This drama started very well. It is mainly a young cast but they were quite good, very believable.
Choi Joon Woo transferred to a fairly elite school because he had been kicked out by his previous school for theft and being unruly.
On his way to school on the first day, he almost had an accident. His bike was nearly bumped into by a car, who was being driven by Yoo Soo Bin’s mom.
Seeing that he seemed fine, the mother continued on her way without checking that Choi Joon Woo was really alright.
Soo Bin is a popular girl at school.
When she got to the school gate, she saw the boy her mom almost crashed into. She went to introduce herself and asked him if he was really ok.
He seemed fine.
Joon Woo went to the staff room to introduce himself as the new transfer student.
The vice principal was too busy and passed him to his homeroom teacher who was also rather taken with some other personal issues.
His teacher passed him to the class president who was Ma Whi Young. He seemed like a personable boy and very helpful as well.
He was helped by Ma Whi Young to get and changed into a second-hand uniform complete with the school blazer with a name tag of its previous owner still firmly sewn into the top pocket.
Anyway, the class president took him to the classroom and introduced him.
Soo Bin was one of his new schoolmates.
Ma Whi Young had a long-time crush with Soo Bin and was rather surprised that Soo Bin seemed to know the new boy.
Joon Woo was advised by the school to not mention the reason for his transfer but it was too late, his classmates found out online.
Joon Woo found himself a part-time job in a local supermarket. He got on with the manager as well as the owner.
He was tasked to deliver snacks to a review centre, where Ma Whi Young was one of the students.
Ma Whi Young appeared to be a perfect boy but he had some seething issues regarding his self-esteem.
His adored mother had always compared him to his older brother who seemed to be good at everything. They always told him that he had to be as perfect as his brother.
During the review class, the tutor found that Ma Whi Young kept making the same mistake and tried to explain the solution to the math problem to him step by step.
One of his friends and schoolmate proceeded to solve the problem on the board and said that it was too easy.
The tutor told the other boy that not everyone was a genius like him. This made Whi Young disconcerted. He had to be the best at everything like his brother.
Joon Woo delivered the snacks to the room and was told by the tutor to collect the trash as well as they were recyclable from the supermarket.
Joon Woo did not have any problem with this extra duty but saw that the thrash bag has a small hole on the bottom. He also noticed that there was something else in there, which looked like a watch face. But before he could ascertain what it was, Ma Whi Young told him that he had thrown something in the bag that he shouldn’t.
The next time he was at school, Joon Woo was asked to go to the vice principal office.
With the Vice Principal was the tutor who accused Joon Woo of stealing his watch.
Joon Woo denied it but because of his previous, the vice principal thought that it would be best that he was transferred to another school.
His homeroom teacher believed that he was innocent until Ma Whi Young went to speak to him secretly and said that he believed that Joon Woo was guilty.
This conversation was heard by Joon Woo.
He then waited for Ma Whi Young outside and confronted him for being such a double face.
Whi Young just asked what was he going to do about it.
Episode 2
The watch issue is growing into a real problem for poor Joon Woo.
Whi Young bullied at home by his strict and cold father and mother was taking out his stress with Joon Woo. He sees him a rival.
The homeroom teacher told Joon Woo to just right a letter of apology and just start over.
Joon Woo refuses to write the letter as he said he does not have anything to apologise for.
He had decided instead to go live with his mother and transfer to another school.
He went to meet his father who did not really want to have anything to do with him.
He then realised that his mother did not run away from being a single mother. She has guts.
The next day, the result of their midterm test was announced and Whi Young topped it. He was feeling proud of himself until the door opened and in walked Joon Woo.
Episode 3
I am really loving this drama. It is so cute, it is so sad, it is so frustrating, it is so menacing. The young cast is acting their guts out. Very commendable.
I really waited for this third episode and it was all worth it.
Anyway, Joon Woo had changed his mind. He stayed much to the silent fury of Ma Hwi but tickled joy of Soo Bin.
Ma Hwi though had not given up. He arranged for someone who knew some people to get Joon Woo to leave.
Meanwhile, Teacher Oh had tasked the students to couple up for an English recitation about their dreams.
Ma Hwi was hoping to pair up with Soo Bin but she picked Joon Woo instead. This was really the last straw for Ma Whi so he gave to go ahead to get Joon Woo.
They used his childhood friend as bait. They knew that if they can incite Joon Woo to violence, he will be automatically expelled from school.
Though Joon Woo hurried to his friend side at the last moment he remembered his promise to his mother to run away from any trouble.
But seeing how they beating up his best friend who looked after him throughout their childhood, he just can’t walk away.
He ended up collecting a few bruises as well. Thank goodness the heard the police siren, so they ran off as fast as they can.
His friend was very down and seemed to have given up on life. He said that people like them would always be downtrodden.
Joon Woo told him to move away just like he did but his friend reckoned that misfortune would follow him.
Anyway, he was concerned that he let Soo Bin down because they were supposed to practice their English speech.
Soo Bin was not having a good time as well. She got home to a houseful of women who was treating her mother like a member of the lowest of the social strata. She got annoyed with her mother for allowing it to happen but her mother said that she will do much worst in order for Soo Bin to enter Seoul University.
Her mother then wanted her to say hello and thank their guests profusely.
Soo Bin just can take it anymore so she ran out of the house. She was sad and then it rained and rained.
Along the way she met the bruised and battered Joon Woo who told her that she should never walk in the rain because it was bad for her. So cute.
Episode 10 – 11
These episodes are so cute if you were following the romance between Soo Bin and Joon Woo. They are really together now. Their confession about first liking each other was the same time I actually liked the characters. It was when Soo Bin was checking whether Joon Woo was hurt anywhere when his bike accidentally crashed into her mother’s car.
Mr. Oh is now going out with Ji Min, the girl who works with Joon Woo at the supermarket.
Jung Oh Jae dumped his girlfriend.
Ki Tae dumped his girlfriend.
Ro Mi had some guts after telling everyone that she came from a well off family, it was found out that she was actually from an ordinary household. She did not let the humiliation to get to her. She also told Pil Sang, after leading him on a bit, that she would never ever like him.
Episode 12
Loving this drama so much. The chemistry between Ong Seong Wu and Kim Hyang-gi is rather potent. They are super cute.
Anyway, Joon Woo’s mother found the two hiding inside Soo Bin’s house. She told them that though she has no problem with their relationship, they must tell Soo Bin’s mother immediately.
Soo Bin’s mother and Joon Woo’s mother had become quite close after the later was employed as a temporary driver/housekeeper to Soo Bin’s mother.
Anyway, the two women and bonded because they had the same sense of humour. They pretended to run over Soo Bin’s father who had been begging his ex for a divorce.
Soo Bin earlier pleaded to her parents not to get a divorce when was a little younger.
Soo Bin’s mother would not divorce her ex because as she said he did the wrongs and she paid for all is certificates and Ph.D. He owed her big time.
Anyway, not that Soo Bin is older at 18, his father went directly to her to help convince her mother to divorce.
Soo Bin told her father that it must be easy to be the adult because they force their children to study hard and now her father telling her she was mature beyond her age. She said, your change you tune whenever it suits you.
Soo Bin was so down that Joon Woo noticed. He cheered her up and confessed that his greatest regret was visiting his father but not telling him who he was. He felt that his father had erased him from his memory.
Soo Bin went with him to his father’s house and they left a letter for him on the doorstep.
Joon Woo then invited Soo Bin to his rooftop apartment and they had ramen.
Their Soo Bin let all her guilt and frustration in being part of the relationship of her parents which is currently a battlefield.
Joon Woo had his arm around the crying Soo Bin when Soo Bin’s mother found them at the rooftop.
She went for Soo Bin immediately and slapped her hard. Joon Woo protected Soo Bin.
Though Ma Whi-Young was horrifically wicked at times, I do feel sorry for him. His schoolmate, Jo Sang Hoon was forever baiting him that he was a fake.
An anonymous email then said that Whi Young was a habitual cheater.
Awww until next week.
Episode 13 -14
This week two episodes are rather emotional and heartbreaking. I shed a few tears in some of the scenes.
Soo Bin’s mother went absolutely mental. She told Jun Woo that he was not good enough for Soo Bin. Soo Bin is not on his level.
She told him that she was sure that he was a good boy because his mother was a nice woman but he was not for Soo Bin, who was meant for bigger things not for a punk like him.
She made Jun Woo promised never to speak with Soo Bin again. He had to treat Soo Bin like a stranger.
He did to start with but young love is young love, it cannot be hindered. But Joon Woo promised Soo Bin that he may not be able to speak with her but he will always be there for her.
Ro Mi was warming to Pilsang. She told PilSang that if will be in the top 200, she may go watch a movie with him. Pil Sang asked if he lands in the top 100 what would she do for him? She said she might go out with him, date him.
Oh Je inadvertently revealed that he was not into women and he has a crush on Hwi Young.
Hwi Young had finally had had enough and had a mini-breakdown. He purposely made mistakes in his math test because he kept thinking that someone knew that his previous test result was somehow changed so he will be in the top.
His father tried to hit him but he stopped him. He was ready to fight back. I do feel sorry for him.
He told his father that while growing up he promised himself that he was not going to be like his bullying father but his father had turned him into a monster. He hurts people like his father does.
Hwi Young has too much pride and despite wanting to make amends for all of his faults with his schoolmates, he just can’t do it.
Jun Woo thought that he would be having a lovely reunion with his father who called him to meet up.
His father said that he recognised Jun Woo as soon as he first saw him. He then gave the most heartless thing a parent can say to his own child. He told Jun Woo to do him a favour. Never to contact him again as they are going on different paths. This was such a tearjerking moment!!!
The father and son’s conversation was heard by the shocked and saddened Soo Bin who was lent a mobile phone by Hwi Young.
Jun Woo ended up in front of the apartment of his father. He met his half-brother who he later found out his father named him Jun Woo also. How heartless.
Jun Woo had a talk as a closure with his father, he promised him that he will never come see him again, ever.
With all this emotional upheaval, Jun Woo finally realised the career path he was going to take. He will go to an art school.
Soo Bee pleased her mother because she topped the math test with a perfect score.
It was Jun Woo’s birthday. Soo Bee and friends suprised him but he was reluctant to enjoy what Soo Bee planned for them. He kept telling her to go home as her mother would not be pleased.
Roll on next week for the final two episodes!
Episode 15
It was Jun Woo’s 18th birthday. Soo Bee wanted to spend the day with him but Jun Woo was opposed with the idea at first but realised the Soo Bee put a lot to the preparation. In the end he gave Soo Bin a tender kiss by the staircase.
Soo Bin accepted that Jun Woo was such a good person that he does not really want to defy Soo Bin’s mother of what he had promised her.
Jun Woo found what he wanted to do in life or what to study in college. He wanted to do painting and drawing.
He was a bit late with realising this new-found dream so he had to work double hard. Thank goodness he had the kindly homeroom teacher Mr Oh.
Mr Oh arranged for him to attend classes by a former military friend who holds masterclasses in drawing.
The new teacher was helping Jun Woo to create a portfolio to submit for his college entrance.
The art college was quite far from he lived but he was determined to do his best. School, art, part-time job had put a toll on his health. He had a nose bleed when he was with Soo Bin but he assured her that he can do it.
Soo Bin’s mother and Jun Woo’s mum had a sort of confrontation in a coffee shop. Soo Bin’s mom begged Jun Woo’s mum to transfer Jun Woo to another school because at eighteen, hormones are running rampant and she doesn’t want Soo Bin to end up pregnant or something. The way Soo Bin said what she had just opined, Jun Woo’s mom can read between the lines that Soo Bin’s mom was saying that Jun Woo was not good enough for Soo Bin.
Jun Woo’s mom got annoyed with Soo Bin’s mother, telling her that she understood that she worries about Soo Bin but she was Jun Woo’s mother and she would do anything for her son. She asked if Soo Bin’s mum talked alone with Jun Woo and whether she might have said something that would have hurt Jun Woo.
From being the most popular and most influential at school, Ma Whi Young had become a pariah.
It was the day when the Department of Education had come to investigate the alleged grade tampering and bullying.
Ma Whi Young was feeling lost and was really to admit to anything.
When they interviewed Jun Woo for the bullying against him, he declined to make a statement.
The last five minutes of this episode is a classic weepy. I cried and cried and cried.
Ma Whi Young met Jun Woo at the playing field.
Whi Young asked Jun Woo why he did not confess everything to the school board.
Jun Woo just said do you have to ask?
Whi Young said that he was dropping out from school.
This made Jun Woo so angry, he gave Whi Young a right hook on the face. He told him that he could not drop out.
Jun Woo said that Whi Young is a coward, he just runs away. He said that he had not forgiven Whi Young.
Whi Young said that he thought that the best thing he could do was to drop out and leave everything. He thought that because Jun Woo did not make a statement to the board that Jun Woo had forgiven him.
Jun Woo went ballistic. He said that far from having forgiven Whi Young, he hated him. He asked Whi Young whether he had really felt sorry for everything he did with Jun Woo?
Whi Young said sorry and then he started crying and knelt down on the grass looking so lost and pathetic, apologising repeatedly to Jun Woo.
Jun Woo was surprised and walked nearer to the kneeling and crying Whi Young.
Episode 16
It is a bittersweet ending but rather mature and satisfying.
Kudos the cast. Every single one played their part just right.
Anyway, Whi Young still dropped out of school because he would feel guilty knowing that his classmates studied really while he had the fraudulent back-up of his parents.
It was a sad scene seeing him leaving the school.
It seemed his parents really did a number to his brother as well as he was confined in a sanitorium/rehab centre out of his mind. He seemed to have had a breakdown.
Whi Young had become independent from his parents and now works in a petrol station.
Mr Oh had finally got together with Jiming, the girl he liked who used to work with Jun Woo.
Pil Sang really courted Ro Mi and it paid off. He looked rather handsome with his fringe brushed up or flicked away from his forehead. Ro Mi might have thought so to because out of the blue she demanded that Pil Sang should go out with her.
And as for the young lovers, their story, though really sweet, suffered a major complication and set back.
Jun Woo’s mother is struggling to make ends meet. She even closed her restaurant because her trusted Auntie Hae run off with the money which was to be used to renovate the restaurant.
Jun Woo felt that it was only right to go live with his mother to support her and soothe her stress and worries.
Jun Woo secretly asked Soo Bin’s mother to allow them him and Soo Bin to have a permitted day for one whole day. He told her that he was leaving soon to be with his mother.
Soo Bin’s mom agreed.
Soo Bin and Jun Woo had a happy day and even more interesting when Jun Woo received a message that he came second place to a painting competition he had entered.
But then he had to tell Soo Bin that he was going to be leaving to live with his mother.
Suprisingly, Soo Bin said she knew. Apparently she called Jun Woo’s mother to inquire why Jun Woo seemed to have a lot of angst lately.
The mother confessed that Jun Woo was coming to live with her. No matter how much she tried to dissuade him, he ignored it and was determined to go with his mother.
Soo Bin sadi that it was only right that he should go but then she said she was going to miss him.
Jun Woo also confessed that it was really hard to leave her. But he said that just because he was leaving it does not mean that they were breaking off. He said that he will come visit her often. But he said he was leaving soon but he does not want for her to see him off. He doesn’t like for her to see him leaving.
Soo Bin agreed.
On the day, Soo Bin’s mother was rather surprised that Soo Bin was at home and not saying goodbye to Jun Woo.
Soo Bin said that she was too busy, and she needed to go to college for study.
She was just outside their building when she noticed Jun Woo’s most treasured possession, his bike Bumbi. He had left it to her with a portfolio of drawings of them together, their most memorable and sweetest time together.
Suddenly Soo Bin longed to see Jun Woo one last time before he left.
She ran everywhere until she ended up in the bus station. She hollered his name rather piteously which was heard by Jun Woo, whose bus was about to leave.
Soo Bin was feeling defeated, she had missed Jun Woo.
But not really because he was standing right before her.
They hugged. He was still going to leave but this moment when they were eighteen was so radiant that it would last a long time.
I hope this drama is subbed. Based on the first few minutes that I have watched, it promises a very interesting and action-packed drama.
Come on Netflix or Viki, please sub.
9 May 2019 Update: Great news, this drama is coming to Viki. Yey
Episode 1
According to the blurb, the Moon Sect prevailed in Nanjiang area, once upon a time. They practised sorcery but hidden under the guise of worshipping the god of the moon. Their shenanigans had such a detrimental effect on the ruination of ordinary folks.
To curtail the activities of the Moon Sect, expert martial artists had bonded together. They were Xiao Shi Shui, who was the leader of Listening Snow Tower, Bai Di of Sand Valley, Xue Gu and a swordsman known as the Blood Demon, Shu Xue Wei.
Under the leadership of these four martial artists, the Moon Sect was weakened but continued to wage war again the Listening Snow Tower.
(Despite not really understanding fully what was going on in this unsubbed first episode, I have to admit that it was interesting and exciting enough to keep me glued during the entire time. – Update: now subbed)
Jing Rong and her father, Shu Xue Wei, had just released the sky lantern they made for her dead mother when they were attacked by dozens of warrior of the Moon Sect led by Hua Lian.
The woman, Hua Lian, had very powerful cultivation, she can manipulate the mind using her sewing needles.
She used mind control to make the heavily injured Blood Demon to stab his own daughter with his sword. Jing Rong spoke to her father which had a visible effect but the mind control kept going. In the end, he turned the sword on himself and dies.
The woman was just about to kill Jing Rong as well when another band of fighters, from the Listening Snow Tower(LST), came to save JingRong.
The woman almost fought to the death with the leader of LST, she got heavily injured spitting blood and then chose to fly away at the last minute.
Before the Blood Demon died he tenderly whispered to Jing Rong not to take revenge, instead to live well, live a quiet easy life.
The people from LST took Jing Rong and her father’s body with them.
Jing Rong was crying over the grave of her father. Despite the cold, she remained on a vigil; kneeling quietly and would not move.
The young master from LST came to see what was going on and gave his fur coat to Jing Rong despite being unwell himself.
The poor young master of LST became gravely ill due to the cold.
He and Jing Rong were taken to the Sand Valley as Jing Rong refuses to go to LST.
The doctor had said that the boy had always been susceptible to the cold and would probably not live past his 20th birthday.
Jing Rong woke up the next morning with breakfast brought in by young Qing Lan, a disciple of Bai Dai.
Jing Rong ran into the open door and into a cliff. She unhesitatingly jumped into the water below hoping to join her mother and father in the afterlife.
Qing Lan immediately jumped after her and rescued her.
I have to say, the young actors are so cute and excellent in their roles.
Bai Dai, shifu of Sand Valley, was waiting for them on the shore.
He told Jing Rong that he knew her father and how he invented the Blood Rose Sword.
He then invited her to stay with him and his two young disciples, Qing Lan and Qing Yu at Sand Valley.
Qing Lan promised Jing Rong that he will be at her side forever.
Episode 2
Bai Dai had taken charged of the orphaned Jing Rong and given her a new name of Qing Ming.
Qing Lan and Qing Yu were excited about a new sister. They trained all together. These three children’s sword training among waist length yellow flowers was a cinematic delight.
Ten years later…
The young master of LST had finally returned to the tower. He and his bodyguard were hardly been there for a minute when a band of assassins attacked them.
It seems the young master though afflicted with COPD was a brilliant martial artist and easily defeated the dozens of assassins.
He later learned that LST has his uncle Mai as the main man. His father who was the master had yet to recover from his fight with Hua Lian of Moon Sect ten years ago. His father had lost his mojo.
On their first day at LST, Madam Zi gave Xiao Yi Qing a note from Xie Li Zhon asking for help.
His daughter who was being taken home by her new groom had been kidnapped by the mountain bandits, headed by the Blue Wolf.
Xie Li Zhon wanted the matter kept hush-hush as he does not want any controversy at the moment. Apparently, the Crown Prince of King Zhen Xin was headed to Luoyang and would be stopping and temporary lodged at the Xie Manor.
Xie Li Zhon was very upright and abhors intrigues that would mar the visit of the crown prince.
Qing Ming was visiting her father’s grave when she happened to see the mountain bandits having taken the girl and her groom still in their bridal costumes.
She tried to rescue the girl and she was succeeding at first but they were just too many bandits.
It was very timely when Yi Qing and his bodyguard arrived and proceeded to take down the bandits.
The rescued girl said she would like to return to her father but Yi Qing told her that her father had already issued an official statement that she had died.
The girl understood immediately. She said her father believed that,
A dead virgin is better than a kidnapped daugther with a stained reputation.
Aren’t we glad that we do not live in that era anymore!!!
Anyway, Yi Qing accompanied a mock funeral cortege of the girl to her father’s house.
The father was beseeching the heavens and ancestors about the sad faith of his daughter. He went to look inside the coffin and found some movement.
He immediately ordered that the coffin be sealed. (What a hypocrite!)
The girl in the coffin was Ming Qing. While the real daughter watched quietly what her father’s dramatic performance.
When Yi Qing and Ming Qing were alone, he asked her where she was from as she seemed to know him.
Episode 3
It was the tenth death anniversary of Jing Rong/Ming Qing’s father. She noted that despite the years her father was still popular with the people.
Ming Qing had a half-dream that Yi Qing comforted her while she was lonely and sad at her former house she shared with her late parents.
This episode also is about the power struggle for the LST between Yi Qing and her uncle Mai Qian Cheng, who had taken over the running of the tower.
Yi Qing found out that his father was systematically being poisoned by the powerful but delinquent four guardians of LST.
Episode 4
This episode is action-packed. The fight between Yi Qing and Mai Qian Cheng was fantastic, very balletic, well choreographed.
Anyway, Mai Qian Cheng went to Feng Qin Gardens where Yi Qing was based. Unbeknown to Mai Qian Cheng, there were still some guards who were loyal to the Master of LST and therefore the fight between Yi Qing and his uncle was balanced.
But Yi Qing prevailed and had his uncle captured. There was still a worry that Tian Li Assembly will regroup and attack again to rescue Mai Qian Cheng.
But Yi Qing is severely weakened as he gave his bracelet containing the moon spirit which was keeping him alive to his dying father.
Meanwhile, Qing Lan was busy keeping the crown prince alive. Despite their carefully planned route to fool their assassins, they were still found out. It did not help also that the crown prince had been infected by a virulent bug.
Yi Qing had been revealed to have spent the last ten years at the Thermal Valley.
Episode 5
At last the crown prince had arrived safely at Sand Valley but would he be safe for long?
Soldiers from the Moon Sect had penetrated the huge stone door of the Sand Valley. Qing Yang was otherwise occupied with Ming Le.
The master of LST recounted to his son about his mother, who was a junior of Hua Liang of Moon Sect.
He took away Yi Qing’s mother away from Moon Sect but they had become fugitive and hunted by the Moon Sect all the time.
Yi Qing’s mother one day decided to leave much to the sadness of his father.
His father eventually established the Listening Snow Tower.
Episode 6
This episode was one beautifully executed fighting scene after another.
First off, it showed that Sand Valley is no weakling, the trap set in its entrance was working fine and prevented the Moon Sect soldier from entering further into the valley.
Qing Yu who was pretending to be the crown prince was also attacked. Thank goodness he was such an ace martial artist and ably aided by the annoying Xiao Tai.
Poor Yi Qing exhausted himself that he had run out of chi. Ming Qing had to give him some of her life force.
He then saw the death of his father by his uncle who had turned zombie-like and controlled by the Hua Lian.
Episode 7
Poor Yi Qing was having a crisis of confidence. He blamed himself for his flawed plans and not anticipating many things.
He was visibly moved though when he was ushered outside to the sight of martial artists affirming their loyalty to Listening Snow Tower.
He promised himself that he will rescue his mother, who was apparently still alive in the bog of the Moon Sect and then will rebuild a stronger, better Listening Snow Tower.
Madam Zi Mo had taken upon herself to rehabilitate Huang Quan of the Tian Li Assembly and recruit him to LST.
Meanwhile. Bai Di had now ordered Ming Qing and Qing Yu to return to Sand Valley.
The three martial siblings have met up again. Qing Lan was particularly happy to see Ming Qing but Ming Qing was rather annoyed that there was an intruder to their reunion. It was Yuo Hou/Ming Le who was rather jealous of Ming Qing.
Shifu noticed the hatred in Ming Qing’s eyes but she said that it was because of the current chaotic situation with the warring Moon Sect.
Ming Qing and Qing Yu was having a friendly contest when Qing Lan appeared with Yuo Hou.
Qing Lan told Ming Qing that he got a bunch of flowers for her which he will dry and use as a potpourri to help her sleep.
Yuo Hou was jealous and MIng Qing and Qing Yu noticed it.
Meanwhile, Yi Qing was handed a note by Madam Zi Mo. It said that the Moon Sect was going to ransack Sand Valley and they seemed to know something about how to get in.
They heard that aside from the crown prince, there was another that went in into the Sand Valley. It was, of course, You Hou. Is she a spy?
Yi Qing decided to investigate her.
Episode 8
It was good too that Yi Qing started investigating You Hou as she almost hurt Ming Qing when she ordered her red bats to attack Ming Qing through her aggressive flute playing.
But Qing Lan had developed a total trust on You Hou despite Yi Qing telling him that she was the spy from within the Sand Valley and may have endangered the formation that guarded the place.
Anyway You Hou, according to Shifu Bai Di had only two days to live as her virus had been attacking her system rather furiously.
Episode 9
You Hou is the daughter of Hua Lian and she had very powerful martial arts.
The Moon Sect attacked Sand Valley and poor Shifu was killed.
Ming Qing had taken her Blood Rose sword but she was heavily injured and so was everyone else including Yi Qing.
What an exciting episode.
Episode 10
Ming Qing and Qing Yu held a funeral for both Shifu and Qing Lan. Although they were hoping that Qing Lan was alive as they could not find his body among the debris.
Episode 11
Ming Qing aked Yi Qing if she could join Snow Tower but she was turned down as he reckoned she was weak. He did accept Qing Yu to the LST but he turned it down and left with Ming Qing.
When Yi Qing was asked about his harsh decision of turning down Ming Qing. He said that it was for her own good. She needed to learn to stand on her two feet so she could really use the Blood Rose Sword otherwise she would just rely on anyone throughout her life.
Episode 12
Three years later…
This beginning of this episode is pretty spectacular.
Ming Qing is now Lady Jing and met Yi Qing again after three years in the street one rainy day. Lady Jing in her red hanfu with a red umbrella started a sword battle which looks like a dance with white hanfued with white umbrella Yi Qing.
Yi Qing was impressed with how her sword skill had improved a great deal.
After their fighting exercise, Yi Qing asked her how she had lived the last three years.
It so happened that she got separated from Qing Yu for the better part of the three years.
She went blind and was taken care of by a mysterious mute doctor, who she seemed to have fallen in love with.
Episode 13 – 14
Lady Jing and Qing Yu, who now goes with his original name of Gao Meng Fei had joined forces with the LST to create a havoc of revenge against the Moon sect and their supplier of nitrate to manufacture the superbombs that blew up Sand Valley to smithereens.
The suppliers were the Lei family.
To infiltrate the Lei Family, Lady Jing had to play the role of a shy maiden from the brothel, who plays the `zither.
The elder son of the Lei fell for the comely Lady Jing, who pretended to have run away from the brothel and now homeless.
He took her home with him, where she did her investigation and aided closely by Yi Qing.
Episode 15
Xue Wen, Yi Qing’s mother is dying.
It is also the day when the delivery of more gun powder was about to happen.
The delivery was attacked and a confrontation between LST and Moon sect occurred resulting in Guo Meng Fei being injured with the distinctive metal arrow from Moon Sect.
Ming He was also injured. she seemed to restrain herself from really hurting Guo Meng Fei which led to her falling off a cliff.
The confrontation between the Leis and Yi Qing and Lady Jing.
Finally, Lady Jing was revealed as the shy woman from the brothel who happened to be the daughter of the Blood Demon.
Episode 16
Master Lei blamed Lady Jing for what happened to his family. He cursed her that Karma gets her in the end.
Yi Qing was quick to point out that it was he who tried to destroy the country with his gun powder.
Master Lei was defeated in all corner, thinking that it was over for his family, he drank poison and keeled over.
Poor Guo Meng Fei, he was poisoned with the Blood Venom, which was hard to treat.
Hua Liang had started searching for her daughter Meng He.
The leads have a very complicated relationship. Sometimes he does everything to protect her at the same time throwing her to the wolves. While Lady Jing was quick to take up her Blood Rose sword against him.
This episode ended, where she was flying towards Yi Qing to stab him with her sword. How romantic! LOL
Episode 17
After their flirtatious sword fight, Yi Qing prevailed as expected.
Lady Jing knelt down in front of him and formally asked to join LST. She said that she will be serving LST until the time that she defeated him.
Yi Qing confirmed with her that when the time comes, she will betray him or the LST. She honestly said ‘yes’
He told her that he uses a dagger, as his choice of weapon. It might hurt him just like her, she was the dagger in his life. Awww Seriously why not just confess.
The surprise in this episode was that Qing Lan, now called Jia Ruo is alive but had lost his memory and being controlled by Hua Lian and currently kept under a toxic lake inside a sealed coffin.
Ming He rebelled against her mother because Jia Ruo disappeared so she had a one to one combat with Hua Lian. She did not really want to hurt/kill her mother so she begged her for the umpteenth time to let Jia Ruo go but her mother refused.
This left Ming He nothing to go by but to plunged into the lake in search of Jia Ruo. And she found him almost comatose. Between them, they were able to open the coffin and swum up to confront Hua Lian.
Jia Ruo seemed to have learned and gotten a lot stronger. He defeated Hua Lian, who plummet into the bottom of the lake in death.
Episode 18
Ming He was very worried about Jia Ruo, who know that he was dying. The only thing that could cure him was the Azure Azalea by the Long Family of the South Seas.
It so happened that LST had already contacted the Long Family of the South Seas for the same flower.
LST needed the flower to purge Gao Meng Fei of the deadly poison he got from fighting with the Moon Sect.
The Long Family had sent an emissary to LST to forge an alliance by asking LST to send a bride for the king of Long.
This bit is a bit tricky because the king was a double of Scheherazade’s husband in 1001 Arabian Nights.
The King of Long had had 11 brides who died on their wedding night.
