Chinese Drama 2023

The Scent of Time (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 

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• Genre: Historical Costume Drama Fiction, Transmigration, Romance
• Release Date:13 October 2023
• Origin: China
• Cdrama: 30 Episodes

Cast

• Zhou Ye as Hua Qian
• Wang Xing Yue as Zhong Xi Wu
• Zhang Yi Jie as Hua Rong Zhou
• Peng Chu Yue as Zhong Ye Lan
• Zhao Qing as Mu Yao
• Xu Fan as The Zhong Princess
• Wang Xun – [Magistrate]
• Ai Mi as Qianzhe (Qian’s personal maid)
• Luo Rui as Cui Zhu (Qian’s maidservant)
• Zhang Zheng Yang as Butler Hua (Qian’s Father)
• Liu Min as Madame HUA (Qian’s mother)
• Qian Jie as Li Mo Mo (Qian’s Nanny)
• Xiang Xia as Hua Shen (Qian’s brother)
• Li Yun Rui as Wu Shuo Mo
• Sun Ao as Nan Feng (Yelan’s guard)
• Guo Dong Hai as Gao Yu (Lord Zhong’s manservant)
• Zhao Jia Min as Meng Yi Fei (Butler Meng’s daughter)
• Xu Shu Ying as Qi Ru Xin (Butler Qi’s daughter)
• Zhang Ming En as Jin Lin
• Li Yu Nuo as Hua Rong Zhou [as a child]
• Yang Han Bo as Hua Rong Zhou [Young]
• Chen Zi Han as Su Wu Niang
• Zhang Zheng Yang as
• Ying Zhuang as Wu Tang
• Dong Li Wu You as Xiao Yao Tong
• Yang Xu Wen as Xu MIng
• Sun Yi as Yun Niang
• Peng Xiao Ran as Bai Luo

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Episode 1

Wow!  What an intriguing first episode.

It started with Hua Qian being hunted by the guards of the Zhong Gardens.  They got her and brought her back to the city where she found the dead body of her mother and brother.  Her father, Butler Hua, was previously beheaded for treason.

Hua Qian was in death throes after being pushed, shoved and kicked around.  She stared at the faces of her dead mother and brother as she closed her eyes.

Then all of a sudden she woke up.  She quickly realised that she woke up in another timeline.  Two years ago.  On her wedding night to Zhong Ye Lan.

Episode 2

Everyone noticed a different Hua Qian, including her father who commented that she absolutely detest the Mu Family and now she was pleading for them.

Episode 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Episode 11

The Princess was worried about Qian regarding what happened at the Incense Banquet so she invited her for a talk.

Far from upset about her husband announcing that Mu Yao was his woman, instead Qian begged the Princess to issue and edict to make Mu Yao the concubine of Yelan.

Episode 12

17 October 2023

This drama is really addictive.  Unfortunately there is only one episode today.

Anyway, the Princess was as good as her promise.  She sent one of her ladies-in-waiting to give some sort of dowry gift to Mu Yao to formally accept her as a concubine to Yelan.

Yelan was concerned that Muyao would be unhappy being just a concubine but he explained it that it was not really the time to divorce Qian.

But looking at him and his demeanour, he looks conflicted.  He might be a tad attracted to the charismatic Qian.  He wanted his cake and eat it too so to speak.

Despite being really unnecessary, Qian arranged a grand wedding for Muyao and Yelan.  Everyone was surprised that she looked so unusually happy for someone whose husband is taking another lover.

The person who seemed to appreciate that she was not unhappy was Lord Zhong who wanted to know if she was really over Yelan.  Qian just smiled at him.

Wu Shuomo was not happy that Muyao had married.  Even at the last minute, he was asking her to go away with him but Muyao turned him down and told him to stop pestering her otherwise she will ask the guards to arrest him.

At the wedding party attended by Qian’s mother and brother, her mother felt sorry for Qian.  The brother was drinking copiously.

