A princess refuses to marry the Emperor and falls in love with the Imperial Guard instead
Notable Actors/Actresses
Notable Actors/Actresses
Ju Jing Yi: Jiang Bao Ning
Zeng Shun Xi: Li Qian
Legend of Jianan
[Ep1] Jiang Bao Ning is set to be the Empress but she doesn't want to be a puppet to the royal family. She is much more interested in being a recognized inventor and attends this exhibition to prove her worth. She meets Li Qian (through A Misunderstanding). Neither disclose their real names. Li Qian doesn't want to be an inventor; he wants to win the prize which is a diagram of a weapon, translated loosely as Mysterious Godly Demonic Weapon Diagram simplified to be The Diagram from here on. These two end up being stuck together in various situations such as in a basket, a ditch, and a net. Ou, trapped in the net of love already. Jiang Bao Ning wins the competition with her cleverness (and natural FL-luck). The Diagram is hers. And now Li Qian wants her – Diagram.
[Ep4] Although Jiang Bao Ning doesn't want to marry Zhao Yi, she helps him secure the throne (Jiang family is part of Zhao Yi's faction). This will also mean upsetting the Empress Dowager and can put Jiang family in harm. Li Qian discovers this plan. He offers an alliance to Jiang Bao Ning. He is useful in that he has the Empress Dowager's trust. In return, he's asking for her help in retrieving The Diagram (again?). I don't think he gets anything out of these alliances and yet he's always offering himself. Clearly, he's trapped in the net of love. To prove that he's trustworthy, he gives her evidence that can execute his entire Li Family. Woah, slow down Romeo. And now their families (Jiang and Li) are bound, each holding a death secret.
[Ep5] Nothing happens on the bed.
Recap Grade: B/C
First Impression: 3.5/5
First Impression: 3.5/5
Mini Recaps
[Ep2] The Emperor (Zhao Yi) deliberately falls into the water to make Jiang Bao Ning marry him. How did that work? The Grand Empress Dowager, who is also their grandmother (yes Zhao Yi and Jiang Ning are cousins) and is the same grandmother we all love in The Story of Minglan, is swooned by Zhao Yi's romantic actions in saving Jiang Bao Ning such that she approves of their marriage. I don't know how much he actually loves her, but for sure Zhao Yi wants the support of the Jiang Family (= military power). Will our Jiang Bao Ning marry just like that? No. She's Ju Jing Yi! She searches for a way to terminate the marriage and finds it suspicious that Zhao Yi secretly escorted a pregnant maid out of the palace.
Meanwhile Li Qian is promoted by Empress Dowager Cao. Cao wants Li family’s support to balance her power against Zhao Yi (Emperor; her son). Currently, it's a power struggle between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. She holds the power because he was too young when he inherited the throne and now she refuses to relinquish the power and he refuses to be a mere puppet.
[Ep3] Catch-spin-move, check! And there's a bonus cape move. And omo, the cape has a life of its own.
Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning learn of each other's real name. Now he knows she's a princess, a royal, and she knows he's a high ranking imperial guard from Li Family. They form a temporary alliance where he helps her find the maid and she helps him with The Diagram.
[Ep4] Although Jiang Bao Ning doesn't want to marry Zhao Yi, she helps him secure the throne (Jiang family is part of Zhao Yi's faction). This will also mean upsetting the Empress Dowager and can put Jiang family in harm. Li Qian discovers this plan. He offers an alliance to Jiang Bao Ning. He is useful in that he has the Empress Dowager's trust. In return, he's asking for her help in retrieving The Diagram (again?). I don't think he gets anything out of these alliances and yet he's always offering himself. Clearly, he's trapped in the net of love. To prove that he's trustworthy, he gives her evidence that can execute his entire Li Family. Woah, slow down Romeo. And now their families (Jiang and Li) are bound, each holding a death secret.
The plan to remove the Empress Dowager from power is almost foiled when one of the key ministers is being tailed. Jiang Bao Ning daringly takes a horse, which she doesn't know how to ride, to distract the person who's tailing. Meanwhile Li Qian has to fly on his feet to inform the person being tailed (the key minister). It seems that he's always cleaning up her mess and I guess she trusts him enough to follow her spontaneous plans. They're both successful and rendezvous at the restaurant. He notices her right hand is injured, and feeds her the soup because he wouldn't want her to twist her remaining hand from drinking soup, she's the Princess after-all. But he teases her by lifting the bowl a little too high so that she struggles sipping it. She's better off drinking it on her own, lol. He also promises her that he'll teach her horse-riding.
During this alliance, Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning meet up secretly all the time like Romeo and Juliet fashion – through the window. This time he has medication for her wrist. Grand Gran (= Grand Empress Dowager) is suddenly here. With nowhere to hide in this spacious, spacious room, Jiang Bao Ning shoves him in her bed and sleeps next to him with the curtains down. When Grand Gran is gone, there is the classical oops-I-fell-on-top-of-you-in-the-bed scene.
[Ep5] Nothing happens on the bed.
Li Qian confirms that Jiang Bao Ning doesn't want to marry Zhao Yi, "I've seen your courage and your cleverness. If you wanted to marry him, you wouldn't fall for this trap." Jiang Bao Ning lightly counters that he's the Emperor, of course, she'd want to marry the Emperor. What girl wouldn't?
Li Qian: You're different from other girls. I like it when a ML knows how to compliment.
Happy with the compliments, Jiang Bao Ning eagerly discloses how she manipulated everyone in avoiding this marriage.
Jiang Bao Nung's background. She is a princess because she is the Princess's daughter who was married to Jiang family. Jiang Bao Ning's parents died on the same day. Her mother had heard about the devastating news of Father Jiang's death and on her way to see her husband, she died too.
Li Qian makes noodles for Jiang Bao Ning, knowing it's her birthday. She cries and our clueless Li Qian thinks it tastes horrible. It's just that she hasn't had a bowl of birthday noodles ever since her parents' death, which was also on her birthday. Relieved that she likes the noodles, Li Qian drops garlic in her soup to enhance the taste. She's like Preposterous! How dare you! Flustered, Li Qian tries to take it out with his bare hand. Preposterous! That's so dirty. Li Qian is even more flustered but Jiang Bao Ning is moved by his actions, she just has a natural case of princess-attitude and garlic isn’t a usual in her noodles.
[Ep6] Jiang Bao Ning is jealous because of this girl (Gao Miao Rong) who likes Li Qian but after Jiang finds out the girl means nothing to him, she's back to being her cheery self.
[Ep7] Zhao Yi safely gets the Imperial Seal, and Jiang Bao Ning no longer has to marry Zhao Yi because Grand Gran discovers the maid who's pregnant with the Emperor's child. How can Grand Gran marry off her precious granddaughter to a man like this. But he's the Emperor, lol. Grandma, you're supposed to support your grandson in flourishing your royal lineage!
And now Grand Gran is on a mission to look for a new husband for Jiang Bao Ning! She has decided on Zhao Xiao. Grand Gran is very cute, but I'm thinking she's Jiang Bao Nng's biggest rival, always setting her up with the wrong guy, ha.
Meanwhile Li Qian is assigned to guard the Empress Dowager who is to leave the palace because she no longer needs to govern over the Emperor. This means our couple is separated! Both Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning are depressed.
[Ep8] Ah, but they meet. Jiang Bao Ning invites Li Qian to a meadow so that she can burn the damning evidence on his Li Family. They will pretend this Jiang-Li alliance never happened. Li Qian isn't here empty handed, though. He promised to teach her horse-riding and he's got a horse with him. Jiang Bao Ning is a quick learner. She's galloping away. Li Qian offers to help her down the horse but she refuses. Disappointingly, he puts down his hand. She’s disheartened as well. She only rejected him once and he’s putting his hand away. Girl, you told him not to!!!!! Man, girls are so annoying sometimes.
Zhao Yi hates it that Zhao Xiao is next in line to marry Jiang Bao Ning, and so, he points a sword at Zhao Xiao to threaten him. There's a fair bit of space between the word and Zhao Xiao, but he walks into it, injuring himself and startling Zhao Yi. Coincidentally, Grand Gran is here and reprimands Zhao Yi. After this incident, Grand Gran is even more determined to make Zhao Xiao the husband to Jiang Bao Ning. Grand Gran keeps falling for "苦肉計" (the trick of injuring oneself to gain favour). As long as the guy injures himself for Jiang Bao Ning, Grandma is like You are perfect!.
Jiang Bao Ning can't refuse cute Grand Gran on the engagement with Zhao Xiao and so the ladies are on a trip to visit the Empress Dowager to have her approve. Although Empress Dowager doesn't have power, she still manages back-court affairs, including Jiang Bao Ning's marriage. Jiang Bao Ning is only tagging along on this trip so that she caen see Li Qian. He, on the other hand, wishes her to marry well, which, obviously, royally pisses off our princess.
Although upset at Li Qian, Jiang Bao Ning continues to search for The Diagram. She finds it but there's a fire and she's stuck in the room.
[Ep9] The arsonist is Han Tong Xin (the Empress) because she's jelly that Zhao Yi only loves Jiang Bao Ning.
