A rogue becomes a hero with his horseback buddy.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Notable Actors/Actresses
Zhang Yun Long: Li Wu / Li Dong Fang
Chen Ruo Xuan: Lu Zheng / Song Zhen
Sun Yi: Shu Tang
Director:
Li Yi, Cao Hua
Chinese Title
山河之影
山河之影
Shadow of Mountain and River
Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 3.8/5
First Impression: 3.8/5
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] During the 25th year of Hong Wu's reign, the year the Crown Prince died (murdered?), Little Song Zhen "witnesses" Li Wu killing his father (Song He Ming). The Song Family was later indicted for rebellion. Song Zhen survived and lives as Lu Zheng.
Ten years later.
Li Wu, a professional swindler, saves a homeless child (Mei Dou), hoping the child can learn to do the same. He's also in search of the boy he left a scar on – Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng, an embroidered uniform guard, kidnaps a minister, smuggles him like cargo, and changes his surname. Impressive. Lu Zheng vows to never let a criminal go, even if it's a child. He had pitied a child, and that child killed his father. (Li Wu)
[Ep2] Lu Zheng wants the promotion so that he can access his father's records, but now a Li Dong Fang parachutes in for the spot. Well, Li Dong Fang parachutes out. He's knocked unconscious by Li Wu, who's using his identity to steal treasures and his own criminal record. Meticulous is our thief as he gets Li Dong Fang's fortune read (just in case!): Li Dong Fang will remain single (aw); he schemes for all his life, but he will fail because of one person – Li Wu. (Also, he got the fortune read probably because he can't read his name)
The mystery from ten years ago. There exists a secret. Only two people know: Song He Ming (Lu Zheng's father) and Wang Ke Gong. But a third person knows: Lu Yu Lin (Lu Zheng's stepfather). This secret is contained inside the Yuming Lock. It's related to the death of the Crown Prince. They mustn't let Prince of Yan (the rebel) know because whoever knows will be the next heir.
Currently, Lu Yu Lin tells Wang Ke Gong to hand over the Yuming Lock since he's already a dead man. Hm? What does that mean?
Li Wu could have escaped, but he goes back to save Shu Tang. He is a thief with a heart of gold! Except she's gone. Lu Zheng appears, though. And now they're locked up. How many times now, Li Wu? xD. Xie Keng Ran (Lu Zheng's partner) locked them inside. He is a Night Guard and they needed Lu Zheng out of their way. Obliviously, Lu Zheng meows their SOS signal to his buddy. Hilariously, Li Wu meows with him. Li Wu's meows sound much prettier. Lu Zheng's was cracking, hahaha.
After picking the lock, Lu Zheng ties up Li Wu. Although there's no lock Li Wu can't undo, a rope is a different story. Shu Tang returns and drowns the guy with grain. Oh dear, LOL. But then she notices that he actually came back with medication. She spares his life and unties him. Now it's her turn to strip. Li Wu is like "You sick?" [Read: Are you nuts?]. Well, she is hurt. Does that count? She didn't have parents to teach her modesty. She does have a Master Li to teach her stripping will make men obedient. Li Wu has his eyes tightly shut as she guides his hand towards her back to apply the medication.
Shu Tang and Li Wu strike a deal. He gives her the Yuming Lock and will help her find the code (to open the lock) if she helps him steal something in the investigative bureau. He just needs something from her. The lock.
[Ep4] Li Wu gives the lock to Lu Zheng and gains his trust in hopes of retrieving the code from him. Li Wu, our cunning thief, is confident he can get the code, and steal the lock right back.
(The men had a conversation about Tan Hua. She's a flower goddess, punished for falling in love with a scholar. He can no longer remember her, but she does. She uses all her cultivation to bloom for him to see. He speaks to her, but only asks why she's mourning. He has forgotten her. She replies that she lost her love. She withered, and because she spoke, she's punished to never be reunited with him, wandering for the rest of her life. Li Wu sighs. She didn't have to speak. Lu Zheng explains that people who understand will understand even without speaking. Li Wu nods in understanding. It's useless to talk to someone who doesn't understand. Show is saying these two are unlike Tan Hua and the scholar?)
Wang Ke Gong is killed by the masked Night Guard. Lu Zheng is framed as the murderer. He was supposed to die had Li Wu not saved him.
Zhang Jun Qing is the masked Night Guard loyal to Prince Yan. But wait! She's an undercover Night Guard and is actually loyal to Yuan Zhong Dao (Prime Minister; it's like the Emperor is his puppet). She's sisters with Shu Tang, but were separated ten years ago. Their father is Mu Jing Gao, accused of rebellion. She killed Wang Ke Gong to seize the lock so that she can bargain with Yuan Zhong Dao for information about her father. He had promised to help her vindicate her father. He remembers, but he's also imposing and orders her to kill Li Dong Fang first.
All three (Li Wu, Zhang Jun Qing, and Shu Tang) have a scar on the back of their necks. It's an indicator that they were detained in the imperial prison. Wang Cang (guard) uses this to threaten Li Wu for money for the rest of his life.
[Ep5] Li Dong Fang sings! Which is not the point. He's Master Li of the Night Guards. He had enlisted Zhang Jun Qing some years ago. So both sisters are working for the Night Guards! Loyalty aside, of course. And why does it feel like the Night Guards are the good guys. Other members of the Night Guards: Song Tian Yi and Xie Keng Ran.
Li Wu, our popular guy! 1) He's threatened by Li Dong Fang to return the Yuming Lock with the lives of the people he cares about. 2) Then he's entangled with Zhang Jun Qing (masked) to cooperate and kill Li Dong Fang. 3) Finally he's harassed by Xie Keng Ran to testify for Lu Zheng.
And so Li Wu tells Xie Keng Ran that the only way to capture the murderer (Zhang Jun Qing) is tonight when he retrieves the Yuming Lock. Both Li Dong Fang and Zhang Jun Qing will show up. Showdown!
世上只有一種罪惡 , 叫做弱小世上只有一種正義 , 叫做強大In this world, there is only one type of sin, it's called weakness.In this world, there is only one type of justice, it's called strength.
[Ep6] Li Wu truly takes over Li Dong Fang's identity. He also saves Shu Tang. He lies to her that Li Dong Fang doesn't trust the Night Guards. There's a mole, and thus he has entrusted him to carry out his mission. Li Wu also pours his heart to her about Xie Keng Ran dying for him. "Why did he save me? So that I can save Lu Zheng? But I'm a liar. A thief. Why did he believe in me?" Because you're a thief with the heart of gold.
Li Wu and Shu Tang team up to bully Wang Cang (the bully who bullied Li Wu). They're scaring the ears off of this guy. I love it. When Li Wu repeated his question "How much are you planning to pay for your ear?" I was confused. Until stupid me realized, ha, he's got two ears.
Li Wu greets Si Xiang Nan (the guard who wants Lu Zheng dead). He's complimented by his peers, "Li da ren, the person isn't here yet, but the present arrived first. His name Li Wu sounds like "present". The show is actually saying that Li Dong Fang isn't here yet (and never will be), but the present (Li Wu) is. Being modest (pft), Li Wu says it's only "li shu" (etiquette). Shu for Shu Tang?
Outwardly, Lu Yu Lin (stepfather) doesn't seem like he cares about Lu Zheng's life or death, but he's actually risking angering the Emperor (or more like PM Yuan Zhong Dao) to spare Lu Zheng. He says Lu Zheng is the only key left to the Yuming Lock now that Song He Ming and Wang Ke Gong have died. As long as the lock exists, Lu Zheng will be useful.
Meanwhile Li Wu is bending time to delay Lu Zheng's execution.
