A seamstress out to vindicate her family and meets a prince
Notable Actors/Actresses
小女霓裳
[Ep1] Xie Xiao Ni and Xie Feng are siblings. They’re technically sisters but Xie Feng is raised like a man because their family business can only be handed down to boys. Xie Xiao Ni is also very interested in learning her family business, plus she’s got a knack for it. She gets her family to participate in a silk related contest hosted by the city officials.
[Ep10] A jealous Yan Wen Xiu locks Ni Chang in the storage but she accidentally sets fire to the place. Out of fear, Yan Wen Xiu runs away. The fire grows bigger and bigger. Cheng Tian and Yun Niang take down the door to save Ni Chang but as a result, Yun Niang is caught in the fire. She hollers to Cheng Tian to take Ni Chang to safety and then the entire building collapses. Yun Niang dies.
[Ep12] Su Wen Yu sees Xie Xiao Ni but Ni Chang holds up her act and refuses to admit she is who he thinks she is. That does not stop him from visiting her. He’s also aware he cannot reveal her real name.
Still very drunk, Ni Chang calls him Bao Zi. Then when she feeds him buns, she bites down on it, recreating their bun scene. Flustered, Prince Luo backs away. Ni Chang pouts that he doesn’t like buns anymore. He lies that it was too big. Smiling again, she feeds him a tinier bun and wipes his lips with her finger. Then she asks him if he remembers her. Of course he does. He calls her Ni Chang – wrong.
[Ep24] There’s a celebration dinner at Prince Luo’s for Ni Chang’s successful opening. Prince Luo also has good news. The palace is accepting business applications. I assume if they’re selected they get to supply the palace and then Ni Chang would be one step closer to Minister Yuan whom she suspects is part of her family’s undoing. Ni Chang thanks Prince Luo but he says he’s just doing his usual thing. As he's saying that, he slid his hand onto hers under the table. She softly slaps him but he holds her hand again. No one notices them flirting.
The dinner ends and this time Ni Chang isn’t drunk. He mocks her for wanting to see the moon last time. After he’s done teasing her, he gives her camellias. He wants her to promise that if she’s ever sad, don't hide it nor cry alone. Then he throws the flowers (six of them?) in the air and suddenly the sky is raining petals. Lol, Drama, it’s only because these two are cute that I'm smiling. There’s more choreographed romantic spin moves.
Then Prince Luo spins her in the air and they kiss with her feet defying gravity.
Oh, and look and they're back on the ground.
Su Wen Yu learns Ni Chang is alive.
Ni Chang’s store is intentionally left out of the imperial business by Minister Yuan and Yan Wen Xiu. Prince Luo has a solution but, oh, there’s this pain in his shoulder that needs some massaging. After she massages one shoulder the pain moves to his other shoulder. After she's done massaging that side too, he tells her he doesn't have a plan yet. Ha. He will, though.
Su Wen Yu is still so delusional I have no idea why. He thinks Ni Chang is his. Ni Chang sets it straight again.
[Ep26] Yan Wen Xiu marries Su Wen Yu! Oh but he doesn’t show up so she has to walk down the aisle with a chicken as a stand in. Woah. The embarrassment. Yan Wen Xiu, why do this to yourself? Well now she gets to rightfully manage Su Family's business. Come time for consummation, Su Wen Yu isn't even there and that’s her last straw. Uh for me it would have been the chicken.
Liu Zi Qian is a new pursuer. He’s a son of a marquis.
Yan Wen Xiu is very slowly ruining Su Family’s reputation with her cutting corners here and there. Su Wen Yu can’t stand her deceitful acts but Su Gong Ming loves her for bringing money in.
Prince Luo breaks the ice first. He visits Ni Chang at her store but she won’t talk to him. He contends she can’t ignore a customer. A little smile peeps through. Ni Chang begins explaining her products and draws all over his face. He grabs her hand to stop her, sighing that he’s not here to be angry at her. He wants to make up. Liu Zi Qian interrupts. Prince Luo has no patience to entertain this guy and takes Ni Chang’s hand to leave but Liu Zi Qian won’t let that happen. This angers Prince Luo and he’s rarely angry. Prince Luo hits him. Ni Chang really should have been explaining to Liu Zi Qian earlier but it’s better late than never. She tells Liu Zi Qian she’s willing to leave with Prince Luo. And that’s it. Why not tell Liu he’s her bf?
From that encounter, Prince Luo is actually relieved to see that Liu Zi Qian is not his competition. Prince Luo turns sweet again and tells Ni Chang he really was sick. Can’t a guy get some pity points? He holds her at her waist and then she tickles him. He’s forgiven.
Watching Prince Luo carrying Ni Chang so sweetly, Cheng Tian asks if Yuan Xiang wants the same. Stunned by the question, Yuan Xiang docilely answers she would which earns a quick reply from him: “Cannot; too heavy" Once again teasing her weight. Boys!
Prince Luo is barely speaking as he tends to Ni Chang’s injury. Ni Chang nervously glances at him but there’s also admiration in her eyes. The concern he has for her is clearly written on his face. So gentle and so loving
The businesses selected are to send a representative to enroll in something like a boarding school (somewhere in the palace?). Ni Chang and Yan Wen Xiu enroll. Ni Chang’s business has such a good reputation, other applicants have basically conceded to her. Not Yan Wen Xiu. Her jealousy is never ending. However, this time, instead of displaying it, she cries to Ni Chang that her married life sucks, Please pity me, wah. Uh. yeah, so Ni Chang's not falling for that.
Liu Zi Qian develops a severe allergy to pollen. Fortunately, Ni Chang diagnoses it correctly and Li Zi Qian recovers. The reason he got this reaction in the first place was because he wanted to help Ni Chang retrieve this certain ingredient. He really likes her.
Prince Luo notes that Ni Chang’s ocarina has a wispy sound compared to other ocarinas. It’s the only item her father left for her. Then she does the unthinkable. She smashes the ocarina and inside there’s her Xie family's secret formula for "Huan Cai Luo”. She uses this formula to make a shimmery, thin clothing for the Princess and that wins her the final competition.
Ni Chang nods
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] How many brocade dramas have there been this year? There was Nazha’s Weaving a Tale of Love, Song Yi's My Heroic Husband (sorta~), Tan Song Yun’s (Seven Tan) The Sword and the Brocade, and more recently Li Yi Tong’s Court Lady. Every single month there is one new seamstress. Ni Chang is definitely the smaller scaled drama – purely comparing by the cast – but I actually like the main leads here and they're the ones anchoring me to the drama.
[Actors/Actresses] I like Li Jia Qi. She can do very cute things that I can never attempt in my entire life. In fact, I don’t think I can stomach anyone around me doing that in real life but I watch her with happy-envy. Also, I like her because she acts well.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Happy.
The villains are the worst thing in this drama, not because they’re annoyingly evil, but because they’re plain idiots. There’s a girl who is an insult to women and there’s a guy who is a misogynist. Neither roles make a lot of sense and they’re evil for the sake of being evil. [Minor Spoiler] The guy does redeem himself for the sake of the plot at the very, very end. [/Sp] If they were smarter at being evil or at least at being human, I would have loved this drama more.
A bias I have to address: I am fond of both Li Jia Qi and Bi Wen Jun and I continue to be.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Li Jia Qi: Xi Xiao Ni / Ni Chang
Li Jia Qi: Ouyang Zi Yu / Prince Luo
Director:
Chinese Title小女霓裳
Network: Youku
Mini Recaps
Prince Luo (Ouyang Zi Yu) supervises the contest. He’s clear about fairness but Minister Yuan (the host) has already decided on the winner – Su Gong Ming of Su family. To get the Prince out of the way, Minister Yuan wants the Prince to break a leg or two in a tampered carriage but the Prince ends up falling over a cliff.
