cyn lynn : The Longest Promise

Potato Chip: Review and extremely ~~Wang Zi Qi~~ selective weecap. I don’t think it is a secret why I watched this drama. I apologize to fans of the leads, I won’t mention them much. It will take too long and I figured there are plenty of fan sites out there that would do a much better job than me. Xiao Zhan and Ren Min were fine, but as I idiomed before, master/disciple is not my oolong.

Qing Gang (Wang Zi Qi) (totally her oolong) and Bai Xue Lu (Wang Chu Ran): If you like to see them before I spoil everything below, the easiest way is to watch these couple summary Douyins and their scenes in Episodes 33-35 (min marker below). Probably done in about 30 mins. It's worth it!

Up to Episode 14: Douyin link
Up to Episode 21: Douyin link
Episode 33: ~2:00 & 31:00
Episode 34: ~31:00
Episode 35: ~11:30, ~ 38:00 & ~ 1:10:00

Xiaohongshu links: [1] [2] [3] (But the speed is faster. 🤨)

Netflix will have all these episodes on July 26.

Background: Ancient big kingdom ruling 6 smaller color coded kingdoms (Crimson, White, Azure, Ice?, ??). Shi Ying (Xiao Zhan) is the crown prince, Zhu Yan (Ren Min) is the princess of the Crimson Clan.They meet as children. His mother is the empress but Mr. King loves his mermaid concubine more. Concubine suicides and sets up Shi Ying as her murderer. What a way to enact revenge. The king’s bro aka Grand Priest aka guy in love with empress fakes SY’s death and whisks him up the mountain. X years later, teenage Zhu Yan meets 17 ¾ yo 🙄 Shi Ying but she only knows him as some strange guy in the mountain. There’s a curse, 1st girl he sees will be the one that kills him.

Zhi Yuan (Fang Yi Lun) – Merman with selective memory loss, manager in Crimson house, friend of Zhu Yan. His love 200 years ago is Zhu Yan’s doppelganger great grandmother warrior. His people are oppressed by Big Kingdom.

Bai Xue Lu (Wang Chu Ran) – Oldest daughter of White Clan. Born from a concubine. Mad that her mom’s memorial tablet isn’t in the big house. Scheming to become empress so that she can bring the tablet home.

Qing Gang (Wang Zi Qi) – General of Azure Clan. Brave, upright, simple. Likes baths and leaves.

Chong Ming (Li Ming De) – Ancient bird, sidekick and comic relief of Shi Ying.

Da Si Ming (Han Dong) – Grand Priest, morally grey character, wants Shi Ying to return as Crown Prince.

Shi Yu (Ye Sheng Jia) – Younger bro of Shi Ying, current crown prince, son of Concubine Qing. Innocent, sweet guy.

Bai Xue Ying (Lu Yu Xiao) – Younger sister of Bai Xue Lu. Innocent, sweet girl. Meets guy above, falls in love instantly, and promises to marry each other. All in less than half an episode.

Concubine Qing (Chen Zi Han) – Obligate evil concubine.

Empress Bai Yan (Zeng Li) – King wasn’t attached to her, the audience shouldn’t get attached either.

I gave her more pictures than screen time.

Shi Ying turns 18 (adulthood in ancient times is just like modern) and is promoted to Xiao Si Ming (Priest). He makes a vow to never marry and never have fun (which some may view to contradict each other). All the characters go up the mountain to compete to be his first disciple. Zhu Yan doesn’t really want to be there. Rules - pair up, avoid being eaten by the Qiong Qi monster, be 1st to get Jade Bone Hairpin.

Weecaps

[Ep7] First intro to Qing Gang, Zhu Yan learns that her father aka the Emperor from The Imperial Coroner was beaten up by QG during a military exercise.

Crimson King vs The Imperial Coroner King

29:00 Qing Gang appears. BXL’s eyes light up not because he is dashing, but b/c she did her research on this biggest competitor. Everyone wants to be his partner except Zhu Yan and BXL (she is with her sister).