Chi Xiao Tai told Yi Qing that there was only one woman what was suitable as the bride to the beastly king and that was Lady Jing.
Yi Qing almost hissed at Xiao Tai.
Everyone knew that Yi Qing had a soft spot for Lady Jing.
Anyway, Lady Jing came to LST with a new recruit, Hong Chen.
Hong Chen was the woman who poisoned Lady Jing three years ago causing her to go blind.
Lady Jing wanted to kill her immediately but Yi Qing said that LST could use Hong Chen because of her expertise in poison.
Lady Jing went to see Gao Meng Fei, who was feeling so sorry for himself. He asked her if she was in his place wouldn’t she feel the same?
Lady Jing said no, she would find a way out or a cure to her condition. She then left and went to see Yi Qing.
She told him that she would like to be the bride.
Yi Qing was not having it, he said he has already a bride in mind.
This bride was Lady Jiang, the girl who was widowed on the road to her husband’s manor.
Episode 19
Crystal Yuan is more stunning as Lady Jing than when she was the fragrant Mo Shan Shan in Evernight.
Lady Jiang was escorted by Yi Qing and Lady Jing to the South Sea just to ensure that she was going to be safe where she was going.
What they found at the manor was rather creepy. There were many places and activities which were forbidden.
The groom has not put an appearance yet.
Hao Tian seemed to have fallen for Lady Jiang because seeing how uncomfortable she was in the new surrounding, he begged her to run away with him.
Lady Jiang refused as she would be letting down the LST.
Lady Jing was investigating the forbidden pavilion of past wives when she happened to find a secret passage which led her to a secret part of the South Sea. She then overheard Ming He talking to Gu Guang.
Without much thought, she confronted them and had a sword fight with Gu Guang but Ming He through a poisoned arrow at her.
Episode 20
Lady Jing became a prisoner of Ming He.
Meanwhile, Yi Qing had found that the very common sight of azaleas next to a burning candle had a purpose. Petals of the burnt azalea create hallucinations to anyone nearby.
Hao Tian spoke to Ming He, who told him that she will kill anyone who takes the azure azalea from her.
Ming He found Jia Rou looking at the comatose Lady Jing.
She tried to kill Lady Jing but Jia Rou stopped her, which annoyed Ming He because, despite his memory loss, there is something within him that really cares for Lady Jing.
Poor Lady Jiang, her groom appeared at last and he was not only rather hideous in appearance but he was as creepy as hell as well.
She ended up running out in the rain almost losing her mind in fear.
Episode 21
Gu Guang of Moon Sect saved Lady Jing and helped Yi Qing to rescue Lady Jing.
Lady Qing finally realised that the doctor she fell in love with when she was blinded was Yi Qing.
Meanwhile, Lady Jiang was being seduced by Hao Tian. They were plotting to be together and to effect this, they had to kill Master Long, the fiance.
It was Lady Jiang’s wedding.
During the ceremony, Lady Jiang tried to look for Hao Tian but she can’t find him. This was noticed by her new husband.
Behind the scene, the dowager mistress of the Long family secret gave the azure azalea to Ming He.
Episode 22
It was the wedding night of Lady Jiang and Qing Ya. She offered her new husband a drink as the final part of the wedding ceremonial rites.
Qing Ya thought that she put the poison in his drink but she actually poisoned her own drink because she had fallen deeply in love with Hao Tian.
Qing Ya gave her an antidote for the poison but his mother stopped him. But then again Lady Jing had also materialised and stopped the mother.
Lady Jing asked Qing Ya why he allowed his mother to control him.
He then recounted that when he was just a young boy, his father died living him as the head of the family.
As a Long tradition, the Long father had to be buried with his wife so they can be together in the afterlife.
But they fake the death of the mother because Qing Ya was still very young to manage on his own. And because of his young age, the other clan members were trying to rebel and usurp his position as the new leader.
His mother helped him in every way.
Then it turned out that Qing Ya was Hao Tian. He had been wearing a mask so that he looked ferocious and frighten his people into submission.
Apparently, the eleven brides were not dead because Qing Ya secretly gave them the antidote and let them get away from the island.
There was another side to this story. Qingya was a twin of Hong Chen, the one who blinded Lady Jing.
The Long clan believed that twins are evil and will bring down calamity to the family and therefore, one of the twins must die.
Hong Chen, being the girl should have died if their biological mother did not run away with her. So the current dowager mistress was not Qing Ya’s biological mother.
Huang ZiTao will play Zheng Bai Xu, a rather temperamental singer who is full of talent but has been giving his management a lot of headaches. It seems all he had known was music since he was young. He does not know nor really cares how to interact with others.
Then enter Wu Qian as Yang Zhen Zhen, a young woman who is very passionate about music. She has been tasked to work as an assistant to Bai Xu.
Their working relationship did not start well but as time goes by, Zhen Zhen found out that there is more to Bai Xu than meets the eye.
Episode 1
Zheng Bai Xu and Yang Zhen Zhen auditioned at the same time a couple of years ago to be a singer.
Now Zheng Bai Xu is an up and coming pop/rapper idol but Yang Zhen Zhen had finally given up pursuing her dreams because she finally accepted that she was not really good enough singer.
Zhen Zhen, however, continues to be interested in music in a big way that she wanted to work in that area in whatever capacity.
Star Entertainment had open recruitment for their press department and Zhen Zhen applied for a position. She noticed immediately that Zheng Bai Xu had been signed up as a new artist.
Bai Xu had been giving his management a bit of a headache because he had been continually updating his Weibo account despite being banned from doing so.
His assistant, Xiao Jian, is extremely timid that she can’t control Bai Xu.
Enters Zhen Zhen, who was not the least bit intimidated by Bai Xu.
Purely accidental, she got a job at Star Entertainment because she inadvertently overheard the big boss talking about giving up on her husband who happens to be the CEO of the company.
Thinking that Zhen Zhen would blab, she instructed the HR department to give her a job and the job going at that moment was to ensure that Bai Xu stops posting anything in social media.
Unfortunately can’t be controlled so Zhen Zhen hacked and changed his Weibo password.
Bai Xu was incandescent with rage.
Janice Wu is always reliable to provide a cute and beguiling performance. Zitao was as cute as well so the first episode is watchable and just hoped more subtitled immediately.
Episode 2
Zhen Zhen was forced to become the new assistant to Bai Xu as Xiao Jian declined to go back to working with the rather temperamental Bai Xu.
Episode 3
Zhen Zhen was tasked to find someone to sing a demo for Bai Xu. She found Zi Rui, a fellow trainee with her and Bai Xu a couple of years ago.
Zi Rui was really reluctant to do it because Bai Xu was rather nasty to him during their trainee period.
Zhen Zhen, though reminded him that this event might become his stepping stone into making it big in the music industry.
So Zi Rui went to the studio ready to record the demo.
But he was annoyed to find out that the song is credited to been written by Bai Xu was a word for word plagiarisation of his own composition.
But poor Bai Xu really has nothing to do with the plagiarisation. His management just thought that he would be more relevant as an artist if he was a singer-songwriter.
Zi Rui was ready to take his revenge aided by his friend from the bar.
It so happened that Bai Xu went into the bar.
Episode 4
Bai Xu ended up in a brawl at the bar with Zi Rui and his friend.
Zhen Zhen had to intervene as Rui’s friend ensured that there were paparazzi in the bar. Poor Zhen Zhen got hit in the arm with a bottle from covering Bai Xu with her body.
Anyway, Star Entertainment was having a problem with cash flow. They needed investment.
And the way to the money was through the CEO’s mistress.
Lina, the mistress, said that she has contacts that would invest but they require Lina to personally deal with the investment and therefore they wanted her to become the Vice CEO of Star Entertainment.
The Boss has not much choice for the moment having found out that he is ill with rectal cancer.
So he told Lina he accepts their condition.
Episode 5
The wife finally found out that her husband is having extracurricular activities when she saw the selfie taken by Zhen Zhen which also unwittingly captured an intimate moment between the boss and his mistress.
Speaking about affairs, Bai Xu was again in a bit of a bother with the press because an ambitious actress pretended that there is more to her relationship with Bai Xu than mere colleagues in a movie.
Poor Bai Xu is hounded by the press. He can’t get out of his apartment.
Episode 6
Bai Xu is to do his MV (music video) in Mexico.
Even abroad Bai Xu gets into trouble and even ended up in prison. He was caught racing illegally.
He spent time in prison as Zhen Zhen could not locate him. It was all his fault as he threw his mobile away to prevent Zhen Zhen from calling him and knowing where he was at.
He was very annoyed that Zhen Zhen took so long to find him.
He was also in trouble with the music producer as he failed to turn up during the video shoot. The local crew were annoyed for having wasted their time waiting for a no-show artist.
Episode 7
At last, BAi Xu had wrapped up his MV in Mexico.
A young fan, who was the daughter of his lawyer had told Bai Xu that she can tell that Bai Xu likes Zhen Zhen. If he is a little nicer to Zhen Zhen, she might like him back.
Zhen Zhen and Bai Xu said in unison, “Impossible”.
When they got back to China, at the airport, Zhen Zhen thought she saw Zi Rui with another girl. It turned out it was not him.
But Bai Xu noticed that Zhen Zhen had a real crush on Zi Rui.
Bai Xu was badgering Zhen Zhen for an answer to why she fancied Zi Rui and not him. He said that he was not asking because he really wanted her to like him but was just curious why she likes Zi Rui over him when he is better looking and more talented.
Zhen Zhen said it was because Zi Rui is Zi Rui, gentle and kind.
Bai Xu started to think about why he was bothered that Zhen Zhen likes Zi Rui. Does he likes her really as the young fan in Mexico had told him?
Episode 8
Bai Xu likes being with Zhen Zhen. He is relying more and more on her and not happy when she was meeting Zi Rui.
The press conference to introduce Bai Xu’s new record was about to happen. But the people who were tasked to deal with the presentation were very incapable and loves to cut corners.
Bai Xu was all for canceling his mini-concert but the CEO said that it would be a bad move as the investors have been invited to attend.
In the end, Bai Xu’s father came to the rescue and offered his jewelry showroom as the new venue.
Episode 9
Bai Xu gave a very good performance during the press conference.
But Zi Rui tried to steal the spotlight by singing a surprise song which was first recorded by Du Wangqing and composed by CEO Chen 10 or so years ago. Du Wangqing who had retired from singing was forced to do a duet with Zi Rui and everyone was commenting on how Du Wangqing still got it.
Bai Xu’s father was ready to buy/invest into Star Entertainment but CEO Chen declined because he was not happy that as part of the contract, Bai Xu’s father will get 51 percent of the company and in effect will own Star.
Bai Xu found out about what happened. His father told him that since he was not interested in being a CEO to their family business, he was buying Star, or any other same company or even starting one from scratch.
Bai Xu told him that he was a singer, he does not want to manage.
So back to square one for CEO Chen. The option to negotiate with Ma Lina’s contact was still open to him.
He took the chance as he was desperate to have Star listed on the stock market and grow his company to its limit.
Ma Lina started acting up before the ink had even dried on the contract.
Episode 10
Zhen Zhen went to see Wu Gong to reason with him but she only made it worst because Wu Gong wrote another review which was much more damning.
Bai Xu was so annoyed with her. He made her promised not to do things without discussing it with him first.
But of course, that won’t happen because as soon as she was able to Zhen Zhen went looking fro Wu Gong to confront him but she did not get the chance as Bai Xu’s fan harassed him.
This time Bai Xu covered for Zhen Zhen when she was interviewed by the agency. He said that he sent Zhen Zhen to talk to Wu Gong.
Bai Xu also gave Zhen Zhen a gift, which she was happy about.
Ma Lina is now fighting with Du Wangqing for the Vice CEO influence.
Episode 11
Zia Yuan recommended Zi Rui to her boss at Blossom. The boss then quickly recruited Zi Rui to become an artist at Blossom.
Meanwhile, Star is doing damage limitation to Bai Xu after the Wu Gong debacle.
Bai Xu had to have a heavily chaperoned date with one of his fans, who won the contest. Bai Xu was very honest and confessed that he had never dated.
Wu Gong though seemed to really have it for Bai Xu. He was more than a music critic, he was going below the belt with his criticism of Bai Xu which no longer had to do with the profession. It was personal.
Episode 12
Someone attacked Wu Gong which ended in him being taken to the hospital.
It was ascertained immediately that the attacker was one of the fans of Bai Xu.
Star Entertainment immediately went to damage limitation once again and staged a press conference where they would personally apologise to Wu Gong.
Bai Xu will apologise personally to Wu Gong as well.
During the press conference which was attended by the management and of course the press. Many fans attended as well.
Apologies were said by various members fo Bai Xu management which did not sit down well with the fans.
Bai Xu said sorry to the fans but categorically refused to apologise to Wu Gong. He mentioned that Wu Gong had criticised him from the onset, not because of his music but because he came from a rich background.
The press conference then disintegrated into more controversial issues including Bai Xu’s time in jail in Mexico as well as his relationship with Wenwen, an actress who had been revealed as being pregnant.
Bai Xu could not take it anymore and walked out and can’t be found for days.
Poor Zhen Zhen. If this is not enough, she also heard that Star Entertainment was thinking of selling Bai Xu before he becomes the white elephant of the company.
Zhen Zhen finally found him on a race track. She glued herself to him and to teach her a lesson, he took her to a bar.
Episode 13
So Zhen Zhen found Bai Xu and then lost him again. He went to the old family house where his mother was burnt to death.
Episode 14
Zhen Zhen continues to look for Bai Xu, who seemed to be a step ahead of her all the time.
Episode 15
Du Wangqing called Zhen Zhen into her office telling her that Star is trying to recruit Zirui. She also said that there will be restructuring at Star and all her problems with the temperamental Bai Xu will lessen.
Bai Xu seemed to be having a schizophrenic attack as he begins to see and have a conversation with Zhen Zhen everywhere he goes.
Her encouragement made him do a duet with a young singer doing a live performance of one of Bai Xu’s songs.
Zhen Zhen was on a date with Zi Rui but it got cut short because Bai Xu finally called Zhen Zhen to bail him out because he forgot to bring his wallet to the bar/resto. However, he did not forget to make an ad to promote Wechat and Alipay.
They were talking and doing a mild flirting when Zi Rui called to ask if she sorted things out.
Bai Xu was jealous and grab the phone off her hands.
Zhen Zhen was jumping up and down trying to get the phone back but he said what would you like me to text your boyfriend. She was still annoyed with Bai Xu and tried once again to take back the phone. She told him “It’s none of your business, don’t be stupid.”
That was exactly what Bai Xi texted ZiRui.
Poor Zi Rui was upset and refused all contacts from Zhen Zhen.
Bai Zu, to make up with what he did to Zhen Zhen, did a very funny live stream which became very popular.
Episode 16
Bai Zu was once again looking at the ‘raw’ diamond he’s got. Is he thinking of having it made into a diamond ring?
Zhen Zhen was not replying to Bai Zu’s messages so he went to her house.
The landlady happened to turn up and collect the overdue rent which Bai Zu paid in full.
Zhen Zhen went to Bai Xu’s house with the rent money and to tell him that she was on her last day as his assistant.
Bai Xu would not accept the money but Zhen Zhen was insisting and they both end up by the pool. With their little debate, the money ended up in the water and Zhen Zhen with them.
Zhen Zhen can’t swim almost drowned despite the water level is only waist-deep.
Bai Xu had to give her an underwater mouth to mouth resuscitation. So cute.
Episode 17
One of Bai Xu’s delinquent fans who was still a minor, let herself in into Zhen Zhen and Xia Yuan’s house. She ransacked the place and then brought other fans for an impromptu fan meeting.
Obviously, Xia Yuan was very annoyed and upset but Zhen Zhen took it upon herself to be responsible for the young fan.
Xia Yuan though understandably was not too broadminded so she threw the girl out on the street.
Zhen Zhen is getting used to not being Bai Xu’s assistant and working back at the marketing section of Star Entertainment.
Episode 18
It was Kexin birthday party and Bai was attending.
Meanwhile, Zirui was recording a demo at Star. When they asked him to join Star, he declined though admitting that he was giving up a once in a lifetime opportunity. The thing is that he cannot leave his current company, Blossom, because it was going through tough times. He said why not do a partnership with Blossom?
Zhen Zhen received a suicide call from the young fan of Bai Xu. The Star management told her to not get involved as she was no longer Bai Xu’s assistant.
Zhen Zhen ignored their advice and went ahead to look for the fan and also called Bai Xu on her way.
The young fan and her mother were having a heated argument on the rooftop of the building. People had started gathering to watch the commotion.
The fire brigade also turned up and started blowing up a huge inflatable.
Good thing too as Zhen Zhen was accidentally pushed by the mother of the fan and was falling from the building.
Seeing Zhen Zhen falling, Bai Xu jumped to her and gotten hold of her in an embrace and took the force of the fall.
When Zhen Zhen woke she learned that she had been in a coma for a while but poor Bai Xu was all broken up.
Zhen Zhen almost killed Bai Xu. She was helping him on his way to the toilet when he removed his IV drip which was an antibiotic.
He had an attack and the doctor told Zhen Zhen off.
Zhen Zhen started to seem Bai Xu in a more romantic light.
The hospital is besieged by worried fans of Bai Xu. He had started trending. He is popular again.
Episode 19
Yi Ren recounted the reasons why Bai Xu was the way he was.
When they were young, the young Bai Xu was picked on by kids in their neighbourhood. Bai Xu was a bit delicate and it was up to Yi Ren to protect her young baby brother.
They used to live in the suburb with a new-built house and therefore, often there will be a power cut. Their mother would usually light a few candles.
One time their mother was alone with Bai Xu in the house. She lit some candles and forgot about them that caused a fire that razed the house immediately killing their mother.
Someone was able to save the young Bai Xu.
The poor boy was immediately surrounded by reporters taking his photos with flashing lightbulbs.
Bai Xu cannot stand fire nor reporters ever since.
Yi Ren said that Zhen Zhen has such a positive effect on her brother who had never dated before.
Star wanted him to do a commercial for wheelchairs.
Bai Xu categorically said no to Star but then Zhen Zhen sweet-talked him, saying that the company will donate 1000 wheelchairs to charity.
Star was impressed. And as a reward, they promoted Zhen Zhen to being Bai Xu’s manager.
Episode 20
Zhen Zhen is getting to grips with being Bai Xu’s manager. She is idealistic but she needed to be more practical.
Blossom is going down fast. Zi Rui liked his situation in Blossom as he was given a free rein to the choices he makes regarding his music but he may not have any choice than to take up Star’s offer to make him their own.
Episode 21
Zi Rui signed up with Star Entertainment. He gifted Zhen Zhena lovely neckerchief which she loved so much, she wore it every day.
Bai Xu was not happy about it and used it to clean his shoes and then threw it away.
Zhen Zhen was so annoyed with him.
Xiao Yuan was hoping to get an interview as Zi Rui’s assistant at Star E
Episode 22
Awww what a sad episode for the budding love story between Zhen Zhen and ZiRui.
He dumped Zhen Zhen even before they can really begin a relationship.
Zi Rui was very happy to start at Star E. He can sing his music the way he wanted to, He can arrange it and rearrange it, safe in the admiration of his music producer.
Then entered the big boss, Boss Chen, who can veto everything and anything in the company.
He overheard Zhen Zhen and Zi Rui arranging a date.
He quickly tried to nip it in the bud whatever relationship these two has.
Being an idol is being a commodity for fans to worship.
This commodity isn’t allowed to have a relationship and be close to female.
– Boss Chen
He reminded Zi Rui that the contract he signed has a proviso as an idol where he is solely a fan property.
Zi Rui as an idol is now someone a fan can fantasize over and over, therefore Zi Rui is not allowed to have a love life in the duration of his contract. Boss Chen said that he is a commodity and he had to ensure that he is available to his followers. No relationship, no rumour and definitely no Zhen Zhen.
Zi Rui at first was annoyed, he said he was a musician, not a commodity.
But in the end, his ambition got the better of him.
During his date with Zhen Zhen, he told her how much he likes her, she was in his heart but as she may be aware, he is not allowed to have a relationship. He said even for her he cannot give up his music.
Episode 23
Zi Rui was of course very upset because he really liked Zhen Zhen.
Zhen Zhen was also disappointed because the Zi Rui she came to like is someone who has integrity.
Zi Rui said to her that he hopes that there is still someone in the company who will be on his side.
Zhen Zhen, despite being upset, was dignified. She had a taste of the ice-cream he bought her and said she will not be that someone and then up and left. This scene was well scripted, I have to say.
Zhen Zhen was crying when Bo Xu called.
He then found her asleep on her bed and tucked her in. She had been drinking. Bo Xu thought that she must have been upset because of Zi Rui.
Ma Lina continues her authoritarian ways with both Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen but these two were not letting her get away with it.
Even Boss Chen told Ma Lina to deal with them herself.
A fan of Bo Xu has been bribing Zhen Zhen, it was good that she was vigilant with how underhanded the fan was.
There was a basketball game where both Bo Xu and Zi Rui participated.
It was a tie score in the end but BoXu blamed Zhen Zhen that he did not score the full shots because of her.
She was confused about why it was her fault. He just said she was too stupid to understand.
Episode 24
Zi Rui recorded his first song and wanted Zhen Zhen to listen to it but she texted back that she was too busy.
Zi Rui became emotional because he did like Zhen Zhen truly.
Bo Xu was having fans trouble.
Lou Lou set up Zhen Zhen to be vilified by the fans for her alleged seduction of Bo Xu when Lou Lou engineered a little soft toy with a hidden camera that was given to Bo Xu.
The camera captured some fairly innocuous intimate moments between Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen.
Lou Lou was working with Bo Xu former manager.
Some of the pictures were uploaded to fansites.
Fans were now after Zhen Zhen’s blood (so to speak).
Episode 25
Zhen Zhen officially confronted the most vociferous fans led by Lou Lou. She let them had their say and then she told them the truth and proof with it.
It was damning evidence against Lou Lou. The fans were mollified but then turned against Lou Lou.
Bo Xu had been made a patron of underprivileged children. But when he went to the school, the ‘real’ under-privileged were kept in the classroom away from the school presentation with Bo Xu who noticed the anomaly immediately.
Bo Xu became stroppy with the organiser and to pacify him they allowed all the children to attend the presentation.
Boss Chen is being investigated by the tax people. He asked his wife to approach her father for some help.
Episode 26
Bo Xu was preparing for a concert as one of the artists. He wanted to sing Collateral Love but everyone, including Zhen Zhen, said it would be too hard.
Zhen Zhen also said that Bo Xu does not have the same range as Zi Rui. This remark was like red rag to a bull.
Bo Xu asked Shen Shen to get out of the car. Bo Xu left Shen Shen in a deserted road.
It so happened that a friend of Bo Xu was passing by and offered Shen Shen a ride to Beijing, which she happily accepted.
But before long he got fresh and started touching Zhen Zhen while he was driving like a maniac.
Zhen Zhen tried to take the wheel from him and they ended up crashing.
Zhen Zhen tried to get away but the guy was too fast and too strong. He had her confined by the side of the car while intent on getting what he wanted.
Thank goodness Bo Xu got there in time and started pummeling the guy. Bo Xu told him not to touch “my woman”. Awww
Bo Xu took Zhen Zhen back to his car and drove away. Zhen Zhen was still shell-shocked from her near abuse.
Seeing that her shirt is torn, Bo Xu gave her his shirt, which she refused categorically. He was so frustrated he threw the shirt out of the car.
Then a few days later, the shirt is trending.
Episode 27
The shirt was indeed Bo Xu.
It was a branded shirt for the limited edition of Love Confession available only in Oxford Street. It can be personalised with the object of affection.
Bo Xu went to collect the shirt from a fashion buyer who picked up the shirt on the roadside. She asked Bo Xu to prove that it was his and he showed the initial from the inside hem of the shirt he took with his mobile phone.
Just right after, Zhen Zhen called the fashion buyer about the shirt. The woman would not divulge who she gave the shirt too but Shen Shen asked if she can just guess the initial.
Zhen Zhen asked if it was YZZ but the woman said it was close enough but not in that order as westerners put the name before the surname.
When she found out, she realised that Bo Xu might have feelings for her and she started asking herself if it was mutual.
Because of her new knowledge, she became more sensitive with Bo Xu and more relaxed but remote with Zi Rui, which he noticed immediately.
Ma Lina was forcing Zhen Zhen to make Bo Xu agree to be the support to Zi Rui rather the lead singer.
Episode 28
Zi Rui became the feted star during the concert. Knowing that his throat can’t take the high notes, Bo Xu allowed Zi Rui to be the main singer while Bo Xu will do the harmony.
During the celebration, Bo Xu was visibly absent which worried Zhen Zhen, who refused to stay for the celebratory dinner to look for Bo Xu instead.
She found him and told him that he should have a hospital check-up which he refused to do. They were in a racing track and Zhen Zhen challenged him that if she can show him that she’s a good driver, he will grant her wish and vice versa.
Zhen Zhen won and impressed Bo Xu. She then said that her wish to be granted was for him to have a hospital check-up.
Star E was only a few signatures away from being a listed corporation. Boss Chen was helped by his father-in-law to iron up the bits.
The father-in-law now was asking Boss Chen when he was going to send Ma Lina packing.
Boss Chen said that he was not going to as Ma Lina was specially sent by his investors.
The father-in-law got upset and said that he has still the documents that could derail the listing of Star E.
Boss Chen got upset with the Father in law as well and said that he was threatening him.
Father in law said that if Boss Chen would continue to make his daughter unhappy why not just divorce her.
Boss Chen got really, really upset and knocked all the medicines he brought for his father-in-law on the table. He said that there will never be a divorce. His wife and their daughter, Xiao Xiao are the most important people in his life, more than his own life.
Boss Chen then left without noticing that his father in law was having a heart attack.
And died.
Episode 29
Du Wangqing as absolutely devastated at the death of her father and solely blamed her husband who felt guilty about it.
Du Wangqing told him that she cannot remember a time that she did not love him but now…
Boss Chen was upset as well as he cannot get through to his grieving wife.
Meanwhile, Zi Rui is on the up and wanted to go even higher.
Bo Xu on the hand has some nodules problem which could lead to not being able to sing professionally anymore.
He was understandably very upset.
BTW, I have seen a few Chinese dramas subliminally advertising a cold remedy called 999. Is it any good?!!!
Episode 30
Finally, there is a more concrete romance. They kissed!
Episode 31
The day after they kissed was a bit awkward for Zhen Zhen but Bo Xu just made her feel special. He adored her. He was touchy-feely and stopped mincing his words and just told her that they were already dating and that from that day on everything she says is the law.
And so far so good. He was so loved up that he was doing everything he thought would please Zhen Zhen.
Star E has finally been listed with Zi Rui being the star attraction who rang the bell.
Xia Yuan confessed to Zhen Zhen that she had fallen in love with him. I must say I find Xia Yuan the most annoying character.
Episode 32
Bo Xu almost got kidnapped by his own father. He meant to take him to America and hold him under house arrest.
Bo xu’s sister though was able to warn Zhen Zhen who rushed into the airport to stop the plane taking off at whatever means.
She reported them for carrying illegal substance. Though Bo Xu’s father will not forgive her in a hurry, at least it worked.
Now, she and Bo Xu had to hunt for the doctor who was somewhere in Mongolia.
Xia Yuan tried to seduce Zi Rui and almost succeeded but Zi Rui changed his mind at the last minute.
Episode 33
Bo Xu’s father for now allowed Bo Xu to sow his wild oats so to speak. He thought his son will tire of the upstart Zhen Zhen before long. He favours Kexin as the daughter in law in the family.
Bo Xu’s father had been buying shares for Star E in the quiet.
Poor Zi Rui was wary of Xia Yuan who was so full-on. She confessed her love for Zi Rui.
Unlike Zhen Zhen who accepted immediately that Zi Rui put his fledgling career as a singer before her, Xia Yuan thought that Zi Rui was getting emotional (annoyed) because she affected him and must feel something for her.
Gu Ye, the chef who can’t really cook, mentioned that there was a doctor in Mongolia who can cure everything.
Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen decided to look and consult this doctor.
Wangqing had told Boss Chen that Zhen Zhen should be the new manager for Zi Rui as Bo Xu is now redundant as an artist at Star E.
When Boss Chen told Zhen Zhen this development, she declined in no uncertain manner. She told him that she almost abandoned Bo Xu when she was his assistant but then his star power went up and she was told to assist him once again. And now because of his health issues, they want for her to abandon him again? She said what kind of manager was she if she can’t support her artist?!!!
Boss Chen was impressed with Zhen Zhen and gave her leave to go to the Mongolian grassland.
They met the kindest most generous man alive, Papa Bao.
Papa Bao was the doctor. He said that Bo Xu has a little sarcoma in his vocal chord and that it can be cured.
Bo Xu’s sore throat is actually because of stress and he can self cure it. Zhen Zhen has to support Bo Xu and not to give him stress, don’t make him worry too much but make him happy and confident.
Episode 34
Bo Xu enjoyed their time in Mongolia. He said that when he was young they used to have family holidays in places like Mongolia.
He loved that he can see the stars twinkling brightly in the blue sky above. He confessed to Zhen Zhen that probably he will never be the brightest star in the sky.
Zhen Zhen said, “why do you have to be the brightest one, every star in the night sky is shining in its own way. They all have their own beauty; that’s why the night sky can be this bright.”
Bo Xu was sad to leave the prairie.
Poor Zi Rui is missing Zhen Zhen. Despite his soaring popularity, he is alone. Too scared and frustrated that anything he does might cause rumours and embarrassment for Star E.
Dangqing and Ma Lina were still clashing. Dangqing was celebrating the 1M downloads to Zi Rui’s record which Ma Lina said that still small thing compared to what Bo Xu brings in to Star E.
Episode 35
Zhen Zhen had her debriefing about the Mongolian doctor/adventure with Boss Chen.
Boss Chen more or less told Zhen Zhen that even if Bo Xu recovers, he will no longer be developed in Star E. He has no value in the company. Really harsh.
Zhen Zhen and Bo Xu learned that Gu Ye was a Grammy Awards winner.
There seemed to be a history between Boss Chen and Gu Ye, who had agreed to mentor Bo Xu.
