Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Thanks for joining in on this group watch of this very special show! ❤️
As I mentioned in my announcement post, these are my notes, exactly as they appear on Patreon.
ZERO SPOILER POLICY
We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.
This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.
The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD.
We need to protect the innocent! 😉
Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️
My thoughts
Episodes 17-18
E17-18. I have decided that Show is essentially a drug lord who’s keeping me around, watching stuff that I’m sometimes not very interested in, and then dangling bits of OTP crack at me, just often enough, that I’m willing to stick around to wait for the next hit. 😅
For example, I have to admit that I’m not truly that interested in the armaments case that Buyi’s been investigating, even though it’s clearly a very big and important thing to him.
I try to pay attention, I do, but I have to also admit that sometimes, when all the political talking goes on for too long, my eyes glaze over and my mind starts to wander. 😝
But of course, if the scene requires Buyi to be all fierce and badass, I sit up and pay attention, even if the scene has nothing to do with Shaoshang.
This set of episodes, I’m inordinately amused that in our opening scene, Buyi’s extra fierce when fighting, because he’s grumpy that this thing with Fan Chang breaking out of prison, has prevented him from escorting Shaoshang back home.
Tee hee hee. That feels kinda petty coming from our honorable general, which makes it extra funny. 😁
I wasn’t suuper interested in Buyi’s conversation with Wingman Emperor about Lord Yong and the rebellion, but it tickles me quite a bit, that after a serious topic like that, Wingman Emperor’s first thought about He Zhaojun, is to curse Prince Xiao for enticing her to leave Lou Yao, thus creating a situation where Buyi’s all alone because Lou Yao’s snatched Shaoshang away.
Our emperor really is fixated on getting Buyi married off to the girl whom he likes, and it’s completely unbelievable that an emperor would behave like this, but it’s also utterly endearing, that this particular emperor does behave like this, heh.
I’m now more than halfway convinced that Wingman Emperor would bend the rules willfully, if it meant that he’d be helping Buyi gain Shaoshang’s heart and hand. 😁
This set of episodes, I have to confess that I don’t have much interest in Yuan Shen inviting himself to be a tutor to the Cheng family’s kids, all because he wants to be around Shaoshang.
I.. actually have no idea what Yuan Shen’s actually thinking. He knows that Shaoshang is about to be betrothed to Lou Yao, and he’s not about to try to interfere with that.
So.. his purpose is just to be near her, for as long as possible, just for the sake of seeing her?
But, when he does see Shaoshang, he’s more sarcastic than anything else, like he’s trying to provoke her.
I don’t get it?
Maybe this is just his way of enjoying her presence, for as long as he can, before she gets married to Lou Yao – and then he can pine for her on his own, like his Master has done for Third Aunt, all these years?
I also have to admit that my interest in the marriage talks between the Lou and Cheng families, really only goes as far as a curiosity around how Show is going to avoid this marriage between Shaoshang and Lou Yao, since we all know that Lou Yao isn’t romantic endgame.
Meaning, Show will likely have to throw a spanner in the marriage works, but.. how, is the question.
The other thing that is starting to show up a bit, is that Shaoshang doesn’t understand what love is, and has decided to marry Lou Yao more because she finds him a helpful and agreeable companion, than someone for whom she has strong feelings.
Certainly, I do find it somewhat surprising that talk about love is fairly commonplace in our story world, since, like I mentioned before, arranged marriages were the order of the day, and love matches were the exception rather than the norm.
Hmm.. Actually, perhaps people around Shaoshang are talking about love to her because this is a match she’s chosen for herself, and most people who choose matches for themselves (versus being matchmade), choose love matches, unlike Shaoshang, who’s pretty much chosen a friend and playmate.
I do like that even when Shaoshang is faced with the snide remarks of Lou Yao’s aunt, during her visit to the Lou household, she remains cheerful and unfazed.
I’m also taken by surprise, to learn that Snooty Socialite #2, whom we’ve seen at several banquets now, is actually Lou Yao’s cousin, Lou Li.
I’d have thought that this might make Shaoshang feel less enthused about marrying Lou Yao, since they would mean crossing paths with Lou Li a lot more, but Shaoshang isn’t deterred at all.
I guess she’s just that eager to move away from her family home, and start a new life of her own?
I’m glad to see that Shaoshang isn’t at all daunted by Lou Li’s taunts, and gives as good as she gets, in terms of provocative statements.
