IpohBanana

@SnT @Tofureally? Flooding the episodes? I tot I had to wait till next week. I suspect because this is top 10 on the list of webdramas, at least based on the v-linkage market data (as reported by a YTber). So, they must be cashing in on this, pay to watch advance episodes! The only problem???? I have 31-44 to watch for Dream of Chang An, also today! They are so adorable, thanks for the 'cooking and holding hands' video. This bashful behaviour that they are both displaying is really so, so endearing. I love them both to bits for it. oh, I just had a chance to look at the BTS you posted where @Tofu said he did well. Indeed! And he looks so happy that he did well. It's a very genuine look on his face, that sense of gratification for getting acknowledged. I hope through out his career, that part of him will stay, and he will always approach his work with that same attitude. Bi Wen Jun, hwaiting! @Tofu I watched E15&16, and I must say, it's really going well, things that aren't said by our OTP are being spoken by someone else. And the lack of clarity at least on the FL's side is being cleared up very nicely by the people around her. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Once again the cinematography is really beautiful for a web drama.

@SilverMoonTea wah really got to work his butt of leh. I suppose it's understandable, everyday on site has a cost, and as long as he can move around, they can still film, just upper body shots.

@40somethingahjumma oh dear, I just finished E29 & 30 and saw the preview for E31. Oh my, oh my, if you can imagine the typical TVB drama where the wise sage ponders on a dismal situation as he shakes his head and touches his long beard, in a gentle downward sweeping motion, that's how I am feeling right now. You know when we watch a drama, there's a phase where the plot takes a turn in favour of the antagonists, I like to call it 'The Empire Strikes Back' sequence, after the Star Wars trilogy. And today, it felt like The Empire really Struck Back, with all its might. My heart sank like a ton of bricks...it was bitter sweet, they were both incapacitated in bed together (if you've watched, you know why). And yet despite the physical comfort they had being next to each other, every other news that was delivered to them or to their 'allies' (loosely speaking) was a devastating blow. And the tears pouring down his face and hers, oh, that was really hard to watch. The ending scene between him and his brother was equally heart-wrenching. After watching the preview for E31, the only positive note I had was it felt like watching a movie trailer. The main thing missing were the words "Coming soon to a cinema near you" at the end of the trailer. Everything else was equally painful to watch. sigh. I hope this isn't going to be angst and pain from E31 all the way to E48, and then some glimmer of happiness in E49 (provided it's a HE) and if it's not then I will be speechless. I am not sure I have the courage to go on watching from this point on. If this is the route the drama is taking, then I agree that his PDA for CRY is 100% justified, for it will the few moments of happiness they both will enjoy. And the few moments as an audience that we are allowed to indulge in.

>> Yes, the angst is starting. I like the way it's being shot, very much like a movie. I think both of them are rather introverted and really shy, so neither is willing to take the initiative to clarify. But this shyness that they both exhibit instead of turning me off is rather charming, I must say. And for once I don't feel infuriated and wanna talk to my computer screen (or rather chastise the characters out loud). As for the Sweet On series, I have watched bits here and there of Crushed (because a YTber was charmed by it), that one is really slow burn. The ending for Love is Sweet, and of course Unforgettable Love. @SnT hhmm it does suggest that our ML will run off right? Yah, throwing in the angst that late on for UL was not very pleasant. Tbh, I still haven't watched those particular episodes.