Qian was actually surprised that her brother attended the wedding at all because she had him punished after one of his concubine chose to kill herself after the brother tried to give her away like some inanimate object to a friend who had taken fancy to her..

Anyway this episode ended with the brother drunk alone and a woman was going his way.  Has Muyao started to cast her revenge against the Hua Family?  Starting with Qian’s brother?!!!

Episode 13 

Qian’s brother was found unconscious at Muyao’s bed chamber with Muyao quivering in fright.

Yelan turned up and was ready to kill his brother in law but Qian stood in front of her brother.  Yelan was so irate he was prepared to kill Qian but Lord Zhong turned up and told Yelan to calm down and put down his sword.

When Yelan refused for a moment, Lord Zhong challenge him and said he will fight him if he continues.  Yelan had no choice but to cease and desist.

Yelan knew that he had to investigate the matter as the brother is the only son and heir of the Hua Family and Butler Hua is an official of the Zhong.

Poor Qian was being pressured to do something when her brother was put in prison.

Qian did believe that her brother was innocent but then she became depressed when she went to see Muyao.

Episode 14

Muyao admitted freely that she set up her brother.  She said that her brother deserved to be in prison.

It all then came out that the brother’s 19th concubine who killed herself was LinLong, Muyao’s maid who she grew up with.

Even Qian knew Linlong and how close Linglong to Muyao was.  They were like sister.

Qian felt the guilt and became so depressed she stayed in her quarters never going out. She even turned down all the invitations from the Princess.

Finally her maid could not stand how sad she was so they summoned Yelan.

Qian was surprised to see him.  She asked him if was really going to kill her when he had his sword pointed at her.

Suddenly, she knew that might have done for Muyao.

Now that she knew she was nothing to him or to anyone else, she decided it is time to get some sort of power.  She went to town and visited her shop to withdraw money, because money is power.

While in town, she decided to enjoy herself and take Qianzie and Hua Rongzhou to dinner.  They had a lovely time.  Their outing extended into the night.

Lord Zhong who was told that Qian was finally out of her quarters and had gone to town went to find her.

He then dragged her to the 11th floor pavillion to see the stunning view of the town by night.   They flirted outrageously.

So cute, their chemistry is amazing.

She then got drunk with the potent flower wine Lord Zhong gave her.  But before she could completely lose her senses, she run back to Qianze and Rongzhou. She demanded for Rongzhou to carry her down the long plight of stairs.

Episode 15

Qian started to make her move.  She ordered Hua Rongzhou to find the men on the list she gave him and give them money to engage them to an indentured servitude.

She then went to Muyao to show her the service contracts.  It turned out that the men were former employees of the Mu.  Qian warned Mu that if she makes another move, she will regret it.

She told Muyao that she accept that her brother was despicable but he should not be punished for something that he did not do.

Qian then said that even Yelan knew that it was a set up because instead of of having her brother executed or maimed, he was in prison pending investigation.

Qian then said that she was giving Yelan completely to Muyao.  She said that at that moment Qianzhe was delivering Qian’s divorce document to Yelan.

Muyao was truly shocked.  It looked like she was not happy about the divorce.]

She was not the only one not really happy about the divorce.  Yelan as well.  When Qian got back to her quarters, Yelan was already waiting for her.  He told her that he was not going to divorce her, at least for now for her own protection.

Qian realised that Yelan was going to clear Muyao’s family reputation which will have a heavy repercussion on the Hua.  It might mean her family will be banished or executed but Qian cannot be touched if she was still married to Yelan.  Yelan said that he was returning the favour of her saving him.  So Yelan tore the divorce document into pieces.

Qian,however, was not giving up.  She told Qianzhe that they were going to the Zhong Garden.

Episode 16

Muyao went to see Yelan.  She asked him what would he do to Hua Shen.  Yelan asked her what does she want him to do.  Muyao told him to let Hua Shen go.

Yelan understood. He was really more concerned about Hua Qian wanting a divorce.

And he should be because Qian went to visit Princess Zhong.  Qian formally requested that she was granted divorce.

