There is a prophecy that one of the Fu Sisters will be the future Empress. Those vying for the throne are tempted by this foretelling.
Notable Actors/Actresses
She doesn’t answer. She likes him too but her perception of worldly matters keeps her emotions in check. She won’t be his wife (for now) but she will help Xue Rong succeed his throne.
[Ep12] After saving Fu Yu Zhan, Xue Rong's eyes are blind. He's emotional at the thought of losing his sight permanently. He yells at Fu Yu Zhan to leave. But she stays. She promises to take care of him. The next morning, Xue Rong's eyes have recovered but he pretends to be blind in order to receive more of Fu Yu Zhan's care.
[Ep13] Xue Rong gives Fu Yu Zhan a jade that’s meant for the woman he loves. She backs away. She’s not accepting his love. She had truly loved him but when he married her sister, her heartbreak wasn’t as devastating as she thought. That’s why she’s able to give up on him. Angry, Xue Rong throws away the jade and stomps off in the dark night (he’s still “blind” by the way). When Xue Rong is out of her sight, Fu Yu Zhen quickly looks for the jade. When she finds it, Xue Rong hugs her from the back. That’s when she notices he’s not blind anymore. It’s her turn to walk away but he grabs her back for another hug. He won’t let her go. Fu Yu Zhan stops resisting him.
Jiang Shao is accused of stealing. The imperial guard threatens Fu Jin Zhan to resume her Empress position in order to release Jiang Shao. Thus, it’s a heartbreaking breakup for these two.
Xue Rong and Fu Yu Zhan are on their way back after they get news of Fu Jin Zhan. However, they’re captured by mountain captains. They don’t know he’s the Emperor. They just want money. This kidnap is to show us that Xue Rong is willing to sacrifice his life to protect her.
Jin Lady knows Jiang Shao is a prince. She doesn't tell him though.
Fu Yu Zhan and Xue Rong enjoy a date together but dad hears rumours of it and harshly reprimands her. What’s wrong with the Emperor hanging out with any woman of his wish? Thus, he plans to have her married.
Fu Jin Zhan is throwing a fit. Jiang Shao refused her request of eloping with him. Xue Rong doesn’t want to handle his bratty Empress who's in a fury so he shoves Li Huai Jin to her. She asks Li Huai Ji for advice if the person you like doesn't like you back. Li Huai Ji says he’ll continue loving that person. He meant her and she meant Jiang Shao. By the way, Jiang Shao is rejecting her because too many people around him are dying.
[Ep16] Princess Fu Qing pretends to help Jiang Shao avenge his family. It’s all in her grand plan to make Jiang Shao under her control.
[Ep17] Xue Rong meets his birth mother but she’s dying. He barely met her and now she’s dead. However, the guards have found out Xue Rong met his family (which includes his dad and younger sister, Chai Zhen Zhen). That’s very bad apparently. Thus, dad kills the guard and commits suicide to be with his dead wife in order to keep Xue Rong’s birth a secret. No one should know he's not Xue family's bloodline. Chai Zhen Zhen is furious at her newfound brother for destroying her family.
[Ep18] Fu Jin Zhan and Jiang Shao make up. She knows he kept her at a distance to keep her safe. Now she knows he loves her too.
Xue Rong assigns a special task to Jiang Shao: to comfort his sister, Chai Zhen Zhen. I guess Jiang Shao is just naturally good with women. He treats her like a sibling but I can’t say the same for her. Fu Jin Zhan is a tiny jealous when she sees how close they are.
Fu Dad is accused of embezzling. Fu Yu Zhan works with Zhang Shi Lang (the man her father wanted her to marry). Xue Rong is slightly jealous.
[Ep19] Jiang Shi Lang injures himself in the process of helping Fu Yu Zhan clear her father's name. He loves her; he wants to marry her.
[Ep21] Jin Zhan safely returns to Fu Yu Zhan and father. But father tells her to leave. He's disappointed in her for endangering Fu family with her lies. Jiang Shao also gets wind of Jin Zhan's livelihood thanks to Yu Zhan dropping him hints. Thus, Jiang Shao leads Fu Jin Zhan, knowing she's tailing him to his home. He lets her find a treasure box and romantically apologizes to her.
[Ep22] Xue Rong romantically proposes but Yu Zhan refuses. She doesn’t think she loves him. She still blames herself for doubting him for killing her sister or at least being involved. My understanding of her understanding: she can’t be his Empress if she doesn’t sincerely love him enough. Loving him just a bit isn't good enough.