[Ep7] Prologue. Song He Ming arrests Li Yan. In exchange for his son's (Li Feng) safety, he confesses. He was in charge of sending a note to Mu Jing Gao (sisters' father). They (Li and Mu) are charged with the murder of the Crown Prince. The message:
The 1st; burn the lighthouseThe 15th; biluochun (a type of green tea)Sunrise; boiled egg soupNightfall; starry house5, 14, 22, 31, 47
Li Wu still bending. Bow and back. He's putting a lot of effort into pretending to kill Lu Zheng. What a cruel decapitation. Painfully slow and the killer feeling every bit of it. Gross.
Skeptically, Yuan Zhong Dao asks Stepfather Lu if Mu Jing Gao really died. The sisters' father didn't die? But Stepfather Lu says Yuan Zhong Dao should know better than him. Hm,
We learn that Song He Ming was indicted for releasing the rebels: Li's son (Li Feng) and Mu's second daughter (i.e. Shu Tang). But that boy wasn't Li Feng. Song He Ming substituted Li Feng with Li Wu. Aw.
The Emperor (or more like Yuan Zhong Dao) gives Lu Zheng a chance to vindicate his father (Song) and arrest the rebels. Emperor, you no talk? He knows naught of his stepfathers' pleas. Lu Yu Lin had told Li Wu to keep it a secret. If Lu Zheng needs to hate someone, then Lu Yu Lin will be that person for his son. T_T I miss a good dad in dramas. Lu Zheng is surrounded by good people.
Li Wu helps Lu Zheng bury Xie Keng Ran. No one else cared. Everyone let his body rot with the excuse that he's a potential rebel. Li Wu tells Lu Zheng how Xie Keng Ran saved him.
Li Wu: My life was given to me by Xie Keng Ran.Lu Zheng: Then I'll take it back for him.
Swipe! And Lu Zheng's sword is at Li Wu's neck. He's an inch away from death. But since Li Wu saved him once, then he'll spare him once.
Lu Zheng meets Zhang Jun Qing. He's knocking at her doors at midnight like it's an emergency. She only sells silk. Since he gave her too much money for the fabric (one flowered and one blue/green), she will make him a robe. When she measures him with her hands, he flinches at her touch. Oh, romance? But she killed Xie Keng Ran! And omg he had a pregnant wife waiting at home. Oof. Dude. If I was his wife, I'd hate him. Serious. That's why I'm not his wife.
Lu Zheng almost ships Li Wu like cargo too! But seeing the fabric (floral and blue), he changes his mind. Ahhh, the fabric is for Xie Keng Ran's future child. Since they don't know if it'll be a girl or boy, they bought both. Now they work together to save Wang Ke Gong's family who is now accused of mutiny (because if Lu Zheng is innocent then Wang isn't). Justice is bullcrap obviously. How? They dupe another reputable family (Xu) into a marriage alliance with Wang, complicating the case and delaying the execution. Yuan Zhong Dao tolerates Lu Zheng's ways. It is however too late for the Wangs to be scar-less at the nape of their necks. The cut is to ease the sword for the decapitation. You see, the sword's sharpness is more valuable than a prisoner's head. Can't hurt the sword with your necks! >.<
Li Wu and Shu Tang become a fake married couple!
[Ep8] Stepfather Lu gives Li Wu the key to the investigative bureau. Lu Zheng wants it. The way his eyes linger on the key that should be his, lol.
Impersonating is hard, guys! How pitiful is our fraudster. Li Wu is threatened by Si Xiang Nan to be faithful to him and spy on Lu Zheng. Even Stepdad Lu demands the same from Li Wu! He has no choice but to obey because Stepdad Lu knows he's not Li Dong Fang! Omo. That's not the last of it. Lu Zheng intimidates him ("Li Dong Fang") to look for Li Wu's criminal records. Fortunately, Chen Ji says Li Wu's records don't exist. Unfortunately, Chen Ji is the same guard from ten years ago. Does he recognize Li Wu? And why would he be hiding Li Wu's criminal records? (More threats, duh!)
Since Lu Zheng is unable to find Li Wu's criminal records, Li Wu thinks the coast is clear and high-fives him. Psyche! Lu Zheng dodges the high-five and strikes him so that he faints. Shipping him again? Lol.
[Ep9] Chen Ji works for Zhang Jun Qing! She, our fake Night Guard, thinks she can use Li Wu can to expose Minister Cao who's assisting Prince Yan.
Lu Zheng is relentless. I don't want to be a criminal on his turf. He intimidates the neighbours (Sister Meng, Mei Dou, and Uncle Wang) to expose Li Wu, but no one betrays him! That proves my boy's character :'). However, the next day, Lu Zheng incriminates them as rebels. Li Wu drops to one knee (we proposing? Lol. Shouldn't it be both knees?) to beg Lu Zheng to spare them. He admits that he's Li Wu. Woah, hold your horses. He elaborates. He works for Wang Ke Gong to investigate Li Wu in Song He Ming's death, and so he pretended to be Li Wu. That lie checks out! He expresses great disappointment in Lu Zheng. He said if we were better by one percent, then this world is better by one percent, but Li Wu only sees Lu Zheng's corruption. Says the liar, lol. To arrest him, Lu Zheng is incriminating the innocent.
Li Wu: My heart doesn't have 天下 (tianxia) and I don't know what 天下 is. But I know these two words, you're unworthy to speak it. Powerful speech. About 天下: it means World, but more specifically it means "underneath the sky", and encompasses everything underneath the sky, including its people, and more often than not, 天下 specifically refers to the People.Lu Zheng: Sister Meng, Mei Dou, Uncle Wang of the Chicken Goose Lane are my heart's 天下. [...] For the words you said just now, I'll permit you at my side. I want your eyes to witness how I, this embroidered uniform guard, will do it. (Chicken Goose Lane may sound like a dumb street name, but I think it comes from phrases like 雞毛蒜皮 = Chicken feathers and garlic skins → Trivial matters. Residents of Chicken Goose Lane are trivial, but it's these trivial citizens who are at the heart of our boys' 天下.)
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| I love how he's a little pouty. |
High-five! Or psyche again? That's what Li Wu was thinking as he hesitates to receive it. But Lu Zheng is genuine this time. Psyche tho Lu Zheng. You got duped xD But Li Wu is genuine too! He just comes with a lot of lies.
Shu Tang is trapped at a brothel because she doesn't know what secrets she exposed to the courtesans. In the past, she could have easily silenced them, but after meeting Li Wu, she can't kill as easily. Li Wu smiles. He fixes everything for her in a jiffy and assures her she only told the courtesans of the scar on her neck. In fact, they all share the same scar, the same fate. They were prisoners too.
But Li Wu's house is no longer Li Wu's house. It's Lu Zheng's house. He bought it! Awww. Lu Zheng bought it so that Li Wu is no longer indebted/connected to Si Xiang Nan who gave him the house. Li Wu had mentioned that if Lu Zheng arrested Si Xiang Nan, then everyone associated would be arrested (e.g. Li Wu), Lu Zheng is kinda sweet. He offers to be his landlord. You wish. Our scrooge isn't paying rent. Lu Zheng suggests he pay rent with labour. Li Wu is offended, "You want my wife to be your mother, washing and cooking for you?" Negative. Lu Zheng wants Li Wu to be his mother and wash and cook for them. "Madam, what do you think?" Of course Shu Tang would love that! xD
[Ep10] Lu Zheng says Li Wu owes him. Thanks to Lu Zheng's mercifulness, Li Wu wasn't shipped away. So thankful LOL. Li Wu tells him to get the point. What does Lu Zheng want? Song He Ming's records, which Li Wu has the key to. However, inside the bureau, he meets the ghostly Chen Ji who gives him Chen Ji Zhen's notebook. Are they the same people? If so, Chen Ji dropped "Zhen", which means "real". (Remember the conversation between Zhang Jun Qing and Yuan Zhong Dai. Chen Ji is supposed to lead Li Wu into arresting Minister Cao.)