Princess Zhong tried to dissuade her and advice her to just bear and grin it, it might get easier.

Qian, however, was insistent and went so far to say that perhaps she should have gone to Lord Zhong instead.

Princess Zhong told her that she will give Qian a month’s grace as a cooling off period and if Qian had not change her mind then she will send a granting of a divorce.

Qian was just leaving Zhong Garden when she was waylaid by Attendant Gao who told her that Lord Zhong wanted a word with her.

On her way to Lord Zhong, she met Meng Yi Pei and Qi Ru Xin.  They wanted to know what she had been doing but Attendant Gao said that Lord Zhong is still waiting to see Qian.

When she saw Lord Zhong, he had a dressmaker with him and wanted the dressmaker to take measurements of Qian because she had the same bodybuilt as the girl he wanted to gift a dress.

When the measuring was done and the dressmaker had left, Qian annoyedly asked why she had to be the model for the dress when he was surrounded by maids with same measurement as her.

He asked if she went to see his mother for divorce but Qian ignored him.  Instead she told him to get over Muyao.  Muyao is married and would never look at him because Muyao was an artistic free spirit who would not be happy confined inside the Zhong garden.

Lord Zhong asked Qian to leave.

When she got back to her quarters, Qian found out that her brother had been let out.

Meanwhile, she asked Hua Rongzhou to find a pregnant woman in a village because she has the contract between Hua Wen Ang and Mu Yun Ping regarding the furniture that became the contention that got Mu Yun Ping thrown to jail.

Anyway, Qian went back home to her parents for a visit.  Hua Shen was being pampered by her parents but she wanted to talk to her father.

She gave her father an ultimatum and a good talking to.  She told him to resign before it was too late.  Retire in a village where she can join them and live a quiet peaceful life.

At first, her father asked if she had gone mad.  He said that he was at the peak of his career.

Qian told him that he had done so many wrongs that he was due for a fall. As he had already had a taste of being shun by people he calls friends and colleagues.  Qian asked where were then when her brother was thrown to prison. No one lifted a finger to support the Hua family.

Her father began to think.  Qian then said that she will be divorce in a month, she could either come home and be with the family and retire in the village or she will go it alone and she will not have anything more to do with the Hua.

The strange looking Ms Qi with the long neck learned that Jin Lin had come to bring presents for her from Butler Qi, her father.

Miss Qi was excited to see Jin Lin but he was so cold to her.  He then announced that her father granted him a marriage to someone else.

Miss Qi’s world had fallen down.

Episode 17

It turned out Jin Lin was ordered by Miss Qi’s father to completely severed any kind of hope from Miss Qi that she and Jin Lin will ever end up together.

Jin Lin was a son of Butler Qi’s slave.  He threatened Jin Lin that his family will suffer if he does not do what he says. If Jin Lin complies, he and his family will be freed.  Without much choice, he told Miss Qi that he was to be married.

Miss Qi said she regretted ever meeting him.

It was the mid-autumn festival banquet at Zhong Garden. The Huas attended and so did Yelen with Qian and Muyao.

Qian though made way and sat next to her parents rather than a not too amused Yelen.

Anyway, Qian asked her father if he had made a decision.  Her father told her that she was overthinking and he would stay put and not resigning.

Qian said she trie dfto do everything so she was washing her hands off them.

She then left the banquet.

Lord Zhong followed her immediately.  He told her that he had sent her a divorce certificate which bear his personal seal.

Qian was much too destructed with her family really to concentrate on the divorce. So when Lord Zhong tried to hold her, Rong Zhou got between them.

Qian said that it was unseemly for her to be in such familiar situation with Lord Zhong as her divorce had not been announced yet.  Anyway, she returned to the banquet but beforehand she warned RongZhou not to get in the way of Lord Zhong as he will suffer for it.

Back at the banquet, assassins suddenly came trouping.  Their number one target seemed to be Qian.  Someone was about to stab her but her brother pushed her out of the way and got stabbed instead.  Qian was absolutely gutted as she cradled her wounded brother.  But then two assassins gave her a karate chop on the next and  dragged her away as she became unconcious.