[Ep23&24] The late Emperor’s eunuch reveals to Xue Rong it was Elder Princess who killed the late Emperor. It was her who angered him and sped up his death.
Elder Princess is locked up much thanks to her own loyal maid. The maid thought the blame would be placed on Huai Ji so she betrayed Elder Princess. Now they’re both locked up in jail. However, Elder Princess knows she’s loyal to Huai Ji so she sends the maid out of jail giving her one last mission. She’s to motivate Huai Ji to claim the throne by shading Xue Rong.
Yu Zhan rejects Xue Rong by accepting Jiang Shi Lang’s marriage. I dont get Yu Zhan. She doesn’t want to marry someone she doesn’t know if she truly loves so she decided to marry someone she knows she doesn’t love for sure. Does this make sense?
Jiang Shao proposes to Jin Zhan. She accepts. They’re engaged.
Huai Ji learns Jin Zhan is still alive. Chai Zhen Zhen is genuinely nervous for Jin Zhan's safety (and Jiang Shao's) if more people know she's alive. She quickly tells her to hide but Jin Zhan assures her that Huai Ji is her friend. It’s okay if he knows. But Huai Ji tells the maid.[Ep26]
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[First Impression (Ep1-8)] This will be a complex palace drama with stepbrothers and cousins contending for the coveted crown. Our main lead, Xue Rong, is the only son of the Emperor but he’s adopted. There’s a cousin who’s forced by his mother to claim the throne. Mixed into the equation is a lost son of the Emperor involved. Add in two girls who will each help their man and we’ve got ourselves a drama, folks. Both leads are equally brilliant. The female lead, Fu Yu Zhan, can’t fight though. All the fighting genes went to her younger sister, Fu Jin Zhan. For now the two sisters love each other and the stepbrothers are loyal to each other.
Pacing is quick. That’s always a plus with palace dramas. By Ep8 a marriage has happened but it’s not the one we all expected. I like the romance between the main leads. There isn’t too many blatantly obvious, in-your-face romantic scenes. They’re more subtle. Despite how fast the ML falls in love with the FL, it makes a lot of sense why they would love each other.
[Actors/Actresses] I like the acting from the five notable actors here. Aarif Rahman’s character is reminiscent of his performance in "Princess Silver" but that’s based on my very foggy memory of that drama that I did not finish. Meng Zi Yi’s personality also reminds me of her old work (The Untamed). There’s another The Untamed actor: Jiang Chen, I mean, Wang Zhuo Cheng. I’ve seen Li Yi Tong once and I’m surprised to know she’s that young. She looked so old in Love a Lifetime. Last but not least, Ren You Lun is playing a supporting role but I hope he gets to shine.
[Dropped] This drama is a little off for me. It’s a historical drama about political struggles, king making, and birth secrets but it’s all dealt very lightly.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Aarif Rahman: Xue Rong
Meng Zi Yi: Fu Yu Zhan
Li Yi Tong: Fu Jin Zhan
Wang Zhuo Cheng: Jiang Shao
Ren You Lun: Li Huai Jin
Chinese Title
浮世雙嬌傳
[Ep1] Fu Yu Zhan is to be married to the Liu Chen Feng to form an alliance but Fu Jin Zhan, the younger sister, drugs her drink to take her place because she wants to be married. No, the sisters are not on bad terms. Fu Jin Zhan wants to take her sister’s dangerous mission of killing Liu Cheng Fu.
[Ep2] Fu Jin Zhan is kidnapped by Jiang Shao on her way to be married. He has no intentions of harming her. Someone hired him to prevent Fu Yu Zhan from being married. But he kidnapped the wrong Fu Sister meanwhile Fu Yu Zhan takes back her place to be married.
Xue Rong (Prince Jin) admires Fu Yu Zhan’s intellect which is on par with his. He saves her from an ambush. He is to escort Fu Yu Zhan to form the fake marriage alliance. However, he has a secret mission from the Emperor. After killing Liu Cheng Fu, he is to kill Fu Yu Zhan. The Emperor doesn't like the Fu Sister Prophecy. He finds it a pity to kill her though.
Fu Yu Zhan calmly confronts Xue Rong if she cannot live after this mission. Xue Rong doesn’t deny it. He only tells her it’s not good for her to be too perceptive.