Su Wen Yu (Su Gong Ming’s nephew) falls in love with Xie Xiao Ni after a chance encounter.
Xie Xiao Ni and Xie Feng are on a hunting trip. Xie Xiao Ni finds the unconscious Prince Luo. She thought it was because she shot him with her arrow. Fortunately, he’s not dead from the fall or the arrow. Xie Xiao Ni convinces Xie Feng to let her take him back home.
[Ep2] When Prince Luo wakes up, he has turned into a retard. Xie Xiao Ni feels responsible because she injured him and begs her father to let her take care of him until he heals. Ha, I'm reminded of The Prince Who Turns Into a Frog (TwDrama) and this time it's really a prince. Xie Xiao Ni really likes her new retarded friend who now thinks he’s five. Since he has no name, she calls him “Bao Zi” (= Bun) because he loves buns. She's always watching out for him but he always catches her off guard. For example, he'll bite into the bun that’s already in her mouth, he'll play with the buns in her hair, and he'll also kiss her cheeks after just calling her pretty.
Dad Xie thinks “Bao Zi” will bring them trouble because there are people searching for him. He wants Xie Xiao Ni to send away Bao Zi. She cries at the thought of bidding farewell. She also sews him a handkerchief with her favourite flower: Camellia.
Both Su and Xie family make it to the finals. It will be three rounds. The first round is embroidery. They’re given two days to sew a double-sided embroidery related to the theme "spring". The families are given their material which means they can't have anything pre-made. Two days are up and Su Family shows up with an extravagant sewing that looks way too complicated for two days’ work. Xie Feng sewed a much simpler one but her topic is on point and it was inspired by Xie Xiao Ni. To them, the beauty of spring is when the first flowers blossom. Xie Feng’s sewing captures that nuanced beauty.
[Ep3] Su Family wins but they cheated. Su Wen Yu finds out when his father lectures Su Gong Ming. His cheating was so blatantly obvious any business insider can tell. Su Wen Yu apologizes to Xie Xiao Ni but she won’t forgive him especially when he won’t clarify it to the ministers. He has another solution. If they marry, they can merge their business and become the biggest merchants in the silk industry. Obviously, Xie Xiao Ni rejects that.
Second round: silk quality. Xie family wins. Su family can’t cheat on this.
For the third round, Xie Xiao Ni is stuck. Bao Zi inspires her with a rainbow idea. While she’s busy creating the design, Bao Zi goes missing. Later, he’s whacked in the head for eating buns without paying.
The theme for the third round is “赤” which means red. Su Family makes a rich crimson red robe that shimmers with gold. Xie family makes a pink rainbow shawl (from grinding seashells). When seashells reflect light, they produce rainbow colours. But what does rainbow have to do with red? Red is the first colour in the rainbow. Therefore "Red" represents the seven colours of the rainbow and the seven colours mean “red". Clearly, the creativity and the quality is above Su family’s but Minister Yuan insists Xie Family are off topic. But hold up! Prince Luo is back and he’s no longer retarded – just selectively amnesic. He forgot everything from when he was Bao Zi. Prince Luo continues to oversee the competition and ensures fair voting. As a result Xie Family wins the contest.
[Ep4] Su Family and Minister Yuan team up to sabotage Xie Family by replacing their valuable ingredient. However, Minister Gao fiddles with the ingredient even more without Minister Yuan’s knowledge. Minister Gao is the mole dude. Drama better not remove that mole and then be like he's like a new character. The case escalates and Xie Family is put to trial. All the evidence is against Xie Family. They are exiled. Prince Luo is disappointed in Xie Family but oddly he finds Xie Xiao Ni familiar. Looking at her, it feels like he lost something precious.
Being exiled isn’t enough for the ministers and Su Family. They want Xie family dead. After the family members protect each other one by one, only Xie Xiao Ni survive. I was sad Xie Feng died. I liked their brotherly/sisterly relationship. BUT. Xie Feng will survive (; I’m not sorry I spoiled you. It’s in the opening song anyway.... Xie Xiao Ni is later saved by Zhao Tong Shen.
[Ep5] Xie Xiao Ni wants to stay with Yun Niang (Zhao Tong Shen's sister-in-law) and work for her silk business. Xie Xiao Ni hopes to be a successful merchant. She needs to be able to survive on her own. Otherwise, how will she avenge her family? Yun Niang made it difficult for Xie Xiao Ni but she persevered and earned her spot. Here, she’s known as Ni Chang. Ni Chang does all the labour but sneaks into class to learn from Yun Niang whenever she can. After she restores a fabric’s original colour, Yun Niang is pleased. She had taught that to all her students but it seems like only Ni Chang was paying attention. From tomorrow onward, Ni Chang can attend class too. She makes friends with Cheng Tian (Yun Niang’s son) and Yuan Xiang but Ni Chang also naturally attracts the jealousy of Yan Wen Xiu. She is the elite student but that looks like it’s about to change with Ni Chang’s appearance.
[Ep6] Yun Niang may be strict with Ni Chang but she likes this hardworking and talented student of hers.
Two years later.
Yan Wen Xiu gives Ni Chang the wrong orders just to get her in trouble. Yan Wen Xiu's two brainless followers join in like usual. However, Yun Niang only punishes the bystanders, leaving Yan Wen Xiu and Ni Chang both free of any penalty. Seeing her innocent peers being pulled in, Ni Chang takes all the punishment onto herself. Yan Wen Xiu's followers side-eye their leader. Are they going to switch to team Ni Chang now?
Cheng Tian speaks up for Ni Chang but Yun Niang knows Ni Chang is merely taking the blame for everyone. This is Yun Niang's way of smartening up Ni Chang. I approve of Yun Niang and her ways.
Prince Luo is visiting Yun Niang's business using his alias (Ouyang Zi Yu). He asks Yun Niang if a student of hers can teach him about silk. Ni Chang recognizes "Bao Zi" and quickly hides among her peers hoping she doesn't catch his eye. But she does. Ouyang Zi Yu picks her of all girls. When Ni Chang finally lifts her chin to let him see her, he asks if he’s seen her before. Will he remember her?
[Ep7] Ni Chang lies she's never seen Ouyang Zi Yu but he can't fight off how familiar she is to him. She takes him around the city strolling through different stores. Then he sees flower petals fall around her and he's reminded of a girl telling him her favourite flower is camellia. He asks her to sew him a camellia. They're off to a good start but Cheng Tian pulls her away and Yan Wen Xiu takes over as the guide. Cheng Tian likes Ni Chang and Yan Wen Xiu wants to seduce Mr. Ouyang because she's delusional and thinks all good things belong to her.
Ouyang Zi Yu finds Ni Chang and Cheng Tian chilling at a restaurant. He lectures Ni Chang for potentially ruining a business collaboration between him and Yun by ditching him. Business isn't just about the exchange of money and product. Obviously, there's sweet talk and romance in the middle. The stroll they took wasn't a waste of time. He quizzes her on the merchants they visited today. Ni Chang calmly in one breath answers all his questions. Ouyang Zi Yu is impressed. He orders the best tea to soothe her throat. Then at night, their gardens happen to be adjacent to each other, so when he plays his flute, she answers with her Xun (Chinese ocarina). It's a pretty duet. Ouyang Zi Yu decides to stay a few more days. He's found something amusing. His bodyguard follows his eyes and finds that the prince is staring at rocks. No, Mr. Bodyguard, he's staring through the rocks and is envisioning Ni Chang who is amusing him. Love has given Ouyang Zi Yu x-ray vision. The power of love~
Ouyang Zi Yu follows Ni Chang to collect flowers in the mountain. Even if she picks the hardest trail to embark on, he follows. However, Ni Chang hesitates at the bridge – memories of her family's death cloud her vision. As she's walking across, she falls off even with proper fencing. Ouyang Zi Yu swings her up into his arms and safely carries her to the other side.