Li Wu reveals his alliance with Stepfather Lu to Lu Zheng: "You will always be a kid in your father's eyes. And beside the kid, there must be a nanny/babysitter." Heh.
An update on Shu Tang: still learning to be a lady. Like a lady, when they're angry, they shoot chopsticks like bullets. No more metal chopsticks for you, missy. She's also relieved that Li Dong Fang is alive. The nursery rhyme is his message to the Night Guards. But he's dead, no?
Our fake couple continue to sleep sitting, but....
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| No longer sitting after the kiss is Shu Tang. No longer sleeping is Li Wu. |
Zhang Jun Qing orders Song Tian Yi to find a fall guy for Minister Cao because he has exposed himself. It will be Wang Chong Xi.
Meanwhile, Stepdad Lu has made Li Wu the fall guy for Lu Zheng. Whoever led the rebel case was always meant to die. He wants Lu Zheng to step down for Li Wu.
The sisters know each other! But they don't know each other in that they don't know they're sisters. Zhang Jun Qing orders Shu Tang to kill Wang Chong Xi (to protect Minister Cao). Shu Tang obeys. She needs to ensure Li Wu is safe as Li Dong Fang. She won't let him be in danger. Li Wu is the same. He will ensure her safety.
[Ep11] Li Wu drugs Shu Tang so that she's out of harm's way. I like the detail of him tapping the cup to drug it, but lady assassin, how are you an assassin?! Are we saying this is the power of love? Oh, and he'sh sho shweet with the shoe! Then he ships her away (for a month)!!! Learning bad things for Lu Zheng! The harbour guy does it for Li Wu because Lu Zheng's friend is his friend. And of course Lu Zheng has a harbour friend for all his cargos, hahaha.
Wang Chong Xi cowers to Lu Zheng. His father (Wang) is whatever they want him to be, be it a loyalist or rebel. Lu Zheng slaps him into his senses. Wang should know better than anyone what man his father is. There will be a day their justice will see the light. As long as they live one more day, then they fight for justice for them for one more day.
Lu Zheng: 是為了爭而活著，不是為了活著而去爭 Live to fight, not fight to live. And this is why he's called Lu Zheng. To fight = 爭 (zheng)
Li Wu was supposed to kill Wang Chong Xi (for Shu Tang, for the Night Guards), but after he overheard Lu Zheng's motivating speech, he backpedaled and instead attempted to kill Chen Ji, the man threatening his existence. But he's our petty thief. He can't kill. Instead, he reports to Chen Ji that he lost track of Wang Chong Xi. For the disobedience, Chen Ji cruelly kills Blacksmith Zhou right in front of him after enslaving and torturing him for ten years. This is a warning to Li Wu that he will be the next Blacksmith Zhou. Then this psychopath (Chen Ji) asks Li Wu about his (Chen) ten years. Who will pay for it? The Songs (Lu Zheng). He wants them to lose everything just like he did. But slowly like blood dripping. His final orders for Li Wu is to take charge of the rebel investigations.
Lu Zheng tries to stop Li Wu from being his scapegoat. But Li Wu can't. He lies to Lu Zheng that he just wants to be rich. He reminds them of their differences.
Li Wu: You are the cloud, I am the dirt. We can't be friends. No Li Wu, listen. You are the mist and Lu Zheng is the thunder and together you guys are a storm to be reckoned with! [I'm not making this up: Li Wu's Wu means mist. Lu Zheng's Zheng means "clang" like the sound of thunder].
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| Lu Zheng and his trusty notebook, lol. |
When Li Wu wakes up, Lu Zheng says he already cross-examined everyone and exposed a spy: Wang Zhong. Li Wu thought he missed the show. Lu Zheng says the show hasn't begun because the main character just woke up: Li Wu. Hm? Lu Zheng is charging Li Wu with (regular) corruption (and not mutiny). He demands for the mastermind. Is it Stepfather Lu or Si Xiang Nan? Lu Zheng has reasonable grounds to suspect both. For Stepfather Lu, there's the recommendation letter he wrote to promote him. For Si Xiang Nan", there is an alliance (lol, the one against Lu Zheng), and the words "定海神針 (Stabilizing force)" make him back down because Li Wu did say those exact words to him. The brilliance of Lu Zheng's tour de force is that he has evidence for everything. Si Xiang Nan and Stepfather Lu are silenced because they can't deny Lu Zheng's claims. They are "colluding" with Li Wu, hahaha. But it's against Lu Zheng, hahaha. It's also a nice touch that it was Li Wu who gave Lu Zheng this idea back in Ep9. Li Wu had lectured him that if he arrested Si Xiang Nan, then everyone involved would have to be detained (e.g. Li Wu). This relationship goes both ways. If Li Wu is arrested, then immediately anyone involved with him is under suspicion. But can we really arrest them all? No. And this is Lu Zheng's way of saving Li Wu. Also, after this whole ordeal, Li Wu cannot be promoted. Lu Zheng still leads the rebel case. Later, Lu Zheng informs Yuan Zhong Dao that he believes in Li Wu and Stepfather Lu. This is only a pretence to lure out the real traitors.
Stepfather Lu tells Lu Zheng all about Li Wu being Li Wu. Stepfather Lu also knows that Li Wu has the Yuming Lock. What don't you know, Stepfather Lu
10 years ago. The full flashback: Li Wu (a petty thief) stole Lu Zheng's dagger, but when guards show up, Li Wu actually takes his hand to flee. Nice guy still! But he's caught by Song He Ming. When he realizes he's a "Li", he arrests him. Dad is not so nice :( Lu Zheng had pleaded for his father to release him.
Zhang Jun Qing draws this symbol on the wall. Then thieves prey on her. Wrong prey. She's the predator. With three surgical shots, she kills the two male robbers. Lu Zheng is just around the corner. Will he see?
Zhang Jun Qing wonders if Lu Zheng understands what it feels like to have your heart turned to ashes and then recovered (when her saviour appeared and gave her a choice). He does. He would have died if not for his saviours: one raised him (Stepdad Lu), one was his comrade (Xie Keng Ran), and one gave him hope (Li Wu!). On the topic of Xie Keng Ran...his murder and his avenger are in the same boat...There's guilt in her eyes.
Lu Zheng might believe in Li Wu, but he ain't showing it. He fires him. He says he's disappointed in him. He's unworthy of the robes on him. He's unworthy to speak of 天下. Xie Keng Ran could take a sword for him, but Li Wu can't do the same for Xie. "You and I are destined to not be friends. From the bottom of my heart, you're unworthy." If he was unworthy, Lu Zheng wouldn't be so hurt right now. But hey, he's hurt??? Doesn't Lu Zheng know that Li Dong Fang is Li Wu, the boy who "killed" his father?
LI DONG FANG IS ALIVE. Zhang Jun Qing spared him. She didn't strike where it was vital. Song Tian Yi's attack was lethal though. Very painful, in fact. That my friend is the strength of love. It hurts.
Zhang Jun Qing reveals the truth of her past to Song Tian Yi. To this day, she doesn't know which side her father was on. And now Song Tian Yi is willing to betray for her. He wants her to resign her position so that he can retrieve the lock for Yuan Zhong Dao in her stead. She lives for her obsession (for her justice) and he lives only for her. He doesn't care about anything else. This made me teary. But is she using him?!
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| He's so cute, angrily crossing his arms in that state. |
Lu Zheng's angrily crossed arms droops when Li Wu smacks him with a bat. HA. When he wakes up, Song Tian Yi is gone (with the lock?). Lu Zheng scolds Li Wu. Lives can be lost if the lock is in the wrong hands. Li Wu doesn't care about this world. He was always looked down on by this world. Someone (Song He Ming) had even told him "You deserve to be a Li". Li Wu will always be a rogue, and Lu Zheng will always be a hero even if they're wearing the same robes.