@SilverMoonTea as @40somethingahjumma has pointed out, Mi Sha is of political/military importance, though I think being the sentimental person Qi Yan is, he is perhaps a little grateful for her affections, and her loyalty towards him in his time of need? On the other women in his life: Ze Ning, maybe she's really there to show a character whose behaviour is in stark contrast to CRY. Then again, I suppose in a drama, there is typically someone we want to cheer on and someone we love to hate. So, she could be the latter. Whereas Mi Sha wasn't that way, she was generous in her affections towards Qi Yan and even in her speech towards her love rival, CRY (telling her not to let any other woman steal him) - in that sense, her character is someone we won't love to hate, in fact I would see her as a reluctant supporter that I would respect. On the two sisters: I feel like fate/destiny may have been unkind to them, and yet, it's very rewarding as an audience to watch them work hand-in-hand. Blood is indeed thicker than water, and eventhough they know not their identities, they can't help but feel an afinity and the need to work together for a common cause. Despite representing two opposing forces, they trust each other. On our OTP: Like a moth to a flame? I think that's how I would describe Qi Yan's attraction towards CRY. She will be his weakness and he will beg QZL for her life (at least that's what the previews point at). And yet, he can't help but want to run to her anytime she is in danger. As @40somethingahjumma highlighted, the need to live a life he craves through her and the alllure of someone who believes 100% in him when everyone else scorns/sees him as incapable, is just too hard to resist.

@SilverMoonTea I cheated, I had English subs with WeTV premium. Without which I would have probably understood half or maybe even less, as this is costume drama. You are right, it looks like Cheng Xi made the right move in planting CRY by his side. He will go mad with grief and that's why he will once again plunge the sword, to return her, his one life for the many he took from her family. Sigh...I think these scriptwriters have run out of angsty parts other than plunging swords into their bodies or plunging swords into their other half's bodies (like in the case of Agarwood like Crumbs and Ashes of Love). And after 27 episodes, it finally dawned upon me why Qi Yan's voice sounded so darn familiar! It's Dong Hua Di Jun's voice from the Pillow Book. I was trying to figure it out for the longest time, and finally it hit me today as I was rewatching the latest episodes. I think the Voice Dubber is called Zhang Jie (who also dubbed for Allen Ren in UTP). I know right, she took it rather calmly when he announced that he was planning on marrying Li Ze Ning. I think in her mind, as she told her uncle, she has resolved to protect him and put her feelings aside. So in that sense, our dear girl is probably emotionally stronger, whereas with him, he is a real softy inside, and quite, quite hurt that Ze Ning turned him down when he needed her most. So that explains why a few episodes before this, he had a dream about her and was calling out her name - I was rather puzzled then and didn't know the backstory.

@SilverMoonTea @40somethingahjumma hhmm... ok there was some alone time for the duo and it was a very sweet confession on his part, just wish...

@40somethingahjumma I am almost certain it wasn't CRY's idea to announce her fake pregnancy. It would be the last thing on earth she would want to do, to hurt his reputation, or if not to jeopardise his already precarious situation of dallying with a Sword Bearer. You wishing that the Emperor would stop pushing her away, is like me wondering whether he thinks people around him are blind; it's clear as to how much she tugs at his heart strings and how he would go till the ends of the world just to protect her. Seriously man, if you want to protect her, then hide your feelings, and your actions ought to be synchronous with your speech, which ain't the case. You tell everyone that she's a sword bearer and even Li Ze Ning can tell it's clearly a lie. I wonder as Prince Guang was walking away in E26, (and we could hear his thoughts) what exactly he regretted? Passing CRY to Cheng Xi/ Qi Xi/ whatever she ought to be called? Or hiding it from the Emperor that he had saved at least one of the daughters? Or something else? Well I am off to have a date with the both of them now! Catch you all later.

@SilverMoonTeageez how many times does he want to stab himself??? Wah... like that also can ah? lol, the BGM for the 2nd video was from Moon Embracing the Sun, must be k-drama fan combi with C-drama fan.

omo, I didn't know it's the 2 of them again. Wah, whoever did the video must really like the both of them. So, clever, can find the matching scenes as well! Ok, I am definitely watching, the storyline seems acceptable as well.

Can I tease you both with this? @40somethingahjumma @SilverMoonTea I will be glued to the computer tonight. This is preview for E28. I think this has made up for all the moments he pushed her away, at least, for now. @Tofu patience , good things come to those who wait!

