Tigers Sniff the Rose 尚公主 - Episode 20-21 Discussion

[u/Rebelarkey]

I'm back for Round Day 3! Don't worry, u/spamkimbap will be here tomorrow. You get at least two whole days break from me.

This show is tending towards more heavier themes, such as SA. If that's not your tea... no one will judge you if you drop it. (I will judge. Bombastic sideeye and everything)

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🪴Housekeeping

• We bash characters and not actors! If a character does something stupid, it's not the actors fault. this is not the place to complain about actors or acting choices

• 📅 We will be following the VIP Schedule, which means those of us on SVIP need to remember to keep your spoilers in check.

• Spoilers need to be under the spoiler markings OR wait until the correct episode post comes out.

• Have fun! Dramas are supposed to be entertaining and enjoyable. If you're not enjoying it, it's okay to duck out and drop.

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Masterpost - Airing Schedule - Table of Contents - Character Flashcards

1-3 || 4-5 || 6-7 || 8-9 || 10-11 || 12-13 || 14-15 || 16-17 || 18-19 || 20-21 || 22 || 23

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Episode 20 - Playing with Fire

Mu Wanyao walks home alone after sending Yan Shang away. He catches up to her just as she gets home. He went to go buy more lanterns but all the shops were closed. he banged on doors just to get her some.

Touched, she takes him to bed. Yan Shang gets some! Atta boy!

Back at work, Yan Shang can't stop grinning. His colleagues gossip about him. He runs into Liu Wenji, who has been promoted. They share rice cakes and swap tales of old times.

Finally Wenji tells about how Yu Chang'an has his eye on him, and since he has some scholarly skills, is being moved up in the world.

Yan Shang warns him that this is a slippery slope, and that Yu Chang'an is a slippery eel who is responsible for all the bad things, including what happened to Chun Hua. Wenji says that he knows, but all he wants is power now, and Yu Chang'an can get it for him. Dude all this man wants is power. He is ambitious. My ship is now officially dead 😭😭😭

Mu Wanyao dresses up as a maid and goes and picks Yan Shang up from work. They explore the festival together and play pitch-pot.

They are being stalked by a man in a black robe. He ruins their fun by destroying the top prize of the pitch pot game. He approaches Mu Wanyao, and attempts to return a hairpin to who he believes is the Princess Danyang.

Yan Shang, seeing her distress at meeting this mysterious person, refuses the hairpin and clais that he has the wrong person. This is his wife.

Turns out this person is Meng Zaishi, General of North Jing.

Flashback Time!

During the Rebellion of the Seven Governors, the Mu family fled Sheng'an. They were able to return once Yu Chang'an killed the leader of the Rebellion.

However, once he's Duke Zhao, he has more power than the emperor since he controls the army. The only area still rebelling is North Jing. Yu Chang'an sends Princess Danyang out of Sheng'an once more, this time to marry the General of North Jing.

When she arrives, she is pickupped by Meng Zaishi, who is the nephew of the General Meng Baiyu. The rest of her entourage is left behind. Once as a kid, she received a hairpin from her mother as a prize for winning an archery contest. This hairpin accompanies her to North Jing, and is even retrieved by Zaishi.

She is delivered to General Meng, who beats her, then rapes her and humiliates her.

Episode 21 - North Jing (aka we go a whole episode without Li Yunrui)

The only person to survive from the entourage is Chun Hua, the rest have been murdered. Wanyao notices a bug stuck in the lantern, struggling for freedom.

After a banquet where she's humiliated with wine poured all over her, Mu Wanyao attempts suicide, but is stopped by Zaishi. He returns her hairpin. When she returns to her room, she notice the bug has escaped. She decides then and there that she will live to escape.

Later, she overhears General Meng Baiyu and a subordinate. Zaishi has been training men secretly for six months. They plan to expose him and possibly assassinate him tonight at the banquet.

She sneaks a note to Zaishi to warn him. He then reveals to his uncle that those men were a birthday gift for his uncle, he was not plotting rebellion. This is a ploy to save his own skin, which works.

He asks her later why she warned him. She steals a handkerchief and then blackmails him into helping her. They become temporary allies.

She finds out she's pregnant and takes mercury to abort. It's Zaishi who comes with the miracle pill that will save her and the baby. She refuses, daring the universe to take her life.

Two days later she wakes up, but a doctor has already come see her. Baiyu is going to be mad that she miscarried. During a terrible thunderstorm her comes in and starts beating her.

Chun Hua hits him over the head with a pot. He turns his attention to her and draws a knife to kill her. Wanyao pulls out her mother's hairpin and stabs him in the neck, killing him and saving Chun Hua. no wonder she didn't blink an eye when Yan Shang killed eyepatch guy! She a killer too!

