The making of the legend, Hua Mu Jin.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Mao Xiao Hui: Hua Mu Jin
Yu Xiao Tong: Yuan Fei Bai / Si Ma Ju
Kai Xuan: Hua Jin Xiu
Kenny Kwan: Duan Yue Rong
Notable Actors/Actresses
Mao Xiao Hui: Hua Mu Jin
Yu Xiao Tong: Yuan Fei Bai / Si Ma Ju
Kai Xuan: Hua Jin Xiu
Kenny Kwan: Duan Yue Rong
Chen Zheng Yang: Song Ming Lei
Scriptwriter:
Chinese Title
長相守
長相守
To Protect Each Other Forever
Network: Youku
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Hua Bing, the father of our heroines, is one of the two people who know how to decipher this sacred wuxia mantra that everyone seems to be vying for. He won't give any answers to the Dou clan who's coveting for the throne. He's got two daughters: Hua Mu Jin and Hua Jin Xiu. Hua Bing protects his village and ends up dying to protect Qi Fang, a boy of similar age to his twins.
The other man who knows of the mantra is Jin Gu Zhen Ren. He's kept hostage at Ming family. The Yuan family, who is loyal to the Emperor, saves Jin Gu Zhen Ren and perishes the Ming family. Jin Gu Zhen Ren tells Yuan Lord the answer to the mantra are in the Six Sons (who may not have to be all boys). Each child will fulfill these roles to protect the country: Marshal, General, Scholar, Envoy, Knight, and a Hero. The General leads the army; the Scholar is the strategist, the Envoy maintains diplomatic relations; the Knight is loyal; the Hero will save the poor. The Marshal is the heart of the Six Sons because s/he will be brain. It's going to be a she.
[Ep2] Mom (it's a cameo by Jessica Hsuan. I haven't seen her in so long. How does she still look the same) has no choice but to send her daughters, and Qi Fang under the care of Chen Yu Jiao (Yuan General). CYJ is looking for the Six Sons. She (ethically) gathers all children with talent hoping to find the six fated ones and so Hua Mu Jin, Hua Jin Xiu, and Qi Fang are now under the care of Chen Yu Jiao. Hua Mu Jin is clever, a carbon copy of her father's wits. She's able to read the sky and know precisely when it will rain. She buys umbrellas at a low cost to resell them at a high price when it's pouring rain. She puts others before herself. She would rather sell her father's present to her than the hairpin to her mother. The second twin, Hua Jin Xiu, has beautiful purple eyes. She's skilled with swords. Qi Fang is also good in combat and vows to protect the twin girls. Mom sacrifices for her twins and even until death she keeps the mantra a secret as per her husband's wish.
Chen Yu Jian has gathered other children and together they're headed to Zi Xi Villa. However, Dou people are still after them. With Hua Mu Jin's cleverness, they escape danger. On her way, she saves a boy who becomes crippled. He is Yuan Fei Bai. She even sucks the poison on his legs. To thank her, he gives her a hairpin and she gives him a sling to protect himself. Yuan Fei Bai is targeted because Ming family is seeking revenge on the Yuan family. The sole survivor of the Ming family (sister) kills Yuan Fei Bai's mother.
Hua Mu Jin also comes across Duan Yue Rong. He's got a pair of purple eyes that is said to be a curse to his country. He's on the run because he's about to be sacrificed to stop the drought. As he's being dragged away, Hua Mu Jin tells him he'll definitely be saved because his country won't be in a drought for much longer. She can read climate you see.
As the group of children go through life and death together they make a vow to be brothers and sisters. This includes: Hua Mu Jin, Hua Jin Xiu, Yu Fei Yan (1st brother), Song Ming Lei (2nd brother), and Yao Bi Ying (3rd sister). There's five of them so they call themselves "Xiao Wu Yi" (Five Little Righteousness-es?). Qi Fang is 'napped by Jin Gu Zhen Ren hence why he's not there. He's undergoing personal training to be a Hero. Meanwhile JGZR has confirmed the identity of the Marshal: Hua Mu Jin.
[Ep3] Lian Lady wants to banish Hua Jin Xiu because of her purple eyes. The children all protect her, all willing to take her punishment for her. Hua Mu Jin uses her wits again to describe Hua Jin Xiu as a lucky charm rather than a devil. There's a boy in a wheelchair who also speaks up for the twins. Because of his words, the twins are pardoned. This boy is Yuan Fei Bai. In his hand is the sling Hua Mu Jin had given him. Neither recognize each other though. Elsewhere, purple-eyed Duan Yue Rong is about to be set ablaze to sacrifice for rain. Fortunately, as Hua Mu Jin predicted, it rains and his life is spared. Not only that, the King of the South Country adopts him to become a prince.
[Ep4] Our leads are grown up already. Hua Mu Jin finds herself in trouble, caught between the power struggles within the Yuan family. Yuan Fei Bai observes it without saying a word to save her. He doesn't recognize her because the hairpin he gave her is in Hua Jin Xiu's hair instead. (Hua Mu Jin had given it to her as a protective charm while they were separated for the cave mission). I like the scene where our "Xiao Wu Yi" all help Yao Bi Ying play the Qin when they were stuck in the cave.
[Ep5] Yuan Fei Bai saves Hua Mu Jin from death penalty but she's allocated to the storage unit where she's assigned to do all the hard and dirty jobs (e.g. cleaning the toilet tub). Yuan Fei Bai secretly gives medication to treat her wounds as well. Yao Bi Ying is sent to Yuan family's second sister (Yuan Fei Yan). Hua Jin Xiu is sent to Lian Lady. The children that the Yuan family had trained are literally slaves to serve them... Yuan Lord (Yuan family's head) approves of Hua Mu Jin's placement because she, as the heart of the six sons, will only shine brighter in the roughest patches. He's right. Hua Mu Jin isn't discouraged at all. What matters is she's alive. She will come up with inventions to make her work easier. She also has doting brothers (Yu Fei Yan and Song Ming Lei) who will help her scrub toilets.
There's Four Yuan children. Yuan Fei Bai is the third child. Yuan Fei Yan is the second daughter. There's also Yuan Fei Qing, the eldest brother who was kept hostage for ten years and just returned. Fei Yan and Fei Qing have the same mother. Fei Yan is the mastermind behind her brother. She's helping her brother fight for power in the Yuan family. Yuan Fei Jue is the fourth brother who's not yet introduced and also not a threat for power. Lian Lady and Liu Yan Sheng are the other forces vying for power. Yuan Fei Bai has no interest but Yuan Lord (Dad) values him the most.
There's another set of twins other than Hua girls. Yuan Fei Bai has a twin brother, Si Ma Ju, but no one knows he's still alive. He's only allowed out at night because in the day he has to guard the cave. As a result of the worsening poison in Yuan Fei Bai, his twin gets to replace him for three days while he recovers. He's enjoying the daylight when Hua Mu Jin comes along to give him dessert. She's thanking him for saving her sister. The twin is cute. He likes sweets quite a bit.
[Ep6] Hua Mu Jin's invention automates toilet cleaning. Overnight, her bed location upgraded from beside the pungent toilet to the head mistress's. Everyone starts talking to her now and shares how they were all saved by Yuan Lord and the original Xie Lady (Yuan Fei Bai's mother). Unfortunately, this is the only happy thing this episode.
We get a glimpse of Song Ming Lei's background. A servant addresses him as "Gong Zi" a polite and noble title. However, Song Ming Lei isn't happy at all and casts him away. The reason he's here in Yuan manor was for Yao Bi Ying. He cares for her, I'm not sure if it's a romantic or sisterly love yet. I think it's the former and so does Princess Yuan Fei Yan. She's taken a liking to him after he saved her. I also like the man. And his abs, so well defined. The servant urges him to use the Princess to avenge their family. I think he's the child of Ming family, more specifically Yuan Lord's younger sister who married into the Ming family. Therefore Song Ming Lei is a "Ming" and a "Yuan". Interesting. He's suffered quite a bit as a child because he was brutally trained with one purpose in life: revenge. The servant threatens him that if he continues to value "Xiao Wu Yi" over his revenge, he will hurt his Yao Bi Ying.
There's a rape scene. Lian Lady and Liu Yan Sheng learn of the Hua Sister's identities (Hua Bin's daughters). To control them, Liu Yan Sheng rapes Hua Jin Xiu. How rape and control is related, I don't know. It's an awful scene but I have to say the lead up to it with the fight between them was pretty cool to watch. Still, it was terrible. Hua Jin Xiu is disgusted with her body but once she remembers her sister might be in trouble, she runs to her immediately. She wants to leave Yuan Manor with her but seeing Hua Mu Jin happy, she decides to keep her rape a secret.
[Ep7] Yuan Fei Bai finds his sling girl, Hua Mu Jin. He doesn’t reach out to her though. He’s just relieved to know she’s alive and well and smart and everything possible.
Yuan Fei Jue appears and now I know why Lian Lady lady ignores his presence in the Yuan family. He’s skilled with a sword but his brain is anything but normal. He looks up to his third brother (YFB) and fights him with any given chance. He’s also easily appeased with food.
Hua Jin Xiu has changed. Someone from Yuan Fei Yan’s manor (the one who doesn’t like Bi Ying) tells her that if she wants to serve the second princess, she only has one choice: undermine Bi Ying. As a result Bi Ying suffers one of the longest round of flanking I have seen. I’m amazed she’s alive. Hua Jin Xiu vows to herself she will repay her with whatever it takes and avenge for her. She promises herself she will grow stronger to protect those she loves. Su Ma Ju’s appearance and comfort comes too late for her (because he can only appear at night). She had wanted to transfer to his ward but the him in the daytime gave her a cold shoulder which is why she felt like she had no choice but to reply on the second sister. She doesn’t know that Yuan Fei Bai actually doesn’t know her.
Yuan Fei Jue appears and now I know why Lian Lady lady ignores his presence in the Yuan family. He’s skilled with a sword but his brain is anything but normal. He looks up to his third brother (YFB) and fights him with any given chance. He’s also easily appeased with food.