When she woke up, she was tied to a tree hanging on a cliff and next to her was Muyao who was also tied up.

I must say, I don’t really know what Yelan sees in Muyao. She had no character whatsoever.  Anyway, Yelan turned up alone as he was instructed by the kidnappers. But he was secretly followed by Rong Zhou.

Yelan was asked to choose who to save, his wife or his concubine.

Yelan cannot make a choice but it dawned to Qian that it was all a set up so she used her bracelet which has a sharp blade on it.  She cut her rope and she fell into the sea below.

She was ok as she can swim.  She was later found by Rong Zhou and carried her home to the Hua mansion.

When she woke up, she immediately asked how her brother was.  Qianzhe could only cry.

Qian jumped out of the bed and staggered outside and saw the servants all dressed for funeral.  She then saw her mother and father crying over the coffin of her brother.

Episode 18

Omg, I cried buckets of tears in this episode. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

Hua Shen was a falliable guy but he did truly love Hua Qian.  Hua Qian did not expect at all that her brother would die.

Her mother was absolutely gutted and solely blamed Hua Qian for her brother’s death.  She said that Hua Shen died because of her.

Hua Qian was grief stricken especially when her mother told her not to touch her brother.  Her mother was led away by her maid as she was heartsick.

Hua Qian expected her father to beat her and slap her.  She raised her face waiting for the slap but instead her father gently told her that her brother’s death was not her fault at all.  Her mother knew as well but she was just too heartbroken and need someone to release her sadness.

Her father told her that now that her brother is dead, there is no one to inherit really the family seat and fortune.  Her father said that he will do as she suggested.  He was going to listen to her from now on.  He was going to resign.

Hua Qian was overcome with relief and sadness and was taken by Qianzhe back to her bed.

Later on, Qianzhe woke her up to get ready for her brother’s funeral.  Hua Qian refused to get up but then, Yelan turned up and told her that she must get up and attend the funeral, otherwise she will be gossiped about.  He also said that he had come to fetch her and bring her back home.

Hua Qian suddenly found her energy and told Yelan that they were no longer married.  The divorce paper had been signed and sealed and should be received by him anytime soon.

Yelan was shock but he had no choice but to leave after Hua Qian told him that he had got what he wanted and what more does he need, meaning he had Muyao.  She then told Yelan to relay a message to Muyao that she now owes Qian two lives.

With the rather stressful confrontation with Yelan, Qian said she was so wound up she was ready to go to her brother.

She went to the gravesite of Hua Shen with Qianzhe and another maid.  She stayed there for quite sometime telling Hua Shen that she did as she promised.  She came to visit him.😭😭😭

When she was finally ready to go, she noticed that Lord Song and Assistant Gao were patiently waiting alongside Qianzhe and the maid.

Qian asked what Lord Zhong was doing at the graveside.  He said he had come to pay respect to her brother and to see her.,

As they walking out, he gave her a copy of her divorce paper.  Out of nowhere, he confessed his feelings towards her.  He told her that he had never thought of Muyao in a loverlike sort of way.  It has only been her, Qian.

He said that he will make her stand next to him with pride and honour.  Qian was tempted but she held off.

They got talking about the assassins.  Lord Zhong was surprised that Qian knew so much and was spot on with the intel he received.

He was told by General Wang previously that there were two factions of assassins that attacked Zhong Garden.  It looked like it was the Wu and the Ge Family.

Qian knew that it was young Master Wu who kidnapped her and Muyao so he could show Muyao that Yelan would hesitate who to choose to save.

I love, love this drama and gutted that there is just one episode again.

Episode 19

Lord Zhong was turned down by Qian.  But he was not unhappy at all because he thought that she likes him too.  He saw her wavering and would have taken his propelled hand if they did not get interrupted by a maid who said that Qian must return home quickly as Rong Zhou was gravely ill.