I’m even gladder, that Yuanyi steps in to speak up on Shaoshang’s behalf, when the elder folks come across the younger women arguing.
Honestly, I’m just that eager to see Yuanyi and Shaoshang on the same side, for a change, that I’m happy to roll with this.
In the end, though, Shaoshang remains undaunted in her desire to marry Lou Yao, and that’s a little perplexing for me as a viewer, because I’m honestly rooting for her to fall in love with Buyi the way he’s fallen in love with her.
I perk up at every instance when Buyi and Shaoshang share the screen, like in episode 18, when he meets her at the roadblock, and offers to escort her back home.
The way he looks at her, is extra gentle, and the way he speaks to her, is extra gentle as well.
It shows up every single time he is interacting directly with her, whether there are other people present or not, and that detail does make me melt.
I feel like he’d be able to hide his tenderness towards her if he wanted to, but.. he doesn’t want to, and just lets it all hang out, unabashedly, even if her mother is watching. That’s very endearing to me. 😍
On Shaoshang’s side of things, though, I can understand why she’s reflexively putting distance between herself and Buyi.
Although her parents have made it clear to her that Buyi has feelings for her, she’s hearing this after having chosen to marry someone else, so it’s completely improper for her to have a personal sort of connection with Buyi.
That’s why she’s doing all the proper things, of mentioning to Buyi that her marriage to Lou Yao is imminent, and that she’s just been to the Lou residence for marriage talks.
Oof. Buyi’s subtle-but-distinct crestfallen expression is like a punch to the gut, honestly. I feel so bad for him, that this is what he’s facing right now, in response to his feelings for Shaoshang.
And yet, he continues to be so steadfast, like how he requests the emperor to grant her imperial favor by praising her, even as he bestows the wedding gift of a pair of jade artifacts that he’s decided on.
It’s as if he knows exactly what she’s going through, with so many people looking down on her, and wishes to impart credibility and honor to her, in a way that others wouldn’t be able to refute.
I also love that he’s the one to deliver the edict, as if he’d volunteered for it, because he wants to see her receive this honor with his own eyes.
And when she doesn’t know what to do, he tells her, in that same gentle tone, to receive the edict.
And then, when she trips and falls, he’s right there to catch her, his gaze never leaving her face. Ahhhh!!!
Basically, the electric tension between them doesn’t escape the eyes of anyone present. 🔥
I feel bad for Buyi, that Shaoshang’s instinct is to jump away from him, but like I said before, this is just Shaoshang observing the proper distance expected of them, particularly given that she’s getting betrothed to someone else.
Poor Buyi though. I feel like that single moment, of Shaoshang jumping back away from him, is like a sucker punch to his gut.
He looks so stoically forlorn, even as he offers the edict to her, sighhh. 😭
Episodes 19-20
E19-20. This set of episodes, a big highlight for me, is when Buyi asks to see Shaoshang alone, after she’s received the edict.
That scene, with the sun’s rays shining so poetically over the both of them, is so beautiful, seriously. 🤩
In particular, I love how the lighting plays with the shadows on Buyi’s face; it makes him look ethereally beautiful, like he’s walked out of a painting.
I’m also very tickled by how Buyi gets Shaoshang to meet him in the first place, where his third message is that if she doesn’t come as requested, that he’ll seek her out himself, which would be improper, and which would then force her to marry him, as recourse.
Hahaha! I bet Buyi would be quite happy with that outcome, actually. 😁
I do love that in this meeting, which Buyi believes will likely be the last time they see each other, his main aim, is still to understand her better.
The way he asks her what her dreams are, and what she’d like to do, aside from getting married, and then soaks up her answers, like they’re music to his ears, is such heart-wobbly stuff. 😍
On the other hand, as sweet as this is, it’s just as poignant, to hear him say that they are not on the same path, and this will likely be the last time they see each other.
Oof. That hurts to hear, even though I know that this surely can’t be the last time they see each other.
I do respect that through all of this admittedly very poetic melty time with Buyi, Shaoshang conducts herself with utmost decorum.
Even when she hears that there’s a good chance he might die in battle this time, and hasn’t properly heard her play the flute, she doesn’t respond in any way that would be deemed inappropriate.
Instead, she simply tells him that she will play the flute for him, when he comes back victorious.
Augh. Such a beautiful and poignant scene.