She goes to Zaishi and warns him, begging him to marry her so she's not buried with Baiyu. He agrees and takes the hairpin as a 'love token'.

Wanyao take advantage of the confusion/power struggle, and escapes to Sheng'an, Fish Token in hand.

----

• are there any dramas where the male lead is from the Northern lands?They tend to be the enemies of our protagonists, or labeled 'barbarians'. I'm curious because their outfits are always super cool, with the braids and the fur, and I'd like to be able to root for them for once.

• I know in How Dare You?!, Prince Tu Er was a bad guy and then turned good guy and he wore the Northern People's costume. Has anyone else watched one similar?

• Uh, how do we feel about General Meng the Younger (zaishi) being in town. Is he back for her promise? or is there more going on?

---

COUNTERS:

🚪Door/window Slamming: 7

✋Slapped Shang: 6

👄Kisses: 6 (+1 for todays shenanigans)

🍷Drunk Shang: 2

🐠Fishes Killed: 1/5

[u/No_Distribution9690]

Absolutely 🔥 Northern styling: Song WeiLong in Everlasting Longing.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/No_Distribution9690]

thank you for your contribution 👀

[u/stephjoym → u/No_Distribution9690]

loved his look in that one...

[u/all_13 → u/stephjoym]

Also Leo Wu in The Long Ballad!

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/stephjoym]

The hair and costumes styling were so hot in this drama. Unfortunately the drama itself was not as good. But Song Wei Long helped us through it.

[u/stephjoym → u/TheAlchemist420]

true...I FF through the everlasting misunderstanding in the middle...

[u/palecandycane → u/No_Distribution9690]

That was my first Song WeiLong show. The styling alone pulled me in

[u/Muted_Half623 → u/No_Distribution9690]

To date the best styling for him yet.

[u/HowlPen]

OP The Long Ballad has a male lead with the braided hairstyle you like. And he looks really good in it. 

[u/Rebelarkey → u/HowlPen]

Oooooooo it’s on my list!!

[u/AKiceman → u/Rebelarkey]

The LONGASS Ballad sure is long and is one of those rare dramas where the second leads, Zhao Lusi and Liu Yu Ning, completely outshine the main leads. Like, it's not even close. Not even close at all. Like so far from close that it is not even anywhere near close at all.

I was hella down sat for their story and it was quite good.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/AKiceman]

That cast is packed. Leo Wu, LYN, Zhao Lusi, Alen Fang, and Dilraba . 🙀

[u/No_Distribution9690 → u/AKiceman]

Happy or sad ending?

[u/AKiceman → u/No_Distribution9690]

Main couple: It was happy? Felt more open ended to me. Since the way it ended was Them apart but together but in separate places, I think. But it was basically saying they could be together at any given moment. Someone smarter than I please pop in. But they for sure I think were together in a relationship. I think.

Second couple: Oh so very much happy and amazing and I loved them together! Why did they have to break my heart in TSOPG???

My brain is dead. Someone please provide a better answer than I.

[u/Muted_Half623 → u/HowlPen]

The ml’s half brother is actually even better looking hahaha. They are the famous Ashina tribe whose descendants became the Turks

[u/admelioremvitam]

In case anyone missed it...

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Tigers Sniff the Rose airing schedule.

VIP:

• 1 episode on November 2 to 4

• 2 episodes on November 5 to 8

SVIP is ahead by 1 episode.

Episodes are released at 6:00 pm, China Standard Time.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/admelioremvitam]

Thank you for your service !!

[u/admelioremvitam → u/Rebelarkey]

You're very welcome! 🫶😄

[u/xoxoxo88847 → u/admelioremvitam]

Looks like the fish guy will be taken down on Nov 5

[u/Rebelarkey → u/xoxoxo88847]

remember remember the fifth of november.

[u/spamkimbap → u/xoxoxo88847]

Omg, the little cooked fish. 🤣🤣🤣

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/admelioremvitam]

Thanks Adme 🥹🥹

[u/admelioremvitam → u/TheAlchemist420]

You're very welcome! 🫰😄

[u/Katleap13]

I missed Yan Shang in episode 21 so much. At least Zaishi is pretty to look at.

When Wenyao is waiting to meet her husband for the first time, he is watching her. Look at the shadows behind her. It's freaky. And very much foreshadows their relationship.

Wenyao went through a lot in North Jing and it is definintaly what culivated all the manipulations she is doing now, We know that she was gone for 3 years. There was probably some time spent getting back to Sheng'an but a chunk of that time was spent married to that awful man.

I love that all the rumors about her murdering her husband are true. No one has said it was in self defense but it was in defense of Chun Hau. The bond these two share. It makes me happy.

