Notable Actors/Actresses
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Chinese Title
瑯琊榜
瑯琊榜
List of Langya
Episodes: 41-54
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Mei Chang Su / Lin Shu / Su Zhe is our main lead. If three names isn't telling enough of how amazing he is, then perhaps his motor boat will. Or perhaps it's a boat powered by his flute. Or perhaps it's actually a sleek hoverboard on water. Who knows. Basically, this man isn’t your regular genius. Every one of his moves are surgically executed.
- Do your best to recognize that good looking guy on the raft (he'll show up in Ep6. For now, just know that Mei Chang Su isn’t saving someone random. Everything happens for a reason.
[Lin Chen: "He actually did it."] Lin Chen is the leader of "Lang Ya Hall" which is this sect in the pugilistic world that prospers with knowledge. In the quote, “he” refers to Mei Chang Su. “Actually did it” means Mei Chang Su had successfully made this random 6th Prince a Crown Prince in this northern country. But “Actually did it” refers to Mei Chang Su making the two princes of The Great Nation of Liang desperate to possess him, the Divine Man. I only caught the multiple layers of this one simple line on a rewatch.
[Love Runs Deep] Princess Ni Huang was once Lin Shu's (i.e. Mei Chang Su) fiancée before his family was charged with treason. He clearly still loves her but for his grand plans, he cannot reveal himself and can only pretend to be Mei Chang Su. She too loves him despite his “death”. As long as she doesn’t marry, she will still hold the title of Lin Shu’s fiancée.
[Ep2] [General Meng Zhi: "You have his (Fei Liu’s) protection that means you must be rather exceptional yourself.”] Mei Chang Su enters the city as Su Zhe. General Meng Zhi knows Su Zhe's real identity is Lin Shu. He deliberately said that line to entice Xie Yu that Su Zhe isn’t someone ordinary – putting more brand power on Mei Chang Su's name as The Divine Man. This is probably the smartest Meng Zhi will ever be. Interestingly, "Meng" in Chinese is a polite way of calling someone dumb.
Mei Chang Su wants Xie Yu to know he isn’t "Su Zhe" but actually "Mei Chang Su”. This whole Su Zhe disguise is only to make him more mysterious to catch Xie Yu’s attention. He is the man who accused his family of treason. Mei Chang Su is back in the city twelve years later with a “vengeance" against Xie Yu.
[Grand Empress Dowager Knows] The Grand Empress Dowager may seem senile but she’s the most perceptive of them all. With one look, she calls “Su Zhe” as “Little Shu” (from Lin Shu) and notices he lost weight (because he’s gravely ill!). She places the hands of Xiao Shu and Ni Huang together and asks about their marriage. At this point, he’s so emotionally wrought he forgets who he’s supposed to be and tightly holds onto Ni Huang’s hand. Can Ni Huang feel he’s the man she loved?
[Ep3] [Ni Huang Knows?] She may not know “Su Zhe" is Lin Shu but she knows he’s the one who helped her two years ago in a battle, which means that all these years, he’s been keeping tabs on her. If she knows that he helped her, it’s very likely she is suspicious he’s Lin Shu otherwise why would a random “Su Zhe” help her.
[The Battle to be Ni Huang’s Husband] Is stopping Ni Huang’s marriage perhaps the real reason why Mei Chang Su headed into the palace ahead of schedule? Or, um, perfectly on schedule because – spoiler for next episode – he stops the Northern candidate from winning the battle for our Princess’s hand.
[Jing Rui's Birth Secret] Jing Rui is both the son of Zhuo Family and Xie Family (Xie Yu’s son). Now, how does that work? Well, when he was given birth, the room got dark and the babies got mixed up and then the other baby died. (This piece of news serve a greater purpose in Ep20)
Miscellaneous: Mei Chang Su recounts that the only other person he knew who survived with him is Wei Zheng (important in Ep30) – see how prepared the plot it?
[Ep4] [Training Three Kids to Battle the To-Be-Groom] This scene highlights the impeccable cooperation between Su Zhe and Ni Huang without the need to plan out beforehand. She knew exactly which kids he was referring to: the slaves. Then Meng Zhi selected the exact children Su Zhe wanted. One of the children is Ting Sheng, the son of the late Prince Qi (Xiao Jing Yu). Prince Qi was accused of treason with Lin Shu’s family and hence his death.
- How did Su Zhe immediately identify Ting Sheng? From the way Prince Jing (Xiao Jing Yan) cared about the slave child and his age (11yo). Chiyan massacre and Prince Qi’s execution were twelve years ago.
Su Zhe's one move accomplishes three things:
- Stops Ni Huang's marriage
- Makes the Emperor reward the children-slaves with freedom
- Wins Prince Jing over (further explained below)
[Mei Chang Su: “I want to choose you"]
Jing Yan: Then Sir, are you choosing the Crown Prince or Prince Yu?Mei Chang Su: I want to choose you.
Mei Chang Su knows Jing Yan doesn’t have the best resume among the princes but Mei Chang Su has "no other choice". That’s a lie. Mei Chang Su sees everything a king should be in Jing Yan; he’s only making sure Jing Yan doesn’t catch a whiff of that in their conversation.
Meanwhile Jing Yan sees everything he passionately despises in Mei Chang Su: a man who manipulates and distorts the truth. It is this scheming and manipulation that wrongfully killed his friend who he still holds dear in his heart. This dear friend is Lin Shu. Right in front of ya! Mei Chang Su should know Jing Yan hates contrivance but that’s the only face Mei Chang Su shows him. He guarantees he’s capable of making Jing Yan king and he’ll prove it by winning the tournament with the three children, sounding every bit calculative.
- The question that should be asked: why is Mei Chang Su purposely appearing manipulative in front of a friend who holds him so dearly?
This is a pivotal scene that went over my head on my first two watches. How did everyone appreciate this line "I want to choose you" on their first watch? The friendship that's shown so far is bare minimal.
[Ep5] [The Slaves Win. Or did they?] The three children win. This is a crucial chess piece to gain Jing Yan’s trust and save Ni Huang from marrying a brute but you’d never know because Mei Chang Su is leisurely enjoying his tangerines and barely glancing at the fight until the kids win.
Also, I really like that brief glance Mei Chang Su gave Ni Huang so that she can argue with him to manipulate the Emperor into granting the slaves (Ting Sheng!) their freedom. They've got telepathy already! Or actually they've always had telepathy.
You would think Mei Chang Su made a risky move to train three kids in five days to defeat a man of Bai Li Qi’s likes but Bai Li Qi is actually working for Mei Chang Su. It was a foolproof plan all along
- Mei Chang Su was never going to let Ni Huang marry someone she didn’t like and hence why Bai Li Qi entered the competition so that he could manipulate the competition any way he wanted.
- Interestingly, if you recall back to how Mei Chang Su asked Fei Liu to train the boys, Mei Chang Su only emphasized “speed”. Mei Chang Su used speed to confuse the eyes of the naive audience. Only those with trained eyes (like Ni Huang and Meng Zhi) can see through the trick.
- The fact that General Meng Zhi is willing to help Mei Chang Su makes Ni Huang even more suspicious of Mei Chang Su’s real identity.
[The Attempted Rape of Ni Huang] The rape is Consort Yue’s plan to help her son, the Crown Prince, nab Ni Huang to their team. They want Si Ma Lei to rape Ni Huang. Mei Chang Su sniffs this one out almost too late but his IQ is never too slow. He gives three orders for Meng Zhi: 1) to notify Jing Yan, 2) to notify the Empress and 3) to capture Si Ma Lei who will definitely sneak out.
- Jing Yan can save Ni Huang immediately (because she can’t be raped!).
- Knowing Jing Yan’s temperament, he’d cause trouble and so the arrival of the Empress will save Jing Yan from being sabotaged by Consort Yue (because these two women hate each other).
- Having Si Ma Lei captive will be proof against Consort Yue. Mu Qing, brother of Ni Huang, is the one who captures Si Ma Lei instead of General Meng Zhi because the latter cannot show that he’s on Mei Chang Su’s side.
There’s a part four to Mei Chang Su’s plan: involve Prince Yu. Why involve him? Well...
[Ep6] [The Attempted Rape of Ni Huang – Involving Prince Yu] Jing Yan is the type of man to say the blunt truth even if it harms himself. He supports Ni Huang’s testimony against Consort Yue which means he admitted to putting a sword against the Crown Prince's neck. That’s a punishable crime regardless of any reason. There’s another thing our Emperor is curious of. How did Jing Yan know Ni Huang was in danger? Uh oh, will our truthful Jing Yan expose Mei Chang Su already? Nope. Prince Yu enters! Mei Chang Su gave him the tipoff so that he can take credit in front of the Emperor for saving Ni Huang. Prince Yu thinks this is his chance to win against the Crown Prince but the biggest winner is actually Mei Chang Su. There's at least four good things we get out of this:
- Protects Jing Yan from the Emperor's punishment for harming the Crown Prince
- Convinces Prince Yu that Mei Chang Su is truly a divine strategist. Prince Yu need not move a finger and he gained the upswing in power just by listening to Mei Chang Su's words. First he got Consort Yue imprisoned in the Cold Palace. Secondly, he has the Emperor's recognition. Finally he's gotten both Ni Huang and Jing Yan’s gratitude. He got three birds with no stone. Or so he thinks.
- Convinces Prince Yu that Mei Chang Su is potentially helping him be King – when we all know that ain't it.
- Keeps Mei Chang Su out of the picture when it comes to the Emperor
One thing Mei Chang Su might have lost is Jing Yan's trust. He's even more disdainful at Mei Chang Su's manipulation. Jing Yan gives Mei Chang Su a declarative: he has a bottom line that Mei Chang Su cannot cross. He will never stoop as low as him. Jing Yan is such a prick sometimes. He just won't trust anyone.
Mei Chang Su: Have no fear. You will never be one of them. ”Beecause I'll be them for you ♥"
[Remember That Guy in Ep1 I Told You to Try to Remember] Well he's back. He's Zhuo Qing Yao, the son-in-law of Xie Yu, the brother-in-law and brother of Jing Rui. Hard to wrap your head around this one? I know. Since he's working for Xie Yu that means he's working for the Crown Prince. He saved an old couple in order to have them testify against Prince Yu for something bad. This is a setup for Ep8. I am in awe that Mei Chang Su's plotting of this began in Ep1 when he saved Zhuo Qing Yao with his motor boat.
[Ep7] [Old House] Ni Huang takes Mei Chang Su to visit Lin Family’s old manor. It’s an abandoned house now.
Ni Huang: It doesn't mean everything disappeared. What needs to stay, will stay, like certain people (Lin Shu!), certain things (Lin Shu!!) will remain in the depth of one's heart. Time cannot erase that. She's testing Mei Chang Su.Lin Shu: I advise that Her Ladyship should not linger here anymore. "To not linger on Lin Shu anymore".