[Ep3] Fu Jin Zhan had the chance to escape from Jiang Shao but she chose to stay to help him recover. He vows to return her to safety since he got the wrong Fu Sister anyway. Her men arrive to save her but she tells them she’s okay. Her “saviour” (Jiang Shao) is here with her. It’s her turn to hire him to help her kill Liu Cheng Fu.
Jiang Shao and Xue Rong are good buddies. Jiang Shao saved Xue Rong once. Jiang Shao and Fu Jin Zhan update Yu Zhan and Xue Rong that Liu Cheng Fu knows they’re trying to kill him. But it's okay. Fu Yu Zhan has a plan to kill Liu Cheng Fu, prevent her own marriage and save herself.
[Ep5] Fu Yu Zhan successfully frees Xue Rong. She also diverts the Emperor’s death warrant on her because there’s another lady with surname Fu who supposedly realized the prophecy of being an Empress in another country. All is good except she made herself an enemy of Princess Fu Qing
Emperor meets his lost son, Jiang Shao, but he doesn’t reveal his identity. Emperor is hesitant on reuniting with him formally. It would cause a political uproar and it would disrupt Jiang Shao’s life. Plus, the Emperor is set on passing the throne to Xue Yao. Despite Xue Yao not being his bloodline, he raised him all these years. Xue Yao is just like a son to him.
[Ep6] Fu Jin Zhan wants to enter the military but Dad is against it. Thus, she dresses up as a man to sneak into the army. Jiang Shao helps her. He’s an imperial guard now because of Xue Rong’s request. He almost risks his life to help Fu Jin Zhao promote your the ranks.
Emperor’s health is unstable. He wants to quell the 'Fu Empress' prophecy. He also bestows a marriage between Fu Yu Zhan and Xue Rong. The Emperor gives Fu Yu Zhan a golden pouch telling her that this will represent the love between her and Xue Rong
There’s another marriage in the works. Fu Dad wants a marriage between Fu Jin Zhan and Li Huai Jin but she rejects it. She has someone she likes. It’s Jiang Shao. A disappointed Li Huai Jin sulkily returns home.
The Emperor secretly invites his two sons to visit him. He puts Jiang Shao and Xue Rong’s hands together and tell them both to support each other like brothers.
[Ep7] Princess Fu Qing isn’t happy with the marriage between Xue Rong and Fu Yu Zhan (Xue Rong is happy though). Princess Fu Qing tries to stop their union by using a bell to hypnotize Fu Yu Zhan into a slumber so she misses the ceremony. Since the marriage is bestowed by the Emperor, Fu Yu Zhan has to show up otherwise their family will be beheaded. Jiang Shao has an idea to temporarily fix this. He convinces Fu Jin Zhan to pretend to be the bride except Princess Fu Qing exposes her. Now, Fu Jin Zhan really has to marry Xue Rong.
Although Princess Fu Qing is evil and go to all lengths to covet the throne, her son, Li Huai Jin, is a good man. He had saved Yu Zhan from his mother’s grasp.
The Emperor passes away. Actually, he had passed away three days earlier but Princess Fu Qing hid that truth because she was the one who angered the Emperor to death. Princess Fu Qing thought she had the royal eunuch in her grasp to make her son the emperor but the eunuch is loyal to the late Emperor.
[Ep8] The Emperor-to-be is Xue Rong. The marriage is finalized. Fu Jin Zhan is his wife. Two depressed brothers (Xue Rong and Jiang Shao) drink with each other. I like the relationship between Fu Jin Zhan and Xue Rong. She wants him to divorce her. He wants to too but it ain’t that simple with royalty. There's zero romance between them.
Xue Rong isn’t the Emperor just yet though. He’s missing the imperial jade and the will. Princess Fu Qing won’t let him ascend the throne without them.
Fu Yu Zhan returns a golden pouch to Xue Rong that the Emperor had given her when he bestowed this marriage of hers. Now that he’s married to her sister, Fu Yu Zhan draws a clear line between her and Xue Rong. However inside that pouch is the key to the will. Xue Rong realizes this belatedly and loses the pouch. He’s utterly disappointed with himself for not only losing the woman he loves and the pouch. Just four episodes ago he was set on killing her.