Also, Yan Wen Xiu and Su Wen Yu were engaged since they were children but Su Wen Yu still cannot forget Ni Chang (Xie Xiao Ni).
[Ep8] Ni Chang complains to Ouyang Zi Yu in their adjacent gardens. He used her to reject Yan Wen Xiu and now she's mad at Ni Chang. For a big man like him, he'll never understand what a girl is thinking. For Ouyang Zi Yu, if there's someone he wants to know, he'll find his way. He's baiting her to ask him who he's interested in but she's not taking the bait.
Ni Chang is accused of using Huai Hua (a flower) when making Yan Wen Xiu's dress. Everyone knows Yan Wen Xiu is allergic to the flower and in the dye ingredients, the flower is found. This is a malicious crime punishable by expulsion. Yuan Xiang begs for Ni Chang and so Yun Niang gives her a chance but it's a near impossible task: she has to make a certain amount of money by selling their clothes in the market all by herself. If she doesn't pass, she's expelled. Deep down, Yun Niang believes Ni Chang but all the proof is against her. Deja vu, yes?
The students at Yun pretend to be customers to promote Ni Chang's clothing stand but Ouyang Zi Yu calls her out for manipulating the real customers. Welcome to the 21st century. Ni Chang admits to having her peers put on an act but she argues her products are of quality. Ni Chang wants him to take back his words of calling them swindlers. Ouyang Zi Yu cannot argue against the quality but he still cannot accept her marketing strategy.
Ni Chang is successful. She made enough money to pass Yun Niang's task. But how did Ni Chang do it when the clothes don't add up to that amount? Ni Chang raised the price.
[Ep9] Yun Niang approves of the price raise. Originally, she was planning to because of the rising cost of the supply. Ni Chang actually helped her test the market.
Ouyang Zi Yu clarifies where Ni Chang went wrong. Instead of selling the clothes so cheaply at the markets and manipulating customer behaviour. She could have sold the clothes to Yun Niang's old customers. That method wouldn't risk Yun's reputation. Other than that blip, Ni Chang is an all around marketing expert.
Eventually, Ni Chang earns Ouyang Zi Yu's high praise. He selects Ni Chang as the chief embroiderer. However, Ni Chang's path to success can never be smooth: Yan Wen Xiu tattles to Yun Niang that Yuan Xiang didn't participate in the test and it was Ni Chang and Cheng Tian who helped Yuan Xiang cheat. Ni Chang takes the punishment on herself but at this point, she's already won all the hearts of her peers. Everyone kneels to ask Yun Niang to forgive Ni Chang except Yan Wen Xiu..Yan Wen Xiu has lost her last follower. To her dismay, Yun Niang forgives Ni Chang.
Everyone knows Ouyang Zi Yu is Prince Luo. He asks Ni Chang to make him winter clothes. With her short stature, she struggles to measure his shoulders. Giving herself a bit of ledger on the steps, she wobbles and falls onto him. It's a very tiny skinship moment. She continues to measure him when a messenger reports he'll have to go on a business trip. Both are disappointed. Ni Chang promises she'll have his clothes ready when he's back. Prince Luo gives her his jade as the deposit.
[Ep10] A jealous Yan Wen Xiu locks Ni Chang in the storage but she accidentally sets fire to the place. Out of fear, Yan Wen Xiu runs away. The fire grows bigger and bigger. Cheng Tian and Yun Niang take down the door to save Ni Chang but as a result, Yun Niang is caught in the fire. She hollers to Cheng Tian to take Ni Chang to safety and then the entire building collapses. Yun Niang dies.
Yan Wen Xiu blames the death onto Ni Chang. If not to save her, Yun Niang wouldn't have to die. Ni Chang retorts that if someone didn't lock her in there, none of this would have happened. Yan Wen Xiu doesn't back down at her ludicrous claims. She was about to slap Ni Chang but Ni Chang blocks it and returns a hard hand to her face that sends her flying.
Cheng Tian, Ni Chang and Yuan Xiang bond as god-siblings because all of them are now orphans. They decide to leave to find Yuan Xiang's uncle. Why not pick up Yun’s business? Ah, because we wouldn’t get a drama. Yan Wen Xiu leaves too. She's picked up by her cousin, Su Wen Yu (who is also her fiancé). Su Wen Yu didn't get a chance to see Ni Chang and neither did Prince Luo.
[Ep11] Yuan Xiang takes Ni Chang and Cheng Tian to her uncle. They're not that welcoming mainly because they're not that well-off. However, Ni Chang, our miracle girl, helps Uncle settle two brutes. She gives them money and makes them sign a contract to stay away for a year. Then Ni Chang brings in a big customer but there is a risk. Ni Chang has to make an extravagant wedding dress while on budget and if the bride isn't pleased, she won't pay for it. But of course, Ni Chang succeeds. And the business is booming. They're stealing all the customers from Su Family and so Su Wen Yu personally visits Ni Chang's store.
[Ep12] Su Wen Yu sees Xie Xiao Ni but Ni Chang holds up her act and refuses to admit she is who he thinks she is. That does not stop him from visiting her. He’s also aware he cannot reveal her real name.
Prince Luo finds Ni Chang's little store too. She's not there but Yuan Xiang tells him that Ni Chang has been longing for him. He quickly leaves to find her in the mountains. Mountains are such small things in Cdramaland, you can locate anyone anywhere anytime. These two look so happy to be reunited. He quickly straightens his posture, remembering he's a prince.
Prince Luo brushes Ni Chang's nose bridge, reminding her she owes him a winter clothing. He also teaches her how to improve her business. Rather than being bullied by bigger merchants (like Su Family), she should collaborate with other smaller businesses and outsource her orders.
Ni Chang doesn't have the winter clothes ready for Prince Luo yet but she presents him with his camellia handkerchief.
[Ep13] Ni Chang agrees to help Ye Rong against everyone else's wishes. She's an expended prostitute, too old to be wanted. Ni Chang makes her an outfit fit for an angel but Ni Chang has a request of her: to remove all her heavy, heavy makeup. With her improved appearance, Ye Rong regains confidence from within.
Ni Chang meets Yan Wen Xiu again who is still rotten to the core. To annoy the annoying Yan Wen Xiu, Ni Chang purposely accepts Su Wen Yu's kindness. This is spotted by Prince Luo's bodyguard who quickly updates Prince Luo and now we've got a jealous man too.
Ni Chang is apologetic to Prince Luo: she doesn't have his winter clothes ready. She's extra careful about it because she values him especially when he's her first customer. She also highly appreciates all the advices he gives her. For all those reasons, she really wants to make the perfect clothing for him.
The men have a tug of war with Ni Chang. Ni Chang chooses to leave with Prince Luo instead of Su Wen Yu. Prince Luo is curious if she's upset that he angered Su Wen Yu. She can care less. Prince Luo continues to probe her that there are "people" who think she's close with Su Wen Yu. She asks him who are these "people" because anyone who knows her well would know she doesn't like him. "People" = him only
Second Couple: Seems like Cheng Tian is slowly noticing Yuan Xiang.
