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 25-26

E25-26. This set of episodes, we start to deal with the aftermath of the sudden imperial betrothal, and it really isn’t as happy a time as my fangirl heart had hoped.

Of course, it makes perfect sense that it’s not a happy or easy time; it’s just, it’s hard to tamp down the hopes of a fangirl heart, y’know? 😅

I’m not suuuper interested nor invested in Buyi’s secret investigations, but I appreciate that it’s important to him, and that he seems to want to get it sorted out as soon as possible, so that it doesn’t interfere with his wedding.

I find is extremely endearing, actually, that he would readily admit to Han Wu, that his sense of urgency around the case, has to do with the fact that he has someone in his heart. Melt.

Our general might be a badass, but he’s a badass who is driven from the heart, and the fact that he’s unabashed about admitting it, really really endears him to me. 🥰

I feel bad for both Shaoshang and her parents, because Yuanyi assumes that Shaoshang’s decision to marry Buyi is driven by her desire to defy them at all costs, and that’s not what I’m seeing at all.

Based on the marriage agreement scene, the sense I got, was the Shaoshang agrees to marry Buyi, partly to protect her parents, because she doesn’t want them to give up their hard-earned positions to live in the countryside, all because of her.

I feel bad that Shaoshang’s being misunderstood on this point, and I also feel bad for Yuanyi, that she blames herself for what she perceives as the result of Shaoshang’s poor upbringing and resentment.

Sigh.. this mother-daughter pair. They care for each other so much more than they think.

With this on her mind, it’s not surprising that Shaoshang’s is more withdrawn and out of sorts, and not her usual cheerful self.

I love that Buyi shows up to accompany her to Lou Yao and He Zhaojun’s wedding, because, really, nothing says “I’m more than fine,” like showing up to your ex-fiance’s wedding, being escorted by a much more outstanding man – who is your new fiance, yes?

And yet, the gossipers will gossip, and the troublemakers will make trouble.

First, Yuan Shen just can’t seem to keep his mouth shut about Shaoshang showing up with a new fiance, which I find really annoying.

If I didn’t know that he actually has a special interest in Shaoshang, I’d think that he was out to get her, with the way he just keeps going back to that topic like a dog with a bone.

I guess this is his way of showing his jealousy? Perhaps he’s peeved that he’s missed out being Shaoshang’s fiance a second time; that she’s managed to get engaged twice, and he’s never been in the running despite his obvious popularity?

I’m glad that Buyi stands his ground and states that he and Shaoshang will live happily and grow old together.

And, I did get a chuckle at the part where Lou Yao tries to intervene, and states that Shaoshang is the best woman in the world, and Buyi’s immediate reaction is to respond with an emphatic, “Of course.”

Tee hee hee. I love that he’s always so quick to sing her praises. 😁

On a different note, I’m glad that Zhaojun and Shaoshang have that conversation, where Zhaojun thanks Shaoshang for giving Lou Yao back to her.

While that particular phrase doesn’t feel quite right, since Lou Yao isn’t some kind of object, I appreciate that she thanks Shaoshang, and I also appreciate that there’s a sense of closure between them, and that they end on a peaceful, amicable sort of note.

Over at the wedding banquet, those petty socialites really just have it out for Shaoshang, don’t they, even managing to make this enviable turn of events out to be something that’s Shaoshang’s fault, and a result of Shaoshang’s indecent behavior. Ugh. 😪

I’m glad that Ben’s wife Yanji is thoughtful to alert Buyi to the situation, so that he can do something to defend her, but I also do think that Buyi goes a little overboard with the way he flips over that screen to make his point.

On the one hand, he is standing up for her in front of everyone and making sure that everyone knows that they can’t bully his girl, but on the other hand, it does emphasize Shaoshang’s relative helplessness.

I can see how this would bother her, since she’s always been about freedom and personal agency.

I can believe that this incident causes Shaoshang to look at things differently, and see how he has a great deal of power, while she has none, and how she is, in a manner of speaking, moving from under the control of her parents, to be under the control of her husband.

And that’s why she becomes extra touchy when Buyi tries to stop her from eating that flatbread in the carriage on their way home after the wedding.

I actually appreciate that Show takes the time to explore these differences between them, because this affects the foundation of their relationship.

I’ve never really thought about it, but it’s true that as a military man, Buyi’s never had to discuss things with others; rather, his life has always been about taking orders and giving orders.

Even though he’s passionately in love with Shaoshang, it’s true that beyond that burning desire to love her and protect her, he doesn’t really know much about interacting with her in a way that makes her feel like she has respect and personal agency.

It’s just really unfortunate that their conversation gets interrupted by that report from the Western Village, which then takes Buyi away from the capital, and even ends up delaying the delivery of the dowry to Shaoshang’s residence.

Circumstantially, not great. Because, of course that’s just going to make it look like Shaoshang’s not very important to him after all, right?