See Ni Huang's withheld tears. She has an inkling he's Lin Shu but he's telling her to forget Lin Shu. She believed in a man who she thought died 12 years ago and after all these years of loving him, this man actually tells her to let him go. That pain is all there in her expression. But do you know who's more in pain? Lin Shu. Adding to that agony of rejecting the woman he loves, Lin Shu is finally home after 12 years but nothing is the same anymore. Hu Ge, that acting, those eyes, I'm speechless. After the third time watching this, I can finally appreciate this scene and his deep sadness. It's so easy for him to respond to her love right here and right now but he didn't. He held it all in because he has a mission greater than his life, greater than his love.
By the way, why doesn't the Emperor destroy Lin Manor? It seems only reasonable to take down the house that belonged to rebels. Unless....
[New House] Mei Chang Su is house shopping and he finds this one that’s been abandoned for years. It isn't by chance Yu Jin fell in a gaping hole in a mansion Mei Chang Su wanted to buy. I wouldn't be surprised if Mei Chang Su was the one who threw Yu Jin's jade in the well to make Jing Rui search for it and in the process find all these female skeletons who have died about eight years ago. The case is brought to court. This was the purpose of inviting Jing Rui and Yu Jin so that they are the ones who find the skeletons, while Mei Chang Su is just the unlucky soul who almost bought a haunted house that no one wanted. He’s no unlucky soul, he is the ghost back to haunt everyone.
[Ep8] [Meng Zhi's Second Job: Broker] Meng Zhi is super giddy when he tell Mei Chang Su that this particular home he's selling him has a main gate that is clearly opposite of Jing Yan's but their homes are actually in the same neighbourhood. You would never know that unless you jumped. The logical follow-up question Mei Chang Su asks Meng Zhi is how'd he know then?
General Meng Zhi gladly shares: I jumped, of course!Mei Chang Su lets out a sarcastic laugh and thanks him for his jumping efforts. The way Meng Zhi answered it is like Mei Chang Su asked a stupid question, haha.General Meng Zhi: It was nothing! I jump all the time! Let me tell you, when you find some tunnel diggers to connect your homes you two can secretly date each other via the secret passage. Meng Zhi meant “meet” when he said “date" but we all know he didn't use the wrong term at all.Mei Chang Su is aghast: Must you use that term?
This is when I start loving Meng Zhi. He’s enthusiastic and plain innocent (not dumb!) despite being the number one fighter according to the Langya List. He’s the classical all muscles and no brain type of character but he's got a heart of gold for Mei Chang Su.
[Xie Yu's Assassination of Mei Chang Su] The first assassination fails. Mei Chang Su deliberately invokes a second attack from Xie Yu to show Jing Rui what kind of vile father he has. Mei Chang Su indirectly instigated the assassination by making Xie Yu think that Fei Liu was his only bodyguard. Mei Chang Su's got more, like Li Gang.
[Snow] Li Gang melancholy adds that it's snowing – it's the perfect time to kill because it can cover all tracks and all scents. Remember, Chiyan army perished on a snowy day just like this. Snow is a consistent motif in this drama and it's never associated with anything good. It has everything to do with corruption.
Mei Chang Su comforts Jing Rui who has just learned about his father's assassination.
Mei Chang Su: No matter how much snow falls, we know it will stop and it will melt.
I feel bad for Jing Rui. Mei Chang Su approached Jing Rui with ulterior motives and yet Jing Rui truly appreciates Mei Chang Su as his friend.
[Ep9] [Two Down]
- Mei Chang Su helped Zhuo Qing Yao save the elderly couple (from Ep1!) in order to trigger an investigation of a corruption scandal to ultimately collapse one of Prince Yu’s support: Duke Qing.
- Mei Chang Su’s "serendipitous” findings at Lan’s Mansion is to take down Minister Lou who is the Crown Prince’s cash cow.
[Brainwashing Prince Yu] Prince Yu visits Mei Chang Su for advice on saving Duke Qing. Prince Yu thinks he’s getting divine advice but Mei Chang Su is actually brainwashing this prince to support Jing Yan. He advises Prince Yu to ditch Duke Qing. He’s already a sinking boat. But where will Prince Yu get his military support then? Mei Chang Su’s answer: "Two Duke Qings cannot compare to half of a Jing Yan”. The math is so simple! Of course, Prince Yu is convinced. He thinks he can use Jing Yan not knowing he’s being used. Oh Prince Yu, poor you. Also, Mei Chang Su now has the perfect excuse to visit Jing Yan in public (with the excuse of helping Prince Yu create that alliance).
The entire time Prince Yu and Mei Chang Su were talking in the manor, there’s fire crackling in the background. Mei Chang Su was burning the wooden tiles with Minister Luo and Duke Qing’s name as a visual symbolism of burning down corruption. There’s also auditory cues with the fire crackling. That’s the sound of snow melting, the sound of justice being brought to light.
If snow is corruption, then fire is justice.
[Warm Bromance Moments! (You wish)]
- Mei Chang Su visits Jing Yan’s manor. It brings back all Mei Chang Su's warm memories of his past. The contrasting warmth in his heart to the frigid weather and cruel reality chills Mei Chang Su to the bone. That’s my earnest belief of why he’s unimaginably cold in Jing Yan’s manor.
- Mei Chang Su struggles with getting up after sitting down for too long in this cold, cold house. Jing Yan watches him get up on his own. Ugh. Although Jing Yan has slightly warmed up to Mei Chang Su, the relationship between them is strictly business. Jing Yan won’t even lend a hand to help the struggling man get up.
- Mei Chang Su reaches out to an item he recognizes but Jing Yan yells at him to stop. It belongs to Lin Shu who never liked others touching his stuff. Lin Shu is right there, Jing Yan!
[Ep10] [Princes: It’s a tie! Mei Chang Su: Nope] Despite both princes each down a man, it is not a tie. Their forces are equal but it’s weakened. The new minister to fill in the fallen Minister Luo is Shen Zhui. He claims loyalty to neither princes but Mei Chang Su knows he will be a future aide for Jing Yan – not because Mei Chang Su bribed Shen Zhui but because he shares the same values as Jing Yan.
It dawns on Jing Yan that the people Mei Chang Su recommended to him are the very few people he acquainted with since his return to the Imperial City. Seems like Mei Chang Su has been planting the right people next to Jing Yan from the very beginning. Just how thorough is Mei Chang Su in his plotting?
[One More Down] Mei Chang Su casually asks Li Gang to pick a wooden tile, any wooden tile. Whoever Li Gang randomly picks is Mei Chang Su's next target. It's Minister He Jing Zhong (Ministry of Personnel who works for Prince Yu). Under Mei Chang Su's orders, Gong Yu instigates He Jing Zhong's son (He Wen Xin) to kill another noble family's son. This other noble family who lost a son happens to be Team Crown Prince. Neither the families (the murdered or the murderer) are good people. However, the fact that someone had to die is what made Mei Chang Su so reluctant on choosing is next victim such that he had to ask Li Gang to choose one for him. Just my thoughts.
[Ep11] [Prince Ji is a Witness] Prince Ji is the brother of the Emperor. If he's the witness to He Wen Xin's murder then there's no point in Prince Yu trying to protect Minster He. The interesting part of this is how did Prince Yu know of this piece of information? From Ban Ruo, his informant, his very own schemer.
- Do remember back in Ep8 what Mei Chang Su said about Ban Ruo. He's keeping her active in Prince Yu's lair so that he can use her to relay messages that he can't personally tell Prince Yu. Therefore, the clever Ban Ruo is only a pawn to Mei Chang Su. The information she gets to know is the information he wants out.
Remind me again why is it so bad to have Prince Yu be king? He's clever enough and cares about his ministers and dukes.
[Plum Blossom Tree] Mei Chang Su is curious how Ni Huang thinks of Consort Yue returning to the palace. Isn't she angry? Doesn't she want revenge? No. Ni Huang is calmly admiring the plum blossom tree. She's tired of all the scheming even if that woman tried to have her raped. She'd rather not think of them at all. She's a bit of a foil to our Mei Chang Su, isn't she? If Mei Chang Su/Lin Shu gave up this “revenge" then could he have been happier? Surrounded by plum blossoms tree and happily in love. How wonderful would that be? Although Ni Huang is over the attempted rape, Mei Chang Su isn't. He asks Ni Huang to join in on giving Consort Yue some retribution. At the same time, he takes down another one of the Crown Prince's ministers. It's a triple kill.
An update on the states of the wooden tiles: Prince Yu is down one; Crown Prince is down one too. The “revenge" is taking a toll on Mei Chang Su's heart. He can’t truly be happy with each man he takes down. He’s dirtying his hands to keep the people he loves virtuous: Jing Yan gets to be his righteous Prince and Ni Huang gets to admire her plum blossoms. His hands that once held bows can now only stir palace politics. Deep down, Mei Chang Su yearns to join Jing Yan and Ni Huang. Perhaps that is why he reached his hand into the scorching fire this episode. He hates his tainted hands. I almost forgot the one who hates scheming the most should be Mei Chang Su. Not Ni Huang. Not Jing Yan. What deep sadness Mei Chang Su has.
On the topic of plum, I'm reminded of Mei Chang Su’s surname, Mei is “plum.” Coincidence? Shrugs. It’s interesting to pick at the characters in Mei Chang Su’s name (梅长苏) because this is the name Lin Shu gave his new self.
- 梅 = Plum
- 长 = Long; can refer to objects or time
- 苏 = Revive
- Long live the plum! Lol, not really. But you sort of get the gist.
[Ep12] [Ni Huang Knows] Lin Shu can't escape from Ni Huang anymore. He denied all her proofs but he slipped up when he claimed to be a mere soldier of Lin Shu's and yet he addressed "Lin Shu" by his full name instead of Young Marshal. Although Ni Huang didn't find a single physical proof, she knows he has to be her Lin Shu gege. Ni Huang is his equal and his opposite. She used her intuition to find him while he used his brains to fool everyone but failed to fool her. He wants her to keep his identity a secret. She promises. She will patiently wait for her Lin Shu gege to be back. Do you all notice how he changed the topic on her? He's not coming back. D: That cough of blood is ominous. Drama didn’t even try to give us hope.
Tiny detail: the finger motion Mei Chang Su does when he thinks – explained later (;
[Ep13] [Doctor Yan: "If you keep over-exerting yourself, you won't live long"] Is Mei Chang Su's goal to live long, though? Or is it more to live how he feels is right to live?
[Does Jing Yan Know?] Jing Yan picks up on Mei Chang Su’s finger rubbing habit. It’s something Lin Shu does when he’s deep in thought. Despite picking up on the cue, our Prince can't connect the dots.
[Tangerines Are Actually Useful!] Fei Liu grimaces at the tangerines when this boy loves all food. Mei Chang Su takes note of this. There’s a faint scent of gunpowder. And that’s how Mei Chang Su links the gunpowder to Yan Que, the man who imported the tangerines. Yan Que is Yu Jin’s father and the Empress’s brother. Although he’s Yu Jin’s biological father, he’s nothing like a father. He left Yu Jin for Taoism for many years. Yu Jin is in shock to learn that his father was the brave envoy who stopped a war from erupting.