[Ep14] Yan Wen Xiu reports Ni Chang for plagiarizing Su Family's wedding dress. Now Yuan Xiang's uncle's store is shut down by the courts. Ni Chang once again finds herself weak against all the unjust oppression directed at her.
Despite the closure of the store, Ni Chang is still popular among the customers. They're fervent for her embroidery. The store is reopening. I thought the drama was done with the pink clothes but it's back again! Not only does it look ugly on the men but the girls as well. It's the type of pink that makes everyone looks fat.
Ni Chang plans a fashion show with models to promote their store.
[Ep15] The models all ditch at the last minute because of Yan Wen Xiu. Ni Chang overcomes the obstacle by inviting courtesans. The fashion show is a success. Oh, but there is still a Yan! Wen! Xiu! Because of her, Ni Chang is summoned at a trial hosted by Su Gong Ming to penalize her for the show.
[Ep16] Ni Chang shows up courageously at the trial. She has the logic but they have the power. Power>>>Logic. Su Wen Yu backs her up that she is his fiancé. But. Not on Prince Luo's turf. He takes Ni Chang back from Su Wen Yu and offers help. He does it in a spiteful way (because he's jealous) and Ni Chang refuses it because she doesn't want help like that.
Su Wen Yu learns his uncle is the murderer of Ni Chang's family but uncle blames it on Su Wen Yu's father. Su Wen Yu believes that. Omg. Everyone's an idiot in this drama except the main leads. He goes to confront his father and clearly Dad did not do it but for dramatic purposes Drama doesn't let him finish his sentences and now Su Wen Yu misunderstands his father. Conveniently, Dad dies. At his death, he's got a long enough last breath in him to hand down the business to Su Wen Yu and tell Yan Wen Xiu she's a good girl, but just not enough breath to clarify he didn't plot the assassination of Ni Chang's family. Stu-pid.
Fu Rou is finishing up the winter clothes for Prince Luo. He's staring at it meticulously. She thought he didn't like it but he loves it. He can tell she put in a lot of effort to make it suitable for him. He wants to try it and, casually, she drapes it around him, almost giving him a hug. She doesn't feel it but he does.
Prince Luo tells her to make it slowly. Winter is still far. He wraps a fur-scarf around her and pulls her close, "If you finish the clothes too fast, what other excuse will I have to visit you?" This time, she feels his proximity.
Also, Prince Luo invites her to his birthday party.
[Ep17] Our Prince wants Ni Chang to call him “Zi Yu” because her calling him “prince” sounds too distant. Ni Chang smiles but she doesn't listen and never calls him Zi.Yu!.
Su Wen Yu mourns for the death of his father. Yan Wen Xiu claims she’s sadder than him. Huh. Also, she can’t leave anymore. She promised his father she will marry Su Wen Yu. And because she’s a woman of her words, she has to marry him. HUH?
It’s “Zi Yu’s” birthday party. Ni Chang is running late because she was finishing his birthday present (the winter clothes). Our Zi Yu hosted this party all for her and so when she’s the last to arrive, he’s personally waiting for her outside his manor.
Su Wen Yu mourns for the death of his father. Yan Wen Xiu claims she’s sadder than him. Huh. Also, she can’t leave anymore. She promised his father she will marry Su Wen Yu. And because she’s a woman of her words, she has to marry him. HUH?
It’s “Zi Yu’s” birthday party. Ni Chang is running late because she was finishing his birthday present (the winter clothes). Our Zi Yu hosted this party all for her and so when she’s the last to arrive, he’s personally waiting for her outside his manor.
The real party begins when Ni Chang is drunk. She demands Prince Luo to wear the clothes she made. She climbs up on the table. I love how natural it looked when Prince Luo held her hand and told her to be careful when she wobbled on the chair. Ni Chang was supposed to throw the clothes but she throws herself over him too and we get a short piggyback moment. Then Ni Chang orders him to sit down. Amused, Prince Luo listens. She starts dabbing something red on his lips.
Ni Chang in a drunk voice: Your eyes have me. These is the exact words he said to her when he was Bao Zi.
Prince Luo softly stares back at her and smiles. His eyes do have her <3. Then she compliments him for looking pretty. This makes him shy.
Ni Chang has set her sights on a new bun – the bun in the sky. We usually call that the moon. But Ni Chang’s drunk and she gets what she wants. Prince Luo drapes the winter clothing onto her and flies her up the roof so that she’s closer to her bun. She calls him a liar; this is still very far from the moon. Ni Chang wants to be closer because that’s where her family is. Prince Luo caresses her cheeks and assures her that her family can see her. I'm still really liking the natural skinship; here, he's tugging at the fur around her to keep her warm.
Ni Chang is still teary. Her family is gone and even her Bao Zi doesn’t remember her. She pinches his cheeks as she speaks of Bao Zi. Then she tells him about her journey and how it felt like she was walking alone in a dessert not knowing where the road ends or when she can stop. Ni Chang uses her fingers to show him how she walked all alone. Prince Luo lifts his hand for her fingers to touch, then he warps his fingers around hers.
Prince Luo: You can continue to walk and walk. I will be with you.
Ni Chang doesn’t hear. She fell asleep while lying on him – while standing.
Prince Luo flies her down: Ni Chang, I will use my eternity to protect you.
When Ni Chang wakes up, she’s shocked that she’s holding hands with Prince Luo who’s sleeping on the floor by her bed. Aw, he hasn’t left her side at all.
I will be honest. I was this close to dropping this drama. The villain plot is so stupid. It’s these two cuties, Ni Chang and Prince Luo, who are saving this.
Six months later.
Ni Chang recognizes the assassin who killed her family. She cries of relief. She can finally avenge her family. She secretly tails him but he notices. Ni Chang has amazingly quick reflexes and puts a scissor to his neck. She wants him to speak of who ordered him to kill Xie Family. The assassin realizes she’s Xie Xiao Ni and while she’s distracted, he steals her scissor. Su Wen Yu is nearby watching this exchange but it’s this other black cloaked man who saves her. When Su Wen Yu arrives, she’s already gone. The assassin takes out his anger on Su Wen Yu. Out of self-defence, Su Wen Yu kills the assassin with multiples scissors stabs. Uh oh, will the scissors be an evidence against Ni Chang?
Who saved Ni Chang? It’s her Prince Charming.
[Ep18] Prince Luo respects Ni Chang and doesn't probe her but he does reprimand her for putting herself in danger. She's surprised at how nimble he is. He learned martial arts as a hobby but uses it to occasionally help his friends. Ni Chang keeps up the conversation saying that his friends are probably all high-ranking; they most likely won't need his help. Prince Luo stops walking. He teases her for praising herself because to him, she's that friend who he just helped. Ni Chang quickly bows that she's not worthy of being his friend. That hurts. Prince Luo's heart aches and he whines about it too. Lol. On the other hand, Ni Chang is too concerned about the assassin to care about him.
The scissors are a problem. Su Gong Ming uses the pair of scissors to pin the murder onto Ni Chang. Su Wen Yu tries to testify for her at the trial but Yan Wen Xiu stops him. She knows he killed the assassin too because she overheard everything, of course.
Ye Rong, the courtesan who Ni Chang helped, steps up as witness. She testifies Ni Chang is the murderer. Case is settled! The last part is to force Ni Chang to confess but how can she admit something she didn't do? Even if she's flogged, Ni Chang pleads not guilty. The crowd erupts at the brutality of the punishment. The judge stops the flogging but locks her up. She's detained and what waits ahead is her decapitation.