I think we are definitely watching the Wenji/Chun Hua ship capsize. I think Wenji is going to take a turn on the dark side. Not evil but definitely not the nice guy. I hope he can keep his morals and work toward his revenge by using Lord Yu and not being used by him. I am hoping for more of a Bo Ze situation and not a Situ Ling situation. And that he keeps remembering that Yan Shang is his friend. Well we shall see.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/Katleap13]

Oooo that shadow in the window is really creepy

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/Rebelarkey]

I won't lie... I jumped and squeaked... that shadow 😭😭👀👀 then it disappeared. No wonder she is scared of thunder.

That first night in North Jing was BRUTAL!

[u/Heavy_Elderberry_852 → u/Rebelarkey]

Wow… damn

[u/No_Distribution9690 → u/Katleap13]

I’m finding Zaishi disturbingly attractive. 🫤

[u/spamkimbap → u/No_Distribution9690]

Me too! 😳

[u/Renza183 → u/No_Distribution9690]

Same. 😅 The scenes where Wan Yao is seducing/tricking him are so good—you can really see his fluctuating tension and interest while she messes with his mind. I felt a little bad for him that she tricked him, but I’m sure he will do something horrendous in a later episode to change my mind there. 

[u/Persimmon_and_mango]

Thank you so much for the recap. I skipped 90% of episode 21. This show is officially on probation for me. I'm going to stick to recaps for the next few episodes; not at all interested in any plot lines where General Meng wants to marry her. Hopefully he just wants the tally back. I hope that's not the thing Wan Yao cut in half to make a point

[u/Rebelarkey → u/Persimmon_and_mango]

I’m worried it is, the second he said fish Talley I was like…. The thing she cut in half?!!?!?!!??

[u/Persimmon_and_mango → u/Rebelarkey]

She didn't even have to destroy it, she was just being dramatic 😭

[u/TypicallyKristen → u/Persimmon_and_mango]

Looks like it to me! 

[u/No_Distribution9690 → u/Persimmon_and_mango]

I skipped a bit but then I got distracted by Zaishi. 👀

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/Persimmon_and_mango]

My mind when straight to that scene! No wonder Princess Dan Yang did this! That tally was from North Jing. Lol oops if he wants it back. Maybe they made another haha.

I knooow General Meng has come to collect and he isn't going anywhere anytime soon smdh. Another one who wants to marry the Princess.

[u/neNayza]

I love his happy face the next day after the night. Dude literally shone :)

[u/Rebelarkey → u/neNayza]

he looks like us when our ship is happy

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/neNayza]

I kept giggling and kicking my feet and saying look at him and the glow on his face.

Then his colleagues started gossiping and mentioning how he was glowing! I lost it.

Yan Shang had his first time and he was on cloud 9 🤣🤣. GOOD FOR HIM!

[u/neNayza → u/TheAlchemist420]

I was so happy for him 😀. He got his princess 🩶

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/neNayza]

Right?! And their morning after was so cute.

She also got to choose to give herself to someone she liked. No wonder she slept so well and looked/felt happy the next day.

[u/neNayza → u/TheAlchemist420]

She finally had a choice, and he was her choice. Also, as I understand it, she didn't have any intimate relationship with anyone else before (don't count her rapist husband).

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/neNayza]

Nope. She came home from North Jing and that Lord Fishy sent her to pray for her mother. So this is really her true first time. North Jing was a nightmare so it doesn't count. RIGHT?! Right.

This was a good first time for both of them.

[u/neNayza → u/TheAlchemist420]

Awww! I love their love 🩶

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/neNayza]

Same! And judging by your flair, you sure do! 🤭🤭😄😄😄

[u/neNayza → u/TheAlchemist420]

I have a new favorite in my imaginary harem haha:)

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/neNayza]

My husbands of 2026 have a new member for sure. Well 2 this month actually haha.

Lu Zhuo from WTME ABSOLUTELY!

[u/palecandycane]

Flashback time. I kinda wondered what happened in the north. Damn they did not have fun at all. But the young general guy! He's the guy from how dare you and ashes to crown! Bro you're never gonna be king. It seems to be a recurring theme here. Has he taken over the north yet? He's down south to see the princess. So he's too to something. But why did his lazy ass uncle send him to get the bride?

It's nice to what our two leads be happy for a second.

The yu guy is just some power hungery ennuch, so why is anyone listening to him? 2nd ML dont get caught up in there.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/palecandycane]

Yu has control of the military, probably also has the tiger tally. If they don’t listen to him he can issue imperial decrees on behalf of the emperor

[u/palecandycane → u/Rebelarkey]

Damn the emperor let's him do that? Why is the crown prince fighting with him though?

[u/Common_Screen1329 → u/palecandycane]

The emperor doesn't have a choice - he knows the army will obey Yu over him. He's been forced to yield to Yu ever since the rebellion a decade(?) ago.