Hua Jin Xiu has changed. Someone from Yuan Fei Yan’s manor (the one who doesn’t like Bi Ying) tells her that if she wants to serve the second princess, she only has one choice: undermine Bi Ying. As a result Bi Ying suffers one of the longest round of flanking I have seen. I’m amazed she’s alive. Hua Jin Xiu vows to herself she will repay her with whatever it takes and avenge for her. She promises herself she will grow stronger to protect those she loves. Su Ma Ju’s appearance and comfort comes too late for her (because he can only appear at night). She had wanted to transfer to his ward but the him in the daytime gave her a cold shoulder which is why she felt like she had no choice but to reply on the second sister. She doesn’t know that Yuan Fei Bai actually doesn’t know her.
[Ep8] Hua Mu Jin is taking care of Bi Ying and will do anything to heal her holistically. She steals a poisonous snake to make medicine for her. She steals flowers to make her smile. The poisonous snake incident allows her to meet Yuan Fei Jue (the 4th Yuan brother), He's a little silly and misunderstands she's sent to assassinate him by Lian Lady. The flower incident allows her to encounter Yuan Fei Bai. His servants reprimand her for stealing the flowers because they're hard to grow. They had sent out gigantic birds attacking her and Yu Fei Yan (1st brother). They go out of control and start pecking their owners as well. The servant (Xie Su Hui) gets pecked in his groin, lol. Yuan Fei Bai makes her a deal that if she can harvest more of the roses, he will not only relinquish her punishment but also send a doctor to care for Yao Bi Ying. Hua Mu Jin happily accepts (because frankly, there isn't anything this girl cannot do).
Hua Jin Xiu is molested by the creep Liu Yan Sheng. Yuan Fei Bai witnesses everything and punishes Liu Yan Sheng rightfully so. It's not obvious but I'm positive this is not Yuan Fei Bai. There's no way he would hold her hand like that. It's Su Ma Ju. Every time there's scenes between Hua Jin Xiu and Su Ma Ju I get ominous feelings that she's going to turn evil because of her love.
Yuan Fei Bai's servant, Su Hui, visits Hua Mu Jin multiple times a day. He's under Han servant's order to recruit Hua Mu Jin to their manor. Han wants her because he knows that Yuan Fei Bai likes her (and that she's one of Hua Bing's twin daughters). However, Hua Mu Jin refuses every time. She sends random objects back to Yuan Fei Bai who's the only one able to decipher her cryptic messages of not wanted to serve there. Hua Mu Jin refuses because she wants to take care of Bi Ying. She would never leave her brothers and sisters behind when they need her. Hua Jin Xiu tries to convince her sister to take the placement because that way she can secure her position in Yuan family. Hua Mu Jin puts others before herself. Hua Jin Xiu puts herself first, then her sister, and then the rest. Bi Ying feels guilty for holding Mu Jin back. She also misunderstands that Song Ming Lei and Hua Mu Jin have an intimate relationship. Feeling useless and a burden to the people she loves, she commits suicide. I was really worried for her here. Fortunately she's found before it's too late. However, Yuan Fei Yan's prohibition on any doctor from visiting prevents Bi Ying from awakening. Song Ming Lei begs the Yuan brother and sister to uplift the prohibition. The brother accepts his request for the condition of Song Ming Lei's loyalty to him. Both these siblings are in love with Song Ming Lei, eh. Hua Jin Xiu begs Yuan Fei Bai for a doctor. The doctor visits Bi Ying and finds that someone had poisoned her. Hua Mu Jin observes the physician and realizes Yuan Fei Bai was the one who sent the same doctor to treat her last time.
We also learn that Bi Ying is part of Ming family as well but she has no memory of it. Yuan Lord learns of this which is why he sent her to a far away cottage in their manor to fish out the rest of the Ming family.
[Ep9] Yuan Lord punishes everyone who was involved in helping Bi Ying (that includes Xiao Wu Yi and all the old women servants). Hua Mu Jin promises Yuan Lord that if he were to kill them, he'd lose more than what he could ever gain from this punishment. He'd lose a man with divine strength in Yu Fei Yan, a woman with expert swordsmanship in Hua Jin Xiu, and a man who's equally intelligent and skilled in Song Ming Lei. Yuan Lord makes her a promise that if they can win three championship title (that Yuan family hosts for their disciples), he will relinquish his punishment. Hua Mu Jin confidently accepts. She's twenty steps ahead of everyone. She expertly creates a plan to have all three of them selected as candidates. She coaches them on exactly how to win. She also gives Song Ming Lei the military book her parents had risked their lives for to study for the written exam. Yu Fei Yan also receives coaching from Han servant. He teaches him how to fight a feather. I love wuxia dramas and their ridiculous logic.
It's D-day. The physical test has commenced. The last man standing wins. Song Ming Lei had surprisingly lost to save Hua Jin Xiu. Fortunately, there's still two of them in the semi-finals. This is perfectly within Hua Mu Jin's expectations. Hua Jin Xiu taunts her opponent and that allows her to get an upper edge.
[Ep10] Hua Jin Xiu and Yu Fei Yan tie for the win. After much difficulty (a life and death one), Song Ming Lei also comes victorious for the written exam, proving his all-around excellency. Yu Fei Yan is rewarded to take part in the test to become a General for the country. Song Ming Lei is recruited directly under the wing of Yuan Lord. Hua Jin Xiu is rewarded with money. Although Hua Jin Xiu happily accepted the money and graciously shared it with her (undeserving) teammate, her heart grows darker. She's equally a champion like her brothers but her reward is merely money with no change in status.
Yuan Fei Jue has finally found Hua Mu Jing after their last meeting by sniffing out her fragrance. Yuan Fei Bai watches from afar and retreats. Unlike his fourth brother, he can't seem to approach Hua Mu Jin at all. Hua Mu Jin learns that Yuan Fei Jue is blind. He's not the headless dog that everyone is afraid of, he just can't see clearly. She's picking out the cherry blossoms from his hair when he suddenly faints over. Hua Mu Jing drags him to her dorm to care for him. When he awakes, his servant comes to pick him up and reminds him to stay away from her.
Song Ming Lei visits Yao Bi Ying. She gives him a pair of shoes she's sewn. He takes her hand instead and notices all the needle pricks in her fingers. His heart hurts for her and tells her she shouldn't be doing this kind of (lowly) stuff. Omg. These two cannot be siblings. There has to be a twist somewhere. He "knows" they're real siblings that's why he's holding back his love for her.
[Ep11] The second daughter, Yuan Fei Yan, is betrothed to the Fourth Prince Fu Yu who could literally be her father. She plans to give her body to her love, Song Ming Lei, but he rejects her. She thinks he betrayed her by telling Yuan Lord of her crimes but it was all Yuan Lord's plans. Song Ming Lei just played along. Hua Jin Xiu misunderstands as well and criticizes him for using women to climb up the ranks. First he used Mu Jin for her military book then he used Yuan Fei Yan from power. Hua Jin Xiu doesn't feel good saying that either. She's about to commit suicide but she convinces herself out of it. Although life is unfair to her and she soon has to serve Lian Lady (and Liu Yan Sheng) again, she wants to cherish the life her parents sacrificed for. I do feel bad for her. When she's going through hardships no one knows. She only has herself. If only she leaned on her sister. Si Ma Ju witnesses everything but he can't do anything to help her.
Yuan Fei Jue professes his love for Hua Mu Jin. Meanwhile Yuan Fei Bai does it secretly. Hua Mu Jin is begging for medication for Yao Bi Ying. The doctors won't give it because she doesn't have money. She faints over from kneeling outside in the heat. It's Yuan Fei Bai who secretly saves her and provides her with the medication she needs.
Yuan Lord keeps looking at Hua Jin Xiu. If I'm correct, will she be his wife at some point?
[Ep12] Yuan Lord and his crew, Yu Fei Yan, Song Ming Lei, and Hua Jin Xiu save the Emperor from a coup d'etat. It's Hua Mu Jin who orchestrated the entire plan. She's so thirsty from explaining everything, Yao Bi Ying pours her tea.
I was white immersed in the scene between the consort and the prince (Fu Yu) who planned the ousting. Poor mom gets betrayed by her own son to take all the blame. On another note, Hua Mu Jin is blamed for Lian Lady's almost-miscarriage.
[Ep13] Guo Er Ren (Yuan Fei Jue's servant) saves Hua Mu Jin (and Yao Bi Ying). Lian Lady and Liu Yan Sheng are determined to sentence them though. Fortunately, Yuan Fei Bai's people show up to clear the girls’ names. Both men want the two girls (technically they only want Hua Mu Jin) so the servants split up the girls: Bi Ying to Yuan Fei Jue and Mu Jin to Yuan Fei Bai.
We finally meet Qi Fang and Jin Gu Zhen Ren again. Qi Fang leaves his master after being lectured on killing his enemies (rightfully so). Jin Gu Zhen Ren isn't mad at him, it's just he knows it's time for Qi Fang to leave and assume his fate. He's to be a hero.
[Ep14] Hua Mu Jin is attending to Yuan Fei Bai now. She's out in the mountains finding his hard sought herbs for him. He smiles at the medication because he knows how much effort she went through for it. No he doesn't, the girl almost died for it.
Meanwhile everyday Yuan Fei Jue comes by to fight Yuan Fei Bai to take back his Mu Jin but he loses every time. A blind against a crippled. Cute. When Yuan Fei Bai sees Yuan Fei Jue’s hands on her, he takes his whip to whisk him back to her, except he didn't control it too well that she ends up landing into his lap. Or maybe he did control it well.
Song Ming Lei uses Hua Mu Jin to make Bi Ying jealous. She sulks alone but that's when Jin Gu Zhen Ren shows up to comfort her. He tells her that this is only a temporary cloud casting her eyes. Why didn't he show up to comfort Hua Jin Xiu?
Hua Mu Jin made the medication in the morning, and at night it's already taking effect. Yuan Fei Bai is able to stand after his bath. At this moment, Hua Mu Jin walks in to serve him but sees him naked instead. He's shocked and slips. Mu Jin catches him before he falls and that's when all the servants hustle in to see the awkward scene of a naked Yuan Fei Bai hanging a towel to cover his privacy and a Hua Mu Jin right at his side. The next day, rumours spread immediately. Hua Mu Jin is now a notorious pervert.
