gracebkk

Yes, according to the novel, that's what happens.

I feel like the reason why Shiyi is adamant about it is because she knows that she has a supporter in Xu Lingyi. As you guys said, she was ready to give it up if the family didn't want her to continue her dealings with Xian Pavilion. However, Xu Lingyi told her that she can do what she likes as long as he's still around. I have a feeling that's where she got her bravery from. Plus, I have a feeling she also feels indebted with the teacher because the teacher was kind of like her "saviour" when she was younger (she didn't have a happy childhood in that family, remember)? The teacher was also the one who asked her to help out with the store. And since she regards Xian Pavilion as her home, it made her feelings even stronger (thus the reason why she didn't want to let it go).

Wowwww. James Bond concept? They look so good here! So sophisticated!!!

Thanks @panda-pop Wasn't this part actually kind of hilarious? Like, they always trick him. But he always fall for it. I mean... Even the stupidest person should be able to recognize it after getting tricked again and again. Then again, Houye & Shiyi are great actors. Plus, no one would have realized that their trust & love for each other are bone-deep. Btw, aside from all the angst in ep 37-42, I was really happy to see Houye wearing so many other coloured robes! Super flattering & makes our Houye look so dashing!

Wow... ep 37-42 was such a ride. There were happy scenes, sad scenes, angst scenes.. Gosh.. How did this drama become so dramatic?! Please allow me to let off some steam.. >.< I'm sad that we only have 3 episodes to go. But looking back at this week's 6 episodes, I'm kinda glad they shortened the drama. Or else, we'll have more nervewrecking episodes.. I think this is good enough! Btw, some "sweet" scenes, like the scene where Shiyi played the instrument in the middle of the pond, hasn't come out yet right? I wonder what the 3 last episodes will be like since, based on the preview for ep44, it seems like Shiyi will get out soon? Not sure what happened, but it should be something good since the 4 members of Xu family (Houye, 5th brother, Danyang & MIL) were thanking because the emperor said something. I heard "1 month", "Shiyi" and "emperor" before those 4 started bowing and saying their thanks. Any ideas? PS: I'm glad I wasn't born then. I can't imagine not being able to do whatever I want and only being expected to give birth to children & taking care of the household+husband. And with those kind of in-laws? Goodness gracious.

Hahahaha.

There's also a picture on the drama's official Weibo where Concubine Qin is crying. The latest video they uploaded also showed But seeing from the image spoilers, I guess we'll see the downfall of both concubines? Then how did the prison scene come about? I can't figure it out!

Awwww. Why is Zhun Ge crying? And look at the fierce faces of Shiyi & Houye! Our beloved couple is united & becoming stronger together while parenting & protecting their kid!

wahhh!!! Really?!?!?! If it's true, I'll be soooo happy! I love their bed scenes, especially after those failed bed scenes before ep35 hahahaha. I need more!!!! Their sweetness is just off the roof when they're on the bed! (dun ask me why. I don't know as well. Ask Wallace or Tan Songyun instead lol) Agree. For some reason, Wallace looks much younger in historical dramas, most likely because of the hairdo, clothing and aura itself. In modern dramas, he looks much older (although he doesn't look like his real age). However, because the female leads he usually act with are much younger, there isn't really a balance between both of them. In The Sword and The Brocade, what worked was the fact that the plot itself required Houye to be someone much older/mature than Shiyi. Also, Wallace (dressed in historical garb) really looks dashing and manly in these clothings, whereas Shiyi really looks sweet and mature (props to Tan Songyun for bringing the best out of Shiyi and successfully acting as someone very calm/smart/mature. I think this is her first time doing such a role right?).