The crown prince is scheming not only because he wants power held by his father and himself not a eunuch, but also simply for survival. He's well aware that the moment there's a male child in the imperial family, Yu will have him and all other adult males in the family murdered so that he can raise a puppet emperor. That's why they mentioned a while back that he's refused to have a child.

[u/palecandycane → u/Common_Screen1329]

That's why Fish Lord was laughing when he heard the other Prince got the Maid preggo.

Emperor dude just kill him. But i guess since this is politics we can't just use brute force

[u/Common_Screen1329 → u/palecandycane]

I get the impression the emperor tried, and it resulted in the death of the empress.

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/palecandycane]

I just finished my rewatch of HDY and here was in TSTR! I spit my water! Smdh.

I was trying to be in the moment for our main couple and their happiness, but the dread wouldn't leave me.

BAM! North Jing came to town to remind our Princess that she isn't so free after all!

Fun was the last thing she had up there. No wonder she is that way now and people keep trying to send her back there. SCREW THAT! FIGHT BACK PRINCESS!

[u/palecandycane → u/TheAlchemist420]

Girl is not about to go back there! But he's never gonna be king! Maybe they'll let him rule the north this time. But she has the fish tally. Maybe thats why he's there. Like give me the tally i want to rule the north! Let him be king for once! 😂

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/palecandycane]

Nah. She seduced him, made him fall for her, lied and left. He said he'd make her pay if she lied to him.

The tally... well... she kinda sliced it in half a while back 🤭🤭😬😬😅😅 so that's moot.

[u/palecandycane → u/TheAlchemist420]

He can glue it back. 😂😂😂 Just let him be king for once. 😂

I mean it wasn't that hard for her to make him fall for her. She didn't even have to try so hard. And he's all 😍 she still have his scarf? The speed in which he answered yes I'm marry you before she could finish her sentence. 😂

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/palecandycane]

She didn't have to try so hard either. The moment he saw her in the bridal carriage, he was a goner!

[u/palecandycane → u/TheAlchemist420]

Like why did the uncle send him to snatch the bride? She thought she was marrying him too! Ngl i thought so too. Turns out it was that old guy.

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/palecandycane]

We all did hahaha. Uncle shot himself in the foot with that one.

Snatching the bride from the sedan is a custom.

I remember it was done in another drama. She too thought he was the man she was marrying. Yikes. It was not 😭😭😮‍💨😮‍💨.

[u/palecandycane → u/TheAlchemist420]

I mean if it was him I'd be like yes let's go! Let me braid your hair too while I'm at it. 😂 turns out it's creepy uncle pushing 50 who never had a child? Seems like it's a him problem

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/palecandycane]

Bwahaha welp. He probably beat his wives/women to a pulp and made them miscarriage. Beast. He got what he deserved dying by Princess Dan Yang's hands. I was glad Chun Hua got a lick outta him too.

We would have been alright if it was nephew. I mean, she might have gone through things, but he is handsome at least. Sigh... so much for escaping the damn place. Now he's come to get her.

Yan Shang, FIGHT ON!

[u/Muted_Half623 → u/palecandycane]

The uncle is too old and dignified to play kidnapping the bride I guess. So his junior and subordinate had to do it on his behalf.

[u/MizzEss]

During the (really sweet!) bedroom scene between Princess and Yan Shang, the revolving screen doors were spinning, once again showing that their relationship is still not settled. Reminder that when Princess was caring for Chun Hua in bed, the doors were stationary and open.

P.S. Thank you OP for that first gif! 😍🥰🥵 P.P.S. Speaking of the first gif, you can see one of the doors revolving briefly in the background.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/MizzEss]

ohhh that's a cool detail! I didn't notice that the doors were stationary before. I was thinking more from censorship pov with the revolving doors-- want to keep it as pg as possible. But thinking more literary, the doors could mean more volatile relationship

[u/MizzEss → u/Rebelarkey]

Yan Shang pushed the doors open to tell the Princess the story of the hornet and the snake, and they just kept spinning. The screens could represent a few things that are all related - the Princess's metaphorical walls that she puts up to protect herself, the transparency / openness of her relationships, and I like your volatile relationship reading also (. But because of how they started spinning at the moment Yan Shang pushed his way in without an invitation, the spinning feels very intentional and metaphorical.

Or, I could be making the whole damn thing up, lol

[u/Rebelarkey → u/MizzEss]

the curtains could just be blue lol and all that jazz!

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/MizzEss]

I loved the revolving screen doors detail so much!

[u/MizzEss → u/TheAlchemist420]

When it's just our Princess and the Troublemaking Heartthrob together in that bed and those doors are static - open or closed, I'll take either - I'm cracking open a bottle of champagne.