Chinese Title
浮世雙嬌傳
Network: Tencent Video
Recap Grade: B
First Impression: 3/5
First Impression: 3/5
Mini Recaps
[Ep2] Fu Jin Zhan is kidnapped by Jiang Shao on her way to be married. He has no intentions of harming her. Someone hired him to prevent Fu Yu Zhan from being married. But he kidnapped the wrong Fu Sister meanwhile Fu Yu Zhan takes back her place to be married.
Xue Rong (Prince Jin) admires Fu Yu Zhan’s intellect which is on par with his. He saves her from an ambush. He is to escort Fu Yu Zhan to form the fake marriage alliance. However, he has a secret mission from the Emperor. After killing Liu Cheng Fu, he is to kill Fu Yu Zhan. The Emperor doesn't like the Fu Sister Prophecy. He finds it a pity to kill her though.
Fu Yu Zhan calmly confronts Xue Rong if she cannot live after this mission. Xue Rong doesn’t deny it. He only tells her it’s not good for her to be too perceptive.
[Ep3] Fu Jin Zhan had the chance to escape from Jiang Shao but she chose to stay to help him recover. He vows to return her to safety since he got the wrong Fu Sister anyway. Her men arrive to save her but she tells them she’s okay. Her “saviour” (Jiang Shao) is here with her. It’s her turn to hire him to help her kill Liu Cheng Fu.
Jiang Shao and Xue Rong are good buddies. Jiang Shao saved Xue Rong once. Jiang Shao and Fu Jin Zhan update Yu Zhan and Xue Rong that Liu Cheng Fu knows they’re trying to kill him. But it's okay. Fu Yu Zhan has a plan to kill Liu Cheng Fu, prevent her own marriage and save herself.
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| Their dangerously romantic moment |
[Ep4] Fu Yu Zhan makes herself sick but still pretends to be eager to marry. This convinces Liu Cheng Fu she does want to help him attain the throne. Thus they wait three days later until she’s recovered to marry. This gives time for the Emperor to bring his army to attack Liu Cheng Fu. On the day of the marriage, Fu Yu Zhan reverse-kidnaps Liu Cheng Fu to threaten Xue Rong to keep her alive. She will only hand over Liu Cheng Fu if Xue Rong lies with her that she never appeared in Li Manor. She'll handle her people and he'll handle his. If she's never been here, he wouldn't have to kill her. Xue Rong is forced to agree.
Although Fu Yu Zhan convinced Xue Rong to not kill her, the Emperor still wants her dead. It’s Xue Rong who protects her. He doesn't want her dead.
Jiang Shao is the lost son of the Emperor.
Princess Fu Qing (Emperor’s sister) undermines Xue Rong to make him look like a traitor who’s working with Liu Cheng Fu. She wants the throne for her son, Li Huai Jin. She thinks her son has a chance because Xue Yao isn’t royal blood. He was adopted by the Emperor.
Although Fu Yu Zhan convinced Xue Rong to not kill her, the Emperor still wants her dead. It’s Xue Rong who protects her. He doesn't want her dead.
Jiang Shao is the lost son of the Emperor.
Princess Fu Qing (Emperor’s sister) undermines Xue Rong to make him look like a traitor who’s working with Liu Cheng Fu. She wants the throne for her son, Li Huai Jin. She thinks her son has a chance because Xue Yao isn’t royal blood. He was adopted by the Emperor.
Fu Yu Zhan wants to help Xue Rong clear his name. She believes the Emperor is set on choosing Xue Rong to be the Crown Prince. She also believes that if Fu family helps him, Xue Rong will repay them in the future (he’s a loyal man after all) and only that way can Fu family remain safe among this uncertain political time.
[Ep5] Fu Yu Zhan successfully frees Xue Rong. She also diverts the Emperor’s death warrant on her because there’s another lady with surname Fu who supposedly realized the prophecy of being an Empress in another country. All is good except she made herself an enemy of Princess Fu Qing
Emperor meets his lost son, Jiang Shao, but he doesn’t reveal his identity. Emperor is hesitant on reuniting with him formally. It would cause a political uproar and it would disrupt Jiang Shao’s life. Plus, the Emperor is set on passing the throne to Xue Yao. Despite Xue Yao not being his bloodline, he raised him all these years. Xue Yao is just like a son to him.
[Ep6] Fu Jin Zhan wants to enter the military but Dad is against it. Thus, she dresses up as a man to sneak into the army. Jiang Shao helps her. He’s an imperial guard now because of Xue Rong’s request. He almost risks his life to help Fu Jin Zhao promote your the ranks.