[Ep19] Prince Luo confronts Ye Rong on who ordered her to lie. She doesn't actually know.
Then Prince Luo visits Ni Chang in the prison. Ni Chang hides her hand from him because the guards have been using excessive brutality on her. Prince Luo asks Ni Chang to see her hand. There's pain on his face when he sees the torture her hands have been through..He promises he'll save her.
The next day at the trial, Ye Rong testifies once more. This time she claims she has hallucination and that she actually didn't witness the murder. The judge is like The audacity! Just because you said she didn't kill and so that means she didn't kill? OMG. The hypocrisy. Prince Luo testifies too. He is Ni Chang's alibi. Case is settled. Dude, could he not have testified earlier and then Ni Chang could have suffered less.
Ni Chang limps as she walks so Prince Luo swings her up in his arms. She wants him to let go and so he drops her – fake drops her. Now, she's obedient in his arms.
The case is still unsolved. Ni Chang continues to investigate but Su Gong Ming blocks her every path. Prince Luo also wants Ni Chang to stop investigating for her own safety. But Ni Chang can't. She also can't tell him why. Knowing she's upset, Prince Luo plays his flute to comfort the sadness in her heart. Prince Luo also gives her his flute, noting that if he ever wants to play it, he'll have to ask her for it. He reaches his hand to caress her cheeks but stops himself and gives her a friendly squeeze on the shoulder instead.
Prince Luo also corrects the sentencing of Ni Chang's innocent inmate.
[Ep20] Su Wen Yu attempts to convince Ni Chang to stop opposing his uncle. "Can't you just settle for being a girl and weak? Why do you always do more than what girls should do?" Before this, Ni Chang had least considered him as a friend, now he's just lost any ounce of respect she had of him.
Yan Wen Xiu and Su Gong Min have made it impossible for Ni Chang to find fabric in the city. Ni Chang and Cheng Tian are off to Xi City to look for fabric. Su Gong Ming sends assassins after Ni Chang (after being tipped off by Yan Wen Xiu). The uncle is doing this again?? Did he not learn from his previous lesson of being blackmailed??
Prince Luo is also assigned to a different city for diplomatic matters which is odd because he's been getting a lot of random tasks. Prince Luo realizes someone is preventing him from investigating as well. As he leaves, he feels unnerved about Ni Chang and so he changes route to find her. Will he make it in time to save Ni Chang?
The assassin reports to Su Gong Ming that the mission was successful. Ni Chang and Cheng Tian have died.
It's a lie! Ni Chang and Cheng Tian didn't die. Prince Luo saved them in time. Prince Luo also asks the doctor about the injury on Ni Chang's face. The doctor replies that it's deep and perhaps there are other doctors in bigger cities who can heal it. When Ni Chang wakes up, she wants to know what happened. Prince Luo only knows it was Su Family who hired the assassin.
Other update: Yan Wen Xiu is disowned by her parents who don't need a daughter as despicable as her.
[Ep21] A month later.
Prince Luo, Ni Chang, and Cheng Tian are in Xi City. The villagers have a way to cure Ni Chang's scar and her hand. Prince Luo is very anxious about every detail of the treatment. The lady laughs at him and teases him to marry Ni Chang after her scar heals. Prince Luo can't contain his happiness at all.
The doctor who’s treating Ni Chang's scar also recovers Prince Luo's memories. Prince Luo finally remembers his days as Bao Zi and he remembers Ni Chang is his Xie Xiao Ni.
These two reunite, like really reunite. Can I just applaud Li Jia Qi and her eye acting? Prince Luo calls her "Ni'er jiejie". There's tears in her eyes as she calls him "Bao Zi". He answers like a kid just like he once did, "Eh!" So cute! They hug and she doesn't stop calling him "Bao Zi". He goes “Eh!” each time. The louder she calls, the louder he Ehs.
Ni Chang is so grateful to the doctor, she asks if she can be his disciple. He can't return to the city (because of a medical mishap) so she wants to learn his medical expertise and spread his knowledge. The doctor refuses. He has no intention of accepting a disciple. Despite being refused, Ni Chang gives him a present she sewed. It's the pouch that the doctor described to Ni Chang that was destroyed when he was beaten up by his patients. It’s a memory of his mother. The doctor is so touched, he accepts Ni Chang as his disciple. Ah, so a seamstress + medical expert. Get those degrees, girl.
Now that Prince Luo knows Ni Chang's real identity, he promises to help her vindicate her family.
[Ep22] Prince Luo is at Ni Chang's side as she studies medicine. He's her little big helper.
Eight months later.
Poor Yuan Xiang is still waiting for her friends to come back home. She's supporting the family business. On Su Wen Yu's side, he's barely been sober and Yan Wen Xiu is slowly taking over management of Su Family's business.
Ni Chang is jealous when she learns Prince Luo has been finding entertainment with a courtesan but actually, he's been asking the courtesan if she can teach Ni Chang how to train both her hands to sew independently and simultaneously. What does this have anything to do with the revenge? Just watch the show! Prince Luo helps Ni Chang practice. He tells her to write the Chinese character "heart" on his heart while her right hand write something else. She succeeds. Prince Luo is curious what she wrote with the other hand. Ni Chang won't tell him. She runs away but Prince Luo catches her by the arm. He knows she wrote "Bao Zi". When she wrote the character "heart" on his heart, their hearts have connected; he know what she's thinking and that she's thinking of him. ~ ~
Other updates: Su Wen Yu is so drunk and his actions are so weird, I don't know how to explain it. He's threatening his family to expose everything and still refuses to marry Yan Wen Xiu.
[Ep23] Ni Chang and Cheng Tian are back home! Cheng Tian picks up Yuan Xiang and he's like Why are you chubbier again! xD Ni Chang wants to revamp their store. She's going to add perfumes, makeup and skincare to their collection that will have health benefits. The store gets a reopening and they get new pink clothes and it's an uglier pink!. However, the customers are lukewarm because of all their notorious scandals with Su Family. Ni Chang makes a bet with a customer. She'll pay the customer back if her makeup doesn't make the customer look younger ten years. If I were the customer, I'd say I only look nine years younger just to get out of paying ;D. After the makeup, the customer faints at her own beauty. Their business flourishes on opening day.
Yan Wen Xiu learns Ni Chang is back and their business is better than before.
Prince Luo visits the store. When everyone leaves and it's just him with Ni Chang, he hovers behind her and asks if she missed him. She keeps her lips pressed, refusing to give him the answer he wants. When she finally gives in, Prince Luo appears angry. She waddles around him, calling him Bao Zi to make him happy again. He was never angry at her. He pulls her in for a soft kiss on the cheek. I like how these two got together so naturally. When are they getting married?
Su Wen Yu learns Ni Chang is alive.
Ni Chang’s store is intentionally left out of the imperial business by Minister Yuan and Yan Wen Xiu. Prince Luo has a solution but, oh, there’s this pain in his shoulder that needs some massaging. After she massages one shoulder the pain moves to his other shoulder. After she's done massaging that side too, he tells her he doesn't have a plan yet. Ha. He will, though.
[Ep25] Yan Wen Xiu fools Ni Chang to her place only to taunt her for reasons I find useless to explain. Su Wen Yu takes Ni Chang out of there and he too is now spitting gibberish. Thankfully, Prince Luo takes her back. He’s jealous, the petty kind, and he's channeling Bao Zi vibes.
Prince Luo changes up the rule to make it fairer for businesses like Ni Chang’s to be selected for the imperial market. The customers will be ones voting for the businesses. Prince Luo suggests she give samples. That’s exactly her thoughts too. Her dream is to make clothes affordable for all women.