It's Xie Lady's (Yuan Fei Bai's mother) memorial date. He takes Han servant and Hua Mu Jin with him. They're suddenly attacked. Hua Mu Jin won't leave him alone in danger. And neither will he leave her. They're saved by Yuan soldiers. Hua Mu Jin faints from her injuries. When she wakes up, Yuan Fei Bai is at her side. Mu Jin finds her cheeks unexpectedly hot. She continues to fan them as he speaks to her. He tells her he'll be away from a few days so she has to be good. When he thanks her for everything she's done, she's double fanning with both her hands now. He asks what's wrong with her face and smiles as he grabs her wrist to stop her from fanning. These two are awkward at acting but it's still sort of cute.
Hua Jin Xiu is now transferred to Yuan Lord's manor. She's finally away from that bastard, hopefully it's for good but I doubt it. He can deduce the type of pain she went through. He tells her he reminds him of someone (methinks its Xie Lady).
Meanwhile everyday Yuan Fei Jue comes by to fight Yuan Fei Bai to take back his Mu Jin but he loses every time. A blind against a crippled. Cute. When Yuan Fei Bai sees Yuan Fei Jue’s hands on her, he takes his whip to whisk him back to her, except he didn't control it too well that she ends up landing into his lap. Or maybe he did control it well.
Song Ming Lei uses Hua Mu Jin to make Bi Ying jealous. She sulks alone but that's when Jin Gu Zhen Ren shows up to comfort her. He tells her that this is only a temporary cloud casting her eyes. Why didn't he show up to comfort Hua Jin Xiu?
It's Xie Lady's (Yuan Fei Bai's mother) memorial date. He takes Han servant and Hua Mu Jin with him. They're suddenly attacked. Hua Mu Jin won't leave him alone in danger. And neither will he leave her. They're saved by Yuan soldiers. Hua Mu Jin faints from her injuries. When she wakes up, Yuan Fei Bai is at her side. Mu Jin finds her cheeks unexpectedly hot. She continues to fan them as he speaks to her. He tells her he'll be away from a few days so she has to be good. When he thanks her for everything she's done, she's double fanning with both her hands now. He asks what's wrong with her face and smiles as he grabs her wrist to stop her from fanning. These two are awkward at acting but it's still sort of cute.
Hua Jin Xiu is now transferred to Yuan Lord's manor. She's finally away from that bastard, hopefully it's for good but I doubt it. He can deduce the type of pain she went through. He tells her he reminds him of someone (methinks its Xie Lady).
[Ep15] Hua Mu Jin gifts a scented pouch to Yuan Fei Bai before he leaves. He pats her head and tells her to wait for him. His bangs have changed. Thank you for getting rid of that awful hair, show. The next scene, he returns. He brings back a present for her, it's a lantern. Her cheeks blush again. On each side of the lantern there's a poem. She loves them and asks for the author’s name. It's him. He wrote all of them thinking of her. He tells her he can hang them everywhere for her if she loves it. For her, there's no need because the lantern, the poems, and the warmth has already surrounded her entire heart.
Dou Yin Hua is planning an upheaval of the throne. Yuan Lord, Yuan Fei Bai, Song Ming Lei, and Hua Mu Jin head to the city to protect the throne but have to do so meticulously to not raise the Emperor's suspicion of Yuan family (Emperor doesn't like Yuan family gaining more power than they already have). Yuan Fei Bai is bidding farewell to his servants. The lady servant had to drag out an unwilling Hua Mu Jin to send off Yuan Fei Bai. However, when he's gone, she watches him leave with longing eyes. The bratty servant Xie Su Hui teases her by calling out to Yuan Fei Bai as if he's back. She immediately turns around but he's nowhere in sight. However, Yuan Fei Bai is really back. He walks towards Hua Mu Jin with determination and forces a kiss on her. She slaps him but he catches her wrist before she can. He's not allowing anymore chances for her to reject him. The man is leaving on a dangerous mission, you see. He wants some love. He gives her another hairpin (a memoir of his mother's). It's a pair with the original one he gave her. He doesn't care where that one went but she can't lose this one.
Dou Ying Hua kills the Emperor. He's also got troops sent to Yuan manor but Yuan Fei Bai can't leave his station. He sends Hua Jin Xiu and Song Ming Lei instead to protect Hua Mu Jin.
[Ep18] Yuan Fei Jue has to return to his country, Gong Yue. Before he leaves, he drunkenly confess to Hua Mu Jin over water but it’s not water. It’s drugged. Dou family has staged an attack with a neighbouring country (Duan Yue Rong’s country) to take down the Yuan manor. Hua Mu Jin stays to fight. It’s the Lady Servant who sacrifices (Xie Su Hui’s mom). Hua Jin Xiu and Song Ming Lei save the rest in time but Yuan manor is no longer what it is. Everyone still needs to escape but the enemies are still lurking around to find Yuan Fei Yan.
Hua Jin Xiu is targeted by Lian Lady and is saved by Su Ma Ju (it's night time so it has to be him). I really need a symbol that differentiates between the two brothers. He also cut his bangs. They both faint over. The next morning they're found by Han Servant. By the time she wakes up, Su Ma Ju is already gone. Han Servant warns her that she's not worthy of a partner for Yuan Fei Bai, especially since her body is tainted. Ugh. He advises her she has a better option: Yuan Lord. Han Servant tells her the best way she can help Yuan Fei Bai is to be Yuan Lord's woman. Life is truly unfair to Hua Jin Xiu.
[Ep16] Qi Fang and Hua Mu Jin reunite. Qi Fang had sneaked into Yuan manor to take revenge against the Yuan family because Dou Yin Hua (Dou family had killed Hua village in the beginning episodes) had listed Yuan family’s involvement. Seeing that Hua Mu Jin is standing up for Yuan family, he believes she's also betrayed. Qi Fang is completely blinded by hate and revenge. This is the result of Jin Gu Zhen Ren's personal training? Still Hua Mu Jin helps him escape. Yuan Fei Bai sees through this and helps Hua Mu Jin set Qi Fang free. Yuan Lord also sees all this and learns that both his sons (Yuan Fei Bai and Yuan Fei Jue like her).
While Yuan Fei Bai is taking care of Hua Mu Jin the whole night (he's bandaging her wound, sweetly putting her to bed, and won't leave her bedside), Hua Jin Xiu is tending to Yuan Lord's desires. He is forbearing of her though. Su Ma Ju is aware she is now Yuan Lord's new wife. Yuan Fei Bai doesn't want his brother to wallow in regret his entire life so he decides to protect Hua Jin Xin for him. This makes Hua Mu Jin misunderstand. When Huo Lord almost catches Hua Jin Xiu and Yuan Fei Bai secretly meeting, Yuan Fei Bai uses Hua Mu Jin to cover it up and declares his love for her which makes Hua Jin Xiu misunderstand. What a complicated love square. Yuan Lord values Hua Mu Jin so he approves of their relationship and engages the two. Poor Yuan Fei Bai doesn't realize he's lost Mu Jin’s trust completely.
Yuan Lord pulls Hua Mu Jin aside and threatens her to be loyal to Yuan Fei Bai by making her take a loyalty pill ("Sheng Sheng Bu Li" pill = "Never Leave"). He's also got all her brothers and sisters as "hostages" (Hua jin Xiu is his wife, and her brothers are his soldiers). She takes the pill on a few conditions of her own. He promises all of them except one: to kill Liu Yan Sheng. Yuan Lord needs him but he promises her one day she will give him his life.
[Ep17] Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin have wed. They're supposed to consummate tonight, but they're at each other's throats instead. Actually, just Hua Mu Jin. Those eavesdropping outside their room think they're having quite an intense night. Little do they know. Hua Mu Jin is given a chance to kill him but she can't. She accidentally admits to having feelings for him. He can't believe his ears that Hua Mu Jin has feelings for him. He tells her he was the boy she saved. The knife in her hand goes limb. He recalls that when he found her, he could barely contain his happiness. She had no idea how much he had to restrain himself from loving her. He can't make his intentions known because there's just too many people after his life. He tells her that keeping her close is something he could never fathom. Although Hua Mu Jin's anger has simmered, she cannot deny what she saw and heard. She cannot kill him but she threatens him that if he were to touch her tonight, she'd kill herself. Off topic, I feel like this is the most I've ever seen of Yuan Fei Bai and his eyeline wing is bothering the heck out of me.Yuan Lord pulls Hua Mu Jin aside and threatens her to be loyal to Yuan Fei Bai by making her take a loyalty pill ("Sheng Sheng Bu Li" pill = "Never Leave"). He's also got all her brothers and sisters as "hostages" (Hua jin Xiu is his wife, and her brothers are his soldiers). She takes the pill on a few conditions of her own. He promises all of them except one: to kill Liu Yan Sheng. Yuan Lord needs him but he promises her one day she will give him his life.
Dou Ying Hua kills the Emperor. He's also got troops sent to Yuan manor but Yuan Fei Bai can't leave his station. He sends Hua Jin Xiu and Song Ming Lei instead to protect Hua Mu Jin.
Liu Yan Sheng sets up Hua Mu Jin to pretend to be Yuan Fei Yan to distract the enemies. Hua Mu Jin takes on the challenge with one condition: Liu Yan Sheng’s head. Yuan Fei Yan’s silence is the approval of HMJ’s condition. The two sisters battle him. It was cool when Song Ming Lei flies in to protect his two sisters. The last fatal blow was delivered by Hua Mu Jin to avenge for her sister’s rape. Wait, didn’t Yuan Lord need him for something? He wanted Liu Yan Sheng to betray the Yuan family by opening the gates for the enemies? What does Yuan Lord gain from that?
When Song Ming Lei takes care of his business, he rushes over to save Hua Mu Jin. He’s like a knight in a shining armour, heroically galloping on his horse to save his sister in time. Song Ming Lei is the hidden male lead. Arrows are shot at his back and he falls off a cliff but he tells his sister before his demise that he will always be with her. He doesn’t die. There’s no way. Hua Mu Jin is captured but then released by our purple eye lead, Duan Yue Rong. He knows Hua Mu Jin because they had met at a festival. He saves her because she never discriminated his purple eyes and asks her of one favour: to relay his innocence to Yuan Lord that he took no part in the coup. Although Hua Mu Jin is set free, she’s soon captured again
[Ep19] Yuan Fei Bai comes to rescue Hua Mu Jin from this Ming lady (the one who crippled his legs). Ming lady wants "An Palace’s Treasure" which Su Ma Ju is guarding. Yuan Fei Bai knows this place best and traps Ming lady. He does suffer an injury to protect Hua Mu Jin. She’s worried for him and that gives his heart hope. He begs her to not leave him and be his Hua Xi Wife forever but she still cannot forgive him. Reluctantly, he gives her freedom. He does convince her to stay to heal her wounds first.