Emperor’s health is unstable. He wants to quell the 'Fu Empress' prophecy. He also bestows a marriage between Fu Yu Zhan and Xue Rong. The Emperor gives Fu Yu Zhan a golden pouch telling her that this will represent the love between her and Xue Rong
There’s another marriage in the works. Fu Dad wants a marriage between Fu Jin Zhan and Li Huai Jin but she rejects it. She has someone she likes. It’s Jiang Shao. A disappointed Li Huai Jin sulkily returns home.
The Emperor secretly invites his two sons to visit him. He puts Jiang Shao and Xue Rong’s hands together and tell them both to support each other like brothers.
[Ep7] Princess Fu Qing isn’t happy with the marriage between Xue Rong and Fu Yu Zhan (Xue Rong is happy though). Princess Fu Qing tries to stop their union by using a bell to hypnotize Fu Yu Zhan into a slumber so she misses the ceremony. Since the marriage is bestowed by the Emperor, Fu Yu Zhan has to show up otherwise their family will be beheaded. Jiang Shao has an idea to temporarily fix this. He convinces Fu Jin Zhan to pretend to be the bride except Princess Fu Qing exposes her. Now, Fu Jin Zhan really has to marry Xue Rong.
Although Princess Fu Qing is evil and go to all lengths to covet the throne, her son, Li Huai Jin, is a good man. He had saved Yu Zhan from his mother’s grasp.
The Emperor passes away. Actually, he had passed away three days earlier but Princess Fu Qing hid that truth because she was the one who angered the Emperor to death. Princess Fu Qing thought she had the royal eunuch in her grasp to make her son the emperor but the eunuch is loyal to the late Emperor.
[Ep8] The Emperor-to-be is Xue Rong. The marriage is finalized. Fu Jin Zhan is his wife. Two depressed brothers (Xue Rong and Jiang Shao) drink with each other. I like the relationship between Fu Jin Zhan and Xue Rong. She wants him to divorce her. He wants to too but it ain’t that simple with royalty. There's zero romance between them.
Xue Rong isn’t the Emperor just yet though. He’s missing the imperial jade and the will. Princess Fu Qing won’t let him ascend the throne without them.
Fu Yu Zhan returns a golden pouch to Xue Rong that the Emperor had given her when he bestowed this marriage of hers. Now that he’s married to her sister, Fu Yu Zhan draws a clear line between her and Xue Rong. However inside that pouch is the key to the will. Xue Rong realizes this belatedly and loses the pouch. He’s utterly disappointed with himself for not only losing the woman he loves and the pouch. Just four episodes ago he was set on killing her.
Xue Rong: Will you change fate with me? With their marriage failing, they don't think they're meant to be but Xue Rong wants to go against fate with her.
She doesn’t answer. She likes him too but her perception of worldly matters keeps her emotions in check. She won’t be his wife (for now) but she will help Xue Rong succeed his throne.
[Ep9] With Fu Yu Zhan's wits, Xue Rong retrieves the key that can open a map to retrieve the royal edict and the imperial jade. But a lot of the credit also goes to Fu Jin Zhan for fooling Li Huai Jin. Thus, Xue Rong is the rightful Emperor and Fu Jin Zhan is his queen.
At night Fu Jin Zhan is flabbergasted to see Xue Rong in his room. He teases her for a bit but tells her he must stay the night to look like they're a couple to others. She is his Empress after all. She's relieved but is immediately upset when he takes her bed. I like their relationship but I hope they stay just friends.
[Ep10] Xue Rong complains to Jiang Shao about Fu Jin Zhan. It was all his fault Fu Jin Zhan is his wife. Now she's causing havoc in the palace because she won't comply with royal rules. Xue Rong makes Jiang Shao turn Fu Jin Zhan obedient. Jiang Shao decides to take her to the lantern festival. They're holding hands as they happily wander in the street. Fu Yu Zhan spots them. However, before she catches them, she's caught by someone else
Xue Rong caught Fu Yu Zhan in his embrace but she refuses his romantic attempts. What is done is done. She is not his wife.
Fu Jin Zhan runs away from the palace to look for Jiang Shao. She is needed five days later to perform an official ceremony for the royals as the Empress. Xue Rong purposely complains to the maid who belongs to Fu manor all for the purpose of delivering the message to Fu Yu Zhan. Fu Yu Zhan gladly offers herself to perform the ceremony with him in Fu Jin Zhan's stead. She knew that was what he wanted anyways.