- What happened to this man who was once so glorious? The love of his life committed suicide. She is Consort Chen, the Emperor’s wife, the mother of Prince Qi, the mother of the prince who was accused of treason). If he didn't escape using Taoism, Yan Que might have died with her.
Mei Chang Su: Lord, you are not avenging for the dead, you are merely expressing your anger.
Mei Chang Su reminds him of Yu Jin. Even if he’s not the son of the woman he loves, he is still his son. Mei Chang Su! What about yourself? This persuasion coming from Mei Chang Su hurts. He’s taking all the burden of “revenge" onto himself and saving all these kind souls.
[Ep14] [Do the Yans know Mei Chang Su’s True Allegiance?] Yan Que sighs that it’s a pity Mei Chang Su is Prince Yu’s strategist. And now we get to know why Prince Yu is no good. He’s the carbon copy of the Emperor: cruel and vicious. Despite that, Yan Que heeds to Mei Chang Su's advice. He promises he won’t kill the Emperor.
In another scene, Yu Jin suddenly has an epiphany: Mei Chang Su isn’t actually working for Prince Yu. Jing Rui asks his buddy how he knows. Yu Jin: “Intuition!” The Yans may not know Mei Chang Su’s true allegiance but they trust him.
[Who’s Next?] The Minister of Justice (on Prince Yu’s side) is caught for helping Minister He save his son. Xie Yu catches the ministers red-handed. And now two ministers on Prince Yu’s side are out. Mei Chang Su is a fair man, though. Since he took down Prince Yu's men, his next goal is Xie Yu. Mei Chang Su had planned his downfall from the very beginning.
Also, Ban Ruo is now very skeptical. How did Xie Yu know about their secret operation to save Minister He’s son? Duh, it’s Mei Chang Su.
[Ep15] [Xie Yu: Take Down Meng Zhi] There's a slaughtering of a eunuch at the palace. The next day, it’s snowing. Is that an indication that Xie Yu is vilifying our screen again? Yes. Xie Yu is making a move on Meng Zhi. Since Meng Zhi failed to protect the palace grounds, the Emperor flogs him. What are Xie Yu’s motives? Is it to pull down Meng Zhi so that he can fill in his spot?
It’s more than that.
Xie Yu lured Prince Yu to ask the Emperor to go lenient on Meng Zhi (on Ban Ruo’s advice). This plea makes the Emperor suspicious of Prince Yu for trying to gain Meng Zhi’s favour. Emperor no likie this. Thus, Xie Yu is pulling down Meng Zhi and Prince Yu.
Fret not. We have Mei Chang Su.
If Xie Yu wants to use pugilistic fighters (Zhuo Ding Feng) to do his bidding and injure Meng Zhi, then Mei Chang Su will show Xie Yu who owns that world.
Meng Zhi’s instructions: No need to be too violent, just beat them so they can’t walk.” Not violent at all, sir.
This line is referring to Zhuo Ding Feng’s nine alliances. If Zhuo Ding Feng hurts one of Mei Chang Su’s friends, then all of Zhuo Ding Feng’s allies will have to pay the price. Mei Chang Su is no frail man.
[Ep16] [Nie Feng] Xia Dong visits her husband's (Nie Feng) grave. She senses someone lurking around. She peeks around and finds Mei Chang Su and Li Gang making their way up the mountain. Since they're here anyways, Mei Chang Su pays her husband respect. It wasn’t accidental of Lin Shu to visit his loyal Left Vanguard at all.
- This scene is subtle. It's so, so concealed, it's amazing. I cannot mention it here. I will revisit this in Ep45. I don't know if you've caught it and that's all I will say about it.
Funny: Zhen Ping is the killer in the beginning of the episode who forgot to come up with a cool name. He's Mei Chang Su's other right-hand man.
[Ep17] [Ban Ruo: Make Some Noise] Ban Ruo advises Prince Yu to make as much noise as possible to expose the Crown Prince's firework-factory-corruption case and so they blast the factory. Well, that's enough noise.
[Mei Chang Su: Let There be Noise] Jing Yan misunderstands the factory explosion was Mei Chang Su's scheming. After being accused of such an atrocity, Mei Chang Su can't even look at Jing Yan in the eye.
Ni Huang can't contain her anger: No matter who said such words, they have malicious intent – turns to Mei Chang Su – and it's him (of all people).
Jing Yan was out of line, but who can blame him for being suspicious of this divine manipulator? At least Jing Yan apologizes for speaking ill of Mei Chang Su. And now he's back to being obedient. Mei Chang Su wants him to omit reporting to the Ministry of Defense for using their equipment to alleviate the city after the explosion. Jing Yan, a stickler for rules, doesn't get it. Mei Chang Su explains: the Ministry of Defense is under the Crown Prince's jurisdiction. If the ministry makes a fuss that Jing Yan did not follow protocols for such a minor mistake then it'll only make Jing Yan shine much more as the unsung hero. The Emperor will appreciate Jing Yan more for saving the day when the two princes are making a racket. This is the noise Mei Chang Su wants to create. Jing Yan, this is Mei Chang Su's scheming, not whatever crap you were thinking of.
[Consort Yue: Make More Noise] Consort Yue has an idea to save her son from the corruption case which involves noise as well. She spreads rumours that Prince Yu will overtake the Crown Prince soon. Not a half bad idea because it suggests that Prince Yu is behind the blast and this corruption is Prince Yu's scheming against the Crown Prince. The Emperor hates these commotions. Although Consort Yue is smart, she's playing perfectly to the tune Mei Chang Su is drumming. The more noise, the more glorious Jing Yan will be.
[Housewarming: More Music] Mei Chang Su has a game for his house guests at his new home: find his precious music score. Mei Chang Su notices Qin Ban Ruo eagerly looking around and so Mei Chang Su lets her join in for the scavenger hunt. However, she's not looking for the music score. She's looking for any secrets within Mei Chang Su's home. Did Mei Chang Su let her look around on purpose? Of course.
- Also during the housewarming, Mei Chang Su conspicuously asks Jing Rui about his sick brother (Zhuo Qing Yao) right in front of Xia Dong who is currently investigating Zhuo family. She suspects Zhuo Ding Feng as the one who killed the eunuch on Meng Zhi's watch.
[Ep18] [Theme: Light vs. Dark]
Although, Ban Ruo finds a secret room, it means nothing to Mei Chang Su. He's confident she can't find the secret passageway that leads to Jing Yan's. Mei Chang Su deliberately permitted Ban Ruo to look around to prove that he has nothing to hide. Ban Ruo thinks she's in the dark, but she doesn't know Mei Chang Su sees her every move as clear as day.
Mei Chan Su puts an ultimatum on Meng Zhi and Ni Huang that his "Lin Shu" identity must remain a secret from Jing Yan. This warning comes on the heels of Ni Huang's slip when Jing Yan accused Mei Chang Su of the explosion last episode. Mei Chang Su wants Jing Yan to focus solely on the throne. Once he finds out Mei Chang Su is his Lin Shu, Jing Yan will always find ways to protect him. Mei Chang Su cannot allow himself to be Jing Yan's burden.
Meng Zhi comforts him: It doesn't matter if Jing Yan doesn't know. You still have us. We'll take care of you (light your path). Light (is the word that Meng Zhi used. Although Mei Chang Su conceals himself in the dark, our pals will light his path.
Mei Chang Su: I am someone who crawled out from hell. Poison has seeped deep into my bones. All these dangerous and venomous plans, let me do them myself. I must protect the purity in Jing Yan's heart.
That night, guess who's using a candlelight (light!) to illuminate the dark passageway. It's Jing Yan lighting his path to Mei Chang Su. It's the tunnel date Meng Zhi prophesied. Mei Chang Su was just having a nightmare of his past. Isn't it a good thing Jing Yan came by? He's here to ask Mei Chang Su for help on the marriage alliance that he doesn't want with Southern Chu. Mei Chang Su isn't fazed at this news. Jing Yan also wonders why Mei Chang Su is so determined to make him King. When will Jing Yan know what Mei Chang Su sees the world of him. Jing Yan is curious if Mei Chang Su knew of his elder brother. Could it be that he has an inkling?
- Guys, please take note how calm Mei Chang Su is at the news of Southern Chu. He knew all along they were going to arrive. More in Ep 22.
- The Dark History: Princess Li Yang (Emperor's sister and Jing Yan's mother) had a love affair with a prince from Southern Chu. After that prince was exiled, Princess Li Yang was forced (uh, raped) to marry Xie Yu.
[Gao Zhan, the Eunuch] Gao Zhan is taking a remarkable amount of screen-time this episode. This should not go unnoticed. When the Emperor causally asked Jing Yan to recommend someone to be the new Minister of Justice, Jing Yan is like (in my best deep voice) I don’t know anyone, I only started knowing people when father assigned me to that corruption case. Emperor is like Oh ya, who was that guy you were working with again! And that’s how Jing Yan inserts his people (Cai Quan) into the Ministry of Justice. The importance of this scene: that look Gao Zhan gave Jing Yan! It's a I-see-what-you-did-there-look.
Then in the next scene, the Emperor casually asks Meng Zi what he thinks of the rumours that the Crown Prince will soon be replaced. Meng Zhi gives non-answers but that doesn’t stop Emperor from probing him more. Meng Zhi furtively glances to the side. I don’t know whether he’s thinking of his response or he’s looking at Gao Zhan who is standing where he’s looking. Is Gao Zhan giving him hints on how to respond? Meng Zhi’s neutral responses pleases the Emperor way too much for the Meng Zhi I know.
Then Gao Zhan asks the Emperor where he would like to go next: is it to this consort's or that consort’s. The idea of consorts gives the Emperor a major headache. Surely, Gao Zhan would have known the Emperor didn’t want to see any annoying consorts after this conversation about his sons, right? Thus, the Emperor opts for a walk in the garden. Oh, but what is this fragrance! Gao Zhan promptly informs the Emperor it must be the herbal garden of Concubine Jing's! Is this a coincidence? A purely random visit to Concubine Jing, (mother of Jing Yan!), when the other Princes are falling out of favour? Gao Zhan is definitely a hidden facet.
Other stuff: Our smart Meng Zhi purposely-accidentally finds the secret passageway at Jing Yan's place. Poor Jing Yan, even Meng Zhi is trying to fool him.
[Ep19] [Old Friends] Meng Zhi proclaims allegiance to Jing Yan. He wants to stand with his old friends (the ones alive and the ones dead)
Jing Yan: So you merely want to stand with your old friends? Am I the only one imagining the emphasis Jing Yan added to these words?
Did Meng Zhi give it away? Because who else is an old friend? Lin Shu is. Will Jing Yan be smarter than Meng Yan and figure it out?