I’m relieved that Lord Ruyang’s undercover mission to muck up the marriage plans between Buyi and Shaoshang doesn’t go as planned.

In fact, it seems like Shaoshang manages to win him over with her guileless manner, such that he tells Princess Yuchang that she’s no match for Shaoshang, even though Shaoshang literally asks him to help her ruin her marriage plans, HA.

It’s quite amusing that Shaoshang succeeds at using reverse psychology on Lord Ruyang, without actually trying.

What’s even more amusing, though, is when Buyi rushes back to the capital and heads straight to Shaoshang’s house, and essentially invites himself to sit down for lunch with the family.

Oh dear. This was so awkward and so funny, at the same time. 😂😅

He thinks he’s just being himself, but everyone else feels like they’re being threatened for their lives. Hahahaha.

And this, coming from a military family, too!

And OMIGOSH, while he’s trying to tell that joke, I laughed, not because the joke’s actually funny, but because of how AWKWARD the entire situation is. Everyone’s uneasy expressions, coupled with Buyi’s unnatural laughing face. 😅

And this is only the beginning, it looks like, since when we round off the episode, the Cheng family comes home to newly installed black-armored guards, at their own door, for their own protection.

Ahahaha. Oh, Buyi. When will you learn to be less threatening to the people you care about? 😅

Episodes 27-28

E27-28. Ok, so this set of episodes, Show leans into the funny, with Buyi’s cluelessly intimidating treatment of Shaoshang and her family members, and I have to admit, I found it a little silly, overall.

I mean, it does upset me slightly, that Show is implying that our lovely general is so lacking in common sense, that he’d torture his future bride and his future in-laws, by making them do physical training?

I don’t know if I like the idea of that, honestly. (Yes, my fangirl heart would like to think that the lovely general is just quite perfect, thankyouverymuch. 😅)

However, it still kinda makes sense within Show’s narrative framework, and it does work as an effective catalyst, so I’m pretty happy to just roll with it.

The catalyst, of course, if Shaoshang getting to a point where she literally climbs over the house walls, just to get some fresh air – and lots of alcohol! – with Qiqi, which then eventually turns into the actual key moment of reckoning between Buyi and Shaoshang.

First though, I have to say, the way Buyi brings Shaoshang home on his back is quite melty, even amid the funny of Shaoshang clinging to him like a little koala, and then treating him like a horse, and even slapping his butt to get him to go faster.

Hahahaha. Poor Buyi. 😂😭😂

And then, the idea that Buyi personally tends to a very drunk and very rowdy Shaoshang all night, is very melty as well. Sigh.. he really is very caring and sweet, underneath his supposed cluelessness, isn’t he? 😍

And, after all that, the fact that he still greets Shaoshang with a gentle smile, tender tones, and a bowl of hangover soup the following morning, is just – sigh – so lovely. 🫠

It’s just too bad that Shaoshang’s picking up on the controlling elements of his behavior, like how he tells her not to drink so much in the future, and that if she wants to drink, to only drink the medicinal plum wine that he gives her.

Again, this hits Shaoshang where it hurts, because she deeply desires independence and personal agency, and here he is, telling her what she can and cannot do, when they’re not even married yet.

I feel bad for Buyi, because this is the point where he candidly tells Shaoshang that he really doesn’t know how to get along with a family, and wants to learn, and this is valid too.

But Shaoshang’s feelings of being suffocated by his care and love, are valid too.

It’s just too bad that this all ends in an outburst where she tells him that she wants a life that doesn’t include him.

Gah. I can just see how much this crushes him, especially when he asks Shaoshang if she means it, and she says that she couldn’t mean it more.

Buyi doesn’t betray it too much, but you can just see in his gaze that he’s just devastated by her words, even as he tells her that he will leave and return her freedom to her.

Gurgle. Poor Buyi!! 😭😭

Afterwards, I’m glad that Shaoshang learns from Lianfang, about the various ways Buyi’s been showing his care for her, from tending to her all night, to hunting a python, so that she could have a pair of snakeskin shoes, which purportedly keep her feet warm in winter, but won’t be hot in the summertime.

I’m also glad that Cheng Shi and Yuanyi have that talk with Shaoshang, to share their thoughts with her, not in a domineering manner, but in a reasonable, “wisdom from the wise” sort of a manner.

Altogether, this gives Shaoshang lots to think about – which is how we get that lovely highlight reel, of all the important, meaningful moments she’s shared with Buyi.

Ahhhh. Lovely. 😍😍

I do think that this is the first time Shaoshang’s considering all of his actions as coming from a place of love and care, rather than as a means to control her, and it’s just really gratifying to see a smile come to her face, as she thinks about Buyi.

My gosh, I wish Buyi could see her expression now, because I know that that would soothe his soul in a BIG way.

I’m so glad that Shaoshang’s rumination culminates in her realizing that she does like Buyi after all, and that she’d like to marry him.