After that, I’m actually really relieved that we get a one-month time skip, so that we don’t actually have to contend with a month’s worth of screen time, when Buyi’s away at battle. 😅
I have to confess, that when we learn that General He’s dying wish is for his daughter Zhaojun to marry Lou Yao as originally betrothed, I was ready to jump on that and go, “YESSS. Let’s break off this engagement between Shaoshang and Lou Yao!!” 😅
Which is quite terrible of me, really, since this would entail a good amount of suffering for Lou Yao, as we’ve seen in earlier scenes when he’d been betrothed to Zhaojun.
In my feeble defense, it was my OTP reflexes kicking in; I just want the way to be paved for Buyi and Shaoshang to fall in love already. 😅
It’s unsurprising that the Lou family is keen to accept this betrothal, because it would be politically advantageous to them, but it’s sad for poor Lou Yao, who’s expected to just go along with everything, even though he has no interest in marrying Zhaojun.
One of the most satisfying scenes for me, this set of episodes, is when Yuanyi and Shaoshang go over to the Lou residence, and basically end up being awesome partners, as they take on Lou Yao’s aunt, and Lou Li, respectively.
The sharp words are one thing, but that slap that Yuanyi delivers is so sharp and satisfying. And then, Show takes it one step further, by giving us a bonus slap, which Shaoshang delivers to Lou Li.
Ahhh. Yuanyi and Shaoshang are so alike, and when that similarity is channeled fruitfully like this, with them standing on the same side, and defending each other, it’s just glorious to behold. 🤩
I just.. don’t get the part where Shaoshang still asks Lou Yao whether he wants to cancel their betrothal. I mean, isn’t it out of his hands by this point, since Yuanyi’s literally just slapped his aunt, and declared that they will henceforth have nothing to do with the Lou family..?
I’m admittedly slightly surprised that our stoic general kills Lord Yong in such an unauthorized manner, but it makes a lot more sense in context, when we realize that he’s made it his goal to seek vengeance for his uncle, and everyone else who’d died as a result of Lord Yong’s treachery.
Plus, we also get glimpses, this set of episodes, of the kind of trauma that Buyi had experienced as a child, together with his mother.
No wonder his anger towards Lord Yong runs so deep, and no wonder the manner in which he kills Lord Yong, feels so personal.
It’s a little startling, in that it feels rather cold-blooded, but it’s not hard to rationalize, since Buyi has had to kill so many, in the course of his duty, and also, since Lord Yong’s actions have resulted in so much suffering and bloodshed.
Also, it helps that Buyi is ready to receive any kind of punishment that the Emperor would give him, for his misconduct. He knows that his actions were against protocol, but he’s willing to pay the price for it.
And finally, there’s our final arc, where Zhaojun takes Shaoshang with her, to not just witness Prince Xiao’s execution, but carry it out.
That’s.. wild, really.
Because, you certainly need a significant amount of strength and skill, to be able to decapitate someone successfully. And she’s a dainty noble lady with no experience or skill with the sword.
But Show lets her succeed on the first try anyway – which is when Shaoshang turns away reflexively, right into Buyi’s arms.
Eeee!!! I love how he’s such a rock, and how he instinctively enfolds her in his embrace, with one hand cradling her head.
And then, he says his signature line, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Gurgle. It’s such swoony stuff, really.
Flail. Melt. Swoon.
Where do we go from here?? I’m extremely curious to know! 😍😍
When scrolling to the end of the comments here, where KFG has posted notice of the next upcoming group watch post for LLTG, who the heck is that Buyi is princess carrying? It’s not NiaoNiao, but I don’t recall that scene? Although, just thinking about it as I’m typing this, I suppose no one can answer me until next week.
It may be an odd angle or something, but it is our Niao Niao Ling Buyi is carrying!
The mother-daughter superhero scene in ep. 20 was so fun, and so well blocked. I wanted to hold a mirror up to the two of them and ask Yuanyi “So now, where do you think Shaoshang gets her temper and sass?”
I appreciate the discussion of and perspectives on General Ling’s (directed) blood thirstiness. He’s a complex character for sure. I *think* I felt he was blood thirsty and scary in my first watch, but assumed a redemption arc for one so dark, and wasn’t appalled.
This time I am noticing it anew, and my first reaction is an aching heart for his ruined and traumatic childhood. Despite the Emperor’s kindness through the years, nothing has been able to soothe Ling’s soul… save his feelings for Shaoshang, it seems.