Li Qian to the rescue! He finds Jiang Bao Ning who is drowsy from the smoke, lacking oxygen and for some reason high – she kisses him. She thought it was her last chance before she dies. She merely faints over. He's startled by the kiss but promises: "As long as I'm here then I won't let you be hurt." He saves her from the fire but sees Zhao Xiao in the vicinity. Li Qian settles down Jiang Bao Ning to give Zhao Xiao all the credit for saving her. When Jiang Bao Ning is awake, she's disappointed to learn Li Qian wasn't her hero. She also thinks The Diagram she recovered was burnt in the fire.
Marrying Jiang Bao Ning is quite an ardent task for all our suitors. A visiting Brute Prince (Qing Tai) also wants her hand in marriage. The Emperor approves of a duel between Brute Prince and Zhao Xiao for Jiang Bao Ning's marriage. However, Zhao Xiao injures himself before the jousting match. Li Qian can't let Jiang Bao Ning marry the Brute Prince and takes over (with a helmet on). Li Qian wins for Zhao Xiao and suffers an injury to the arm.
Jiang Bao Ning confirms the man under the mask was indeed Li Qian but she's angry because he had a hand in helping her marry someone else.
The secret is out anyway that Zhao Xiao wasn't the one jousting (thanks to Han Tong Xin because she's jelly). The engagement with Zhao Xiao is cancelled. Jiang Bao Ning finds Li Qian and sees that he's returning her The Diagram. This means he saved her during the fire. Jiang Bao Ning asks him if he likes her and bravely(!) adds, "What if I say I like you." Ou. She asks him if he'll take her away Li Qian apologizes with his head hanging low. But his eyes were lighting up when she confessed! Jiang Bao Ning slaps him – a deserving one, I think. He's giving her all these green lights but he just apologizes and says nothing else.
[Ep10] Jiang Bao Ning angrily accepts the alliance marriage with Brute Prince. However, this marriage, as Li Qian finds out, is only a deception to a cover-up for their nefarious plans of attacking the country. Jiang Bao Ning has to commit to the marriage alliance, though. It is an edict. Finally Li Qian admits his feelings (sort of). He's afraid that he can't give her happiness and if he can't guarantee her happiness, he'd rather be a jerk. Still, for Jiang Bao Ning to refuse to marry, she needs proof. Li Qian doesn't have any. By the time he finds it, it will be too late; she'll be married. Since Jiang Bao Ning not is cooperating (she can't), he will protect her in his own ways.
On Jiang Bao Ning's way to marry Brute Prince, she senses the marriage is off and runs away at night. She's caught by Brute Prince. Li Qian galloping in! He's fly-jumping in the air with his horse and whipping everyone down. I'm thinking Ju Jing Yi used a body double during Zhen Shun Xi's crazy whipping action scenes. I kept staring at the body double's face to confirm. She doesn't look like Ju Jing Yi. Li Qian flings her on the horse but she says she can't leave (but wasn't she just running away?). He promises her that he will take responsibility for it all. They flee together. (My seer abilities from future episodes tell me that Jiang Bao Ning does want to leave but she doesn't want to burden Li Qian who could be punished for saving her. From the moment he said he'd take responsibility of her, this boy meant it ~)
The next day, when Jiang Bao Ning wakes up, she screams. Her clothes are changed. Li Qian sheepishly admits that her clothes were all sweaty; they had to be changed. A lie. He was teasing her. A lady helped her change. Despite being teased, Jiang Bao Ning is happy that he saved her at his own accord.
The two of them travel together to the palace. Night falls and it's time to sleep in this single-room dwelling. Jiang Bao Ning thinks Li Qian is stripping but he was only laying down his clothes for her to sleep on. Afterwards, she shoos him from the room. She, a princess, cannot be spending the night with a man in one room when they're not married. Li Qian smirks as he leaves.
Wolves howl.
Jiang Bao Ning bolts from her makeshift bed and calls Li Qian to come inside. And the tease begins. Oh but you're a princess! I, a man, cannot be in the same room as you. Pissed off, Jiang Bao Ning hollers at him to get inside.
[Ep11] Once in the dwelling, Li Qian tries to keep his distance, but Jiang Bao Ning is scared and scoots closer to him. She has to yank his arm to make him stay put. She falls asleep first which gives our boy a chance to admire her. She also wakes up first and realizes she used his arm as her pillow. Embarrassed, she runs out and hugs her pole (always a Ju Jing Yi thing, eh). Li Qian blankly asks her why his shoulder is numb when he knows exactly why. This guy just won't stop teasing her.
During their journey. Jiang Bao Ning drugs Li Qian's drink and ditches him. She's trying to protect him. She doesn't want him to be responsible for her escape. However, in the middle of the woods, she's caught in a net and screams for help. But Brute Prince is in the forest too...! Luckily, Li Qian gets to her first.
Li Qian vows to her: You live, I live; You die, I die.
As they run, an arrow is aimed at Li Qian. Jiang Bao Ning protects him and suffers a minor injury to her arm but the arrow is poisonous. He brings her to a monk who has the cure. The monk thinks they're married (because Li Qian said so) and warns them from sexual activities during the treatment. Jiang Bao Ning is awake but she's too embarrassed to be awake awake and shuts her eyes closed. Li Qian (who knows her so well) teases her that he'll have to mouth-feed her the medication. Humiliated, Jiang Bao Ning gets up.
Jiang Bao Ning refuses to stay in the temple longer. Li Qian sweeps her off her feet to carry her back to bed. He knows why she has to leave immediately: if she doesn't make it back in time, Li Qian will be accused of kidnapping the Princess. Our boy is finally done with the teasing and tells Jiang Bao Ning he won't let go of her hand anymore. If she accepts him, he will marry her and will always protect her. Jiang Bao Ning is reluctant to accept because she thinks this is an elopement and it will harm him.
Very timely, Grand Gran has sent two edicts to Jiang Bao Ning. One is to bestow marriage and the other death. Which one will Jiang Bao Ning choose? The one that permits the marriage with Li Qian, duh. After the edict is read out loud Zhao Xiao is so riled, he tries to kill Li Qian. He fails, duh. He's not a match for Li Qian in combat or in character. (Also, Li Qian did give Zhao Xiao multiple chances. He had told Zhao of Brute Prince but Zhao never showed up in Ep10. From then on Li Qian wasn't going to give Jiang Bao Ning to anyone else unless she chooses to).
While Jiang Bao Ning is treating Li Qian's wounds, he wittingly asks for the other edict, meaning he knew there were two and that she chose to marry him. He also knows Jiang Bao Ning can't show him the other edict because she burned it. Knowing her, she wouldn't allow a chance for someone to use that edict against him and so she destroyed it. Flashback tells us she threw it in the fire without a moment's hesitation. Jiang Bao Ning is speechless because he's right about every single thing.
Our couple time is very short though because Li Qian has to escape from the window from her brother/cousin (Jiang Lu) but he makes sure to kiss his fiancée before he leaves. Jiang Lu is a good guy though, very protective of his sister! This also means Li Qian will have a lot to suffer under this brother-in-law.
Li Qian returns home and Dad Li is spanking him in front of their dead ancestors. Dad told him to investigate Mom Li's death, not kidnap the princess. Lol. Li Qian whines "Daaad.." but Dad interrupts "I think you should be Dad!". Li Qian mutters, "I don't dare be your dad." Lol. I like this relationship between father and son. They're cute! But there are more important matters Li Qian has to do like capturing Brute Prince. It's done in a jiffy with Li Qian's a-mazing combat skills. A new peace treaty is arranged with the safe return of Brute Prince to his country. Li Qian's character has set a very high bar for himself and if he suddenly sucks and does something stupid, I'm going to be mad.
This episode ain't over! Although Li Qian has conquered four men so far to marry Jiang Bao Ning (Brute Prince, Zhao Xiao, Dad Li, and Jiang Lu), there's more! The Emperor won't approve.
[Ep12] Cupid Grand Gran to the rescue ~ She's finally supporting the right guy: Li Qian. Zhao Yi can't be disrespecting Grand Gran and so the marriage is to proceed.
And there's another problem. Madam He, Li Qian's stepmother lectures Dad Li for splurging on the marriage but Dad argues his son is marrying a princess. They can't be cheap. He convinces her that she should set her horizons farther. They will be rich later on.
And the problems keep coming, lol. What an obstacle it is to marry her, ha. Jiang Lu challenges Li Qian to a duel. Good thing Li Qian is brilliant at everything and beats him. Jiang Lu honours the defeat and accepts the punishment which is being Li Qian's guinea pig. Li Qian needs him as a model for drawing brows as practice for when he marries Jiang Bao Ning. Li Qian does a pretty good job, Jiang Lu is looking very feminine xD
Romeo is back at it knocking on Jiang Bao Niang's window. With a flower in his mouth, he leans against the window sill to check out his beautiful bride. He gives her The Diagram which was something he meant to give her (the night she confessed). He doesn't quite finish the sentence because he's guilty of "rejecting" her confession.
Jiang Bao Ning mocks him: The one thing I don't regret in my life was slapping you.Li Qian: Seems like I'll be bullied by My Ladyship from now onJiang Bao Ning: You can still regret now if you want toLi Qian: The one thing I don't regret in my life was kidnapping you. Ahhh~ kidnapping was never so romantic
It's the marriage! They actually marry!! The carriage arrives at Li Family. Since the bride cannot step on the ground, there is a carpet that leads her way into the hall and Li Qian will accompany her through the walk to symbolize their walk in life together.