Su Ma Ju saves Hua Jin Xiu which allows not only the sisters to reunite in An Gong (Su Ma Ju’s underground palace) but also for the brothers to reunite. With this love square that’s really not a love square, none of them are happy. They’re loving the right people but they’re not loving the right people. Get me? Hua twins are dipping in a hot spring to heal their wounds. Hua Mu Jin promises Hua Jin Xiu she will not love Yuan Fei Bai. She assures her that the one YFB wants to protect forever is Hua Jin Xiu. From afar they hear YFB playing “Zhang Xiang Shou” on the qin. Zhang Xiang Shou is the Chinese title of the drama which means "to protect each other for a long time". Hua Mu Jin betrays her heart and lies that Yuan Fei Bai is playing the song for Hua Jin Xiu.
These Yuan siblings are saving people left and right this episode. Yuan Fei Yan risks her life to save Song Ming Lei but he doesn’t need saving. He’s already escaped somewhere.
Yuan Fei Bai asks his brother to send off Hua Mu Jin instead of him. He can’t bear to say farewell to her. This is the first time Hua Mu Jin is meeting the twin but she doesn’t know it. Hua Mu Jin is leaving to make everyone else happy. But no one is happy...
An Gong (Palace): Yuan Lord had taken his twins when Xie Lady was still alive to An Gong. For three centuries, Yuan family had one heir take over An Gong secretly to investigate the treasure in this palace. The treasure is called the Purple Mine. Once a ruler in this dark palace, forever a ruler. Yuan Fei Dai volunteered himself because Yuan Fei Bai was afraid of the dark. His name has thus changed to Si Ma Ju. I'm suddenly reminded why the hairpins came as a pair; one for each twin and somehow they both ended up in the hands of their loved ones.
Su Ma Ju saves Hua Jin Xiu which allows not only the sisters to reunite in An Gong (Su Ma Ju’s underground palace) but also for the brothers to reunite. With this love square that’s really not a love square, none of them are happy. They’re loving the right people but they’re not loving the right people. Get me? Hua twins are dipping in a hot spring to heal their wounds. Hua Mu Jin promises Hua Jin Xiu she will not love Yuan Fei Bai. She assures her that the one YFB wants to protect forever is Hua Jin Xiu. From afar they hear YFB playing “Zhang Xiang Shou” on the qin. Zhang Xiang Shou is the Chinese title of the drama which means "to protect each other for a long time". Hua Mu Jin betrays her heart and lies that Yuan Fei Bai is playing the song for Hua Jin Xiu.
These Yuan siblings are saving people left and right this episode. Yuan Fei Yan risks her life to save Song Ming Lei but he doesn’t need saving. He’s already escaped somewhere.
Yuan Fei Bai asks his brother to send off Hua Mu Jin instead of him. He can’t bear to say farewell to her. This is the first time Hua Mu Jin is meeting the twin but she doesn’t know it. Hua Mu Jin is leaving to make everyone else happy. But no one is happy...
An Gong (Palace): Yuan Lord had taken his twins when Xie Lady was still alive to An Gong. For three centuries, Yuan family had one heir take over An Gong secretly to investigate the treasure in this palace. The treasure is called the Purple Mine. Once a ruler in this dark palace, forever a ruler. Yuan Fei Dai volunteered himself because Yuan Fei Bai was afraid of the dark. His name has thus changed to Si Ma Ju. I'm suddenly reminded why the hairpins came as a pair; one for each twin and somehow they both ended up in the hands of their loved ones.
[Ep20] Yuan Lord has a death warrant on Hua Mu Jin because she placed his precious son in danger. Meanwhile Song Ming Lei is led to believe Hua Mu Jin is dead at the hands of Yuan Lord, deepening his hate for the Yuan family. Yuan Fei Yan finally finds him. Unfortunately Song Ming Lei is too injured to protect her from enemy soldiers who rape her. Another rape scene. Song Ming Lei pulls his body forward with the little energy he has left towards her to cover her up. This is so sad. I never liked Yuan Fei Yan but I didn't want her to fall like this.
Hua Jin Xiu meets the man she loves but he's in a mask and she doesn’t recognize him. Su Ma Ju personally sends her out of his An Gong and at the entrance is Yuan Lord waiting for his wife. He promotes Hua Jin Xiu for saving Yuan Fei Yan (no one knows she's raped yet). Hua Jin Xiu now has a guard of her own. It’s the one who had lost his arm way back when to protect her. Does the guard like her? Despite having the power, wealth, and status she had yearned for, she’s not happy.
Hua Jin Xiu meets the man she loves but he's in a mask and she doesn’t recognize him. Su Ma Ju personally sends her out of his An Gong and at the entrance is Yuan Lord waiting for his wife. He promotes Hua Jin Xiu for saving Yuan Fei Yan (no one knows she's raped yet). Hua Jin Xiu now has a guard of her own. It’s the one who had lost his arm way back when to protect her. Does the guard like her? Despite having the power, wealth, and status she had yearned for, she’s not happy.
Meanwhile Hua Mu Jin still has a death warrant on her when she’s the one who actually saved Yuan Fei Yan. Anyways. Hua Mu Jin meets Duan Yue Rong and they remember they’ve met as a child before. She’s later captured by Dou Lady (the woman who had forced her mother to jump off a cliff). She suspects her as Hua Bing’s daughter. With Duan Yue Rong’s help and her crazy act she safely fools Dou Lord of her identity.
[Ep21] Fei Yan wants to commit suicide. The girl was just raped in front of the man she loves who doesn't love her one bit. Song Ming Lei pities her and hugs her. He keeps her alive. She does the same for him too. Whether it's carrying him on her back or dragging him on the straw plank she made, she's determined to save him. Aw, girl. She won me over.
Hua Mu Jin is forced onto Duan Yue Rong as a wife. It's purpose is to bring shame to Yuan Fei Bai and the Yuan family. Yuan Lord sends men after her to kill her on the spot. Duan Yue Rong is on her side and protects her. He needs her alive to prove his innocence in the coup and to keep peace between the two countries.
Hua Mu Jin is forced onto Duan Yue Rong as a wife. It's purpose is to bring shame to Yuan Fei Bai and the Yuan family. Yuan Lord sends men after her to kill her on the spot. Duan Yue Rong is on her side and protects her. He needs her alive to prove his innocence in the coup and to keep peace between the two countries.
[Ep22] Yuan Fei Bai is locked up by his father to prevent him from saving Hua Mu Jin. Yuan Lord gives Hua Jin Xiu a chance to confront Yuan Fei Bai's feelings for her. Yuan Fei Bai tells her honestly that he never loved her. She sets him free to save her sister. However, she vows to herself that she will make him pay for the heartbreak she received. Hua Mu Jin ends her love for Yuan Fei Bai (uh, Si Ma Ju). That night, she consummates with Yuan Lord. By the way, the guard who's on security duty outside does like her.
Fei Yan's utter devotion to Song Ming Lei wins him over. He takes her hand (the proof of all the hardship she endured for him) and asks her to marry him. Omg. What about Bi Ying! Now Song Ming Lei has married the daughter of the family that killed his. He's digging his own grave, isn't he? First he knowingly loved his sister (which I hope isn't true) and now he marries his enemy's daughter.
[Ep23] Yuan Fei Qing (Yuan 1st brother) finds his sister and Song Ming Lei. He promises to help them so that they can righteously return to Yuan Manor (there's an execution warrant on Song Ming Lei too). The brother's expressions here bother me though.
Yuan Fei Jue is finally conscious (since episode 18). He's making his way through a dessert to save his beloved Hua Mu Jin. Yao Bi Ying is trailing but she falls into a hole out of nowhere. Yuan Fei Jue jumps in to save her and bangs his head. He's now amnesic. The only person he remembers is Hua Mu Jin and because of his terrible eyesight, he mistakes Yao Bi Ying as Hua Mu Jin. YBY does not want to pretend to be Hua Mu Jin but everyone there is begging her to. The doctor's diagnosis is that his memory cannot be triggered anymore otherwise he will die. Something like that. To convince YBY that Hua Mu Jin is not a friend worth protecting, the servant, Guo Er Ren, tells her that the medication HMJ had given her was poison. Yao Bi Ying is swayed, and masquerades as Hua Mu Jin to marry Yuan Fei Jue. She along with Yuan Fei Jue is now the ruler of Gong Yue. Last episode Song Ming Lei married, this episode Yao Bi Ying married. Are they really siblings? Omg.
Duan Yue Rong escapes with Hua Mu Jin out of Dou Lord's grasp. Things don't go so well from there. There's so many different groups after them including DYR's maid (Lu Shui). After he accidentally pushes Lu Shui off the cliff, Duan Yue Rong scrambles to save Hua Mu Jin. I don't know how things have reached to this point but they kiss. Hua Mu Jin pushes him off and that's when her "Sheng Sheng Bu Li" Pill takes effect. After the kiss, Duan Yue Rong loses all his wuxia. He's powerless now.
[Ep24] Chu Hua (she's friendly with our Xiao Wu Yi) is punished by Lian Lady. Yu Fei Yan (our panda general) protects her. He's got the power and status now to protect people. With this couple it rounds out all the romances for our five sworn siblings. Yu Fei Yan is the only one who doesn't get himself involved with a Yuan. I think it's good to stay away from the Yuan's. None of the Yuan romances seem to be safe. They're like bombs waiting to explode.
Yuan Fei Yan (2nd Yuan Sister) brings Song Ming Lei to her father. Yuan Lord disapproves of their relationship and refuses their help to retrieve the royal scroll and royal stamp. It's necessary for the two opposing Emperors to claim their rightful spot. Dou Lord is helping one Emperor (the one Yuan Fei Yan was supposed to marry and the ungrateful child who betrayed his mother) and Yuan Lord is fighting for another Emperor. It's Yuan Lord (Yuan Lord) who comes out victorious with both the scroll and stamp. During the fight Yuan family is separated. Hua Jin Xiu is with the guard who likes her. He once again loses his arm to protect her. She vows to return him the favour.