@40somethingahjumma @SilverMoonTea Sigh, my heart was aching for both the Emperor and Cheng Ruo Yu as they both had to deal with the Aunt's betrayal. One couldn't stand being lied to and the other didn't have the heart to betray her aunt. I suppose in all that time, it was one of the few moments he is being depicted as losing his cool and acting rather irrationally. It was also the only moment when he chased her away not because he wanted to protect her, but because he was really upset with her, at least from the point onwards when he realised he was in love with her. I just watched E25-26 and the preview for E27, and I am screaming at the preview, or at least with the direction of where it's going.

@SilverMoonTea hhmm... to be frank I would but a bit later when more episodes are released. I will be there to support Bai Lu. I know there are many fans of Allen Ren, I think he's ok but I won't watch specifically for him (I must admit I am dying to see him as a merman in BW, heh heh heh, just for the heck of it). For this drama, the story-line of a past and present does intrigue me, and I would wanna find out if in the modern portion, she does retain all her memories like in the novel - now that would be fun to watch.

@Tofu Maybe he thinks of Yi Yi as his sister's best friend or another "little sister"? He's not stopping her from seeing other men, but he does point out their flaws, why she deserves better, etc. I think in next week's episodes, he will realize his feelings and she will look at him as more than just a friend. >>> I suspect you will be right, that's typically how it will unfold. it would be good to see more of their conversations on Western/Eastern medicine. I find this piece intriguing about them. >>> That Chinese doctor who told her off to manage her lifestyle better before he would give her any medicine was quite funny to watch I'm partially worried what this second lead is going to do, how he's going to change things up. >>> I know right. I think Merxat is going to give Bi Wen Jun a run for his money. And I suspect our FL is going to feel a bit conflicted. Ai Jing Chu kind of stalked her by showing up at the movies and the club >>> hhmmm we may not have viewed him as kindly if it really looked like he was stalking. But I think he's puzzled as to why she hasn't told him any of those aspects about her and curious to know what she is hiding.

@SilverMoonTea Yup, I think that was the first time he called her that. Lol, I think in Chinese it's called 口是心非, saying one thing and doing another. Sigh, I am hoping it's a HE... I mean who on earth is going to be the Emperor if he dies? The Uncle? The weak looking Prince An? Or as he said, an entire line of young, insignificant princes? Hhmmm I have a date with September 1, thanks for the updated calendar! As for Prince Guang, Han Dong has done such a good job of being the villain, it's hard for us to believe that this time round he's genuinely a good guy (I think the others in this forum have been echoing the same thoughts). But either way, good or bad, Han Dong is awesome to watch (I am guilty of being more enthralled with him than Allen Ren in UTP, keh keh keh).

@Tofu i know, he has such longgggg legs. And really good looking. Deng Hao Ran really has a tough mouth but a soft heart. He was like that with Zeng Li, rude and all but when she was bullied, he came to her rescue. So, I was wondering too if he was interested in Yi Yi, the way he was always there for her. But what I felt was missing was any subtle looks/ tenderness in the way he looked at her. Mayhaps, he isn't aware or it's just his character. With Wu Ying, hhmm... well, he is at that age where he hasn't worked yet, so that gap, in real life, is likely to give rise to many issues. Of course this is reel life, so it won't appear as much. I agree, he doesn't appear immature, and there is this feeling that he mothers her instead. Quite hilarious to see someone at 21 telling the 27-year-old to sleep well, eat well, etc. Quite a juxtaposition! I find our ML and FL a bit more realistic (btw have you seen the scene with the car rocking that the FL has to drive past - that was really funny, yet real, and akward at the same time) than some other reel couples. And his bashfulness towards her is quite charming. I really enjoyed that scene where he read the book and they illustrated her supposed-growing-up-years, for us, it was very endearing and the tear sliding down his face, oohh that got to me. Can't wait for Monday .