Consummation! Nope. The monk-doc said no to that. Remember? Plot, I'm side-eyeing you. Jiang Bao Ning avoids her drunk husband who's making a move on her and pleads with him to be gentle. Li Qian, our Romeo, was just teasing her. He knows about her health. Jiang Bao Ning tickles him out of revenge.Qing Ke (the maid) misunderstands the laughter and shorts from outside of the room for Jiang Bao Ning to abstain, lol. Reluctantly, they stop playing and Li Qian gets up to change but kisses her hand before he leaves ~
It's morning. Li Qian will draw Jiang Bao Ning's brows for her (since he's got practice). But he can't draw. Her brows are already perfectly drawn and cannot be drawn anymore lol. He also gives her his late mother's hairpin. Thus, Jiang Bao Ning learns of his goal in life: to avenge his mother's death.
Dad Li gives Jiang Bao Ning the housekeeping duties but Madam He isn't happy and Gao Miao Rong also pitches in to refuse. Jiang Bao Ning smiles and accepts that it is too early for her to take over.
[Ep13] Jiang Bao Ning asks Li Qian to buy Madam He a present since he knows her better. She needs to pacify the relationship with Madam He because Madam is angry she got caught stealing from Jiang's dowry. Therefore Jiang Bao Ning needs to apologize for her pettiness in not letting Madam steal – logic, that I fully endorse.
Li Qian, our Romeo, buys a present for Jiang Bao Ning too~ She excitedly opens the box, sorting aside the brown-ish paper. Li Qian is stunned. Those brownish papers are all his fortune: his money and his property. He’s giving her everything and is only asking to be fed and to sleep next to her everyday. Husbands out there! I think this is a good lesson! He also apologizes for putting her through his family drama. She accepts the present but not exactly the apology because they’re married. They’re one entity and his problems are her problems. Alright, fine wives should learn too. As she’s talking, she casually fixes a contraption that spits needles. Li Qian is stunned again at how easy it was for her to fix his mother’s invention that he struggled with. Ah no wonder Li Qian likes her so much. His mother is an inventor too.
The attack on our couple isn’t just from within Li Manor but also from the palace. The Emperor smugly accepts Zhao Xiao’s proposal to send Li Qian to a training camp, which means separating our newlyweds. The jelly Zhaos don’t know that separation makes love grow fonder. Before he left, Jiang Bao Ning planned a dance event for Li Qian (to seduce him). Now that he's gone for only two days, our girl can't walk straight or even sleep straight. The next night, Li Qian sneaks back home to see her for just a bit, sacrificing a whole night of sleep. He takes a pouch from her because it has her scent. Jiang Bao Ning cuts her hair and slips it inside the pouch for him to keep.
Li Qian is bullied at camp thanks to Zhao Xiao. Li Qian triumphs anyway because of his skills – he took down the No.1 guy, Yun Lin without being dirty or reliant on his "noble" background. coughZhaoXiaocough.
Other couples:
- Bai Su and Cao Xuan: The doctor tells Bai Su it'll be difficult for her to give birth (and the treatment is tough). Cao Xuan finds out and he’s understanding.
- Emperor and Han Tong Xin: He hates her. Period.
[Ep14] Li Family as a whole is bullied as well. They were once a famous bandit family living atop a mountain who no one could beat but Li Qian and an Imperial General teamed up: Li Qian pretended to be a hostage to the General to give the latter credit for taming bandits and the former a chance to ally with the Imperial Family. This General also spread rumours of Li Family's grandness and graciousness. Now that Li Family has a princess-daughter-in-law, others are taking advantage: a minister forces Dad Li to host this Event but after the marriage, they're kinda broke.
Jiang Bao Ning volunteers her dowry but Dad Li and Li Qian refuse. If Li Family touches her dowry, they'll be looked down upon. Their pride is on the line. Jiang Bao Ning has another plan: look for investors. At night, she's reviewing over which merchants are actually philanthropists, she mumbles that if she had known their marriage was so extortionate, she – Li Qian interrupts
Li Qian: The day you married me, I already owe you too much. That little bit of money means nothing.
The philanthropist is found! She's Merchant Dong (Dong Shan Hu). Brb, I'm going to find a philanthropist too. Seems easy. During the Event, Li Qian is playing cuju on the field but he's also sending love letters to Jiang Bo Ning sitting in the tents. This lovey-dovey exchange makes Gao Miao Rong and Zhao Xiao's faces turn ugly and sour. As a result, Zhao Xiao joins the game to relieve his stress and he's mad fouling. Referee!!
Among the audience, there's a Madam Zhuang who sucks up to Gao Miao Rong and insults the PRINCESS, audible to Jiang Bao Ning's ears. Does this Madam have a brain? Li Qian warns Madam Zhuang that insulting Jiang Bao Ning is upsetting Grand Empress Dowager (Grand Gran).
Madam He hears the rumours between Jiang Bao Ning and Zhao Xiao, and searches Jiang Bao Ning's room. They find Zhao Xiao's jade. Li Qian walks in and lies that Zhao Xiao gave the present to both of them. Li Qian easily settles the matter with Madam He. I'm ignoring the lady by the name of Gao. So two-faced. Words are wasted on her. At night, Li Qian is fuming alone in the study room. He won't speak with nor look at Jiang Bao Ning but when she slips, he'll catch her. Jiang Bao Ning swears she's innocent with Zhao Xiao
Li Qian is curt: I believe you.Jiang Bao Ning: Then why are you angry?Li Qian: I am angry – angry that you didn't tell me soonerJiang Bao Ning sulks: It's not even something important. I was careless and forgot.Li Qian smiles a bit: Forgot, huh? You sure forgot well.Jiang Bao Ning notices the lighter tone in his voice: Not angry anymore?Li Qian smiles brighter: I am angryJiang Bao Ning: Why are you angry again?!Li Qian: I'm angry that I didn't protect you well enough and made you suffer (today)Jiang Bao Ning snuggles in his embrace: As long as you believe me is enough.
Dad Li loses an imperial document. Guess who is the conniving fox orchestrating everything and underhandedly blaming Jiang Bao Ning for the thievery. This lady by the name of Gao. Jiang Bao Ning knew this was coming. She calmly finds the culprit and in the process, cleans up the family's servants that Gao Miao Rong failed to do all these years.
Jiang Bao Ning zones in on Nanny Tian as the thief. There's an exchange of glances between Gao Miao Rong and Nany Tian that makes it obvious that Gao had a hand in bribing the nanny to steal the document and inculpate Jiang Bao Ning. Li Dong Zhi, Madam He's daughter and Li Qian's sister, has just arrived home and is upset at Jiang Bao Ning for mistreating Nanny Tian who raised her. But then during the trial Li Dong Zhi is snacking on oranges while her so called Nanny is on the floor, crying and hollering for her innocence. So appropriate....
[Ep15] Jiang Bao Ning has proof (which is testimony from another maid... How is this different from the nanny insisting her truth?). Nanny is punished. The sentencing is suspiciously quickened by Madam He and Gao Miao Rong. Li Dong Zhi is apologetic for accusing Jiang Bao Ning, and nags Li Qian to help her amend their sister-in-law relationship. Jiang Bao Ning is only putting up an act that she's mad. The girls immediately click. Li Dong Zhi curiously asks Jiang Bao Ning what she sees in her dull brother. Jiang Bao Ning impishly explains she was kidnapped to marry him against her will. Ha. Li Qian kicks Li Dong Zhi out of the room and chases Jiang Bao Ning around the table.
Although Gao Miao Rong was scolded and scorned by Li Qian, this woman doesn't give up!! She's also deep in embezzlement and Madam He is part of it. She now instigates Li Lin to fight for power within the family because technically, he should be the eldest son of the family. By the way, Li Lin for god knows why likes Gao Miao Rong.
Everywhere Li Dong Zhi goes, she's misunderstood as a boy .............. I had thought her warrior character would be cooler but this actress is being way too girly. Oh well. She meets Qing An and they hit it off as brothers until he finds out she's a girl and he's kinda in love. With a name like that I can only guess who he's related to...
Li Dong Zhi is bullied by Daughter Zhuang (Madam Zhuang's daughter) .When Li Dong Zhi returns all wet and soggy, Jiang Bao Ning glares at Daughter Zhuang. No one dares utter a word against Jiang Bao Ning. Even snobby Madam Zhuang slaps her own daughter and makes her apologize to appease Jiang Bao Ning.
Qing Tai (Brute Prince) wages war, breaking the alliance. He is an enemy to fear, that is if Li Qian can even survive under the imbecile leader, Zhao Xiao, whose military plan is going to kill them first.
[Ep16] Zhao Xiao, with his battle strategy, practically kills his army with himself included but Li Qian saves him. Why! In protecting Zhao Xiao, an arrow pierces through Li Qian's armour. It seems Zhao Xiao is touched?
The defeat is reported to Li Family and the Emperor. The Emperor is angry until he realizes Jiang Bao Ning is now a widow and therefore single. Meanwhile, Jiang Bao Ning refuses to believe Li Qian is dead without his corpse. Knowing him, he should be in the enemy's lair, hiding because everyone who's watched historical cdramas by now should know the saying: where it's the most dangerous is the safest. Jiang Bao Ning sneaks out at night to find Li Qian.