After hearing Li Wu's past, Lu Zheng shares his too. He reveals he's Song He Ming's son! He was the one who sneaked in to save the boy his father arrested. Then he watched this boy kill his father...
Li Wu's flashback. The injured Song He Ming wanted Li Wu to kill him. His limbs were snapped. He couldn't do it himself. He convinces Li Wu that killing him is saving his son. When he hesitated, Song He Ming threw his body forward into the dagger. Lu Zheng ah, Li Wu saved you.
Li Wu is so emotional, he punches Lu Zheng to provoke him, but Lu Zheng can't even hurt him. He doesn't want to. This means Lu Zheng knows he's Li Wu, knows that he "killed" his father, and is still forgiving him. Li Wu's Achilles heel is his past. It haunts him and defines him, and yet, the person who should hate him for his past, sees his essence, forgives him, and values him. Aw. Nvmd. Lu Zheng doesn't know he's Li Wu (and I don't know why when Stepfather Lu told him).
(I've got no clue where the lock is and what deal Song Tian Yi and Li Wu have)
Our boys head to the city. While Lu Zheng rides his horse, Li Wu is running behind. Feeling guilty, Lu Zheng tells him to get on.
Lu Zheng: 共乘一馬, 同馬共濟 Sharing a horse, crossing a river on the same "horse".Li Wu (laughs): It should be 同舟共濟 Crossing a river in the same "boat." Just get on the horse, smarty pants.
Li Wu wants to record Lu Zheng's blunder in his notebook. Ah, but he's fired, and he can't write. Lu Zheng says he'll teach him! Aw. He also needs a partner. No one else will work with him. Awww. Li Wu quotes Xie Keng Ran that Lu Zheng is precious. Li Wu will help Xie Keng Ran help him.
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| Within nowhere to hold, Li Wu clasps onto Lu Zheng's enticing rotator cuffs. |
Li Wu: 同馬共濟Lu Zheng: 同馬共濟. I'll add one more phrase: 不疑不負 (to have no doubt and to not forsake). When we return, I'll teach you how to write them all. AWWWWW.
[Ep13] Li Wu beseeches Stepfather Lu. There's an emergency. Ministers and citizens are pleading for Wang Ke Gong's innocence, and writing letters in blood to show their conviction. If he's innocent, then Lu Zheng isn't. To worsen this dilemma: neither will Lu Zheng wrongly accuse Wang Ke Gong, which means Lu Zheng will have to die. Stepfather Lu asks for Li Wu's understanding for making him the fall guy. It's a father's heart to save his child. But now there's no one who can save him. There is. Li Wu asks Stepfather Lu how he can lead the rebel case. Stepfather Lu sees hope between his tears. He hints to Lu Zheng that without fingers, there cannot be blood letters. Li Wu chops off the thumbs of the innocent ministers!!! D: I don't believe it!
Lu Zheng finds Li Wu and Zhang Jun Qing in the same room. It's suspicious, but Lu Zheng has nothing on them. When Li Wu walks out, he shoulder checks Lu Zheng for a petty little revenge LOL.
Li Wu (repeats): There is someone called Song Tian Yi. He's a 死心眼兒 (stubborn one; a one track mind). He could have left Chicken Goose Lane. [...]. But he had to choose death.
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| Lu Zheng is carrying the clothes from Zhang Jun Qing. |
And then the tragedy. Lu Zheng kills Song Tian Yi. Can he do a Li Dong Fang and reappear?! Li Wu suffers an injury while trying to protect Lu Zheng from Song Tian Yi. Lu Zheng had said Li Wu couldn't take a sword for a friend like Xie Keng Ran could..... :'( He's wrong. But I also know Lu Zheng didn't mean that. He had faith in Li Wu. As Song Tian Yi dies, he clutches onto his tassel.
A white guy informs Li Dong Fang that the traitor Song Tian Yi is executed and asks whether he wants to investigate him further. It's not a question. It's a threat and only until Li Dong Fang agrees to stop the investigations do the Night Guards retreat.
When Li Dong Fang enters his quarters, Shu Tang is inside! She says it was Zhang Jun Qing who brought her back.
[Ep14] Li Wu is injured. The physician has no cure for there is no medicine that cures heartache. Lu Zheng doesn't get it that Li Wu misses his assassin wife (and is mourning for Song Tian Yi?).
We have Li Feng's identity! He's Yuan Zhong Dao. We have Yuming Lock 's secret! It's a DIY gunpowder/cannon. Mu Jing Gao gave the DIY to the Crown Prince, but he didn't want to wage war and kept it a secret. Li Yan was the messenger between them, and also the last person who saw the Crown Prince before he was murdered by a rebel embroidered uniform guard.
The citizens who wrote a blood letter for Wang Ke Gong bow to his tablet. He's vindicated. Omg, they actually lost a thumb! All of them! I thought there would be a twist but Li Wu was that cruel (for Lu Zheng). Li Wu ruins the memorial like a maniac. He wants to be beaten by them. He's wrought with guilt, but instead he's given a few coins and is released. He also gives their detached thumbs back .... D:
Zhang Jun Qing and Li Dong Fang make a deal. She wants to fake her death with his help. In exchange, she gives him the VIP express route to the palace through her quarters. Li Dong Fang is confused. Which side is she on?
Our unknown agent, Zhang Jun Qing has orders from Yuan Zhong Dao to Li Wu. Li Wu doesn't know what game they're playing, but he only gave them the lock for Song Tian Yi whom he admires. After all that he's been through, he still has the courage to love and to die for love. Song Tian Yi truly lived. Li Wu looks up at Zhang Jun Qing. His words bore into her soul. "Meanwhile some people are still living. But they're only living until they're buried later is all.
Zhang Jun Qing doesn't care that Li Wu is judging her. She lives for revenge. She smashes the flowers with the documents (because she doesn't care about flowers and romance? Li Wu had lined them up while talking about Song Tian Ti...). She orders him to arrest the mutinous ministers. She advises him, "For people like us, if we want to survive, the weapon must be in our hands." Li Wu is disobliging, doubting her messenger ability. He wants to talk to Yuan Zhong Dao directly. She's nettled, but he reminds her, "People like us, if we want to survive, the weapon must be in our hands." Well plagiarized.
Yuan Zhong Dao's words have two meanings, two contradicting meanings...
- Catch all the ministers, and they won't have anyone to fight the war.
- Catch all the ministers, and they'll have the money to fight the war.
Li Wu gets it. It's his responsibility if he makes the wrong choice. That's swell. Lu Zheng advises, "知不可為而為之" It's said by the great Confucius = Confusing....ly wise. "Know what you can't do" is the basic meaning. But it's Confucius, there's more: Don't ask if you can do it; ask if it should be done; keep a clear conscience, look at the process, and not the result. Our illiterate Li Wu disagrees with the great Confucius. "If I don't do it, then my life's over." Only by living, then he can do what he ought to do.
Men dishwashing time! Lu Zheng has an idea to solve this dilemma, lol. They can ship (this guy, lol) the dishes on a carriage, find a remote place, dig a hole, and bury the bowls. The next morning, he'll buy new dishes. LOL. I hate dishwashing too, so I also totally rather dig a hole every single night. Saved by the alarm! Lu Zheng is notified by his guards that Zhang Jun Qing was assaulted, which means he had guards tailing her.
Shu Tang is lingering at Zhang Jun Qing's quarters. This is the deal with Li Dong Fang, isn't it? "Kill" Zhang Jun Qing and the Night Guards can access the palace via the passage.