Also, the times were so vicious (heads on pikes) and lawless (barbarians on the frontier), his attitude and actions don’t seem that aberrant to me. Have I watched too many historical cdramas? General Ling eyes ’til the end, I guess. 😍
I personally found that scene with the slaps a bit on the OTT side – though the childhood diet of Dallas and Dynasty in me approved no end 🙂
I didn’t feel it was OTT for mom once she started threatening about her experience in “battles with real blades and swords” but I was surprised that she didn’t squash NiaoNiao’s piping up or following suit with the slap. So less OTT and more OTC to me but I’m so glad show went there! 😆 All I could think was she slapped the taste out her mouth! 😂
So, as this is my second watch, like @Natalia I am much more cognizant of how very terrible our General Ling is!! I think my first watch, I didn’t quite believe he was that bad – like that early bloody torture scene, my brain refused to accept it wasn’t a ruse and our Ling-y couldn’t be doing such nasty things… With the savage, visceral slaying of the Emperor’s old comrade, I know I was shocked my first watch but tried to believe (not knowing the full story) that our Lingy was justified. Hmm, this time I am outright scared 😨
Worse than the actual repeated stabbing, is the scene after, where he visits his mum and kneels before all those plaques of the dead. There is something SO chilling about the way he ‘reassures’ his mum that he will kill every last one of those responsible for the loss of their family. He may be right to not trust the Emperor to do it – as in, he’s not gathering evidence to show the court to seek justice; he’s gathering evidence so that he can kill the right people. The look in his eyes 😱 I have to say, especially given Wu Lei’s youth, he acts these scenes fantastically well. Such darkness in his eyes. He looks ancient.
On a lighter note (though it was bittersweet) that scene in the trees with General Ling saying goodbye to Niao Niao, both because she was getting married and because he believed he might die in the ensuing battle, is one of my favourite scenes of any drama. Such pretty scenery and pretty light and pretty dialogue 😍 So much left unsaid. I feel like it’s the first time Niao Niao really looked at our Lingy and wanted to see more. She did everything properly, but I think her heart trembled for him. Or was it mine? 😅
It was probably yours and all the rest of ours rocking your world! 😆
@beez Literally 🙂
Ahaha it seemed to me that Shaoshang’s heart hasn’t wobbled yet for Ling Buyi. I feel like she finds him too serious and forbidding, and even though he has saved her and is all melty she’s just somehow immune haha. Or she doesn’t realise how special he is treating her.
But she was really looking at him and all the leaves were drifting by and I am quite, quite sure she was thinking to herself, my god. The end 😅
I’m in camp heart-not-wobbled-yet. Shaoshang is not oblivious to Ling’s allure, but I feel like it’s at a remove for her. He’s all that, but that’s not what she’s up for yet – so adieu.
Aha, I went back to the novel translation and it says this:
“The expression of the young and handsome general could not be clearly seen through the straight corridor several tens of zhang away. But his slender figure was as tall as a pine branch, and in the scorching spring sun, his demeanor was fierce and as beautiful as a dream…
“He was looking up at a flower tree, lost in thought. The petals of the flower tree floated down in pink, white, and deep rouge, falling onto the stone table, clothes, and his thick ink-like long hair. Through the petals and gentle breeze, the handsome man in front of her seemed to have never existed before.”
I love how faithfully certain scenes and moments in the drama are to the novel. And I admit having read the translation in between my first and second watch, I’ve conflated the two so probably saw more in Niao Niao’s expression than was maybe intended. To the romantic in me, that moment was the first time Niao Niao saw him as a man she could have married.
@Ele – I think you saw what was shown there correctly because – if I recall correctly – it’s the first time we see NiaoNiao giving Buyi a second thought. She actually daydreams about him standing there talking to her in that beautiful setting.
🤔 I know I posted this comment but now it’s gone. It wasn’t a spoiler so I don’t think KFG would have deleted it(besides, she would’ve said she deleted it). Anyway here it is again –
I don’t think you conflated it because a bit later we’re shown NiaoNiao daydreaming about that moment. It’s the first time we’re shown her giving him a second thought. Not full blown fantasy nor crushing but definitely giving him a moment in her thoughts.
Second time watching it, I feel more averse to Ling Buyi’s vigilante methods; I guess I am less smitten by the OTP and I see more of what a problematic character the General is. But I still like the show, of course!
I agree. Knowing how the story goes on this my second watch, I’m totally appalled-fascinated by General Ling. He is swoony, gently cradling our Niao Niao’s head, as kfangurl says, but he is so terribly dark and murdery. It makes me think Niao Niao was so right in persevering with lovely A’Yao. Our general is SCARY!