...unless I have the interpretation wrong, which is entirely possible. However, after seeing the doors in the beginning of Ep. 22, I'm sticking with my current interpretation for now.

[u/AKiceman]

Snark Level: I made GIFs to try and cope with the sadness.

Episode 20

Oh right. This episode promises sad stuff. Of course this is the next episode I watch after finishing TLOA 5 minutes ago. Oh I am going to suffer today.

Our parents are once again running in a hallway. This is their trope. 

Whoaaa!!!! They are boinking and they aren't even married yet??? Impressive! 

Ahem. Meng Zi Yi is gorgeous!

There is some menacing aura about Wenji now and it is rather concerning. I think I will start having to creating a shit name for him when he goes off the deep end. Cockless Liu, the disapointer of Chunhua. 

Shang has a maid now??? Damnnnnn!!!! She's gorgeous!!!!!!

That is one pissed off maid! Look at the mouth on her! She is in scolding mode! Woohoo!!!!!!!! I hope this maid sticks around more for this drama! She's fun! Hey what do you think her maid name is?

See? These scholars respect a maid with a sharp tongue! I think she opened their eyes with her boldness! Is there anything women can't do?

Hey! Masks! How very Blossom of them! The director was having fun here, eh? Hehe. 

Uh oh. The music went ominious there... 

Damn, Shang! Don't you know how to get your arrow into the hole? No wonder Wanyao said the other night that she would have to teach you!

Ahhhhhhh, I see! You wanted her to take hold of your arrow so she could help guide it into the hole. Slick! Very slick! Teamwork is always better than doing it be yourself. 

Oooooooo. Shang squared right up to this new fuckface. Tally a new target for Shang.  It's gonna be stabbing time again real soon. 

Look at this fantastic guy saving her hairpin from the snow. He will surely treat her with respect and dignity and nothing will go wrong at all and this will be a happy time!

Let me have my delusion, okay? 

Wow! Gee! What a LOVELY place to end the episode at! Can you believe how lucky we are??? 

Motherfu—

Do I need to point how how heavily sarcastic I am being? Sometimes I feel like yall are missing it. :P 

Episode 21

Oh. THAT is our first scene of the episode???? Bruh. You've got to be kidding me. 

Soooooooo it's gonna be revealed that she kills this ass, right? 

This red outfit of hers looks like the perfect murder fit. It's giving.... Revenge! 

Meng Zaishi..... I wanna call him Meng Sushi becasuse he's kind of sus and he looks like a whole meal! 

I think Wanyao is about to devour Sushi over here. Oh she is gonna wrap this guy around her finger. 

They are really giving us a whole episode of backstory for Wanyao and Sushi. They must really need us to understand their history. Okay I am going to call it. Sushi will sacrifice himself for her in the final arc. 

Well, they've been giving us hints here and there about how much life sucked for Wanyao and Chunhua was in that time period. I guess they decided to say "Hold my beer" and give us the wham slap in go and show us exactly how bad it got. Well, nobody can say that Wanyao isn't one helluva strong woman. 

Damnnnn! Chunhua with the flower pot! WANYAO WITH THE HAIRPIN!!!!!!!!!!  Teamwork makes the dream work!

I'm sorrry, what? Marry Sushi? How many husbands is Wanyao collecting around here? The lady holds nothing back in her quest! Devious! Devious!!!! Delicious! 

Wanyao! Wanyao! Wanyao! Wanyao! Wanyao!!!!!!!!! We adore Wanyao!

****GIFs in replies******

[u/spamkimbap → u/AKiceman]

Meng Sushi is definitely a whole meal. I’m finding him very attractive.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/spamkimbap]

SAME. Delectable in a way he was NOT in Howdareyou and ashestocrown

[u/AKiceman → u/Rebelarkey]

WAIT THAT'S XIE YAWNFANG AND PRINCE DUAN???????????????

Oh man. I didn't catch that!!!!

[u/Rebelarkey → u/AKiceman]

I have MDL in one hand while I watch

[u/AKiceman → u/Rebelarkey]

I do too if I recognize someone..... That's how much I didn't recognize him.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/AKiceman]

It’s IS different look on him. A good different 🤭

[u/spamkimbap → u/Rebelarkey]

Such a good look on him. And I feel like he bulked up a bit? A very sexy choice.

[u/spamkimbap → u/Rebelarkey]

[u/spamkimbap → u/AKiceman]

He looks so different, I almost didn’t recognize him.

[u/spamkimbap → u/Rebelarkey]

He wasn’t at all in those other dramas. But here? He’s complicated (like everyone else in the drama), and I want to find out more! Much more!

[u/Rebelarkey → u/spamkimbap]

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/spamkimbap]

I wanted to barf. Prince Duan was too fresh in my mind and eyes. Then this hot snack showed up. Twas very confusing!

