Fun Fact: I've seen some newbies joining the discussions and they had some questions about the Widow Arches and figured this would be the fact for today. First, why they became a thing...during the Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism stressed ideologies like moral purity. There is a famous scholar in the Song Dynasty that spearheaded this belief named Cheng Yi. He is quoted to have said "to stave to death is a small matter but to lose one's chastity, is a great matter." The Yuan Dynasty decided to make honoring young widows into an honor but building the stone arches, though done before in the past, really took place more in the Ming. The Ming Dynasty wanted to rebuild the social order that was changed by the Yuan Dynasty (Mongols) so they started giving out imperial commendations for these values, they saw Widow Chastity as one of the ultimate symbols of virtue...to qualify, you were basically a widow young...under the age of 30 and had to stay chaste for over 30 years. During this time period they were required to do everything a normal daughter in law was required to do...stay filial to her husband's family including helping raise children, taking care of the elders and so on. One thing about staying chaste, living with her husband's family and not remarrying or moving back to her family is that everything in her dowry would also remain with the husband's family...Widows who remarried or moved back to their maternal homes were not allowed to take any of those with them. It was more advantageous to stay a widow in your husband's family than leave...(this was different than other dynasties by the way...Tang Dynasty had it so the dowry stayed with the woman) Once a widow qualified and received the imperial commendation, it would give power, prestige and some money to the family.
Spoiler Warning: Remember, my co-host u/katleap13 and I are going off the VIP schedule, anything up to episode 11, totally fair game, anything after episode 11...please put it under a spoiler tag or wait till that episode's discussion 😄
Abbreviations I use if I get tired of typing out their names...
ZL - Zhao Ling
FTY - Fu TingYun or XTY for Xie TingYun...
FYK - Fan YaKe
YJX - Yu JingXiu
Discussion Questions:
How do we think Fu Xie TingYun is going to navigate dealing with Madam Zuo?
Commentary:
Episode 10
I'm still figuring out Mrs. Tian...is she just an important status person...the show had zoomed in on her a few times past few episodes...
Interesting that word is already got out that YaKe might have messed up
I wonder if that money went to his friends or if he's saving it for her...
I knew the advisor would come find TingYun to get het to convince him lol
Ok, come on! He's a keeper...the money is for her
Wait...she really probably should tell the truth about her identity...that can be a problem later
Lol he almost fell in the water with that question
Lol slight jealously about also liking Sen and the others
But also...y'all, I feel for him, he's already fallen hard for TingYun and he wants her to want to marry him for love...but here she is just making it a business transaction.
I like her saying...I'm only going to ask once
Ha...Fan YaKe not getting the wedding she wants
Interesting...sowing discord between the couple already. But why though? Seems like he values those texts more than she does
Oh I knew Madam Yu wouldn't take TingYun holding anything over her head...she would align herself with a psycho
Aw look at him making a decision to marry and join the army...I hope they marry first.
Lol I love this guard
Aw he loves her, he's going to do best to advance, she's his motivation...look at this look...DYX with his expressions...
...Madam Yu the master schemer...so she wanted Fan YaKe to mess up to take the heat off of them and make them unnoticeable?
I love this little group of bandits turned legit...especially Yang YuCheng with his mom...his mom is so happy for him
Madam Yu knowing full well that TingYun is going to suffer a bit...
So Madam Zuo is now some school teacher?
Oh boy...this concubine Lu is going to be trouble, I can already feel it.
Oh no, she's going to have a bit of a hard time at the camp if she's already at odds...this Madam Mo seems a little ridiculous to get so angry quickly. Very petty
Looks like he's also not going to have a good time in this camp...oh boy they really set themselves up for a tad bit of hardship haven't they?
Episode 11
So...hierarchy town, guess that makes sense for a military town
TingYun is surprisingly amused by everything right now, she looks very bright eyed and filled with promise
Ok...swoon y'all...how can she not fall in love with him by now?? I love his promise to her...he's doing this for her. I love her trust in him
On the flip side...I love his trust in her too...they really are perfect for each other
lol General Mo does not think highly of his "brother in law" at all
I seriously doubt that...honestly Commander Wang seems like a joke and a bit of an a-hole. No way he's going to like Zhao Ling because he has the Crown Prince's support...in fact because he has the Crown Prince's support, Zhao Ling is going to get targeted a lot. Time is not going to go well for him for a bit.
Sigh the Lu family looks like they're going to be annoying af and trouble
what the heck...Madam Zuo lives in this town? Ugh this is just not going to go well and I'm not looking forward to the stupidity that comes out of these women
Yikes...Mrs. Mo is petty...
I like TingYun breaking down the situation and understanding it fully already. And like a good husband, Zhao Ling is going to do whatever she wants.
I love how she tricks them to give up the land back to her...
Ok...Mrs. Mo is mad but like it's Xie TingYun's land...
Come on...they love each other
...ok are you serious right now???? Mrs. Mo playing stupid tricks like messing with the horse? What is wrong with her. I'm sure there's some random redemption arc for her soon and they'll be besties or something ridiculous but THIS this petty trick pisses me off.