Prince Luo changes up the rule to make it fairer for businesses like Ni Chang’s to be selected for the imperial market. The customers will be ones voting for the businesses. Prince Luo suggests she give samples. That’s exactly her thoughts too. Her dream is to make clothes affordable for all women.
Prince Luo has good news for Ni Chang. A Princess will be here from another land and she’s looking to export delicacies to her land. For this piece of news, Prince Luo wants a prize. He doesn't want a massage this time. He pokes at his cheek, wanting a kiss right there. She gives in but then he turns to her and now it’s a kiss on the lips. Yuan Xiang accidentally interrupts this cute little moment. When Prince Luo leaves, he gives Ni Chang his flute so that she can wistfully stare at it to remind her of him, lol.
Su Wen Yu is still so delusional I have no idea why. He thinks Ni Chang is his. Ni Chang sets it straight again.
Ni Chang: In my heart, there is only Ou Yang Zi Yu. If he doesn’t leave me neither will I leave him.
[Ep26] Yan Wen Xiu marries Su Wen Yu! Oh but he doesn’t show up so she has to walk down the aisle with a chicken as a stand in. Woah. The embarrassment. Yan Wen Xiu, why do this to yourself? Well now she gets to rightfully manage Su Family's business. Come time for consummation, Su Wen Yu isn't even there and that’s her last straw. Uh for me it would have been the chicken.
Liu Zi Qian is a new pursuer. He’s a son of a marquis.
Yan Wen Xiu is very slowly ruining Su Family’s reputation with her cutting corners here and there. Su Wen Yu can’t stand her deceitful acts but Su Gong Ming loves her for bringing money in.
[Ep27] Prince Luo is poisoned by Minister Yuan’s mole dude (Minister Gao) just to stop him from governing their affairs. Prince Luo is mostly okay, just weak and needs recovery. He doesn’t alert Ni Chang he’s back at his manor to avoid worrying her. Eventually, Ni Chang finds out. She’s angry he left her in the dark. When she visits, he’s upset at her too because she’s been friendly with Liu Zi Xuan (or more like she’s being pestered by him but our jealous prince doesn’t know that).
Prince Luo breaks the ice first. He visits Ni Chang at her store but she won’t talk to him. He contends she can’t ignore a customer. A little smile peeps through. Ni Chang begins explaining her products and draws all over his face. He grabs her hand to stop her, sighing that he’s not here to be angry at her. He wants to make up. Liu Zi Qian interrupts. Prince Luo has no patience to entertain this guy and takes Ni Chang’s hand to leave but Liu Zi Qian won’t let that happen. This angers Prince Luo and he’s rarely angry. Prince Luo hits him. Ni Chang really should have been explaining to Liu Zi Qian earlier but it’s better late than never. She tells Liu Zi Qian she’s willing to leave with Prince Luo. And that’s it. Why not tell Liu he’s her bf?
From that encounter, Prince Luo is actually relieved to see that Liu Zi Qian is not his competition. Prince Luo turns sweet again and tells Ni Chang he really was sick. Can’t a guy get some pity points? He holds her at her waist and then she tickles him. He’s forgiven.
Ni Chang finds a ledge to step on so that she can be level with him. Pulling his hands to her waist for a hug, she tells him: "You and I, we’ll never separate.” She wants him to promise he won’t hide anything from her. He promises. They stamp on that promise with nose rubs.
[Ep28] Ni Chang twists her leg. Liu Zi Qian offers to piggyback her but not on Prince Luo’s turf. Prince Luo picks her up, swinging her legs which knocks over a crouching Liu Zi Qian.
Watching Prince Luo carrying Ni Chang so sweetly, Cheng Tian asks if Yuan Xiang wants the same. Stunned by the question, Yuan Xiang docilely answers she would which earns a quick reply from him: “Cannot; too heavy" Once again teasing her weight. Boys!
Prince Luo is barely speaking as he tends to Ni Chang’s injury. Ni Chang nervously glances at him but there’s also admiration in her eyes. The concern he has for her is clearly written on his face. So gentle and so loving
Xie Feng finally appears again! (Ni Chang’s bother or sister). Are you asking how he survived? It's okay. Let go of that detail. He helps Princess of Lanzhou discern between authentic fabric of some sort. The store owner apologizes for the low quality fabric (he was fooled by Yan Wen Xiu). The Princess hires Xie Feng as her advisor and he uses a different name for himself: Wu Yi. This is the Princess who’s here to look for delicacies to export to her homeland.
The maid reports to Su Wen Yu that she overheard Yan Wen Xiu cry out in her nightmare that she killed her master. And now Su Wen Yu has a weakness of Yan Wen Xiu’s.
The maid reports to Su Wen Yu that she overheard Yan Wen Xiu cry out in her nightmare that she killed her master. And now Su Wen Yu has a weakness of Yan Wen Xiu’s.
[Ep29] To be selected for the Princess’s export business, there’s a preliminary round. Ni Chang gets a chance to see her brother, Xie Feng! But she didn’t look up. Of course they don't meet, duh. Xie Feng does see Ni Chang but he concealed himself. At the end of the round, Ni Chang passes with high praise for the quality of her products.
The businesses selected are to send a representative to enroll in something like a boarding school (somewhere in the palace?). Ni Chang and Yan Wen Xiu enroll. Ni Chang’s business has such a good reputation, other applicants have basically conceded to her. Not Yan Wen Xiu. Her jealousy is never ending. However, this time, instead of displaying it, she cries to Ni Chang that her married life sucks, Please pity me, wah. Uh. yeah, so Ni Chang's not falling for that.
[Ep30] Prince Luo bought a manor right next to the boarding school Ni Chang is staying at. At night he would play their song. For a few nights now, Ni Chang had thought she was imagining it. He’s like Aren’t I romantic? She busts him that he must be here for another motive. Prince Luo is like Can’t you just pretend to play along and believe that I want to see you frequently? That's not our Ni Chang. Before she returns to her dorms, he asks her to play on her xun (ocarina) at night as well so that he can hear it too. Ni Chang comments her xun is too quiet. Prince Luo disagrees. Any music she plays for him, he’ll hear it (with his heart).
Liu Zi Qian develops a severe allergy to pollen. Fortunately, Ni Chang diagnoses it correctly and Li Zi Qian recovers. The reason he got this reaction in the first place was because he wanted to help Ni Chang retrieve this certain ingredient. He really likes her.
[Ep31] Prince Luo looks quite cool battling the Princess. However, the Princess is using every opportunity to either strip him or kiss him. Initially, he entered the battle out of jealously – Ni Chang was too chummy with Liu Zi Qian and Prince Luo wanted her attention back. Now it's Ni Chang's who's jealous because the so called "battle" looks more like flirting and dancing.
Anyone blind can see through Yan Wen Xiu’s fake pitiful act. She gives Ni Chang a jade as a token of sincerity when it’s a stolen item from the palace. Ni Chang knew all along and doesn't fall for it.
[Ep32] Prince Luo repeatedly rejects the Princess. He won’t marry anyone but the one person he likes (aka Ni Chang).
Su Wen Yu threatens Yan Wen Xiu to stop sabotaging Ni Chang or he'll expose her of killing Yuan Niang.
At the competition, Ni Chang introduces her inventions. There’s a belt that repels mosquitoes and a pouch that helps with sleep. Prince Luo's endless praise for Ni Chang makes the Princess realize who he truly loves.
Prince Luo finally visits Ni Chang to make up but Ni Chang is still mad.