[Old Acquaintances] The Emperor visits Concubine Jing. She doesn’t get his visits often because she’s like a sister to Consort Chen, mother of the late Prince Qi (the "traitor"). It’s the unspoken rule to avoid anything Consort Chen related, therefore, this visit to Concubine Jing is truly significant. Emperor renews his admiration for Concubine Jing's benevolence and her neutrality. Is Concubine Jing gaining favour? Yes. The next royal decree promotes Concubine Jing to Consort Jing. Ban Ruo is like this is nothing to Prince Yu. This is something! Ban Ruo also assures Prince Yu that he still has the Emperor’s favour. Is she serious or does she have a motive? Prince Yu is clearly losing power and losing favour.
Romance: Ni Huang is leaving. She gives Mei Chang Su the yellow jade that will command her army if he needs. He holds her hand and tells her to not worry about her brother who's still in the city.
Ni Huang: Lin Shu gege, don’t you know who the person I’ll miss more is?Lin Shu stares in her eye and lets the silence fill in: I know.
[Confusing Plan to Take Down Xie Yu]
- Gong Yu injures herself to assassinate Xie Yu. She escapes and is found by Ban Ruo. Everything is perfectly aligned to Mei Chang Su’s plan. Hm.
- Prince Ling of Southern Chu challenges Jing Rui to a duel. Except it’s the Princess (Yu Wen Nian) dueling.
- Xia Dong invites herself to Jing Rui’s birthday party after hearing Meng Zhi is going too.
- Then there’s a bottle of Heart Safety Pill that Mei Chang Su is giving Jing Rui as a birthday present.
- The next day, Gong Yu is in Xie Manor to play qin for the birthday
The Cute: Meng Zhi and Fei Liu's childish shoulder fight. The way Meng Zhi breathes out of his nose makes him look like a bull ready to attack.
[Ep20] [Jing Rui's Birthday; Take Down Xie Yu] Xie Yu happily receives everyone not knowing every single attendee is here to destroy him. Everything in this birthday party will link back to Jing Rui’s birth. While random things are unfolding, there are brief scenes of Mei Chang Su looking calmly complacent as if every variable factor that happened, he had already thought it through.
- Xia Dong invited herself because she is still investigating Zhuo Ding Feng. She fights him to expose his technique which will prove he’s the assassin who got Meng Zhi in trouble. But did she really invite herself or was this all in Mei Chang Su’s plan to include her in the birthday party from the very beginning?
- Gong Yu plays the qin. Her tune tugs at Princess Li Yang's heartstrings. Why? I don't think I ever understood why this tune made Princess Li Yang cry.
- Southern Chu people crash the party. They bring in another guest, Yue Xiu Ze, who challenges Zhuo Ding Feng. It’s a rule in the pugilistic world to accept another fighter's challenge. Xie Yu declines for Zhuo Ding Feng but Xia Dong wants some fight (for her investigation purposes) and eventually the marital artists’ duel. Zhuo Ding Feng manages to escape that one too but in the process hurt himself, losing years of his martial art experience just to hide his sword technique. Xie Yu wants him to rest in another wing but Mei Chang Su insists Zhuo Ding Feng stay for the rest of the show and take a Heart Safety Pill – just in case. The night will be long.
- Princess Yu Wen Nian claims Jing Rui is his half-brother. Who would have known that only one mother (Princess Li Yang) of the double mothers and double fathers of Jing Rui is his real parent. Xie Yu kept Jing Rui alive all these years merely as a chess piece to control Zhuo Ding Feng. What better way to control a man than sharing a son with him?
- Gong Yu is up (after receiving a quick glance from Mei Chang Su). She starts laughing at the birth secrets. She is the daughter of the man Xie Yu ordered to kill Princess Li Yang’s newborn. But her father failed. He only killed Zhuo family’s newborn. Because of that failure, Xie Yu had her father killed. Currently, Xie Yu orders his guards to kill Gong Yu so she can zip it. But hold up! There’s all these witnesses! There’s Prince Ling, there’s Xia Dong, there’s Meng Zi. And that is why you expose big birth secrets at big birthday events – free witnesses!
- Prince Yu’s troops have surrounded Xie Manor. Prince Yu knows of the birth secret. How? Remember Gong Yu tried to assassinate Xie Yu and ended up injured in front of Ban Ruo. She purposely let Ban Ruo on the deets so that Prince Yu can have his troops protecting them. It'd be stupid of Prince Yu to not involve himself in this juicy mess to take down Xie Yu.
- Fei Liu secretly enters the weaponry room of Xie Family and finds a bunch of bows. He’s got a mischievous smile on and a knife in hand. What is there to do other than cut all the bow strings? Now, Xie Yu has no bows to strike his arrows at all his witnesses.
- Xie Yu calls a servant to confirm whether Prince Yu is really outside. He also whispers something inaudible to his servant. Notice Mei Chang Su’s calmness.
[Ep21] [The Night is Long] Outside the manor, Prince Yu sees the lone servant. He’s heading somewhere with a horse. Prince Yu is asked whether they need to stop him. Nope.
Prince Yu: How much tide (浪) can one person bring? He couldn't be more wrong. 浪 sounds the same as 瑯 in 瑯琊榜 (Lang Ya Ban), the organization that lists all the powerful people. It is this organization that promoted Mei Chang Su to divinity making the princes desire him. Mei Chang Su is the 浪, the lone tide, who brought all these turbulent waves to the palace.
Meanwhile, inside the manor Mei Chang Su speaks. Rather timely. It's immediately after that 浪 line from Prince Yu's. Mei Chang Su urges Gong Yu to complete her story. Notice how Xie Yu is smug and allows her to speak. He thinks he can stall time but trust that nothing can escape from Mei Chang Su. Nothing.
The servant Xie Yu sent was to organize the Capital Patrols to guard his manor against Prince Yu's troops. As long as these Capital Patrols don't enter Xie Manor then it doesn't count as Xie Yu exploiting imperial resources. With the arrival of the patrols outside the manor, Xie Yu can easily launch his attacks on his guests knowing Prince Yu cannot interfere. But, Your Lordship, have you not checked your guest list? There is Fei Liu, Meng Zhi, Yue Xiu Ze, Zhuo Ding Feng (and all of Zhuo family), Jing Rui, Princess Yu Wen Nian. Gong Yu, all of whom can fight and half of them are listed on that mighty Lang Ya Bang. There's a reason why they're all here on this fateful night! Additionally, Xia Dong releases help signal which gives a reason for Prince Yu to check up the manor. Mei Chang Su compliments Xia Dong for that.
Xia Dong to Mei Chang Su: Mr. Smarty-pants, enough with the small talk. If you're too bored then find a way for us to escape, okay? Agreed. Lol.
That's when Mei Chang Su tells Fei Liu to open the secret passage to help them escape. How did Mei Chang Su know that was there? Also, outside the manor, Prince Yu receives help from Yan Que to enter the manor. Aw, Yan Que is worried about his son. I'd like to believe it's not a coincidence Yan Que is suddenly worried about his son at a regular birthday party. The two men finally manage to get in with Princess Li Yang's help. She puts a knife to her neck to threaten Xie Yu to stop. Xie Yu tearfully asks her if this is all for Jing Rui. Inside the manor, the arrows stop.
Mei Chang Su: The night is finally over. Everything should end now.
Generally, it's a "successful" night but there are inevitable casualties:
- Jing Rui, the poor baby
- Zhuo Mom. It's like her son was killed twice. She just found out her newborn was killed and Jing Rui was never her son
- Zhuo Ding Feng. His son is not his son. His friend his not his friend. Now he has to admit to his crimes all of which was for this non-friend bastard. Among the misfortunes, Mei Chang Su will make sure to protect Zuo Ding Feng's family if he confesses.
- Zhuo Qing Yao. His wife is the daughter of the man who killed his real brother and sabotaged his father. I don't understand how Princess Li Yang knew all this but let her daughter marry Zhuo Qing Yao.
- Xia Dong. Mei Chang Su might have just risked exposing himself to Xia Dong. She notices how loyal Meng Zhi is towards him.
[Ep22] [The Night is Still Long But Clearer] Mei Chang Su glances at Meng Zhi who's waiting for the former like a buddy would do. Mei Chang Su easily covers that up to Prince Yu. However, Prince Yu is still slightly suspicious and tells Ban Ruo how close Mei Chang Su and Meng Zhi are. She casually dismisses that thought of his. Is Ban Ruo smart or not?
How did Prince Yu get involved? Mei Chang Su left breadcrumbs for Ban Ruo to look into Princess Li Yang and Southern Chu’s Prince Sheng's affair. Ban Ruo thought she hit jackpot but Mei Chang Su has been circulating that birth-secret rumour in Southern Chu since the beginning of the year waiting for her to take the bait. Then there was Gong Yu's failed assassination of Xie Yu which led her to Ban Ruo. Now Prince Yu and Ban Ruo think they're the ones who instigated Xie Yu's downfall. Brilliant. Mei Chang Su waited for these snails to learn about Jing Rui's birth secret and only enacted his plan to expose Xie Yu after hearing the Southern Chu's are here for the "marriage alliance". That's why back in Ep18, Mei Chang Su wasn't fazed when he heard from Jing Yan that Southern Chu people are here.
How did Southern Chu Royalties get involved? Prince Yu was in charge of receiving the royalties. He immediately noticed the similarities between Princess Yu Wen Nian and Jing Rui. And that’s how he plotted to have the royalties at the birthday party.
[The Hardened Heart] Xie Yu's daughter, Xie Qi dies in labour. Zhuo Qing Yao didn't make it in time to see Xie Qi before her death. After Mei Chang Su learns of this, the sound of his coughs reverberate in his fragile body.
Fei Liu: Su gege, you're not well.Mei Chang Su: I'm still okay.Fei Liu: Will you get better?Mei Chang Su: I will get better (BGM: drumming). Do you know why? – looks Fei Liu right in the eye – because our heart will grow harder and harder such that we don’t feel pain anymore.In Mei Chang Su's eyes are tears that he can't cry. It's the perfect expression. He is resolute about his plan. All these years, his heart has hardened. He can't cry now. He won't cry now. Despite his heart hardening, it doesn't mean he's impervious to pain. The only way for him to move on is to to let his heart grow harder. Let there be pain and let the pain numb him and let the heart grow harder.
Note the drumming sound right when Mei Chang Su says he will be better. That drumming sounded like a heart beating. It’s uneven and it's unnerving. To me, it's the sound of Mei Chang Su's heart drumming up to his next battle. The beating accelerates and accelerates until a new man appears on our screen. It’s Xia Jiang. Xia Dong’s superior at Xuan Jing Bureau. With a simple conversation with the Emperor, Xia Jiang is able to deflect Xie Yu’s crimes by changing the focus to the princes fight. According to Xia Jiang. Xie Yu was just Prince Yu's chess piece.
Never fear when you possess the Divine. Prince Yu is here to complain how Xie Yu is being let off his crimes. Mei Chang Su guides Prince Yu to investigate into the death of Li Chong Xin who died 13 years ago (coincidentally, Chi Yan army’s massacre was 13 years ago – was 12 years ago but in drama-time, we’re already a year in). Prince Yu thinks Mei Chang Su is doing all this to help him but he's merely a pawn of Mei Chang Su's to do all his bidding. We're switching gears and closing in on revealing the truth of Chi Yan army.