Wait.. There's another brown one? How many brown/old rose-coloured clothes/robes does Houye own? How come I remembered it as the same one? Oopsss... hahahaha Btw.. I wonder if we're going to get another bed scene? I mean.. they did the deed in ep 35, and then in ep 36, they had the talk on the bed. And yes, we have a lot of sweet scenes between them. But I LOVE their bed scenes. Feels super romantic. Can we have another bed scene? T.T For some reason, it feels like we won't get another kiss/bed scene between Shiyi & Houye – just hugs & forehead kisses. Noooooooo T.T

Yep, this one. Like, for some reason, his chest area looks too tight and his shoulders look too droopy when he wears this one, unlike when we wears the darker-coloured robes.

Gosh... Those pics of Houye in back are just.... Can he wear more of those clothes? Or is it a no-go now because Houye is too happy? That brown robe really doesn't flatter his body. It looks too droopy somehow.. :(

I honestly have no idea what they're watching... It's either I've been watching it all wrong or they've been watching it all wrong. And seeing from what the majority are saying, I don't think I've been misunderstanding anything lol. Shiyi is such a strong women & a sweetheart. Why would anyone hate her (except for that instance where she doubted Houye. But then again, she's still so young and hasn't seen much of the world yet, unlike Houye, so we can give her some slack there, yea?)? You know.. I'm wondering... why was madame Luo so mean to Shiyi's mom & Shiyi? Is it because the dad seems to love Shiyi's mom (hence, madame Luo was jealous?)? I remember when they returned to Luo mansion in ep1, the dad seemed very happy but then he had to curb it down because madame Luo was glaring at him. Is that why madame Luo always slighted Shiyi's mom & Shiyi?

Yes they will! According to the stills that are around, they have a daughter?

Oh gosh... Don't remind me of this one. Didn't the leads in Yunxi consummate their marriage by the second last episode or something before that noble idiocy ending? lol. At least Houye and Shiyi wasn't like that *phew*. And the fact that they did it in the beginning of ep35 and not the end means we get 11 eps of Houye & Shiyi together (well.. let's also count the prison scene as being together because we know they're tight in terms of their feelings).

I'm really surprised with the Luo brother though. How can someone who grow up with that kind of a mom become such a great brother? Even Yuanniang wasn't that nice – she might not have treated Shiyi and Erniang badly when she was "dying", but if she was really that nice, she would have protected Shiyi when Shiyi and her mom was being punished because of her when they were young. In the case of Luo brother (I don't know his name.. lol), I really love seeing him trying to protect all his sisters without caring whether or not his sister is a concubine's daughter. And to pair with this really kind brother, his wife is also really nice – not pretentious at all. Such a rare couple to find, especially during those days when both men & women are all wolves in sheep's clothing – they act like they're all nice but they're actually ready to backstab you from behind.

I wonder if Erniang could have had a happier/better marriage with Wangyu had she not deceive him? Although he'll still have his philandering ways, I feel like he would have treated Erniang amicably, especially since Wangyu liked Erniang's looks. But because Erniang's reputation in front of Wangyu is somewhat tarnished already, Wangyu had no intention of being nice to her (since he was tricked in the beginning). I don't expect Wangyu to treat Erniang nicely, but at least, Wangyu wouldn't have harmed her that badly... What do you guys think? (To be honest, I skipped most of the Wangyu & Erniang's scenes because these two just annoy me so much, so I might be thinking too good of them)

Oooo.. Zhang Han is usually good at these "overbearing boss" characters (reminds me of his character in Boss & Me). Based on the trailer, it seems cute. I like Xu Lu as an actress too – she was really good in Our Shining Days (the movie, with Peng Yu Chang), although I haven't seen her in any other dramas. I'll definitely put this one in my to-watch list, although I'll probably wait until there are more episodes. Thank goodness this airs every day though + it's on WeTV!

Thanks for this! I think this is a clip from Wallace's other drama though (General and I)? He looks a bit chubbier here (compared to in The Sword and The Brocade). And as for Tan Songyun's scene in the video, that's from Under The Power. So don't worry. :) I think we'll only see Shiyi getting "harmed" (although it won't really happen or else we won't have our HEA).