Yeah. Ling Buyi did take “bad boy” to a whole other level.
(I’m still swooning though.)
Ele, Been, back in the day there was this interview where Wu Lei was asked what he would say to Ling Buyi if he was to meet him by some miracle, and Wu Lei says something like that if he were to meet Ling Buyi on the street, he would turn around and run!
Natalia that’s so hilarious!!! 😂
Running thoughts:
EP 19 Could Buyi have fabricated General He’s dying wish that Nasty Miss He be re-engaged to A’Yao (Youngest Mr. Lou)? Show didn’t say but I wouldn’t put it past him. Annnnd, is Emperor knowing Buyi’s desire the reason he allows this socially unprecedented move?
I love brother Wang (QuiQui’s dad) for defending his friend General Cheng (cause of course he’s totally unaware of Ling Buyi’s & Emperor’s shenanigans going on behind the scenes).
EP 20
I see why NN feels she can’t depend on anyone. Mom gets so mad, she strands her at the Lous. And even if it’s customary because you know they’ll send her home in a carriage, now is not the time after you just slapped the stew out of Madam You. Then on top of all that Scholar Big Head puts her out of the carriage because she dared to ask why he doesn’t marry Grumpy Miss!
Ooh, @beez, possibly our General Ling made up General He’s ‘last wish’! Certainly the other general who announces it, side-eyes Qiqi’s dad jumping in to defend the Chengs as if to say ‘shut up, I’m only doing what General Ling told me!’
Ugh, Scholar Big Head is annoying me so much. He’s so petty!!! It was raining and he just dumps her on the street. Such ungentlemanly behaviour. Tsk.
Oh, and also. It’s been niggling at me for a few episodes now — have they ever explicitly said which dynasty we’re supposed to be in? I’m sure it’s supposed to be an older one just from the material culture — “scrolls” are still on bamboo strips sewn together, rather than paper, for example. I looked up which dynasties had Luoyang as a capital, and Eastern Zhou is too early, I think (they mention Confucius in the show as an established part of the canon), and also Qin Shihuang (the first emperor). My guess is it’s maybe supposed to be the Later Han (25-190 CE)? If anyone has the answer, speak up and enlighten me!!
@Trent – Emperor Wen of Han is the emperor in this story, so he was emperor 180 – 157 BCE. He was a kind and benevolent ruler and did much for the common folk!
Thanks Sean for the info! Super helpful. I’m always sheepish to know so little about Chinese history when I’m ethnic Chinese 🙈
@Elaine – I wouldn’t feel sheepish at all. Chinese history and prehistory for that matter, is a big and far ranging subject. Here is a link to one of the funniest things I have ever seen: The Mythbusters and the Ming Dynasty Astronaut. You can zip through the other sections in the video to see how this piece of recreated history ended up: https://youtu.be/9pItfyzo024?si=ILa8n9M21Zp6ZLSx
My apologies if it offends anyone, but I laughed for hours at the end result 😂😂😂
It says the video is blocked in my region/country. Dang it!
@Beez – I will see if I can find another version 😊
Sean — Interesting, thanks! I’ve been trolling Reddit (I know, right?) and as near as I can tell, the rough consensus there seems to be that this is a lightly-fictionalized cast of Imperial characters, much like in Nirvana in Fire. NiF is set in the Northern Wei (so around 6th century CE, give or take), but the historical Northern Wei didn’t have any emperors with the same name as the one in NiF (phl1rxd can correct me if she sees this and I got any of that wrong!).
The folks on the subreddit seem to think that our drama Emperor Wen is loosely analogous to Emperor Guangwu, who restored the Han dynasty after the Wang Mang interregnum, and so was the first emperor of the Eastern Han, which officially started in 25 CE. Lending some credence to that theory, I think, is that Guangwu established Luoyang as the capital of the Eastern Han, whereas the capital of the (earlier) Western Han had been Changan (near present day Xi’an).
Anyway, I think we’re on pretty solid ground that it’s sometime in the Han dynasty, which satisfies my niggling observation that the material culture, while impressive (those hanfu, both men and women, are pretty amazing!), seems less advanced than what we might expect in later major dynasties (Tang, Song, Ming, Qing).
Oh yeah, one other idle observation I was having while watching: those hanfu, especially the women’s, look super-cool… but that extra long train in the back, while looking pretty cool, must 1) kind of restrain movement somewhat, and 2) get hella dirty! How to keep those things in some semblance of clean and orderly?!