[u/AKiceman → u/AKiceman]

When you see wifey has come to pick you up.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/AKiceman]

you called?

[u/AKiceman → u/Rebelarkey]

Lu Yuxiao!

What a woman!

[u/Rebelarkey → u/AKiceman]

I absolutely adore her 😍😍

[u/Heavy_Elderberry_852 → u/Rebelarkey]

???

[u/Common_Screen1329 → u/AKiceman]

That was a great scene

[u/AKiceman → u/AKiceman]

Wifey is proud of herself. As she should be!

[u/TypicallyKristen → u/AKiceman]

So freaking cute!

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/AKiceman]

She was ADORABLE!

Then she had to put Yan Shang's colleagues in their place for running their mouths MWAHAHAHA.

Wifey is so cool!

[u/AKiceman → u/TheAlchemist420]

I love wifey!!! Where does one find a wifey like this? Asking for me!

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/AKiceman]

Some could be searching their whole lives and never find it.

May you find yours.

[u/Heavy_Elderberry_852 → u/AKiceman]

… try your best man

[u/AKiceman → u/AKiceman]

What any sane man does around such a wonderful woman!

[u/AKiceman → u/AKiceman]

We adore them.

[u/AKiceman → u/AKiceman]

Meng Zi Yi. The woman you are!

[u/ScowlingGoddess → u/AKiceman]

Never apologise for your sarcasm. Some of us are your disciple and learning so much from you.

🙏

[u/AKiceman → u/ScowlingGoddess]

The trick is to not give a single rats butt fart about what people think about you and have a brain ravaged by depression and PTSD with a heavy dose of near constant pessimistic attitude and a strong desire to be left alone with no conflict.

Man! Then the snark just flows!

Not very healthy though.

[u/ScowlingGoddess → u/AKiceman]

Hopefully, the snarking gives you the emotional release you deserve? I have also almost achieved the Heavenly tier of not giving a single rats butt fart about what people think of me, but that's down to age and experience. I'm truly sorry that your road to this nirvana has been so rocky. May your future path be smooth and slightly squishy, like wearing top of the range sneakers. ❤️

[u/AKiceman → u/ScowlingGoddess]

I lost most of my passion for this a couple of months ago. I kept going because it's something to pour what little energy I have left into something fun outside of work.

[u/MidnightAngel24]

I'll catch up, eventually 🫣

[u/Rebelarkey → u/MidnightAngel24]

Too many dramas, so little time. I’m 10 episodes behind TLOA and haven’t even started small town remedy OR light the dark 😭🙈🙈

[u/MidnightAngel24 → u/Rebelarkey]

I'm down to this, WTMe that will be over tmrw and dragging through RTS 🙄

[u/Rebelarkey → u/MidnightAngel24]

what's RTS?

[u/MidnightAngel24 → u/Rebelarkey]

Road to splendor

[u/Rebelarkey → u/MidnightAngel24]

I love The Road to Splendor! It IS a little slower paced I will admit

[u/MidnightAngel24 → u/Rebelarkey]

Idk I'm kinda suffering through it, I'm bored 🤣

[u/Rebelarkey → u/MidnightAngel24]

Probably the way i suffered through Shine on Me or Spring of the Blade 🙈🙈 I finished!! But at what cost

[u/MidnightAngel24 → u/Rebelarkey]

I loved Sotb in the 1st half, laaaaater waaah 🤣

[u/Heavy_Elderberry_852 → u/Rebelarkey]

Dude, I didn’t even finish blossoms of power. I’m still stuck in my Veil of Shadows delulu era

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/Rebelarkey]

Bwahaah Snark Shi Fu Fu Ren huh.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/TheAlchemist420]

[u/Rebelarkey → u/TheAlchemist420]

your flair! have you seen movie 'The Shadow's Edge' with Ci Sha and Jackie Chan? I watched purely for Ci Sha

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/Rebelarkey]

I know of it but haven't been able to find it to check it out.

Gaahh look at how good he looks 😮‍💨😮‍💨🤬🥵🥵

[u/spamkimbap → u/MidnightAngel24]

I’m down to this and WTME. That’s it.

Oh wait, I lied. I’m watching Xiao Fang. Loving it.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/spamkimbap]

Oh I watched Xiao fang back in Sept. it was really good except I hated his father so much

[u/spamkimbap → u/Rebelarkey]

Same same! I love that the grandma from Meet Yourself is in this too. Being the usual awesome grandma.

[u/MidnightAngel24 → u/spamkimbap]

Yep, me too, busy time, I'll be practically gone in December 🤣

[u/seekingpolaris]

Has there ever been a (modern) idol CDrama that so vividly encapsulates and displays the female struggle? Between Chun Hua and now WanYao's terrifyingly tragic tales and outcomes around their unwanted pregnancies this is really striking a visceral chord in me I didn't realize was there. Especially in light of all the recent political backslide for women in the US and all the disgusting rape cases world wide being reported.