Bo Xu never did have a formal singing training and Gu Ye had to start him with the basics like blowing feathers then blowing candles.
Zi Rui is being prepared by Star E for an intensive make-over for the singing contest help by an American company.
Episode 36
Gu Ye is putting Bo Xu on his pace.
But it looked liked it will come to naught as Boss Chen suspended him, meaning he cannot do anything singing until his contract lapses in four- years’ time.
Episode 37
Poor Zi Rui continued to rebuffed Xia Yian’s advances. He told her that he can’t have any kind of romantic relationship because he was under contract with Star E.
She does not take this seriously. She just kept pushing and pushing. Until he had to say that there was no vacancy in his heart because it has a lodger. It was Zhen Zhen.
Xia Yian took her grievance out of Zhen Zhen and left her in a lurch by moving out because the sight of Zhen Zhen makes her angry.
I just hope ZiRui does not end up with flakey Xia Yian, she was a bit psycho. Not cute at all, but away with the fairies and super annoying.
Episode 38
Poor Bo Xu was literally poor at the moment. His father had cut him off. He threw him out of the apartment and being under suspension from Star E, he hasn’t got money.
He had to rely on Zhen Zhen.
Fortunately for him, super annoying Xian Yian had moved out.
Bo Xu was having the time of his life. He was enjoying the novelty of simple life with Zhen Zhen. He liked looking for her, going to the park and watch ladies doing their routine exercises.
He told Zhen Zhen that he wanted to have a family with perhaps two children. They should marry within the year.
Bo Xu had also gone back to Gu Ye to continue his training.
The singing competition had been announced and Zhen Zhen said why doesn’t Bo Xu enter the contest.
Dangqing was aghast at Boss Chen for punishing Bo Xu for the perceived of his father against Boss Chen. This was the reason why Boss Chen put Bo Xu under suspension.
Episode 39
Ma Lina finally realised that Boss Chen only used her as a pawn to get the investment to enable Stars to get listed. She also became aware that he had never liked her even for a little bit. She was well and truly used.
He told her that all decisions for the company and stars, he gives the final say.
Bo Xu went to Star and saw Boss Chen who more or less told him that since he Bo Xu is sick, he will be all alone and take this chance to get to know himself better.
Bo Xu asked Boss Chen if he could participate in the singing competition. Boss Chen told him that he would not advise it because he if loses then it would be more ore less the end of Bo Xu’s career.
BoXu’s father invited Zhen Zhen for a meeting. He told her to convince Bo Xu to give up on his music or at least treat it as a hobby and be ready to take over their jewelry business. He also told Zhen Zhen that he knew she was dating Bo Xu. He said that BoXu will be marrying a more suitable girl before the year-end.
Zhen Zhen said that he knew his son more that she knew him and should realise that you cannot tell BoXu what to do.
Yi Ren had told Bo Xu that the Blue Flame diamond ring is ready.
Zi Rui is wary of the full-on Xia Yuan.
Episode 40
Master Wu Gong was with his music aficionado colleagues when he heard music that they all liked. It is a modern genre.
Zhen Zhen appeared to say that the singer was BoXu. The others said it was pretty good but Master Wu Gong said that he did not believe BoXu could sing and compose such a song.
Zhen Zhen brought Master Wu Gong to Gu Ye’s hideaway music studio where they found a gagged BoXu which frightened Master Wu Gong.
He was just about to leave when he noticed a poster of Jeff. Master Wu Gong was suddenly intrigued when they said that Jeff is Gu Ye.
Master Wu Gong then said that Jeff is his ultimate music hero who influenced his life and career. Master Wu Gong did not waste time to go to Boss Chen to recommend that Bo Xu should be allowed to join the music contest.
He told Boss Chen that BoXu’s new mentor is Jeff, Boss Chen’s old mentor.
It seems that Jeff’s fall from grace had something to do with Boss Chen because Du Wanqing said that she was going to see their old master to apologise. Apparently Boss Chen sent Jeff up.
Du Wanqing asked for a conference with the managers at StarE. She tabled that the four-year suspension of Bo Xu should be lifted at once.
Boss Chen strongly opposed the motion but Du Wanqing said that Bo Xu is well enough. He was victimising Bo Xu.
Everyone agreed with her leaving Boss Chen frustrated.
BoXu had his final medical exam. It was an excellent result. He is almost healed. He can sing again but just be very aware of what to do and what not to do. Not to overtax his vocal chord.
Boss Chen finally went to see Jeff. He said that he came to apologise but what he did ten years ago, he would do it again in a heartbeat. Apparently he sold himself to the highest bidder leaving Jeff unceremoniously.
Jeff told him that there is nothing to apologise for if the heart does not really feel it. But he said that it seems Boss Chen had gotten what he wanted with his listed company. Nevertheless, Jeff said that what Boss Chen gained cannot overwrite what he lost.
Jeff gave him a copy of the song Boss Chen composed all those years ago. Pure White about his love for Du Wanqing.
Boss Chen started crying because he had lost Du Wanqing love and respect because of his obsession with having Star E being listed and having an affair with Ma Lina.
Gu Ye had left without notice. He left a letter to Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen telling them not to go looking for him.
He said that he started mentoring Bo Xu because he saw his younger self in him. Zhen Zhen is the kindest girl he had ever met and Bo Xu is really talented.
Meanwhile, Du Wanqing was going to approve BoXu application for the competition when the forms were taken by Boss Chen. He then signed them.
Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen have gone to Cancun, Mexico for the contest. They met a taxi driver called Carlos.
Episode 41
Carlos overcharged BoXu and Zhen Zhen with the taxi-fare.
Gu Ye recommended for Bo Xu to go see Justin who would guide him in his c-pop career.
But when Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen got to Cancun, Justin can’t be found.
BoXu and Zhen Zhen met up with Zi Rui and Xia Yuan in Cancun.
Episode 42
Bo Xu and Zhen Zhen went sailing. They went to a yacht party.
They then went to a cenote, an underground river, where Bo Xu proposed to her with the Blue Flame heart-shaped diamond ring.
His romantic gesture did not go as he planned.
Zhen Zhen was not sure about him loving her forever.
But Bo Xu forced her to accept the ring because he said the ring was made solely for her.
Bo Xu was forcing the ring on her finger but she was pulling it. What do you know the beautiful ring fell into the cenote.
Poor Zhen Zhen was remorseful but Bo Xu told her to forget it.
Bo Xu became rather lukewarm towards Zhen Zhen. She was treating him as if nothing had happened, she was still cheerful.
Bo Xu went to Los Angeles to find Justin. They started jamming together.
Episode 43
Zhen Zhen and Bo Xu made up.
Carlos the taxi driver though was watching them and told someone on the phone that they will be carrying out their dastardly plan the next morning.
At the home, Du Wanqing finally found out that Boss Chen was seriously ill. He had rectal cancer stage II.
Zhen Zhen had been kidnapped on the day of the contest.
Bo Xu went to rescue Zhen Zhen and missed the contest.
Episode 44 – The Finale
Bo Xu had to pay $300,000 for Zhen Zhen ransom. He had to overcome his phobia of fire to rescue her from the burning house the kidnapper kept her in.
The perpetrators were arrested.
Zi Rui finally won the contest.
Bo xu went diving at the cenote to find the ring.
He told Zhen Zhen that he can’t find her instead would she accept a shell instead?
When Zhen Zhen took the shell off the top of his finger, she found the Blue Flame ring underneath. Ahhhh
Bo Xu took Zhen zhen to see his father who was not sure of zhen Zhen yet.
She told him that she will let him get to know her by visiting him on a weekly basis just to talk.
Bo Xu new record became the most download in China. He based the MV for his record on his and Zhen Zhen’s kidnapping and rescue ordeal.
Zi Rui is no. 5 on the chart.
As to Zi Rui and Xia Yuan, they might develop into a romance after all.
Boss Chen went to America for his operation. Du Wanqing surprised him by going with him. They had reconciled after she realised that he wanted to make money for her and their daughter because he did fear that he was going to die.
A year later, Zhen Zhen went back to StarE as a new talent manager, she brought back Bo Xu with her. He had been an independent star.
Her first task as a manager was to find an assistant for Bo Xu.
It is a cute drama. Janice Wu and Zitao had a lot of chemistry.
I am super excited for this drama as it stars two reliable leads. Ariel Lin, a Taiwanese actress, who was last seen in Old Boy last year but five years ago in a historical drama, Prince Lan Ling Wang. She is very charismatic.
The male lead is Vin Zhang or Zhang Bin Bin is equally charismatic that he often steal the scenes when he appears.
However, he had made several dramas, whether in the lead or as a supporting cast, and he tends to lose the girl in the end.
Hope this drama has a happy ending, but then again when there is a legend in the title it usually means the life and death of the character. 🙂
Be that as it may, I am looking forward to this drama which is coming this 8 January 2019. Please subbers, I beseech you to translate the episodes in English!
7 January 2019
It has been announced that this drama has been licenced to Viki. Yey, we are assured of subtitles. Rejoice.
Episode 1
Currently reviewing this drama in its raw form, did not understand a word but hey action speaks louder than words. LOL
Anyway, the drama started with the Xue Manor being ransacked. A heavily pregnant woman and her older brother barely got away.
After running in some hazardous terrain from their pursuer, they got into a shack where the woman gave birth to a baby girl.
Their situation was rather grim. The woman said that it was karma. Her newly born daughter apparently is rather special. She will cause chaos unto herself and others when she has grown up because everyone would want her usefulness. The mother decided that it would be kinder to kill the baby but her brother stopped her and took the baby away from her.
The soldiers and their chasers are getting nearer so the man left with the child as the woman was bleeding profusely, too weak to move.
She dies as the soldiers got to her. Apparently, the woman was in some sort of relationship with her pursuer (the 7th Prince). He wanted her to be his concubine but she cheated on him and got pregnant.
Six years later, Uncle Jiu and Hua Bu Qi lived a very sorry life. To make a living, they would busk in the street as the girl sings like an angel.
Unfortunately, the other beggars were not happy that they were making money. Uncle Jiu was beaten up but luckily a dog, Aqua, (ah Huang) came to their rescue.
More years later, the girl is now a young lady, dressed in rags from head to toe. But she seemed the most cheerful and rather opinionated girl.
She has a good head for business. With her cart, she delivers and procures goods like wine, food, and clothes to be sold.
While pushing her cart, she got waylaid by a storyteller, who was recounting stories about a folk hero. Lian Yi Ke. He had his audience spellbound with his stories how Lian Yi Ke had a 10-arrow bow. She can’t help but stay and listen.
Among the crowd was a gorgeous man, our lead, who was rather intrigued by the rag girl who corrected him when he said that the stories are exaggerations and lies.
The gorgeous man is Chen Yu who has a persona which dresses up in mask and ninja warrior attire. He becomes Lian Yi Ke, champion of the people. Chen Yu is newly arrived at this market town. He had been tasked by his father to look for his illegitimate daughter by Xue Fei. Of course, the purported daughter was Hua Bu Qi.
From the window of his room in an inn, he saw that bandits will be hijacking caravans of medicinal herbs which were to go to Feiyun.
As Lian Yi Ke, he was fighting with the bandits when the rag girl with her pushcart got into the middle of the fight. Lian Yi Ke ended up using her as a part weapon to high-kick the bandits as well as to protect her.
When the fight was over, he noticed the rag girl without her hood. She was a beautiful young lady. For a minute or two he just stared at her and fell in love (I think) She stared back and worshipped him for being her hero, Lian Yi Ke.
He rewarded her with a tael of silver. She wanted to be with him longer but he had to go.
Well, the first episode is already interesting with enough action that you can follow the story despite the lack of subtitle.
There is also sizzling chemistry between the leads. It is hard to believe that Ariel Lin is 36 while Vin Zhang is only 25. Ariel Lin is so well preserved. She gets more beautiful as she ages. Hope this drama is subbed soon. Come on Viki!
Episode 2
Rag Girl Hua Bu Qi’s Uncle Jiu had been suffering from a chronic cough for years. He collapsed while trying to eat after getting really upset and worried at having found out that Hua Bu Qi had been flouting all his instructions.
Time and again he had told her to stick to begging, always dress in rags and keep her face dirty or covered. She must not make herself stand out.
Hua Bu Qi cannot understand why she and her uncle needed to live like paupers, eat proceeds from begging alone when she can now make a living by buying and selling and everything else.
Rag Girl went to get the local doctor, who cannot do anything anymore for her seriously ill uncle. She begged the doctor.
He recommended that perhaps she should approach the kindly Master Lin of Youlon Manor. who is a master herbalist and pharmacist. Master Lin has apparently concocted a herbal pill that can ressurect someone from the dead.
Rag Girl wasted no time, she went to the manor and begged to see Master Lin. She was so desperate she even offered herself as part payment for the expensive herbal pill.
But the guard won’t let her into the manor.
The intrepid Rag Girl climbed up a wall to get in.
At that moment gorgeous male lead, Chen Yu, was with Master Lin.
Master Lin has previously found out that Chen Yu was a prince.
The Rag Girl without further ado threw herself prostrate in front of Master Lin. She then asked if she can have the herb that could make the Ninth Uncle better.
They all looked at her as if she was mad.
She ended up being thrown out of the manor.
She was crying over her very ill uncle when she noticed the masked man at the doorway. He then threw a vial towards her. It was the rare herbal medicine she wanted. She quickly gave the meds to her uncle.
The masked man disappeared as fast as he had appeared when she went to look for him.
Her uncle got better, he had become the spritely man that he was. Her uncle told her that it was about time that they return to the capital. She was old enough to find out about her background.
They were preparing their stuff to bring to the capital when a large number of assailants came barging in into their hovel.
They were determined to terminate both uncle and niece, despite their order to keep the girl alive.
The ninth uncle was prepared to defend his niece as he promised his dying sister. Despite being really good in martial arts, in the end Zhu Hua, the ninth was defeated as there were just too many of the assassins.
But before he drew his last breath he left instructions to Hua Bu Q that she has to stay alive and not let those people get her. He also said that she should take the begging bowl pottery and go to a pawn shop located in South Lane in the Capital City. She should look for Mr Zhu and hand him the pottery.
Episode 3
As Uncle Jiu was dying, Hua Bu Qi was running for her life and being chased by the black cloak people who attacked her uncle.
They were able to corner Hua Bu Qi by a cliff. She would rather die and join her uncle in death than be captured by the black-clad people. So she jumped into the cliff but immediately rescued by Lian Yi Ke, who took her to a cave to rest and hide after he hurt the First Miss, the leader of the black cloak people, who has a crescent mark on her chest.
Hua Bu Qi was very upset and concerned that her uncle’s body might become dinner for wolves so she tried to get back to their shack.
She was stopped by Lian Yi Ke, who said that everyone was looking for her and if she does not want to get caught then she had to stay put while he goes to find her uncle’s body.
She waited but she saw a couple of black-clad men heading towards the cave.
So she left and saw her dog Aqua (Ah Huang) who led her back to the Yaoling Manor.
She saw the madam of the house and with the help of Aqua, they put up a very sad and dramatic story that the madam instructed to the servants to give Hua Bu Qi a room to stay.
It was quite a nice room too.
At the dead of the night, she left the manor to meet up with Lian Yi Ke where he led her to the grave he made for her uncle.
She thanks Lian Yi Ke profusely and told him that she was heading to the capital soon with the creepy, playboy and arrogant Chen Yu, the exact opposite of Lian Yi Ke. Lian Yi Ke/Chen Yu does not know whether to be insulted or not.
Back at the manor, Hua Bu Qi had been given a maid’s uniform and now part of the household as a servant.
Master Lin found out the Hua Bu Qi was the missing daughter of the Seventh Prince, so from being a maid, she was immediately upgraded as part of the family with her own plush room.
Unfortunately for her, she felt like a prisoner as she was guarded by her own maids everywhere she goes.
One night she tried to sneak out but her maids were there. She told them that she wanted to go for a walk.
They then noticed a commotion in the courtyard. A ninja warrior was surrounded by the manor guards.
The maids run away leaving Hua Bu Qi alone. She took her chance and left but she got caught up in the fight between the Ninja man (Long Qing in Ever NIght) Yun Lang and the manor guards.
A most unfortunate thing happened, Aqua protecting Hua Bu Qi was killed by Yun Lang. So sad.
Sorrowful, Hua Bu Qi buried Aqua, feeling that she is now completely all alone in the world.
Episode 4
Thinking that Yun Lang is dead, Hua Bu Qi went back to remove the mask from him to find out how he looked like, the man who killed Aqua.
He grabbed her and took her into one of the rooms in the Yeolong villa. He then asked her to help him bind his bleeding shoulder.
She got away from him pretending that she was complacent. She locked him in the room and then she started shouting for the guards saying that she’s found the thief.
She really made him miserable and told her that he will be back and she will pay.
With all the commotion, Hua Bu Qi quickly got away and ended up in her old shack she shared with her 9th Uncle.
She found a very pretty man tending to his injured servant.
As the guard from Yeolong was upon her, she made out that the thief was those inside the shack.
She then got away and ended up in the cave once again, where the pretty man, the young master of Mo, Mo Ruofei found her.
Mo Ruofei became interested in her being the purported illegitimate daughter of the Seventh Prince.
The promise of a golden bowl from Mo Ruofei convinced Hua Bu Qi to go back to the Yeolong Villa with him.
Master Lin had a conversation with Hua Bu Qi, where she told him that she is not suitable as his concubine.
Master Lin laughed. He told her the truth. That she was the daughter of the seventh Prince and he will be sending her to him once all the confusions are sorted out. In the meantime, he told her to stay at his villa, where she will be safe.
The Fourth Sister. Dan Sha of the villas started instructing Hua Bu Qi in etiquettes and manners.
Episode 5
I love this episode. I love the action bit. The choreography is amazing and an absolute delight to see.
It was agreed that Mo Ruofei will escort Hua Bu Qi to the capital.
On their way, they were attacked by the Black Clad people, where Mo Ruofei was severely injured.
At the last minute, Lian Ki Ye appeared to the rescue and took Bu Qi away to escort her near the capital.
If Bu Qi is the daughter of the seventh prince and Chen Yu is also the only son of the seventh prince then that would make Bu Qi Chen Yu’s half-sister?!!!
Nooooooooooooooo
Episode 6
Thank goodness, it was made more clear in this episode that Chen Yu and Bu Qi are not blood-related.
The Seventh prince (duke) first appeared in episode one where he was pursuing Xue Fei. He told her that she could have been his royal concubine but she won’t have it and instead had to have an affair resulting in her pregnancy.
Xue Fei did say (Episode 1) that she did not matter to the seventh prince because all he wanted was the Bi louTian (whatever that is?)
Hooray, Hua Bu Qi and Chen Yu can have a loving relationship if they wanted to but of course, this is a drama so it would be during the halfway period before they find out.
At the moment, Chen Yu is fighting his attraction to Bu Qi but he just can’t help himself.
Poor Bu Qi was confined to the firewood warehouse by an extremely annoyed Jiangsheng, the close confidant/manservant of Mo Ruofei because he blamed her for the injury suffered by his master.
Ruo Fei was in bed being treated for a serious stomach stab/slash wound by his mother.
Ruo Fei had once told Hua Bu Qi that they have a history together.
Apparently, Ruo Fei’s father fell in love at first sight with Xue Fei. Xue Fei had such an impact to Master Mo that when his first child was born his wife was happy to have their child named after Xue Fei, that is how Mo Ruo Fei got his name. It might be possible that he and Bu Qi are siblings.
It doesn’t look as the mother is really happy about her husband’s attraction to Xue Fei because she was looking at Bu Qi rather suspiciously.
The news that Hua Bu Qi is now in the capital has reached the Seventh Prince. He called his concubine and Chen Yu to an audience. He told them that he plans to have Bu Qi live with them.
The main concubine agreed immediately but Chen Yu said ‘over his dead body’ because having Bu Qi in the manor is a mega-slap to his dead mother who suffered from the seventh prince obsession of Xue Fei and his ‘illegitimate daughter’
Despite moaning about Bu Qi, he can’t help himself checking up on her whether she was doing fine or not and later found out that she was far from ok
He saw Bu Qi left starved and locked in the dirty woodshed. She was so desperate she was about to eat a mouse but Lian Yi Ke hiding in the roof said that he would bring her fried chicken and he did.
Ruo Fei is getting better and the first thing he thought of was Bu Qi. Having found out that Bu Qi is being locked up as a prisoner, he got up to find her. He is so cute.
Bu Qi’s life is continuously being threatened by so many.
Episode 7 (Who is Bu Qi’s Real Father?)
I love, love, love this drama.
Anyway, this episode is the revelation of Hua Bu Qi’s real father.
The Seventh Prince had come to meet Hua Bu Qi. Upon seeing her, he declared that she was his beloved missing daughter, the spitting image of XueFei.
Bu Qi was trying to reach some berries when she almost fell into the pond, but Chen Yu was just in time to fly down to save her.
He warned her not to even think of going to the Duke’s Manor. He then pulled her belt and pushed her into the pond which his father had witnessed.
His father shouted at him. He dove into the pond to rescue Hua Bu Qi. He told her that was just a taster. If she goes to the manor, she is dead.
Anyway, seeing that there’ll be trouble if the Duke takes her back to his manor, the Duke told Bu Qi to stay at the Mo Manor for now.
Mo Ruofei liked her so much that he said she will be his true little sister. He would ask his mother to adopt her into the Mo family. She will be the Second sister of the family.
Unbeknown to them, Ruofei’s mother secretly hated the idea and hated Bu Qi even more.
Once upon a time, Lady Mo was the most beautiful woman in the capital. She was so beautiful that many wanted to marry her, including a handsome young man, Mo Baixing, who came to beg her father her hand in marriage. He promised that he would only love her and would never take a concubine.
But XueFei happened.
Zhu Xua left Xue Fei for Mo Baixing to look after as the Duke had been after her.
Unfortunately, the married Mo Baixing fell in love with Xue Fei. One drunken night, he forced himself to XueFei and made her pregnant.
Devastated and jealous RuoFei’s mother sent her back to the Xue Manor.
Seeing that her husband continued to be obsessed with XueFei, that he even named their precious baby after the woman, RuoFei’s mother instructed that Xue Manor should be burnt to the ground.
After the death of Xue Fei, Mo Baixing was a different man, he pined for Xue Fei and in front of his wife, while clutching his drawing of Xue Fei, he drew his last breath.
Now she instructed Uncle Mo to poison Hua Bu Qi.
Episode 8
There are four very influential ‘families’ who were at truce but behind the scene were fighting each other. At the moment, these families (Mo, Youlong, Mingyue, & Feiyun) were after Bu Qi.
The leader of Mingyue has ordered the massacre of Master Lin and his family (Youlong) but at the last minute he let off the son and daughter of Master Lin and tasked them to ensure Bu Qi’s good health. He knew that his own clan would like to kill Bu Qi.
Bu Qi had been getting tonic from the eunuch of Madam Mo. The tonic regularly given to her was being poisoned. Thank goodness Bu Qi found out almost immediately when she unexpectedly saw the eunuch adding some powder to her tonic. Though she cannot really refuse the tonic as it was specially ordered by the Mother Mo to prepare for her, Bu Qi had become rather inventive in getting rid of it.
It was the nearing the New Year, Mo Ruo Fei showered Bu Qi with gifts including clothes, hair accessories, pieces of jewelry and rouges. Ruo Fei was really excited about the present he brought in. He was telling Bu Qi the exact colours of the blushes and helping her with the hairpins. He was really excited more than Bu Qi. 🙂 . He really loves his little sister. I think he was really a girl but had to dress up as a boy so he can continue with their family business when his father died.
Xing En who plays Mo Ruo Fei is just the handsomest woman. She is so beautifully androgynous.
The Mingyue family has twin assassins. One of them has infiltrated the Mo family in the guise of a new maid, Qing’er.
She arranged that the New Year fireworks that would go off from atop a totem pole where it would spew coins as bonuses for the servants had an added surprise to it. Qing’er and her couple of minions put some explosive balls with it.
Bu Qi was given the honour of lighting the firecrackers and she almost died when she fell from the top of the totem. She was going to be finished off by the Qing’er if not for Ruo Fei being quick to get to Bu Qi.
Qing’er was quick-witted. She pretended that she was so worried out Bu Qi that she rushed toward her immediately.
Episode 9
Ruo Fei found his mother telling Bu Qi to get better but Ruo Fei suspected that the accident was all his mother’s doing. He went to speak to his mother who confessed that she does not like Bu Qi deep down but she would not kill her.
Ruo Fei found Qing’er trying to put ointment behind her sore bruised elbow. Ruo Fei helped her to do it.
Upon hearing that Bu Qi was hurt, Chen Yu volunteered to visit her instead of his father. But the visit did not go as well as they always end up fighting.
Chen Yu told her that she was so uncouth with no manners whatsoever.
Bu Qi was equally upset and told him to go to his mother for etiquette because he will not find it with her.
Chen Yu saw red for Bu Qi having mentioned his mother. He grabbed her by the throat but Bu Qi said that it was not her fault that his father loved her mother more than anyone else.
To punish Bu Qi, he took her most precious begging bowl and then left much to the anger of Bu Qi.
She can’t be parted with her bowl as it was her only remember from her beloved Uncle Jiu and it would also reveal who she really was. With this in mind, she tried to get out of the Mo Manor to go to the Duke’s Pavilion to retrieve the bowl.
She climbed a wall but she fell and lost consciousness.
The Mo Manor was again in upheaval looking for Bu Qi.
Yun Lang of Feiyun, is a cousin of Ruo Fei. He came for a visit to evade his father who would skin him alive for his latest misdemeanor.
Yun Lang helped in the search of Bu Qi and found her by the bottom of a wall. He realised that she was the girl at Youlong who almost got him killed.
Episode 10
At last the Duke’s ill-health and emotional blackmail finally worked on Chen Yu. He agreed that Bu Qi could move in the pavilion.
Meanwhile, Bu Qi was well enough to meet her rescuer. She was surprised and angered to know that it was the man who killed Aqua, her beloved dog.
Ruo Fei left Bu Qi to Yun Lang not knowing about the history of the two.
Bu Qi told him that he killed her dog, he said he did not but she almost got him killed. They were having an almost flirtatious altercation that it ended with Yun Lang giving her kiss on her cheek and told her that he was going to marry her. Awww
Full of bravado, Bu Qi once again thought of a way to escape the Mo Manor and she did it by hiding under a rubbish cart, which was being wheeled out of the manor.
She asked a beggar girl to exchange clothes and then she proceeded to the pawn shop to seek Mr Zhu.
She managed to find the pawn shop but did not have much lack without her begging bowl.
Ruo Fei and Yun Lang finally found Bu Qi again and brought back to the Mo Manor.
She was then told to get clean up as she was being fetched by the Royal Concubine to go to the Duke’s Pavilion.
When she got to the pavilion, poor Bu Qi met the same fate as when she first got to Mo Manor. She was locked in a deserted storage room.
Chen Yu found out about it and was rather concerned. He said to the concubine that if anything happens to Bu Qi, she will answer to the Duke.
The concubine said that she was just taming Bu Qi and will let her out in a couple of days.
Bu Qi can’t be tamed, she found a way out by escaping through the roof. She would have hurt herself badly once again if Chen Yu did not catch her falling down.
He pretended that he was annoyed that she was in the pavilion and warned her not to get too comfortable because she will be out soon.
Bu Qu reassured him that she would not want to stay but she was rather hungry.
Chen Yu dismissed her request for food but secretly went to the palace’s kitchen to get the cook prepare a snack for her, which she enjoyed tremendously.
The next day, she got her revenge with the servant who locked her in. She locked them back when they came to get her from the room.
Bu Qi finally met up with the duke who was so happy to see her.
Chen Yu said he will look after his little sister.
Episode 11
It was the lantern festival and the emperor was in attendance.
Everyone had put their money on Mingyue winning the lantern contest but Bu Qi was ever so loyal to Ruo Fei that she tried to sabotage the presentation of the Mingyue float by going on board and tried to interfere with the heavenly dancing.
What Bu Qi found out was that the main dancer was the first sister of Mingyu, the twin of Qing’er. The dancer was Qingwu and she was the leader fo the black-clad people who almost killed Bu Qi.
Qingwu threw Bu Qi out of the float and Chen Yu was there to save her.
In the end, Mingyu won the contest.
Episode 12
The Seventh Prince is getting worse especially after witnessing the song and dance of Qingwu during the lantern festival.
The seventh prince said that he was not too sure whether Xie Fei did die as they can’t find her body afterward.
Apparently, it was only Xie Fei and the prince, who knew of the song and dance she did to bid him au revoir before he went into battle on a moonlit night many years ago. Has Mingyue taken Xie Fei’s body?!!!
Apparently, Xie Fei is a man-magnet, even the leader of Mingyue fancied her rotten.
Qingwu was invited to dance and sing for the seventh prince to make him well or at least to cheer him up as Chen Yu suspected that there is something in the song and dance that made his father worse.
Qingwu danced beautifully and enticingly but there was no effect to the prince, he remains poorly.
Qingwu was asked to stay for a few days within the 7th prince palace as the Chen Yu was investigating her as the assassin leader who wanted to kill Bu Qi.
Bu Qi tried to get the proof from Qingwu, She sneaked in while Qingwu was having a bath but she can’t really see clearly from she was hiding.
BuQi was rescued by Chen Yu from being found out by Qingwu.
Qingwu though suspected that it was Bu Qi who was spying on her and they ended up having a fight. Bu Qi slapped her, Qingwu kicked Bu Qi rather hard.
Bu Qi fell a few steps.
Chen Yu found them with the noble concubine. Bu Qi was going to be punished but she pretended to faint.
Chen Yu was ready arms for her. She pretended a couple more times and then she was really feeling faint which alarmed Chen Yu. The leads have oodles of chemistry. So cute.
Episode 13
Liu Mingyue said that she has the know-how to wake the comatose 7th Prince. He woke up but only partially cured.
Ling Mingyue made a deal with him to put a needle into him that would make him function quite normally again for 4 months tops and then he dies when the needle has reached his heart.
The Prince said he was willing to do it and curious to know what Mingyue wanted in return. She said she would like to destroy Mo Manor and to get the tenure of managing the government money as well as the dealer for the palace ceramics.
The Prince said ok.