[Ep15] Zhang Jun Qing prohibits Lu Zheng from entering her room. I think it's because she knows a Night Guard used her passage. And so he stays outside her room to guard her. However, he sets up a scheme to test her if she can fight, and so Zhang Jun Qing takes a gambit with her life to appear defenceless. He's swindled! But wait, he knows it's not her first time killing someone. He tells her the first time he witnessed a murder was Wang Ke Gong's. Killed by ZJQ. The first person he killed was Song Yi Tian. Set up by ZJQ. Later he took care of Li Wu for three days and three nights without sleep. Awww. He didn't sleep and couldn't sleep. He was worried for his buddy, and that was the first time he took a life... After confronting her, he gives her his clothes so that she's not cold.
Shu Tang converts a minister to a Night Guard with her usual line: "I quit drinking. You drink". This woman's an alcoholic.
Li Wu actually took Lu Zheng's advice and shipped away the dishes!!! LOL. My doofuses. But he runs after the wagon to take back a cup – the one Shu Tang drank from. However, Li Dong Fang visits Li Wu and tells him to stay away from her. If not for her, he'd kill him right now. He says any mission compared to Shu Tang is nothing and he, Li Wu, isn't worthy of Shu Tang. Li Dong Fang likes Shu Tang like that?
That white guy suspect is Sean Wales. And Sean in Chinese is Shen, sure., lol. Last name? First name? It's okay! Which means his father was the original landlord of the house Li Wu lives in. His family also died in the 35th year of Hongwu. He works for Prince Yan. After that confession, Li Wu releases Mr. Shen.
Our 不疑不負 brotherhood are doubting each other. Lu Zheng isn't arresting Zhang Jun Qing because he believes she has his reasons. Li Wu retaliates that Song Tian Yi had his reasons too, but Lu Zheng won't hear him out. Lu Zheng says Song Tian Yi killed Xie Keng Ran; he doesn't deserve to be forgiven. I'm nervous for ya, Lu Zheng. Furthermore, Lu Zheng admits he likes Zhang Jun Qing. Very nervous. Li Wu warns him that she's going to destroy him. Lu Zheng rebukes that he won't need him to save him. He's disappointed in how he released Mr. Shen. Are they still on one horse?
Li Wu: What I have done, one of these days, I will tell you everything but I hope that day won't ever come because you won't like my answer.
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| 天下 is written on the wall. Is this Mu's Manor? Song's Manor? |
Li Wu is being pretty rotten. He accepted Mr. Shen's bribe and rewarded his followers. They thank (xie) him: "xie da ren". This sounds like they're addressing Xie Keng Ran, and even the reminder of Xie isn't making him guilty. Even his makeshift family (Meng jie and Mei Dou) shoo him away. At home, Lu Zheng has packed his belongings. NowLi Wu has no family, and no home. "That's okay. I'm not me anyway."
But an umbrella shields Li Wu from the rain. It's Shu Tang. She brings him home and home is with her.
Zhang Jun Qing "dies" in front of Lu Zheng, but she's headless. Lu Zhen knows she's a Mu, and that she's the masked Night Guard. So Lu Zheng knows she killed Xie Keng Ran?
Lu Zheng knows Shu Tang is a Night Guard. Lu Zheng had always believed in Li Wu, and that's why his bottom line kept retreating for him. He waited for his reason and all he got was lies and deception. And now there's only one road left for Li Wu: arrest Shu Tang, seize the Night Guards. Li Wu will give Lu Zheng an answer. Tonight will be the night of truth. 
The three of them have a last meal. Lu Zheng's laughing and drinking with Shu Tang. prior to the dinner, Li Wu had snapped his sword. What is he planning? He also buys a boat ticket for Meng jie and Mei Dou. What is he planning! Lu Zheng pretends to be drunk and is carried out. He's waiting downstairs for Li Wu's answer. Will Li Wu apprehend Shu Tang?
Li Dong Fang (who lost a finger. Why? Could it be that Li Wu shot him when he escaped from "killing" Zhang Jun Qing?) receives news of Shu Tang's pending arrest. He will let her die. Who said Shu Tang was above his plans?? As for Li Wu...
Lu Zheng finishes mourning, I guess, because now he's investigating Zhang Jun Qing and the Night Guards. He goes on an undercover mission and he's smug about Li Wu joining him as his "servant". They fight like children when Lu Zheng wants to switch to being his master.
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| Does the arm rest look like a dragon to anyone? Is Li Dong Fang royal? Btw his name is Li Eastward and East refers to the Crown Prince.... |
Li Dong Fang: If he is my cursed star, then I will pluck that star.
Back at the last dinner, Li Wu tells Shu Tang the truth: Lu Zheng is Song Zhen, the boy who saved them ten years ago.
Li Wu: I won't let you kill Lu Zheng. If you have to, then kill me too. But you might not be able to. And I won't let Lu Zheng kill you. If he has to, then he'll have to take my life too.
Shu Tang wishes they can run away together and then poison him so he can't talk. Perhaps he's not that bad when he's not lying.
Li Wu (smiles): What you don't know is when I don't talk, I can also lie.
Lu Zheng has waited enough. Action! And our couple hides.
Li Wu: Embroidered Uniform Guards want to kill us.Shu Tang: Night Guards want to kill us too. She said "us"Li Wu: We have nowhere to go.Shu Tang has a place: her sister's.
Lu Zheng gives them his warning – eloquently.
金杯對汝飲 白刃不相饒= The golden cup is drunk together; the white blade will not forgive the other= At a banquet, drinks can be shared; at a duel, swords are unsparing.
Li Wu finds him annoyingly posh even with threats. How can our illiterate Li Wu understand you! Shu Tang thinks the threat is targeted at her because she understands.
They run and find Zhang Jun Qing. Li Wu is on his knees! His knees are cheap! He's like Spare my girl. It's kind of amusing that they're in-laws xD. He bargains with her that if he can withstand three hits from her, then he gets a promise from her. She stabs him with a dagger once and he's down. Shu Tang frantically runs over, but Li Wu's fine. He still has his bling-bling-armour on! xD Zhang Jun Qing disapprovingly degrades her sister's taste in men.
[Ep17] As Zhang Jun Qing sends Li Wu and Shu Tang away, she mutters to herself, "Don't put your hope on men." And I seriously think Shu Tang knows Zhang Jun Qing is her sister.
Stepfather Lu asks Lu Zheng how long he can continue making these excuses to save his friend [Li Wu]. Lu Zheng would rather wait, wait until that day he runs out of excuses and maybe that day will never come. He's almost crying. And these were Li Wu's words too. And that day has arrived? Lu Zheng stops Li Wu and Shu Tang at the bridge.
Surprise! Lu Zheng "kills" Shu Tang, but the sword was snapped. And he doesn't even stab her. He cuts his own hand. That blood on her was his blood. Then he pushes her into the river. As soon as he can, he goes downstream to find her. And Lu Zheng didn't do that? Well that's careless of him. Li Wu leaves the moment she wakes up.
What's up with Zhang Jun Qing? She wants the war to be ceaseless. Whichever side weakens, she'll help that side. Right now she's helping Li Dong Fang and advises him to be imprisoned. Are we having a party at the prison ward? Chen Ji Zhen, Wang Chong Xi, and Li Dong Fang...
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| Crossing the river on the same horse? xD |
Li Wu has lost his mind after the triumph over the Night Guards. He's enlisting into monk-hood! It's what a bereaved widower like him does....
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| I like the consistency in the rainy weather. And I totally love how Mei Dou got a piece of the umbrella |
Finally, Stepfather Lu visits Li Wu. And here's a confession to blow you away: Stepfather Lu killed Song He Ming. He wanted the Yuming Lock. Li Wu stole my confused expression, and I'm mostly confused as to why he's confessing.