Eee!!! 🤩 This is important progress, and I cannot wait for Buyi to learn of this, because our poor heartbroken general really needs to know that his lady love, well, loves him back. 😍

Of course, Buyi’s busy with the whole situation with Han Wu, and even gets wounded, when that assassin dude manages to slash him, before Buyi puts a sword through him.

..Which is where our Wingman Emperor comes in, heh. I knew we could count on him! 😁

I mean, if he weren’t such a busybody mother hen about Buyi, he wouldn’t arrange for Shaoshang and Buyi to enter the palace, and then Shaoshang and Buyi wouldn’t have had that Very Important Conversation, which I’ll talk about shortly.

First, though, I just wanted to say, Third Princess is pretty awful, and I’m glad that Buyi intervenes, when she orders her handmaiden to hit Shaoshang.

Not only that, he makes it clear to Third Princess, that all her thoughts about him are basically delusional, and he literally only has eyes for Shaoshang, and that she is the only one for him.

Ahhh! The fact that he says all this in defense of Shaoshang, while they haven’t cleared up that whole “I don’t want you in my life” thing that’s hanging between them, endears him to me all the more.

To him, it doesn’t matter whether Shaoshang will end up breaking off the marriage as a result of her words; he is sincere and emphatic about wanting to marry only her, and it’s not conditional upon what she says or does in response.

HOW COULD I NOT SWOON IN THE FACE OF THIS?? 🫠🫠

I’m just SO GLAD that they have that conversation afterwards, where Buyi tells Shaoshang that he won’t break off their engagement, AND SHAOSHANG SAYS SHE WON’T EITHER.

That quiet moment of realization that washes over his face, as it sinks in that she’s essentially saying that she WILL marry him, and the glimmer of.. gratitude, that flashes across his face, is just SO PRECIOUS. 🤩🤩🤩

And that look of tamped down happiness, and that softness in his gaze, when Shaoshang says that he’s not as scary as the Emperor, is also so precious. He’s taking joy in the knowledge that she’s not as afraid of him as he’d feared, and awww, I just love that. ❤️

I’m also SO GLAD that he takes this opportunity to speak directly to the fear that Shaoshang has, that their marriage will be an unequal one.

“Cheng Shaoshang, I know you always doubted that our relationship would be unequal. You were always worried that I would oppress you.

Today, I will tell you this. I, Ling Buyi, treat you as my wife.

Everything I have shall belong to you. In the future, I will do everything I can to protect you. I will never oppress you. I will make you believe me.”

Ahhh. I do think those are such important words for Shaoshang to hear, and I love that our supposedly rather clueless general, is able to articulate this so clearly, and in such a heartfelt manner, to her.

The fact that Shaoshang smiles at him in response feels like a Huge Deal, because I do think that this is the first time Shaoshang’s smiled at him directly, because of him. I love it. 🥰

His gratified, tamped down smile in response, is everything. 😍 I’m so happy that he’s happy.

Afterwards, I’m also really glad that when the Emperor tries to intimidate Shaoshang a bit, Buyi comes right in and positions himself right next to her, so that the Emperor has to recalibrate everything he says and does in relation to Shaoshang.

I love the little smiles that we see from Shaoshang, like when she gets to sit instead of kneel, thanks to Buyi being there. Guh. I just love the idea of her smiling because of him, y’know?

And then there’s how he makes that counterproposal to the Emperor, when the Emperor says that he’d like Shaoshang to live in the palace, so that the Empress can teach her the ways of the court.

Thanks to Buyi, Shaoshang won’t have to stay in the palace overnight, which is a great compromise. It’s no wonder she smiles at him in response. 🤩

Also, I just love the idea of Buyi picking her up in the morning, and taking her home at sundown, because this means that they’ll get to see each other every day. YES PLEASE. That sounds lovely! 🤩

I do get where Shaoshang is coming from, in wanting to make a formal complaint about Wang Ling to the Emperor.

This is her asserting her personal agency, in a way, because she’s getting recourse through her own efforts, rather than just depending on Buyi’s protection.

That said, it does look like this is going to result in more trouble down the road for Shaoshang.

Because, while Wingman Emperor does issue a verbal edict for her, Wang Ling’s mother takes the disgrace very much to heart, and Crazy Lady already looks like she’s shooting daggers in Shaoshang’s direction already.

I have to admit that I’m not extremely interested in Crazy Lady’s arc, but it sounds like she’s residual royalty from an almost extinct tribe, and still has delusions of grandeur about the power that she and her descendants ought to wield.

And, it looks like she’s going to be making trouble for Shaoshang, as soon as she possibly can, and to as great an extent as she possibly can, as well.

I.. don’t really care, at the moment. For now, I’m just happy that Shaoshang and Buyi are finally on the same page regarding their marriage, and having an understanding, and are smiling at each other now.

YES PLEASE, MOAR PLEASE. 🤩

Next Open Thread will be up on: Saturday, 11 May 2024!