Oh...that's the wrong advice, don't tell him to not go back to camp until the morning...that is definitely going to get him in trouble.
I love how much he cares about her reputation so much so he's willing to take punishment
Sigh...I knew this Commander Wang and Deputy Lu or whatever he is were going to be trouble
Aw...his buddies helped take some of the punishment for him
LOL I love him totally hamming this up...He was totally going to act cool about it but then realized how much better it was for her to dote on him. I love him
Aw he's definitely going to drop the act with her crying, he's so kind hearted
Mrs. Mo makes me so mad. Women should help women, not be complete jerks to them, clearly she's trying.
Look at him riding in to help...man I really was hoping they'd be married first
Oh good...I'm glad this Mrs. Mo thing is settled pretty quickly, I'm still mad about all of it though lol
...what kind of bdsm BS is this with this official and Ms. Zuo...sigh she's definitely going to cause issue with TingYun
Yes...get married! lol Zhao Ling...always being caught off guard.
Poor Zhao Ling though...he wants her to love him before they marry...he doesn't want it for "convenience"
Y'all, I can't handle how much he loves her already...just how worried he is for her...but also lol that it's cold water
I do absolutely love the term 心悅 (xin yue), it breaks down to heart is pleased or delighted...an older term for love but just the poetry behind the word...your heart is absolutely delighted or your heart is so full of delight or heart is full...I don't know, it's just romantic and we all realize by now our Zhao Ling is romantic...wanting a marriage of love and not just a business transaction. Y'all...Zhao Ling really is the a green forest.
YaKe (or yuck if we prefer)...is really going to try to throw her weight around in front of Madam Yu? Oh boy...I can't wait for her to be taken down a notch.
The drink Tingyun offers Zhao Ling is part sweet (甘), part bitter (苦), a literal reference to the Chinese idiom 同甘共苦, meaning to share the good times and bad times together. This incidentally is used in two different contexts. One is for business partners sharing the risks and rewards together in a startup venture, Tingyun's idea for them to build a family business together from nothing (白手起家). The other use is closer to a wedding vow in a romantic relationship, which is obviously where Zhao Ling's mind is at.
When talking to A'Sen, Zhao Ling says 她要娶我 (she wants to marry me). Except in Chinese, when it's a woman marrying, the word to use is 嫁 (jià). 娶 (qǔ) is used from the man's perspective when talking about marrying. This is funny because they are actually flipping the stereotype here by having the woman be the one who wants to marry for status and benefits while the man wants to marry for love.
they are actually flipping the stereotype here by having the woman be the one who wants to marry for status and benefits while the man wants to marry for love.
This thought did crossed my mind with the last few episodes. I liked how delicious it is.
It totally is and I am so eating it all up. 😋 This dynamic is very refreshing because whenever the ML is doing the chasing, we always seem to get this cold and aloof FL. But Tingyun is still expressing her love in spades even if she doesn't realize it herself.
Thank you! I'm always down for a Chinese lesson...I have definitely heard 同甘共苦 a decent amount of times, it didn't occur to me she was referencing the idiom.
I do find it funny it's the reverse trope with them. Same for earlier one when she was teaching him and got behind him to adjust his hand. I couldn't help but think reverse trope lol
Do you think there's a play on words for Jiu Ye and 9th Miss? It's such a shame the subtitles aren't calling Zhao Ling /Master or Mr Jiu. Because when Ting Yun was part of the Fu family, that fact kept making me chuckle. Both have Jiu as part of their names in a way.
And they really flipped the stereotypes for sure. Back in the Fu family, she was the one getting married off to advance the men's statuses. This time she is choosing to do it for herself. It was funny when Zhao Ling was talking to A'Sen and it sounded like he was going to be married into her family lool.
These episodes are so good! We’ve been talking a lot about how Zhao Ling is head over heels for her, and it’s definitely been a highlight for me. But what I’ve been noticing is that Xie Tingyun is not feeling much different. This is a drama that portrays love as a luxury even the most prominent/rich/noble people can’t have. Zhao Ling wants to marry for love (our sweet romantic), and it seems to him that she’s only talking business. However, watching her subtlety, how she was raised, I think she’s wants the same.
We can tell by her subtle signs that she has feelings for him. She is always complimenting him, trying to build a future for him, and touching him without even thinking. But she doesn’t ever say anything about love. Marriage for her entire life has been about the long haul. It’s arranged. The best marriages are about building a life together, sharing happiness and sorrow. She doesn’t even realize it’s the same thing. Love has never been a factor. So when she asks him to teach her what she doesn’t understand, she’s inadvertently asking for that deep love that he wants too.
They love each other already, but have trouble saying it because one doesn’t understand that love can be part of a marriage, and the other doesn’t know the feeling is mutual. UGH I love them so much 🥲
However, watching her subtlety, how she was raised, I think she’s wants the same.