Song Ming Lei is with Yuan Lord. They're ambushed by Ming family and that's when Yuan Lord learns of his identity. He's his sister's son. Ugh. Therefore Song Ming Lei went from loving his potential sister to his cousin. That's sure an improvement. Yuan Lord tells him the truth that his mother had died from being used as a shield by Ming Lord. Ming Lord had never loved her. Song Ming Lei (seemingly) believes Yuan Lord and protects him against the Ming family's ambush. With that Yuan Lord accepts his new son-in-law.
[Ep25] The new Emperor (that Yuan family supports) has the same problem as the previous Emperor: he fears Yuan Lord and Yuan family's growing powers. The Emperor grants Song Ming Lei any favour for recovering the royal items. His request is to give Yuan Fei Yan a grand marriage. The night of their wedding, his parent's death flash across his mind. Just how tragic will his character be? Please don't turn evil, Song Ming Lei. He might just turn evil because I have no idea where his loyalty lies in. Ming family still has a grasp on him.
To avoid the guards who are after them, Hua Mu Jin and Duan Yue Rong dress up in opposite gender clothing. Thus begins the journey of our androgynous Duan Yue Rong who flaunts his beauty to seduce countless men.
Yuan Fei Qing and Song Ming Lei discuss about Yuan Fei Yan. Fei Qing tells him about this bird he loves. Fei Yan loved it too but she denied it because he liked it. It's only until he told her he didn't like it, she can ecstatically reveal her love for the bird. Song Ming Lei thinks he's telling him to cherish Fei Yan. Methinks the bird is Song Ming Lei and that Yuan Fei Yan can only have Song Ming Lei because he allowed it. The brother is gay.
[Ep26] Female Duan Yue Rong is a hot commodity. Seriously. Men are succumbing to his beauty left and right.
Yuan Fei Yan (2nd Yuan Sister) brings Song Ming Lei to her father. Yuan Lord disapproves of their relationship and refuses their help to retrieve the royal scroll and royal stamp. It's necessary for the two opposing Emperors to claim their rightful spot. Dou Lord is helping one Emperor (the one Yuan Fei Yan was supposed to marry and the ungrateful child who betrayed his mother) and Yuan Lord is fighting for another Emperor. It's Yuan Lord (Yuan Lord) who comes out victorious with both the scroll and stamp. During the fight Yuan family is separated. Hua Jin Xiu is with the guard who likes her. He once again loses his arm to protect her. She vows to return him the favour.
Song Ming Lei is with Yuan Lord. They're ambushed by Ming family and that's when Yuan Lord learns of his identity. He's his sister's son. Ugh. Therefore Song Ming Lei went from loving his potential sister to his cousin. That's sure an improvement. Yuan Lord tells him the truth that his mother had died from being used as a shield by Ming Lord. Ming Lord had never loved her. Song Ming Lei (seemingly) believes Yuan Lord and protects him against the Ming family's ambush. With that Yuan Lord accepts his new son-in-law.
Yuan Fei Qing and Song Ming Lei discuss about Yuan Fei Yan. Fei Qing tells him about this bird he loves. Fei Yan loved it too but she denied it because he liked it. It's only until he told her he didn't like it, she can ecstatically reveal her love for the bird. Song Ming Lei thinks he's telling him to cherish Fei Yan. Methinks the bird is Song Ming Lei and that Yuan Fei Yan can only have Song Ming Lei because he allowed it. The brother is gay.
[Ep26] Female Duan Yue Rong is a hot commodity. Seriously. Men are succumbing to his beauty left and right.
Song Ming Lei and Hua Jin Xiu have long reached the point of no return. They cannot even breath the same air together. These two characters are also turning darker and darker. Song Ming Lei confirms his alliance with Ming family. But does he really? I get the feeling he's playing a double spy. I mean how can the guy kill Yuan Fei Yan's family after all that?? Really? While Jin Xiu is more than willing to pamper Yuan Lord to gain more power and status.
[Ep27] Duan Yue Rong is the housewife and Hua Mu Jin is the breadwinner. She's also the village's teacher and wins the heart of a female student. Completely off topic but Duan Yue Rong’s makeup is hor-ri-ble. His makeup artist forgot to powder half his face leaving his lip area so much darker than his white makeup above his nose. And then Yuan Fei Yan’s breasts are uneven. She forgot to push up her other breast.
[Ep28] It’s been a year. Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin still haven’t seen each other. DYR and HMJ are still happily cosplaying as the opposite gender. Duan Yue Rong chances upon Yuan Fei Bai who’s still searching for Hua Mu Jin. DYR angers YFB that he and HMJ have a daughter. When DYR returns home he sees HMJ looking at the hairpin YFB gave her. He steals it and breaks it. HMJ is so angry she assaults him. The villagers catch her assaulting his wife and they’re put on trial. I think the tribe leader knows these two have switched genders hence he lets them off easily. In other words it’s okay for women to hit men.
Ming lady has located Yao Bi Ying. She tells Yao Bi Ying she is her mother. They look like they’re the same age though. Song Ming Lei has always misunderstood that they were brothers and sisters because Ming Lord had taken YBY as his daughter so that his unmarried sister’s reputation wouldn’t be tarnished. Therefore Song Ming Lei and Yao Bi Ying are cousins but Song Ming Lei doesn't know it. The mystery is solved but they’re still cousins!
[Ep29] Duan Yue Rong has given Hua Mu Jin a hairpin he bought but he knows that she only cares about the one Yuan Fei Bai gave her so he fixes the hairpin for her.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin reunite. He wants her back but she can’t accept him for the very same reason why she left him. He witnesses the Sheng Sheng Bu Li’s effect on her which means she betrayed him. However with his deductions he knows she’s lying to him and that she loves him.
Hua Jin Xiu learns she’s not the one Yuan Lord adores the most. She’s only a replacement. Now, how can Hua Jin Xiu settle for that? Her ambition is the perfect liability Yuan Fei Yan uses to bring her down. Hua Jin Xiu loses all of Yuan Lord’s favour.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin reunite. He wants her back but she can’t accept him for the very same reason why she left him. He witnesses the Sheng Sheng Bu Li’s effect on her which means she betrayed him. However with his deductions he knows she’s lying to him and that she loves him.
Hua Jin Xiu learns she’s not the one Yuan Lord adores the most. She’s only a replacement. Now, how can Hua Jin Xiu settle for that? Her ambition is the perfect liability Yuan Fei Yan uses to bring her down. Hua Jin Xiu loses all of Yuan Lord’s favour.
[Ep30] Song Ming Lei and Hua Jin Xiu make an odd reconnection. After Hua Jin Xiu's downfall, it's Song Ming Lei who visits her and helps her. They both recognize that they're the same type of people, achieving something they both want but can't have. Song Ming Lei isn't the only one who's visiting her. Si Ma Ju secretly watches her too but once again he can't do anything for her when she's being punished.
Yuan Fei Bai finds Hua Mu Jin's home but because of Duan Yue Rong's sneaky interference, Yuan Fei Bai thinks they're a loving couple. He walks away without saying anything to Hua Mu Jin. He thinks she'll be happier here away from Yuan family but he doesn't leave too far from her. He plans to live at the foot of the mountain to guard her while she lives on the mountain top.
[Ep31] Hua Mu Jin and Duan Yue Rong have to leave the village because Duan Yue Rong’s cover is blown. However Hua Mu Jin runs back to the village to protect it from the army that's after Duan Yue Rong.
Yao Bi Ying finds out Hua Jin Xiu had sabotaged her. This adds to the hate that she already had brewing for Hua Mu Jin. She vows to get her revenge on the Hua sisters.
Yao Bi Ying finds out Hua Jin Xiu had sabotaged her. This adds to the hate that she already had brewing for Hua Mu Jin. She vows to get her revenge on the Hua sisters.
[Ep33] Hua Mu Jin confesses to Yuan Fei Bai that after she left him she realizes she is deeply in love with him. She wants to be Hua Xi wife again. He pulls her in to touch foreheads. However Qing Mei (Yuan Lord's informant) reminds him of his mission to kill her. Yuan Fei Bai swipes his sword at Hua Mu Jin's neck.
Hua Jin Xiu who has heard of Hua Mu Jin's death stabs Yuan Fei Bai with her sword. He receives it without resistance. At least Hua Jin Xiu is still a good sister to Hua Mu Jin. She's punished by Yuan Lord for hurting his precious son but she uses her pregnancy to gain favour again. Yuan Fei Bai isn't free of punishment. Yuan Lord knows he didn't kill Hua Mu Jin but instead sent her to Duan Yue Rong's care. As a result he's locked up in An Gong Palace with his twin brother.
Three years have passed. Hua Mu Jin has made a name for herself, "Jun Mo Wen." She's still dressed up as a man. She's got the golden touch and can turn any business profitable. She's under the care of Duan Yue Rong's family and promises to make them money. The fact that she's alive is still unbeknownst to Song Ming Lei and Hua Jin Xiu.
[Ep34] Yuan Fei Bai begs his father for the antidote to Sheng Sheng Bu Li which he doesn't give. Yuan Lord also punishes Si Ma Ju for Yuan Fei Bai's wrongdoing. Yuan Fei Bai had published a book that detailed his love for his Hua Xi wife while he was in the cave (the only person who could have released it to the public was Si Ma Ju). The purpose of this was to deter the marriage the royals had bestowed him. The marriage is transferred to Yuan Fei Qing. The Princess who married him loves him but he has no interest in her or more precisely he has no interest in women. It seems like Song Ming Lei has realized Yuan Fei Qing's love for him or is it just me?
[Ep35] The South Country's Emperor's embezzlement has led to its country's depression. He relents his position to Duan Yue Rong's father (thanks to Hua Mu Jin'). Now Hua Mu Jin is on a mission to help him earn money to replenish their country. On her way to another city, mountain bandits capture her as hostage. Coincidentally, it's Qi Fang and the man she saved back in Episode 4/5 who are the bandits. They quickly release her and promises to stop stealing. She takes them under her wing.
Back in Yuan manor, Lian Lady doesn't like how Hua Jin Xin's son is rising in favour. She poisons him but luckily Si Ma Ju saves her son. He's wearing a mask so she doesn't recognize him. Unfortunately, the poison takes Lian Lady's son's life. Lian Lady essentially poisoned her own son. Hua Mu Jin could have saved him but she chose not to. Su Ma Ju witnessed all of this. (Yuan Lord probably is supicious of Hua Jin Xiu too)
There's a new character: Zhang Zhi Yan (he's the actor from Heavenly Swords and Dragons Slaying Sabre). He's the business merchant/city lord that Hua Mu Jin is interested in.
