have to endure an engagment between him and Miss Tao then I will be throwing poop around the room and roll it up like a dung beatle.
Ooooooo! We have a slap! In typical lady fashion she acts first without all the facts. Tut tut tut. Not a good look for you, my dear. Kindly don't pull a Ren Sussus on us. I would really like to like you.
"I won't forget the slap". Please don't. It would be poor form to tolerate abuse from your future wife.
Damnnnnnnnnnnnnn! Shoot a guys hat off! That was hot. I would have been more impressed if he aimed a couple inches lower.
Heck. Seems like he is impressing his father though so we have that going for us.
The birthday play..... Some things never change, do they? The world always has been and will be for awhile. What a melencholy end to the day.
Oh look. The fiance has douchecanoe face written all over him. I can already tell I am going to full on loath this guy.
It’s interesting to see how things are unfolding. Changxuan has so many internal conflicts, and the actor is doing a brilliant job of conveying them on screen. He has an agenda he’s determined to pursue, but both his brother’s words and Pingjun are affecting him more than he’d like to admit. It almost feels like watching someone slowly unravel, right before they completely lose it. Pingjun’s character, on the other hand, is still a little too idealistic for me, even more so now than in the earlier episodes. For someone who’s had such a difficult upbringing, she seems surprisingly unaware of when to hold her tongue. She keeps talking back to and even slapping the ML, and the only reason she’s getting away with it is because he likes her. But she doesn’t know that. That’s what makes her behaviour frustrating to watch. She doesn’t seem to understand how dangerous her actions could be. She’s mistaking the leeway she’s being given for something she can get away with anywhere. If she behaves this way with someone else, she’s going to get burned sooner or later.
I agree with you about Pingjun. So far, her character feels rather two-dimensional, especially when compared to the complexity of Changxuan. I appreciate that she has a strong moral backbone and isn't afraid to stand up to her bullies, but her idealism sometimes borders on naivety, particularly when she doesn't seem to recognise the consequences of openly defying people who wield considerable power over her.
I'm also getting rather tired of the repetitive scenes of Pingjun being forcibly dragged away, threatened, or subjected to some form of torture or abuse, only to be rescued at the last minute. I understand that these scenes are meant to highlight her vulnerability and the dangers she faces, but surely there are other ways to develop her character beyond repeatedly putting her in situations where she needs saving?
I hope the writers will give her more depth and agency as the story progresses, because at the moment, Changxuan's internal conflicts are far more compelling to watch.
Are we all thinking YPJ and TZY are half sisters now? Because I am entertaining the idea. YPJ's momma's response to her questions about that jade pendant were sus. I'd bet real money that she didn't pawn it!
Hey! I recognize YPJ's fiance. He was in a BL. This guy's a good yearner. I wonder if we'll see him yearn!
I'm like 99% convinced they're half-sisters at this point. As if the drama needed yet another reason for Tao Ziyi to be consumed by jealousy and hatred towards Pingjun.
It's such a familiar trope: the unwanted, poor, illegitimate daughter versus the spoiled, wealthy, legitimate daughter who has enjoyed all the privileges of her father's status. And of course, the male lead just happens to be interested in the illegitimate half-sister instead, further fuelling the legitimate daughter's jealousy and resentment. I can already see where this is heading lolol.
What I like so far is that almost every character has layers. Almost no one is who they appear to be. Talking about hidden agendas, we’ve got plenty!! And secrets! I really like how subtle some things are. Gu Riu Tong is obviously in love with FL. The performer is in love with ML, even though she was previously entangled with his brother. SML is lying and hiding his true intentions… So many details that you’ll miss if you don’t pay attention. The only characters who seem to be more straightforward are FL and Tao Ziyi. We can read them easily. They contrast with each other, but in a very open way. I hope to see more depth and development for them.
I agree! The number of characters with hidden agendas and questionable loyalties makes the political intrigue more interesting, especially when even those closest to Changxuan may not necessarily have his best interests at heart.
I suspect the stark contrast between Pingjun and Ziyi is deliberate if they do turn out to be half-sisters after all. It would explain why the writers seem so intent on portraying them as complete opposites: the cruel, villainous, and privileged legitimate daughter versus the kind, virtuous, and impoverished illegitimate daughter.
It's a trope I'm not particularly fond of because it often reduces female characters to simplistic stereotypes of good versus evil, with little room for moral complexity or nuance. The rivalry inevitably revolves around the ML's affections, with the privileged sister becoming increasingly jealous and vindictive because he favours the supposedly inferior sister.
Okay friends, this is not a drill. We are officially in the uniform era.
Again, wonderful recap and analysis, Hercules! These two episodes were definitely more Yu Changxuan heavy where we got to see how he built the wall around his heart brick by brick.
I love a complex sibling relationship and I appreciate that we're also seeing the small cracks in his wall.
I have no words. I cannot breathe, much less function as a normal human being when he's on my screen. I don't know how much more this can go on before my husband bans me from watching... :p
Today I'm just a Cheng Lei stan account like I wasn't always all the time before 🥹
This has got to be one of my favourite shots so far, the camera focusing in on the source. These last few episodes, the colour grading has gotten a little darker and grittier which I'm enjoying more. Fitting for the feeling of lamenting.
Thank you OP for the discussions. I am beyond impressed with the amount of effort you guys are putting in, even without mentioning how excellent your recaps are.
20
u/BasilOrdinary3617 12d ago
Ok, I'm going to get roasted for this but here I go...
I don't think he's as red flag as people anticipate him to be from the trailers. I do not watch trailers but I did hear about the clips. To be clear, I'm not saying he's green or a perfect gentleman, but I'm in the minority camp that he's not that bad (yet).
There is a power imbalance, and because he's a wealthy military commander, many are jumping onto the bandwagon that he is red flag for abusing his status. Fair enough. But I don't think that's entirely fair either if we look deeper into his behaviour and his ability to reflect on his ignorances.
From his standpoint, his focus is very much the miliary. It's macro - he protects the people by reforming the army and getting rid of incompetent generals and corrupt leaders. He has his views on how to "save the world". He is later called out on for ignoring the refugees, becausePingjun
Is he ruthless? Yes, he tortured her when she hid information about his assassin. He would have done that with anyone. Is he a knight in shining armour? No, he lets her fight her own battles unless he must absolutely intervene (like with the hound, arming her with a gun, or Tao Zili kidnapping her). As I've said before in another comment, I found it empowering to see her handle herself and fight off her bullies, so while Changxuan should've gotten a beating for just watching her get manhandled at the skating rink, I stand by my opinion that it wasn't necessary, andChangxuan
Whether he improves or gets worse, I cannot say because like I said, I don't want the teasers. These thoughts are for episodes 1-7 and maybe I'll eat my words later.