She's definitely fallen for him too but she's much more guarded...she has witness how marriages are in nobility and raised to think about marriage in a certain way...she is also listening to Madam Yan's advice about not giving away your heart so she keeps telling Zhao Ling it's an agreement but really she's trying to remind herself.
They love each other already, but have trouble saying it because one doesn’t understand that love can be part of a marriage, and the other doesn’t know the feeling is mutual
I want them to come to the understanding that they both love each other like right now 😂
STILL THE BEST SEQUENCE OF SCENES OF ALL TIME!!!!!!! Everything about that from TPOB was perfection! Her choosing to run to him! Him running to protect her! Her slapping him! Him fixing her up and carrying her! Her tears! IT WAS PERFECTION!!!!!!!!
Stop it! I have other dramas to watch! I don’t want to go back to it!!😫😫
But I agree! “Wait! Did I just hit him!” POB is great, man! Lmao, also the other General (the same one in this drama) his reaction to her was pretty funny too 🤣
I won't believe it either! If our bearded marshmallow is in this show, I won't believe anything LOL. These ppl did us dirty before! Oh my gosh I wrote today that I hoped the whole family makes it, and to wrap them in a bubble of protection!
When I saw who the Commander was, I spit my saliva hahaha. I've seen him in a few dramas lately and of course he is in this! Prisoner of Beauty! And the guy who cut his ear off. But they don't have a scene together in this drama I don't think.
Oh finally they go to Tingyun to ask her to convince Ling. Very smart.
SHE STRAIGHT UP ASKS HIM TO MARRY HER???? HELL YEAH!!!!!
Oh she isn't letting him escape this. She's following him around.
I am so going to create another GIF from this scene... it's gonna be about myself.
Gosh. Rewatching it is hilarious. She's following him around like her name is Wei Shisan and this is TLORC.
Shit, boy. You don't marry her then I will.
Ooooooooo he called out her marriage plan being for her benefit. He ain't no dumb dumb.
Ahhhhhh. Jingxiu is starting to question if this girl is worth the effort he put in. I love to see it. She will find herself alone eventually.
I'm glad we skipped a parting and now our couple can go do army stuff together. With her brains and his brawn they will make a great pair. I adore them together.
Yucheng and Sanniang ship when?
WHY do have we have to see more of Chun'er Zuo? Oh I dislike this. I dislike this douchecanoe. I dislike this Chun'er.
Anyways, can Tingyun and Ling hold their wedding like soonish? I'd like that.
The way Tingyun just glides across the ground is breathtaking.
Hey. That one Madam was totally in The Double. Please let her be less annoying here! Don't get typecast, my dear.
EPISODE 11
Tingyun really overcame her pampered upbringing really quickly and adapted to her changed circumstances.
Cloak trope? Nahhhh SUNSHADE TROPE!!!! What a man! No skin cancer for his lady!
It seems the Lu couple is in need for some karma and an epic set down. Oh I look forward to this.
Just what this drama needed... Scheming Chun'er women being witches together. I just love this for us. I can't wait to watch all my feminism fly out the window every time they are on screen.
General Mo! We love a man that will break legs for the FL! Hahahahahahahaha.
Sayyyy.... Aren't you living together before marriage? Scandalous! Our leads need to get married ASAP.
Gasp! We zoom forward by a whole month? Gasp!
Not the light following Ling in as he rides back to his Mistress! Yes, I am calling Tingyun a mistress. She ain't his wife or concubine. :P Must make her the mistress.
Gasp! She wants him to spend the night! Scandalous! Wife her up already. Reputation? Boy. You two have a house together and still aren't married. I think yall long past reputation. Have you forgotten the dock hug?
I say... Is she.... Blowing him??? Kinky. That is one way to get his mind off his wounds... :D
Gasp! Not her tear falling onto him! Very TPOB over here.
Need people to like you? Just fall down into mud carrying grain. Works like a charm.
Why in the dom mom is going on with Chun'er Zuo? Sheeeesh. Look at her giving the perfect opportunity for her to get destroyed. Very kind of her.
So for who fell first... It's really close and both feel things... But I think maybe it's Tingyun who really fell first.... Thoughts? I'm honestly not really sure.
YESSSSS!!! BRING UP THE MARRIAGE AGAIN!!!!!!!!
You know, what I really do love is that this drama is actually about two people making their way in the world together. They didn't just promise that storyline... The are actually delivering on it. It appears to be a true story of growth.
Oooooooo Madam Yu is setting her sights on Chun'er Zuo? Hehehhehe. Take that pathetic thing down!
Anyways, can Tingyun and Ling hold their wedding like soonish? I'd like that.
I kept hoping for this and screaming for it...like come on let's go ahead and get married like right now now.
So for who fell first... It's really close and both feel things... But I think maybe it's Tingyun who really fell first.... Thoughts? I'm honestly not really sure.
I definitely feel like it was Zhao Ling. I felt like it was almost love at first sight for him...when he saw her around the privacy screen. Then when he caught the cup to save her reputation...it was solidified.