She found out that he got injured while saving her.  She had to stay with him all night because he grabbed the belt on her hanfu and would not let go.  She wondered what he was dreaming about.

He was dreaming of his mother who told him to hold on the string to the kite so it would get lost.

When he woke up he unknowingly tugged the belt and Qian fell on top of him.  They were both shocked but Qian later laughed it off.

As always, Qianzhi covered for Qian to preserve decorum.

She later found out from Rong Zhou that he did not hurt himself from jumping into the sea after her.  Instead, he met a masked man in black who he had a mini duel with. He cut Rong Zhou on the stomach while Rong Zhou cut him on the arm.  It was of course Master Wu who told Rong Zhou that he did not really want to fight because Rong Zhou should be saving his master rather than fighting.

Meanwhile at Casa Zhong not everything is hanky dory.  Muyao finally realised that Yelan was not into her 100%.  She found out the hard way when Yelan had to choose who to save.  Instead of going for her immediately, he hesitated.  He was then so worried when Qian fell into the sea.  He ordered his men to make a thorough search for Qian while poor Muyao was practically ignored.  She knew Yelan started to feel something for Qian.  He refused to divorce Qian to protect her.  He told Muyao that Qian made so many lies but Muyao was doing the same thing now.

Master Wu was desperate to leave town but it was now under lockdown of martial law.  Qian realised that the only way to get to Master Wu is to put Muyao under surveillance as Master Wu would surely try to contact Muyao.

Yelan found out that the Zhong residence was being watched by guards working for the Hua.

Qian went to see the Princess to return the jade bracelet the Princess gave her on her marriage to Yelan.

The Princess told her to keep it.

But there was a veiled warning to Qian not to make Lord Zhong and Yelan fight over her.

Qian assured the Princess that this won’t happen as her father was resigning from his post.  The family will be leaving Huangcheng and she would go with them.  She said that Huangcheng now hold painful memories for them due to the death of her brother.

Despite the relief that Qian was leaving, the Princess was so sad and told Qian that if there is a scandal that may arise between Xiwu, Yelan and her, the Princess won’t be able to protect Qian so this might be for the best.  But the Princess cried because she really had grown very fond of Qian and knew that her son was in love with Qian.

Episode 20

Outside the Princess palace, Qian met the crazy Miss Qi and the gentle Miss Meng.

Despite Miss Meng being friendly and reasonable, Qian does not trust her.

Qian got an intel of Master Wu’s whereabouts.  She was able to corner him when he was sneaking out of Huangcheng through the forest.

Later on, Master Wu squealed when Qian threatened to disfigure his handsome face.  He then confessed that Muyao knew about the kidnapping.  It was a bet between them to see whether Yelan would choose her not Qian.

Muyao found out that Qian had Master Wu so she secretly went to the Hua Mansion to negotiate with Qian about Master Wu’s release.

Qian asked why Muyao was still so unhappy when she had already handed Yelan to her on a silver plate.  Muyao can’t help but confess that Yelan had developed feelings for Qian.

Qian sarcastically laughed it off.

Yelan knew that Muyao had gone to see Qian.

Nanfeng who had a crush on Qianzhi asked worriedly if they should warn Qian about Muyao.  Yelan told him that it had nothing to do with him but said that perhaps Nanfeng could go himself and return to Qian her personal belongings that were still in the house.

It turned out that Yelan was the one that led Qian’s guard to find Master Wu.

Episode 21

Qian is now trying to tie loose ends before she leaves Huangcheng.  She even arranged a dowry for Qianzhi for her marriage to Nanfeng.

As to Muyao they had an uneasy truce where Muyao said that she will no longer pursue any more vendetta against the Hua family.

Qian, however, said that she will not release Master Wu until Muyao gives her intel on the other faction of assassins during the incense banquet.  She told Muyao that she knows that Muyao is very dogmatic and insistent to find the truth.

Meanwhile, Yelan assured Muyao that he will never abandon her and will always protect her.

