All this time up to Ep 36, I see the growth in each character, not just LBY and CSS.
Some growth is positive (Wang Ling has matured) and some growth not so (Fifth Princess) and others stay in their childhood tantrum (Yuan Shen) and revert to being a petulant child (BTW, he was so not gracious by disparaging LBY and CSS on her choice of a spouse.) At least LBY tried to help ease CSS's life if she had married AYao, not try to sabotage the relationship. For that, he got my respect.
I agree that the theme in Ep 35-36 would be jealousy. Good natured kind where the palace officials envy General Ling for having a virtuous fiancée, to the deadly kind as we saw with the whole pond incident. Which then led to the most sensuous self-defence lesson I have ever witnessed. HAHA. And they didn't even kiss!
I know Fifth Princess is getting her comeuppance soon. But we still have a long way to go before there is a happily ever after.
Broken record that I am, I absolutely am delighted when I see an email in my inbox that you’ve posted your ramblings. The first picture you used in this post of our leads is just perfect too. They’re so adorable!
Do you feel at this point now, YS recognizes that he does love Niaoniao? I think his feelings are definitely more apparent through his jealous actions. He is paying more attention now, like in the scene where he notices the eunuch has delivered that lunch box to Zisheng, and everything else thereafter. His timing is really awful: “you snooze, you lose” is appropriate.
That was what Zisheng was afraid of after having lost the chance and believing he’d lost Niaoniao forever after her engagement to LY. Thank goodness our boy swiftly took action after.
I did not know about Luo Jitong’s character until going back to read all the spoilers, but she was suspicious early on, and confirmed to be awful when she stood by and let Niaoniao fall into the pond without even attempting any sort of help. Not helping is complacent, and that is awful considering Niaoniao sees her as a friend. It is ironic that Jitong believes fate isn’t on her side, given like you said the fact of story is that Zisheng has declared Shaosheng being the only one.
Isn’t it hypocritical too of many who don’t approve Zisheng’s choice of his bride? He too was once someone bullied and perhaps not seen as anything until he achieved his power through his merits. And now they’re the ones turning their nose on Shaosheng and her family’s background despite her family’s merits too. *sigh*
Love that you remind us how of course, someone with an open mind like Zisheng would understand Shaoshang and love her from the start. Thank you for touching on the discussion about Zisheng never seeing it possible that he would marry, given his life’s goal. I will always appreciate and love that it would be someone who’s progressive in thinking like Zisheng, to help Shaosheng flourish in her aspirations too.
Thank you for explaining more about the pressure point of “ming men”. It changes and adds so much more to that scene having understood this. I wish the subs took some time to explain this in parentheses like they do for some of the content.
As always, a joy to read your ramblings, Lily! Take care until next time.
Re: Yuan Shen -- I think he's known for a really long time that he has feelings for Niaoniao. At the very least when they all had dinner together with his mentor at the emperor's villa in Hua County. He first saw A'Yao as his immediate rival and then realised that his true rival was Ling Buyi. My personal view is that he liked her from the first day he met her but his indecision and cynicism over marriage held him back. He's like his mentor Huangfu Yi in this way. Not very decisive in love and the lack of affection between his parents is another reason why he holds back. On top of that she's not the textbook virtuous wife he's spent his entire life reading about. This is why he's not the front runner because he has far more hoops he has to jump through. A'Yao and Ling Buyi accepted her completely warts and all but he really struggles with her unrestrained side.
Luo Jitong is a person that plays it safe. She's not one to rock the boat and she's not the type to go against her "superiors" because she was raised in the palace to respect authority.
Thank you for taking the time to reply, Lily! I was definitely thinking out loud. I felt he did really like NN from the moment he met her, and you're right, it shows even more during the dinner scene with his mentor. But I appreciate that you pointed out that by now, it's probably true that he does seem to love her, or it's more than a crush at this point.
It's true what you said about Jitong, that I forgot about how she was raised. I guess I just thought when it comes to feeling someone's life is in danger, it would be different. Thank you indulging in discussion, friend.
You have said everything I was thinking.
All this time up to Ep 36, I see the growth in each character, not just LBY and CSS.