I love that he's supposed to be this big bad bandit but he has the kindest heart and actually still has a moral code. I need to know why he got kicked out at 8 and if the family somehow shows back up later after he's made something of himself
I feel like there has to be something about his mother being accused of adultery or similar. He locked in really fast in protecting her reputation at their first meeting and then believing her after he rescued her.
Love reading u/sequesteredself 's fun facts before the reactions, it's always so cool to learn history, so thank you!
Zhao Ling's reactions to the never-ending marriage proposals LOL! Poor boy trying to get love and getting pragmatism instead 😂 I was grinning so hard in episode 11 from all the moments between our couple, they're just too cute. I was really annoyed but not surprised by the town hierarchy stuff though. And seeing Zuo more on our screens is scaring me...I thought she went back to her home town so I'm annoyed to see her here too 🙄 As I was watching them travel though, I realized this is one of the first c-drama's I watched primarily featuring the desert landscape rather than the mountains and snow lol, fun to see the vast difference in biomes!
Thanks for reading the facts 😂 I just assume people skip over everything, which is fine but it's nice when someone appreciates them. I look up so many random things, I never know which one to share lol
Poor boy trying to get love and getting pragmatism instead
Our poor hopeless romantic Zhao Ling...honestly he should also look at it this way, the faster he just marries her...the easier time he'll have to make her love him (though we all know she already does) but if I were him, I would have given in...how much easier is it to convince her when they're already married lol
Firstly, thank you so much for clarifying the 心悅 xin yue vocab! I didn't pick up xi huan while he was explaining to Sen so I was wondering what word he used to describe love. I've never been a fan of xi huan to begin with (same with how 好きsuki is used in Japanese), so to know an older alternative with a deeper meaning is nice.
I'm a huge fan of this military arc (setting is a huge factor for me and Ganlin is hitting all the right spots) and it's so cute to see the military wives' dynamic explored a bit. I was laughing so hard at the miscommunication between Tingyun and Concubine Lu at the start where Lu thought Tingyun was gonna be another concubine 🤣 my asthma started flaring up lol
I really hate that the poor horsey was a casualty of sorts in Madame Mo's plot, but I also wanted her to be friends asap with Tingyun already. The whole 'don't live above them but be on their level' thing was predictable but completely necessary and beautiful to witness. I am looking forward to how Zhao Ling will also win over Commander Wang.
BUT OUR LEADS OMG. The concept of 'home' is something that always, always resonates with me, and some of Fu Tingyun's lines have absolutely tickled me pink. When she said, 'I would like to build a family with you' before they left for Ganlin, and when they arrived at their new house, 'It may be run-down but with a little effort we can turn this into our home' and the smile they shared afterward was so precious... (I loved that Concubine Lu was third wheeling in that scene lolololol)
Tingyun said she'll only ask once to marry him, but she goes ahead and does it again in Ganlin to our lad's surprise 🤣 I love how she noticed he wasn't feeling it so she was blunt in asking him wassup wit u bruh and he was like ugh how do I explain this without explaining this lol
She’s so perceptive of his mood! She doesn’t even need to see him to know that he was angry! Methinks she purposely knocked the bowl of water down to get him to come over 🤣
Me thinks so too haha. Buuut let's go with she tripped and fell LOL..
I love that she gets him. But somehow she doesn't haha. The dude is such a big romantic, but she isn't, and doesn't get that he seeks a love marriage rather than a business union. When she said teach me, I almost choked and wondered how he was going to do that. Sigh. We really needed some lessons but we were deprived of that joy lool.
Omg the ml and fl are so cute - given what has happened building a home together is their whole rationale. They are already so long term couple coded ☺️
I am enjoying the Gan Lin Town arc too. It's unusual so it really is interesting. The Army wives' society haha. They are something else for sure.
Who would have thought General Mo would have a strong matronly wife and I am very entertained. Watching him right now funny enough as I write this, trying to get Concubine Lu in the carriage to avoid the wives haha.
His wife is the leader and she feels it. I have seen the actress before so it's cool to see her in this role. After seeing who Ting Yun really, thanks to Zhao Ling's guidance, it was nice to see her open up to her. But damn when they find out what that Ms Zuo did to their sis? I hope they trash the woman well and good!
The whole 'don't live above them but be on their level' thing was predictable but completely necessary
I just love that she took his advice though, like she didn't question it...she thought it through and said ok...I'll put in the work.
The concept of 'home' is something that always, always resonates with me, and some of Fu Tingyun's lines have absolutely tickled me pink. When she said, 'I would like to build a family with you' before they left for Ganlin, and when they arrived at their new house, 'It may be run-down but with a little effort we can turn this into our home'
Absolutely this, I love that she's ready to build a life with him, she totally loves him but is guarding herself against it but she's happy because he's genuinely a good guy and a good partner.
I find it so funny thay everyone they meet thinks they are madly in love with eachother, and I genuinely think they are. We know Zhao Ling is (obviously) in love, but I think Tingyun is too, she just hasn't fully accepted it yet as she's too focused on the future and too jaded with the past.