[Ep23] [Xie Yu in Prison] Mei Chang Su visits the prison to speak with Xie Yu. He asks the guard whether it's this cell. The significance: Mei Chang Su knows it's not that cell because it's the one that imprisoned Prince Qi – a cell for the imperial family. I wonder what it feels like for Lin Shu to be so close to the place Prince Qi died in. There's no doubt he heard the guards gossiping about that cell imprisoning Prince Qi – "a hard skeleton they say he was". In the YouTube subtitles, you might see it translated as "unyielding man" instead of "hard skeleton" but I thought the direct translation was more meaningful because it compliments Mei Chang Su's hardened heart.
Mei Chang Su visits Xie Yu to tell him exactly how he lost. (Xie Yu never asked, lol)
Mei Chang Su: The reason you were defeated is because you're S-tupid. LOL. I'm very curious what Mei Chang Su is eating right now. Because I am smarter than you, I know what you're thinking. I can predict your every move but in reverse, you can't see through me at all. So how is it possible for you to not lose? And in the end you don't even know how you were defeated, so if that's not foolish, then what is? The burn continues! Oh, yes. Do you know there's another person smarter than you? Xia Jiang. As long as he's here, you will continue to lose and lose.
Mei Chang Su is making Xie Yu turn against Xia Jiang. Once Xia Jiang frees Xie Yu, the former will kill the latter because Xie Yu holds Xia Jiang's secret.
Mei Chang Su warns Xie Yu: Your (living) opportunities to talk grow fewer in time. This beautifully contrasts the words Xie Yu drilled to his son who wanted to commit suicide back in Ep20: "Only the living have the right to speak." Xie Yu kept his life but soon he won't be able to speak. Ironic, isn't it?
Mei Chang Su wants Xie Yu to trust him (after calling him S-tupid). Xia Jiang has a reason to kill Xie Yu but Mei Chang Su does not. I believe Mei Chang Su really doesn't want Xie Yu dead. I think he prefers making them live through their punishment.
Xie Yu gives in and tells Mei Chang Su about Li Chong Xin. He's a teacher who, under the orders of Xia Jiang, forged Nie Feng's letter that details Lin Xie and Prince Qi's mutiny. Xie Yu pretended to receive that forged letter to "save" Nie Feng but was in fact there to ambush Nie Feng and the entire army. The significance of this scene: the hidden audience listening to this confession. Xie Yu is telling this to Lin Shu, son of Lin Xie, Xia Dong, wife of Nie Feng, and Jing Yan, brother of Prince Qi and best friend of Lin Shu. That pain in all of their expressions....
After learning the truth, Xia Dong stumbles in her step. Jing Yan helps her steady. Instead of thanking him for helping her, she apologizes to him. That's the only words she can say.
Jing Yan: Xiao Shu (Lin Shu) won't blame you.The thing is, she wasn't apologizing to Lin Shu (who she should but, you know, he's dead to everyone), she was apologizing to Jing Yan for being rude to him all these years. I find it beautiful that Jing Yan instinctively assumed that the apology was for Lin Shu. Jing Yan never thought she owed him an apology. His mind and heart has never left his friend – and yet he can't recognize him. Anyway.
Later that night, Jing Yan visits Mei Chang Su. Mei Chang Su logically tells him they can drop Xia Jiang from their plans hereon; he's not involved in their court politics. Jing Yan's eyes are cold. He asks Mei Chang Su if that's his conclusion after hearing the horrendous revelation from Xie Yu? No, dude. This man sat motionlessly in disparity for hours.
Jing Yan continues to push: Prince Qi and the entire Lin family suffered unimaginable injustice but you think this is an irrelevant case of the past? How does Mei Chang Su remain calm? I'm livid.
Mei Chang Su is calm because there's nothing they can investigate that will change the result. Not when the Emperor is intent on believing his son, Prince Qi, meant to rebel. It didn't matter whether Prince Qi truly rebelled with Lin family, the Emperor only needed an excuse to execute Prince Qi. Lin family was just unlucky. Hmmm. That reminds me of a scene when the Emperor specifically ordered Prince Yu when he was investigating Xie Yu to only convict Xie Yu of the crimes he actually did and not add crimes he didn't do. Sounds like the Emperor is guilty.
[Ep24] [Grand Empress Dowager Passes Away] In her last breath, she calls out to Jing Yan and Xiao Shu (Lin Shu). These two were deserving of her love. They're the only great-grandsons who properly mourned for her. There’s a three day fasting and the Princes are all eating in the middle of the vigil. Jing Yan refuses the food and assures his other brother (Jing Ting) that he can eat since his health isn’t good. Well... Mei Chang Su is dying and still fasting....
Someone is back to comfort Mei Chang Su. It’s Ni Huang. Poor guy has suffered so much since her departure (Jing Rui’s birthday party, Xie Yu’s confession, and now his beloved great-grandmother's death).
Mei Chang Su: Whenever I think of the past, my heart is like a mountain made of ice and I would feel a spark of fire inside melting that ice. Sometimes it’s warm; other times it’s cold to the bone.Ni Huang: Lin Shu gege, for the future, for me, you have to take care of yourself.Mei Chang Su: If your future doesn’t have me, it will still be good. It will be good.Ni Huang is in tears. She doesn’t want to leave him anymore.Mei Chang Su: But if you’re at my side, I will be distracted.
He finally agrees to her staying. Ni Huang is happy again...but for how long?
[Xie Yu's Letter] Mei Chang Su is a man of his words. He sends Princess Li Yang to visit Xie Yu before he’s exiled. Mei Chang Su wants Xie Yu to write a letter. This letter will contain all the details of his and Xia Jiang's secret. Princess Li Yang will safeguard the letter. If Xie Yu dies, then the secrets will reveal. That way, Xia Jiang cannot kill Xie Yu. Xie Yu finally admits Mei Chang Su is indeed divine.
[Jing Yan: "Have you heard of Chiyan Army’s General, Lin Shu?"] Jing Yan notices the familiar hand posture and asks Mei Chang Su whether he knew of Lin Shu. Mei Chang Su manages to get out of that one. Jing Yan also believes that if Lin Shu were alive today, then he would be best friends with Mei Chang Su "too". Did Jing Yan just admit he thinks of him as a best friend??
I feel like Jing Yan is given A LOT of hints that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu. Does he really not see them at all?
[Gao Zhan at it Again] The Emperor is furious at his two princes who are making another scene. Our eunuch, Gao Zhan, comforts Emperor and reminds him today is a special day. It’s Consort Jing’s birthday. That puts a smile to Emperor’s face. He also sees Jing Yan there and smiles even more at this lovely mother-son pair. What a coincidence Gao Zhan, mentioning Consort Jing again?
[Ep25] [The Tides are Shifting] Jing Yan is gaining favour. Crown Prince has lost his brains Xie Yu. Now what about Prince Yu's strategist? Ban Ruo isn't half who she was anymore. Literally. She is the leader of Hong Xiu Zhao (Beckoning Red Sleeves) that houses a sleuth of female spies working all over the city and in the palace. However, Mei Chang Su has been meticulously flicking out her female spies. Now her army is down to half.
Just what is Ban Ruo's purpose? It isn't to help Prince Yu. She has an agenda of her own, a grudge on the entire Land of Liang. She wants revenge for her Hua Tribe Kingdom and, first, she needs her people to infiltrate into Mei Chang Su's iron fortress with the help of her 4th Sister. The sister reminds her that their late master, Princess Xuan Ji. already orchestrated revenge with the estrangement between Emperor and Prince Qi, and the massacre of Chiyan army. This list of people involved in Chiyan army massacre just keeps on growing. That's not enough for Ban Ruo. Her ultimate target is none other than the Emperor, the almighty who ordered Chiyan Army to kill Hua Tribe.
Ban Ruo is quite the foil to Mei Chang Su. Her story is the same as Mei Chang Su. Both have a deep vengeance against the Emperor. She wants to bring Liang to ruins. Mei Chang Su is also putting the nation in a turmoil but he's destroying the corrupted infrastructure to rebuild a better nation. It took me this long to realize Mei Chang Su was never in this for revenge.
[The Travel Diary] Mei Chang Su is writing this book. Meng Zhi notes how his writing has drastically changed since his days as Lin Shu. By chance, Jing Yan picks up this book. Does he recognize the writing? Does Jing Yan notice how chummy Meng Zhi and Mei Chang Su are? Before Jing Yan leaves, he asks Mei Chang Su to borrow the book. Does he know?? He says he just wants to read it more. Mei Chang Su looks fretful.
I simultaneously hate and love all this "Does Jing Yan Know?" questions.
[Ep26] [The Paradox] Ban Ruo notices the paradox: How is it that since the arrival of this Divine Talent, Prince Yu is left with empty power and only a glorious name? Is this really the capabilities of the Divine Talent if he is working for Prince Yu? Yes Ban Ruo, you are right. This really is the power of the Divine Talent because he ain't working for your prince.
Ban Ruo plans to use her 4th Sister to to seduce Tong Lu (Mei Chang Su's informant).
[Friendship Remains True] Jing Rui is leaving with his new-found-sister who obsessively loves him for some reason. It's only temporary that's why he didn't inform his best friend about it but still, Yu Jin is here to send him off. Although his family is flipped inside out and everything became a lie, Yu Jin tells him their friendship remains true. Mei Chang Su is also here to send him off. He apologizes to Jing Rui but the latter doesn't think Mei Chang Su owes him an apology. He only revealed the truth –in the harshest way possible where the boy can't even celebrate his birthday from henceforth anymore. Jing Rui won't hold it against him. Mei Chang Su wishes he can keep his kind and valiant spirit.
Translation of what Mei Chang Su said: "Don't be me". I find Jing Rui and Mei Chang Su very similar. Both kind souls but fate turn their lives upside down and inside out. It makes me wonder if Mei Chang Su particularly hurts for him because he sees a bit of himself in Jing Rui.
Also, seeing Yu Jin and Jing Rui separate reminds me how much their friendship parallels Lin Shu and Jing Yan. Throughout the drama, we got to see the shining friendship between Yu Jin and Jing Rui. That should have been Lin Shu and Jing Yan. If only.
[Another Birthday] It's the Emperor's. Prince Yu gives the present of "Longevity" in a rock. Jing Yan gives his father a bow, his favourite bow. According to Mei Chang Su the bow is very suitable and a humble present. The Emperor tries to pull back the bow but his strength isn't what it used to be. The next day, the Emperor falls ill. Let’s appreciate the seamless transition. Jing Rui, our last birthday boy, just had a farewell scene, and then Drama inserts the Emperor’s birthday. It’s a new wave.
[Ep27] [Does Jing Yan know?] Jing Yan finds out about the nickname Mei Chang Su gave him: Water Buffalo (or ox or bull – I don’t know cattle...). This is the nickname Lin Shu gave him. Could Jing Yan finally figure it out? No. Mei Chang Su reacts sublimely and says it’s Ni Huang who told him about that nickname.