He was really curious what Mingyue real motive. Apparently, Xue Fei was her half-sister. Xue Fei had a noble mother while Mingyue had a servant for a mother.
But she knew that Xue Fei was killed by Ruo Fei’s mother and she wanted revenge.
Episode 14
Bu Qi finally brought the begging bowl to Xiulong Pawnshop and spoke to Mr Zhu Fu, an agent of the Zhu Manor.
He took the bowl from Bu Qi to have a look at it and then smashed it to the ground. Obviously, Bu Qi was heartbroken as it was the last remembrance from her Uncle Jiu.
From the shards of the ceramic bowl was a huge black pearl which is estimated at 5 million taels. Bu Qi was flabbergasted and sad to realise that they could have used the money to get a better physician for her uncle, then he would have lived.
Apparently, Uncle Jiu is the only son and heir of the Zhu Manor. He had a fight with his father and left vowing to live on his own means. He became know as Zhua Xu or Uncle Jiu.
Mr Zhu Fu wanted to take Bu Qi to Zhu Manor but they are both wary that the 7th Prince would come after them and would find out the real identity of Uncle Jiu.
Mr Zhu Fu said that he will try to get hold of a Death Faking Pill for Bu Qi to pretend that she had died and therefore they would not find out that she had gone to Zhu Manor.
She was deep in thought when she got accosted by the black clad gang, led by Qingwu.
Thank goodness Lian Yi Ke came to the rescue but sadly he got hit with an arrow by Qingwu.
Both Lian Yi Ke and Bu Qi fell into the lake but they got to a hut, where Bu Qi removed the arrow on the shoulder of Lian Yi Ke.
He was ill all night but Bu Qi looked after him.
When he woke up he found that Bu Qi has a high fever. She has a weak immune system as she was just recovering from flu and slowly being poisoned by Madam Mo.
To keep her warm, Lian Yi Ke back-hugged her.
She then deliriously said that she like him very much and can she marry him.
Episode 15
Lian Yi Ke came to visit Bu Qi with a rabbit lantern. He only meant to leave the lantern for her to find in the morning but he can’t help himself checking up on her when he heard her coughing roughly. He brought her a cough medicine because despite Bu Qi calling her maid for some water, the maid remained asleep. She slept even more soundly than a log.
Bu Qi is badgering Lian Yi Ke about liking him so much and wanted him to visit her often.
It was as heartbreaking for him as he was very much attracted to BuQi even from the beginning.
But it was a forbidden love as they are siblings.
Lian Yi Ke decided to show his true self to her but Bu Qu turned around and covered her face at the last moment.
This is also the moment when Yun Lang realised that he loves Bu Qi. Bu Qi then became aware of his feelings when her maid teased her about Yun Lang.
Yun Lang was very tender towards Bu Qi. He was not pressuring her to like him. He was treating her as a delicate flower and doing things that would cheer her up.
Episode 16
Bu Qi finally found out that Lian Yi Ke is none other than Chen Yu.
She forcibly removed his mask and shocked to find out that Lian Yi Ke is her half-brother, Chen Yu.
Bu Qi was devastated. She adored Lian Yi Ke. She had told him she likes him several times and even begged him to marry her.
They are both in bits knowing that they love each other more than brother and sister. Ariel Lin was so good as a broken-hearted girl, she looked so frail. She made me cry.
Vin and Ariel’s chemistry is undeniable.
Dansha Lin who had a crush on Yun Lang was telling him that Bu Qi used to be a poor beggar. Hoping that he would be repulsed, Dansha said that Bu Qi used to drink dog’s milk.
On the contrary, Yun Lang became more fascinated with Bu Qi. He also understood why she was inconsolable with the death of Aqua (ah Huang), the dog.
After playing meek and gentle servant girl, Qing’er grabbed her chance and slashed Ruo Fei with a poison knife.
Poor Ruo Fei is now on death’s door.
Episode 17
With Ruo Fei being gravely ill, he had only three days to live, this became the last straw for his mother. She invited Hua Bi Qi to pray in their family shrine.
Mother Mo with her devoted manservant served soup to Bu Qi.
Bu Qi knew the soup was poisoned so she made every excuse not to partake and to leave but they won’t let her until it became rather physical.
They forced fed the poisoned soup to Bu Qi.
They told her that she was an illegitimate daughter of Ruo Fei’s father.
Mo Ruo Fei was miraculously cured by the Youlong boy who came to live at Mo manor with his sister.
Ruo Fei was as good as new. He noticed his mother’s manservant coming out of Bu Qi’s room. There he found Bu Qi weakened and death-pain.
Ruo Fei was desolate. He really loved Bu Qi and taken her into his heart like a real sister. He was so ashamed of what was done to Bu Qi by his mother, he could not even look at Bu Qi. This scene was so heartrending. Crying time. The Youlong healer boy said that he could not do anything for Bu Qi anymore.
Bu Qi was all forgiving and said that she was happy Ruo Fei was her real brother,
It was just a matter of time for Bu Qi.
Yun Lang went to visit Bu Qi and found her spewing blood on the floor. This is another sad scene. He was holding Bu Qi tightly and he knew she was dying and there was no one on hand to help.
Until a servant came to feed Bu Qi a tablet.
The tablet made Bu Qi rest in peace! Is our Hua Bu Qi dead?
Episode 18
The maid was from Mr Zhu pawnshop. She quickly explained to Yun Lang that Bu Qi is safer ‘dead’ than remain at the Mo Manor.
Bu Qi ‘died’, she was not breathing, no pulse nor heartbeat as confirmed by the manor’s physicians, including the Youling brother.
Mo Ruofei was very upset but still has to cover his mother’s crime.
She went to the 7th Prince to relay the sad news which was overheard by a disbelieving Chen Yu.
He handsomely rode his horse to the Mo Manor to see Bu Qi, who was already laden in a coffin. Chen Yu was absolutely heartbroken for someone who made Bu Qi’s life rather miserable at times.
The 7th Prince also came to view the body and asked for the second opinion that Bu Qi is indeed dead. He was very surprised at how emotional Chen Yu was.
The Lin sister examines Bu Qi by using acupuncture needles. She looked puzzled when she inserted the needle into Bu Qi’s heart, which was noticed by Chen Yu. But in the end, the Lin sister declared that Bu Qi is dead from a poison which came from the most poisonous viper snake.
The 7th Prince had a talk with Afu, his trusted companion. He mentioned to Afu that Chen Yu must not be allowed to go to the funeral because people might start to talk. It was obvious, even to him that Chen Yu had a very strong feeling for Bu Qi. It was more than those of siblings but that of a lover.
He was right too as Chen Yu went to Yuan Chong to bring out all the feelings he had hidden for Bu Qi.
When everyone left with only Yun Lang remaining on a vigil, the Lin sister came to kneel by him. The Lin sister, who has a massive crush on Yun Lang somehow managed to get the truth out of Yun Lang but she promised to keep it as a secret but he had to do something in return for her. He had to marry her.
Poor Yun Lang did not have much choice. He loved Bu Qi deeply that he would do anything for her. He also agreed that Bu Qi being out of the Mo Manor and from the Seventh Prince would be good for her. So he promised the Lin sister a marriage.
Bu Qi was buried. Ruo Fei was very sorry and ashamed. Ru Fei intoned that he will visit Bu Qi often.
Again Yun Lang stayed at the grave site.
But a ninja warrior gang came to disturb the peace.
The leader was the maid from Mr Zhu’s pawnshop.
They quickly took Bu Qi’s body.
Episode 19
Poor Chen Yu was desperately sad, demented with grief. He was crying his heart out, in front of his friend, Yuan Chong, from Yuan Manor, the son of the commander general.
All of a sudden he wanted to see Bu Qi. They rode to the grave site, where Chen Yu saw the rabbit lantern, beloved by Bu Qi as it was given to her by Lian Yi Ke. He noticed that there was some writing underneath. He visibly cheered up firmly believing that it was a secret message from Bu Qi.
He started digging the soil with his bare hands, his friend tried to stop him but it was no used.
The finally got to the tomb and opened Bu Qi’s coffin, which was empty.
Now more than ever he believes that his beloved Bu Qi is alive.
Well not quite alive, because Mr Zhu’s people can’t revive Bu Qi. Doctors had come and go shaking their heads.
And then Mr Zhu went to look for another doctor, who was seeing a patient, a pregnant woman who was comatose, her baby was just too big to deliver. The doctor said that it was impossible but was stopped by the arrival of a young good looking man, who took over from the doctor. He took some acupuncture needles and used them on the woman, he then carried her into a room and locked themselves from the others. From another medical pouch, he took a surgical knife and deliver a baby through Caesarian.
Mr Zhu was so impressed he begged the doctor to see Bu Qi but the doctor said he does not do visiting and he only cures the poor.
Mr Zhu went back to the manor and told them about the super-medicine man. There was nothing that can be done but to kidnap him and they did by gassing him.
The doctor smiled while he was supposed to be unconscious. Interesting.
The doctor was rather reluctant at first but he saw his patient, a beautiful lifeless Bu Qi. He smiled and did his bit. Suddenly Bu Qi opened her eyes but went straight back to sleep.
The doctor was Dong Fang Shi, who said that Bu Qi is just now sleeping and will wake up soon.
They paid him but he returned the money saying he was not interested but their Miss is a pretty one and he was interested.
Episode 20
Bu Qi learned that she was from the Zhu Manor as heir to Uncle Jiu. For some reason, they advised her to pretend that Uncle Jiu is her illegitimate father.
She met Mr Zhu who became grief-stricken upon learning of the death of Uncle Jiu.
Uncle Jiu was Mr Zhu’s only son. Who run away with Xue Fei when she reached her 17th birthday.
Apparently, when Mr Zhu was still quite young, he made a mistake that cost his family a lot of money and there was also someone who died.
The neighbours and other merchants began to ostracize them and Mr Zhu would have ended in prison if a mysterious man did not suddenly appear.
The mysterious man lent money to the Zhus and brokered with the government to clear up the murder charge against Mr Zhu.
But the mysterious man had one proviso. He will marry the first daughter of Mr Zhu on her seventeen birthday.
Though the Zhus did not want to agree, they can’t do anything about it but agree to it.
When Xue Fei was born, they quickly allowed her to be ‘adopted’ by the Xue Manor.
On Xue Fei 17th the Mysterious man had appeared to take Xue Fei away. Despite the Zhus carefully hiding Xue Fei the mysterious man found out.
So Uncle Jiu took his sister away and let her hide at the Mo Manor under the care of his good friend Mo Baixing.
One night Mo Baixing got drunk and abused Xue Fei which made her pregnant.
Uncle Jiu took her away and went back to Xue Manor.
The jealous and vengeful wife of Mo Baixing ordered that Xue Manor is burnt to the ground.
This story makes sense why Xue Fei wanted to kill her infant baby. The child in the end has to marry an old man to honour a family debt and gratitude.
And this was exactly what Bu Qi was worrying about.
Episode 21
Bu Qi started to settle as the young miss of Zhu Manor.
She was immediately given the complete responsibility for the running of Zhu Manor and its many lucrative businesses.
Despite this, Bu Qi under advisement decided to start a period of austerity to save 20 Million taels of silver to pay their debts to the mysterious man.
She wanted to go out in the market to inspect their various shops to find out who was honest and those who would turn against them. She cannot risk being recognised so she pretended to be bodyguard maid to ShrimpyXiaoxan.
After shopping till they dropped, they decided to stop for a refreshment. When entering the establishment, Bu Qi got distracted by her parcels falling into the ground, thus, missing Chen Yu, who was coming out of the tea house.
Inside the tea house, Bu Qi and the pretty Shrimpy attracted attention from the men led by a bullish Tiger Wu, who started harassing them.
Yuan Chong, Chen Yu’s best friend, came to their rescue. He fell in love at first sight with Shrimpy.
Episode 22
Yuan Chong was not enough of hero though as he was only a mediocre fighter. Shrimpy had to help him out in the end.
Yuan Chong was really in love.
Bu Qi and Shrimpy were only a few yards away from the tea house when they got accosted by white robe-flying ninjas. Shrimpy was so good but there were just too many ninjas.
Bu Qi, who was hiding from behind a pillar was about to be attacked when an arrow came flying down with the trademark of Lian Yi Ke and hit the assailant.
Lian Yi Ke was faster than Dong Fang Shi, who was also ready to help Bu Qi, which he said was his fiancee.
Anyway, Yuan Chong wanted to see Shrimpy, who he thought was the elusive newly surfaced Miss Sun Hua Hua. With his friend, the duke son, who is related to Bu Qi as being the son of Bu Qi’s Ninth aunt, they went to Zhu Manor but they were told that Miss Sun was so shocked of their adventure the other day that she had taken to bed.
Yuan Chong told Chen Yu that he was in love. Chen Yu was still unsuccessful in locating the doctor to heal his father. He can’t find Dong Fang Shi.
Some aunts of Bu Qi came calling. Bu Qi had to pretend to be ill. She found out though that she had spies in the manor who tells the aunts everything about her. She did warn them before of this unacceptable behaviour but they repeated tattling on her without thought.
Bu Qi had to punish them and had Shrimpy beat one of them in front of one of the aunts who came back when she found out that Bu Qi was only pretending to be ill.
In front of her aunt, she had Shrimpy beat the girl senseless. This taught the other two girls a lesson. When the aunt told them to stand up and leave, just one look from Bu Qi and the girls just remained kneeling on the ground. It was only when Bu Qi finally told them to get up that they got up.
Episode 23
Lian Yi Ke suddenly appeared at the Zhu Manor. Bu Qi looked at him longingly but it turned out he was a fake. He was really Yuan Chong dressed us Lian Yi Ke to impressed Shrimpy.
Yuan Chong found out Shrimpy is not Miss Sun but the bodyguard. Nevertheless, Yuan Chong said that he loved her at first sight. He was ready to marry her.
Shrimpy beat him up with a twig.
Bu Qi who heard their commotion giggled.
Bu Qi had taken over the Zhu business. She was ecstatic to know that her plan to save money from restructuring the allowances of concubines and sisters of her grandfather is paying dividends.
She was suddenly called up in one of their shops because a customer came in with his eyes blinded because of a firework he bought from the store. He was being represented by Dong Fang Shi who is so cute but looked like up to no good as he was trying it on with Bu Qi.
Bu Qi is really good at business and solved the mystery and even created the mishap into a positive press for their shops.
Dong Fang shi sort of said that the Zhu owes his grandfather a lot of money. It looks like that Dong Fang Shi may be the grandson of the Mysterious man.
Episode 24
This is probably after four months after Bu Qi ‘died’. The Seventh Prince is dying. He had a heart to heart with Chen Yu. He said that he did not want Chen Yu to get married, to which Chen Yu replied that he already love someone.
The Prince said he knows and it was Bu Qi.
Chen Yu then said that he knows that Bu Qi is alive. The Seventh Prince visibly cheered up when Chen Yu told him that he believed Bu Qi is not dead.
Chen Yu told the Prince that Bu Qi is not his daughter.
The Prince said he knew for a long time. He kept Bu Qi in the manor because she is the goddess of Biloutian.
He then recounted the story about the Biloutian.
It is some sort of enchanted place, where the goddess lives. She was told that she holds the faith of the world in her hand by sacrificing herself, there will be world peace.
The goddess was so disconcerted that she run away from Biloutian and got reincarnated in Xue Fei and then Hua Bu Qi.
Apparently, the one that has the Biloutian orb, map and the goddess will rule the world.
Chen Yu became very unhappy with the story. He said to his dying father that he will never ever use Bu Qi as a tool and then he walked off.
Afu, the Seventh Prince’s right-hand man had gone to the cave where the master of Mingyue had all his treasures. Part of these treasures was half of the treasure map that goes with Bilotian. The other half of the map was with the Seventh Prince.
When they got to the cave they noticed that it was alarmed with flying arrows. But at least Afu found the map but Afu’s assistant was hit on the leg quite badly. The guard opted to stay behind to get Afu a chance to get away.
Episode 25
The Seventh Prince was on his last leg, but before he died he spoke to the emperor to allow Chen Yu to leave the capital.
The Seventh Prince had died. It was quickly announced that Chen Yu was now the Prince of Dongying, which is a small district that is so barren people and animals are not in plentiful.
Everyone knew that Chen Yu’s new title is more a demotion. However Chen Yu was not bothered.
Afu, it turned out is a double agent. He was working for both the Emperor, to spy on the 7th Prince, and for the 7th Prince to find the other half of the Biloutian map.
Afu worked for the emperor because he has his sister, Xiomei, the other survivor of the Biloutian massacre many years ago by the Mysterious Person, who has got the other half of the map.
Chen Yu had been asked by the emperor to investigate Mingyue Villa. That was apparently the reason why Chen Yu was given the fiefdom of Dongying, because it is nearby the Mingyue Villa.
Yuan Chong and Jin Fei went to commiserate with Chen Yu for his father’s passing. They ended talking about Hua Hua, the new mistress of Zhu Manor.
As soon as Chen Yu, heard the name Hua Hua he was excited. He thought that this was probably his Hua Bu Qi.
Yuan Chong said that Hua Hua was being given a party on 15 August.
Episode 26
It was 15 August. It was the day that Lady Sun (Bu Qi) or Zhu Zhu will be introduced to society as the 10th master of Zhu Manor which will be written in the Zhu historical records.
During the ceremony, where Bu Qi made a bow to her ancestors, many high-ups of society were invited. They were curious to know the long lost granddaughter of Grandmaster Zhu, the wealthiest man in Souzhou.
Mr Zhu was proudly parading his granddaughter when a familiar face can be seen in the crowd. It was a bemoustached Chen Yu. He once and for all knew that Bu Qi is alive and well.
Not well for long as Bu Qi was kidnapped by Dong Feng shi. He locked Bu Qi in his manor.
He told Bu Qi that he was just inspecting the goods as she is his betrothed.
Bu Qi told him that she will never marry him in this lifetime. She will pay the monies owed to his family in two years.
Dong Fang Shi said that he will ruin her family business.
In the end, he let Bu Qi go.
Episode 27
Bu Qi woke up back in their manor. Her grandfather asked her what happened, who kidnapped her. Apparently, there have been rumours.
Bu Qi immediately said that she had been with Lian Yi Ke. He kidnapped her. And she announced that she would pay anyone 20,000 taels of silver who can bring her Lian yi Ke. This was a message to Lian Yi Ke to keep away as he was in danger, remembering that Dong Fang Shi knew that she like Lian Yi Ke and had told Bu Qi that he would kill him.
Anyway, bad news for Bu Qi, in all of their major shops, new ones are opening up and undercutting their prices and profit margin.
Dong Fang Shi has some guts, he went to visit Grandmaster Zhu to formally introduced himself as the intended of Lady Zhu. The mysterious man was his maternal grandfather. He told Grandpa Zhu that he had come of age for marriage, he does not have a concubine and he meant to marry Zhu Zhu in two years as agreed.
Grandfather Zhu said that in no way in hell would Zhu Zhu marry him, as his grandfather caused the death of Xue Fei and Jiu Zhu.
Bu Qi was listening outside the door, one of her assistants said that to be fair Dong Fang Shi is handsome and loaded. 🙂
Episode 28
Bu Qi finally found out Chen Yu was in Souzhou. And how she found out!!!
They had long eye contact and smile so sweet but they were in public.
Then later on in her room, there was a presence. It was Chen Yu.
At first, Bu Qi played it cool, hard to get and rather annoyed that Chen Yu took his merry time to come and find her.
Chen Yu hugged her and then kissed her and before you know it they were covered in a blanket in their underwear. It means they had done the deeds. 🙂 But isn’t Bu Qi supposed to be only 15 years old?
Afterward, they were sad to be parted.
But duty must!
Episode 29
Chen Yu is on a mission to investigate the goings on at Mingyue Villa and to revenge Bu Qi’s Uncle Jiu.
To accomplish this task, he was encouraging Liu Qingwu to flirt with him. Leading her on. A very touchy feely flirting as well. What would Bu Qi say? Just because he had Bu Qi, he had moved on already?!!! LOL . Nah, he can’t leave Bu Qi.
But it would be problematic for him as Liu Mingyue had given a drug to help Qingwu get pregnant by Chen Yu.
Chen Yu, Liu Mingyu reckon is the type to take responsibility for his baby-mommy. Chen Yu then can become her son-in-law.
Qingwu had saved Chen Yu after he followed Liu Mingyue in a cave ridden with traps. Qingwu was hurt and Chen Yu had to treat her wounds.
Qingwu then asked Chen Yu if she could stay in his Dongying Manor in the meantime.
The guards noticed how caring Chen Yu was to Qingwu, cradling her all the way to his manor.
Also Mo Rou Fei is seen having an intimate dinner for two with Liu Qing’er. What is going on? Didn’t Qing’er almost killed Rou Fei.
Rou Fei had told Qing’er that she was the heir to Xue Manor. Liu Mingyue had killed their parents and then snatched the twin girls. This is the reason she was strict and cruel to them.
Episode 30
Dong fangshi had Shrimpy, Yuan Chong and JinFei abducted and kept in the dungeon because he wanted to interrogate them about Lian Yi Ke.
He was so jealous of Lian Yi Ke, the purple robe knight, because of Miss Zhu’s (Bu Qi) obvious attraction and attachment to the robed hero.
Dong Fang shi will not have his unwedded wife cheating on him.
Before Chen Yu left Souzhou and Zhu Manor, he gave a plan to Shrimpy on how to set up a trap.
Shimpy did just this and like a mouse, Dong Fangshi walked into the trap.
He was then heavily chained in bed for a few days. Zhu Bu Qi then made him drink a concoction to make him more amenable and put his thumbprint into a document she prepared earlier about trespassing and harassing her and therefore he would not be pursuing his marriage contract with her. The Zhu would also be given enough time to pay off their debts.
Dong Fangshi was rather impressed with Zhu Bu Qi and he said he is attracted to her more and more.
Yeah, I am also attracted more and more with this pairing. Dong Fangshi in his arrogant ways is actually too devoted to Zhu Bu Qi.
Meanwhile, Qingwu had gotten better. Chen Yu was looking at her rather tenderly. What is this?!!! No
Qingwu said that she would like to back to Mingyue Villa and she wanted to know whether Chen Yu would be worried about her.
He said that if she had any problem, then she had to let him know.
When she has gone, even the guards noticed their sizzling chemistry. Noooooo
Zhu Bu Qi was able to read Dong Fang Shi’s next step and she was ready for him with the town guards almost lying in wait.
Right before all their eyes, Dong Fang Shi who had tied a handkerchief on his face got away.
The next day, instead of Dong Fang Shi being in trouble, he was suing Zhu Bu Qi for conspiracy to blacken his name and reputation.
It turned out that Dong Fang Shi is super-talented, not only as a doctor, martial artist but also he is a scholar, who passed the Imperial examination.
He is really so interesting. I really like him now.
Episode 31
Yun Lang heard about the current court case of Zhu Bu Qi and he wasted no time going to the court to rescue Zhu Bu Qi.
The case was going to be thrown out of court but Zhu Fu said that Dong Fang Shi was rather underhanded in his businesses. He was killing free trade and affecting the economy of town businesses.
Several witnesses, including Yuan Chong and Jin Fei, came to testify for the House of Zhu. There was also Yun Lang.
Dong Fang Shi said that he will be closing Dan Ji. Case closed.
Yun Lang and Lin Dansha had a bit of a domestic, where Dansha said that she will not hold Yun Lang to his promise of marriage as she now knew how much in love he was with Zhu Bu Qi.
Dong Fang Shi heard about the Zhu Bu Qi and he got curious of Yun Lang as well.
Zhu Bu Qi was advised by the House of Zhu to be careful with Yun Lang because the situation might escalate and have the House of Mo targetting the House of Zhu.
But Bu Qi completely trusts Yun Lang. So she prepared a fish supper herself and invited Yun Lang to dine with.
They had a lovely time but then the time came when Yun Lang asked her if the one who poisoned her was Lian Yi Ke?
Zhu Bu Qi categorically said no.
Yun Lang said that she might as well tell him because he won’t stop until he finds out.
Zhu Bu Qi did not have much choice so she had to confess that it was Mother Mo, who was pathologically jealous of her mother and Moxiang love affair.
Yun Lang refused to believe it at first as he does adore his aunt and this implicated Rou Fei for covering for his mother’s dastardly deeds.
He left Zhu Bu Qi fuming. `He promised that they will not hurt her again.
Dong Fang Shi followed the angry Yun Lang and saw that he was a good fighter but was so distracted with his anger that it was too late for him to evade the sleep-inducing needle that Dong Fang shi adroitly threw at him.
He instructed Hei Fei, his assistant to take Yun Lang away but treat him well.
Dong Fang Shi then went to see Zhu Bu Qi and proposed to pay her 20 thousand taels per day just to keep him company.
I am loving Dong Fang Shi, he has so much character. I love the scene when the romantic dinner for two he envisaged to be having with Zhu Bu Qi turned into a soiree with her Grandfather and various aunts, who each toasted Dong Fang Shi again and again until he looked so drunk. But of course, he wasn’t.
Episode 32
Dong Fang Shi took Zhu Bu Qi to his place and asked her why she was not scared of being alone with him. She said there was nothing to be nervous about as Shrimpy is just outside.
Also, she does not believe that Dong Fang Shi is seriously attracted to her because she has really nothing to speak of, she is not really that pretty, she doesn’t have elegance, she doesn’t have manners, she doesn’t read, etc. She reckons that he was really after the money.
Dong Fang Shi just smiled enigmatically and told her that he would marry her no matter what.
He then showed her something of interest to her. In a peephole, she saw Brother Yun Lang and Dansha huddled together.
Suddenly Zhu Bu Qi was not in a jokey mood. She dropped on her knees begging to let Brother Yun Lang and Dansha go. She promised to not contradict him anymore and do whatever he says.
Dong Fang Shi was rather moved and even quipped that Lian Yi Ke might get jealous of Zhu Bu Qi’s devotion to Brother Yun Lang.
But he did call Hei Feng to release the two in the dungeon.
Zhu Bu Qi watched the two leave. Dong Fang Zhi then tried it on with Bu Qi but she bit him and subtly took his jade seal which she noticed had been given to him by Prince Cheng. (interesting)
Dong Fang Shi decided that they have enough for the day and offered to take Bu Qi home but she said she was an independent woman and can find her own way home.
Halfway, she met up with Shrimpy. They went to the market town looking at knick-knacks when Liu Mingyue’s spy, who was disfigured assassin tried to kill Bu Qi with a poison arrow. He would have failed because Dong Fang Shi was there to prevent this.
But somehow Bu Qi got ‘hit’ from an assailant from above the building. She fell down into the strong arms of Shrimpy who protected her. Their guards also suddenly appeared to hide Bu Qi from further attack, which was unfortunate for the very worried Dong Fang Shi, who offered his services as a doctor to see to Bu Qi.
Anyway, all his efforts were thwarted. He instead went to confront the scarred assassin, who he knew was from the Mingyue Villa, his clan. He asked who sent him but the man chose to kill himself rather than betray Liu Mingyue.
Zhu Bu Qi was not really hurt. It was all a ruse to prevent Dong Fang Shi to keep following her. Being unwell would mean she can pretend to lie low for a few days without incurring suspicion. She can then spend these days going to Dongying to see Chen Yue and find out about Mingyue Villa.
Dressed like a servant boy. Zhu Bu Qi went with her fat assistant. They went to Sui Valley instead of directly going to Dongying.
Along the way, they accumulated a lot of money by gambling.
But the days of freedom from Dong Fang Zhi are numbered. He released some ‘wanted’ posters for both Bu Qi and the fat assistant.
Dong Fang Shi was actually really worried about Zhu Bu Qi. ahhhh . Loving Dong Fang Shi.
Episode 33
Zhu Bu Qi and Fat Zhu’s first stop of business was the One Tael Gambling House where they sold a design of a gambling wheel.
Brother Yun Lang had reached the House of Mo and finally confirmed what Bu Qi had told him about the real person who poisoned by confronting Ruo Fei, who got excited when he sort of concluded that Bu Qi was not dead.
Ruo Fei was so upset and told Yun Lang that there was no excuse of what he did lying about her mother but she had to protect her as she’s her mother.
He told Yun Lang that he had visited Bu Qi’s grave several times. He had noticed that it had been disturbed but somehow he hasn’t got the never to open it and check.
Ruo Fei immediately sent Jian Feng to see if Bu Qi is in the South.
Dong Fang Shi is hot in pursuit of Zhu Bu Shi. who was busy money making at Sui Valley.
Chen Yu was playing nursemaid to Qingwu and it looks like that he was feeling rather tempted of her because as she confessed to him, he told her that she reminds him of Bu Qi. They both lived a sorry life through no fault of their own.
Time and again he would remind Qingwu that she is a friend to him though they started as enemies.
Qingwu, however, was not listening, she was flirting like a storm with Chen Yu and he wasn’t discouraging her in the strongest possible way.
I fact they have become like confidants, he even told her that he had only ever loved one person, which is Bu Qi and that he was also Lian Yi Ke. And of course, she calls him familiarly as Cheng Qing.
Beast! 🙁
Episode 34
It may not look like that Chen Yu was not as devoted to Bu Qi as he should be but there was one person who makes Bu Qi hs top priority. He would drop anything and everything to be with Bu Qi. He calls her his brat girl. Sweet. 🙂
That man is Dong Fangshi, who was rather sinister at times but he does look after Bu Qi and would be enraged if Bu Qi is put under any kind of peril. Hear that Chen Yu?!!!
Zhu Bu Qi got separated from Fat Zhu who had to stay behind so she can get away.
All alone in the desert, Zhu Bu Qi was finally located by Dong Fang Shi.
First thing first, he asked Bu Qi to return his jade seal, which she did. When she asked why he had the jade seal, Dong Fan shi said that they did a lot of favour to King Cheng and in return, he gave them the seal.
For some reason, they were lost, they were just going round and round and ended up on their starting point.
They decided to rest for the night but Bu Qi got bitten by a large scorpion.
Dong Fang Shi was so sweet, he killed the scorpion and forced Bu Qi to take off her shoe and sock. He then sucked the poison from her lower leg, causing his lips to swell up brightly red.
Bu Qi was grateful but she couldn’t help laughing at how incongruous he looked with his large lips which many women of today would pay a fortune to acquire.