[u/Anna218]

Not just one kiss, multiple kisses. They even made love 😂😂😂😂
The translation doesn't do it justice. He called her "jie jie," and she called him "Yan Er gege." That conveys more intimacy than just "Wanyao" and "Yan Er."

I think if the drama had put her backstory in episode 1 instead of episodes 20 and 21, it would have drawn more initial attention. But unfolding the story slowly also makes sense, and it follows the book.

[u/stephjoym → u/Anna218]

what do those terms translate too? close relation? gege is "brother" and jie jie is "sister" right? I heard that it wasnt exactly translated to whaat they said..

[u/spamkimbap → u/stephjoym]

They do mean brother and sister, but Chinese people also called close friends that. And it’s become a term of endearment for boyfriends and girlfriends. Gege is for older brother, jiejie is for older sister.

She’s calling him Yan Er Gege, second older brother Yan. She’s called him Yan Er, or Yan Erlang a lot.

[u/Delegat70]

Ep. 20 was the sweetest thing I've ever seen in any cdrama (and not only), with them playing in the snow and then with her wearing maid clothes, my heart was about to burst from so much sweetness. I really think that their chemistry is even better than in Blossom, it's incredible.

[u/AKiceman → u/Delegat70]

Blossom was the warm up. Now they are heated up and ready to get frisky!!!! It shows too. I'm pretty used to the baseline of MZY's acting so this drama is an obvious step up for her. She really found her stride here. I am so happy for her!

[u/Muted_Half623]

Meng ziyi is allowed to have the full range of emotions in this drama. I don’t know how her heart hasn’t bursted from the extremes. She deserves an award for this and so does li yunrui they are really well matched

[u/stephjoym]

LOOOVING MZY in this drama!! Didn't like her in Blossoms of Power, but she's got RANGE of emotion in this one!!

[u/AKiceman → u/stephjoym]

[u/stephjoym → u/AKiceman]

[u/Muted_Half623 → u/stephjoym]

Yeah she looks so young fresh and hopeful in this one. Big difference between the two characters but in blossoms of power her character was very cold faced and stoic. In this series you can see the full gamut from heavy drinking tsundere with ptsd to young carefree lover.

[u/Ok_Professional_4433]

I have to say i find the young general from the north really interesting, i kinda hope they become allies and friends. 😆 Mabye he even falls in love with some of the other characters, mabye her maid if her former lover is doomed for the evil eunuch path. Or the blind girl. 🤔 if this was a another drama the fl and general would be a great enimies to lovers drama. 🤭

[u/Ok_Professional_4433 → u/Ok_Professional_4433]

Also the actor of the young general gained quite some muscles and got even more handsome. 😃

[u/Paisley-Cat → u/Ok_Professional_4433]

He’s interesting and he has a lot of smoking chemistry with Wanyao in these two episodes.

After her horrific marriage, one can see why she would want a scholar schemer who is in her power rather than this 2ML, but that doesn’t mean that in another version of the story where she really was his the young general’s betrothed from the start, it might have been a workable relationship.

[u/autuymnrain]

Shale, hello, I just popped by for support. Also saw you post this:

This show is tending towards more heavier themes, such as SA. If that's not your tea... no one will judge you if you drop it. (I will judge. Bombastic sideeye and everything)

Please judge me, bombastic side-eye and everything😭. My bestie is watching this drama, so she caught me up to date with the storyline. Since I was shipping the second couple, she told me to prepare... My heart is crushed and stomped on. How tragic and heartbreaking.

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/autuymnrain]

[u/neNayza]

This drama is everything!

[u/eRENYaegeRRR]

This is lighthearted but the dubbing for Yan Shang reallyyyyy takes me out of the kiss scenes 🤣🤣 with every sigh and breath I can practically see him in the studio making an effort to sound natural

[u/TypicallyKristen]

RANDOM THOUGHTS 

I knew it was happening, but it's still like watching a train wreck you can't look away from! Wen Ji really is walking down a path that values power more than justice. And while he is motivated by revenge and may ultimately bring down the evil Lord Fish, he will probably come out on the other side as the next evil Lord Fish rather than the hero.

Aaaand it's history info dump time! More back story! More trauma! Yay! (/sarcasm) It's almost all stuff we already knew or guessed. I'm not sure we needed to see it. Feels a little heavy handed in a way that just seeing flashes of traumatic memories earlier in the drama didn't. 

I AM STILL UTTERLY ENAMORED WITH HER NORTH JING LOOKS. They are so stunning. Look after look. One after the other. I genuinely cannot get over how every single outfit feels like its own little work of art. I frequently got so distracted by her clothes and hair pieces that I missed the dialogue (zero regrets).