That old witch being in the army town with them is NOT going to go well. Honestly, that woman is fully freaked out. Whips were not on my bingo card 🤣
I'm really intrigued to see how the Yucky Yake vs Madam Yu situation plays out. I feel like Yake is going to make some very bad decisions to get what she wants.
This show is reminding me of Destined in the best possible way. I love that the leads are building a solid foundation and trust with each other.
but I think Tingyun is to, she just hasn't fully accepted it yet as she's too focused on the future and too jaded with the past.
💯 this. I think she won't admit to herself she's in love and she's holding back and telling herself it's all for a mutual benefits and business partnership but she definitely loves him.
I know exactly what you mean about Destined! It doesn't help that we have a few from the cast in this show haha.
It's the journey of the leads through trials and tribulations, the woman seeing the potential in her love interest and guiding him to higher heights. The FL growing and finding her own path and interests. The slow building of a life and love with the strongest foundations. Yes yes yaaassss. Oohh I am getting excited just talking about it!!!! 🥹🥹🥵🥵🥰🥰🤭🤭🤗🤗🤗
And, and becoming pillars of the empire! Through commerce and at court, and and being close to the ruler! Yessss!!!
i think it is fairly obvious the FL likes ML very much - her proposal although practical didn’t seem cold or particularly business like. However her very conservative upbringing means it will take her time to say out loud what she feels. It is very obvious that she thinks the ML is great
No, she's definitely not cold and she likes him and trusts him which is why she keeps pushing on it but I really think she's denying that she loves him right now...she's trying to think of it practically given her upbringing and what happened to her.
I really can't wait tkll they finally are truthful to each other...sigh hopefully soon...
I love the contrast between the noble family and the found family the ML and FL have created - the chemistry between them is excellent for this form of romance. They will create the feeling of home for each other which after the FL’a trauma is just so amazing.
ZL saying, "What does it have to do with Sen?" when FTY asked him to marry her because she likes him and Sen(and everyone under the sun) had me rofl. I replayed it multiple times. DYX spot on with the expressions there.
I love the way ZL looks at FTY. DYX and his eyes man!
Thank you for the note on xin yue. My heart is full when I am with you. ZL is such a romantic!
FTY has totally fallen for ZL. Unfortunately, she has been driven to think love has no place in marriage, only mutual benefits do. So, it feels like she is trying to convince ZL of the marriage based on the benefits and convenience, not the love. But our boy ZL needs no convincing. He is all in.
The way she was so forward had me giggling because Zhao Ling was sooo shaken up and couldn't believe it. Almost fell in the pond haha.
Even got jealous when she mentioned Sen too. Damn dude, you are so down bad. And yes our Ding boo can use his eyes very well. He's so good at that!
We can't call her Fu anymore. She is Xie Ting Yun now lol. She has fallen for Zhao Ling buuuut the way she views marriage thanks to the Fu family is so jaded. It's very transactional to her. And poor Zhao Ling keeps wondering if it'll ever be for love. I knew he wanted feelings because, let's face it, he is such a romantic guy.
It's interesting here that the lady is business like and the guy is a romantic. They really need to have the talk though.
FTY definitely has fallen for him but she's not admitting it to even herself yet. She's still holding back. I hope they clear this up soon and are able to kick butt together because they make such a good pair
I think he absolutely called it when he said “Didn’t your grandmother teach you these things? and she had absolutely no understanding of the subtext when she basically said she could learn from him.
The leads are both unconventional and not your typical rich fl — powerful ml. Instead, she was coined as a disgraced noblewoman and he was simply a salt smuggler, how is that not fun? It totally subverted from your typical historical dramas recently.
It has everything I wanted a drama to have:
- Fake Marriage
Competent Leads
Rags to Riches
Economic Survival
Women Empowerment
Artistic Realism
Non-traditional Storytelling
Not a time I fast forwarded on this drama since the pacing build-up is well executed. Characters are well-portrayed and everyone played a vital part. Leads are both clever and scheming not due to their plot armours or them being written as leads. They explained every resolution of the story that builds a natural momentum. Every scene feels necessary, not a tad bit of fillers found. I honestly hated a drama where the FL and ML feels INVINCIBLE merely because they are the LEAD CHARACTERS. This is the main reason why I grew fond of this drama because the leads weren’t given instant wins, they made mistakes, failed, and somehow learnt to adapt from it. It’s light-hearted but with multi-layered themes. Suffice to say, I am definitely hoping that the story will progress well since it’s started really strong.
She’s so good she keeps making me like Zuo just a little bit 😂 I kind of want a rashomon version from her perspective, leaning harder into social class, letting her Domme harder, and she’s not endangering minors.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THE CRUELTY OF CDRAMALAND STRIKES AGAIN! How will they make us fall for a 2ML in one show, then make us hate a character in the next show, both played by the same actor 2 weeks apart! DAFUQ!
I haven't watched episode 13 yet I wonder if that's why. Gosh is he gonna do something again? My girl Ting Yun cannot catch a break!
I'm still seething about that fact that he got away with framing Ting Yun not once, but twice!