Awww they were so sweet together. Bu Qi even started to think that Dong Fang Shi might not be as bad afterall.
Episode 35
Zhu Bu Qi and Dong Fang Shi were starting to get along well. They are developing a sweet friendship born out of a necessity for a mutual survival a well close proximity in the desert.
Out of nowhere popped Chen Yu.
Zhu Bu Qi suddenly had eyes only for Chen Yu much to the disgust and jealousy of Dong Fang Shi.
He then begun to suspect that Chen Yu must be Lian Yi Ke as Zhu Bi Qi had been saying that she already loves someone and that someone is Lian Yi Ke.
Chen Yu showed some jealousy about Dong Fangshi. He was surprised to find Bu Qi with him in the desert.
But towards the end of the episodes, Qingwu also appeared and tried to show that there was more to the relationship she has with Chen Yu.
Obviously, Bu Qi was jealous and used Dong Feng Shi to make Chen Yu jealous as well.
With Chen Yu, why doesn’t he just tell Qingwu to go away! He seemed to prioritise her over Bu Qi.
Chen Yu knows this too because he continuously apologised to Bu Qi about Qingwu.
Qingwu really thought that Bu Qi was dead but she thought Zhu Bu Qi was the spitting image of the ‘dead’ Hua Bu Qi.
When she asked Chen Yu/ Chen Qing if he likes this new girl, He said yes, he likes her.
Episode 36
Qingwu continued to cause division between Zhu Bu Qi and Chen Yu,
But I do blame Chen Yu because in front of Bu Qi he gives too much care and attention to Qingwu. He even stayed watching over Qingwu while she slept.
For goodness sake’s he has not seen Bu Qi for months and yet he left her alone to be with Qingwu who used the moment to get him in bed with her even if using sleeping powder to do it.
When he realised what had happened and how Bu Qi might have suffered by an understandable misunderstanding of the whole situation, he was still rather lenient with Qingwu.
Seriously I like Bu Qi with Dong Fang Shi. He likes her and quite faithful to her but of course, he is not a saint as he encourages Qingwu to do her worst.
Bu Qi was devastated to find her lover in bed with another woman, so she runs off into the desert but closely followed by Dong Fang Shi.
He gave her a drink, without knowing that is has been drugged by Bu Qi herself. She wanted Dong Fang Shi to fall asleep so she could be with Chen Yu.
Having both drank the water, in no time Bu Qi and Dong Fang Si fell into a deep sleep.
Bu Qi woke up in the bandit cave and Dong fang shi was found by Chen Yu in the desert still asleep.
Episode 37
Bu Qi was able to mingle easily with the bandits because of her background as a beggar and her outgoing personality as well as a good business brain. She was comfortable with them and they were friendly with her.
It turned out that the bandits were a conglomerate for Mingyue Villa and Liu Mingyue was hiding within the cave.
Dong Fang Shi and Chen Yu had found the cave after torturing a bandit in the deset to make him talk.
Liu Mingyue noticed the new girl for being loud and friendly with the bandits. She had asked to see the girl (Bu Qi) afterwards, she had her properly locked up.
This was where Chen Yu found her. Chen Yu was all guilt and apologies to Bu Qi. Telling her that it was all a misunderstanding that he did not do anything with Qingyu because how could he? He only loves Bu Qi.
Bu Qi played hard to get for one minute and then promptly forgave Chen Yu but she made up promised to cut off any contact with Qingwu.
He was he already sent her packing.
The sweet thing about Chen Yu was that he calls Bu Qi his wife. Awww.
Bu Qi’s prowess with piciking locks came in handy when they were searching for the Biloutian map.
Somehow Bu Qi and Chen Yu got separated because to got out of the cave Chen said to Bu Qi to hide while he creates a sort of diversion.
Dong Fang Shi learned more of Hua Bu Qi’s history from Liu Mingyue. She said that Chen Yu was her half brother but she had died and caused a bit of a talk when Chen Yu had a mini-breakdown when he found out that Bu Qi had died.
Dong Fang Shi was a bit puzzled with the siblings information because Bu Qi and Chen Yu are more intimate that just mere brothers and sisters.
Liu Mingyue explained that there was a high probability that they were not related at all because the Seventh Prince was away when Xue Fei, Bu Qi’s mother got pregnant.
Episode 38
From her hiding place, Bu Qi was found by Dong Fang Shi, who was dressed as a bandit. He threw some clothes of the same kind for her to change into.
They quietly tried to get away but Liu Mingyue saw them and asked the guards to get them, In comes Chen Yu who signaled to Dong Fang Shi to take Bu Qi to safety.
Poor Chen Yu was stabbed a couple of times by Liu Mingyue. He just managed to get away from the thick of it but finding it almost impossible to completely get out of the cave.
Bu Qi and Dong Fang Shi reached the town. Bu Qi immediately reported what was going on with Chen Yu to his guards, who were surprised that the Princess Bu Qi was alive.
Bu Qi passed to them the map of the desert and of the cave.
Dong Fang Si did a neck pinch on Bu Qi to make her temporary unconscious. he then hurried to the cave to warn the bandits and Liu Mingyue, who all work for the Dongfang to evacuate immediately as the government guards were on their way.
Chen Yu’s guards went to the cave and found a heavily wounded Chen Yu; all the bandits had gone. Dong Fang Shi was also in attendance and offered to see to Chen Yu’s wounds.
When they got to the Chen yu’s temporary lodging, Bu Qi was there but they were trying to delay her seeing Chen Yu who was still resting. They did not tell her that he was heavily wounded.
Bu Qi though saw Qingwu purposely striding into Chen Yu’s room. Bu Qi ignored Chen Yu bodyguard and forcefully marched into Chen Yu’s bedroom only to find Qingwu sitting on his bed looking lover-like towards the sleeping Chen Yu.
Bu Qi saw red and dragged Qingyu away. At first, Qingyu was complaining that Bu Qi should be thrown out and would have struck Bu Qi if Han Se did not intervene.
Chen Yu’s body, Xiao Liu, told Bu Qi that Qingwu has a special relationship with his master, Chen Yu.
Chen Yu woke up with all the rackets going around him. His first word was Qingwu. Really?!!! He then said to stop making trouble and go back to Mingye Villa.
He firmly grasped Bu Qi’s hand which was seen and hurt the heartbroken, Qingwu.
Bu Qi and Chen Yu made up sweetly.
They were in bed together resting when the bodyguard came knocking.
Bu Qi was informed that that fat Zhu was gambling and may be being held under duress.
Bu Qi is loyal so she went immediately to the gambling den accompanied by Chen Yu.
Bu Qi rescued Fat Zhu.
They left the casino quite content.
Episode 39
Dong Fang Shi had ordered Hei Feng to kill everyone at Mingyue Vila as he was annoyed with Liu Mingyue for having ignored his instruction not to attack him and Bu Qi.
Everyone was slained except for QingWu and her maid.
For the first time, Chen Yu took Bu Qi to his new Dongping Manor.
Bu Qi entered the manor arm in arm with Chen. She was telling him that it was rather impressive. She thought the Dongying was poor and derelict instead of a large manor. She asked him teasingly whether he was hiding beauties in Dongping?
He said no but now he will, looking at her lovingly.
Her happiness did not last long because waiting for them was QingWu and her maid, who was asking for asylum from Chen Yu.
She told him that her manor was attacked and everyone was dead, they barely escaped.
Chen Yu said that they can stay, he then immediately felt Bu Qi ‘s arm dropping off him.
When they were alone he told her that she matters to him but he needed Qingwu to help him investigate Mingyue Villa.
Bu Qi is not just jealous because Qingwu fancied Chen Yu something rotten. It was more than that. Qingwu killed Uncle Jiu who looked after and cared for Bu Qi since she was an infant.
Chen Yu is so bad but so gorgeous.
Bu Qi made him promised not to see Qingwu, not to speak with her, not to touch her.
Again he promises easily not to see, speak, touch Qingwu, who was getting drunk at that very moment.
Bu Qi was playing good housewife. She went into the kitchen to supervise as well as cook something delicious and nutritious for the recuperating Chen Yu.
She was happily chopping, cooking and stirring her concoction and when she was satisfied with it, she ladled some in a big bowl and took it to Chen Yu’s room. It was empty except for Chen Yu’s bodyguard who was so worried as Chen Yu was taking his time getting back. He told Bu Qi that said Chen Yu was away for the moment but will be back soon.
Bu Qi’s cheating radar suddenly twanged.
He was cheating because he went back on his promise again. He was tending to a drunk, not dying, Qingwu. He was pouring her a cup of tea to sober her up. He even gave her paracetamol (the herbal kind, LOL) for her headache. He was so sweet to her. No wonder Qingwu won’t let go of him. He was not very discouraging!
Bu Qi had had it. She dumped the bowl of food and her apron o the bodyguard and left
Bu Qi leaves and turned into a beggar again. Dong Fang Shi found her and told her to leave with him and she will live the life of a princess. Why doesn’t she?
Chen Yu is too nice to Qingwu. I bet he wouldn’t mind making her his concubine.
Just walk away Bu Qi.
Of course, she wouldn’t as she was much too in love with him.
He found Bu Qi and just a quick pretend that he was feeling unwell and Bu Qi was again returning back to him.
And back she returned to the same old story. Qingwu’s maid was waiting for them with the information that Qingwu was in a pretty bad way.
Chen Yu’s first thought was to go to Qingwu but just managed to stop himself.
Bu Qi then said that she will go instead.
Chen Yu assigned his armored guard to watch over Bu Qi. This guard is actually pretty loyal to Bu Qi. He was on Team Bu Qi, unlike Chen Yu’s personal bodyguard who thinks Qingwu is perfect for his master.
Bu Qi went to Qingwu, who of course is quite healthy but sulky. Bu Qi told her to stop her dramas and bothering Chen Yu. She then gave Qingwu a knife to protect herself if she is that worried.
Qingwu quickly used the knife to throw at Bu Qi, who could have been hurt if the guard did not have a quick reflex action.
Was Chen Yu bothered about this kind of vindictive action from his Qingwu to Bu Qi, It doesn’t look like it.
Episode 40
This episode is mostly about A Fu and his sister Xiaomei. At last they arrived at the vicinity of Biloutian and was just looking for the entrance when the Mysterious Man appeared with his posse including Liu Mingyue and Qing’er.
Despite putting up a good fight, A Fu was fatally wounded by the Mysterious Man. His sister was killed instantly by Qing’er.
Chen Yu came to the rescue but a bit too late for A Fu.
Chen Yu had a good shot of the Mysterious Man but Liu Mingyue stood in his way and got shot instead.
Qing’er at last had her chance to revenge her family from the massacre instigated by Liu Mingyue.
She told Liu MIngyue that she was always just a tool to the Mysterious Man, she was nothing then she slahed Minyue’s thoat,
The dying AFu gave the Biloutian orb and map to Chen Yu and requested that Chen Yu cremates his and Xiomei’s body and bring their ashes back to Biloutian.
For some reason, one of his firm friends, Jin Fei, seemed to have become rather a megalomaniac and had told the King that Chen Yu is working for himself, and he was Lian Yi Ke. He also said that Chen Yu is having a complicated affair with his sister, HUa Bu Qi.
The Emperor was surprised by the information but a little more so of Jin Fei who was a friend and grew up with Chen Yu.
Bu Qi received a message from home that Lord Zhu was very ill. Without much ado, Bu Qi and Fat Zhu decided to go back but were ambushed on their way.
Dong Fang Shi was there to the rescue, but really to abduct Bu Qi as planned with his grandfather, the Mysterious Man.
Thank goodness, Chen Yu was back in time and took Bu Qi away from Dong Fang Shi.
Back at the Dongping Manor, BuQi said that the attempt of her life was planned by Qingwu because her maid was seen talking to the assassins.
At last Chen Yu ordered that Qingwu be taken to the governor for investigation.
Qingwu was put in prison but not for long. She escaped quite easily.
Chen Yu then got arrested and taken to the palace prison,
BuQi with Xiao Liu saw Chen Yu being carted away.
Episode 41
Bu Qi and Xiao Liu followed Chen in the capital.
Bu Qi tried to see Chen Yu in prison but she was not allowed by Junfei.
Chen Yu’s arrest was all due to his own plot so he can pretend he was locked up and be free to investigate the Mingyue Villa and who was behind it, who was the big boss.
He was naughty, he did not confide in Bu Qi, thus Fat Shu was also arrested as he was staying Dongping Manor at that time.
Bu Qi had to ransom him for one million as well as being forced to allow Junfei and the government to audit the Zhu Manor’s finances.
At the end of the episode, Bu Qi was in a doldrum when Shrimpy nudged her to get her attention and signaled that Lian Yi Ke is coming towards their way.
Bu Qi was so happy.
Lian Yi Ke opened his arms wide for an embrace which Bu Qi gladly went into.
She was deliriously happy but she noticed his hand. It was missing the bite mark she gave Chen Yu.
She saw that Lian Yi Ke is a fake one.
It was really Dong Fang Shi. Even knowing that it was Fang shi she still stayed in his arms. So cute.
But Dong Fang Shi had to let her go in disgust because Bu Qi seemed to love Lian Yi Ke even if he betrayed her by leaving her.
Episode 42
Bu Qi was despondent, utterly defeated that she can’t see or know how Chen Yu was.
She also found out from Dong Fang Shi that Chen Yu can never return because he has two things that the emperor wanted.
If Chen Yu gives those to the emperor, he will end up dead; if he doesn’t give it to the emperor, Chen Yu will forever be a wanted man.
She was deep in worried thoughts, traveling alone in a horse-drawn cart when she heard some commotion.
She looked outside the curtained window of the sedan but she got hit on the head causing her to faint.
She woke up with evil Qingwu staring menacingly at her.
Qingwu told Bu Qi to look outside which Bu Qi. They were outside a brothel.
Qingwu said that she will sed Bu Qi to the brothel where her soft and delicate skin would be a hit with flesh-hungry men .
Bu Qi begged Qingwu to spare her but Qingwu was demented with vengeance. Bu Qi had to use her hidden sleeve arrow and hit Qingwu right in the stomach.
Bu Qi was convinced she had killed Qingwu.
Bu Qi got away by quickly untying the horse from the cart and ride it bareback.
She was riding through a busy town when she saw a child squatted in the middle of the road. Bu Qi stopped the horse suddenly causing it to rear.
Bu Qi was thrown off but expertly caught by a stranger, a Lhoba man, which she noticed had a rather familiar bite mark on his hand. It can’t be Chen Yu as he does not look remotely like the Prince.
Anyway, Dong Fang Shi was suddenly at the scene and seeing to Bu Qi was about to faint from her adventure quickly took her away. But beforehand she told them that she had killed Qingwu. She told them where she left Qingwu.
When they went to the cart, they found that it was empty.
The Zhu clan were looking for Bu Qi but they can’t find him.
The Lhoba man who was a mute, came to see the Zhu clan and he signaled to them where Bu Qi was taken.
The Zhu clan went quickly to Dong Fang Shi to fetch Bu Qi,
The Lhoba man was indeed Chen Yu who came to see her in her bedroom.
Bu Qi was not particularly scared that a strange guy was in her bedroom because the Lhoba man quickly removed his prosthetic mask revealing the once again stunningly gorgeous Chen Yu.
After a bit of loving thumping of chest, etc. Bu Qi gave him a loving hug.
Chen Yu then asked her to run away with him but Bu Qi refused. She said that if she disappears with him, everyone would know that Chen Yu is not in prison and therefore all his meticulous planning would to naught.
So she locked out Chen Yu and told him to go do his mission.
Episode 43
Bu Qi received horrendous bad news, Chen Yu is dead during an ambush.
A scorched body of Chen Yu was brought in for her to see by Dong Fang Shi.
She was so absolutely heartbroken and looking so frail that Dong Fang Shi was saddened as well as annoyed for her deep feelings for Chen Yu.
Bu Qi told him that he once had a conversation with Chen Yu about what she would do if he dies.
Bu Qi told Dong Fang Shi that she said to Chen Yu that she will marry someone else but at this moment she had changed her mind.
She then said to Dong Fang Shi that this moment clearly shows how different he was from Chen Yu. And that is why she doesn’t really like him. Just to make a point Dong Fang Shi had to bring in the scorched body of her beloved. He did not think about how this would affect Bu Qi at all.
Bu Qi asked Dong Fang Shi if he really loves her? Did he mean to kill her? She admitted that she had now found out that she was the saintess of Biloutian.
Dong Fang Shi was completely in the dark of what Bu Qi was getting at.
Bu Qi asked him if he knew the full story of the legend of the Biloutian?
She told him that after the 5th generations the empire will end. But whoever has the goddess of Biloutian will get to the treasure and rule the world.
She then said that to get to the treasure, the saintess will be sacrificed.
Dong Fang Shi was absolutely devastated. He promised Bu Qi that no one will touch her nor kill her.
Bu Qi told Dong Fang Shi to protect Shrimpy at all cost. Bu Qi will go to him, he can sacrifice her if he wanted to because frankly, she had lost the will to live with Chen Yu being already dead.
Poor Bu Qi was sure that the scorched body was that of Chen you and ended up hugging the dead smelly body.
Dong Fang Shi sought his grandfather immediately and asked if there was more to the legend of Biloutian.
The grandfather readily admitted that there was and that the saintess had to be sacrificed.
Dong Fang Shi said that he really like Bu Qi and would not have her killed.
The grandfather said that they needed the treasure to get to the throne.
Dong Fang Shi said he’d never wanted the throne.
It then came out that Dong Fang Shi is a real prince. He is the son of Prince Cheng who married Dong Fang Shi’s mother. Apparently, the grandfather was forced to agree to the marriage because his daughter threatened to burn the Ghost Valley just like what Dong Fang Shi was doing now if his grandmother so as much as touch a strand of Bu Qi’s hair.
His grandfather reminded him that he can never be married to Bu Qi. With the rebellion, they’ve started, a powerful clan was helping them. Dong Fang Shi, therefore, had to marry their daughter or princess for the alliance.
Dong Fang Shi blurted that even if does not get to marry Bu Qi, he won’t allow her death.
Awww Dong Fang Shi really adores Bu Qi.
Bu Qi was traveling back to Zhu Manor when they stopped for a rest. Suddenly there was a commotion.
She went to look and saw the tall figure of the Lhoba man looking directly at her.
Bu Qi started running towards him and he then pulled her behind him on his horse and rode away from the Zhu people.
Qingwu was not dead. She was locked up in the palace prison having been found in the abandoned carriage by guards. She was able to have an interview with the Emperor who seemed to have lusted at first sight with her.
Qingwu also said that Hua Bu Qi was not the 7th prince daughter, therefore, not sister to Chen Yu. Hua Bu Qi is, however, the goddess of Biloutian.
This got the emperor very interested.
Meanwhile, the King was absolutely lusting after Qingwu who was encouraging him at full force.
She laid down in her bed and looked at the king enticingly and expectantly.
OMG, so will she become the favourite concubine or queen of the king and then will make Bu Qi’s life miserable. I don’t think I can take too much more of her nastiness.
Having said that, Tiara Huang is just a good actress. She made her Qingwu so annoying you just wanted to give her a good slapping! LOL
O!M!G!
I have seen some of the trailers of coming episode up to 50 in youtube and it was so stressful to watch. Everyone seemed to have died or got badly injured.
Zhang Vin had such an adorable chemistry with Ariel Lin. He looks like he truly adores her. Awww I hope they do a modern drama together.
Probably a Season 2. Apparently the novel this drama is based on is about Bu Qi and Chen Yu were lovers in modern times but time travelled in Ancient China.
Episode 44
The Feiyun Manor is in trouble. They can’t supply the 10,000 steeds ordered by the king. There was another plague killing the horses. What Master Feiyun does not know what that it was by order of the Mysterious Man to poison all the rivers and lakes near the Feiyun manor, thus killing the horses.
The Mysterious Man then went to Master Feiyun and told him to rise up with him against the Emperor. He told the Feiyun Master that his grandson is a direct descendant of Prince Cheng, who led a few battles with Master Feiyun.
Master Feiyun did not readily agree as it was committing treason punishable by death.
But in the end, they do not have a choice as the Emperor would be mightily annoyed that his 10,000 steeds were not being provided.
Yun Lang, though not really happy with what had happened had a few conditions of his own including being given the antidotes for the poison given to the Lin siblings. Dansha was so happy to hear Yun Lang asking for the antidote for her.
Bu Qi and Chen Yu are like honeymooners in their little house in the prairie. They have gone to the basic and foraging for food but they were happy and contented.
Chen Yu showed Bu Qi the Biloutian orb and map. When Bu Qi touched the orb, it came alive.
Now more than ever they knew that she was the saintess.
Chen Yu said that he will bring his teacher’s ashes to Biloutian and return to them the orb and the map as well. They were both content with this decision.
If they did not really have intercourse in episode 28, they certainly have had it now!!! 🙂
“Do you know that you are currently playing with fire?” asked Chen Yu to Bu Qi who was lying beneath him? Awww
Go, go play away.
The morning (more like afternoon) after, he wakes Bu Qi and calling her Madam Chen! Awww
Mind you, Chen Yu I am still very upset with you. But seeing your gorgeous face, I forget until the next time you’re with Qingwu again!
Yes, Qingwu had now become the King Consort.
Bai Jinfei had kidnapped Grandmaster Zhu to make Hua Bu Qi come to his rescue and for Chen Yu to come back from the dead.
It was rather successful too as Chen Yu did come to the rescue without the knowledge of Bu Qi.
Episode 45
It was not a successful rescue. Chen Yu was arrested and taken to the emperor, who questioned him on the two things about the Biloutian and the whereabouts of the goddess Hua Bu Qi.
Chen Yu pretended that he know nothing about the two things but said that he rescued Hua Bu Qi because he felt so sorry for her, she had such a sad life.
The Emperor was not buying it so Chen Yu said to just kill him.
The emperor took his knife and plunged it into Chen Yu’s chest.
Chen Yu seemed not to mind and quite resigned to dying in the hands of the emperor and also being loyal to him as did was his father, the 7th prince.
The emperor could not go through killing Chen Yu. He removed the knife and called for the best physicians of the palace to patch up Chen Yu.
The Emperor watched rather concernedly why all the doctors were shaking their heads. They told the Emperor that it was a lost cause. He cannot be cured.
The Emperor went mad and told the physician that he will have them all executed if Chen Yu does not get better. One said that the 100-year old ginseng should do it.
The Emperor was annoyed that they did not use it immediately.
Meanwhile, Qingwu’s maid had told her the news that Chen Yu was in the palace badly injured.
Qingwu wanted to go to Chen Yu immediately but her maid stopped her. If the Emperor gets to find out that she was visiting the prince of Dongping, they will be both executed.
So Qingwu waited. Under the cover of darkness, she sneaked into Chen Yu’s room at the palace.
She confessed that she had become a concubine of the emperor because Bai Junfei found her in the abandoned carriage after Bu Qi tried to kill her.
Junfei then gifted her to the emperor.
Qingwu told Chen Yu that she would help him get away if he promises to abandon Bu Qi for her.
Chen Yu said he can’t do that. He had told Qingwu before that Bu Qi is the only one in his heart.
Qingwu asked him what does Bu Qi has that he loves her so much.
His answer is what makes Qingwu continues to hope.
He said that love has its own reason, which reason knows nothing about. Why couldn’t he say that Bu Qi makes his heart beats faster, she makes him happy, a better person, she gives him courage, and blah blah blah. Instead of sounding like he does not really know himself. Chen Yu ‘dislike alert’ here again. He is such a tease. He does really like Qingwu as well but does not want to admit to it. He does not want to upset her. She is really redundant to him now because Mingyue Villa is gone.
Qingwu said to Chen Yu that it was her who told the emperor that Bu Qi is the Biloutian goddess.
Chen Yu was so annoyed that he almost struck Qingwu but his wound hurt. He then called the guards to distract them so Qingwu can get away.
Qingwu was really annoyed and went to the emperor to tell him how to get to Bu Qi.
She suggested announcing that Grandmaster Zhu and Chen Yu would be both executed within the month if Bu Qi does not show up.
Bu Qi showed up and asked the guards to take her to the emperor but guards of Dong Fang Shi fought off the emperor’s guards allowing for Bu Qi to get away.
She then gets rescued by Mo Ruofei who was so pleased to see Bu Qi.
Bu Qi was underwhelmed because she remembers that Madam Mo did try to kill her. Mo Ruofei said that he is there now to make atonement for his mother.
Episode 46
Bu Qi was going to the Capital with Mo Ruofei and Jiangsheng when their carriage was stopped by fleeing folks advising them to turn back as well. Apparently the grandson of King Cheng was revolting against the Emperor and everywhere was chaotic.
The Emperor had issued a very strict edict of stop and search and find the most wanted people, especially Hua Bu Qi.
Bu Qi was taken back to Mo Manor but before she can settle the emperor’s guards came to Mo Manor to confiscate it.
Mo Manor had been implicated with Feiyun Manor, rebelling against the Emperor.
Madam Mo was surprised to see Bu Qi being alive. She was so confused as just saw her trusted bodyguard getting killed to save her. She tried to commit suicide with a pair of scissors but Bu Qi stopped her.
Madam Mo did get her comeuppance in the end as the pugnacious emperor’s guards shot her with an arrow.
Ruo Fei was inconsolable but Bu Qi had to drag him away and escape.
Poor Jiangsheng was killed trying to protect Ruo Fei and Bu Qi.
Ruo Fei and Bu Qi escaped but they had to change their appearance as the soldiers are doing a rigid stop and search. Photofits of both Ruo Fei and Bu Qi had been issued.
Bu Qi had the idea of Ruo Fei dressing as a woman and her as a boy.
Ruo Fei refuses at first but Bu Qi said that she had known since then arrived in the capital that Ruo Fei was a woman. Madam Mo would not let anyone to touch or treat the wounded Ruo Fei then. Also when Ruo Fei gave Bu Qi an array of pieces of jewelry and make-up, Ruo was more excited.
Ruo Fei dressed up as a woman and she was quite pretty as well.
I have to admit, I was thinking where did they get the make-up including the mascara. Bu Qi must have a secret pocket for all of these.
Anyway, they passed the stop and search. They agreed that it would be safer if they parted ways, anyhow Ruo Fei was determined to avenge his mother. He was going to join Dong Fang Shi’s army. Bu Qi on the other hand would try to save her grandpa Zhu and Chen Yu but meet up with Xiao Xia first.
Ruo Fei begged Dong Fang Shi to take him in.
Dong Fang Shi was reluctant at first but he told one of his generals to train Ruo Fei.
Ruo Fei was given a military uniform and had to change in a men’s tent. Ruo Fei refused to strip in front of the other men and he ended up fighting with them. The general found out that she was a girl.
She was brought to Dong Fang Shi, who does not trust her at all.
Dong Fang Shi was surprised that the genius of Mo Manor was a woman.
Ruo Fei asked what she can do to earn his trust.
Dong Fang Shi said that he wanted Bu Qi brought to him. Because Bu Qi going to the emperor would mean her death and he wanted to protect Bu Qi.
Bu Qi was hiding in a barn when Shrimpy and Yuan Chong found her. She told them that she will save Chen Yu and grandad Zhu and wanted Yuan Chong to take her to the emperor.
She was just walking out of the barn when she saw Ruo Fei,
Bu Qi was pleased to see him but he was cold and serious. Ruo Fei had guards with him who subdued Bu Qi, Shrimpy and Yuan.
Bu Qi was taken to Dong Fang Shi, who was happy to see her.
Yun Lang, who had joined forces with Dong Fang Shi’s army was happy to see Ruo Fei.
Episode 47
Bu Qi was captured by Dong Fang Shi’s army.
She was manacled in chains in both arms and legs to prevent her escaping.
She did try to escape several times. She even hurt herself when she fell into broken crockeries. Poor Dong Fang Shi was so worried about her that he called Dansha to treat Bu Qi. Of course, he could have treated Bu Qi himself but he loves Bu Qi so much, he did not like to make her feel uncomfortable and ruin her reputation as a single girl as well.
Unfortunately, Bu Qi did become more than uncomfortable when she received a visit from the Mysterious Man, who force-fed Bu Qi with a pill that made her squirmed from stabbing stomach pains.
Thank goodness Dong Fang Shi appeared and killed the guards and then beg his grandfather to give Bu Qi the antidote.
The grandpa refused. He was dismissive of Dong Fang Shi’s putting love for a woman over sitting on the throne.
Dong Fang Shi said that he had only loved one woman in is life and he will not sacrifice her for anything.
As Bu Qi was getting weaker and weaker, Dong Fang Shi tried to snatch the antidote from his grandfather who was too quick and strong for him.
As a last recourse, Dong Fang Shi unsheathed his knife and stabbed himself in the arm which surprised his grandfather. Dong Fang Shi then said what was the point of it all without Bu Qi in his life, so he wants to feel the same pain as what Bu Qi was feeling now.
I am telling you if I had been Bu Qi I would have married Dong Fang Shi on the spot! LOL That is such a rare love. An all-consuming passion, faithful and true.
The grandfather was forced to give the antidote to Dong Fang Shi to give to Bu Qi.
He asked Bu Qi if she was moved by his confession.
This is the time when I became annoyed with Bu Qi.
She said categorically, “No” . She wanted to leave there and then to save Chen Yu and Grandpa Zhu.
What she does not know was that her lover boy, Chen Yu is getting better at the palace. He often gets a visit from the evil looking Qingwu. What happened to her. Her new style is just too severe but it looks like she can still turn on Chen Yu.
Chen Yu (despise mode alert again), despite Qingwu’s evil intention towards Bu Qi, he was still very accommodating towards her. He said he loves Bu Qi. He was sounding more like it was just lip service. He did not really mean it.
When Qingwu said that they should leave the palace together before he got executed in the next couple of day, Chen Yu declined.
Qingwu persevered though. She declared that if he leaves alone, she will never see him again. But if he left with her, he would feel responsible for her and would never leave her side.
Chen Yu did not disagree of her conclusion.
Chen Yu was told by the Emperor to go and kill himself because Chen Yu would not denounce Bu Qi. But seriously Chen Yu is all talk because he really cares and even secretly in love with Qingwu, who he gave a karate chop back strike to make her sleep so he can get away.