Episode 22 – 23

Lord Zhong was too jealous how close Qian had become to Rongzhou so he plotted that Rongzhou is arrested for murder.

Rongzhou did admit that he killed someone.  He killed the person who bought him from his stepmother when he started abusing him physically and mentally.  He was not the only victim of the rich merchant.  He habitually bought children and abused them then kill them.

When Rongzhou could not take the sadism of the merchant, his master, he sent the house on fire while the master was inside.

Qian thought that Rongzhou killed as a self defence but Rongzhou was still not allowed home but confined in prison.

Meanwhile, Muyao sent a letter to Qian for the intel she wanted.

Qian was shocked but laughed her head off of what she found out who the culprit was.  She could not believe it.

Anyway, Master Wu was allowed to leave the Hua Residence.

Master Wu visited Muyao for the last time.  Telling her that he will not bother her anymore.

Episode 24

Qian went to see Lord Zhong who at first would not see her.  But she insisted on waiting so for the sake of decorum, Lord Zhong dragged her quickly inside.

He was upset that she would do anything for her guard.  Her guard had become so important to her and would protect him with everything she’s got.

Qian had the perfect reposte to his whining.  She said that it was the same thing as what he was doing protecting the killer of her brother.

Lord Zhong was shocked to know that Qian knew about Meng Fei being the mastermind to assassinate Qian but Hua Shen got in the way.

Qian said that she will not tell anyone about the Mengs as long as he has Rongzhou released from prison.  She added that she will not say anything because her father will be resigning soon and they will leave Huangcheng for their hometown.

This really shocked Lord Zhong and told her that she could not leave.  He then took something from his shelf which turned out were the contract between the cooperation between Butler Hua and Butler Mu.

Now, it was Qian who was shocked to the core. She realised that her maid, Xingying was spying for Lord Zhong all along.

She told Lord Zhong to recall Xinying.

Lord Zhong said that he never meant her any harm.  He had always protected her.

But she was now badly let down.  She told him that she will go to prison to fetch Rongzhou.

Lord Zhong was gutted to see her go.  He lost her.

Later on, Qian prepared money and clothes for Rongzhou to start over somewhere else.

Rongzhou refused to leave her threatened that he would hurt himself if she forces him to.

Qian had really grown close to Rongzhou so she told him to stay.

Qian asked him to go with her to her brother’s grave where she drunk.  She voiced her guilt for not being able to carry out her revenge for his death.

Episode 25

Qian finally made up with her mother and father.  That was heartwarming.

She told Rongzhou to go to South to look for a house for them.  Rongzhou was reluctant to go as he wanted to be next to her to be able to protect her.

Qian pretended to be angry that he was ignoring her command so Rongzhou agreed but made her promised to come meet up immediately.

She told her father not to bring her mother to the Zhong/Butler banquet.  She went with him instead.

During the banquet, everyone watched her leave the room.  She met up with Meng Fei in a rather secluded part of the Zhong Garden.  She told Meng Fei that she knew that she tried to set her up by telling her that Lord Zhong was partial to honey drink when in fact he was dangerously allergic to it.

She asked why Meng Fei had in for her.  Meng Fei readily said that Qian was a hussy and despite being already married then to Yelan she still seduced Lord Zhong.

Qian could not believe what she heard. She said that because of what Meng Fei thought of her she wanted her dead.  Instead, she ended up killing Hua Shen.

She pushed Meng Fei and used her bracelet with a hidden knife to cut Meng Fei in the face.  She told her that that was for what she did for her brother.

Qian then calmly returned to the party.  She told her father that whatever she does she was doing it for the Hua Family.

She moved and sat in front of the Princess and Lord Zhong.

She then proceeded to confess that it was all her fault through her machination because she was so jealous of Muyao and was so  inlove with Zhong Yelan that she had carried out a plot to set up Butler Mo and his family.  She said that it had nothing to do at all with her father who was best friends with Butler Mo.

When Muyao was asked if she wanted the case to be reopened, she said to let sleeping dog lies but for some reason, Qian continued with her pronouncement that she was solely responsible for the fate of the Butler Mo’s family. Her father joined her and said that it was actually him who was the mastermind.