[Ep33] Prince Luo apologizes to Ni Chang. He admits he was jealous and wanted to see if she would be jealous. A sincere apology is all that Ni Chang wanted from him. In a hidden corner, Xie Feng observes our sweethearts together. He's happy for her sister.
Ni Chang has a nightmare. In it Ou Yang Zi Yu breaks up with her for the Princess, and Xie Feng abandons her too.
Yan Wen Xiu cahoots with Minister Yuan. The most random plot out of nowhere. How it happened: Yan Wen Xiu wanted to destroy her competitor’s fabric (to somehow blame it on Ni Chang?). She’s caught by Minister Yuan who punishes her. He lewdly touches her hand and hints to her she should know what to do. Then Yan Wen Xiu runs to him, linking her arm in his. Oh my. The next morning, she returns to her room, lifeless. She was raped by Minister Yuan. Once in her room, Yan Wen Xiu collapses to the floor in tears. I hate her and yet I pity her, especially here. She did bring it upon herself...but, ugh.
Back to the ruined fabric. Ni Chang helps the girl dye a similar red fabric that almost fools everyone but Yan Wen Xiu exposes the girl. Ni Chang ,who aided the girl, is accessory to the crime. Minister Yuan gives Yan Wen Xiu his support. Yan Wen Xiu continues her preposterous claims that Ni Chang’s wondrous dye could actually be poisonous. To prove it’s safe, Ni Chang drinks the dye (ah, so it's food dye). Regardless of the poison, since the girls lied, Minister Yuan wants both girls removed from the competition. The Princess saves Ni Chang because she demonstrated her excellence with the dye. Our Princess is a fair one. Even if Prince Luo rejected her for Ni Chang, she won't hold a grudge on Ni Chang. Also, the Princess seems to have moved on to Liu Zi Qian.
[Ep34] Ni Chang grumpily refuses Prince Luo’s help. She's mad at him. What did he do now? Apparently, he was teasing her even in her dreams. She was mad at that. Oh, lol.
Princess is poisoned from the food Ni Chang made (with her food dye). It’s not a fatal poison but she does fall sick. She gives everyone three days to investigate. For the time being, Ni Chang is imprisoned. Prince Luo is feeling desperate. He tells Ni Chang that he can always ask the Emperor to pardon her even if it means removing his title. She calls him silly and it's her who motivates him. She believes in Prince Luo to prove her innocent.
Always trust our trusty Prince Luo. He finds out the poison originated from this cloth Ni Chang used. A servant takes the blame for it when it was Yan Wen Xiu (with Minister Yuan as her ally) who were the real masterminds. Too bad the servant commits suicide and never exposes the true culprits. At least Ni Chang is safe.
Princess and Liu Zi Qian are a couple! They’re a good match, both straightforward and carefree; kinda cute.
Next day, there’s a kite flying date with Prince Luo, Ni Chang, Cheng Tian, Yuan Xiang, and the aunt and uncle. Suddenly, autumn leaves are falling from the sky when the trees are clearly still green and far, far away from where they are. Anyway, it’s supposed to be happy and romantic. Xie Feng smiles from afar, watching his sister in bliss. Xie Feng doesn’t want to intrude Ni Chang's peaceful life. Aw. My heart aches for Xie Feng.
[Ep35] Ni Chang sneaks into Minister Yuan's accounting room to find any evidence of the pearl powder that incriminated her family. Guess who spots her. Yan Wen-will-you-get-off-my-screen Xiu. Xie Feng realizes Ni Chang is looking for evidence too and so he cryptically gives her a hint: ask the old ladies who have been here for ages. From the ladies Ni Chang discovers Su Gong Ming tampered with the pearl powder before giving it to Xie Family. After Ni Chang discusses it with Prince Luo, they realize the only way Su Gong Ming had access to the storage room was if Minister Yuan allowed it.
Fu San’er escapes from Minister Gao’s security. Minister Gao immediately informs Minister Yuan who is currently with Yan Wen Xiu and thus it's revealed to her that Fu San’er drugged Prince Luo. Minister Gao frets but Yan Wen Xiu reminds Minister Yuan not to fret. This isn't even his business. Fu San'er is Minister Gao's nephew, not Minister Yuan's. Thus, Fu San'er is left in the wild, free to roam.
[Ep36] Prince Luo tells Ni Chang to take it easy with her investigation. If anything happens to her then the first person she’d be sorry to is him.
Su Wen Yu takes over the business now that Yan Wen Xiu is busy with the palace competition. He shows off to Ni Chang that she was wrong on not choosing him over Prince Luo. Ni Chang doesn't even bother listening to him and then he adds this stupid line: You are a girl. You can't beat me. O.m.g. I don't get this guy.
Back to the palace competition. There’s a perfume contest and Ni Chang's competitor has a female model to exude the perfume by dancing. Her dance has everyone enamoured. When Ni Chang spots a smile on Prince Luo’s face, she softly clears her throat that’s audible for Prince Luo’s ears. He looks away from the dance, lol. Then when it’s a male performer who’s a model for Ni Chang’s perfume, it’s Prince Luo who's clearing his throat. (Ni Chang wins)
Su Gong Ming denies Yan Wen Xiu the stores he promised her because she had an affair with Minister Yuan. Yan Wen Xiu cries to Minister Yuan and he will help her if he gets to own the stores. She cries some more and he gives in but there’s an unspoken deal: sex.
[Ep37] Yan Wen Xiu gets her ten stores. As a result, Su Family is bankrupt. Su Wen Yu is back to being an alcoholic.
Su Gong Ming is killed by Minister Yuan but it’s disguised as a suicide. Minister Yuan is cleaning up his tracks to prevent Prince Luo from finding anything incriminating. Su Wen Yu refuses to believe his uncle would commit suicide. This episode Su Wen Yu learns quite a bit:
- In his library, Su Wen Yu finds the letter his father left for Su Gong Ming that explains it was Su Gong Ming who hired assassins to murder Xie Family.
- Su Wen Yu also discovers Minister Gao (i.e. Minister Yuan) is behind the death of Su Gong Ming.
[Ep38] Yan Wen Xiu is under Minister Yuan’s orders to capture Ni Chang in order to threaten Prince Luo. Ni Chang can actually put up a bit of a fight! But she’s outnumbered. Xie Feng comes to the rescue. Ni Chang finally recognizes her brother/sister. Before the girls can reunite, they’re on the run again! Omg Xie Feng, please don’t come back just to die again!! The sisters fall off the cliff together to escape from Yan Wen Xiu and her underlings.
Minister Yuan kills Minster Gao and this is seen by his nephew (Fu San'er) who runs away.
In this entire episode, everyone believes Ni Chang died.
[Ep39] Ni Chang is not dead.
Flashback. Before Ni Chang and Xie Feng jumped off the cliff, Ni Chang promised she won’t leave Xie Feng again. If they die, they will die together. Thus they jump off the cliff together.
They miraculously survive and Ni Chang has been laying low until she's gathered enough evidence to implicate Minister Yuan for all his crimes. Su Wen Yu was pretending to be the bad guy in the previous episode to help Ni Chang. He also turns in the letter from his father to prove that Su Gong Ming hired assassins to kill Xie Family. Both Su Wen Yu and Minister Yuan are imprisoned. Ni Chang feels bad for Su Wen Yu but if the guy wants to repay her by detaining himself then let it be.