He took her in his arm to her room and tenderly put her to bed, then lingeringly stared at her. And not only that he left her a goodbye letter, more like a love letter.
He said that he knew she likes him and knows that she had suffered a lot because of him and listen to this! He said, “In our next life, I will pay you back.” (Meaning Bu Qi is history and he will be loving Qingwu only)
Meaning he does love her. (the bastard! LOL) I hate you Chen Yu, you beast!
So the subtitle of this drama is really ” I Will Never Let You Go in this Lifetime only.” LOL
He should have killed Qingwu. He has a very short memory when it comes to how Qingwu had tortured Bu Qi. He has forgotten how Qingwu was going to sell Bu Qi into a brothel. If Bu Qi did not have her sleeve arrow, she would have been easily overpowered by Qingwu.
He also chooses to forget that Qingwu told the emperor that Bu Qi is the goddess of Biloutian, which made Bu Qi the most wanted person in the empire. To get to her, the emperor had to disband and arrest everyone at the Zhu Manor.
I really hate him at the moment!
Anyway, Chen Yu got away from the palace.
Episode 48
omg cry cry cry cry cry cry cry cry
Qingwu had advised the King to go ahead with the execution of Master Zhu and pretend that they had arrested Bu Qi and will be beheading her as well.
This news was widely circulated.
Yun Lang rescued Bu Qi from her shackles and was about to help her to get out of the compound when Bu Qi was only half-hearted because she was worrying that she will get Yunlang into trouble.
Yunlang was very persuasive. He created some distraction for the soldiers and Dong Fang Shi, who at that moment found ou that Bu Qi had got away.
He they became worried because he heard the news that Bu Qi had been arrested and about to be beheaded.
So he went to see the King and there a girl was tied up by the wall with ‘Master Zhu”
Before he could do a rescue, Xiaoxia came flying through the air into where the girl was. She cut the executioner but she got shot.
This is when Bu Qi changed her mind because she saw Xiao Xia/Shrimpy with arrows on her chest astride a horse with Dong Fang Shi coming back into the compound.
Bu Qi ran into the tent to find out what had happened.
Bu Qi was heartbroken. She begged and begged Dong Fang Shi to cure Shrimpy but he admitted that it was beyond hope. He was a magic healer gut not God, he told her.
Shrimpy was fatally injured.
This was so sad and she blamed Dong Fang Shi for it. The still conscious Shrimpy said that it was not Dong Fang Shi’s fault, in fact, she did it to rescue Bu Qi.
Shrimpy asked Dong Fang Shi if she could see
Dong Fang Shi summoned his guard to find Yuan Chong to be with Shrimpy.
So sad, these two lovers had to say their final goodbye to each other. Shrimpy finally told him that she likes him too.
Bu Qi was sobbing so hard.
Dong Fang Shi went to see Chen Yu and his small band of soldiers who were engaged in combat with Dong Fang Shi’s soldiers.
Dong Fang Shi ended up having a one on one with Chen Yu.
Chen Yu was able to unarm Dong Fang Shi but he threw a handful of soil into Chen Yu’s face.
Dong Fang Shi managed to get back his sword and was about to stab the still blinded Chen Yu when his most trusted bodyguard stood in front of Chen Yu.
Chen Yu’s guard might have protected him but in the end, he told Chen Yu that he was joining Dong Fang Shi’s army as the current emperor was a nutter and a despot.
Chen Yu also joined the army because he found out that Bu Qi was their captive.
Chen Yu now knew that Dong Fang Shi was the only one who can keep Bu Qi safe. So he gave him Bu Qi.
Dong Fang Shi said that he had to see Bu Qi and tell her this.
Bu Qi was happy to see Chen Yu was safe.
Chen Yu, however, was very cold. When Bu Qi tried to take his hand, he pushed her away. He told her that he no longer needs her. Her situation was too complication and he could not be asked to be entangled with her anymore.
When Bu Qi won’t believe him and tried to hold on to him, he used his cape to swat her like she was a fly.
Bu Qi cannot take much more.
Episode 49
sad cry sad cry sad cry sad cry
Chen Yu was very upset with what he did to Bu Qi. He was drinking heavily.
Awww Dong Fang Shi loved Bu Qi very much. He did not hesitate to go to Chen Yu when Bu Qi refuses to eat. She had been on a hunger strike for the last couple of days.
Chen Yu then went to see Bu Qi, who he found sad and frail as if the light had gone out of her life.
Bu Qi was not happy to see Chen Yu. She told him to go away. She was feeling so sorry for herself and with good reasons too. She said her grandpa is dead, Xiao xia is dead and Chen Yu is also dead in her heart!
Chen Yu told her that he was with her grandpa who told him that he knew it was the end for him. He also said that he was not embarrassed to meet his ancestors because he knew that Bu Qi is a very capable girl and that she will rebuild Zhu Manor again.
This made Bu Qi think. She called Dong Fang Shi to feed her and not Chen Yu. She also told Chen Yu to go away. He was nothing to her anymore after he gifted her to Dong Fang Shi.
Dong Fang Shi happily complied but Bu Qi wanted to feed herself because she was really starving.
Bu Qi and Dong Fang Shi started a very awkward relationship, which is sweet and being watched by Chen Yu in the lurk.
Bu Qi started ignoring Chen Yu as if he doesn’t exist. The only thing about Dong Fang Shi is that he turns into a boy every time his grandfather is about.
Meanwhile, the terrible, horrible twins met up. Qingwu is plotting something with Qing’er. They probably exchanged places.
Episode 50
There are plenty of things that occurred in this episode which I did not understand for lack of subtitles.
Anyway, Chen Yu, yes he had another meeting with Qingwu. I did not understand what was said.
But Chen Yu had a change of heart, he tried to take Bu Qi away but they got found out by Dong Fang Shi.
Poor Han Ye got killed.
Chen Yu and Dong Fang Shi had a very aesthetically pleasing fight. They seemed balanced in skill and aptitude in martial arts, they ended up both internally bruised but Dong Fang Shi managed to spirit away Bu Qi. They ended up in a forest. Dong Fang Shi bound Bu Qi so she won’t get away.
Dong Fang Shi went to get some food and he had a pheasant which he proudly showed to Bu Qi. He also had a sprig of flowers to give her but she looks so sad, he dare not give it to her.
When he’d cooked the fowl, he gave both the legs to Bu Qi as she was partial to them, but Bu Qi ignored them. They both fell asleep in the end.
Morning comes, Bu Qu woke up and found that Dong Fang Shi was still sound asleep. She went next to him to wake him up but he was not lucid. She knew he was ill.
Bu Qi managed to get into the sword to cut the rope binding her hands.
She then quickly left to gather herbs for Dong Fang Shi. This was very tender and it really brought tears to my eyes.
When Dong Fang Shi got better and found Bu Qi free and untethered and was obviously administering to him, he had the sweetest, happiest smile in his face and I cried even more. He was so grateful to Bu Qi.
In the meantime, Chen Yu was being looked after by Emperor’s general as he suffered badly from his fight with Dong Fang Shi.
The Mysterious Man had a good day, he finally found the Biloutian orb and map.
Ruo Fei had such an evil look when he saw Bu Qi and a happy Dong Fang Shi.
Episode 51 Finale
Cast Massacre
Ruo Fei was absolutely against Dong Fang Shi getting it together with Bu Qi. Ruo Fei overheard Dong Fang Shi’s conversation with Bu Qi about her being safe if she was married to him as his grandad would not touch a family.
Ruo Fei wasted no time in reporting everything she heard to the Mysterious Man (Grandad).
Bu Qi agreed to marry Dong Fang Shi despite Chen Yu trying to take her away. She thought it was for the best. She will use herself to smoke out the Mysterious Man and Chen Yu could then sort him out.
Dong Fang Shi was ecstatic and gave her a hug, which she returned after a fashion.
While she was getting ready, she was thinking about how she got together with Chen Yu.
She then went to Dong Fang Shi looking so beautiful and radiant in her red wedding dress.
They exchanged bows and were just drinking the wine, which symbolises being together forever when the Mysterious Man appeared.
Immediately Dong Fang Shi suspected that Mo Ruo Fei had blabbed about the wedding as she had been anxious during the wedding and giving Dong Fang Shi the evil eye.
The Mysterious Man said that Dong Fang Shi can’t marry Bu Qi.
They ended up having the mother of all disagreement which ended in a fight. The Mysterious Man then signaled to Mo Ruo Fei to beat up Dong Fang Shi.
Mo Ruo Fei was fighting Dong Fang Shi when the Mysterious Man gave Dong Fang Shi a super strenght right hook. He then took Bu Qi with him.
Outside, Chen Yu turned up and had some balletic fight scenes with the Mysterious Man, who was too strong sending Chen Yu bleeding on the ground in his beautiful immaculate while hanfu.
Out of nowhere, Yuan Chong, turned up looking rather handsome in his purple robe knight outfit. He had a match with the Mysterious Man but sadly Mysterious Man was inhumanly strong. He held Yuan Chong like a rag doll. He then broke Yuan Chong’s spine and then his neck.
Chen Yu was grief-stricken. He held the dying Yuan Chong in his arms.
With his last breath, Yuan Chong told Chen Yu to go save Bu Qi. (Ep51 Fatality No 1: Yuan Chong)
Muo Ruo Fei and Dong Fang Shi continued fighting. Dong Fang Shi did not really want to fatally hurt Mu Ruo Fei at first as he knows that she’s Bu Qi’s real sister.
Muo Ruo Fei, however, was like a man/woman possessed. Despite Dong Fang Shi’s explanation that he needed to save Bu Qi from his grandfather, Muo Ruo Fei continued to go berserk. Without much choice, Dong Fang Shi plunged his sword into Muo Ruo Fei’s throat ( Ep 51 Fatality No2: Muo Ruo Fei) as time was the essence, Mysterious Man had already run off with Bu Qi.
Dansha and Yun Lang met up with Brother Lin YuQuan at Dong Fang Shi’s compound.
Waiting for them was Hei Feng (Dong Fang Shi’s female bodyguard but was loyal to the Mysterious Man) ready to fight to the death. She was going to stab Dansha but her brother run towards Dansha and got stabbed instead. (Ep 51 Fatality No 3: Lin YuQuan)
Hei Feng then went for Yun Lang. They were a match in skill and strength. They fatally stabbed at each other.
Yun Lang was surprised and fell against a wall with the sword deeply embedded into his chest. (Episode 51 Fatality No 4: Yun Lang)
Dansha tried to hit Hei Feng with a pole. Hei Feng fell backward with Dansha behind her. The sword went through Hei Feng and into Dansha as well. (Episode 51 Fatality 5: Hei Feng)
Poor Dansha, bleeding heavily, she crawled to her dead lover. She was just inches from reaching his hand when she collapsed and died. (Episode 51 Fatality 6: Dansha)
OMG!
Chen Yu and Dong Fang Shi joined forces to rescue Bu Qi. They had to find the entrance to the Biloutian.
Meanwhile, the Mysterious Man had already taken Bu Qi to the gate where the orb is already in place and the death well is already glowing ready to receive a human offering, in this case, the goddess.
The Mysterious Man was flinging Bu Qi into the well when Chen Yu and Dong Fang Shi arrived.
Chen Yu gave the Mysterious Man a good flying kick. He then quickly went to Bu Qi who was already falling into the well. Chen Yu caught Bu Qi while Dong Fang Shi held on to Chen Yu.
Dong Fang Shi worriedly called out to Bu Qi to hold on.
The Mysterious Man was shouting to Dong Fang Shi to let go of both Bu and Chen Yu but Dong Fang Shi ignored him.
The Mysterious Man stood up and was ready to use his sword to untangle Dong Fang Shi’s hand from Chen Yu’s but Dong Fang Shi gave his strongest heave and pulled Chen Yu and Bu Qi out of the well. At the same time, his grandpa’s sword was plunging to his chest. To the end, he begged his grandfather to spare Bu Qi, not to hurt her. (Episode 51 Fatality 7: Dong Fang Shi)
Bu Qi was heartbroken. She may not love Dong Fang Shi the way she loves Chen Yu but she had grown rather fond of Dong Fang Shi because she realised that several times he saved her life.
The Mysterious Man was not finished. He ignored his grandson’s dying wish. He was really determined to get the throne through the power of the Biloutian by sacrificing Bu Qi all in memory of Dong Fang Shi.
MM really had superhuman strength that Chen Yu was kicked around against the wall over and over. Finally, he had Bu Qi to sacrificed.
But not if Chen Yu can help it. With his last strength, he half pulled the Mysterious Man away from Bu Qi and dropped him into the well. (Episode 51 Fatality 8: Mysterious)
Unfortunately, Chen Yu also went into the well. Bu Qi managed to hold on to him but she did not have the stamina to haul him out of the well.
But before he had free fallen, he told Bu Qi to live well. They will see each other again in the next life where he would be her Lian Yi Ke once again. What an absolute slut. He already promised his body and soul in the next life to the bitch, Qingwu! LOL
But No Bu Qi… You cannot let him go, it goes against the title of the story…
(Episode 51 Fatality 9: Chen Yu?)
A few months later…
The war was won by the Emperor and everything started to settle down.
The king and Qingwu were having a walk-about in the market when they heard that the King’s approval rating had gone up.
The King seemed to have become a people-person now as he was quite happy just mingling and having a cup of tea in a little cafeteria in the market.
Qingwu however, still has that wistful look as she listened to the current adventure of Lian Yi Ke. His legend is unstoppable.
At that time Lian Yi Ke was saving merchants and their caravans of goods from inept bandits.
The new Lian Yi Ke is Bu Qi.
When she had accomplished her mission, she remembered the first time she met the real Lian Yi Ke. She was missing him so hard that she was able to make him materialised in person.
The real Lian Yi Ke, please stand up.
Yes, Lian Yi Ke was there, alive.
Is he really alive or just a figment of Bu Qi’s grief-stricken imagination?!!!
Mind you though, probably Bu Qi was able to make Chen Yu come alive after she cried copious amount of tears into the magic well. Her tears, after all, were those of the goddess of Biloutian! Yep I am happy with this explanation. hehehe
Awwww
Sweet!
One thing though, the person I most wanted to die, lived. Yes I am talking about you, Qingwu!
Well it was the end, not really a good one, but it made sure that this drama will be remembered by those who saw it for a very long time because of a so-so ending. Many things left unanswered. Why would Bu Qi choose to continue the work of Lian Yi Ke when she should be concentrating on rebuilding and restructuring at the Zhu Manor?!!!
I have never seen so much massacre of solid supporting characters in one episode.
It had the feeling that although the actors are still acting their guts out, the scriptwriter, director, cinematographer, crews, etc had already packed up and ready to go.
I was still reeling by the death of so many in this episode when I noticed that there was just a prop malfunction. When Chen Yu and Dong Fang Shi were looking for the entrance into the Biloutian, they had to search these humongous boulders of rocks, which moves every time Chen Yu bumped into one. 🙂 obviously made of cardboard.
I supposed it became part of the charm of this drama.
Gao Lu as Lin Qin Shuang [Mo Lan’s mother/ First Concubine]
Looking forward to this drama. The first drama of Zanilia and William Feng as a newly married couple.
Episode 1
This first episode is on the tad boring because the main actors were not in it.
It started when Minglan was a little girl. She was a daughter of a court official to a concubine, who had been sold to the Sheng household by her family to buy medicine.
Young Minglan being a concubine’s daughter is treated differently from her sisters from the legal wife and his favourite first concubine.
Despite the hardship, Minglan showed resilience and maturity beyond her years.
It was the wedding of her oldest half-sister (First Sister). Her dowry from her betrothed included a wedding goose.
But there was an incident with the goose, lol, Minglan’s half-brother (Third Brother) from the first concubine started gambling the goose away.
The Sheng household was in an uproar as losing the goose is equivalent to losing their face as well.
A young master, a wedding guest from the groom side, was winning the goose then enters young Minglan who was half the height of the young master.
Without saying anything, she shoots an arrow into a tri-mouthed cylinder and everyone was astounded. She kept getting it right until she equalised with the young master.
The young master then used two arrows to fill two holes of the cylindrical container which earned him a 6-pointer. Everyone was less jubilant as they reckoned Minglan won’t be able to top it.
She took just one arrow and threw it as high and as far as she could and it went straight to the farthest cylinder which garnered her 10 points. Minglan won.
At the end of the episode, her Third Brother was ‘sacrificed’ by his own mother so that she does not incur the wrath of the legal wife. He got a beating of 30 lashes.
Episode 2
Minglan had begged her father to come to visit them, which he obliged to do so. While in their house, Minglan confessed to her father that they suffered from extreme cold as their allocated allowance of coals and other provisions are not being given to them in the right amount. At night her pregnant mother was so cold they would huddle together to keep warm.
Her father was shocked to know this and went to his legal wife (Big Madam) to ask why his third family was not being looked after properly. He then blamed his wife for insisting to buy him a second concubine to keep up appearances and then neglect them.
His wife explained to him that she was as shocked and it has really nothing to do with her as the one to manage their housekeeping bills and allocation is the first concubine.
The first concubine (FC) was called and she blatantly made up lies that she had instructed the maids to be more careful with the second concubine (SC) as she was pregnant. The FC said that she suspected the SC’s maid had been stealing the allocation.
They then all went to the house of the SC to search it thoroughly. They found coals, silver, and food among the maid’s properties. Everyone really knows that this was a made-up charge but no one was really talking to save face and keep peace within the manor.
The maid was going to be beaten to death but the SC and Minglan who adore the feisty maid begged the father to spare the life of the maid. They said to just dismiss her.
At the middle of this fracas, there was some sad news that the young master (guest) who happens to be the second son of the Marquis of Ningyuan had drown.
There was chaos at how they are going to explain the death of an important guest to an even important parent.
After a thorough search, they found a decomposing body by the river. The face was so bloated that it was beyond recognition.
Episode 3
The young master was not dead. It was his manservant who died after they changed clothing to confuse the assassins.
Anyway, the young master is Gu Tingye who was in a horse-drawn cart when he noticed Minglan running for her life.
Poor Minglan was beside herself with worry as her mother was in labour but no one competent enough was there to tend to her, in fact, they were hindering her. No one would boil water, no one to give water to her thirsty mother and the midwife ran away. I think it has all to do with the conniving FC.
Gu Tingye helped Minglan to get the physician but in the end, it was too late. Her mother was bleeding to death with a huge baby still in her belly.
When is Zanilia and Shao Feng going to appear. I heard the first episodes were not very well patronised in China. It is probably due to the non-appearance of the leads even at the third episode.
They should have made a series of flashbacks interspersed here and there in succeding episodes. That would have been more interesting.
But having said that the young Minglan was so adorable, a good actress at such a young age.
Young Gu Tingye was also charismatic.
Episode 4
Seriously, when are the leads gonna appear?!!!
Minglan’s maternal aunt wanted to take her to the family farm but the Zhengs would not allow it as people might talk.
Instead, Minglan will be looked after by the Zheng grandmother, who told off Minglan’s father for embarrassing his first wife in favour of his first concubine. The grandmother told him that his legal wife was a decent woman, kind-hearted.
Master Zheng, who is a magistrate, said that his legal wife was rather scary and complains all the time. The grandmother said that it was due to all the humiliation she suffered from his hand.
Anyway, the grandmother advised him to treat his legal wife better. He started being friendlier to his wife.
The magistrate was promoted and they had to move to Baijang.
The conniving FC got her way though by pretending to be weak and frail which brings out the caring side to the magistrate who confessed that his real mother was also a concubine and they were both maltreated by his father’s legal wife. So he promised the FC that whatever happened he would always look after her and their two children.
Episode 5
At long last, the leads are here.
The magistrate is now a fourth rank minister. During a court meeting, they beg the king to appoint a crown prince since his son had passed and he doesn’t have an heir It is said that the belly of a nation rests on a succeeding generation of rulers. The king got very upset; mourning his dead son; but in the end, he agreed to look into appointing his successor.
Meanwhile, the Grandmother forced the minister to allow Minglan to join in the studies/school.
In class, Minglan studies with her sisters, brothers and Qi Heng.
Qi Heng had taken a particular interest in Minglan but the fourth sister of Minglan had coveted him already and is very jealous of Minglan. and the attention she gets from Qi Heng.
Gu Tingye had also arrived at the scene but he looks like a bit of a hedonist. He has a concubine and two young children already.
Episode 6
A potential suitor came to visit the Zheng mansion.
The fourth sister was advised by her mother and ladies’maid to have a look at the son of a marquis.
The fifth and sixth sister saw their fourth sister behaving rather suspiciously so they followed her.
They saw the men talking about this and that. Minglan told her sisters that she was going back in a rather loud voice so the men noticed them.
The fourth sister pushed her two sisters, who fell into the room where the men were talking with their Madam Zheng and father.
The parents were so embarrassed. Their father somehow only punished fifth sister and Minglan. The fifth sister was livid saying that they were pushed by their elder sister, which only annoyed their father. The fourth sister is his favourite.
To punish the fifth sister, he commanded her to kneel on their ancestral shine for three days.
Episode 7
The minister was determined to punish his two daughters much to the glee of the first concubine and the fourth daughter.
Tingye was being treated like a wastrel by his father especially when he found out that Tingye was keeping a mistress.
Episode 8-9
Gu Tingye had asked his old nurse/nanny to come over and retire in a place he bought for her. But of course, this was not really the reason. He wanted his old nanny to supervise Manniang, his mistress and two young children, a boy and a girl.
The nanny told him off for ruining his chances of marrying a girl from a decent family.
The nanny then recounted the story about his own mother.
Tingye’s mother was a merchant daughter. She was considered lowly but rolling in money. The old Marquis of Gu then forced his son to divorce his legal wife so he could marry the merchant’s daughter for a sizeable dowry which they needed to save themselves from going completely under.
The Merchant’s daughter was unaware of the forced divorce and the subsequent suicide of the ex-wife. She was so upset when she found out. She was on her second pregnancy then but she insisted that she would like a divorce and she would take young Tingye with her, which her husband had ignored since he was born. She also told her husband that he can keep her dowry of 500,000 taels of silver, she would not ask him to return it.
The current Marquis, her husband, refused and pulled her roughly. She suddenly started to have contraction but died with her unborn child during labour.
Six months after her death her husband married the sister of his first (ex)wife.
He had treated Gu Tingye ever since indifferently when he was lucky or violently if the father felt like it, which made Tingye lose his way and travel as far away from his father as possible. Along the way, he sated his avarice, including womanising, drinking and carousing in between studying.
The minister’s first wife hired a madam from the palace to teach etiquette and decorum to the Fifth and Sixth sisters.
Again this turned into another contention. The fourth daughter and her mother are jealous that fifth and sixth are being home-schooled by a very experienced tutor about behaviour which would make them desirable in the marriage market.
The First concubine again cajoled the minister to include their daughter in the tutorial of the two misses.
Awww it has just been announced through a Weibo post from Feng Shao Feng that his family of two with Zanillia will soon be three. GlobalGranary sends out congratulations.
8 March 2019 Update!
Li Ying has safely delivered a healthy baby boy!
Our congratulations!
Episode 10
The fourth Sister joined the study group under the venerable madam from the palace.
During a flower arrangement class, Fourth Sister hugged all the attention of their teacher. Every time Fifth sister tried to speak, the fourth sister would ask more questions from their tutor.
When the tutor took a tea break, but actually listening to what was going inside on inside the schoolroom, the fifth sister gave the fourth sister an earful.
Overdramatic as usual, the fourth sister used tears to make her case of being bullied because of her status as a concubine’s daughter. She then tried to leave, Minglan tried to intervene. Saying that they were all sisters and fighting would embarrass their family from their tutor.
Anyway, the tutor found them scorning one another.
The Minister, wife and his concubine came to see what was going on. The madam said that she needed to find out the truth from the girls.
In the end, she punished them all with 20 hand beatings, so they are treated fairly and no favoritism and to prevent bad feelings to foster among the sisters,
The grandmother called Minglan and talk over the incident and help her put ointment on her hands. Minglan said that she does not mind the punishment because for once the father realises how being unfair he was with his other daughters.
Episode 11
It’s the Imperial exam and the brother Shengs are participating so were Qi Heng and Gu Tinghe.
Minglan kindly made kneepads for both her brothers, although Cheng Feng (Third Brother) was rather dismissive of Minglan’s effort. She also made a pair for Qi Heng, who was ecstatic thinking that he was indeed in the heart of Minglan.
Episode 12
The result of the imperial exam was out. The Sheng family was rejoicing as Changbai (Second Brother) passed among the top 15 while Cheng Feng did not pass. His mother and sister were very upset with him.
Qi Heng did not pass as well.
Tingye’s father found out his son did very well during the exam but due to his supposed penchant of patronising brothels, he was deliberately failed in the exam. His father was so annoyed especially when he found out that Tingye could not retake the exam until Tingye was 50.
Episode 13
Tingye’s father told him himself that it was the emperor who especially put forward his name not to be allowed to retake the imperial exam at least until he was 50.
Tingye was upset and decided to uproot his young family and the nanny and find somewhere in the countryside to live peaceful normality.
Unfortunately for him, Manniang had other ideas. She engineered for her young daughter to get out of their house and wander the street towards the Gu Manor. She then strategically drop her daughter’s necklace right in front of the manor.
They were returning to their house when they were kidnapped by the Marquis’ men.
Manniang and her daughter were taken to see the Marquis. Manniang introduced her daughter as his granddaughter but the Marquis was unmoved. He won’t recognised a piece of dirt like her and her children.
He was pontificating about how unsuitable and how she ruined his son’s life when Tiengye appeared. He told his father that he was not taking abuse from the family anymore especially knowing how his mother died. The Marquis became rather nervous.
Meanwhile, the Minister’s household was in turmoil as he had not come home for lunch, dinner and the whole night.
They later found out Minister Sheng was confined in a side room in the palace by order of the king.
While this was going on, Legal Wife Sheng was told by the grandmother that she had the run of the house as the master was away. The Legal Wife used her time to find something that she could punish the first concubine with.
It did not take long to find something because at that moment the FC was meeting a man, a realtor as she was hoping to sell some land and properties.
Big Madam’s minions were quickly on the move. Before the FC knew what happened, she was bound, gagged and kidnapped back into the Sheng manor.
They forced her to attach her thumbprint into a document and had her beaten, at one point by her own son.
Episode 14
The minister finally had his audience with the king after waiting for some time. The king said that his people had heard Minister Sheng’s third son bragging that he support Prince Yan as the successor to the king.
The king took this as upfront to his royal dignity and ability to make his own decision.
The situation has a major effect on his position as minister.
When he got home, they noticed that he was somber.
He then had his son beaten severely.
Episode 15
The Minister had lost confidence with his legal wife and concubine in managing their household accounts. He found out that his legal wife had been lending money with super high interests while his concubine had been using their money to buy shops and selling them for her own benefit.
The Minister went to his mother for advice. She said that she was too old to do the accounts but she recommended her protegee, Mingla to do the accounts. She is mature for her age of 15 and very sensible as well.
So it was agreed that Minglan should be the new accounts manager. With her new duties, she was given her own courtyard/office complete with her own retinue of maids provided by Big Madam and FC to spy on her. The grandmother also sent her own maid to manage the servants.
Episode 16
Qi Heng misses Minglan so much and despite visiting Sheng manor, he can never get to see her.
He arranged a polo match that he hoped Minglan and the Shengs would be able to attend and they did. The polo match is a really a cover for matching eligible girls to eligible bachelors.
Minglan was very happy to see her friend Yanran in the soiree. They were happily talking together when Yanran of the Yu Family spotted a familiar hairpin. She was shocked as the hairpin is a part of her mother’s dowry that had gone missing from her house., It was just a few remaining pieces she got from her mother who passed away.
Yanran said that she must get back the pin at all cost and without much ado, she ender the polo match as one of the riders/players.
But her team was looking to lose. Yanran was really upset. Kind-hearted Minglan said that she will ride for Yanran.
Qi Heng was surprised. He thought Minglan can’t ride a horse. He also joined in as her second. All this was witnessed by Gu Tingye who was unbeatable in polo. He was persuaded to join in as well for the opposing team.
Tingye said that to make it fair, he will play with his left hand.
Minglan was a revelation. Even the mothers of bachelors thought so too.
Tiangye was purposely playing under par, therefore Minglan’s team won and got the hairpin as a prize, which she dutifully gave back to her friend.
Episode 17
Minglan was punished by her father for having some kind of dealings with Qi Heng. It was very unseemly for a girl from the lower rank to be raising her hopes for the ducal heir.
Meanwhile, Gu Tianye wanted to establish his own house and he needed a lady of the house to do so. He set his eyes on Miss Yu, the first daughter of the Yu house. He felt that they have many things in common, starting from having lost their mothers from a young age and being undervalued by their families.
Unfortunately, his reputation is such that when he came calling with his dowry, the House of Yu would not entertain him.
Episode 18
Gu Tingye finally had a chance for a matchup with the eldest Miss Yu but his mistress Manniang sabotaged the relationship before it even began.
Manniang went to the Yu Manor and did all the pitying begging of having an audience with Miss Yu including hugging a post and wailing and crying. She could not be kept quiet until she had seen the Yus, And when she did she proceeded to tell them about her children with Tingye.
Miss Yu was scandalised and so was her grandmother who had a fainting spell. It was left to Minglan to sort it out.
Miss Yu finally refused marriage with Tingye as an old suitor had surfaced.
Tingye went to sought Minglan about the incident and blamed her for the abrupt end of his pursuit of Miss Yu.
Minglan said that if he needed to blame someone then he should start with himself for keeping such an unruly mistress.
Tingye was annoyed with Minglan for looking down at his mistress. Their conversation went from bad to worst.
Tingye told her that perhaps he went to the wrong household to offer his suit. He should have asked to marry her.
Minglan said that she would rather jump off a cliff or drown herself. She would become a Buddhist nun rather than be his wife. This scene is so cute because for the first time Minglan really was so animated as she stole a look at the departing Tingye.
Episode 19
This is a sad episode.
The Family Yu had a rethink. They would allow Tingye to marry into their family of scholars if he is prepared to get rid of his mistress and two children.
The Marquis of Gu said that his son would. But Mrs Yu wanted confirmation from the horse’s mouth. So Tingye was called.