[Ep11] Fu Jin Zhan finds Jiang Shao at a casino. He's looking for his father. Meanwhile, Fu Yu Zhan and Xue Rong are in a pickle. Liu Cheng Feng's people want revenge on them.
[Ep12] After saving Fu Yu Zhan, Xue Rong's eyes are blind. He's emotional at the thought of losing his sight permanently. He yells at Fu Yu Zhan to leave. But she stays. She promises to take care of him. The next morning, Xue Rong's eyes have recovered but he pretends to be blind in order to receive more of Fu Yu Zhan's care.
Jiang Shao is accused of stealing. The imperial guard threatens Fu Jin Zhan to resume her Empress position in order to release Jiang Shao. Thus, it’s a heartbreaking breakup for these two.
Xue Rong and Fu Yu Zhan are on their way back after they get news of Fu Jin Zhan. However, they’re captured by mountain captains. They don’t know he’s the Emperor. They just want money. This kidnap is to show us that Xue Rong is willing to sacrifice his life to protect her.
Jin Lady knows Jiang Shao is a prince. She doesn't tell him though.
[Ep14] After saving Fu Yu Zhan from the well, Xue Rong is very perturbed whenever he remembers the well.
Fu Yu Zhan and Xue Rong enjoy a date together but dad hears rumours of it and harshly reprimands her. What’s wrong with the Emperor hanging out with any woman of his wish? Thus, he plans to have her married.
[Ep15] Princess Fu Qing discovers Jiang Shao is a prince. She wants to make him king. The maid (Zhao Wan Er) isn’t too happy. She wants to make Li Huai Ji king. Hm.
Fu Jin Zhan is throwing a fit. Jiang Shao refused her request of eloping with him. Xue Rong doesn’t want to handle his bratty Empress who's in a fury so he shoves Li Huai Jin to her. She asks Li Huai Ji for advice if the person you like doesn't like you back. Li Huai Ji says he’ll continue loving that person. He meant her and she meant Jiang Shao. By the way, Jiang Shao is rejecting her because too many people around him are dying.
[Ep16] Princess Fu Qing pretends to help Jiang Shao avenge his family. It’s all in her grand plan to make Jiang Shao under her control.
[Ep17] Xue Rong meets his birth mother but she’s dying. He barely met her and now she’s dead. However, the guards have found out Xue Rong met his family (which includes his dad and younger sister, Chai Zhen Zhen). That’s very bad apparently. Thus, dad kills the guard and commits suicide to be with his dead wife in order to keep Xue Rong’s birth a secret. No one should know he's not Xue family's bloodline. Chai Zhen Zhen is furious at her newfound brother for destroying her family.
[Ep18] Fu Jin Zhan and Jiang Shao make up. She knows he kept her at a distance to keep her safe. Now she knows he loves her too.
Xue Rong assigns a special task to Jiang Shao: to comfort his sister, Chai Zhen Zhen. I guess Jiang Shao is just naturally good with women. He treats her like a sibling but I can’t say the same for her. Fu Jin Zhan is a tiny jealous when she sees how close they are.
Fu Dad is accused of embezzling. Fu Yu Zhan works with Zhang Shi Lang (the man her father wanted her to marry). Xue Rong is slightly jealous.
Elder Princess Fu Qing deduces Chai Zhen Zhen's real identity as Xue Rong's younger sister. Will she be a chess piece for the princess?
Chai Zhen Zhen asks Jiang Shao to marry her. Obviously, he rejects. Chai Zhen Zhen realizes he likes Fu Jin Zhan. She's adamant on marrying him though. Her logic: she already lost her family, she can't lose her love. Xue Rong tells Fu Jin Zhan about this marriage thing. Did I mention that I like their camaraderie? Fu Jin Zhan, as the Empress, summons Chai Zhen Zhen to tell her off.
[Ep20] Fu Jin Zhan fails at suppressing Chai Zhen Zhen. Xue Rong laughs at her for getting a dose of her own medicine. Chai Zhen Zhen is just like her.
Xue Rong is to remove his Empress in order to marry Fu Yu Zhan. However, Fu Yu Zhan has decided to marry Jiang Shi Lang. Because Fu family's rumours with the Emperor are too damaging. She can't do this to Fu family. The Emperor doesn't understand. Neither do I.