@SilverMoonTea Yes, he knows who she is from her appointment information but I suspect he was highly suspicious of her, more so as he had that encounter with her in the forest. He's been trained to be highly wary of the people around him and he may have had a somewhat biased impression of how a Sword Bearer is supposed to be, based on her predecessor, Gongsun (something or other, can't recall the full name). He told someone that a Sword Bearer ought not to be so talkative, (maybe) more composed, and certainly less opinionated (to serve, and not to think). On the contrary, she defies all those qualities he thinks a Sword Bearer should have, so in the very beginning she rubs him the wrong way, and gives him the impression that she is not qualified for the job. Luckily though, he is smart enough to realise that despite being different, she is very willing to protect him and be guided by her true north (values), and he listens to what people around him have to say (especially Prince Guang). That is the turning point where he starts to accept her.

@SilverMoonTea @40somethingahjumma I really hope the ML doesn't die halfway, though I won't be surprised if he does. At the rate he keeps prioritising the FL, I can see him dying on her account. I've watched E16-20 and now am starting from the very beginning. I'm thoroughly enjoying how he falls for her and all her rash antics. I think her behaviour is really a breath of fresh air in that stuffy, uptight palace. In fact if she had been any more restrained, I don't think she would have caught his eye - it's truly because she speaks her mind, and says what she feels is right.

oic, thanks! There was a night gala? The original calendar only put one day, hhmm, not accurate then. What's the night gala - an event hosted by Iqiyi or a nation-wide event? So there should be some episodes tonight. yay! @40somethingahjumma super-duper agree, that was the most romantic prison scene.

Yes, I first saw him in A Class of Her Own playing the role that Soong Joong Ki took on in the Korean version. I felt he did well and I was quite, quite charmed (and he is 187 cm, Lee Min Ho's height, I have a thing for tall guys ). So, when I saw this drama on Iqiyi, and I happen to have premium, so I get to unlock all VIP episodes. So, yah, got to watch all 12. And there's only 10 more to go. I suspect this might have been originally 24? And it was cut to 22? Coz' 22 is a very strange number of episodes and if this is under the 'Sweet On' range, the rest of the dramas are around 24 episodes too. At the point of E12, the story still has a hold on me.

nope, released till E12, but in 2 weeks, all will be out.

@NiteWalker based on the airing schedule, there is supposed to be 2 episodes tonight. Do you know what happened?? I know there was a break yesterday and today they were supposed to resume, but nothing... I checked MangoTV as well and it's only up to E20, with previews till up to E25. @40somethingahjumma I have a strong suspicion Han Dong/ Qi Chen is the guy who appeared in one of the later episodes in a mask and he is number 13 or something or other and Qiu Zi Liang greets him. Though I am not sure if he is an undercover agent or is really working for him. The former, than he is truly loyal to Qi Yan, the latter, then it's throwing a spanner in the works. Though, Cheng Ruo Yu has already mentioned to Han Ding that Qi Yan doesn't fully trust Qi Chen.

yup, it's Tears in Heaven. Yah, Ancient Love Poetry, his character was killed off. I didn't watch the whole thing, just the ending. Indeed, it's nice to watch him as a male lead for once. There was a 2019 drama, where he was the ML, I think where he was a CEO, In Youth. I haven't watched it, just caught a short snippet - hopefully he gets something that showcases his acting skills.

I agree, it's her built, small frameworks can pass off for younger for longer. Btw, I am glad this is airing, as I haven't gotten enough of Leon (his character was written off in E06 in another drama, sigh). Remind me three, when this is airing! But it won't be anytime soon, right?

I've watched till E07, mainly because its 22 episodes. LOL. I like something that airs fast and/or is short so I won't have to wait in agony for the episodes to be aired. I have the same impression, nothing outstanding (in fact at the beginning, I found the FL's antics a little akward), slow burner, but I have to shame-facedly admit that I like the looks of the ML. So, I'll be here till the end.