Some growth is positive (Wang Ling has matured) and some growth not so (Fifth Princess) and others stay in their childhood tantrum (Yuan Shen) and revert to being a petulant child (BTW, he was so not gracious by disparaging LBY and CSS on her choice of a spouse.) At least LBY tried to help ease CSS's life if she had married AYao, not try to sabotage the relationship. For that, he got my respect.
I agree that the theme in Ep 35-36 would be jealousy. Good natured kind where the palace officials envy General Ling for having a virtuous fiancée, to the deadly kind as we saw with the whole pond incident. Which then led to the most sensuous self-defence lesson I have ever witnessed. HAHA. And they didn't even kiss!
I know Fifth Princess is getting her comeuppance soon. But we still have a long way to go before there is a happily ever after.
Yeah, the self-defence lesson was pretty hot stuff.
Thank you, again - very enlightning on the ming men point, which was not aptly translated. Your explanation made the conversation clear now !
Glad to help.
Broken record that I am, I absolutely am delighted when I see an email in my inbox that you’ve posted your ramblings. The first picture you used in this post of our leads is just perfect too. They’re so adorable!
Do you feel at this point now, YS recognizes that he does love Niaoniao? I think his feelings are definitely more apparent through his jealous actions. He is paying more attention now, like in the scene where he notices the eunuch has delivered that lunch box to Zisheng, and everything else thereafter. His timing is really awful: “you snooze, you lose” is appropriate.
That was what Zisheng was afraid of after having lost the chance and believing he’d lost Niaoniao forever after her engagement to LY. Thank goodness our boy swiftly took action after.
I did not know about Luo Jitong’s character until going back to read all the spoilers, but she was suspicious early on, and confirmed to be awful when she stood by and let Niaoniao fall into the pond without even attempting any sort of help. Not helping is complacent, and that is awful considering Niaoniao sees her as a friend. It is ironic that Jitong believes fate isn’t on her side, given like you said the fact of story is that Zisheng has declared Shaosheng being the only one.
Isn’t it hypocritical too of many who don’t approve Zisheng’s choice of his bride? He too was once someone bullied and perhaps not seen as anything until he achieved his power through his merits. And now they’re the ones turning their nose on Shaosheng and her family’s background despite her family’s merits too. *sigh*
Love that you remind us how of course, someone with an open mind like Zisheng would understand Shaoshang and love her from the start. Thank you for touching on the discussion about Zisheng never seeing it possible that he would marry, given his life’s goal. I will always appreciate and love that it would be someone who’s progressive in thinking like Zisheng, to help Shaosheng flourish in her aspirations too.
Thank you for explaining more about the pressure point of “ming men”. It changes and adds so much more to that scene having understood this. I wish the subs took some time to explain this in parentheses like they do for some of the content.
As always, a joy to read your ramblings, Lily! Take care until next time.
Re: Yuan Shen -- I think he's known for a really long time that he has feelings for Niaoniao. At the very least when they all had dinner together with his mentor at the emperor's villa in Hua County. He first saw A'Yao as his immediate rival and then realised that his true rival was Ling Buyi. My personal view is that he liked her from the first day he met her but his indecision and cynicism over marriage held him back. He's like his mentor Huangfu Yi in this way. Not very decisive in love and the lack of affection between his parents is another reason why he holds back. On top of that she's not the textbook virtuous wife he's spent his entire life reading about. This is why he's not the front runner because he has far more hoops he has to jump through. A'Yao and Ling Buyi accepted her completely warts and all but he really struggles with her unrestrained side.
Luo Jitong is a person that plays it safe. She's not one to rock the boat and she's not the type to go against her "superiors" because she was raised in the palace to respect authority.
Thank you for taking the time to reply, Lily! I was definitely thinking out loud. I felt he did really like NN from the moment he met her, and you're right, it shows even more during the dinner scene with his mentor. But I appreciate that you pointed out that by now, it's probably true that he does seem to love her, or it's more than a crush at this point.
It's true what you said about Jitong, that I forgot about how she was raised. I guess I just thought when it comes to feeling someone's life is in danger, it would be different. Thank you indulging in discussion, friend.