In Yongqing, a Master accepts Jiang Bao Ning as a disciple because he admires her skills in creating weapons. During her stay, she meets Zhao Xiao. He says he doesn't know where Li Qian is but he smells like medicine when he's not injured. At night, she follows him and sees Li Qian. He's on the bed, recovering from his injuries. Zhao Xiao was taking care of him. It was also the kind Master who let them live. Li Qian wakes up to see her. They hug and she lies on his chest (where he's injured.... Ouch?)
In the morning, Jiang Bao Ning feeds Li Qian breakfast. He can no longer eat though because he just wants to kiss her. Zhao Xiao grumpily leaves. For a second, I pitied him xD. Jiang Bao Ning tells Zhao Xiao to stay and take care of Li Qian. She will apply for his absence at work. And so he stays but he's (deliberately???) clumsy with Li Qian, aggravating his pain. Our Jiang Bao Ning is back on babysitting duties.
[Ep17] Our perceptive Master knows Jiang Bao Ning is a girl and takes in Li Qian to give him better resources for his treatment. He values Jiang Bao Ning as his disciple.
Qing An gives Li Dong Zhi a ring and confesses. It's a tradition of his people. They kiss. This drama and its romance: *Snap!* It happens. Li Qian sees the ring and immediately recognizes the design – it's the one Dad Li saw on the arsonists who set fire to their town that killed Li Qian's mother.
Li Qian follows Qing An to his home and finds that the hawk design is from Yongqing's flag. Li Qian is about to kill the King and Qing An to avenge his mother but Master and Jiang Bao Ning stop him in time. The Master has the full story to prove that the king is not the arsonist: The King saved a girl from the fire and this girl (who was amnesiac) became his true love and the mother of Qing An. Amnesia, eh.
The truth has barely settled and now Qing Tai marches in with his army to kill Qing An (Tai was waiting for the moment An would return to kill the half-brother he always hated). Using Jiang Bao Ning's innovative bead that releases smog, everyone runs away (ditching the sick and frail King!). While on the run, Li Qian is shot by arrows after arrows. They narrowly escape.
A bit on drama geography:
- Our leads are from MuAn nation
- Qing Tai is the eldest prince of Yongqing nation (the enemy)
- Qing An's mother is MuAn and father is Yongqing; he is the second prince of Yongqing.
- Master is from Yongqing (and he doesn't like war)
[Ep18] Qing Tai captures Qing An but Master saves Qing An from the prison and brings him to the King's room. MuAn needs to hire better security. The King gives Qing An the Imperial Hawk Seal for him to govern the nation. He dies. However, Qing Tai is the one with the army. He takes control even without the seal.
As for Li Qian (who's unconscious), he's saved by Gao Miao Rong and Lin Yun who are in the area in the middle of the night. Jiang Bao Ning offers to be the decoy to give them time to flee. When Li Qian wakes up, he's furious at Gao Miao Rong for leaving Jiang Bao Ning in danger. As a statement of anger, he rips off the bandage on his head revealing that he's actually got no head injury.
As for Jiang Bao Ning, she's saved by Zhao Xiao. She lays down the facts with him: she is Li Qian's wife and even without Li Qian, she never loved him (Zhao). But he doesn't get it! He has plans to elope with her – more like a kidnap because eloping is consensual. I think this guy has the head injury. Gao Miao Rong, this is when you need to give someone a cranial bandage. Smarty Li Qian finds them. The boys fight with a table and it snaps, breaking the poor innocent tableware. Jiang Bao Ning announces to the boys that if there is someone she unconditionally loves and trusts, it is only Li Qian. Zhao Xiao sobs in despair. "But the only person who can match you is me." O' his delusions! It's insane!
Li Qian still regrets leaving Jiang Bao Ning in danger. He thinks that she might just be better off with Zhao Xiao. Bring that cranial bandage back for Li Qian, stat. She clearly tells him she never loved Zhao Xiao. There's only this dummy who's all injured in her heart. Li Qian almost cries.
For once the girl is clear with her words and her feelings but the boys are deaf.
[Ep19] Gao Miao Rong informs the family that Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning have not yet consummated, angering Dad Li. Privacy is a privilege. Later, she finds a contract signed by her Master (who raised her) and Dad Li (who was drunk), promising a marriage between Gao Miao Rong and Li Qian. She cries and begs her Master to help her. He does and brings the contract to Dad Li for him to honour it. Dad Li is like it's not a good idea. Then she cuts a lock of her hair. Oh no! Not the hair! The parents give in. They can't let her be a nun. They approve of the marriage and speak to Jiang Bao Ning (because Li Qian isn't home).
Jiang Bao Ning locks Li Qian out of the room and sends him off to sleep in the study room with Gao Miao Rong. Jiang Bao Ning is angry when he actually leaves. She wakes up early in the morning to visit them and finds them playing chess. Li Qian ignores her and speaks well of Gao Miao Rong. A huff and a puff, Jiang Bao Ning leaves. She's angrier with each step and turns around to take it out on Li Qian. Her eyes are red when she sees Li Qian leaning against the door, waiting for her. She hits him asking if he lied that he loved her. Romeo Li Qian takes her hand and kisses it. "This is right." He wanted her to be angry because this is the right attitude when he's with another woman.
Li Qian: If there's anything (that upsets you), either hit me, or yell at me. Just don't keep it all inside your heart, and push me away to someone else.Jiang Bao Ning with an accusatory tone: You think I wanted to?Li Qian: The more you don't want to, the more you need to tell me. I'm your husband. I will do my best to support the sky, not letting the wind or rain touch you.
When Gao Miao Rong and Li Qian spent the night together, he was rejecting her the whole night. Girl has no hope of marrying Li Qian.
Other stuff:
→ Zhao Xiao might be scammed into helping this Mr. Cai embezzle military funds. Zhao Xiao means well, the problem is his brain.
→ Li Dong Zhi breaks it off with Qing An for lying about his identity.
[Ep20] Gao Miao Rong can’t marry Li Qian but that doesn’t stop her from ruining the marriage. Zhang Duo Lan, the most beautiful woman in the world as self acclaimed to be, is manipulated by Gao Miao Rong to seduce Li Qian.
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| Li Qian barely even cares for the body on the ground xD |
First, Zhang Duo Lan floats into Li Qian's path, which he avoids with a quick side-step. Then she faints right in front of him, which he nimbly twirls away from. She drops to the ground and continues her fainting act. Romeo Li Qian leaves her on the floor and orders the guard to ensure that no one can disturb Zhang Duo Lan from absorbing good energy from the ground LOL. Zhang Duo Lan lies there for hours. That apparently isn’t enough of an embarrassment for her and she tries again. This time Zhang Duo Lan dresses just like Jiang Bao Ning. Li Qian was almost fooled into giving her a back hug. When she turns around, he’s horrified and kicks her to the ground. Absorbing more of that good energy. Li Qian reports to Jiang Bao Ning that he stealthily dodged a lady who tried to sexually harass him. He promises that not a finger tip was tainted. Just the sole of his feet. How can Jiang Bao Ning not forgive this sensible romantic?
Liu He is Zhang Duo Lan’s maid. She’s physically abused by her master. Jiang Bao Ning tries her best to protect her without raising Zhang Duo Lan's attention otherwise Liu He would be further punished.
[Ep21] Zhang Duo Lan is infatuated with a new man: Shao Yang. The man who is embezzling with Gao Miao Rong? Shao Yang is infatuated with her too, or more like her status that is barely associated with our Princess, Jiang Bao Ning. Zhang Duo Lan dresses up to meet him. Jiang Bao Ning offers extravagant accessories to top up her beauty because why wouldn't Jiang Bao Ning support her in seducing a new man. And so Zhang Duo Lan shows up like a shiny chicken to meet Shao Yang who is blinded by all the gold and ruby on her head, neck, hands, you name it.
Meddlesome Gao Miao Rong sets up Li Qian and Zhang Duo Lan to be in a room in the middle of the night. However, when Gao Miao Rong opens the door, it's Zhang Duo Lan and Shao Yang naked under the bed sheet. Woohoo, they're going to be married.
So where is Li Qian? He's back in their bedroom. He knew something was wrong when the servant sent him to the study room while he was drunk. He also knows all the little strings that Jiang Bao Ning pulled (e.g. deliberately delivering the Rare Flower to Shao Yang so that he could help Zhang Duo Lan). Jiang Bao Ning sulks. .
Jiang Bao Ning: Do you think I'm a conniving woman?Li Qian: I love it.Jiang Bao Ning looks appalled: You love conniving women?Li Qian: No. I like that to dictate my love, you scheme in every way possible. I love it that at all times, you want to possess me. Omg. His lines are killing me.Jiang Bao Ning (shivers): Shameless! Who wants to possess you.
He lifts her chin, wanting to possess her lips but she remembers about Liu He (who Jiang Bao Ning eventually frees from Zhang Duo Lan).
Zhang Duo Lan and Shao Yang marry! They're about to consummate but his concubines squeal and cheer outside – there's just a half a dozen of them. Not even a full dozen. The house is also coming down, legit. Zhang Duo Lan's dream of marrying a rich man is ruined before the wedding night is over. Then Shao Yang finds that underneath the first layer of tael in her dowry treasure chest are bricks. Now he's angry too. But she's got the brick in her hand and chases him with it.
The next morning, Li Dong Zhi asks Madam He if she thinks Gao Miao Rong knew of Shao Yang's background and still tried to hook them up. Madam He is suspicious of Gao Miao Rong too and rejects her morning greeting.