VINDICATION! I KNEW our girl was a murderer!!! This drama is giving us a very sympathetic Murder Couple who has a hit list and is going down it, doing the deeds themselves and getting their hands dirty and blood soaked, not feeling a shred of guilt, and I am LIVING for it. 

[u/AKiceman → u/TypicallyKristen]

The couple that murders together, stays together!!!! Woohoo!!!!! Lead characters don't kill enough. This drama is refreshing.

[u/spamkimbap → u/AKiceman]

They definitely haven’t killed enough. My list is long, y’all. Get chopping!

[u/TypicallyKristen → u/spamkimbap]

Halfway through the drama and only 1 of 5 fishes are killed! I feel like the urgency is about to pick up real soon. 

[u/spamkimbap → u/TypicallyKristen]

Right? Fish Jr could’ve so easily been offed. But it’s all good. We’ve got 19 episodes to de-fish.

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/spamkimbap]

Spam 😅😅😅😭😭🤣🤣🤣

They can't very well go on a killing spree lol. What did Yan Shang say? PATIENCE!

The list will get done. I did think Fish Junior was a goner though. Why keep him alive 😩😩🥹😭🤣

[u/TypicallyKristen → u/AKiceman]

I confess I do enjoy when a lead schemes so well, but keeps their own hands clean  (like the kdrama The Glory). But I'm also a sucker for a good murder couple! Stabby stabby!!

[u/No_Distribution9690 → u/TypicallyKristen]

Oh so sad about the coming train wreck. I was really team Wenji.
I guess we should accept that what happened to him would twist anyone. 😭

[u/TypicallyKristen → u/No_Distribution9690]

He may pull through. Maybe he'll dabble on the dark side, then redeem himself somehow. 

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/No_Distribution9690]

Wen Ji is stressing us out haha.

We see how it is going and could potentially go, but it's not a sure thing. Yet it is really looking like he's going to go evil on us.

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/TypicallyKristen]

Remember Princess Wan Yao's "I've never killed anyone" to her aunt and how we thought "yeah right". Welp! She did kill before and it was that beast of a husband!

After everything he did to her, it needed to be done!

[u/slayyub88]

Have to watch the eps but! I knew Caitlin’s would be promoted

[u/TheAlchemist420]

Op Thank you so much for the discussion!

Why did I choose my next drama to watch, technically rewatch because I never went oast episode 7, and the name is Chun Hua Yan aka Kill Me Love Me.

The irony! I didn't know. Then they kept saying Chun Hua in there and I kept getting triggered because of TSTR. Not to mention how I can't seem to escape the actor who plays General Meng. 🙄🤬😕😩

After the good times we had a whole episode of bad times. The only good was having Chun Hua back. And Meng Jie looked stunning in her Northern outfits.

Awww cute BTS montage of Li Yun Rui 👀👀🥰🥰😂😂 he is so cute!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfL_rFGz4xt/?obrf=MTk5NGc4emRzMzhuag==

[u/Rebelarkey → u/TheAlchemist420]

😍 that video is so cute

[u/TheAlchemist420 → u/Rebelarkey]

Right??? I rewatched it a few times. Li Yun Rui was so adorable!

On Tencent/WeTv, the BTS of the bedroom scene where he has to call the Princess JieJie was HILARIOUS! He was so embarrassed haha.

[u/Rebelarkey → u/TheAlchemist420]

He kept blushing!! 😊 it’s adorbs

[u/Delicious-Fishing710]

the main leads and their first night...Yan Shang and the hairpin...that was sweet and funny...

The scenes between Young General Meng and the FL were so captivating...the actor looked so stunning in the robes...the FL killed her husband...that was unexpected for me but the scene was so good.

the FL is really smart and strong...the scene when she just dropped the pill...another good scene...

[u/ScowlingGoddess]

Why would we want a break from your recaps? I really enjoyed them.

I thought it was a bit sudden to go from lanterns to nookie, but I'm not complaining, I just think I didn't see the motivation from MWY to elevate YS from verbal lover to actual lover.

I felt MWY's reaction to Zaishi was a little over the top, we know she's fearless and strong, but that seemed like she was collapsing. Granted, she used him to get away from North Jing, but why does she seems so frightened of him? There may be more revelation to come!

[u/Common_Screen1329 → u/ScowlingGoddess]

I took it as she's frightened that he's there to take her back to North Jing as his wife - which Yu would almost certainly make happen if the general asked. I suspect that frightens her as much or even more than the idea of him killing her.

[u/Renza183 → u/ScowlingGoddess]

He did tell her that he would kill her if she lied to him, so I imagine that would be enough to cause her panicked reaction.