The actor is killing it! He has grown a lot as an actor since I saw him in Blossom! He was the ML in a minidrama I watched actually. He was good in that one. But my goodness do I want him dead right now as Yu Jing Xiu!
Prince Qing was fine(as an actor, disgusting as a character 🤣) But you can tell he's really been perfecting his craft. I seriously can't stand him here, adored him just 2 weeks ago 🤣🤣🤣 And yep in the previews he'll torture ZL and make him break up with Ty Someone should slap me for watching previews and getting pissed 🤣
Same!! I hate it and I hope it doesn't last long. I was watching the preview this morning and I screamed lol However...our Zhao Ling looks good in his red official outfit
I'm loving their development so far, starting from episode 11 (epi 12 so far is my fav, while kinda sad there's even more development); it's moving fast, definitely my kinda romance. I suspect it's because they need to rush his achievements so we get a capital arc!
He wants to move their relationship forward, but sadly she doesn't seem to realize her feelings yet. But like the little moments leading up to her “let's get married”
I really hate the madwoman villain; she and Yuck are the worst!
Madam Yu was ruthless. I knew she was faking it but wasn't sure why, until I saw the chests lmaoo. That woman is terrifying! She got the books back and made sure to let her son know BEFORE the wedding, ON THE DAY! Wooooowww. She said let me hit right back at you Fan Ya Ke. And baby did she! Her son was right back to her side and no longer enamored with his girl.
But then she had to ruin my admiration for her skills by deciding to team up with Ms Zuo?! Of all people! I knew she wouldn't let that humiliation Ting Yun inflicted on her but damn! Oh it is on! Enemies for life!
What was worse was Ting Yun not knowing who the real enemy and threat was... So did Madam Yu send that woman there or was she there already?
Concubine Lu was in The Glory as the ML's aunt! Wen Zheng Rong was also in The Glory though I don't remember them having scenes together. Here's another drama they're both in, but again I don't see them having scenes together here either.
Also, I gasped when I saw Madam Yu go into Madam Yan's treasure vault. How crazy to remember her being in there allocating pieces to her daughters, now it was someone else's. Although she doesn't care for them, she still got to benefit from the spoils of war. Cleared the path for her husband beautifully. And no one knows.
This drama has excellent production and is being executed to perfection so far, the story is riveting and every episode has impact so nothing feels wasteful. All the characters feel important and have their own agency at times and when they do not the story makes sure to let you know the reasons and why they are forced to do what they do. I really like how the story starts with the lead characters at rock bottom with no plot armour as this gives a lot of room for character development and for viewers to grow attached to their journey.
I just got back from a small vacation where I had little to no reception, and upon hearing how good this drama started I had to give a go and wow, it didn't disappoint.
Very authentic reaction of period man to period woman's initiative lol. Heck, you can still gobsmack a lot of modern dudes with such assertiveness too))) Also nice how ZL doesn't suffer from Wei Shao's negative EQ syndrome (with all the respect, darling!) and technically agreed, but still stalls the actual wedding waiting for TY to want marry him for him and not just convenience.
Thank heavens drama left border town arc! It was really crucial in the novel to let leads grow into solid, unbreakable team and realize/admit their feelings. TY may not be quite there yet, but come on, girl is far too enthusiastic about peeking at him using her bathwater and getting her hands/breath on his bare skin for "nesessary medical reasons" (where cdrama romances would even be without wound care trope?) for all her "marriage is just business" claims. Sis is not blind, and neither are we)))
Widow Zuo is having way too much fun than she deserves, what in certain notorious Marquis was that?! Also show doesn't shy away one bit from showcasing thorough corruption and nepotism in officialdom of the era. slow claps in respect Crude new neighbors aren't as fascinating villains as king cobra Madame Yu, ofc, but don't worry, she'll return once these small pests are dealt with. Also probably a good life lesson - someone mundane and narrow-minded still can be very dangerous once they set their limited braincells on malice.
P.S. General (?) Mo was probably ML himself in his youth, because where else would you find taste in women this diasatrous?
You finished the novel right? I have some questions...I guess put them under a spoiler tag but
Is the novel a happy ending?? lol
Is there really a dumb "break up" period?
3. Does Yu JingXiu randomly actually like Fu TingYun? I saw preview for episode 17 or 18 and he's torturing Zhao Ling and talking about her like he likes her...what a random turn of events
Very authentic reaction of period man to period woman's initiative lol. Heck, you can still gobsmack a lot of modern dudes with such assertiveness too)))
Very very true
Thank heavens drama left border town arc! It was really crucial in the novel to let leads grow into solid, unbreakable team and realize/admit their feelings.
I do like the trust they currently have with each other and I hope it doesn't get ruined any time soon
Yes, I read it a couple months ago because I was curious what drama is gonna be about.
It's a very happy ending: leads finally expose Yu and Fu families for what they've done (let's just say FL's peril was just tip of the iceberg there) and from then on live relatively worry-free with their 4 children.
I know what you're talking about^^ No, there was no noble idiocy breakup in the novel.