Bai Su and Cao Xuan: She's pregnant (for about a month as confirmed by pulse reading. Hail ancient Chinese traditional medicine!)
[Ep22] Bye bye Zhang Duo Lan, hell-o Liu Gui Rong! He helped Dad Li fight back in the days. Dad Li already gave him land but he somehow lost and now he's here to leech off. Even worse, he has set eyes on Qing Ke (Jiang Bao Ning's maid). He won't leave if they don't give him money and a wife (= Qing Ke). Honestly, Dad Li just needs to say Get Out and this will be solved. But no, this man is apparently very loyal. But the dude already has a wife! Jiang Bao Ning and Li Qian scoops this turd outta the house by finding his (scary) wife to beat the heck out of him.
War times. The nation is struggling. And the Empress is flirting with the Emperor. Just another day. She treasures the flower he printed on her but the servants laugh at her because it's stamped way off from the centre of her forehead. I feel...kind of...sorry for her...she's so delusional, it's sad. Meanwhile, Jiang Bao Ning is saving the world from poverty, building temples (donation centres), and logging all the deeds under her family's (Li) name when she's using her own dowry.
Bai Su and Cao Xuan: She miscarries. Just what is the purpose of this couple??
[Ep23] Qing An gathers his secret Hawk Alliance (a random name I find is suitable) to rise against Qing Tai. However, romance first! Duh. He misses Li Dong Zhi and waits for her where they first met. He sees her and follows her, and there's even a(n) (ancient-)taxi chase scene. Li Dong Zhi ran away from home because Madam He forced her to marry. She's headed to her distant aunt and along the way Qing An is secretly guarding her.
Jiang Bao Ning volunteers to look for Li Dong Zhi (because in the whole house, only she is capable of finding her) and it is on the condition that Madam He gives Li Dong Zhi freedom on her marriage. Jiang Bao Ning also knows that the calm Li Qian knows where Li Dong Zhi went. He does and submits to her of his sister's whereabouts. Through this journey, Jiang Bao Ning converts amateur bandits into hardworking employees, and revives a barren pharmacy lab (i.e. herb garden).
Li Qian's Aunt is a "pharmacist" who's too old to harvest herbs which is why Jiang Bao Ning suggests she hires refugees and turn her herbs into a profiting pharmaceutical business. Aunt also has a cure for baby-making. If you remember, Jiang Bao Ning is still too weak to consummate. Jiang Bao Ning gulps down the Aunt's concoction and chokes. Li Dong Zhi teases her to slow down.
The Empress is so credulous, it's almost pitiful. She's organizing her extravagant birthday party but there's no funds for it. The Emperor can't go back on his words when he approved of her party. He orders the ministers to make it difficult for her. Meanwhile in front of her, he's goading her to fight for her rights. Douche.
Jiang Bao Ning urgently arrives at the palace. She received news that Grand Gran is dying. Actually, it's from the Emperor and Grand Gran is sick but not deadly sick. Grand Gran leers at the Emperor and wonders who could have sent that message.
[Ep24] Despite the Emperor's lies, Jiang Bao Ning knows it is him who sent the letter because Grand Gran ordered her people to keep mum. The Emperor also prevents Li Qian from entering the palace. Li Qian had cleared his schedule and arrived late at night but he's refused at the gates. Jiang Bao Ning thinks Li Qian is mad at her when he doesn't try again the next day. He's not mad. He just doesn't want to make things difficult for her since the palace isn't a place for him to leisurely enter just because he is the Princess's husband. Jiang Bao Ning rewards her considerate husband with this eloquent phrase: "The father shall rent the glory of the son". Modern day English translation: "We can make babies now.".
Li Family has dinner. Madam He sighs about Li Dong Zhi's never-happening wedding. Jiang Bao Ning wonders Oh, what could make Madam He happy? Aha, what about this hand-size box that's readily sitting on my lap! It's Madam He's accessory that she lost in their other home near the palace. Madam He happily asks if Jiang Bao Ning purposely went there to look for it. Li Qian smugly announces they spent a night together there. Dad's got googly eyes and Madam He is giggling. She orders the kitchen to prepare nourishing food for the soon to be mom.
Jiang Bao Ning's temple (that's built under Li Family's name) is accepting refugees, bolstering Li Family reputation. However, a boy dies in the temple because of moldy rice. The refugees want an explanation from Li Family and Jiang Bao Ning, accusing them of reaping the profits and feeding them garbage. Clearly, someone *eye-roll* is embezzling. Jiang Bao Ning promises 5000 taels will be spent on buying goods for them. She places all that silver in front of these poor and hungry refugees as proof. And what do they do? Steal. D'oh. Even though someone is maliciously inciting the crowd, it was a dumb move to place all that money unguarded in front of desperate people. Armed guards blast through. It's Li Qian who orders them to stop. The unruly crowd obediently stay in their spot ready to be caught.
Other events:
→ The Empress is still organizing her own bday party. She's back to being evil and gets her way. Good. This way I don't have to feel bad for her as this royal couple ruin each other. The Emperor yells at the ministers for their incompetence and now he is forced to use his personal stash.
→ One of the ladies in the temple seems to be a survivor of the fire that killed Li Qian's mother.
[Ep25] Jin Xiao investigates Mr. Cai (who suspiciously mentioned military funds with Zhao Xiao). Meanwhile Dong Shan Hu (Boss Hu) looks into the moldy rice corruption. Jin Xiao and Dong Shan Hu cross paths as he arrests her for burning an accounting book when she was clearly putting out the fire. Anyway, with Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning’s clarification, they settle their misunderstandings. And we get another couple, a bickering one.
We all know who’s behind this. Gao Miao Rong. She’s got a partner in crime: Madam Zhuang. Gao Miao Rong elicits Madam to write a letter to his son, an imperial minster, to tattle on Jiang Bao Ning for abusing her title and misappropriating funds. Grand Gran stands up for Jiang Bao Ning, asking for solid proof. Empress exposes Grand Gran's favouritism which sends her into a heart attack.
Thanks to the tattler, Jiang Bao Ning has Madam Zhuang on her radar.
Jiang Bao Ning and Li Xiao catch Mr. Cai in the act. He flees. Zhao Xiao meddles which keeps Li Xiao busy. Jiang Bao Ning is all on her own against Mr. Cai but she’s got her gimmicky flour releasing ball which paralyzes him. Mr. Cai is arrested.
Li Lin is banished. He asks Gao Miao Rong if she’ll leave with him. Go! But no, she doesn’t go. Meanwhile her Master is in jail and will soon be exiled. Gao Miao Rong still doesn’t think she owes anyone anything. Everything was just stolen from her. She’s the one who deserves Li Qian. If it wasn’t for Jiang Bao Ning, Li Qian would have married her. Uh, no. Li Qian also tells her to drop the act. They both know her true colours.
Jiang Bao Ning is jealous that Li Qian kept Gao Miao Rong safe. Li Qian laughs and takes a deep sniff and happily complains about the sourness reeking from her. He loves her jealousy and also quickly explains that his cousin, Li Lin knelt to beg him.
Li Qian is back home early from the army because he misses Jiang Bao Ning. She misses him too but he's home too early and the injury on her hand hasn’t healed yet. She sustained it while capturing a child abductor with her gimmicky flour releasing ball. Li Qian is angry rather than proud of her because he luuurrrvs her. and is worried for her (Gao Miao Rong is in this scene too, but the couple are so in love, they don't notice her.)
Other events:
→ Empress cancels her party. She just learned the country is in poverty and donates the money instead. She's taking Grand Gran's advice on being a good Empress and not just the Emperor's wife. Turns out that's the key to Emperor's bed. They spend the night together.
→ Li Dong Zhi is informed by the kind master from Yongqing that Qing An died. No corpse = not dead!! This master tells her that Qing An always protected and that he never betrayed her.
[Ep27] Li Qian forces Jiang Bao Ning to train (for her own good so she can stop using her gimmicky ball). Training includes grueling standing leg splits. O' the pain! Jiang Bao Ning can't stand it and makes Jing Ke substitute. Li Qian sees it all and punishes everyone, including Wei Shu for his negligence. He asks to pardon Jing Ke, though (which earns a glare from Jiang Bao Ning). Which means we will have another couple soon.
Li Qian may be strict but he will always be a caring husband. He makes noodles for Jiang Bao Ning starting from flour. (Jiang Bao Ning requests for garlic, adjusting to his taste.) He travels far to buy dessert she'll like. He plants (well, tells Wei Shu to plant) flowers so that she's motivated to train. Jiang Bao Ning loves everything except the flowers because they look like they're here to spy on her in place of Li Qian, lol. Regardless, she is in a brighter mood and trains without being supervised (flowers don't count) until she trips on the ledge and sprains her ankle. When she walked backwards, I was a little surprised how nimble she was in stepping down from the ledge. And of course she slips when she faces the direction she's walking. Li Qian is angry-worried again. And here comes the oral medication for sprains.
Li Qian takes Jiang Bao Ning to a temple to pray for babies. She gets her fortune read and it's a bad one which reminds her of her Grand Gran who she hasn't received news from. Li Qian will send his people to check on Grand Gran. She thanks him and he cheekily asks for a reward, hinting at the wish at the temple. Jiang Bao Ning remembers the entirety of his wish, which was to be a father and to be spoiled by Jiang Bao Ning. Cleverly, Jiang Bao Ning only fulfills the latter and buys a ton of useless stuff to spoil him. He hollers in the street that he wanted to be a father which only embarrasses himself.