When Mrs Yu told him that he needed to get rid of his mistress and children, Tingye said that Manniang is a very weak woman and won’t be able to survive in the street alone and he cannot be without his children.
His father was so annoyed and started telling off Tingye in front of everyone. Mrs Yu escaped followed by Lady Gu.
In his fury, the Marquis of Gu took a javelin and struck the kneeling Tingye at the back. He then told him to get out and never darken their doorstep again.
Tingye said he does not want to leave. He had a heart to heart with his father, remembering that his father once loved him and spoiled him when he was younger. He then went to hang on his father shirt tail and embraced him. His father was just about to pat him at the back to console him but he coughed out blood instead and fainted on the floor.
He was told by Lady Gu to get the doctor from the pharmacy as well as the court physician. When he returned with them, their path was blocked. Both doctors cannot wait, they both left.
He was being blamed by his father’s collapsed.
He waited patiently at a side room to see his father when he recovers. But he waited too long and missed saying goodbye to his dying father.
The Gu family gathered together and put the blame on him for having caused his father’s death.
Only his Third Brother stood up for him.
He then realised that it was all a plot to get rid of him, for him to leave the mansion.
He was so desolate walking the street when his best friend, Changbai came to find him to condole with him.
He started drinking and he self-pityingly said that he was all alone, no father, no mother.
Changbai said you have children.
Episode 20
Nanny Zhao told Tingye not to trust Manniang but Tingye refused to listen.
For ten days Nanny Zhao painstakingly followed Manniang every day. Manniang would sell or pawn pieces of jewelry, part of the dowry of his mother, and Nanny Zhao would buy them back or redeem them.
Nanny Zhao showed her evidence to Tingye but he was so stupid still refusing to believe. Nanny Zhao finally begged Tingye to follow Manniang himself the next day and see what she does. If Manniang does not do anything suspicious then Nanny Zhao promised that she won’t say anything anymore ever.
Tingye did follow Manniang the next day and was utterly surprised that she was meeting her supposedly dead brother who used to beat her up.
He controlled his anger and gave Manniang a chance to come clean but she was just spouting one lie after another. As evidence, he had her brother brought in. Mannang immediately blamed her brother, that he made her do it, he was gambling again and wanted money or else threatened to kidnap their children.
Tingye, at last, realised the extent of Manniang lies. He told her to go or else he would make her life in the capital so unbearable.
He was woken up the next morning with the news that Manniang, her borther and Tingye’s son were gone.
Quickly Tingye went to look for them.
Episode 21
It started with the funeral of the Marquis of Gu, where Tingye was not invited to attend, though he dawned in his funeral garb and paid his respect to the funeral cortege at the sideline.
After the funeral, Tingye was talking to Changbai, who was slated to get married in a couple of months.
Changbai begged Tingye to postpone leaving town until after his wedding.
Tingye said that Changbai is closer to him that his own brothers and he doesn’t want to rub off his misfortune towards him especially on his wedding day.
Changbai understood and wish his friend well in his hunt of Manniang and their son.
Tingye’s out of town sojourn seemed to have done him a lot of good. He looked healthy and handsome especially with a bow and arrow, which he got to use to save a father and son, both soldiers from bandits.
As the wedding preparation for Changbai is becoming more frenetic, Minglan found out from her lady’s maid that Qi Heng is planning to bring his parents to propose marriage to her.
Minglan immediately consulted her grandmother, who was in between being annoyed and concerned about this development. She was not happy at all that Minglan might be marrying into the ducal of Qi. She reckons that Family Qi is much too high up to be compatible with the Sheng family. The grandmother also heard that the princess, who is Minglan’s potential mother in law has got quite a temper on her.
Minglan assured her grandmother that she had turned down Qi Heng previously.
This is not the only concern that is besetting Minglan at present. Her maids are always fighting to the point that the Big Madam had to intervene and punish the maids on behalf of Minglan, who had been treating the maids rather indulgently.
The grandmother summoned Minglan and told her point-blank that she knew Minglan had planned everything so precisely so that the respective servants from the Big Madam and Little Madam were sent back to them.
Episode 22
As advised Minglan, the princess and Qi Heng did come to visit during the wedding.
The princess said that the Sheng girls are beautiful and smart so she would like them to become real sisters to her only son.
Poor Qi Heng was devastated from being misled by the princess and for being a brother rather than the husband of Minglan.
Minglan, though totally disappointed as well but accepted the siblingship present with dignity.
But behind closed doors, Minglan cried her eyes out.
Her grandmother understood and thought a change of scene was well in order.
She therefore took Minglan with her to pay a visit to their old hometown.
They had to travel by water.
They noted that Qi Heng was tagging along with them in another boat.
Minglan had a very brief, well-chaperoned talk with Qi Heng when they had to stop over for provisions in land.
Minglan made it clear to Qi Heng that the gulf between their station in life was just to vast and it would be better to forget her and find someone suitable for him.
Qi Heng was far from discouraged. He promised her that she comes back he would have convinced his mother to accept that he will only marry Minglan.
This was very unfortunate because Minglan, her grandmother and the rest of their retinue were a victim of water bandits and they did not have anyone to protect them.
Her grandmother was taken to safety by a couple of boatmen but Minglan and the rest of the servants for lack of transport to safety. Minglan and her maid jumped into the water.
Episode 23
Minglan was going deeper and deeper into the water and seemed to have prepared herself to meet her maker with the bride statue clasped firmly in her hands.
But she was rescued by none other than Gu Tingye.
He took her to his lair where he stays with his daughter and the canal gang. They have been guarding the water for a possible sighting of Manniang and son.
Though it was a happy carefree place to be, Minglan cannot help but advise Tingye to take his daughter away from this kind of environment as his young daughter really need a safe and settled home to anchor her for the future.
This made Tingye think and as soon as Minglan has been safely delivered to her grandmother, Tingye and his right-hand man joined the army.
Episode 24
This is a rather interesting episode. It is regarding divorce in ancient China. It was better to have a legal separation rather than an all-out divorce, which can affect the whole family of the woman including marriage prospects of her sisters.
Tingye is doing well in the military.
Episode 25
Due to the stress of the separation and divorce of Minglan’s cousin, the elder grandmother, matriarch of the other Zheng family died.
During her funeral, the bandits struck and frightened the mourners. For some reason, Minglan runs away again and was being chased by the bandits. (Minglan is not a team player) Thank goodness, Tingye got her and took care of her.
She was quite happy having a chat with Tingye when Xiaotou, Tingye’s assistant said that the soldiers and the Zheng family had been looking for Minglan.
Tingye sent her home with a sleeve arrow to arm herself in case she meets any trouble on her way home.
Actually Tingye and Xiaotou surreptitiously followed her and unbeknowed to her helped her deal with a holdapper.
Xiaotou asked Tingye why they did not just take Minglan home rather than stalkng her?
Tingye said that it was a crime of a young lady speaking or be seen with a am within the funeral grieving period.
Xiaotou t teased him about Minglan and Tingye just aughed.
Episode 26
Minglan’s own grandmother had had enough of rural countryside, so she decided to go back to the capital with Minglan.
They found out that the First sister had a baby.
They also found out that it was not a happy place at the Qi Manor. To replace the maid who was sold to slavery for being such a coquette, the Princess had a number of girls to try out for the position. Apparently, Qi Heng had a role in choosing the new maid. He chose a girl that had an uncanny resemblance to Minglan. She even becomes his personal maid.
This turn of event was noticed by the princess, so he fired the maid.
Qi Heng had staged a hunger strike and had been too weak to leave his room.
It was the day of the lantern festival, Minglan got a message that Qi Heng’s servant was waiting to speak with her.
She asked him whether Qi Heng was doing the hunger strike because of the maid or because of her?
She was assured that his master has always been true to her.
Minglan said to tell Qi Heng that if he is true to her then he has got her devotion. ahhhhh
Their conversation was interrupted by the announcement that a curfew has suddenly been put in place. Everyone was asked to go home immediately.
It turned out that the princess of Rong had been abducted by the bandits. She was then dumped into the market place the next day.
The princess could not take the humiliation, she hung herself.
It is a scary time.
Episode 27
Lady Gu invited the ladies of Bianjang for a soiree. The princess was there and Minglan was looking out if the Younron (Qi Heng) was also somewhere in there.
He was. Buwei, Qi Heng guard, secretly led Minglan to where Qi Heng was. He said that she does not seem to like gifts of gold and silver but found that she was quite partial to food so he brought a thousand layer cake.
Once again Qi Heng promised her that he would rather die than marry someone else other than her.
Minglan told him that she would not see him ever again that he was unwell because of her.
Qi Heng also said that there was going to be an audience with the king where Qi Heng is planning to beg the king to grant Qi Heng’s marriage to MInglan.
Minglan more or less told what was said to her ladies’ maid.
They were surprised by the sudden presence of Tingye, who said that just like Emperor Ming and Noble Yong, they did not end up in the end because there were bigger issues and responsibilities than just themselves.
Tingye said that that Qi Heng is the old son and heir of the ducal Qi so in the end, he will have to take responsibility.
Minglan doesn’t appear to be overly bothered, probably being she is beginning to be intrigued by Tingye or she trusts Qi Heng implicitly?
Well the trust is going to be tested at its limit because Qi Heng is now at the end of his tether, weakened by starvation and grief from the death of Bunwei, who was beaten to death by the order of the princess. Bunwei would rather die than squeal for being the go-between his master and Minglan.
Qi Heng said to his mother that he will marry Minglan whether she likes it or not,
The Princess then told him a few home truths. The death of the princess of Rong was all due to Qi Heng. Apparently, the Princess had fallen in love at first sight with Qi Heng during the polo match. Her family had asked the princess for a marriage between the family.
Almost at that same time the favorite daughter of the Prince of Yong had also wanted a match with Qi Heng. When the princess had told them that the princess of Rong was more or less first in the queue, the Prince of Yong arranged the kidnapping of the Rong princess, which led to her death.
His mother told Qi Heng that their very survival and of their ducal is now on his shoulders. If he does not commit to a marriage with the Princess of Yong, then they might as well be the walking deads.
Episode 28
Another sad episode but I must admit it was not that heartbreaking because there wasn’t much of an interraction between Minglan and Qi Heng.
Anyway, the Duke of Qi was on his way home when he was kidnapped by the Prince of Yong, who was so powerful that even the ailing emperor can’t really go against him.
The normally strong Princess Pinying (Heng’s mother) was left incapable.
It the end it was left to Qi Heng to sort things out and to do this he had to marry the Princess of Yong.
He was so upset but his hands were tied.
MInglan heard of this development and was of course devastated but reckoned that Qi Heng was left without a choice.
Tingye also heard of the news and went to speak with Qi Heng. Tingye said that it was really all Qi Heng’s fault. He did not make a stand with his parents at the very start, he left things to simmer into how it finally resovled itself.
Qi Heng said that he was marrying the princess for the Sheng family’s sake. The Yongs threatened the Qis and the Shengs if there was no marriage alliance between the Qis and Yongs.
Tingye said that Qi Heng can always go to the emperor and sue the Yongs for kidnapping and why not kidnap the Yong princess as a tit for tat. He said that Qi Heng only had to say the word and he will help him any way he can.
But no matter what Tingye said, Qi Heng was just too weak. He does not even have the guts to see Minglan for the last time to explain things face to face, instead, he gave the man statue of the loving couple to Tingye to pass on to Minglan.
Tingye for the last time said that he was harming Minglan’s reputation by marrying someone else.
Qi Heng sadly concurred.
Tingye went to the Sheng Manor and saw Minglan. He passed to her the statue but Minglan instead told him to wait for a moment.
She went to get the female statue of the loving couple and asked Tingye to return both of the loving couples to Qi Heng.
Tingye told Minglan that he has an army assignment and may be away for quite some time. He said that if anyone says anything evil about her marriageability, he will cut their sordid mouths when he returns. Awwww
Food for thoughts:
Tingye:
The future is never predictable.
In all matters, look ahead.
Light yourself a good future.
Minglan:
It is true, our eyes are grown on the front so we could look forwardly.
Episode 29
Countess Wu was determined to match Minglan to Liang Sixth, her son.
Unfortunately, Minglan was not interested. Molam, the fourth sister wants to be a part of the Liang House.
It was mutual as well as Liang Sixth prefers her coquettish way rather than that of the quiet and timid Minglan.
Episode 30
Countess Wu continued to shower Minglan with presents which she shares with her sisters. The fifth sister was quite satisfied sharing some of the gifts but Molan felt slighted.
She reckoned that it was beneath her partaking some of the gifts given to Minglan. So instead of being grateful, she started a fight with Minglan.
Minglan ended with a bleeding cheek, which Master Sheng can’t really ignore.
Minglan’s being meek, timid and obedient over the years has finally paid off.
When her father investigated the incident, they had to believe Minglan’s side of the story. She said that Molan had been harboring bad blood against her because she threw mud at her during the last polo game.
Minglan elaborated that Molan was trying to behave inappropriately by loitering into the men’s enclosure/domain, which would have tongue wagging about the misbehavior of Molan. This would be a reflection of the whole Sheng family.
Minglan’s reasoning was so logical that her father punished Molan with 20 slaps on her hands.
Grandma Sheng knew that Minglan had been planning the situation for a long time and admire her for it.
Episode 31
The Sheng Master has found a suitable suitor for Molan, a literature scholar from a poor/ordinary background. The very idea of a poor husband repelled her so much.
It might repel her but the fifth sister showed a little interest when she encountered the scholar, who was gentle and charming.
Minglan had been secretly plotting something by going frequently to the temple.
Sadly during one of her visits to the Yuqing temple, she spied up Qi Heng and his new wife looking all loved up. they were in the temple to offer prayers and to request for babies. What Minglan did not know was that Qi Heng prayed for her health and happiness and that she finds a good husband.
Molan took matters to her own hand. As she was not allowed to go out of the manor, she dressed up as one of the maids. She then went to the temple and conveniently fell where Laing Sixth was nearby. They had a very tender moment.
From then on, Molan would meet Liang Sixth for a clandestine affair. One such time, they were seen by the Big Madam Sheng’s maid.
The Big Madam was shocked at first but did not lose time in reporting the affair to Master Sheng.
Episode 32
Master Sheng caught his daughter with Liang Sixth. He was shocked and distressed at the repercussion of his immoral daughter. Her sisters and brothers lives would also be blighted.
Big Madam went to proposed marriage to Countess Wu, who cunningly said that she would agree but Minglan would be part of the deal. Minglan would be the main wife and Molan would be the concubine.
The old madam went berserk. She said that she would not have her innocent beloved Minglan married to Liang Sixth who was even more immoral than Gu Tingye. Over her dead body.
Minglan herself said that she would rather be a nun.
The Old Madam said that she would go herself to propose marriage for Molan
Episode 33
Molan and her mother got their wish. Molan was married off to the Liangs. During the Leaving the Chamber ceremony, her father told her that whether was fortunate or unhappy with her marriage, she was not to darken their doorstep again. He was cutting her off from the family.
After the wedding party, the first concubine was severely punished and cast away in a derelict shack.
Not many days after, it gossiped that the First Concubine had passed away as a result of her caning.
The Big Madam was so stressed, she was genuinely sad and yet can’t help herself from laughing. Good acting.
The Old madam was very sharp. She realised that this was all the work of Minglan, it was all her machination.
She slapped Minglan but immediately hugged her.
Minglan said that she felt guilty but not sorry. The concubine murdered her mother and showed her witness evidence to the grandma. She wanted to be punished even by death.
The Old Madam said to keep what happened between them and never to talk about it again.
Episode 34
Gu Tingye is back in the scene. He was helping Pring Tong to ensure that the despotic Prince Yan does not get to inherit the throne.
They were on their way to the capital.
Meanwhile, the Sheng Household was rather worried about their menfolk: Master Sheng and Changbai, confined to the palace for overtime, are not having anything to eat. So they tasked Minglan to bring them roasted fish soup.
It was also the empress soiree where she invited the wives of the dukes, earls, and marquis. The empress was going to punished Princess Pinying for Qi Heng refusal to marry the Princess of Yan at first which the Princes of Tong killed.
Guards and soldiers have now come inside the palace to unseat the king.
Episode 35
Minglan escaped from the palace by dressing as a eunuch. In her escape, she met up with a palace made tasked to deliver the military seal and king’s edict written in his own blood to Prince Zhou of Zhouyong naming him as the heir apparent, the crown prince.
As luck would have it, Minglan was saved again by Tingye, who is becoming more gorgeous and I think Minglan think so too. 🙂
Tingye rather mysteriously told her that he knew who her future husband. Their chemistry was so overflowing.
They got to the palace and saved the king from the attack of Prince Yan. After Prince Yan was killed, everything died down.
The Prince of Zhou and his son and Tingye was bowing before the king. The king noticed Tingye immediately and humbly apologised to him for personally failing him in the ministerial exam. He said to him that Tingye will now have to look after Prince Zhou and his family and the Zhou family must promise to look after Tingye.
Prince Zhou did not realise that Tingye was the son of a marquis and not just an ordinary soldier.
Episode 36
After the emperor had died prince Zhou is the new emperor.
The empire is in a state of mourning.
The He family were waiting for the lifting of the mourning before they officially ask for Minglan’s hand in marriage.
Minglan was quite amenable with the match-up with Mr He as he was gentle and kind and favoured by her grandmother.
The maids were walking Mr He to his carriage. He was no more than one hundred feet away when there was a veiled woman who forced herself in his carriage.
The maid went to get Minglan who found Brother He and the woman having a very emotive conversation.
The woman is apparently his cousin who had been abducted by a gang who tattoed her face. The tattoo would mean no one would want to marry her or even take her as a maid.
She therefore implored the kind Mr He to take her as his concubine.
Mr He did not say no immediately but Minglan had heard enough. She told Mr He that she would not like him to take a concubine or have the woman as a servant in their household.
Minglan reckons that the woman has a place in Mr He’s heart but Minglan would not be sharing his heart with anyone.
She told her grandmother what happened and she agreed that he had to get rid of the woman otherwise she would not allow Minglan to marry him.
The fifth miss is now involved in her own clandestine romantic interlude. She has now secretly meeting the poor scholar, her father found for her sister, Molan.
It is unfortunate because as a legal daughter, her parents would like her to marry someone with a title.
Episode 37
Gu Tinye is back from six months of fighting and patrolling. He has decided to get married as quickly as possible and he wanted to be wed with the Sheng family.
He told Changbai that he wanted to marry his beautiful sister with a kind personality.
Chngbai, thinking Tingye was talking about Rulan, told his surprised mother and father who fell off their seats.
His father asked if it was really Rulan he wanted to marry because his description sounded more like Minglan.
Rulan said she was never going to marry Tingye.
Minglan told Rulan that Tingye is a changed man, who is upstanding, brave, intelligent and kind.
Rulan said that Minglan was overpraising him, perhaps she should marry him. Minglan said rather wryly that he did not want to marry her.
Episode 38 – 39
Rulan was found out that she was meeting a man behind her ‘betrothed’ back.
Tingye was not unhappy as he’s always known and that it was actually all part of his plan to Minglan to marry him.
Because Rulan was having a clandestine affair with someone else, then to prevent her family from further embarrassment, the next eligible girl has to honour the promise made to the Gu family. Minglan was of course the girl. Very cunning.
To make sure that Minglan knows that she was really the one he wanted, he threw a polo match where Minglan and sisters were invited.
Minglan, when she saw Tingye tried to leave but he went after her and told her that he had wanted to make her his wife when he saved her and she was nice to his daughter.
Minglan was so happy that she even volunteered to partner with Tingye to play polo.
Minglan had actually developed a bit of a crush on Tingye already and was disappointed when she thought he meant to marry Rulan.
Qi Heng found out that he passed the imperial exam the same time that he got to hear that Minglan was to marry Gu Tingye.
Qi Heng was absolutely gutted. He is now a widower and wanted his parents to ask for Minglan’s hand in marriage but it was just too late. However, he tried by going into the Sheng Manor but he was refused admittance.
Episode 40 The Wedding
It was a very red wedding.
Minglan was so excited; far from being nervous and a little anxious to be leaving her home, she was giggling inside her horse-drawn wedding palanquin.
And she should be happy as her groom was gorgeous, flirty, funny and attentive.
It was interesting to see the wedding traditions. They have to bow to heaven and earth, followed by a bow to their parents and lastly to each other. How respectful!
Anyway, Minglan was given a dowry by her grandmother consisting of shows and farmlands, which she thought was more than enough.
But her groom presented her a dowry more than ten times the amount of her own. The dowry consists of many properties most from his mother’s side of the family, the Bais and Tingye said that his wife has to manage them all now. He trusted her not like he did Manniang.
Minglan was overwhelmed with the idea of managing all the properties including their household as well but Tingye said he had complete faith in her. He said that he only trusted three people: Nanny Zhang, Xiotou (his bodyguard) and her, Minglan.
Ahhh and Minglan felt ahhhh as well and felt affectionate towards him especially when he swore with his position and prowess that he will never disappoint her.
They got talking about concubines. Minglan said that he can have concubines which dampened his spirit a little bit. Minglan does not show jealousy.
Anyway, everything was forgotten when they consummated their wedding night.
Episode 41 – 42
Minglan and Tingye were currently living at the Gu Manor as tradition. Minglan has to get used to living with a new husband as well as in-laws.
The Gu Manor has a very extended family. There is a third house, a fourth house, etc. And the wives in the houses were determined to give Minglan, who comes from a lowly background, not noble like them to get a ‘traditional’ right of passage for new brides.
They presented her with a woman, who was supposed to be a bedmate of Tingyu. As it is the woman refuses to leave the manor and the only way was for Tingyu to take her in as a concubine or as a maid.
The first day of married life and was presented with such a situation that could end a married immediately was unthinkable.
But Minglan was quick-witted. She said that she cannot make a decision without her husband, she must consult him. The matriarchs were telling her that the main wife has to choose the concubine for her husband so it is her decision.
Minglan just repeated what she said and finally told them that she was disrespectful and would willingly kneel at the Gu temple, which she did.
The Matriarchs at first were happy for her self punishment but the Minglan’s mother-in-law, who always appears amiable, gentle and weak, said that they should not punish Minglan on the first day because if it got out their family would be laughed at.
So the mother-in-law went to rescue Minglan from the Gu Shrine. Minglan knew the psyche of her mother-in-law, who pretends to be weak and charming but she actually rules everyone by psychologically inciting a situation.
Minglan was so unhappy finding that Tingye was inside their bedroom. She wanted to know why he did not come and rescue her?
Tingye said that he has complete trust in her to overcome any trials.
She then told Tingye about the maid who was being forced on her to make as a concubine for her husband.
Tingye explained that he had to take in the maid before because she was abused by one of the houses and he felt pity for her, he took her into his bed/room.
Minglan said she pities the girl and perhaps she can be a concubine. Tingye was rather upset and asked Minglan if she does not feel jealousy at all.
Minglan said that she is willing for him to have concubines as long as they have good characters.
Tingye had announced to the Gus that he and Minglan are moving out to their own manor which was bestowed to him by the new king.
Episode 43
MInglan is annoyed that she and her husband have not been invited to a party, instead, they have become the topic of scurrilous gossips at the party.
The gossip was likely to have originated from the wily mother-in-law.
People were talking about how unfilial she was, and can’t control her servants.
There might be a truth about the servants as Minglan just let them get on with it so that she can give a final decision when they’ve gone overboard with their infighting.
Qi Heng had recovered from his sad mood that he will stop throwing in sickies and go back to work. He also told his parents that if they reckon that he needed to get a new wife then they can start looking for one.
Tingye is quite bothered that Mnglan is not jealous at all at the idea of him taking in a concubine, realising this Minglan said that if he does, she will not let him in her room anymore. This made Tingye happy, as happy to know that Mnglan can hold her own against his stepmother.
Episode 44
News has been brought to Tingye of a recent sighting of Manniang and their son Chang. Unfortunately, the canal gang lost sight of them.
Tingye overheard Minglan talking to her ladies maids about her perception of love and devotion. She said that she cannot fault her husband but they again they are still on their honeymoon period.
Minglan reckons that her husband will change as well as the years roll on. So she said that you should not put all your trust, needs and expectations of a man, you should rely on yourself.
The conversation made Tingye sad. He was flummoxed on how to make her trust him completely.
He asked Minglan tentatively if she wouldn’t mind if he would go to find Chang without much prior notice.
Minglan replied that she would pack his things for him. She also said that she does not mind, she wishes that he will be her father in the next life.
Episode 45
Minglan is going further afield now literally. She was inspecting every farmland and property in their investment portfolio.
Minglan found that the easier way to get people to talk and feel indebted was to reward them with money.
There was an estate manager who was ruling a farmyard and its tenants and workers like a triad. Minglan was rather scared and frustrated by him. It so happened that Tingye turned up to save the day.
Minglan is beginning to realise that her husband is someone she can really count on. She confessed to a sister of the empress that she does not really want to depend too much on Tingye because she would not know how to pay for his kindness in the future.
The Empress’ sister said that she does not have to as a husband and wife are one body. ahhh
The chemistry between Zanilia and Shao Feng is sizzling hot. They are so adorable, very natural.
Episode 46
After the death of the Prince of Yong, there was finally peace in the empire.
The pacifist new emperor even invited the Queen Dowager to sit in during court meetings. She has the pearl jade (?) seal with her which makes her powerful in her own right.
Unfortunately, the Queen Dowager has a mind of being the power behind the throne.
So there is now a power struggle between the Queen Dowager and Emperor.
During a court meeting, the Queen Dowager issued an edict that all those who connived with the insurgent Prince of Yong should all be investigated and she recommended that Qi Heng should lead the inquiry.
Among the many being arrested for investigation was two siblings from Gu family.
The family is now putting pressure on both Tingye and Minglan to become a go-between and arrange for the release of the Gu boys.
Qi Heng is once again a married man.
His new wife is unhappy as she does not get much action in the bedroom. Apparently the last time Qi Heng exercised conjugal rights was a month ago. She reckons, he does not treat her as his equal. She wondered whether there was someone else in his heart.
She quickly found out that someone did rock Qi Heng’s boat before he was forced by Prince Yong to marry his sister. The Sheng girl was in his heart. This got the new wife curious.
Episode 47
The Gu family continues to plead, beg, use emotional blackmail, harass Tingye to use his influence with the Emperor to free the young Gu men.
Tingye said that he would certainly help but after his condition is met. He wanted his mother officially recognised in the annals of Gu history as an official member.
His First Brother refused categorically.
The Empress Dowager was so annoyed with Tingye for instigating the taking of the jade seal under false pretenses.
She was about to punish him with whipping but he saw Tingye’s back full of scars from beating. She realised that Tingye had a bad life and was instrumental in saving the previous emperor from Prince Yong. She reluctantly forgave him.
Episode 48
Tingye’s elder brother,Tingyu, the current Marquis of Gu found out accidentally that he has only days to live rather than what he thought as seven more years.
He suddenly realised that he had to ensure that his wife and daughter are looked after when he’s gone.
During a family meeting, Tingyu sort of officially passed the marquisdom to Tingye by giving him the last will from their father that the dowry of 115,000 taels from his mother should be returned to Tingye in full.
Tingyu also gave all the documentation of the properties, investments and the rest of family fortune to Tingye. The mother in law was so annoyed.
Tingyu then asked Tingye to see him alone.
He asked Tingye that for the sake of the whole Gu clam, their family fortune, title and longevity of the manor, would he give up Minglan?
That was the case with their father. He divorced Tingyu’s mother and married Tingye’s mother for her dowry so that the Gu Clan would not go under.
Tingyu then said that he has not much long to live and could Tingye look after his wife and daughter?
At first Tingye was indifferent from the request but he saw a rather lonely figure of Minglan standing alone.
So he turned back to his brother and agreed and promised that he will take care of his sister-in-law and niece.
His brother died peacefully witnessed by his wife and daughter.
Meanwhile during a court meeting begged the emperor to be lenient with the three Gu men.
Episode 49
The Emperor was so annoyed with Tingye and told him that he should have asked him in private but Tingye said that he does not want the Emperor to be involved in the gossip of corruption, that he favors Tingye.
Tingye also went for broke and asked another favour in private from the emperor to confer a title to his dead mother.
After Tingye left, the empress came in and told the emperor that Tingye was very helpful to them with meritorious service. But it looks like that he is becoming arrogant and self-serving and his allegiance was with the crown prince, prince Huan.
The Emperor was so annoyed and told her to shut up and to get out.
Tingye received the posthomous title for his mother which made him so happy that his mother and grandfather had finally lost their tag as merchant.
Tingye has been conferred as the official Marquis of Ninjiang (Gu) and Minglan was ecstatic with shock that she was given her own title for such a young age as well as early days of marriage to Tingye.
There was a really cute moment when Tingye wanted Minglan to start calling him Darling Second but Minglan found it hard at first until she did it with nervous giggles. So cute
Her happiness did not last long as Manniang is back on the scene.
Manniang refuses to divulge the whereabouts of Chang’er until she has been allowed to enter the Manor (become an official concubine).
Minglan said that Tingye should do it. He should sleep with Manniang for a night to find Chang’er.
Tingye was in so much emotion. He was shocked, scandalised, upset and let down that Minglan was okey for him to sleep with another woman, even if it was Manniang.
Minglan assured him that she was fine with it.
Tingye was so annoyed he walked out and went to Manniang.
He played along with her for a while saying that they will marry in a couple of days but they need Chang’er to be there.
Manniang kept saying that Chang’er will return after the wedding.
Tingye was having none of it which infuriated and cornered the desperate Manniang who pulled a knife and stabbed at Tingye.
The wounded Tingye called guards to subdue the maniacal Manniang, who screamed that Chang’er was long dead.
I must say I find it rather stupid for Grand Madam Gu (Stepmother) to locate Manniang immediately, whereas Tingyu, who has the military at his disposal as well as the Canal Gang, failed to do so. Come on!
Episode 50
Tingye was all for having Manniang beaten to get the truth out of her, to find the whereabouts of Chang’er as he refused to believe that the child is dead.
Minglan told him to calm down. She advises Tingye to not have Manniang beaten up as the Grand madam Gu would interfere and then the court would intervene as well.