Which trailer was this? Can you share the link, if you still have it? Sounds just like me. What I love about this drama is how the plot flows well (& is logical (for the most part)!), the chemistry between the leads, the acting and the set + costume + directing (everything is so pretty on camera!). It also helps that everyone is casted correctly, so the only thing we have to do is enjoy it. I think that's why I love this drama – because all these elements easily made me feel immersed in the story. So tiny inconsistencies like the weather and the pregnancy length and whatnot is okay with me because they barely affect the plot (other than sequencing the time periods well). I have a feeling the reason why there's no winter in this drama is because it was really hot then (in the bts videos, you can see them holding a fan). Another possible reason is because it's not super important to the plot (like, it barely affects it) so the director/screenwriter saw no need for them to make that distinction? Nevertheless, I'm still enjoying this drama a lot so I'm very happy because it's not easy for me to find a drama I'm completely in love with (I'm quite picky, you see... Even having my favourite actor/actress in the drama isn't a strong enough reason to persuade me to watch/follow it if something feels lacking).

Mann.. I really thought it was only me who was feeling frustrated with the comments in MDL. It reached to a point where I went "are we really watching the same drama? how come what I understood and felt watching this drama is totally different from them?" lol. Glad to know I wasn't the only one then. ^^

Well.. Not sure if you watched up 35 yet, but Btw, did anyone else read the novel? I tried reading the novel using Google Translate and I must say, I'm loving all the changes the scriptwriter made to the novel. Like, for a novel, the plots the writer did was good. But for a drama, the changes the scriptwriter made made the drama much easier to digest and like. I honestly prefer the drama compared to the book (although I like both the novel and the drama). For instance,

I don't think that's Zhun Ge. I think that's the Xu Lingkuan's son right? Xu Shijie? Why do I have a feeling this is when Hu Po's misunderstanding will come to play (unknowingly to her)? Like, Qin will "use" Hu Po's misunderstanding about Houye & Dongqing to "try" and cause a rift between Houye & Shiyi. But we all know how much Shiyi trusts Dongqing & how strong Houye & Shiyi's relationship is so I doubt it'll work. Nope, but I doubt this will be the last time we see that separation letter. Somehow, I have this feeling that we'll see that later when the prison scene comes up. I'll be more than happy to be proven wrong though! :D I don't want them to divorce! T.T Yu Ge said so Shiyi "Mom. Zhun Ge is lost." – which is why after that scene, you see everyone panicking & trying to find Zhun Ge. I read somewhere that this was because the spy wanted to burn Shiyi's embroidery (which I think she embroidered it for someone in the palace aka a royalty?)

Did anyone else notice that ever since Hou Ye did the deed with Shiyi, he only/mostly wore his brown robe? Does it signify him being happy (since his relationship is now stable and all)? I miss him in black or blue though... He looked so good in those colours.

@SnT For me, I read the MTL version of the novel, and I must say, I really love the changes they made in the drama. Yes, the novel is good, but it only worked because they had an unlimited number of chapters to work with. As for the drama, especially with viewers with a modern mindset (e.g. 1 husband = 1 wife, no concubines, etc), I felt like the changes they made in novel perfectly combined the best of modern and old ideals – ultimately, still staying true to the period they were in while ensuring that they highlighted Shiyi & Lingyi's relationship growth. I also love how we could see the slow but steady development of their relationship – and imo, their problem that lead to the "separation" was perfectly done and will help them forge a stronger relationship – so, for the first time, I really didn't mind the angst (since it was so logically done and wrapped up in a clear way without dragging it for too long). All in all, I love both the novel and the drama – each of them have their own strengths and weaknesses, making it really hard to compare. But if I had to choose, I think I'll go with the drama (I mean... Lingyi only loves Shiyi in the drama and doesn't sleep with anyone else – ahem Qiao ahem – soooo... ^^).