Zhao Xiao is drunk on the streets and makes a move on Jiang Bao Ning, saying that she should have been his wife. Li Qian punches him. The boys continue to fight, ignoring Jiang Bao Ning and then she's hurt from the collateral damage. Back at home, she's angry at Li Qian.
The more perfect Li Qian is, the more I sigh. Guys like this don't exist!
[Ep31] Jiang Bao Ning is wearing her dangling headset again, symbolizing her prestigious head status. Dad Li, Li Qian, and Jin Xiao are among the ones who are promoted for winning the war. Then comes the punishment for Zhao Xiao. His father misappropriated funds and he abandoned his post. Jiang Bao Ning refuses to punish Zhao Xiao because that would be punishing filial piety, which means for the love of fathers, we can screw responsibility and the people's lives with it. Ministers aren't happy. Li Qian speaks up to support Jiang Bao Ning, which then makes Zhao Xiao want the punishment even more. Just give it to him! Grand Gran has the last word and sentences him to floggings (rather than deportation).
Mr. Cai is still in the drama.....
[Ep28] Gao Miao Rong schemes with Mr. Cai to rape Jiang Bao Ning at Dong Shan Hu's event. Zhao Xiao is in attendance and notices the peculiarity but Gao Miao Rong intercepts. Zhao Xiao still finds it suspicious and informs Li Qian. Li Qian saves Jiang Bao Ning in time, sending Mr. Cai flying out the window. A little credit goes to Jiang Bao Ning for her itty-bitty fist adding that extra atmospheric pressure.
Gao Miao Rong's eyes cannot be any wider as she feigns innocence when Li Family interrogates her. There's no more idiots to protect her. She's driven crazy and slits off her pinky then she laughs like a maniac. It sucks not having a pinky but girl got away with just losing a pinky and not even an index finger for all the things she did. She's kicked out of the house and then she's raped by Mr. Cai. Oh. No, this is not the punishment I wanted >_> Li Lin opens the door, looking like a hero (so random). He carries her back to his home. He also promises to avenge her. She cries that these are her sins to take. She's not worth it. He holds onto her and tells her to forget the past. They'll start anew.
Qing An is not dead. He looks like a zombie, though and is controlled by Qing Tai.
War. Li Qian mans the frontlines.
[Ep29] Zhao Xiao abandons his post to save his father, but it's too late. Apparently, Dad gave Son all the money that was supposed to fortify his own post (thinking that the enemies wouldn't attack so soon) which left them vulnerable. Li Qian hears of it and realizes they fell into Qing An's trap because he's marching through Zhao Xiao's empty post.
Hooligans attack the ladies of Li Family. Jiang Bao Ning is here with a missile! Finally upgrading from the ball, eh. She launches and the hooligans scramble. However, the missile breaks from one shot. This is the invention that Mom Li left behind. Jiang Bao Ning was fixing it all this while.
The Emperor is stressing over the losing war. What to do! Sleep with women, of course, but then it becomes a slapping party when Empress slaps the woman and the Emperor slaps the Empress. And now the Empress Dowager has arrived. Slapping party over. She reminds him to be a good Emperor for his country. However, he fears his country has lost. He sends his will to Jiang Bao Ning so that she can oversee the palace until his son is of age. The Emperor must think he's very smart because he gave her an extra secret will! Jiang Bao Ning calls him dumb. It's not time to prepare for death and inheritance when he hasn't even fought for a chance to live. She lies about the second will and says it's an edict to send troops to the palace. Jiang Bao Ning is forging an edict, which is punishable by death, but if she can save the world, then it's worth it. Jiang Bao Ning heads to imperial city.
In an attempt to save Qing An who's caged, it is Li Dong Zhi who is captured. His sword is coming down on her and she raises her sword to block while closing her eyes. I'm going to block and I'm going to close my eyes. Does she want to live or does she want to die? Can't tell. By raising her sword, Qing An sees the ring on her hand. His consciousness stops him from killing her. She takes him to flee but he's still a little dozy.
Yongqing army has clamped down on Empress Dowager's quarters. Rather than turning herself in, she kills herself. She's also keeping the little prince (Emperor's son) safe. However, the toddler makes a sound in the secret chamber. The mother runs out as cover and dies to protect her son. When Jiang Bao Ning arrives, it's all too late. She does keep the little prince safe, though.
[Ep30] Jiang Bao Ning walks into the Emperor's headquarters. There's so many people standing there but I don't know what their purpose is when they just ignore Jiang Bao Ning as she walks around curiously. The Emperor dies in Jiang Bao Ning's arms. Empress sees him dead and before it's time to mourn, the enemy has barraged in. And the people standing there are just standing there, waiting to be slaughtered. Jiang Bao Ning sits there, unfazed. Because she must have an eye in the sky to know that at this very moment, her cousin, Jiang Lu is here to save her. Qing Tai (who has already infiltrated the palace) retreats because Li Qian has cut his support. Dude, you already took over the palace..how could you not have a plan!
Gao Miao Rong treats injured civilians with her medical expertise. Li Lin buys medicine far and wide and is mostly rejected until he meets Liu He (Zhang Duo Lan's maid) who is willing to sell. Gao Miao Rong muses that it's good thing he went and not her. Li Lin counters that she's an angel right now. I can't be happy for this couple 1) I don't like her punishment 2) I don't like how it's used to wipe her character clean. The Empress has escaped the palace and is saved by Gao Miao Rong who is then offered a position in the palace (that was clearly falling apart when she ran away from the place!). Gao Miao Rong rejects the supposedly high paying (unstable) job. She'd much rather be here with Li Lin.
Gao Miao Rong quietly informs the Empress that she's pregnant. Empress smirks because this gives her power to override the Emperor's edict which installs Jiang Bao Ning as the guardian to the little prince, the heir to the throne. Apparently, the Empress's unborn fetus can strip the power of the edict. Not with Grand Gran here, though! The edict has right of way. I don't understand how the palace operates in this drama. I'm just going with the flow.
After court, Jiang Bao Ning chases after Li Qian who's mad at her for keeping him out of the loop. At night, she's trapping flies and catching his attention. She rambles on to explain but he silences her with a kiss. He knows she can explain her way out of things. He was worried for her because he couldn't protect her. Has she thought of him at all? Jiang Bao Ning left on her own because she didn't want to harm Li Family. From a young age, she was independent. She needed to be able to stand on her own two feet if Grand Gran left her. Li Qian understands and asks for a chance to let him be someone she can depend on. He pleads with her to just try. Jiang Bao Ning is teary and nods.
Li Qian takes Jiang Bao Ning to Zhao Xiao's place and gives her medication to treat Zhao Xiao's injuries from the floggings. He knows she's indebted to Zhao Xiao and gives her the chance to repay Zhao Xiao. Zhao Xiao leaves her with the thought that Li Qian only married her for the promotion. OMG. DUDE, LET IT GO.
Empress (Dowager) Han Tong Xin hires Gao Miao Rong?!?!?. Gao Miao Rong had already turned over a new leaf and I thought her screen time was over but noooooooooo! Han Tong Xin orders people to attack her and Li Lin, convincing her to believe the only person she can depend on is Han Tong Xin. Han Tong Xin is a believer that hatred and jealousy for Jiang Bao Ning is the key to success or something dumb like that. I have hopes that Gao Miao Rong will be good... Am I naive?
[Ep32] Gao Miao Rong recruits Zhao Xiao in the haters team. I was naive.
Five years later.
Han Tong Xin's son is Zhao An. He gets along with the Emperor (Zhao Xi) like brothers. Zhao Xi also respects Han Tong Xin like a mother. The family is harmonious, well except Han Tong Xin.
Qing An has recovered from being a zombie. Guys, did I miss how he became a zombie?? Is Show just going to insert a zombie and then heal a zombie like nothing happened???? However, Qing An continues the dumb act in order to stay with Li Dong Zhi. ...like they say...love is dumb...?
It's Li Qian's birthday. Jiang Bao Ning gives him a jumbo man-size puzzle box as a present for him to open. He fails, or pretends to fail. Jiang Bao Ning thinks she messed up and accidentally locks herself in the box. Li Qian quickly opens it again to save her. He doesn't like the surprise since it almost suffocated her. Jiang Bao Ning improvises that she's the surprise. That, he likes. He carries her to the bed. However, the mood is spoiled the next day when Jiang Bao Ning gives him his real present: a precious jade from her father that Li Qian hasn't seen in five+ years of their marriage. So precious. This triggers Li Qian's memories from when he was young and in a closet, he saw a man with this jade arguing with a girl (Xiu He). He's perplexed and leaves Jiang Bao Ning alone in the room.
Everyone is now suddenly very interested in The Diagram. A reminder: it's somewhat related to Li Qian's mother's death. Now Zhao Xiao is searching for it, remembering that it may be with Jiang Bao Ning after that fire. He informs Han Tong Xin about it. Han Tong Xin and Gao Miao Rong learn even more from a random maid who really shouldn't be carrying a dead person's tablet in the palace where she doesn't even belong, but okay. The maid tells Han and Gao (the haters) that it was Jiang Zhen Ying (Jiang Bao Ning's father) who stole The Diagram which then means he is the arsonist/murderer of Li Qian's mother.