What Minglan wanted them to do was to let Manninag go but they just have to spy on her and she might lead them to where Chang’er was.
Manniang though is a conniving evil woman, she stayed in the capital and shouting how she was maltreated by General Gu Tingye, throwing her and her son so he can marry his bitch wife.
This turn of events is tickling grand madam Gu.
Episode 51
Qi Heng has got it in for Tingye. During a court audience to the king, he lodge a case against the morals of General Gu Tingye. He said that the shenanigans of Tingye’s mistress was lowering down the reputation of the government.
The emperor was annoyed with Tingye once again but Tingye said that the emperor had always knwon the history between him and his ex-mistress and their missing son. In fact didn’t the emperor helped him to look for Chang’er?
The crown prince who had become a friend to Tingye said that Manniang was so nasty and out of control that she even stabbed Tingye on his belly.
The emperor told Tingye to take Manniang to the court at once but Tingye said that it would only get out of control and it would affect the Emperor as well.
The emperor sarcastically commented that Tingye is doing him a favour.
The crown prince has ordered soldiers to ensure that Manniang leave the Capital.
As Tingye had ordered, someone always followed Manniang and had reported that she was in a grave site wailing.
Tingye was upset that this meant that Changer is really dead.
Minglan encouraged Tingye to check the truth of the information at once.
They rode their horses and galloped to where Manniang was. She was burning papers by a grave which annoyed Tingye.
They later found the skeleton of Chang’er. Tingye ordered that Manniang be exiled at the remotest village there is.
Episode 52 (The Case of a Concubine)
Minglan attended a Sheng family dinner. Molan mooted the idea of commemorating her mother’s birthday by putting a plaque for her in the Youling Temple.
The usually amenable and even-tempered Minglan, went suddenly ballistic. She said that a murderer should not be added into the annals of the Sheng family history.
Her father was clueless at first and thought that Minglan had gone too big for her boots because of her new title and husband.
Minglan told him that the First Concubine was aware that her mother was carrying a large baby but with good diet and plenty of exercises she could have delivered the baby safely. The first concubine connives to feed Minglan’s mother rich fatty food and discouraged her from exercising like taking a walk. She told Minglan’s mom to rest in bed during the pregnancy.
Minglan and Gu Tingye had been married for a few months. Minglan is still not getting pregnant.
As this was the case Gu Tingye’s great aunt came to visit with a baby momma in tow. She was Qian Fengxian who the great aunt proposes to become a concubine for Tingye.
Minglan graciously accepted the ‘gift’.
Gu Tingye was put out. Minglan never showed any sign of jealousy towards anyone interested in him. He was beginning to think that she does not have a deep feeling for him.
To punish Minglan, he allocated a plush Shuixian Pavilion for the concubine which is near the main room and Tingye’s study, a convenient location when Tingye feels rather frisky. 🙂
Instead of Minglan showing any degree of jealousy, she was all for it. She said the pavilion has a good courtyard.
Minglan set out to make Fengxian comfortable in her pavilion. This only annoyed Gu Tingye more. He started playing games with Minglan.
He stayed at the pavilion with Fengxian, waiting for Minglan to give in and come and fetch him back.
Instead, he found out that Minglan had settled in for the night.
Previously, Minglan said that there are three kinds of concubines: Recruited from the outside (Minglan’s mother was bought by Big Madam Sheng), Gifted by someone (in the case of Qian Fengxian) or raised at home (maids who were nurtured in the household)
Apparently once one is pregnant, they don’t have conjugal visits with the husband.
It turned out that Minglan accepting Fengxian into the household was to prevent Gu Tingye having a massive fight with his Great aunt.
Episode 53
Gu Tingye lost!
He sneaked into a sleeping Minglan, who giggled in her sleep.
When they woke up Minglan asked him why he was there with her.
Tingye said that it sounded that she does not want him in her sleeping quarter.
He was really bothered with Minglan being content with him taking a concubine.
While they were having breakfast, Minglan asked Tingye what was eating him up seeing that he was rather discontent.
Tingye put the bread he was eating on Minglan’s mouth. He said, “you still don’t get it”.
Anyway, after months of doing up the gardens between the Gu Manor and Tingye and Mnglan’s, they have decided to hold a big banquet to inaugurate the merging of the two manors.
Their friends and families were invited as well as court officials and their missus/concubines.
During the party, Qi Heng’s wife especially sought Minglan and told her that she was coming between them. Qi Heng was still holding a well-lit torch for Minglan.
Minglan against sensible manners asked her maid to look for Qi Heng and meet her on the bridge.
Qi Heng arrived like an excited little puppy.
He told Minglan that he regretted all the decisions he made. He enumerated his “if only I….”
MInglan said that she understood the pressure that he was under and that she forgives him and not resent him for anything.
This really made Qi Heng very angry. He wanted Minglan to be angry with him, for letting her down.
Minglan said that she was happy and loved by her husband.
Qi Heng said that he does not love her the way he loves her. He would not sleep at night for thinking of Minglan. He was multi-tasking to make himself busy and not think of Minglan. If he think of Minglan he is left sobbing in the night. Ahhhhh
Minglan said to get a hold of himself. His new wife adores and loves him. He should in return love and adore her back.
Their little drama over the bridge of sighs was witnessed by Tingye.
Episode 54
Tngye was throwing a strop. He was quiet and moody.
Minglan cannot take it anymore and point-blank told him to say what is on his mind.
She told him that he knew she had a meeting with Qi Heng and he also knew that she did not do anything inappropriate.
Tingye said he knows. He heard her encouraging Qi Heng to love the person closed to him. Tingye said what about me? Why did you get me a concubine?
Minglan said she did it for his sake!
He said to her that it was for the sake of the Gus, for the sake of the Marquis but not for his sake as her husband.
Minglan just doesn’t get it.
Anyway despite them having troubles of their own, they have now become the agony aunts (uncle) of the palace. The Empress had called Minglan to help sort out the growing chasm in the Shen House. General Shen is the Empress’s younger brother whose original wife died saving the Empress.
As a reward to the sacrifice of the original wife’s family from Youzhou, the emperor had decreed that General Shen should take the younger sister of his dead wife as his concubine.
General Shen has already a legal wife, Madam Zhang.
The concubine was milking the gratitude of the emperor and empress. She was creating scenes everywhere she goes.
Minglan had advised her to calm down because she might make everyone turns against her. Minglan then spoke to Madam Zhang who had taken to bed because of stress and self-esteem issues.
Minglan said that she should live for herself. Being coop up in her bed would only make her life tedious and unbearable and it would only be her that has to suffer.
General Shen was still missing his dead wife and telling Tingye that his household was in chaos.
Tingye could not help himself. He also confessed that he was having a marital problem. He is married to a woman with an emotional quotient (EQ) of a three-year- old.
Back at the GU2 Manor, Minglan and her maids were talking about Tingye being the life and soul of their house. He brought happiness, fun and nice treats of food in the house. But for the last couple of months, he had become introverted, rather remote.
They warned Minglan that this was not good.
Episode 55
Minglan continues to treat Tingye at an arm’s length.
Poor Tingye was tasked to introduce the subject of the emperor’s real father to be given the title of Royal Father. This subject is emotive because it would challenge the Empress Dowager’s sensitivities.
She said that her husband the ex-emperor adopted the current one, thus became his heir. It would be slap to call someone else as a Royal Father other than the ex-emperor.
Qi Heng was like a bulldog with a bone. He would not accede to the decision of the Royal Father. This gave the Empress Dowager more impetus to dig her heels and commanded that Tingye be given a 20-whipping for his insubordination.
Tingye was only a mouthpiece. It was really the emperor’s idea, and his son’s, who left the capital on a pretext, to leave the responsibility to Tingye.
Episode 56
Poor Tingye, he was taken home in a stretcher and had to stay immobile in his frontside to give his back a time to heal.
The good thing about this was that Minglan came and looked after Tingye who visibly cheered up at the sight of his missus.
Back at the palace, the subject of the Royal Father is not dying down. In fact, it promoted factions amongst the ministers and scholars.
Episode 57
The palace is currently fraught with intrigues.
To take their mind of their stresses, Master Shen and Duan Xiao dragged Tingye to a brothel to get a drink.
During the course of the evening, Duan Xiao disappeared. They later found him naked in bed with a woman, both asleep.
Master Shen had asked Tingye to continue their discussion at his house.
But the next morning Tingye was woken up by Master Shen with the news that something big had happened with Duan Xiao.
A married woman delivering fish to the brothel had accused Duan Xiao of raping her. The woman is a very good witness, she has all the answer to preliminary queries.
Episode 58 – Minglan is pregnant
The supposed rape victim committed suicide but there were plenty of inconsistencies with the situation. It took four hours for the husband to report what happened to his wife.
Unfortunately, Tingye could not supervise the case as he was more or less forced to accompany Prince Huan to investigate corruptions in the salt mine that would take months to unravel.
Before he left he had a heart to heart with Minglan while she was sitting on his lap. He gave her a tight hug across her belly which Minglan complained about.
Tingye just hugged her a little bit tighter.
Minglan told him that she was… and that physician Zhang had already seen her.
At last Tingye understood what she was meaning to say.
He picked her up in his arms and twirled round and round ever so excitedly. She was pregnant.
After that rather dangerous stunt as she was so newly pregnant, Tingye carrying her carefully to bed.
He told her to be careful while he was away. Be very careful of the other house. Just lie low until he comes back or until Nanny Zhang comes to look after her.
The next day, Minglan shed some tears while watching Tingye on a horse going off to the salt mines.
Episode 59
Poor Minglan had now to deal with her step-auntie Kang, the sister of her Big Mother Sheng.
Auntie Kang wanted her step-daughter, Zouer, to become a concubine to Tingye, but there is a deeper and darker mission Auntie Kang has concocted.
As soon as Zouer becomes a part of the Gu Manor, Auntie Kang wanted her to hurt and bruise herself everywhere and then kill herself. Auntie Kang can then report to the court the violence of Minglan and Tingye against Zouer.
Auntie Kang was a scary woman and only Minglan’s mother in law is gleefully abetting her.
Fortunately the wise grandmother Sheng came to visit Minglan and interviewed Zoeur, who readily confessed that she would do anything stepmother Kang tells her to do to ensure that her mother, who is a concubine at the Kangs and her young sister remains safe from the wrath of stepmother Kang.
Grandmother had been working in the background to ensure that scare Auntie Kang is somehow halted from her misdeeds. Grandmother instructed Big Mother Sheng to sort out her sister, but it did not look like it was going to work. Grandmother also sent Master Sheng to speak to Master Kang, who a few days ago asked him for a favour.
Poor Minglan, where are you Tingye?!!!
Episode 60-61
Lady Zhang of Shen Manor was about to give birth, she was one foot in the grave more so than normal because the young spoilt concubine hijacked the services of the unwilling physician who was supposed to be looking after Lady Zhang.
Thank goodness, Lady Zhang has a faithful friend in Minglan.
Minglan sent servants and guards to the courtyard of the young concubine but they said that her brothers were ill and needed treatment.
The next time, they lied that the doctor had left.
Minglan cannot take the suffering of Lady Zheng anymore so she took a sword and went marching into the young concubine’s courtyard. There, she ordered that the physician is taken back forcefully.
The young concubine was making so much racket and her brother tried to manhandle the pregnant Minglan.
Minglan cut him in the arm with her sword.
General Shen also arrived and found out what had happened with the concubine. But instead of telling her off, he pleaded with the eunuch of the Empress Dowager to stop slapping the concubine as it would damage her face. She had been slapped 20 times, and another 30 to go.
The Empress Dowager had been using every little thing to make her mark.
Lady Zhang comes from a noble family and her father was a general in the army, who came running when he heard that his daughter was having a tough time giving birth.
He found out what had happened including the role of his daughter’s husband.
After Lady Zhang had given birth, she was carried by her father to their palanquin to go back to her maiden home. Her mother and father were quite old when they had her so they valued and loved her so much. They said that she was a noble and she or her parents did not seek a match with the Duke of Shen.
The Duke was very, very upset because he had grown to really love Lady Zhang but he feels responsible for the young concubine because she was a young sister to his beloved first wife, who died.
But it looked like Lady Zhang had made up her mind not to return to the Duke of Shen. She will enter a nunnery instead.
The Emperor and Empress had gone to the Empress Dowager to ask her forgiveness. Apparently, it was the empress idea for the Duke to marry the sister of his dead wife.
Episode 62
Poor Grandma Shen had been poisoned from the juice of Gingko sprout. The culprit was Madam Kang, which Big Mother Shen tried to protect.
But Minglan had now turned seriously badass. Even her father slapped her, Miglan just took it and went about her interrogation and accusation.
She said she would not let the attempted murder by poisoning of her grandma just be swept under the carpet like what happened to the murder of her mother years ago.
Master Shen told Minglan that she used to be quiet and docile! Minglan countered ‘who turned me this way?’
Anyway, after Minglan’s machination, Lady Kang ended up in the Shen Manor, right where she wanted her to be. MInglan heard everything about the poisoning.
Lady Kang said that she was always hearing her sister, Madam Shen, complaining about the mother in law.
Madam Shen said I did not mean for you to kill her. Just be unwell for a few days.
With this oral evidence, Minglan had Lady Kang detained.
Where are you Tingye?
Episode 63
The “Kanggate’ is really getting ugly. The Wang family came to Sheng Manor. After greeting, they put the blame and fault solely at Big Madam Sheng. They told her that she had been a bad girl, harming her mother in law.
Big Mother Sheng was all apologies at first but said that it was not really her it was Lady Kang, who was brought in all manhandled and dirty.
Obviously, the Wang was scandalised how their first born was being treated at their young daughter’s house.
Minglan was ready with written testimonies from the monk who dabbled in ultra effective, undetectable poison.
So the Wangs had to accept it but they remain angry and using every possible way to get their eldest daughter out of paying for her dastardly crime.
Poor Minglan was too tired from all of these but she had to pursue the case for her beloved grandma and to a certain extent justice for her mother as well.
Episode 64
This is an excellent episode. The mind games and the mores and tradition of Ancient China were so edifying.
Reputation is everything.
Anyway, Minglan finally got her way. Lady Kang is to be punished with beatings and imprisonment.
Big Mother Sheng was also indicted. The Big Mother Sheng punishment was so severe even Minglan was surprised. The punishment was for Big Mother to return and be exiled to Youyeng for ten years. Pray to Buddha and be a vegetarian.
It was given by Changbai, her son, who rushed into the scene accompanied by Gu Tingye, who said that he exhausted to death a couple of horses to be with Minglan.
The grandmother finally woke up and told Minglan to let go of her grief and anger. She also said that if she indeed dies, she will not be taking any worries with her because Minglan is now with the safe and loving hands of her husband. Awwww
And Tingye was loving and protective. Minglan can’t help showing her gratitude by planting loads of kisses all over his face. Awwwww
Episode 65
Tingye and Changbai were awol from their duties; they went back under the cover of the night but the emperor found out and he is not happy. He was annoyed that they were circumventing palace laws. Some problem brewing here.
Big Mother had finally gone back to Youyang with her trusted maid which cheered her up a bit.
Lady Kang, however, continues to be hidden and guarded at the Sheng house.
The Sheng can’t get Duke Kang to sign the imprisonment letter for his wife because it would mean he can’t divorce her.
MInglan though had a good idea which she shared with her father, who said that he realised a few weeks ago that Minglan was never docile or obedient even as a child. She was just pretending.
Minglan countered that she knew her father more than he knew himself. He was so laidback that he was happy to live in a muddle. This made her father cry.
Anyway MInglan was rather curious who Prostitute Wei is, as she is known to be Tingye’s confidant.
Tingye still find Minglan too controlled. He even challenged her to have a screaming match with him but Minglan just would not plan. She just said, “You think of me as I think of you.”
One Minglan’s ladies in waiting had been successfully married off. It was rather emotive as even at the very end, Dansha the maid was hesitant to live Mnglan.
Minglan had destroyed Dansha’s slave contract and she was now a free woman.
Fourth Sister is curious why Grandmother was ill. All they were telling her was that Grandmother was surprised by a burglar and she had been having the vapours ever since.
Fourth Sister was not buying it, she went to see Third Brother, who seemed to have finally grown up. He refuses to tell Fourth sister anything. He then told her that even if she becomes a countess, she would always be unhappy.
Episode 66
Fourth Sister is bored and unhappy with her life, so she can’t help herself but create mayhem on her old family, the Sheng.
She contrived to have Lady Kang escaped from the Sheng Manor.
She had a made start a blazing fire in the kitchen, which distracted everyone. The maid then broke the lock on the room of Lady Kang, who then escaped easily.
Lady Kang met the Fourth Sister just outside of the Shengs. The fourth Miss gave her money and gold. Her destination was the Gu Manor at Minglan’s Mother in Law’s place.
Minglan heard some rumours that Tingye had been injured or even assassinated. She got so worked up that she lost her footing and then started having a contraction.
The evil mother in law heard that Minglan had started the birthing process.
She got tickled with the idea of starting a fire also at the manor while Minglan was giving birth.
She did this by sending dozens of flying lanterns which started a fire at the Gu Manor.
Lady Kang also on the warpath and on her way to finish off Minglan.
Episode 67
They’ve mentioned a few times that giving birth was being in the gate of hell and Minglan certainly nearly into hell itself.
Her manor was burning while she was pushing the baby out while clinging into the most uncomfortable contraption.
When the baby was out and cleaned, before they could do the oohs and ahhhs to admire Baby Gu, Lady Kang appeared with a vengeance.
She was going ballistic with a knife that all the ladies maids and servants attending to Minglan were incapable of stopping her.
Minglan can’t do anything but use her body to cover her baby and waiting for the knife to stab at her back.
It did not happen as in the nick of time, Gu Tingye plunged his sword at the back of the deranged Lady Kang, killing her almost instantly.
Minglan never been so happy to see him.
The aftermath of the fire saw that Mother in law Gu’s plan had been thwarted once again. She was so demented with anger when she found out that Shitou started a fire on Tingwei’s (Third Gu Brother) courtyard which made his villa unhabitable and blamed his mother for all her machination. Her daughter in law said that Tingwei does not aspire for the title as he wanted a harmonious relationship with his brother.
Talking about demented, the emperor is showing signs of losing it completely. He wanted Tingye to report to him immediately despite knowing that Tingye had suffered so much problems in his household, the fire, the attempt on his wife’s life and just having a baby. Thank goodness the Empress was able to calm the Emperor for now. But there is now a seed of distrust of Tingye firmly planted in his deluded mind.
Tingye made a promised to his traumatized wife that he would guard her and the baby and won’t leave.
You repay a loan with money and you repay a life with life, Grand Madam.
Tingye let his Stepmother have it. He had enough of her.
Episode 68
Lady Wang went to complain and report Tingye from killing her daughter, Lady Kang, to the Empress. At first, the Empress was not impressed.
Tingye visited Qi Heng at his home. Qi Heng immediately went on the defensive saying that he went to the Gu Manor simply for one thing alone, helped put out the fire, after all Tingye is his relation, his second uncle.
Tingye laughed. He said that he came to thank Qi Heng from the bottom of his heart for having brought people to the Gu Manor to help.
Qi Heng told his wife that Minglan, the Big Mother of Gu Manor, was the first woman he wanted to marry.
BTW, I love the scene when Minglan or/and Tingye dine. They were so natural and seemed to really enjoy the food. It makes me want to eat some soupy vegetable dish as well with chopsticks! LOL
Minglan found out that Tingye was at the courtyard of Fengtian to see the fire damage.
When Tingye returned, he got her jealousy in full force. This made Tingye so happy. He told Minglan that he had been jealous of Qi Heng every single day.
Awww
Grand Mother Gu is up to no good again. She had recruited Mr Bai, Tingye’s maternal cousin, to do damage to Tingye.
Episode 69
Gu Tingye was in a lot of trouble!
Madam Wang had now formally lodged her complaints against Gu Tingye during the Emperor’s morning court. She said that Tingye killed her daughter, Lady Kang, without much provocation.
As witnesses, she had Grand Mother Gu and the fourth house of Gu as witnesses. Madame Gu said that Tingye had also started the fire.
Changbai was livid, he wanted to testify for Tingye that Lady Kang was evil and had tried to kill his grandmother, but Tingye stopped him from saying anything because this kind of information will have a huge negative repercussion for the Sheng family, including to Changbai himself.
Minglan was so unhappy about this, she was apologetic to Tingye that because of her, he is in so much trouble. Tingye said that waking up with her beside him in the morning is the most comfortable and peaceful time for him, otherwise, without her, he is just a duckweed. Ahhhh (what is a duckweed?)
There was a lovely scene when during the line-up for the procession into the palace court for the morning session, Qi Heng sidled up to Tingye and told him that he saw Lady Kang with a knife, ready to attack Minglan and her baby.
Tingye asked him what colour Lady Kang was wearing? He then said that he appreciated Qi Heng trying to help but he is a poor liar. Ohhhh
The next morning court session, there were also Manniang who completely rewritten her relationship history with Tingye, that he killed her oldest brother and forcibly taken and made her pregnant with his two babies. When he got tired of her, he threw her away and killed their son.
Tingye’s cousin Bai also complained that the deeds to the Bai salt mines and properties were completely fabricated by Gu Tingye.
The Emperor was so annoyed with all these intrigues.
Added to these, someone is still trying to kill Minglan by poisoning.
Only few more episodes.
Episode 70
Poor Tingye had been detained at the palace prison.
Minglan was not being allowed to see him but somehow Minglan managed to see the Empress and beg her profusely which did not work at first but Minglan reminded her that the palace owed Mnglan herself for bringing the jade token from the previous emperor to her husband, the current emperor. This action saved the late emperor and the peace of the empire. They owe her.
The Empress, who is always been big on paying debts, allowed Minglan to the inner palace to visit Tingye.
Tingye heard of the commotion Minglan created at the palace and was so happy to hear it. He wanted a blow by blow account of what happened as he had never seen MInglan being so passionate about him before.
When he got to see Minglan he broached the subject of conscious uncoupling, an amicable separation. Minglan was aghast but Tingye told her to think about their baby and Rong’er, grandmother and Nanny Zhang.
Tingye said that it was for the best and when everything is sorted out, he will marry her again.
Minglan said if that his decision then they will divorce but she would definitely not marry him again.
She mentioned that Brother Honger , the doctor who almost became her betrothed, was still single. She will marry him.
Tingye was taken aback. He knew that Minglan does not say things lightly. So he changed his mind pretty pronto and forget the separation, though amicable.
Qi Heng was worried about Minglan and decided to visit her but Princess Pinpin, his mother was totally against it. Thank goodness, Lady Qi came to her husband rescue and said they are going out for a dinner date.
Qi Heng was surprised when his wife changed their destination for the restaurant into the Chen Garden where they saw Mingan.
Minglan is so worried that she was muddled in the brain. She had just witnessed the king’s edict of stripping Tingye of the wealth he was given by the emperor as well as the title given to him, his wife and child.
Lady Qi was a revelation, she was full of sagely ideas, that Qi Heng was looking at her rather admiringly. Lady Qi said that Minglan cannot bang on the Denguen drum by rehashing old news. She said they had to find new evidence to present. Woah, Qi Heng was falling in love with his wife. They are now Team Gu Tingye.
This drama is just getting better and better and there is only three episodes left.
Episode 71
Minglan decided to hold a First Monthsary for her baby and invited many people. While it was rather chaotic with many guests mingling and eating, Nanny Zhang was looking after the baby asleep in his cot.
The nanny fell asleep and did not see a dark-clad figure about to stab at the sleeping baby.
But out of nowhere, Xiaotou appeared to stop the very able ninja fighter who was revealed to be none other than Fengtian, Tingye pseudo concubine.
Next day, after leaving her baby with her grandmother, who gave her blessing to whatever Minglan was going to do. She was very pragmatic. She said that the family will have fights, makeup, do down, prosper. It was natural.
Minglan getting confidence from her grandmother and a bonus witness, Lady Kang’s stepdaughter, Minglan thump the drum during the palace morning session.
She stayed all night drumming but it was ignored. She eventually fainted and was taken in by the Empress., but no can do.
Minglan on her way home took off her ceremonial headdress and threw it on the ground, much to the discomfiture of her father, who picked it up immediately.
Minglan went a little bit crazy, laughing and crying at the same time.
She did manage to make the emperor uncomfortable.
Episode 72
Grand Madam Gu is continuing to bully Miglan while Tingye is in palace prison but Minglan just ignores her which made the madam even madder.
Anyway, there is a war brewing in the borders and two cities have been taken over by a new young prince.
During a morning court session, they beg the king to send more troops and with criminal Gu Tingye with them. The emperor was annoyed that it seems it was only Tingye that could lead an army,
To pacify the emperor, the minister suggested sending Tingye as a common foot soldier.
A few weeks later, news reached the palace that every single one of the elite troop has perished. The news stressed the emperor so much he collapsed.
Suddenly everywhere is chaotic, There was a coup which was instigated by the Empress Dowager, thinking that the Emperor has no army in place.
Every minister and noble household had their gates guarded with their best soldiers, including the Chen Garden. But Nanny Gu let in assassins in through the Grand Madam’s gates and led them to the backdoor gate of Chen Garden.
Manniang was one of those trespassers, she went immediately to the nursery and pushed her own daughter away and NannyZhang.
She was just about to stab the crying baby when Nanny Zang hit Manniang with a killer blow of a mallet.
Rong’er was obviously upset but she was more upset that her mother would hurt her little brother.
It was really chaotic and the renegade soldiers have managed to force open Chen Garden’s main gate.
Minglan quickly took the children, Nanny Zhang and Shitou to guard them, to their panic room. Rong’er, for the first time called Minglan, mother over and over and would not let her go back to the chaos outside. Shitou had to calm her down.
She then went with Xitou to help out her guards.
One thing though, Tingye is alive. People who saw him galloping through the street to the palace, started to feel optimistic.
Pretty exciting stuff.
Episode 73 – The Finale
First thing first, it is a happy ending, yey.
Minglan was about to be hacked with a sword, when an arrow flew into the air straight into the assailant’s back, killing him instantly.
Minglan then saw her protector, who was none other than her husband himself,
Minglan was so scared, annoyed and ecstatic to see him. She can’t believe the timing of his return that she had to punch him over and over his chest. She then rained kisses on his face. ahhhh
Tingyu then said that he still has to leave her to save the king. Minglan agreed immediately but told him to hurry back as she will be waiting for him. This is such a lovely scene because Tingyu went to check.andf save his wife before doing his duty to the king. That is family! There may be a slight treason there but hey, it was sweet.
It then came out that everything was a plot by the king to pressure the Empress Dowager to come out into the open with her dastardly actions of ousting the king in favour of the young son of the Noble Consort and the emperor himself. The Empress Dowager then can rule on the baby king’s behalf.
The plan was that the king sent all his elite soldiers led by Gu Tingye and the Duke of Shen away, they had to lie low and pretend that they had been massacred while trying to put out the rebellions around the border.
The emperor’s main eunuch was inherited from the previous emperor and was still loyal to the Empress Dowager and would pass information he gathered from the king to her.
One of the many concocted information by the king was the massacre of his elite soldiers, this gave the Empress Dowager the confidence to command those soldiers who are still loyal to the previous emperor to overthrow the king.
But Marquis Gu with all the elite soldiers were waiting to pounce and they did and in no time hauled all the renegade soldiers and co-conspirators including the noble consort, her uncle, who was the commander of the late emperors still loyal soldiers and also the eunuch, who squealed against the Empress Dowager immediately.
During the confrontation between the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager, the Emperor revealed that everything was a plot. The Empress Dowager was actually impressed. Prince Huan also appeared and told that they owe a lot to the previous emperor because of his good management the empire has a lot of money which they can use to take back lost territories. The acknowledgment of her husband had relieved and gladdened the old Empress Dowager’s heart. She was expecting to be killed because of what she did but the Empress said there was no need for that kind of drama. All they expect her to do is to live quietly outside the palace.
At the Gu Manor’s things are still heating up, literally. Grand Madam Gu was devastated to find out that Gu Tingye was alive, She knew immediately that everything was a plot and she was in the middle of it and her time is up.
After berating and imprisoning her own son into a dried up well, she runs into the Gu ancestral hall and set herself on fire in front of Tiingye, Tingwei, Minglan, guards, and servants.
A few months later…
The ecology mad Emperor was doing a Prince Charles, talking to his ripening wheat and he would not let anyone touch them including his favorite Tingye. With wheat, everyone is fed.
Minglan was being helped by her father do the signage for the newly reconstructed Gu Ancestral Hall. Her father finally found out that everything that they went through had become part of the plan of the Emperor.
Minglan confirmed that she knew of it when she went to bang the imperial drum and fainted, thereby had a chance to meet the Empress.
Minglan was told that Tingye was far from being uncouth. The Empress said that he came near the top of the imperial exam and his prowess in the military is exemplary, he was on par with the emperor who worked out the plan of the plot with him.
Minglan then told his father that Big Mother will be coming back soon.
During the inauguration of the ancestral hall, all Sheng family were all together, including the fourth sister, who was warmly welcomed by Minglan and even by Grandmother.
Shitou and Xitou (I am so confused with the names of these two) are now married and Xitou is heavily pregnant but for some reason, she remains a maid of Minglan. Tingye told her to release Xitou but Minglan and Xitou had been together since they were little girls.
Minglan and Tingye happily watched their extended family joking, laughing and talking. They both agreed that this was how it should be.
And as to Qi Heng, he confessed to his wife that when he saw how loving Minglan and Tingye to each other during the night of the fire, he suddenly wanted the same thing too. He wanted a world like theirs with his wife. ahhhhhh
I have to say the ending is a bit rushed. I thought it would be more spectacular because of the many initiating forces but in end it was all anti-climax.
I was thinking at first how are Minglan and Tingye going to overcome all the issues that were besetting them through no real fault of their own. I was having some dramatic scenarios playing in my brain but all the while it was all a put-up job by the emperor and Tingye and Minglan was aware of it. I was expecting a big bang rather that a fizzle out.
But having said that there are so many lovely scenes in this drama particularly with Minglan and Tingye. Their relationship as husband and wife are really the most realistic I have ever seen in a drama.
The way he touches her, where his hand goes, the way they eat, the way they look at each other as a newly married couple were so authentic.