[Ep18] Stepfather Lu says it's to free Li Wu of his guilt. He meant it when he said if Lu Zheng needed to hate someone, then hate him (Lu). Ten years ago, he didn't have the heart to skill Song He Ming's son too. But in the flashback, he had no mercy for Song He Ming. He paralyzed him! There's another reason Stepfather Lu is revealing the truth: Wang Chong Xi managed to enter the palace via the prison and has accused Lu Zheng and Stepfather Lu of collusion, and Li Wu for impersonation. To complicate things, Yuan Zhong Dao is enabling Wang Chong Xi because he wants the passcode to the lock, which Stepfather Lu has because it's in Song He Ming's journal. Getting rid of Wang Chong Xi is useless. There will be many more ChongXis to bring them down. They need to get rid of the agent working at the prison. Li Wu suspects it's Chen Ji Zhen. Stepfather Lu says he's too powerless. It's Si Xiang Nan! But wait. I was actually warming up to Si Xiang Nan. Li Wu genuinely annoys him, and that was amusing. I just thought if SXN doesn't care, he wouldn't be annoyed. Before Stepfather Lu leaves, he tells Li Wu that him being Li Dong Fang is good for the country, and good for 天下.
Li Wu cannot reunite with Shu Tang. Marrying her will only bring her danger. He's half the world's enemy. He's a rebel and he's an anti-rebel. Meng jie sighs. He doesn't understand Shu Tang's heart. Plus, she can fight for herself.
Li Wu eavesdrops on Shu Tang. It seems she knows Zhang Jun Qing is her sister! [Li Wu doesn't know this.] She remembers Li Wu asking at this very spot why Xie Keng Ran would save him. Now he has become Xie Keng Ran, saving others. She lets the wind take the chuanghua (paper cuts). It's red now! From...what? Blood?? Anyway. I wonder if Li Wu picked them up. Also, when he broke them, it looked so deliberate. I wasn't sure if it was bad acting or he did it on purpose. Shu Tang also speaks of Li Dong Fang, the man who raised her. With him, she must keep her words too, and so the next morning, she disappears to save him.
Lu Zheng discovers Zhang Jun Qing working as a Night Guard! She makes him faint in one move. Lu Zheng ah. When he wakes up, he's with Yuan Zhong Dao, who covers for Zhang Jun Qing because she's his double agent.
Shu Tang meets Wang Cang. Forgot about him? You must at least remember, "How much are you planning to pay for your ear?" He's shaken to the core and immediately obeys her. But I thought he was fired or detained. He lets her rest inside the bureau, and that's her ticket to the prison where Li Dong Fang is.
Li Dong Fang is served like a master while serving jail time (by Chen Ji Zhen). He makes Shu Tang choose between him and Li Wu. But it's not like she's making her choices for Li Wu. She's choosing her life for herself. Li Dong Fang practically disowns her, but orders her to complete one last mission since she owes him. She obeys. WHY GIRL. Why let him take your agency! She is to enter the palace and kill the Emperor.
Lu Zheng: Saints don't die and thieves don't stop. Without thieves, there are no saints. Without Li Wu, there is no Lu Zheng.
*堂堂正正 means righteous and is pronounced as Táng táng zhèng zhèng. Li Wu became Tángtángzhèngzhèng after meeting Shu Tang and Lu Zheng.
[Ep19] Yuan Zhong Dao reprimands Li Wu for allowing money to be shipped to Prince Yan. No one else must know (so that citizens remain calm) and so Li Wu is rewarded as a pretence. However, Li Wu suggests a way to punish him for people to see to demonstrate the Emperor's impartiality. Yuan Zhong Dao derides him, but the young Emperor approves. Is the puppet fighting his puppeteer? Before they're dismissed, the Emperor says, "To seize the throne, will they really choose a bastard child?" Excusé moi, who?
Lu Zheng is the appointed wielder of Li Wu's 80 floggings. The Emperor wants them loud. And not painful? Li Wu wants them hard. It's his ticket to surviving if he doesn't die from them first! Lol. Lu Zheng hits so hard, Li Wu faints before it's over. It's okay, though! Lu Zheng flogs with finesse. He can hit a brick with a paper on top where the paper is fine and the bone, I mean brick is fractured, but the skin paper is fine. Li Wu's lying flat on his tummy, feeling the burn on his behind with every motion. and says "Thank you." Lu Zheng quite genuinely replies, "You're welcome."
Li Wu says when he was investigating Li Wu (...?), he thought they were the same: no family, no relatives, nothing attaching them to this world.
Li Wu: Now it's different. As long as I'm here, no one can bully you. Not if Li Wu bullies you, Lu Zheng! Li Wu wants to avenge his butt, lol.
It looks like Stepfather Lu is ready for his doom. He's sending away his plants when they're fine to an old friend where it's warmer. Plant = Lu Zheng; Old friend who's warmer = Li Wu. He tells Lu Zheng that Song He Ming's book was burned ten years ago. He doesn't want him to end up like Song He Ming. He was a hero, but a terrible father. As for Stepfather Lu, he's no hero, but he tried to be a father Lu Zheng would be happy with. Even if Lu Zheng hates him now, it's worth it. He's old now. He has no courage to bury his child. And so he's dying first. He may have adopted Lu Zheng, saved him, but in fact it was Lu Zheng who saved him. He reveals that he wrote a letter to vindicate Song He Ming. He left his retirement funds for Lu Zheng to refurbish Song Manor. Then Lu Zheng can finally be Song Zhen again. He hopes that by leaving him, Lu Zheng can get back on track (to being a hero like his father?).
Wang Chong Xi testified that the Lu father and son are colluding with traitors. The Emperor took Yuan Zhong Dao's "advice": kill the father, use the son. Si Xiang Nan is in charge of detaining Stepfather Lu. But the way Si Xiang Nan used his hands to help Stepfather Lu over the steps was....sweet?
Li Wu finds Mr. Shen. He's confused which side Li Wu is on. Our thief is self-employed. He will help his people, and be his own boss. He asks Mr. Shen if he wants to be his. The way this was phrased, I was expecting the question, "do you want to be your own boss"...
Zhang Jun Qing offers to help Lu Zheng save his stepfather if Lu Zheng stands aside when she kills Li Wu. Not over his dead body! Well, Stepfather Lu will be a dead body.
An imperial guard is here to formally arrest Lu Zheng and Li Wu. Our horseback brothers thought it was a cakewalk until the rest of the guards fanned out from the shield, haha. Li Wu says, "Run!" But our idiot Lu Zheng runs forward towards the enemy. Li Wu sighs, and runs back for his buddy.
New details about Li Dong Fang: he is Prince Yan's bastard child. Oddly, Li Dong Fang was already a guard ten years ago (which is recorded in Stepfather Lu's journal). These two episodes are confusing me on whether Lu Zheng knows if Li Wu is Li Wu. Lu Zheng is literally asking "Li Dong Fang" how old he was as if he doesn't know he's Li Wu. Lu Zheng should know. Is this a plot hole? Or are they just that into their fake identities so that others won't know?
At the city gates, Zhang Jun Qing sets up a trap to kill Li Wu. For this, she can annihilate an entire battalion. And it's because Li Wu killed Shu Tang. But that's not the case! And so Li Wu is spared.
Outside of the city, Chen Ji Zhen kills Meng jie and captures Mei Dou! Oh no. MENG JIE! Li Dong Fang said Zhang Jun Qing might not be able to kill Li Wu. He was right. And he had crueler plans waiting for Li Wu....
Li Wu finds Wang Chong Xi and makes him choose his fate with a flip of a coin. Wang Chong Xi chooses "heads". And that's how Wang Chong Xi escaped death. Not that Li Wu was going to kill him, I think. The coin only had "heads". In Chinese it's 正面 (heads) or 反面 (tails). 正面 means "right side", 反面 means "other side" and therefore the wrong side. 正 is also pronounced as Zheng, which isn't a coincidence that one our ML is Lu Zheng who lives to fight for righteousness. Ultimately, it was Wang Chong Xi's choice of righteousness that saved him.