The next day Gao Miao Rong tells Dad Li it was Jian Zhen Ying who massacred the village
[Ep33] Dad Li doesn't believe Gao Miao Rong without hard proof until she summons the nun to testify because we always believe in testimonies! Especially from a nun!. Meanwhile Li Qian doesn't know how to face Jiang Bao Ning because the jade pretty much confirms her father (Jiang) argued with his mother (Li) twenty years ago which means the father has gotta be the murderer. I think that's the logic. Li Qian resorts to alcohol. A girl who looks nothing like Jiang Bao Ning makes a move on him. Jiang Bao Ning misunderstands.
Zhao Xiao visits Jiang Bao Ning and notices she's sad. Five years, man. Move on!! He asks about The Diagram, which raises Jiang Bao Ning's suspicions but before she informs Li Qian, Dad Li is home to accuse her father as the murderer/arsonist. She's incredulous that they can arrive at that conclusion based on a jade and the nun's testimony. She asks Li Qian if he would believe her if she said her father isn't like that. How is believing in Jiang Bao Ning's words any different than him believing in a jade and a nun...No one has proof about anything and we're jumping to conclusions. When Jiang Bao Ning angrily leaves the room, Li Qian speaks up for her in front of Dad Li. Li Qian wants to believe her but he's struggling with all the information. He also checks up on her at night while she's sleeping. Meanwhile this girl hates him for not trusting her and keeping her locked in the house is only making things worse. Jiang Bao Ning doesn't know he's investigating the case and escapes the next day.
Dong Shan Hu confesses her love to Jin Xiao. He brushes it off as a joke. It's not a joke, but if it made him laugh, that's fine too. He happens to be an immature boy who doesn't know his own feelings.
[Ep34] Zhao Xiao helps Jiang Bao Ning escape the city that's heavily guarded by Li Qian. Most of the credit goes to Jiang Bao Ning, but the decoy with the girls are Zhao Xiao's people, which also exposes him for hiring the same girls to seduce Li Qian. The girl is the least of Jiang Bao Ning's problems, though. She also refuses any more of Zhao Xiao's help but he insists, ofc. Jiang Bao Ning is on her way to visit Grand Gran who's very sick and uses a pretty neat wheelchair. Li Qian knows his wife well and has arrived in the palace too. They pretend to be harmonious in front of everyone but when Li Qian wants her to leave with him, she slaps him. She instantly regrets but remains stubborn.
Gao Miao Rong secretly invites Li Qian for a meeting. She says she can help him. Li Qian doesn't need it. I might be so wrong on this, but I still think she's trying to be good... like a double agent. What are the chances that this scene is cut and that she did convince Li Qian?
The real arsonist/murderer (or one of them) is the guy Han Tong Xin assigned to work with Zhao Xiao. He recognizes one of the refugees in Jiang Bao Ning's temple as the girl who escaped. Ummmmm would that be the same girl as Qing An's mother? I don't think it should be though...but isn't that the same scene the drama is using?
Dad Li wants Li Qian to divorce Jiang Bao Ning so that they can sue her. Madam He is like Are you in your right mind? Not only is he going against the royal family over a broken jade, but he's tearing apart his son from the love of his life that he so dearly cherishes.
[Ep35] There's two court matters for Li Qian to tackle and they're all schemed by Zhao Xiao. Essentially, he wants to remove Li Qian. Han Tong Xin is in full support but she's more or less useless so it doesn't really matter. Firstly, Zhao Xiao and co accuse Li Qian for returning to the palace unannounced because it is a demonstration of rebellion. The ministers talk, talk, talk, talk, talk and then a million years later, the Emperor is like I did summon Li Qian. The Emperor is a kid, so I'll forgive his slow reaction. Li Qian had ensured there was an edict before he stepped foot in the palace. He also half strips in court to prove his loyalty with all his scars. Second on the agenda, Zhao Xiao wants to move the capital city to another city (which is unseating Li Qian's powers because he oversees the capital city, right?).
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| Look at that love in his eyes while watching the dangling things on his wife. True Love. |
Jiang Bao Ning and Grand Gran settle the issue with moving the capital city. Li Qian has love dripping out of his eyes while watching Jiang Bao Ning. So close and yet so far. I really need to see Zhen Shun Xi in a proper ML role !!!! Where is justice for this man!
I wasn't paying attention earlier but did Show just add another storey to Jiang Bao Ning's head and now she's got two levels of dangles? :O Is that supposed to be a napkin sticking out of her belt?
Grand Gran is very sick and coughing profusely. Precious granddaughter Jiang Bao Ning legit walks away while hearing it. Worse yet, precious grandson-in-law walks away while seeing it. Drama, are you okay?!? Gao Miao Rong learns that Grand Gran is relying on this medication that will restore her energy but kill her at the same time. Grand Gran will die very soon.
[Ep36] Grand Gran learns Jiang Bao Ning and Li Qian aren't on good terms. She also flogs Gao Miao Rong for her audacity to work for Han Tong Xin when she was kicked out of Li Manor. Gao Miao Rong would have been flogged to death had it not been for Jiang Bao Ning who begged for her. Meanwhile Han Tong Xin's maid offers Gao Miao Rong freedom only if she has information to trade in. Does Gao Miao Rong divulge on Grand Gran's condition? The whispers are inaudible to us audience.
Now that Grand Gran knows our couple have drifted apart, Zhao Xiao thinks he's got a chance with Jiang Bao Ning. Oh my lord. He wants her to divorce Li Qian to be his wife and enjoy the upgraded status he has to offer. Boy, she's second or third command in the country. You? WHO? He woos her, "I said I'd wait for you so I will wait for you." Jiang Bao Ning walks away. "I will wait this life, forever!" Jiang Bao Ning is far, far away now. "As long as you look back" Not once did she turn back. "I will wait for you!" BWAHAHA. Zhao Xiao, it's never too late to quit being yourself.
Qing Tai's lackey plans to kill Li Qian. Because. Li Qian is a sore thumb to everyone. Duh. This lackey can also hypnotize and face morph which also explains the sorcery behind Qing An's zombie-ness. Show, do you also sell magical beans? He strikes Li Qian with a knife at his lower left abdomen. Qing An has spies on Qing Tai, which allows Qing An to arrive on time to save Li Qian. Lackey has fun spinning around like a tornado before he dies by Li Qian's javelin throw. Meanwhile at Yongqing, the rest of Qing An's Eagle Team have surrounded the palace. Qing Tai flees with his flock of girls.
Li Dong Zhi recognizes Qing An even with the mask on. Qing An leaves with his team and in a dark alley, he tells this team to disperse, because what comes first? Romance! Li Dong Zhi finds him, but he runs. She whips his mask away. He tells her the truth that he was afraid of recovering his identity in front of her. He would rather be a doofus his entire life in order to be with her. She's like Shut up! and kisses him. Then Li Dong Zhi takes him back to ask her brother for approval, which reminds me that Li Dong Zhi abandoned her bleeding brother to chase after her love.
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| See injury |
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| See injury |
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| See bandage |
The doctor is treating Li Qian's near fatal wounds and very clearly, he was hurt in the LOWER AB. But doc is like A half a inch higher and it would be your heart. No sir, half an inch higher it will still be his intestines, maybe stomach. Oh, and he bandages his chest area!!! Yo injuries can migrate in this drama! Please sell me magical beans now.
Recuperating.
So Li Dong Zhi is here to seek Li Qian's approval on dating Qing An. Li Qian looks grim and warns them they're enemies. Li Dong Zhi and Qing An are ready to face any consequences for their love. Li Qian approves, looking solemn. He's reminded of his own relationship with Jiang Bao Ning. He misses her.
[Ep37] Li Qian has barely recovered from his migrating shapeshifting injuries and is already heading out because he has matters to attend to, matters greater than the country. He’s got to win back his wife. He visits Jiang Bao Ning's chambers and apologizes. The past is the past. No matter what the truth is, it has nothing to do with Jiang Bao Ning. He slaps himself after each remark. Jiang Bao Ning cries (almost forgiving him). I’ve had enough of Li Qian always being the considerate one. It’s as if he’s the only one at fault. Yes, he had an emotional outburst where he didn't know what to do with the "facts" laid before him, but so did she! They're both at fault.
Li Qian pleads with Grand Gran to help him with Jiang Bao Ning but she blames him for hurting Jiang Bao Ning’s heart. Is this how he repays Jiang Bao Ning for saving him when she burned the other edict? Uh, Grandma, I love you, but he saved her first. Puh-lease get the facts straight. She orders them to be divorced but Li Qian says he will rather die than be divorced in this oh-so-dramatic fashion. Show, tell me you’re pulling my leg. Why are you this embarrassing? He rips the divorce paper in front of her before he’s dragged away. Grand Gran was only scaring him. She doesn’t want them to divorce. Well. The next Grand Gran dies.
Jiang Bao Ning thinks Li Qian angered Grand Gran to death by ripping a piece of paper. Show, I don't even want to talk to you anymore. She tries to kill him with her gimmicky ball. Dad Li snaps it. GOOD RIDDANCE. The snap in the contraption is like the snap in their love. Good rid– ...nevermind..(not really).
