Jealousy is a curious emotion. Shakespeare once had a character describe it as “the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”. Under fertile conditions, it is a common enough human emotion that can easily get out of control and destroy everything in it wake including its stricken host. In the Bible, a jealous Cain kills his brother Abel, an event with the notorious distinction of being the first recorded murder. Furthermore history is replete with examples of jealousy reshaping the socio-political landscape. The power of jealousy as a force for evil to wreak havoc should never be in doubt. It makes rogues and villains out of weak corrupted minds.
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.
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.
Thank you, again - very enlightning on the ming men point, which was not aptly translated. Your explanation made the conversation clear now !
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.