@Trent – lol re Reddit. I always say to my kids – why? They respond, it’s entertaining.
That’s very true re Guangwu. Yes, we are on substantially solid ground re it being the Han Dynasty.
Hanfu is amazing, let alone that it was a style of clothing in vogue for so long. In Hi Producer, a CDrama from last year, there were a couple of episodes devoted to how they are made and its cultural significance.
I was watching The Legend of Shen Li the other day and she was trapsing through the mud somewhere and sure enough there were parts of her hanfu getting dirty, but you never saw that when they stopped 😉
Trent – you are correct sir!
I love these shows – https://www.youtube.com/@chinesehistoricalcostume5507 and there are many great videos out there as well, due to the rise of interest in wearing hanfu by the younger generation.
As for the trains and hems getting dirty – it must have been a pain, as it is not like they could just throw it in the washing machine.
I watch a lot of period CDrama and I like to try to figure out if the wardrobe folks got it right.
On the whole, I quite liked these episodes. I liked how Niaoniao and her mother unintentionally but quite effectively closed ranks to stand up to the insufferable “first branch” of the Lou family. I liked the vector from which the obstacle to A’yao and NN’s wedding was introduced; honorable General He’s death wish was not on my list of possibilities, but it works and all the better for being unanticipated.
As (almost) always, I dislike it whenever our protagonist engages in a wee bit of extrajudicial murder, or judicial torture, the moreso when it’s presented as more or less excusable. So I was not very happy when smoldery General Ling up and shivved the treacherous Gen. Yong while he was tied to the interrogation post. Even assuming he did “deserve” it. But it is what it is, in this kind of show, I guess.
At the end of this set of episodes, I feel settled into the characters — the ones we’ve met so far, at least — and like we are poised to move forward. So bring it on, I say.
The ads jumped up to cover my comment just as my fingers were hitting a key so it must’ve landed on the ad and, not for the first time, all that i had typed is gone. 😭
I’ll try again. This time I typed my response elsewhere and I’m pasting it here:
While watching Buyi execute Prince Yong, I was thinking “We’d never see a scene like this in Kdrama. Yes, Lee Bang won (in Six Flying Dragons) murdered his pre-teen brother but the camera angles and the dispassionate (yet somewhat reluctant (great acting by You Ah in)) way he did it made it palatable to watch. But here, with Ling Buyi, it felt so up close and personal that I felt as if I were there seeing the blade twist and palpably feeling Buyi’s almost-satisfaction-but-it-still-isn’t-quite-enough-yet feelings.
I think Wu Lei acted that scene most impressively, conveying – as you so nicely put it @beez – ‘almost-satisfaction-but-it-still-isn’t-quite-enough-yet feelings’. A mix of pure hatred and vitriol. I believe General Ling thinks he’s fully justified. There’s no apology to the Emperor. Kneeling is for the sake of showing that he knows he’s put the Emperor in an awkward position and for that, he’s happy to accept punishment. The Emperor is so soft on Ling. A couple of kicks and a docked wage. And this for the life of an old comrade! Maybe the Emperor was a tad relieved he didn’t have to actually sentence his old comrade to death? And of course, Ling was quick to announce it as suicide so the court I’m guessing will never be aware of what Ling did or how little the Emperor did to rein him in.
@Trent, General Ling is prone to moving outside the law. He isn’t the easiest male lead to agree with, even if he acts with a serious smoulder and sense of righteousness… You may have to get used to it 🙂
The Emperor is so sweet but that sweet nature frustrates our vengeful hero. I admit wanting to kick him into action sometimes too. (That waffling, easy going nature is probably why he ended up with two wives.)
This show is a bit more bloodthirsty than I expected. Ling Buyi getting up close and personal cos his revenge is personal, and also He Zhaojun insisting to deal the killing blow on her traitorous fiance herself!
Considering that the son was executed I’m sure the father would have been sentenced to death as well, no way he would have wiggled out of it. So in a way Ling Buyi accelerated the carrying out of the sentencing which was not respectful of the legal system. Buuuut still a level above vigilante killings where you are judge and jury and executioner yourself?? Hahaha. Nit sure why I’m trying to counter argue I was quite shocked in the moment that Ling Buyi really did that I thought it was a fantasy sequence in the moment! But for this story world I guess it wasn’t beyond the pale and he essentially got a slap on the wrist.