Now that Grand Gran is dead, Han Tong Xin frees Gao Miao Rong. Han Tong Xin also takes advantage of Jiang Bao Ning's sadness and assigns her to guard Grand Gran's grave, sending her out of the palace. Zhao Xiao stops that.
[Ep38] Jiang Bao Ning is pregnant. When Li Qian learns of this, it seems Jian Bao Ning has already drank the abortion soup.
Zhao Xiao is still looking for The Flipping Diagram. Right here. In fact, I’ve got two:
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
┻━┻ ︵ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ︵ ┻━┻
Gao Miao Rong discovers she’s manipulated by Han Tong Xin. She tells Li Qian everything from knowing Grand Grand's imminent death down to the very day which gave them the opportunity to have Li Qian visit Grand Gran right before she dies. Show has tunnel vision. It’s so focused on separating Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning that nothing makes sense. The maid is RIGHT THERE. She can “testify” that “ripping a piece of paper” wasn’t the cause of death. But you know, the maid is mute at critical moments.
The lady at the temple is Qing An's mother. Oh I thought she died. She can recognize Qing An because he looks like his father. No ma'am. That is an insult. She disappeared because Qing Tai's mother harassed her with fire (which she fears) and shipped her away from the land as well as sabotaged her reputation that she cheated with another man. Her real name is Zhang Yu Qing. She has a shijie and shixiong who are Zhang Xiu He (Mom Li) and Jiang Zhen Ying (Dad Jiang). Dad Jiang argued with Mom Li over The Diagram because he was afraid it would attract danger. Well, danger has arrived. Fire is set to the village for The (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Diagram under the orders of Eunuch Min, the one who served the late Empress Dowager. It seems Eunuch Min tried to save Zhang Yu Qing but she got herself caught which then allowed Qing An's father to save her. With Qing An's mother still alive, she is the witness who can prove Jiang Bao Ning's father did not kill Li Qian's mother.
Gao Miao Rong teams up with Jiang Bao Ning (against Han Tong Xin who has forged Grand Gran’s divorce edict, the one Li Qian ripped). Jiang Bao Ning’s instructions are for Gao Miao Rong to make a scene at the physician's department for this expensive herb. Gao Miao Rong is to look mean. Easy-peasy. She only has to take off her mask and it'll be enough to piss off anyone. The expensive herbs will be used as incense for Han Tong Xin.
[Ep39] Zhao Xiao reports to the Emperor that Li Qian killed Grand Gran (repeat: by ripping a paper). He lies that it is Jiang Bao Ning’s wish to imprison Li Qian. The Emperor approves. Li Qian is locked up and then exiled. Zhao Xiao doesn’t kill Li Qian because Jiang Bao Ning would never forgive him. And she’d forgive him for lying to the Emperor about her orders?
Han Tong Xin reads the forged edict. Here comes Jiang Bao Ning and Gao Miao Rong’s plan: the incense with the expensive ingredient seeped into the scroll, indicating that Han Tong Xin kept the edict. Furthermore, Jiang Bao Ning finds the seal in her room. The seal was enough. Incense was unnecessary. Han Tong Xin is out. As she’s packing to move out of the palace, she finds her qin in the late Emperor’s belongings. She smiles. The Emperor must have loved her at one moment. A happy ending for her. Why?
Here’s another happy ending I didn’t need: Gao Miao Rong escapes with Li Lin and they will marry. She also delivers Jiang Bao Ning a letter, clearing Li Qian’s name in Grand Gran’s death. And we couldn’t have done this earlier BEFORE Li Qian was exiled.
Qing An and Li Dong Zhi are happily in love. This couple…. These two have all the information and all the power but they’re here dating under a tree when kind master is tortured, Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning are almost divorced and Li Qian is exiled. Please show. Do you even have a director on board? Mother dies from an ambush and Qing An finally gets back to business. Li Dong Zhi finally summons a dove to send Jiang Bao Ning the news to clear her father’s name.
Jiang Bao Ning is looking for The Oh Lordie Why Are We Still Talking About This Diagram. She suspects Eunuch Min. He was the one who obtained The Diagram and ascended in ranks thanks to it.
[Ep40] Eunuch Min admits to everything that he was part of the raid but he hadn’t thought it would be a massacre. (Dad Jiang saw him too. Soooo...is that why Jiang Bao Ning’s Dad died? Or that’s another story the drama doesn’t plan to cover? Am I the only one who thinks her parents died very suspiciously?)
Li Qian is captured by Qing Tai (thanks to Zhao Xiao). Jiang Bao Ning exchanges The Diagram for Li Qian’s safety. With the kind Master's help, our couple escapes. Our couple also clears their misunderstandings. Jiang Bao Ning reveals she kept the secret page that’s necessary to create the invincible weapon from The Diagram. She has another update: she is pregnant. She didn’t drink the soup. Li Qian wants a daughter just like Jiang Bao Ning, brave and clever. Oh gosh. No thank you. A re-rebirth of Jiang Bao Ning? Nonononono.
Zhao Xiao and Li Qian team up against Qing Tai. I cannot fathom why this drama even bothers redeeming these characters. Just let them rot! Give me some satisfaction already! Qing An and Li Dong Zhi are on their way to battle Qing Tai as well. However, during the fight, it’s only a duel between Qing Tai and Li Qian. Useless! Everyone else just stands there. Why do I even need this “teamwork”?? In the end Qing Tai just kills himself (Omg, so uselessss!!!!) because the invincible weapon he created from the incomplete diagram malfunctioned. This is all within Jiang Bao Ning’s calculations and so therefore Jiang Bao Ning is the ultimate hero.
After the battle:
→ Jiang Bao Ning and Master create the invincible weapon and send it to the Emperor.
→ Zhao Xiao is arrested.
→ Li Dong Zhi marries Qing An. Madam He regrets wanting her daughter married and asks her to stay instead of leaving for Yongqing.
Five years later:
→ Dong Shan Hu and Jin Xiao are already married.
→ Bai Su and Cao Xuan have adopted a girl and have a newborn together (despite being infertile). It’s the last episode and I still don’t know why this couple had screen time. The company probably wants to promote the girl...
→ Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning have a daughter whose temperament is just like Jiang Bao Ning.
→ Zhao Xiao is arrested.
→ Li Dong Zhi marries Qing An. Madam He regrets wanting her daughter married and asks her to stay instead of leaving for Yongqing.
Five years later:
→ Dong Shan Hu and Jin Xiao are already married.
→ Bai Su and Cao Xuan have adopted a girl and have a newborn together (despite being infertile). It’s the last episode and I still don’t know why this couple had screen time. The company probably wants to promote the girl...
→ Li Qian and Jiang Bao Ning have a daughter whose temperament is just like Jiang Bao Ning.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-12)] All those moving things on her head...how is she not annoyed? Anyway.
I needed to watch all twelve episodes to convince myself that this might be a pretty good one (a bit of hesitation in saying this because of the remaining quantity of episodes). My rating of this drama went up like a hockey stick specifically because of Ep12. So much happens. Our FL has been in four engagements (with the last one being the charm!). Now our drama might just be a battle between in-laws and I'm really anticipating that. In-law fights are fun to watch when the CP is working TOGETHER and this drama might just be that.
Both Jiang Bao Ning and Li Qian are brilliant and talented to the point that it's unrealistic but because it's unrealistic, it serves as a wonderful setup for an enthusiastic, lighthearted palace drama. They also have chemistry. I am expecting plot to be gratifying as we follow them tame or tackle their enemies and there's a long list of them:
- Zhao Yi
- Zhao Xiao
- Han Tong Xin
- Gao Miao Rong (she's looking nasty but weak compared to our FL)
- Qing Tai
- Madam He (but I think she'll be a funny in-law)
- Empress Dowager (once she finds out about the alliance that removed her)
- Jiang Lu (the overbearing doting loving brother who's more a funny obstacle than a serious one)
This is loosely based on a novel – loosely because it erased the reincarnation, ha. Y'know, wouldn't it be cool if the drama decided to make two seasons to bypass that? /s
My one concern for this drama is if plot decides to make them misunderstand their parents’ death to be the result of the other. Is that a ticking bomb or will drama suavely dodge that?
[Actors/Actresses] Ju Jing Yi gets a lot of hate. She doesn't quite improve or change the way she acts her characters, but I also think she's not that bad at acting either. I’m neutral about her in that I may not end up liking her dramas, I'll still eagerly tune in to her next one. Putting the plot aside, I usually like her characters – the mischievous and clever girl.
Grand Gran (actress Cao Cui Fen)– the cute grandma from The Story of Ming Lan is back again, looking for the perfect husband for her new precious granddaughter! Even if she's a poor matchmaker (x2), who can hate this adorable woman?
Grand Gran (actress Cao Cui Fen)– the cute grandma from The Story of Ming Lan is back again, looking for the perfect husband for her new precious granddaughter! Even if she's a poor matchmaker (x2), who can hate this adorable woman?
Last but not least: Zhen Shun Xi! I was burned by Times Flies and You Are Here. I was wishing for him to look sleek in black, and holding a rifle (for more than 5 minutes) in his future projects, but hey, I'm grateful I got this. He gets a fair share of action scene and I can finally see him (Li Qian) being good at courtship.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Happy (with a daughter who looks like Jiang Bao Ning). The “Rebirth” of Jiang Bao Ning...?
[Review & Rating]
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