Qian was shocked that she had created such a major booboo.  So she and her father ended up arguing who really did it because they were protecting one another.

Episode 26

Lord Zhong asked Qian why she did it when he tried to protect her in every turn.

This only made Qian angry and sarcastically stated like he was protecting Meng Fei for having Qian killed but her brother died for her instead.

Lord Zhong said that he was working on punishing the Meng family but it would take some undoing.

Anyway, Lord Zhong had Qian confined to the Zhong Garden under house arrest.

Episode 27

Miss Qi went to see Lord Zhong and made a deal with him.  She was willing to testify that it was her who injured Meng Fei and in return, he had to let her leave the Zhong Garden forever to be with her boyfriend.

Lord Zhong agreed with alacrity because it meant Qian won’t be prevented from staying at the Zhong Garden.

But it was really immaterial because the Princess took it upon herself to get rid of Qian from the Zhong Garden and specially from Lord Zhong’s life.  She went to see Qian and made her drink poison.

Before she drank the poison, she asked the Princess that her family were not to be harm.  The Princess promised that Butler Hua will remain free.

After Qian drank the poison wine, her body was taken out secretly to be disposed of.  Her room was then set on fire.

When Lord Zhong heard about it, he ran to see what was going on.  Poor Assistant Guo ran after him carrying Lord Zhong’s boots and cloak.

Lord Zhong cried like a baby. He was upset upset with his mother because Qian was the only girl he ever like.

The Princess told him that he was the heir to the Zhong Garden and his very being is for the royal business.

Lord Zhong was often found visiting Qian’s burnt apartment.  It is here where Rongzhou found him.  Rongzhou was heartbroken and blamed Lord Zhong for not protecting her.

Qianzhie, Qian’s parents, Xingxing and even Yelan and Muyao were really saddened by the death of Qian.

But it looks like that Qian is alive…

Episode 28

This episode is an all star cast.

Anyway, Qian woke up finally and realised where she was.  She had been taken to a remote village where no one knows her name or who she was.  She found a letter from the Princess an a lot of money for Qian to start over.  The note from the Princess reminded her that she must not set foot to Zhong county nor contact her parents.

Qian was content that her parents are safe. What she did not realise was Butler Hua had been arrested and punished.

Qian started to mingle with other people in the village where is met a single girl, Yun Niang, who just like her was a newbie in the village.  She also met Xu Ming, the guy who brings her cookies baked by his mother.

Bai Luo, another girl in the village teased Xu Ming because Qian seemed uninterested with him.

Life goes on…

Meanwhile, Rong Zhou is habitually taken to Master Wu Tang for treatment on the fifth day of each month.  Rong Zhou is covered in cuts and bruises.  He has been training with Lord Zhong best fighters, Chen Yuan and Lin Jiang.  After a year or two of intensive training Rong Zhou had turned into a fighting machine.

Rong Zhou was walking along the plaza when he was spotted by ultra serious Qian Zhi.  Qianzhi asked him any news about Qian.  Despite being told that Qian had died, Qianzhi remained certain that Qian will be back.  She had been waiting.

Rong Zhou half scolded her for wasting away.  He said that if Qian found out that Qianzhi was still hoping to Qian’s return instead of living her life with Nanfeng, Qian will be very upset.

Finally this woke Qianzhi and made up with the sad and long suffering Nanfeng.

Episode 29

It was again the fifth night of the month.  Rhong Zhou managed to defeat both Chen Yuan and Lin Jiang at the same time.

Poor Master Wu Tang who was expecting Rhong Zhou stayed up all night all worried especially when his young assistant commented that Rhong Zhou had either got his wishes or had died.

Rhong Zhou went all het up to Lord Zhong and demanded to know the whereabouts of Qian.  At first Lord Song equivocated and said that Qian was dead but Rong Zhou would have none of it.