[Ep36]Yuan Fei Jue happens to be in the same city. His sense of smell is still extraordinary and he smells Hua Mu Jin. His sight though is still poor and it doesn't help that Hua Mu Jin is in her Jun Mo Wen getup. Hua Mu Jin avoids him but goes to find Yao Bi Ying. Yao Bi Ying gives her a heartbreak though by revealing all her hate for Hua Mu Jin. Hua Mu Jin's health is also deteriorating from the Sheng Sheng Bu Li so this extra heartbreak doesn't help.
Yuan Fei Jie isn't the only Yuan in the city. Yuan Fei Bai is also there. He had purposely sent Hua Mu Jin his Qing Mei to guard her. Qing Mei has a big time crush on Yuan Fei Bai and seems to be willing to do anything for him. When Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin meet, she pretends to be strangers with him. There's tears in both their eyes as they make their unnecessary introductions. Hua Mu Jin doesn't want to reunite with him because she thinks she'll negatively affect him (especially with Yuan Lord hating her). Yuan Fei Bai helps her meet Zhang Zhi Yan.
[Ep37] Duan Yue Rong uses their daughter to make Yuan Fei Bai jealous. I feel bad for the girl. Her dad is actually her mom and her mom is actually her dad but then they're not her actual mom and dad. They're messing up her knowledge of gender.
Zhang Zhi Yan figures out that Hua Mu Jin is disguising as a man and makes a move on her. He wants her. Qing Mei saves Hua Mu Jin by substituting herself to entertain him.
Bi Ying also appears in the cave while Song Ming Lei and Ming Lady are there. She demands her mother to release Song Ming Lei but mom tells her that the real person who poisoned her was Song Ming Lei and not Hua Mu Jin. Song Ming Lei doesn’t deny it. Still, Yao Bi Ying threatens her mother to release him otherwise she’ll take her own life. Despite feeling betrayed, she still cannot deny the love and care he had given her. Mother lets him go and tearfully yells at Bi Ying how she could do this to her and Ming family. Bi Yong criticizes her mother through tears that she hasn’t ate a single rice of Ming family's.
[Ep39] Yao Bi Ying is a sad soul. The man she used to love was the one who poisoned her. The man she loves now never loved her. The son she has is sick because of her weak body when her step sister (Hua Jin Xiu) had framed her. And let's not even talk about her mom. Now, Yuan Fei Jue knows she's not Hua Mu Jin. Additionally, Hua Jin Xiu has tattled on her Ming identity to Gong Yue's Queen. Yao Bi Ying is currently facing a death punishment.
Yuan Fei Bai didn't send anyone to save Hua Mu Jin. It is him disguised as an old man to save her. After going through life and death and learning all that shocking news, Hua Mu Jin is starting to cherish her life. She confesses to the old man knowing he is Yuan Fei Bai all along. She tells him that she can forgive him for everything (Hua Jin Xiu and Sheng Sheng Bu Li). He reveals himself and they make up. They still have to get out of the cave before they're safe though.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin come across Gong Yue's Queen. She doesn't see them though as she shares with her servant her story with Yuan Lord. He had sneaked into this cave to find a rare medicine that can cure any disease. He wanted to cure his father. Their meeting in this cave is what gave birth to Yuan Fei Jue. In the end they weren't able to find the "Heart of the Ground" where the medicine is.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin follow the Queen to find their way out. Hua Mu Jin can't leave though until she saves Yao Bi Ying. Thus she walks in hand in hand with Yuan Fei Bai to Gong Yue Palace. Hua Jin Xiu witnesses this and finally learns her sister is alive (and has reciprocated her feelings with Yuan Fei Bai).
[Ep40] Hua Mu Jin uses her Hua Xi Wife title to beg the Queen to spare Yao Bi Ying's life. Yuan Fei Jue also comes running in to save Yao Bi Ying. (He's regained his memories but is keeping it a secret to protect Yao Bi Ying) With that, and the Queen's belief in Bi Ying, her life is saved.
Yuan Fei Bai didn't send anyone to save Hua Mu Jin. It is him disguised as an old man to save her. After going through life and death and learning all that shocking news, Hua Mu Jin is starting to cherish her life. She confesses to the old man knowing he is Yuan Fei Bai all along. She tells him that she can forgive him for everything (Hua Jin Xiu and Sheng Sheng Bu Li). He reveals himself and they make up. They still have to get out of the cave before they're safe though.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin come across Gong Yue's Queen. She doesn't see them though as she shares with her servant her story with Yuan Lord. He had sneaked into this cave to find a rare medicine that can cure any disease. He wanted to cure his father. Their meeting in this cave is what gave birth to Yuan Fei Jue. In the end they weren't able to find the "Heart of the Ground" where the medicine is.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin follow the Queen to find their way out. Hua Mu Jin can't leave though until she saves Yao Bi Ying. Thus she walks in hand in hand with Yuan Fei Bai to Gong Yue Palace. Hua Jin Xiu witnesses this and finally learns her sister is alive (and has reciprocated her feelings with Yuan Fei Bai).
[Ep40] Hua Mu Jin uses her Hua Xi Wife title to beg the Queen to spare Yao Bi Ying's life. Yuan Fei Jue also comes running in to save Yao Bi Ying. (He's regained his memories but is keeping it a secret to protect Yao Bi Ying) With that, and the Queen's belief in Bi Ying, her life is saved.
The three girls, Hua Mu Jin, Hua Jin Xiu, and Yao Bi Ying have a girls talk. Hua Mu Jin learns (part of) the evil deeds Hua Jin Xiu has committed. Hua Jin Xiu has no regrets though. Their sisterly bond also breaks, at least from Hua Jin Xiu's side.
Song Ming Lei and Hua Jin Xiu form an alliance. He tempts her with power that can belong to her son once they work together to take down Yuan Fei Bai. However, Song Ming Lei needs to win over Ming Lady first. Seems like Ming Lady will always have an upper-hand on him.
[Ep41] Duan Yue Rong and Yuan Fei Bai have some pretty petty fights. I had forgotten Yuan Fei Bai still doesn't know that Hua Mu Jin had never given birth to Duan Yue Rong's child. Despite knowing that he still loves her. The two of them including Hua Mu Jin are searching for the "seed" that can help Gong Yue Palace, a dessert country, to harvest. With Hua Mu Jin's brains, they find it. Yao Bi Ying risks her life to keep it from being stolen from her mother, Ming Lady.
Yao Bi Ying has decided to leave. She doesn't know Yuan Fei Jue knows her real identity and thinks he doesn't love her nor does she deserve his love. You would think the other couple, Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin would have some peace in their relationship but Hua Mu Jin decides to do the noble thing and let him go because, one, she doesn't want to harm him with her poor reputation, and, two, she's dying from the Sheng Sheng Bu Li. Luckily, it seems like the Gong Yue Queen has a way to save her.
[Ep42] The Queen does have an antidote for Sheng Sheng Bu Li. It was Yuan Lord who had given it to her because they both took the poison. However, he fell in love with Xie Lady (Yuan Fei Bai's mother) hence he gave her the antidote. She didn't take it though because she won't love anyone but him. That's the origin of her antidote and now she's giving it to Hua Mu Jin. Except Hua Mu Jin is set on being noble (doesn't want to drag down Yuan Fei Bai). She force feeds the antidote to Duan Yue Rong instead. Yuan Fei Bai mis-hears and mis-sees thinking that Hua Mu Jin is saving Duan Yue Rong out of love.
Yao Bi Ying and Song Ming Lei have a moment. He convinces her to escape with him and leave Yuan Fei Jue (she still thinks Yuan Fei Jue is in love with Hua Mu Jin). I can't quite grasp whether it's romantic or family type of love anymore. I guess it's more brotherly-sisterly type. I guess. I don't know anymore. Yuan Fei Jue learns that she's about to leave. He begs her to stay but her decision has been made.
[Ep43] Ming Lady wants to take over Gong Yue. In the end, she kills her own daughter because Bi Ying took the fatal blow to save Yuan Fei Jue. Bi Ying died without knowing Yuan Fei Jue loved her. A sad soul indeed. She died thinking everyone betrayed. Everything has fallen perfectly into Song Ming Lei's plans (except Bi Ying's death) as Ming Lady's army is destroyed. Now he is in control of her remaining men.
As a last ditch effort for no apparent logical reason, Ming Lady takes Hua Mu Jin hostage. Song Ming Lei goes to save her. The aunt and niece have a talk but their conversation is overheard by Yuan Fei Bai and Duan Yue Rong who are waiting for the moment to save Hua Mu Jin. They learn of Song Ming Lei's identity but Ming Lady covers it up by making it look like Song Ming Lei had killed her when in fact she pulled his sword to herself. She's sacrificing herself to protect Song Ming Lei's identity so that he can continue to avenge for Ming family. Before she breathes her last breath, she lifts her hand so that Song Ming Lei can take her ring. It's a Ming family heirloom. She smiles as Song Ming Lei receives it.
Yuan Fei Bai, Duan Yue Rong and Hua Mu Jin are escaping the cave. Due to Song Ming Lei's poisonous knife, Yuan Fei Bai is losing consciousness but he's still exerting all his remaining energy to protect Hua Mu Jin. Yuan Fei Bai is unable to pull himself out of the battle. With the escape route right in front of her, Hua Mu Jin pushes Duan Yue Rong out of the cave while she stayed inside with Yuan Fei Bai. If Yuan Fei Bai is to die in there, she will too.
Elsewhere, Yuan Fei Jue has put Yao Bi Ying's corpse to rest. When everyone leaves, Song Ming Lei pays his respect. He muses that the mother and daughter are ironically reunited. At her grave, he leaves behind the Ming family ring and says he wants to live for himself. Huuuuuuuuuuh. What does that mean?
[Ep44] Hua Mu Jin is saved by Song Ming Lei while Yuan Fei Bai is saved by Guo Er Ren (Yuan Fei Jue's servant). Hua Mu Jin has gone crazy and only remembers Yuan Fei Bai. Song Ming Lei is heartbroken. -____- He asks her if she remembers him; she does plus all his awful deeds. I always thought the scene when Song Ming Lei was nice to Hua Mu Jin was only to make Yao Bi Ying jealous so that she can give up on him. I had an inkling that he might actually love Hua Mu Jin as I kept watching some questionable scenes but I was like nahhhhh ~ Song Ming Lei just treats her like a sister. This confirmation blows my mind. I'm in denial. How can he love Yao Bi Ying and then Hua Mu Jin. Just how.