Li Wu sends Wwang Chong Xi away with Mr. Shen's boat. Li Wu says his father would be proud of him. Of what? I must have missed that. Didn't he recklessly accuse Stepfather Lu? Is this what our boys wanted?? Wang Chong Xi smiles. He at least did one thing for his father, which was keeping the passcode to the Yuming Lock a secret. Well now, he's telling the passcode to Li Wu.
Li Wu meets Lu Zheng in front of the prison ward. He learns of Meng jie's death and Mei Dou's abduction. Li Wu grits his teeth and tells Lu Zheng they're meeting Chen Ji Zhen.
Li Wu (to Chen Ji Zhen): I must personally escort this present (li wu) to you. Li Wu bringing Li Wu to him.
Chen Ji Zhen finally learns that Lu Zheng is Song Zhen, the son of Song He Ming who chopped off his hand. I didn't know this man was missing a hand this whole time!!!! When his guard is down, Li Wu and Lu Zheng attack him. Chen ji Zhen burns to death.
[Ep21] In the prison ward, Li Dong Fang torments Li Wu by piercing a chain through his flesh and on his rib. Queasy. Not me. Nooooo. He orders Li Wu to continue substituting him as Li Dong Fang. Ah. This is why Li Dong Fang was already an official guard 10 years ago, and is why Stepfather Lu knew Li Wu wasn't Li Dong Fang. This guy isn't even Li Dong Fang! Shortly after, the Emperor "pardons" Li Wu and allows him to investigate the rebels. However, Li Wu is still threatened by Li Dong Fang because of Mei Dou. I'm glad Li Wu gives the jade to Lu Zheng, letting him know that he's being threatened.
Li Wu orders floggings for Si Xiang Nan. It's to lure out the real traitors that perforate our team. Only real guards understand hitting "harshly" means to hit like it's harsh but not harsh, and so the two guards who hit harshly or flogged harshly as per its original definition. Wang Cang (ear guy) is one of them. But there are so many more moles and they're all so audacious!
Lu Zheng takes the jade to save Mei Dou, but he's ambushed by the Night Guards.
Stepfather Lu sabotaged Si Xiang Nan...! And then a Night Guard (posing as a regular guard) fatally hits Si Xiang Nan. He's dead! :O He was so sad it was Stepfather Lu of all people who betrayed him. Also, Stepfather Lu has this amazing expression. So grey.
I don't know what "pardoning" means because Li Wu is still detained and chained...at the rib.... Li Dong Fang drags him like a dog BY THE RIB to witness Stepfather Lu's torture. Li Wu only has one chain. Stepfather Lu has 24. ∑(; °Д°) Li Dong Fang chills in his chair while our bloody Stepfather Lu confesses. He tells Li Wu to give Song He Ming's journal, the lock, and combo to Prince Yan. Once he becomes the Emperor, Li Wu and Lu Zheng will have merit. Stepfather Lu also says he erased Li Wu's name from Song He Ming's journal. He will tell Lu Zheng it was him (Lu) who killed his father. Okay this is a truth but kind of a lie. The flashback we saw was true. Li Wu did "kill" Song He Ming by "holding" the dagger. Poor kid. But Song was dying already because of Stepfather Lu. However, that doesn't make Li Wu guilt-free when Song died in his hands. Stepfather Lu is taking onus as he should, but he recognized the burden of Li Wu's guilt, and is erasing it for him. This is where Li Wu feels grateful for him.
I feel like Li Wu is calling Stepfather Lu as "father" on behalf of Lu Zheng. They're like brothers.
A guard finds Song He Ming's journal! Is he our guy or not our guy? Can we judge by prettiness? He's kinda pretty.
[Ep22] Lu Zheng is "saved" by Zhang Jun Qing, but now he's pained to learn the truth. She killed Xie Keng Ran. Hm? Confused. Via a convo earlier, I thought he knew... Everyone, absolutely everyone around him is a rebel. There's Song He Ming, Wang Ke Gong, Liu Yu Lin (stepfather). They accused Li Yan and Mu Jing Gao. Even Xie Keng Ran and Li Dong Fang are his enemies. Only he, Lu Zheng, is the fool sleuthing around.
Lu Zheng escapes, but he's lost (in life) when he meets Li Wu. He didn't kill Zhang Jun Qing to avenge Xie Keng Ran. He didn't beg her to save Stepfather Lu. He did nothing. He asks Li Wu what they all take him for. Li Wu says Lu Zheng should know what he thinks of him, but more importantly, he tells Lu Zheng about his stepfather. He shouldered all the pain to hold the sky for Lu Zheng. "Don't think of Song He Ming as the only hero. Stepfather Lu is the hero."
It's the day of Stepfather Lu's execution and I don't know how he's not dead already. All the guards shield him from the rain. The guards holding up the sky for Stepfather Lu? T___T He confesses to mutiny. He was already saying he murdered Song He Ming, but Li Wu won't let him confess. He kills Stepfather Lu, and whispers to his ears only: "father". He wants Lu Zheng to hate him instead. Oh, so Lu Zheng losing a father isn't enough, he had to lose a best friend too.
Then Li Wu provokes Lu Zheng that he killed both his fathers with the same dagger. Raging, Lu Zheng swings at the dagger, which spins out of Li Wu's hands and slices his left arm off. I am numb. What is even an arm? And this is his retribution for the thumb-ectomies, isn't it?
Clearly Lu Zheng isn't murderous enough, so Li Wu waves their slogan in his face (a reminder to Lu Zheng the idiot he is to have believed in him). Yuan Zhong Dao steps between the brothers to save Li Wu (more like he saves Lu Zheng from having to murder his brother). Like a dog, Li Wu hands Song He Ming's notebook to Yuan Zhong Dao. I hate that Li Wu is choosing this path.
Four months later.
Li Wu receives a stack of "presents" (li wu) in the form of banquet invitations to bootlick him, the new chief. Li Wu refuses to read them. Our kinda-pretty guard asks, "Do we shove all li-wus in the [unwanted] storehouse?" Li Wu feels personally attacked.
Where's Lu Zheng? He has been working in the palace for Yuan Zhong Dao. He didn't even attend Stepfather Lu's funeral! It's because he only has one father and that is Song He Ming. But he's still "Lu Zheng".
Li Wu sneaks into the palace to retrieve the Yuming Lock but clever Lu Zheng is onto him, and so Li Wu hides in a storage room (foreshadowed).
But Shu Tang is there! I love how this is how they reunite! Also a treasure chest. Also locked up. But she's too drunk to recognize Li Wu.... But how! Who else could have such lock-picking skills! And he's one-handed too.
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| That's Mr. Shen's prosthetic hand for Li Wu. |
With that last touch before he left her, I think she recognized Li Wu.
The next night, Shu Tang releases the lantern at the specified time so that Li Wu knows Lu Zheng is off duty and he can sneak into the palace again.
The next night, Shu Tang releases the lantern at the specified time so that Li Wu knows Lu Zheng is off duty and he can sneak into the palace again.
[Ep23] Yuan Zhong Dao bestows a marriage for Lu Zheng and Zhang Jun Qing. She silently accepts with her heart breaking. Her taste in men sucks. And she was nitpicking at her sister's taste in men???
Li Wu could have walked away from the deadly politics, but he is determined to protect his people. He will be his own boss. No one can stop him, not Yuan Zhong Dao, and not even the Emperor.
Lu Zheng visits Xie Keng Ran's wife and his baby. They're living in his house. I think that house is ominous. Get out of there! He also asks her to take care of the plant his "father" left.