So Lord Zhong said that now that Rong Zhou is strong and a capable warrior, he can definitely look after Qian so he told Rong Zhou where to find Qian.

And he found her.  They had a very happy reunion.  He was so protective of her but he always do what she says especially when Lord Zhong turned up.

Lord Zhong assured Qian that her father and mother are freed.

By the way, Lord Zhong is as a cry baby as Crown Prince Xiao Ding Quan of Royal Nirvana.  Lord Zhong cries at a drop of a hat.

And he cried again when he bid Qian farewell.

It looks like the incense burning around a comatose Hua Qian created a surreal but very real feel of a rather nightmarish dream which made up the whole 29 episode🤣

Episode 30

I have to admit I cried a lot towards the end of this drama but not as much as the cry baby Lord Zhong did.

Anyway, it was true, the first 29 episodes were just a dream of Hua Qian.  After the physical and emotional trauma she suffered in episode 1 where she saw her father beheaded and mother and brother murdered by guards, Hua Qian fainted and was in a coma for 26 months.

Lord Zhong moved her and himself to a secluded villa where he tended to her.  He used the incense, Jiayin Pill made from blood amber which was very rare and expensive.

Lord Zhong was very hands on, he supervised the changing of heated herbal medicinal herbs put under her bed.  She was being smoke like a kipper!🤣

Finally, Hua Qian woke up. Though she was told she had been in a coma for 26 months, she found this incomprehensible as she lead and lived a full life with people she knew.

She was slowly getting used to her surrounding, eating so much which she can’t understand why she felt so hungry.

Lord Zhong got a visitor.  It was Yelan who said that Muyao was with him and had gone straight to Hua Qian.  Lord Zhong became worried immediately and run to Hua Qian.

But the damage was done, Muyao had already told her that Butler Mu was dead.  He committed suicide while he was in jail and it was all due to the Hua Family.

Hua Qian asked fearfully about her father.  Muyao vindictively said that Butler Hua was executed by beheading.  Muyao also confirmed maliciously that Qian’s mother and brother were also dead.

Hua Qian could barely ask the fate of Qianzhi.  Muyao said that Qianzhi was dead as well. Finally Hua Qian asked about Rong Zhou, she asked Yelan about Rong Zhou but Yelan said there had never been a Rong Zhou at Zhong Villa.

It was all too much for Hua Qian, she muttered that nothing had change.  She watched her family died three times. She became comatose again.

Lord Zhong told Yelan and Muyao to leave and never come back.  But then, Lord Zhong got so desperate as Hua Qian was not waking up so he chase after Yelan and Muyao to beg them to talk to Qian as she might wake up if she hears their voices.

Yelan and Muyao talked to Qian but she remained asleep.

Qian had gone back to her dreamland where there was Rong Zhou.  She told him that she might leave him.

Rong Zhou calmly told her that he was expecting it.  Rong Zhou made Qian realised that he was just a pigment of her imagination.  He was just in her dream and that he was her.  She said she knows now that she had to create him because she had been longing for someone who truly cares for her.  She said that nobody really understood her or tried to love her.

But she knows that she must go back.  Rong Zhou then started to vanish which made me cry so much.  It was so poignant.

Meanwhile, Lord Zhong started talking to the comatose Qian.  He confessed that he loved her since they were children but she only had eyes for Yelan.  But he was sure if only he actually pursued her, she would not be in the state that she was in right now.  He blamed himself for his dithering.

He mentioned that the Princess had agreed that he could be together with Qian as long as he continued to be the magistrate of Zhong.

Lord Zhong was interrupted by his guard who said that the Princess had sent four more boxes of the Jiayin Pill for Qian.

Lord Zhong was about to leave the room to meet the Princess’ envoy but Qian called him.

The End

I know, it was so abrupt.  It was rather frustrating.  I must say I felt a bit conned because this basically just a dream.

BTW, someone in twitter X shared a short epilogue for the drama.

Qian said that she was beginning to put Xiwu in her heart.  She knows that he had only loved her.  They got married and had a daughter.

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