Hua Mu Jin regains her sanity and Qin Fang helps her escape. They're caught by Song Ming Lei who now wants her life. He's that heartbroken you see... Yuan Fei Yan walks in to demand he let them go. She also tells Song Ming Lei to leave now that she learned of his love towards Hua Mu Jin. I was going to compliment her here for being the only sane person in this drama but it's only a trap to make him unable to leave her.Yet Yuan Fei Yan still loves him. She takes him to witness how Hua Mu Jin is better off without him and that she (YFY) is the only person who loves him. She can make him a greater man. Touched, he promises to stay vowing that the garbage Song Ming Lei is dead. Song Ming Lei earnestly tells her to believe him. I have lost faith in him completely. Just turn evil and stop giving people whiplashes, Song Ming Lei.
Meanwhile Yuan Fei Bai is fooled by a fake Hua Mu Jin (the voice is so obviously not hers, this drama is turning Yuan Fei Bai into an idiot). The real Hua Mu Jin has reunited with her daughter and Duan Yue Rong. The daughter asks, "Why is mom my dad and my dad my mom?" The reunion doesn't last because Hua Mu Jin leaves Duan Yue Rong to find Yuan Fei Bai. Her daughter cries after her mom and Duan Yue Rong comforts his daughter that it's okay, "I'll be your mom later, okay?" I guess that's one benefit of making a child gender confused.
[Ep45] Qing Mei pushes Hua Mu Jin off a cliff. She wants Yuan Fei Bai to focus on the impending war rather than waste time on Hua Mu Jin. That's when Yuan Fei Bai realizes his country needs him. While he goes to war, he sends his men to find Hua Mu Jin.
Jin Gu Zhen Ren makes an appearance. He saves Hua Mu Jin (who's clean and unscathed from falling off however many meters; it's like she's sleeping beauty or something) and directs her to Yu Fei Yan (!). Hua Mu Jin wants Yu Fei Yan to help Yuan Fei Bai in war but his wife begs her not to involve Yu Fei Yuan. She also reveals she's Yuan family's spy to keep an eye on Yu Fei Yan. Despite being a spy, she loves him. Hua Mu Jin understands and plans to leave them in peace.
Jin Gu Zhen Ren also shows up in front of Hua Jin Xiu showing his disappointment in her.
Song Ming Lei disappoints Yuan Fei Qing and that makes him turn to his wife (the Princess). He's starting to accept her. Whaaaaaaaaa. No one's progressing they way I predicted.
[Ep46] There's a Xiao Wu Yi reunion as Song Ming Lei and Hua Jin Xiu show up at Yu Fei Yan's home to convince him to join their respective army. However, Yu Fei Yan decides to join Yuan Fei Bai's army. Both siblings are disappointed. Hua Jin Xiu didn't get her general so she asks Hua Mu Jin for the two books their father left them. Hua Mu Jin doesn't give it to her because it won't be useful to her at all. Hua Mu Jin vows to protect her sister from going down the wrong path. Too late?
Jin Gu Zhen Ren pays a visit to Yu Fei Yan to assure him to stick to his decision of helping Yuan Fei Bai. Hua Mu Jin also reunites with Yuan Fei Bai. There's not much time for romance because his army is in a dilemma even with Yu Fei Yan's help. Duan Yue Rong shows up to capture Hua Mu Jin but in fact he plans to send his army to help Yuan Fei Bai. Unfortunately, his South Country needs him and he's unable to move his army for her. Thus, Hua Mu Jin turns to Zhang Zhi Yan (the business man who loves her). Other than the sleazy moves he makes on Hua Mu Jin, his acting brightens up my screen.
[Ep47] With Hua Mu Jin's brains, she stops Song Ming Lei from advancing his army against Yuan Fei Bai. However, the Sheng Sheng Bu Li is taking it's effect on Hua Mu Jin and she falls unconscious. Yuan Fei Bai plays her "Zhang Xiang Shou" for three days straight. It's the qin music score he plays whenever he's thinking of her. Music cures her better than any antidote or poison. I'm staring at this emotional scene and pitying the poor visuals.
Duan Yue Rong is king of his country now that his father passed away.
[Ep48] Alas, there's a rare happy moment of Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin as they make a mess of themselves to cook for each other. Even Yuan Lord appears approving of their relationship. She tells him that she already gave the books to him when she entrusted them to Yu Fei Yan because he's loyal to Yuan Fei Bai.
[Ep49] Hua Mu Jin isn't completely cured of her Shen Sheng Bu Li and it is once again putting her life in danger. Yuan Fei Bai gets embroiled in the fight for the Crown Prince position but everything is within Hua Mu Jin's speculations. Yuan Fei Bai successfully takes the credit for saving the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The Emperor gives Yuan Fei Bai a wish of any choice. Yuan Fei Bai asks for one thing only: a royal marriage with Hua Mu Jin. Duan Yue Rong and Hua Jin Xiu sulk in their misery. Despite being left out of love, Duan Yue Rong wrote a letter to Yuan Fei Bai detailing his non-relationship with Hua Mu Jin. At the night of their marriage, Yuan Fei Bai gives her to the antidote to Sheng Sheng Bu Li and they vow to "Sheng Sheng Bu Li" (never leave each other).
Hua Jin Xiu finally meets Si Ma Ju and realized he was the man she loved. You would think she'd hate her sister less for stealing Yuan Fei Bai but she becomes even more jealous of her sister for being able to live with the man she loves. There's just no turning back from Hua Jin Xiu.
[Ep51] Hua Mu Jin also learns of Si Ma Ju's existence. That's not all, she discovers the An Gong that he is guarding harbours a valuable mineral. It's durability is ten times stronger than the sharpest sword. He's hiding this from Yuan Lord afraid it will turn the world into a chaotic warzone. Hua Jin Xiu learns of this valuable purple mineral. Purple really is an ominous colour in this drama.
Hua Jin Xiu sabotages both Yuan Fei Bai and Song Ming Lei: the former for exposing the purple mine secret; the latter for killing the purple mine men. Song Ming Lei isn't an easy one to take down though. He logically shifts the blame to South Country (hence Hua Mu Jin).
[Ep53] Hua Jin Xiu rises above Song Ming Lei for once to outsmart him. She wants to take credit for supporting the new Emperor. Except the smartest of them all is Hua Mu Jin. Is the imperial family just a joke to the Yuan family? Anyways. With Hua Mu Jin wits, the imperial jade seal lands on Si Ma Ju's hands (he's pretending to be Yuan Fei Bai) catapulting Yuan Lord to be the new Emperor. Thus, the purpose of the Six Sons were for Yuan Lord to claim his throne. What.
Hua Mu Jin, Hua Jin Xiu, and Qin Fang get their revenge on Dou Ying Hua for killing their parents. Only Hua Mu Jin doesn't stab him with a knife because she's still got that pure heart of hers.
Hua Jin Xiu is royal consort now but she isn't happy. She's not the Empress. Similarly Yuan Fei Yan isn't happy about her meager royal position either especially compared to Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin. There wouldn't be a drama without these greedy people. The non-greedy person, Yuan Fei Qing makes his exit because he can't handle these greedy people anymore.
Fei Liu, Hua Jin Xiu’s son, catches the deadly disease. It's Song Ming Lei's revenge on Hua Jin Xiu for sabotaging him in the past episode. Si Ma Ju has the cure and saves Fei Liu. He tries to convince her to return the purple mine she stole but she refuses because she needs it to harness power for her son.
[Ep56] Fei Qing is promoted for merging the alliance between Zhang Zi Yan and their country. However, he's still nowhere near Yuan Fei Bai's rank. Song Ming Lei is the only one upset for Fei Qing. Fei Qing is satisfied about his rank. Hua Jin Xiu has plans of her own for domination and in the process kills Qin Fang, the man who loved her since they were children. He's the second of the Six Sons to die. When Jin Gu Zhen Ren stole him way back when I thought he had greater deeds planned for him. Oh well. Hua Jin Xiu is using a tabletop fountain to slowly poison Yuan Lord (the Emperor). The sound of the fountain messes up his ability to rationalize.
[Ep57] Zhang Zhi Yan helps Hua Mu Jin when she needed it the most. She gives him a curtsy to thank him and Zhang Zhi Yan hates that she's so girly to him now. He much prefers her to be manly. There's probably another reason for this. He's afraid of his wife (Qing Mei or You You). I wasn't expecting a cute couple at all in this drama. You You is pregnant. This cute couple meets their end though. The Emperor (Yuan Lord) is targeting Zhang Zhi Yan because he’s loyal to Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin. He thinks Yuan Fei Bai is securing power to oust him therefore he has to oust Zhang Zhi Yan first. The father who had always cherished this son of his is now out to get him (apparently it's all because of Hua Jin Xiu's brainwashing tabletop fountain). Zhang Zhi Yan and You You decide to die together and burn down their entire manor. He reveals he knew of You You’s Yuan family ties all along but still loved and trusted her. Bye bye my only cute couple. Lin Yu Shen needs to be in more dramas.
Song Ming Lei is ousted. All his crimes of dethronement and Ming family ties are revealed. Yuan Fei Yan still loves him though but she can no longer keep him. She can only use her life to threaten her father so that he can run away. Yuan Fei Qing helps him escape from the guards too. Song Ming Lei vows that he never wanted to harm the siblings. He promises to make Yuan Fei Qing the Emperor by killing his father. Did Song Ming Lei expect Yuan Fei Qing to say yes, I would totally want to kill my father for power? After his goal is accomplished he will hand his life to Yuan Fei Yan to decide if she wants him to live or die.
[Ep58] Yuan Fei Qing convinces Song Ming Lei to leave the palace and live a peaceful life with the three of them. Song Ming Lei agrees but the next second he hits Yuan Fei Qing unconscious and steals his medallion to exit the city. He still has plans to take down the Emperor. Except Hua Jin Xiu is already on it.