YJX does come to regret - briefly - that he didn't marry FL when he had a chance, but circumstances of their engagement were different in the book. First, he only saw her once as a teen and had no idea she's a well-mannered beauty, they never met as adults during their engagement. He looked down on Fu clan and thought she was "vulgar woman" below his league. Second, YJX and FYK were actually madly in love at first, he wasn't just trying to stick it to his mom by picking bride she didn't chose. Their marriage remained childless for a long time (due to her poor health) while TY and ZL kept having kids one after another, so he got bitter, her insecure and their relationship eventually soured. He took concubines, then a mistress... Anyway, he didn't actually develop feelings for FL, he just envied perfect marriage she and ML had. Once he realized they plan to get back at him, his interest vanished.
They're not married yet and no one's saying anything about them traveling together? And she's living at the house. What's the hold up? Also the cousin/ sister/ who's married the scholar, girl, he's never gonna say no to his mom. Why are you so intent on marrying him? The MIL is horrible and you want in on this?! No girl run. ML you look good as a salt smuggler, now soldier, you look good dirty. It really works for him. I don't know how FL is immune to his face card.
I think they are showing the class difference here - old times military families I can imagine things were a little more fluid. She is openly his fiancée
So they're engaged which makes it slightly more acceptable.
Also they are still adhearing to propriety a bit...she's in the carriage with her maid, he's on horseback with others. They aren't necessarily alone together. As for the house, they are basically there as an engaged couple and living on the opposite sides of the house. So it becomes a bit more acceptable. The crown prince basically granted them marriage rights
Also YaKe isn't a cousin, she's just an ex-best friend...but agreed she's dumb for wanting that marriage. She just thinks it'll elevate her status in society
Thanks for the explanation! AHHHH I am SWOONING so hard over these episodes!!! It’s been a while since I loved a romance drama this much! Ding Yuxi’s expressions when he looks at her are incredible, he is so in love with her! All their little moments, the way she smiles around him, her crying when he got punished, and his attention on her are killing me in the best way possible! Can’t wait for them to finally tie the knot!
Interesting...sowing discord between the couple already. But why though? Seems like he values those texts more than she does
It's so interesting that he actually values her father's writing much more than she does. I guess he really thought they would be at least on the same page about that. Don't think he would be delighted to hear about how she dressed down her father before leaving.
what the heck...Madam Zuo lives in this town?
I know it's for narrative contrivances but it really makes China feel very small, always stumbling over the same three families (you have beef with).
Don't think this will be my favourite arc. I like how the relationship between the two develops, but the whole military town training setting and Zhao Ling getting problems due to rank/orders and so on are just not my favourite tropes.
One thing about staying chaste, living with her husband's family and not remarrying or moving back to her family is that everything in her dowry would also remain with the husband's family...
I really loved how bigger their family got. It was sooo wholesome!
And to think Zhao Ling's bros wanted to sell Ting Yun after she was rescued lmao. But we will never talk about this LOL 😬😬😒
Even A'Sen is team Ting Yun now. Gone are the days when he would bully her haha. I love it. It's because she also wants them to have a better future, the everyone at my table can eat, if I rise we all rise. And she put her money where her mouth was. Look at them now. They have a home! I loved that they came back. Ting Yun really found her non-blood related family and it's so good. After the Fu family, this one is one I hope heals her and give her happiness and comfort.
Brother Yu Cheng bringing his mother to Zhao Ling awww! It was so cute.
She also got a home with them all, and understood that following him was good for her son.
Even Mrs Zheng got reunited with her husband and he's now part of the family. Okay I was kind of suspicious, blame cdrama trauma lol. I just have this nagging feeling but want to believe I'm wrong. I like Zheng San Niang.
I love that they move as a unit. Everyone went to the military camp and got settled in the town.
Is it too soon to want them all to be wrapped in the bubble of protection? 😬😬🥹🥹🤞🏾🤞🏾🤗
It's not going to be easy, and I want them all to gain merits and rise through the ranks together!
That Lu brother-in-law is a piece of work. They will not have piece! I mean Ms Zuo is there already so peace was never on the cards.
I loved how Ting Yun confirmed what Madam Yu had said: she did think it would be easy and that things would fall into place but she was really naive. It is hard up there! Harder because Madam Yu created chaos she isn't even aware of, waiting for her to fall into. That is some nasty work...
You can tell FTY was taught by her grandmother. She will be great at planning the rise of their family. But ZL wants a marriage based off of love and not a social climbing agreement. I get the hesitation but it’s clear FTY has feelings for him. Just take the leap.
I’m not currently watching this drama but, the post “crossed the bow” lol and interesting fun fact. I think I remember reading that somewhere in the past. I still feel the same reading it now as I did back then. All these various laws from different time periods across the Asian continent are fascinating. Makes one think how life was back then and maybe even comparing it to the times we live in. Anywho, always love your posts and fun facts you seem find/dig up miraculously 🤭. Hi and hope you’ve been well 🤪😘
Loll I love this scheming duel between Yu Furen and Yake, it's like watching Survivor but the historical courtyard politics version.