After that close call, Meng Zhi asks Jing Yan for the travel diary from last time. Because. Meng. Zhi. Loves. Reading. Ha. Ha. But Consort Jing has it. Uh oh. Meng Zi shows the “uh oh” on his face rather blatantly. When Jing Yan asks Consort Jing for the book, she's oddly attached to it too. Does Jing Yan know???
The Cute: Meng Zhi being “meng".
[Ep28] [Consort Jing Knows] When Consort Jing returns the book written by Mei Chang Su to Jing Yan, she tells her son he must be particularly generous and grateful to "this man". Jing Yan quizzically notes that his mother asked this twice of him already. Consort Jing is startled but quickly lies that she must be getting old that she's this forgetful. She’s not. The first time she asked him to take care of Mr. Su, she meant Mr. Su. This time she asked him to take care of Mr. Su, she meant Li Shu. They’re clearly different sentences but Jing Yan doesn’t know.
[Jing Yan Really Doesn’t Know] Jing Yan is merely suspicious why everyone is so attached to the book. Just what is it about the book? He copied down everything, read it inside out, and finds nothing odd about it. Jing Yan, I thought you were smarter but you’re truly a water buffalo. He only knows how to drink water and doesn’t know how to do anything else. Lin Shu was right.
[Mei Chang Su Fears Consort Jing Knows] It is only Jing Yan who doesn’t know. The sweets and desserts she makes for Mei Chang Su is a token of gratitude and her oath of silence on his identity.
[Jing Yan’s Promotion] Prince Yu is very upset Jing Yan is closing in on his ranking. Mei Chang Su calms him that it means Prince Yu is closer to being a Crown Prince. Back in the day, Prince Yu got a promotion when the Crown Prince was crowned as Crown Prince. It’s a lucky sign. No. It’s a blatant lie. What impresses me is how this scene parallels with the previous episode. Previously, Mei Chang Su told Jing Yan the truth that what looks favourable isn’t actually beneficial (the Crown Prince is punished but because there's no written edict to punish the prince, it means the Emperor still favours this Crown Prince). This episode, to Prince Yu, Mei Chang Su tells him the exact opposite: what looks unfavourable is actually beneficial. The way Mei Chang Su spins lies is awe-inspiring.
[Ep29] [Lightening Strikes but the Thunder Follows: Xia Jiang] Prince Yu is struck from the lightening Mei Chang Su accurately forecast. Technically Prince Yu struck himself by accepting bribes and now he's caught for it. The Emperor reprimands him. But there’s still a retaliating thunder to come. Ban Ruo motivates Prince Yu to stand on his feet again. Oh, but Prince Yu is already planning to taking down Jing Yan with his ultimate weakness: Chiyan Army Rebellion. Ban Ruo knows the exact person who can help him: Xia Jiang. Although Xia Jiang doesn’t involve himself in politics, the last person he wants to be the Emperor is Jing Yan. Why? Because Xia Jiang was the investigator of the Chiyan rebellion case. But how would Prince Yu form allies with Xia Jiang? Ban Ruo has her ways. Her late master, Princess Xuan Ji, and him were "good friends".
Ban Ruo also has her little spy (Fourth Sister) on Tong Lu.
[Hazelnut] Consort Jing refuses Minister Huang’s hazelnut. What’s so special about this? Lin Shu is allergic to hazelnuts. The dessert she sends over no longer has hazelnuts despite Jing Yan loving them. It’s clear as day, Consort Jing knows.
Weather: It’s snowing. Fei Liu flies across the roof holding a branch of plum blossom. He stole it. From where? I’d assume he stole it from Ni Huang’s garden. Does this tree blossoms in winter?
[Ep30] [Alliance] Mei Chang Su has Yan Que's (and Yu Jin's) alliance. They're collaborating because they both admire Prince Qi. Meanwhile Prince Yu is vying for Xia Jiang. They work together because they have a common enemy. Which alliance will win: one based on admiration or the other based on greed?
Xia Jiang has information for Prince Yu. He has found Wei Zheng (the lone general who survived the Chiyan Army massacre with Mei Chang Su – Mei Chang Su also mentioned this way back in the earlier episodes). He’s living with a new identity. Xia Jiang wants to bait Jing Yan into saving Wei Zheng and that will easily turn Jing Yan into a traitor in front of the Emperor. Xia Jiang is confident in his plan and doesn’t consider Mei Chang Su a thing. Well, that's how Xie Yu fell to our Divine Talent.
[Ep31] [Doctor Yan: “He (Mei Chang Su) survived the critical period.”] It’s a line with a lot foreshadowing. First, the literal meaning: Mei Chang Su fell ill throughout the storm but he’s out of danger now. It’s Jing Yan who will be in danger but Mei Chang Su will soon be back to help him! We’re going to survive this critical period, guys. Also, during this critical period, Tong Lu remains loyal to Mei Chang Su even if he’s caught in Ban Ruo’s web. Mei Chang Su will certainly survive this critical period.
[Consort Jing and her Herbs] The Empress finds a a random excuse to confine Consort Jing. Empress blames her for poisoning the Emperor and finds this Coriander Herb's (Huan Ge Grass) in her mini-pharmacy of a room as proof. The herb is mostly beneficial (Google says so) but it has a minor, minor side effect of blood clotting and liver failure. Like most meds, really.
[Ep32] [Ban Ruo vs. Mei Chang Su] Ban Ruo is keeping Tong Lu hostage so that she can control 4th Sister. It seems like 4th Sister actually likes Tong Lu. Meanwhile on Mei Chang Su's side, Zhen Ping and Li Gang are willing to stay even if the situation is dire. Ban Ruo needs threats to keep her authority; Mei Chang Su has unwavering loyalty.
[Consort Jing’s Brilliance] Emperor keeps dreaming of the dead. First, he dreamed of Grand Empress Dowager and now Consort Chen (Prince Qi's mother). On the topic of Consort Chen, Consort Jing inconspicuously adds that Consort Chen has no shrine maybe that’s why you keep dreaming of her. Thus, the Emperor gives her a secret mission.
My question: did Consort Jing add that comment on purpose to get the Emperor to remember Consort Chen doesn't have a proper shrine? Just how many times has she done this to the Emperor without him knowing?
Why is everyone around Jing Yan so smart but Jing Yan himself? He must have activated 90% of his genes from the Emperor. Then again, the Emperor isn't that bad, I think. Just what happened to you, Jing Yan?
[Gao Zhan’s Brilliance] The Emperor is furious at Jing Yan for his outburst on Wei Zheng's punishment and for mentioning Prince Qi and General Lin by their titles when the Emperor deemed them traitors. Because of this, Prince Yu regains the upswing. However, Gao Zhan calms the Emperor and reminds him he promised Consort Jing to not blow a fuse today (of all days, of course). At the mention of Consort Jing, the Emperor's temper cools. He excuses Jing Yan to see his mother. Prince Yu didn't get the punishment he wanted for Jing Yan.
[Ep33] [Jing Yan Cutting the Bell] Just when I thought Jing Yan has the support of the backcourt (Consort Jing and Gao Zhan), out comes a Xiao Xin. She is the maid of Consort Jing. Against Consort Jing's orders, she spills everything to Jing Yan that Mei Chang Su deliberately let his mother suffer. Jing Yan explodes. Well. Her one comment tears up the partnership between Mei Chang Su and Jing Yan.
Mei Chang Su rings the bell in their passageway to speak to Jing Yan. Mei Chang Su doesn’t know of Jing Yan’s seething anger. Then, on the topic of Wei Zheng, Mei Chang Su reveals he has no plans on saving him. He can’t afford to do anything that will place Jing Yan at a disadvantage because that’s exactly what Prince Yu wants. Oh man, Jing Yan erupts
- This is bad but there’s good stuff here: Jing Yan’s body language. The entire time Mei Chang Su is speaking, Jing Yan has his back towards him. In the past, whenever Jing Yan confronted Mei Chang Su for his scheming, Jing Yan always did so facing him, always so blunt. This time, he can't face Mei Chang Su. It’s because Jing Yan has come to value him. He was trying to control his anger by not facing Mei Chang Su. And now Mei Chang Su has utterly betrayed that trust. I guess the more you loved, the more you hate.
- On the topic of coldness, notice how thinly Mei Chang Su is dressed compared to Jing Yan! The poor man couldn't even get up a few days ago and now he's in such a rush to see Jing Yan he didn't even dress himself properly. And! He’s on the receiving end of Jing Yan's bitter, bitter insults. Fei Liu, where are you! Your master is freezing!
Weather: Snowstorm
[Mei Chang Su: "Xiao Jing Yan!"] Mei Chang Su waits in the snowstorm for Jing Yan (this time, properly dressed, but still so cold). Mei Chang Su asks Jing Yan is it worth it to risk everything for a soldier? This is coming from Lin Shu himself. How is his heart not aching when he said this? Jing Yan answers yes. If he doesn't, he can't face his brother (Prince Qi) or Lin Shu. In this cold snow, I think there's an inkling of warmth in Mei Chang Su's heart when Jing Yan is so set on saving his soldier for him. Mei Chang Su negotiates with Jing Yan that he will save Wei Zheng but Jing Yan cannot involve himself. Jing Yan disagrees. He doesn't trust Mei Chang Su anymore. He walks away but...
Mei Chang Su: Xiao Jing Yan! You stand there! Lin Shu is showing up! That line is so Lin Shu. Mei Chang Su would never call him by his full name. Never.
Jing Yan is still not listening.
Mei Chang Su: Xiao Jing Yan! You have honour and loyalty but why don't you have a brain! Was the fire from Meiling years ago not fierce enough for you? Did Prince Qi's manor not lose enough blood? How many more lives do you want to risk?
Jing Yan can't rebut.
Mei Chang Su: How will you face Prince Qi? How will you face Lin Shu?
Jing Yan can only punch the pillar as a response. In a calmer voice he asks Mr. Su what his plans are. Phew. Can we please snuggle Mei Chang Su in a blanket now? Mei Chang Su reveals they will need the help of Xia Dong.
[Consort Jing's Brilliance]
- Consort Jing realizes her maid's (Xiao Xin) escape from the palace was too smooth but Consort Jing remains quiet, not letting anyone sense anything.
- Then when she's attending to the Emperor, he asks her about her thoughts on Chiyan Army. Consort Jing kneels to him. If she speaks ill of Consort Chen then that would mean the dear consort had no true friends (which isn't the case) and if she speaks ill of the Emperor's decision then he'll think she doesn't understand His Majesty's sacrifice for keeping peace. She asks the Emperor to forgive her for not giving an answer. She's the perfect politician. She said everything and nothing. Emperor smiles at her (non-)answer and apologizes to her for making it difficult for her. Ha!
- Consort Jing almost slipped up when the Emperor tells her they caught a Chiyan rebel. She thought it was Mei Chang Su and drops her tea but manages to escape the Emperor's suspicion with ease. Honestly, who would ever suspect Consort Jing?