It's funny how Mr Shen can read Chinese and Li Wu can't.
Li Wu dispatches his guards to seize a ship with the firearms but tells the kinda-pretty guard to stay behind. Oh? Subsequently Li Wu's team is encircled by "Li Dong Fang". But Li Wu is unfazed. He taunts Li Dong Fang with his real surname: "Zhu". Piqued, Li Dong Fang cuts off Li Wu's hand that has already been cut off once. You guys got a problem with that hand? Li Dong Fang demands for the weaponry. And it has arrived: Lu Zheng is bombing them with a cannon. Lu Zheng hesitates to shoot again, but Li Wu grins wickedly, reminding Lu Zheng that he killed both his fathers. No more piggybacking.
Li Wu wanted this showdown. It's basically suicide, but he kills the moles as well. Is that Wang Cang guy finally dead dead? He has more lives than he has ears.
Or it's not suicide? What happened?
Wait. That was a dream. It was Mr. Shen.
Wait, no. Shu Tang was here, but that was ten days ago. She's back in the palace. Mr. Shen reassures Li Wu that Shu Tang would be safe because Prince Yan wouldn't kill the Emperor until the very last moment.
Lu Zheng will be a spy for Yuan Zhong Dao to infiltrate into the Night Guards.
[Ep24] Shu Tang learns from Zhao Gou (Eunuch) that the nursery her father taught her was the ingredients to make fireworks (= firearm). Was her father enslaving the civilians?
Li Wu sends a message to Prince Yan that the firearms will be his if he hands over Li Dong Fang. Why do that? To sabotage Li Dong Fang and save Shu Tang? He also tells Yuan Zhong Dao (who's really sick all of a sudden) that he stole the world's most sought after treasure. Li Wu is the ultimate thief. With this treasure, he will make the people the king of the world. Yuan Zhong Dao taunts him that this is a deposition (which aren't Li Wu's intentions).
Li Wu heads North immediately when he learns Lu Zheng plans to assassinate Prince Yan. He can care less about the palace. Mr. Shen jokingly thanks his "nephew" for leaving him the fortune. Li Wu smiles and replies that he is his "Shen" (Shen sounds like "Aunt"). But Mr. Shen is really worried for Li Wu like a real aunt.
And then they're whacked by a ham hock! A Night Guard caught Li Wu and our kinda pretty guard.
Lu Zheng: Not forgiving.Li Wu: Not making up.Both heads droop down together.Li Wu: Let's go home. Aw.
Lu Zheng cries a little. But he stays. There will be no home if there is a war. Well, Li Wu won't let him stay. Things happen, and somehow they strike a deal with the Night Guard that they'll open the city gates for them. They think they can leave a piece (how naive!), but the Night Guard takes my kinda-pretty guy hostage.
Shu Tang kills the Emperor under Li Dong Fang's orders. However, Li Dong Fang "kills" her to appear like he's protecting the Emperor. Li Dong Fang pierced the same spot Zhang Jun Qing did for him. I guess Shu Tang will survive...? Then Li Wu runs in, naming himself as Li Dong Fang too.
The fake Emperor (who is Yuan Zhong Dao) orders the two fake Li Dong Fangs to kill Shu Tang to prove their identities. Yuan Zhong Dao, she's Zhang Jun Qing's sister and you know it!
In Shu Tang's dying speech (her lung capacity is no joke. Damaged, but still with unlimited oxygen), she tells one Li Dong Fang [Li Wu] that she loves him, and the other Li Dong Fang [unknown name] that he isn't the bastard child but the daxia (a martial fighter) whom she's faithful to. Shu Tang will give her life back to him. Li Dong Fang spares her life by that I mean he doesn't worsen her "fatal" injuries. She was his only family/relative.
Li Dong Fang leaves Shu Tang in Li Wu's care as he searches for the real Emperor. But Li Wu is one-handed! He struggles to free Shu Tang who's pinned to the pole by the sword that's through her chest. For better leverage, he yanks the sword from the blade. That poor hand of his – his one and only hand. However, the place is also on fire thanks to Yuan Zhong Dao who plans to die tonight. So he's loyal but looks and acts like a weasel.
But Zhang Jun Qing commits suicide. She dies in the fire with Yuan Zhong Dao. GIRL. Do you know what he did to your sister?!!?!? Get back out here! I thought you didn't need men!!! But I also know that she can't have a happy ending after Xie Keng Ran and Song Tian Yi... Shu Tang knows Zhang Jun Qing is her sister.
Seven days later, Shu Tang (yes, alive and fine) leaves Li Wu via ship. No more shipping her away, sir. She's shipping herself! Okay, but I don't get why she's leaving. She wants to forget her past? She doesn't want to be like her sister and stay for a man?? Li Dong Fang tries to hold the rope to keep her ship at harbour. That hand.... She says other than loving him, she has something else she wants to do and once she's done, she will come back to find him. She leaves her dagger for him to shave his moustache. I like how "auntie" Mr. Shen's heart is for Li Wu in this scene.
Li Wu has the firearms secured at a new place. He wrote a new code and placed it in the Yuming Lock. But can he write anything else but "Riding One Horse"? He gives it to Lu Zheng. However, Lu Zheng wants to take it easy. He assigns an easier task for himself and a harder one for Li Wu. Ugh. Song He Ming said this exact line. He died with the easy task while Wang Ke Gong died ten years later with the harder task....... This secret will stay with Li Wu, which means the secret will remain a secret forever.
The end.
Mei Dou anyone?
My kinda pretty guy?
Hello? You guys okay?
Yodel Ay Hee Hoo!
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-8)] Deliciously complicated. If you like Ancient Detective and The Imperial Coroner, this is in line. There's mystery, bromance, comedy, and some romance.
The ML, Li Wu, is everyone's spy, and everyone's prey. It's hilarious. There's nothing genuine about Li Wu, but he's the most genuine guy. He's embroiled in the fatal secret, living with a stolen identity. He has a star-crossed bromance with Lu Zheng, evolving from enemies to frenemies. Lu Zheng is also in a fake marriage with Shu Tang, an assassin. Zhang Jun Qing rounds up the quartet in mysterious and possibly nefarious ways. What I love the most is how interconnected their characters are right from the beginning.
Episode 5 is awesome. High body count. Shocking. Tragic. Touching. It gives our MLs their motive.
I love the ending song. It makes me feel like I watched an epic episode every time.
If you're confused watching this, that's normal (not in a good way). It's a flaw in the show's storytelling. When it's meant to be clear, it's actually not clear. I need a highly alert brain, which isn't always available.
I feel that Zhang Yun Long and Sun Yi don't have it in them to bring out the chemistry but I do love their fake marriage setup. (But there's still 16 episodes to change my mind!)
Li Wu should be more like a "crouching moron, hidden badass" (or righteous-ass, whatever), and Shu Tang is supposed to be a lethal assassin. Zhang Yun Long is alright. Sun Yi is too modern and too girly. I also don't think her character should be that awful at housework. It's not like she's a princess served by maids, but she looks like she's a princess served by maids.
Chen Ruo Xuan, a solid actor, but ah, no screen presence.
I probably wouldn't complain about this cast in another drama, but the impressive setup just makes me want so much more.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Glossary]
同舟共濟 Tóng zhōu gòng jì – Crossing a river in the same boat. Sink or swim together (Ep12)
不疑不負 Bù yí bù fù – To have no doubt and to not forsake (Ep12)
死心眼兒 Sǐ xīn yǎn er – Dead set (on something petty) → Stubborn; Having a one track mind. (Ep13)
知不可為而為之 Zhī bù kě wéi ér wéi zhī – Know what you can't do (more in Ep14)
[Ending] Happy.
Romance spoiler: (click)
She left, but she said she'll be back.[Review & Rating]
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