Hua Mu Jin and Yuan Fei Bai are punished for colluding with Zhang Zhi Yan. Hua Mu Jin is to be imprisoned and Yuan Fei Bai is to be banished from the city. He combs her hair as their last farewell. It really is their last farewell. Hua Jin Xiu has control of the entire palace now that her poisons has made the Emperor fallen ill. She sent an edict to kill Yuan Fei Bai with a cup of poisonous wine. He takes it. Yuan Fei Bai dies. Hua Mu Jin hears of his death and vows to live so that her sister’s vile plan isn't fruitful.
Interesting note: You You (Qing Mei) might be alive. The corpse Hua Jin Xiu found (and performed an autopsy) wasn't pregnant.
[Ep59] Hua Jin Xiu has full control of the palace as the Emperor has fallen ill to her poisons. Yuan Fei Yan brushes her depression aside and works with Hua Mu Jin to help her father. Simultaneously, Song Ming Lei has infiltrated the palace with his men. He's about to kill the Emperor and the Emperor is very willing to accept his death (although he didn't kill his mother he did kill his entire family). However, Yuan Fei Yan runs out to take the sword for her father. Yuan Fei Yan dies. Song Ming Lei ah, Song Ming Lei. Why is his life so tragic? Soon after the Emperor also dies from his poisons. Don't fret. We still have Hua Mu Jin. Yuan Fei Bai had given her a hairpin made from the purple mine. It has the ability to heal anything. She stabs the Emperor's heart and he's revived. She stabs the injury on Yuan Fei Yan. She's revived. These two aren't the only Yuan's that survive. Yuan Fei Bai never died. Prior to being banished, Yuan Fei Bai had received an antidote from Hua Mu Jin than can heal anything. He drank the poisonous wine with the antidote and thus survived.
Yu Fei Yan returns to help control the palace. Hua Jin Xiu and her son, Fei Liu, are thrown off the throne. The Emperor, who's clearheaded now, appoints Yuan Fei Bai to be the Crown Prince. The Emperor is also dying but he is accepting of his fate. He had sought after the Six Sons to make himself king but he understands now that he too is only one of the chess pieces to pave the way for Yuan Fei Bai to become the true ruler. His last message for Yuan Fei Bai is to have Hua Jin Xiu buried with him. She's too dangerous to be left alive.
Alas, Si Ma Ju is set free. Hua Jin Xiu had ordered her loyal guard to release him and relay a message to Si Ma Ju: "I hate you." The guard is emotionless as he says that. He muses that at least in her heart she had Si Ma Ju. She never had an ounce of feeling for the guard who only loved her. He is the man who indulged all her vileness.
Hua Jin Xiu accepts her fate. Si Ma Ju had begged Yuan Fei Bai to spare her life. Thus, instead of death, she’s only banished from the palace. Si Ma Ju sends her there. She wants him to suffer in pain for the rest of his life with her. To Hua Jin Xiu, her life is a tragedy; she’s just a side character forever in misery.
Yuan Fei Bai and Hua Mu Jin ascend to the throne. The world is peaceful and Hua Mu Jin takes on a part time teaching position with her Jun Mo Wen name. She complains to Yuan Fei Bai how bored she is and how she had wanted to travel the world with him. Yuan Fei Bai fulfills her wish. He makes Si Ma Ju the Emperor in his stead. He says it’s repaying him for being locked up in the the dark underground palace in his stead. Ahh. So Yuan Fei Bai is confining him in another palace. What a sweet brother. Who would want to be Emperor anyways when they’re all killed by the hands of their own family?
Two years later. Yuan Fei Qing and his Princess are happy in love. They mention Song Ming Lei so I assume he’s happy too (with Yuan Fei Yan).
Duan Yue Rong is still king of his country and it’s flourishing. He’s still in love with Hua Mu Jin and when he finds traces of her whereabouts he visits the area. This time it’s a restaurant. It’s owned by our panda chef, Yu Fei Yan. Two other customers walk in. It’s Zhang Zhi Yan and You You. !! Jun Mo Wen (Hua Mu Jin) and Yuan Fei Bai also make their entrance. They’re not here by coincidence. It’s a planned meeting because she’s got business to offer Duan Yue Rong. I love Zhang Zhi Yan’s eyebrow moves here. She wants Duan Yue Rong to work with them to make both their country flourish even more. From the voice over we learn that many years have gone by and Si Ma Ju (who's using Yuan Fei Bai's identity) died and the new Emperor is Yuan Fei Liu.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-5)] This is an epic story. It follows how a legend becomes a legend (just throw them in any dire situation possible and if they come out alive they are a legend). Hua Mu Jin can do the impossible accompanied with every possible heroic trait you can think of. I don't mind how perfect she is so far, she is a legend. I was reading Chinese comments and so many of them predicted this to be an epic failure. Contrarily, I like this. The story and the obstacles are entertaining. It reminds me of old HK wuxia dramas. I used to love those when I still watched TVB dramas. It is 60 episodes though...ugh. I wasn't quite sold on this drama until episode 5 when the twin brother showed up. I also like how smart Hua Mu Jin is. For me to stick around though, I'd have to buy the chemistry between Hua Mu Jin and Yuan Fei Bai/Si Ma Ju which I have yet to see.
[Actors/Actresses] I haven't seen any of these actors and actresses and I haven't seen enough emotional scenes to judge anything. I have seen Yu Xiao Tong in variety shows (he made me laugh so hard one time). I don't know how I feel about his acting yet but I do know how I feel about his hair. It's awful. Another awful thing unrelated to acting are the posters. My gosh, so old-fashioned. [Ep16] Acting is awkward. I think the weakest links are the three lead actors for Yuan Fei Bai, Hua Mu Jin, and Hua Jin Xiu. Thankfully the story is eventful and their acting doesn't hinder the watching experience. If anything, it just doesn't add more depth to the drama. [Ep19] I spoke too soon about their acting. The awkwardness does take away from the drama when it comes to emotional scenes. For the first time I wanted to fast forward the main lead’s romance just to protect my love for them. [Ending] The drama has ended and I just want to give some love for the actors of Song Ming Lei (Chen Zheng Yang) and Zhang Zhi Yan (Lin Yu Shen). They made the drama worthwhile.
[Novel] I watched a YouTube video that quickly went over how the novel went (2006-2014). The turn of events are absolutely shocking, ha. So the breakdown of the video is like this: Yuan Fei Jue's (Red Eyes) first love is Hua Mu Jin but due to amnesia he forgets her. Through multiple events Hua Mu Jin is Duan Yue Rong (Purple Eyes) soulmate. However, she ditches him to save Yuan Fei Bai (White Clothes), her true love. This is the high point of the drama as the heroine windshield wipes between White Clothes and Purple Eyes. Fans were heatedly divided between these two male leads. It took seven years from there to finish the story. As for the ending [SPOILER] Hua Mu Jin marries White Clothes and she's pregnant. However, White Clothes had actually passed away and it was his twin brother she was living with this entire time. I would like to believe her child is White Clothes' and not the twin's. She thus lives with Purples Eyes and could have had a happy ending but the author drowns him to death. She dies from sadness three days later. HA. HA. HA. That's the ending of the novel. The drama still has a long way to go. I'd like to think optimistically that its 2020 (albeit, an awful year) and dramaland has improved from 2014. The ending should take a different route... - crosses finger -
[Episode 26 Update] Yuan Fei Yan is looking so much better without those awful bangs. She looked best in commoner clothes. I guess women change when they're in love... On the other hand, Song Ming Lei's looks have gone downhill. He must be tired romancing his sister and now his cousin. Aaaand also his wife's brother. Poor guy. The story gets pretty crazy but I like the craziness and it's unpredictability. The acting kind of sucks but the story is good enough to grab my interest. At this point I have lost hope for any pure romance, I think they're all bombs designated to explode.
[Episode 44 Update] Is the point of gathering the six sons to destroy each other, create chaos and scare us with incest? The title should have been The Legend of Song Ming Lei and his quest for true love who's not one bit related to him. I'm in this way too deep to give up now.
[Ending] It's a happy one. But am I the only one who wished some people stayed dead just to give the drama more impact? Everyone being miraculously resurrected made me roll my eyes. As much as I cared for Song Ming Lei, I really think Yuan Fei Yan should have died.
[Review] Initially I enjoyed the drama for its epic story. I have a thing for these long sumptuous stories of how legends are created, how a loyal team is formed and how a love story is overwrought with obstacles but true love withstands. That was the first third of the drama. Then came the second third and I knew I was in for a trainwreck. My mindset completely changed. There’s a train wreck up ahead, so be it. Shit’s going to get crazy then let the shit get crazier. The drama became sadistically humorous for me. I experienced joy in their sufferings. Unfortunately, it didn’t get crazy enough. It could not tap into its crack potential as much as I would have loved it to.
The villains played their part. It’s the two main leads that sucked. I think I was super forgiving of Hua Mu Hin and Yuan Fei Bai in the beginning. No, seriously. I could look over the eyeliner, I could look over his visuals, I could look over her weird frozen facial expressions but when it came to the critical moment of their emotional scenes, their acting was so cringey I had to fast-forward it. I never fast forward the main lead’s romance. Ever.
It’s unfortunate the main characters were the worst actors. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t good actors in this! Song Ming Lei, one of the main villains, deserves praise. No matter how many times people convinced him out of it he cannot erase the fact that he was nurtured for revenge since he was born. He destroyed his own life and lives of those who love him for a family he never grew up with. The characterization of Song Ming Lei is hard for me to digest but the acting of Chen Zheng Yang carried through so I only have compliments for him.
Hua Jin Xiu, the second baddie, is no less evil. I have zero pity for her though. She dug her own grave. She’s the only character who stayed inside her tragic bubble all at her own accord. She grew up with a loving family and one single event turned her world upside down. It was awful, yes, but I don’t think it should have propelled her wickedness to that extent. Unlike Song Ming Lei, her acting didn’t carry through as well as his but it was commendable given how little sense her character made.
For those who watched Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre and like Lin Yu Shen. He’s only got a total of thirty minutes screen-time tops in this 60-episode drama. The first few times he shows up, he’s a creep. Then he becomes redeeming again. Despite only having thirty minutes of screen-time he is by far one of the best actors here.
[Verdict] I honestly don’t know if this was worth watching. However, watching this was a memorable journey. I had fun, a sadistic type of fun. I also enjoyed being shocked, utterly shocked. The overall acting was disappointing though. This was a train wreck that I wished had destroyed itself more but it didn’t.
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