[Ep34] [Who is the Outsider?] Who should go convince Xia Dong for help? Jing Yan thinks he is more suitable than Mei Chang Su. He lost a brother and best friend and she lost a husband. They share similar miseries. If Mei Chang Su goes, it's obvious he's scheming something and plus, he's an outsider. So inappropriate! Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu! He's more inside than y'all are! Buuuuut no one knows he's Lin Shu. Alright, Jing Yan, you it is.
Mei Chang finally agrees: Then I'll thank you for the efforts you're making.Jing Yan: Thank me? Clearly, it's Mr. Su who's helping me. Clearly, not.
Oopsie daisies, our Mei Chang Su messed up. Who cleans up after him? Our clumsy Meng Zhi. But does Jing Yan really not notice??? He's dumb beyond repair at times.
[Scarlet Sign] It’s right before the New Year and the imperial astronomer (Master Wen) from Xuantian Temple has predicted an ominous sign for the Crown Prince – which is an auspicious sign for us. The Emperor is demoted from Crown Prince to Prince Xian. Meanwhile Jing Yan gets a promotion – not a Crown Prince yet – but equal to Prince Yu. I had to admit I was a little dejected to have the Crown Prince removed because of the Stars but when the weather is clear and something randomly good is happening to our leads, it is not by fate, it is by design. Remember that.
[Who is this Astrologer?] If you all go back to Ep13 (5:30 minute mark), there's two random ministers speaking. One of them is Master Wen who is the imperial astronomer. He assures this Minister Bin that he has arranged the altar according to the astrology. Minister Bin is grateful he's purposely here early to arrange the altar when he should be at Xuantian Temple. Xuantian Temple should alarm people because Yan Que goes to that temple. This is the episode where Yan Que is exposed for trying to bomb the Emperor by hiding gunpowder in the altar. It didn't occur to me at that episode that there was a possible collaboration between Yan Que and this astrologer or the whole Xuantian Temple. Now I'm certain there is. This drama was never one to rely on the stars. For this episode, Yan Que is behind this star reading from Xuantian Temple to take down the Crown Prince all at Mei Chang Su's orders. DUN DUN DUN. The alliance between Mei Chang Su and Yan Que aren’t just empty words. This goes into my Top 5 shocking discoveries for the drama. It’s so hidden!!
[Red Traitor] Xiao Xin is part of Red Sleeve Beckoning (Ban Ruo's girls). Fourth Sister tells her she can still retreat, her hands are still clean from blood. Xiao Xin doesn’t understand. She was taught to be loyal to Hua Tribe. Xiao Xin thinks she did an amazing job at angering Jing Yan. No, girl. Consort Jing saw through you.
Consort Jing sends her maids away but Xiao Xin stays behind to peek. Hidden in Consort Jing's wall is a small shrine for Consort Chen where she pays her respect. Was this shrine her own volition or is it with the Emperor’s permission? Consort Jing clearly suspects Xiao Xin, so is she letting Xiao Xin deliberately discover this?
[Yan Que: Saving Wei Zheng] Yan Que admires the foolishness and bravery of Jing Yan and Mei Chang Su to save Wei Zheng. It’s a plan with potential great losses. Although he promised his alliance to Mei Chang Su, Yan Que never completely trusted him. Mei Chang Su is a puzzle to him. When he’s sitting right in front of him, Yan Que can never read him. But for this mission, Yan Que will risk his life if he needs. Yan Que purposely said “this” mission so it means he did other stuff for Mei Chang Su, like the star reading!!
[Yan Family Remembers Lin Shu] The Yan father and son talk about their past. Yu Jin remembers how patient Prince Qi was at teaching him. On the other hand, Lin Shu was so easily irritated. That’s so different from the current Mei Chang Su. Yu Jin also recalls how much the young Jing Rui loved Lin Shu. Omg. That’s why they became friends so fast and so natural. And Mei Chang Su hurt this boy on his birthday party! That breaks my heart even more for the both of them. Yan Que pities Lin Shu who died at such a young age. Only 19. I wonder if Yan Que will add up the age and think of Mei Chang Su.
[Ep35] [Saving Wei Zheng] Like Jing Rui’s birthday party, this is another puzzling plan. Here are the bits and pieces:
- Yu Jin is to go to Prince Ji’s place and entice him to meet Gong Yu (Prince Ji loves Gong Yu’s music).
- Yan Que sends a letter to Xia Jiang to meet at a temple in the morning. Xia Jiang has to meet him no matter what because in the letter, Yan Que tells him he has news of the person he misses dearly. Xia Jiang believes it’s news of his son who was taken away by his mother (his wife).
- Mei Chang Su does what he once did best: coming up with military tactics. This is Lin Shu's specialty.
- Xia Dong sends Xia Qiu/Chun out of the city. I have to admit, I can’t differentiate between Qiu and Chun....
[Xia Jiang and Yan Que’s Meeting] Xia Jiang’s wife saved the enslaved Princess Xuan Ji but the latter seduced her husband as gratitude. She gave Xia Jiang a chance to compensate but Xia Jiang never turned back. That is why she took their son and ran away. Yan Que reprimands Xia Jiang that after all these years he still only cares for his son and not his wife. Yan Que, not everyone is like you. Only caring for you lover and not your own son. Yan Que reveals five years ago, Xia Jiang's wife sent him a letter detailing her grave illness and the death of her son at a young age. Yan Que has the letter as proof. Angrily, Xia Jiang rips it to pieces and he’s calm again. Xia Jiang knew all along that this meeting was to allow Jing Yan to save Wei Zheng. Dun dun dun. Do remember Xia Jiang told his disciple to ease up on the guards patrolling Wei Zheng. Xia Jiang wants Jing Yan to save Wei Zheng because he has explosives all over his dungeon. Yan Que asks him what about Xia Dong?? She’s there too. How could he not care about her livelihood?
Yan Que: I can leave now.
Yan Que finds every minute with Xia Jiang unbearable. Xia Jiang notices the oddity in his wording. He’s leaving because he “can” leave which means prior to this moment, he couldn’t leave. Xia Jiang realizes he underestimated our Mei Chang Su. See, never underestimate. He runs out and finds his horses are missing. So that was Yu Jin’s purpose of being there – to steal the horses, lol.
[Saving Wei Zheng: Military Tactic] The plan: make a scene at the dungeon but immediately retreat. Mei Chang Su knew Wei Zheng couldn’t be in the dungeon. His army didn’t invade and instead created a diversion. Xia Jiang thought Mei Chang Su found Wei Zheng's real location and immediately heads there – dun dun dun – and realizes he fell for the trap. Xia Jiang led Mei Chang Su to Wei Zheng himself.
Yan Que and Xia Dong were only there to make it look like everything was going according to Xia Jiang’s plans. The subtle “I can leave now” from Yan Que is what stirred Xia Jiang's panic.
[Saving Wei Zheng: Prince Jing, Hold Your Temper!] Mei Chang Su predicts Xia Jiang will blame the prison break on Jing Yan. Our Jing Yan just needs to control his anger when he’s summoned by the Emperor. Yes, boy, that’s all we expect of you now.
[Saving Wei Zheng: Prince Ji] As Jing Yan is summoned by the Emperor for the prison break, Prince Ji enjoys his music at Gong Yu’s rundown place. There’s a smell and so Gong Yu conveniently opens the window and, oh my, there’s Xia Dong escorting a criminal (it’s Wei Zheng). What a coincidence! Wei Zheng even purposely lifts his head so conspicuously for Prince Ji to recognize him. Our Prince Ji will forever be the key witness. That’s all our Drama ever needs of him, lol.
[A Hiccup?] The Empress finds the memorial for Consort Chen in Consort Jing’s room. It’s reported to the Emperor. Boo, Jing Yan was just on track with exposing the “incompetency” of Xia Jiang for organizing so little guards to protect the dungeon and hiding Wei Zheng in another less guarded prison. What will be in store for Jing Yan?
[Ep37] [A Planned Hiccup by Mei Chang Su] The memorial was the Emperor’s idea. He pretends to throw a temper but the punishment on Consort Jing remains light, leaving Prince Yu and the Empress flabbergasted. The question: how was this all planned into "Saving Wei Zheng". In the previous episode, Mei Chang Su said something along the lines of I’m not afraid of Xia Jiang’s complicated scheming, I’m afraid there isn’t more complications to his scheming. Mei Chang Su had predicted Consort Jing’s entanglement and wanted her to be involved. The more “coincidental” accusations prop up against Jing Yan, the more the Emperor will be suspicious. The Emperor now believes everything bad is Prince Yu’s scheme to sabotage Jing Yan. Therefore no matter how likely Jing Yan is responsible for the prison break, the Emperor won’t believe it. It’s a foolproof shield. Brilliant. I love how Mei Chang Su manipulates the Emperor’s ultimate weakness: his suspicions.
[A Planned Hiccup by Consort Jing] Consort Jing laid a trap for Xiao Xin to discover the memorial but pardons her from her death sentence. From Consort Jing's encrypted sentences, Xiao Xin smartly deduces not only was the memorial an order from the Emperor but that his insomnia improved rather coincidentally. Xiao Xin is probably the only person who will ever know Consort Jing manipulated the Emperor to believe that it was the mini-shrine that alleviated his insomnia when it was actually the herbal medication. Just like the Drama doesn't believe in Stars, it doesn't believe in Spirits either. Just like Mei Chang Su, Consort Jing manipulated the Emperor’s superstitions – on spirits. She used her herbs to cure the Emperor’s insomnia but made him believe it was the shrine. Xiao Xin, who's so smart, doesn't understand why she got caught by Consort Jing. Consort Jing: “As long as there’s movement, there are holes.” Consort Jing gives her an option to live: she wants Xiao Xin to explain everything to Jing Yan. Why? So that Jing Yan doesn’t misunderstand Mei Chang Su anymore.
[Mei Chang Su Playing Hard To Get] Mei Chang Su predicted his own entanglement. He took a heart pill (that bottle) right before Xia Jiang’s men knock on his doors to arrest him. That scene of Mei Chang Su waiting to be arrested was so majestic. To Xia Jiang’s surprise, Mei Chang Su confesses to everything. It takes Xia Jiang a minute to recuperate and realize that with no proof and only Mei Chang Su’s confession, it means nothing. Mei Chang Su can easily twist the truth when he’s summoned to see the Emperor. Mei Chang Su’s reply is somewhere on the line of, Aha that’s so smart of you! Xia Jiang is livid at this point, “You’re still playing hard to get, aren’t you?” Dude, Mei Chang Su just confessed to everything LOL. What else do you want, Xia Jiang?
*There’s this particular focus on the red berry plant throughout the entire episode and I don’t get it.