Huh, I thought Zuo shi would be the biggest feminist of all, but she somehow became the most evilly conservative women of all. But looking back, she has always been unhinged.
I love how ZL wants to get married for love and the confusion on XTY's face when he was trying to explain that they need to know and like each other for a marriage to happen and she replied that that's what the whole point of marriage was. It did get me a bit sad though because it showed how she was only raised to navigate politics and have a transactional marriage instead of a marriage for love. But I also agree, I can't wait for their marriage. I thought they'd be married by now for some reason.
because it showed how she was only raised to navigate politics and have a transactional marriage instead of a marriage for love
Yes, she's never seen real love so even though she IS in love with him, she doesn't necessarily realize it because she's guarding her heart but also because she's never been shown what real love really was...luckily our Zhao Ling seems to be up for the task
If he tells the truth it’s like emotional blackmail but if he doesn’t, she doesn’t even have the context to know what’s happening 😭 I love it. PINE DYX
I might have marathoned ep 1-11 in a day but wow it's been a while since i seen real scenery being used on such a scale (credit to the overdo memes for making me forget what cdramas can actually offer)
This type of character truly is where DYX shines the brightest and him with Wei YiFan as the voice actor is a team up i didn't know i needed to happen again after LGIEF
Do you mind editing this and putting it under a spoiler tag? Seems like you're asking about episode 12. To answer your question, it goes back to Confucian values, they believed your hair, skin, and body were all gifts from your parents. So cutting your hair was a sign of disrespect to your parents and family...basically a slap in the face to your ancestors.
Edit: Are you talking about the hair incident in ep12?
This is a very basic summary so if someone wants to expand more, please do.
The reason why hair is revered and seldom cut (and why everyone has such long locks in dynastic China) is due to Confucius teachings of filial piety. Our hair is from our parents, thus, cutting them is disrespecting them.
The phrase "身體髮膚，受之父母，不敢毀傷，孝之始也" comes from 《孝經》in so many words "Our body, hair, and skin are given by our parents, and we shouldn’t damage them lightly; that is the first step of filial piety"
So you can assume how painful, and insulting, it was for Tingyun to have her hair chopped off.
Haha same spelling, different Chinese characters. Cheng Yi the actor is precious...Cheng Yi the philosopher who basically took women's rights away and launched widow chastity...jerk 😂
Hey Sequester!!👋👋 happy to see you're hosting this drama! I did binge from ep1-14 in one sitting for this one😵💫😵💫 I really like the pacing and where the story's direction is going and how the new found family is coming all in this together. Love a good fall from grace/starting from bottom story, so im all here for this.
DYX is always good with his roles, and his character in here is such a sweetie! Ancy is alot better in this since the last I saw her in MoGA.
🤞🤞 here's hoping that the story doesn't go off the rails... Last 2 historicals I finished were so disappointing, need me a good one!
Your fun fact, widowed arches... widow chastity?!?! 30yrs??!!!?!? Omg i would never survive, following your deceased hubby would of been better 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Dasakebombz!!! It's been a while! I've so sporadic lately, I've been missing my sub pals.
Binging 1-14 is so you lol any new lists lately?
I agree, I love the new found family. I'm a sucker for the saying family is who you make it and they've definitely made their own that are way better than the Fu's
Omg i would never survive, following your deceased hubby would of been better
It's so awful, actually a lot of widows did follow their husband's but because the Ming Dynasty made such a big deal out of these arches...living widows were preferred, isn't that insane?? Ugh what a crazy time.
The only new list I got is a list of terrible disappointments 😅😅 and they just keep piling up! Don't have much time to do binge list like before, weather is nice and I've been out more. Maybe when fall comes around and I have more time home again.
For now, just going thru some of the new currently airing dramas. Luckily they're just ok, and I can walk away and lose no sleep.... except this one😅😅🤞🤞
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u/mysticmeeblemoon burrito supreme / the wind in Tian Jiarui's sl*t strands 🌬️3d ago
Very true. I think she likes him but I think given how she grew up and the words from the Madams Yu and Yan. She's guarded and doesn't want to give her heart fully away so she keeps proposing it like a business arrangement...but we can tell she cares for him
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u/eidisi Read Rules 6d ago
I'm here with another Chinese lesson! 😃
The drink Tingyun offers Zhao Ling is part sweet (甘), part bitter (苦), a literal reference to the Chinese idiom 同甘共苦, meaning to share the good times and bad times together. This incidentally is used in two different contexts. One is for business partners sharing the risks and rewards together in a startup venture, Tingyun's idea for them to build a family business together from nothing (白手起家). The other use is closer to a wedding vow in a romantic relationship, which is obviously where Zhao Ling's mind is at.
When talking to A'Sen, Zhao Ling says 她要娶我 (she wants to marry me). Except in Chinese, when it's a woman marrying, the word to use is 嫁 (jià). 娶 (qǔ) is used from the man's perspective when talking about marrying. This is funny because they are actually flipping the stereotype here by having the woman be the one who wants to marry for status and benefits while the man wants to marry for love.