Xie Feng dies. OMG. He couldn’t recover from the cliff fall. Our Xie sisters never had a true reunion! All Xie Feng managed to do was put the hands of Ni Chang and Prince Luo together. This is cruel. Xie Feng barely got to live for herself. All her life she lived as a man for her family and then when she survived the first cliff fall, she lived for her family's revenge.
Yan Wen Xiu visits Minister Yuan in prison. He tells her to kidnap the Princess for their future. Yan Wen Xiu's screws are loose so she obeys. With the Princess as hostage, they exchange her for Minister Yuan. However, Minister Yuan plays dirty and steals the Princess back.
[Ep40] It’s a team effort to save the Princess. Minister Yuan is incarcerated and so is Yan Wen Xiu. She's currently psychotic. She admits to everything, even the death of Yuan Niang, her master. Cheng Tian gets his closure.
Prince Luo notes that Ni Chang’s ocarina has a wispy sound compared to other ocarinas. It’s the only item her father left for her. Then she does the unthinkable. She smashes the ocarina and inside there’s her Xie family's secret formula for "Huan Cai Luo”. She uses this formula to make a shimmery, thin clothing for the Princess and that wins her the final competition.
Prince Luo has a present for Ni Chang. It's a date night with the moon. She has a present for him too: a kiss. It was a soft kiss, until he pulled her back for a deeper one.
Princess and Liu Zi Xuan are to be married. They argue who is marrying who. It matters in Chinese and the way Princess says it sounds like she's taking him as her wife which Liu Zi Xuan is quick to deny that he proposed first. Ni Chang sews a wedding present for the engaged couple. She uses her double sewing method.
Cheng Tian proposes to Yuan Xiang. The above is the face of someone who was just kissed on the cheek. Cheng Tian had to close her jaw for her, lol. For the answer to his proposal, Yuan Xian tells Cheng Tian to close his eyes. He smiles, listens, and waits for the kiss. But first, Yuan Xiang does a happy dance. Then she moves in for the kiss, lips pursed first, almost there, closer and then auntie interrupts.
Ni Chang reopens her Xie family's store.
Prince Luo mulls that there's only the two of them left un-married, even his maid and his bodyguard are getting married. Ni Chang quickly excuses herself to make wedding accessories. Everyone freezes and Ni Chang has to clarify the wedding accessories are for the maid.
Prince Luo continues to ask Ni Chang about their marriage but she reminds him he never proposed. Taking the cue, he asks if it's too late to propose. Ni Chang goes, "Then you have to let me think about if for few days and exactly what I'm thinking of, I don't know either." He's like Okay wife-y. Ni Chang leaves him be but elbows him by accident. Prince Luo exaggerates the pain just to pull her in for another kiss.
There's a double wedding between Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian, and the bodyguard and the maid. It's funny when the grooms went to the wrong bride. After the wedding, Prince Luo takes Ni Chang to another venue decorated with camellias. He's proposing to her, asking her to be his "wangfei". However, she's hesitant; it's not because she doesn't love him. She promised her family (all dead, my poor Xie Feng) she'd expand their business. Prince Luo understands. He will wait no matter how long it'll take her. She thanks "Zi Yu" for his unconditional love.
Two years later. This is the drama with the most (mini) time skips.
Ni Chang's Xie business is successful.
Ni Chang's Xie business is successful.
Yuan Xiang and Chen Tian have a baby (Xi'er). Yuan Xiang complains to Ni Chang how long has it been since Prince Luo visited her. Ni Chang turns silent at that. Then there's a picky customer who demands that only Boss Xie (Xie Xiao Ni/Ni Chang) can measure him. It's Prince Luo! Ni Chang stares at him with tears in her eyes. How long have they been separated? Two years?? Although her life seems perfect, he thinks there's something missing: him.
Prince Luo: Marry me? Ni'er.
Ni Chang nods
The end!
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] How many brocade dramas have there been this year? There was Nazha’s Weaving a Tale of Love, Song Yi's My Heroic Husband (sorta~), Tan Song Yun’s (Seven Tan) The Sword and the Brocade, and more recently Li Yi Tong’s Court Lady. Every single month there is one new seamstress. Ni Chang is definitely the smaller scaled drama – purely comparing by the cast – but I actually like the main leads here and they're the ones anchoring me to the drama.
Six episodes spoiled for you: [Sp] FL meets the ML after he suffers this concussion that turns him into a retard. Later, her family is exiled and he's back to being a prince but then he has selective amnesia and doesn't remember her. She's back in the city with hopes of clearing her family's name and doesn't want him to recognize her. By the end of Ep6, they reunite, but will he recognize her? [/Sp]
If you've read the above spoilery summary, you'll know this will be cliché but it's not so dramatically cliché that it turns me off. It will follow Ni Chang's long journey of vindicating her family. Despite all that she's been through, she remains bright and righteous and loyal and all the good and cute stuff. There's also our Prince who's gallant and smart other than that short lapse of retardation he had. Essentially, this is the usual story. The tone is cute and light.
What I like is so far is that this has a grounded story (although repeatedly told in many, many other dramas) and it's light despite the dramatic events. By Ep6 I'm comfortable with how the story set up Ni Chang's resolve. She has won me over and I want to see her triumph over each obstacle. What I love are the two leads but there's not a lot of scenes for me to see what their chemistry will be like. It looks potentially cute. I mean, it is Li Jia Qi. However, if you don't like your female leads pouting, um, this might not be your drama. But she is very cute!
A con: the filter on this drama is so bright, it hurts my eyes.
[Actors/Actresses] I like Li Jia Qi. She can do very cute things that I can never attempt in my entire life. In fact, I don’t think I can stomach anyone around me doing that in real life but I watch her with happy-envy. Also, I like her because she acts well.
Bi Wen Jun was in In a Class of Her Own and Sweet Tai Chi. I liked him in both of those characters so I’m really looking forward to see him grow as an actor.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Happy.
The extra two year gap for the marriage might seem unnecessary, but I appreciate it as Show's way of remembering the essence of Ni Chang: independent, goal-oriented, filial etc.
[Review] A mediocre story I like to the point that I don’t mind it’s mediocre. There’s a comfort in these formulaic dramas: I know exactly what to expect. It’s like watching a version of Da Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) that squeezes out all the agony and if there is tragedy, it’s condensed and we move on. What’s left is a very pink drama – so pink – and a tough girl determined to conquer obstacles after obstacles. Her Prince Charming is supportive and always so loving. There’s just no better man than him. Admittedly, the story can be banal and near the middle, I was close to dropping this but the two leads always seem to lure me back in with how sweet they are.
Final Review
[Review] A mediocre story I like to the point that I don’t mind it’s mediocre. There’s a comfort in these formulaic dramas: I know exactly what to expect. It’s like watching a version of Da Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) that squeezes out all the agony and if there is tragedy, it’s condensed and we move on. What’s left is a very pink drama – so pink – and a tough girl determined to conquer obstacles after obstacles. Her Prince Charming is supportive and always so loving. There’s just no better man than him. Admittedly, the story can be banal and near the middle, I was close to dropping this but the two leads always seem to lure me back in with how sweet they are.
The villains are the worst thing in this drama, not because they’re annoyingly evil, but because they’re plain idiots. There’s a girl who is an insult to women and there’s a guy who is a misogynist. Neither roles make a lot of sense and they’re evil for the sake of being evil. [Minor Spoiler] The guy does redeem himself for the sake of the plot at the very, very end. [/Sp] If they were smarter at being evil or at least at being human, I would have loved this drama more.
A bias I have to address: I am fond of both Li Jia Qi and Bi Wen Jun and I continue to be.
Random Recommendation: A Love so Romantic
No comments:
Post a Comment