[Ep38] [Mei Chang Su vs. Xia Jiang] Xia Jiang is no dummy. I’d say he’s the second smartest man in this drama. His standoff here against Mei Chang Su is exquisite. Both men are sparring their intelligence. Xia Jiang has a counterpunch. He gives Mei Chang Su a poisonous Wujin pill. The fatality will take effect in seven days. He will get an antidote only if he doesn’t expose anything to the Emperor when he’s summoned. Mei Chang Su stalls on taking the pill but eventually puts it in his mouth only to bring it right out. He’s such a brat. I believe in Yu Jin’s description of him young self now.
Mei Chang Su has more conversation left in him before he takes the pill. He knows why Xia Jiang is against Jing Yan being the Crown Prince: Xia Jiang fears him. Xia Jiang laughs. But Mei Chang Su is right. Jing Yan is the most like Prince Qi. When Prince Qi was the crown prince, he had wanted to abolish his department. He didn’t believe in having an independent judicial system. Jing Yan is likely to do the same. Basically, Xia Jiang was afraid of unemployment, lol. However, Mei Chang Su might have exposed too much. Xia Jiang asks him what his connections are with Prince Qi. Just who is Mei Chang Su? Xia Jiang is so close.
Mei Chang Su takes the pill! *The way Mei Chang Su played with the poisonous pill makes me wonder if he switched the pill... could he have ate the red berry instead of the pill???
[Saving Wei Zheng: Prince Ji] Prince Ji is the perfect witness because he’s neutral to politics. Yu Jin, a seemingly naive fellow, feeds Prince Ji information that they saw Wei Zheng the other day. Prince Ji goes to inform the Emperor. He even assures Yu Jin to keep quiet about his own involvement, Prince Ji will handle everything. Perfect-o.
The Emperor makes his appearance. He comments it looks like it will snow. Prince Ji testifies to the Emperor about seeing Xia Dong secretly escorting Wei Zheng. The Emperor has absolute faith in Prince Ji (our exemplary witness). He summons Xia Jiang but thinks better of it and opts for Meng Zhi instead. He wants Meng Zhi to secretly escort Xia Dong to the palace without alerting Xia Jiang.
[Saving Wei Zheng: Prince Ji] Prince Ji is the perfect witness because he’s neutral to politics. Yu Jin, a seemingly naive fellow, feeds Prince Ji information that they saw Wei Zheng the other day. Prince Ji goes to inform the Emperor. He even assures Yu Jin to keep quiet about his own involvement, Prince Ji will handle everything. Perfect-o.
The Emperor makes his appearance. He comments it looks like it will snow. Prince Ji testifies to the Emperor about seeing Xia Dong secretly escorting Wei Zheng. The Emperor has absolute faith in Prince Ji (our exemplary witness). He summons Xia Jiang but thinks better of it and opts for Meng Zhi instead. He wants Meng Zhi to secretly escort Xia Dong to the palace without alerting Xia Jiang.
[Saving Wei Zheng: Xia Dong] Why did Mei Chang Su talk so much? It was for Xia Dong to hear how ruthless and immoral her teacher is. (A part of me thinks it’s to distract Xia Jiang about the pill too.) Remember Yan Que’s comment last episode? “You can scoff at friendship but don’t destroy it or you’ll die of it.” This friend is Xia Dong. Xia Jiang will fall in Xia Dong’s hand! Helping Mei Chang Su save Wei Zheng was probably Xia Dong’s limit in betraying her master. Now that she heard his ruthless confession, Xia Dong is committed to right the wrong. When she’s summoned to the Emperor she testifies the criminal she escorted was indeed Wei Zheng. So saving Wei Zheng was a plan to take down Xia Jiang all along.
[Ep39] [Saving Wei Zheng: Xia Dong Cont.] Xia Dong continues to testify, "I killed Wei Zheng. This was all my doing. Don’t blame my master at all." This does SO many right things. The fact that Xia Dong, the beloved and loyal disciple of Xia Jiang, takes all the blame onto herself is a telling sign to the suspicious Emperor that Xia Jiang is definitely to blame. Emperor is inclined to believe everyone is out to get Jing Yan and now this becomes Jing Yan’s impermeable shield. Jing Yan is successfully back on the Emperor's good side.
[Mei Chang Su vs. Xia Jiang cont.] Let's not forget Mei Chang Su is still in Xia Jiang's prison. Before Xia Jiang was ordered to be brought to the Emperor, he orders Xia Chun to kill Mei Chang Su. But! There’s Fei Liu to the rescue! Oh but what about the 7-day poison? Xia Jiang has some last threatening words for Mei Chang Su
Xia Jiang: When you die, you won't have anything left.
Xia Jiang is reminding Mei Chang Su that living is important. But what is Mei Chang Su living for? Does Mei Chang Su merely want to live? Sadly we all know what Mei Chang Su's end goal is. To him life is nothing if not for his goal. Meng Zhi is absolutely furious because he has no idea what Xia Jiang means about the seven day limit.
Mei Chang Su to Meng Zhi: How can you even believe in Xia Jiang’s words? Sooooo, did Mei Chang Su not take the poison??
[Saving Wei Zheng: Bring Back the Fireworks!] Conveniently, among the whole Xia Jiang fiasco, Shen Zhui and Cai Quan (Jing Yan's soon-to-be-minions) report to the Emperor the culprit of the firework factory explosion. Guess who's in trouble now? Prince Yu. This “Saving Wei Zheng” plan has evolved from capturing Xia Jiang to pulling down Prince Yu. The Emperor is now convinced that if Prince Yu can explode a city to sabotage Prince Xian (ex-crown prince) then Prince Yu can do the same to Jing Yan. What the Emperor absolutely cannot overlook is the collusion between Prince Yu and Xuanjing Bureau. This bureau is an organization that was only supposed to be loyal to Emperor.
Prince Yu is summoned to court. He immediately goes I know nothing about Xuanjin Bureau! LOL. That's not even why he was summoned for. Ha, way to go Prince Yu.
Prince Ji is here the entire time and he’s hilarious. He keeps going I'm so dumb I don't get what's going on but then he'd say the exact things that are going on. He’s a wolf in sheep clothing. I take back what I said about him being useful only as a witness.
[Ep40] [Consort Jing Talking in Circles] The Emperor tells Consort Jing about the happenings at the court including Su Zhe being imprisoned by Xia Jiang. Consort Jing does her best to conceal her curiosity about Lin Shu. The Emperor's impression of him is this: a fragile scholar. So wrong. He advises Consort Jing to tell their stubborn son to visit this scholar more to widen his narrow-mindedness. Heh. She asks the Emperor why Xia Jiang went in circles trying to catch her son all the while she's literally talking in circles trying to get more information about Mei Chang Su.
The Emperor asks her, "Do you think Jing Yan wants to be the Crown Prince. Consort Jing dances around that topic too. He asks her all these questions, has he ever wondered how much answers he's gotten out of her? xD.
[Jing Yan, The Water Buffalo] Jing Yan learns the truth from Xiao Xin and recognizes his weakness that allowed Xia Jiang to manipulate him: his stubborn personality and his distrust towards Mei Chang Su. Now Jin Yan won’t doubt him ever again.
Jing Yan to Consort Jing: I am bad at reading people. Yes yes yes...so bad!! And you had more trust towards Master Su when you knew nothing as well. Uh. Wrong. She had an advantage.Consort Jing: Of course I trust him. He will never do such a thing. Oops Consort Jing slipped up. She only ever slips up in front of her son. It's either because 1) she trusts him and lets her guard down or 2) she thinks he's an idiot. I think it's #2.
Jing Yan notices the peculiarity of her statement but doesn’t know why! See! #2!
At the secret passage, Jing Yan picks up the bell. Oh boi, you better make it up to Lin Shu! Jing Yan plans to go to Mei Chang Su’s but his servant warns him of the weather. It’s snowing again!!
Jing Yan: When Master Su went to stop me, it was snowing heavily like this too.
Jing Yan doesn’t get to see Mei Chang Su. Mei Chang Su is completely knocked out. Jing Yan was going to leave but Meng Zhi updates him on the Wujin poisonous pill. Now we’ve got our two biggest idiots heading to Xia Jiang’s to ask for an antidote. Yikes. For the record, Meng Zhi is pretty smart everywhere else except in front of Mei Chang Su.
Before our idiots get to Xia Jiang, Ban Ruo is there. I forgot about her. Where’s Tong Lu again? He gives her a hint that everything will be okay as long as they wait for the Spring (March) Hunt. For these months, Prince Yu only needs to focus on begging for mercy. There's more game left in Xia Jiang? That's amazing.
Okay, our idiots are here! The first thing Meng Zhi does is knock the bowl of rice right out of Xia Jiang’s hands. Hahahaha. Xia Jiang looked pitiful. Jing Yan is handsomely furious. Xia Jiang doesn’t give the antidote but Mei Chang Su doesn’t need it! He eliminated the poison on his own. Technically he has this Bitter Flame Poison already in his body and it neutralized the Wujin Poison. The Heart Pill that Mei Chang Su took might have helped too. And there's also that Red Berry that he took....
I don’t quite know if “Bitter Flame” is the right translation but that’s the common translation (on YouTube). My only quibble is the use of “Bitter”. It misses the duality of the poison. In Chinese, it’s very obvious this poison is made of both an ice element and a fire element. It’s also the theme in the entire drama. In English, I find that I associate "bitter" with "taste" more than "cold".
Jing Yan is back at his mother’s. He tells her about Mei Chang Su’s initial opposition from saving Wei Zheng. Consort Jing is pensive and unconsciously repeats his words. She knows the first person who wants to save Wei Zheng would be Lin Shu. Thus she also knows how much he had to retrain himself. Unlike our buffalo who threw a fit at him. Jing Yan skeptically looks at his mother. I’m rolling my eyes, Drama keeps fooling me with these scenes when Jing Yan clearly doesn’t know a thing.
Jing Yan wants to know Wei Zheng’s whereabouts but Mei Chang Su won’t tell him. It’s better he doesn’t know. He wants to see Wei Zheng and hear his story. He can’t help but wonder if Lin Shu had any last words to him.
Consort Jing: As long as you haven't forgotten Xiao Shu then he is still living, living in your heart.Jing Yan: I don't want him to live in my heart. I want him to live in this world.Consort Jing: We cannot force things to happen. We can never get back the things that we've lost. Even if Lin Shu is able to return to this world I'm afraid he won't be the same person as he was before. Jing Yan, are you listening??Jing Yan: Prince Qi, General Lin, Lin Shu, I know you are watching me from somewhere (right beside ya, man).
Jing Yan is resolute on his path now. There’s no turning back. I laugh at Jing Yan for being a idiotic buffalo but when Wang Kai cries like this it brings me to tears too.
[Episodes 41-54] In a separate post here.
Initial Remarks
If there’s anyone out there who also hasn’t watched this (absolutely no shame, I get you), what helped me complete this on my third watch is knowing these three things:
- Everything Mei Chang Su does is meticulously planned.
- The bromance between Mei Chang Su and Jing Yan is very real from the very beginning. They’re like star-crossed lovers who cannot reunite.
- The romance runs deep between Mei Chang Su and Ni Huang. Being separated for years does not affect the depth of their love.
[Final Remarks] In a separate post here.
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