There's a fire. Fu Jin Zhan is missing. Everyone thinks she died. Chai Zhen Zhen witnesses the Emperor ordering his guards to bury Fu Jin Zhan outside the palace and to keep this a secret. Chai Zhen Zhen thinks her brother killed his Empress. In reality, it was Fu Jin Zhan who staged the fire and her own death. She forced Xue Rong to help her with the lie. However, one of Xue Rong's man (Cao Han) who's escorting Fu Jin Zhan out of the palace has ulterior motives. He tries to kill Fu Jin Zhan when she's not paying attention. Fu Jin Zhan is no dummy and sees through him. She runs away.
[Ep22] Xue Rong romantically proposes but Yu Zhan refuses. She doesn’t think she loves him. She still blames herself for doubting him for killing her sister or at least being involved. My understanding of her understanding: she can’t be his Empress if she doesn’t sincerely love him enough. Loving him just a bit isn't good enough.
Jin Zhan (presumably dead to everyone else) and Jiang Shao travel the world together.
Emperor and Jiang Shi Lang have a “fair” fight for Yu Zhan. The one who wins her heart will marry her. I don't know how fair it can be going up against the Emperor.
Emperor and Jiang Shi Lang have a “fair” fight for Yu Zhan. The one who wins her heart will marry her. I don't know how fair it can be going up against the Emperor.
Elder Princess is locked up much thanks to her own loyal maid. The maid thought the blame would be placed on Huai Ji so she betrayed Elder Princess. Now they’re both locked up in jail. However, Elder Princess knows she’s loyal to Huai Ji so she sends the maid out of jail giving her one last mission. She’s to motivate Huai Ji to claim the throne by shading Xue Rong.
Yu Zhan rejects Xue Rong by accepting Jiang Shi Lang’s marriage. I dont get Yu Zhan. She doesn’t want to marry someone she doesn’t know if she truly loves so she decided to marry someone she knows she doesn’t love for sure. Does this make sense?
Jiang Shao proposes to Jin Zhan. She accepts. They’re engaged.
[Ep25] Princess (who likes Jiang Shi Lang) tells Yu Zhan to not use Jiang Shi Lang if she doesn’t love him. Ditto.
Huai Ji learns Jin Zhan is still alive. Chai Zhen Zhen is genuinely nervous for Jin Zhan's safety (and Jiang Shao's) if more people know she's alive. She quickly tells her to hide but Jin Zhan assures her that Huai Ji is her friend. It’s okay if he knows. But Huai Ji tells the maid.
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Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-8)] This will be a complex palace drama with stepbrothers and cousins contending for the coveted crown. Our main lead, Xue Rong, is the only son of the Emperor but he’s adopted. There’s a cousin who’s forced by his mother to claim the throne. Mixed into the equation is a lost son of the Emperor involved. Add in two girls who will each help their man and we’ve got ourselves a drama, folks. Both leads are equally brilliant. The female lead, Fu Yu Zhan, can’t fight though. All the fighting genes went to her younger sister, Fu Jin Zhan. For now the two sisters love each other and the stepbrothers are loyal to each other.
Pacing is quick. That’s always a plus with palace dramas. By Ep8 a marriage has happened but it’s not the one we all expected. I like the romance between the main leads. There isn’t too many blatantly obvious, in-your-face romantic scenes. They’re more subtle. Despite how fast the ML falls in love with the FL, it makes a lot of sense why they would love each other.
[Actors/Actresses] I like the acting from the five notable actors here. Aarif Rahman’s character is reminiscent of his performance in "Princess Silver" but that’s based on my very foggy memory of that drama that I did not finish. Meng Zi Yi’s personality also reminds me of her old work (The Untamed). There’s another The Untamed actor: Jiang Chen, I mean, Wang Zhuo Cheng. I’ve seen Li Yi Tong once and I’m surprised to know she’s that young. She looked so old in Love a Lifetime. Last but not least, Ren You Lun is playing a supporting role but I hope he gets to shine.
[Dropped] This drama is a little off for me. It’s a historical drama about political struggles, king making, and birth secrets but it’s all dealt very lightly.
Miscellaneous thoughts. I personally think Fu Jin Zhan has a much more colourful life compared to Fu Yu Zhan. It would be interesting to have Fu Jin Zhan's story be the main focus instead (I’m only comparing characters, not the actresses).
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