[Ep8] 2:00 QG saves ZY. She’s exasperated and impressed by his simplicity. Of course, that means a team up!

5:45 The monster found them. QG & ZY parkour for miles and miles (Weibo)

Qiong Qi catches up to them. ZY figures out that the monster likes evil people so she calls QG and herself a bunch of wicked names. Monster thinks she’s cute and spares them. ZY pushes QG away as she gets sucked into a black smoke so SY can join her story.

21:00 QG comes across the Bai sisters being attacked by the Qiong Qi. He tries Zhu Yan’s trick, pretends to hold BXL hostage and insults her. “Wicked, disrespectful, unfilial, planning a rebellion, ruthless killer, hates the poor… A seductress that forces men to marry her.” Hee, this got her attention.

Qiong Qi is driven away. BXL flirts with QG - “I’m a seductress, huh?” She steals his shawl to cover up her torn clothes.

BTW, make-up in these scenes - terrible. Being attacked by mystical creatures makes your hair fried like being hit by lightning.

[Ep9] 13:30 QG finds ZY again.
16:00 Goes to the summit to get the Jade Bone hairpin

20:30 At the summit, BXL and ZY fight for the Jade Bone thingy. With some secret help from Da Si Ming, BXL gets to it first. The ground implodes to become a volcano and she falls in. Qing Gang forgets the laws of gravity, dives for her and throws her back up. The CGI is ridiculous. It's decent in all the other scenes.

Accepting his fate and not reflecting on his life choices.

Everyone falls in the volcano because BXL refuses to let go of Jade Bone. Turns out to be an illusion. They are on top of the summit. ZY and BXL fight, Bai Xue Ying gets in the middle and is knocked back.

She looks like she is having too much fun dying.

ZY dives after BXY. Bai Xue Lu? She dives after the Jade Bone Thingy.

QG sees BXL falling: A *freaking* gain?!?

Qing Gang runs to save Bai Xue Lu.

Nice that drama color coded everyone for me.

They are all back at the Temple. Everyone has to stay for a month to compete for 1st disciple.

32:00 Qing Gang is actually here for a secret mission. Concubine Qing wants him to confirm that Shao Si Ming is the dead crown prince, Shi Ying.

[Ep10] 9:00 Shi Ying magically tattooed the words “foolish, reckless, mischievous” on Zhu Yan’s hand. Students making fun of ZY.

Qing Gang returns to his room and finds his stolen borrowed scarf on his bed. Earlier, BXL had said she washed it and will return it. He finds a leaf inside. Sweet guy is smitten.

Time to get my Cricut out.

Zhu Yan runs to class. Qing Gang and 2 other students have written the words “foolish, reckless, mischievous” on their clothes. She is impressed by his camaraderie. Zhu Yan falls asleep in class. Her punishment is to copy books.

22:40 QG asks CY to get him a strand of Priest’s hair, claiming it is to help him improve his magic. In return, he doesn't need to copy the books for her, just explain them. Story, explain to me how a princess never got basic education.

This Hi-5 would be cute if he weren’t being deceptive and if it didn’t look like she missed.

Wang ge says, “Hey. All he wants is to do a paternity test”.

Not going to lie, I can ship them together. She looks cute with her face smudged with ink and him studying with her.

[Ep11] 5:00 Zhu Yan got the hair and gave it to Qing Gang. She finally figures out something is amiss. She follows him and sees his magical DNA testing. She confronts him and goes to tell Priest.

11:00 Shi Ying finds Qing Gang. They fight. QG activates the Magpie Poison which is basically suicide. He is reluctant to hurt Priest, but this was his mission. Shi Ying sees this and takes the poison from his body. QG is shocked that SY saves him. Shi Ying also gives him a wooden sword. BXL watches all this (All-powerful beings can’t spot eavesdroppers). SY leaves, he is affected by the poison, which ZY detoxes later.

24:45 QC is by the waterfall. He sends a message by magical bird to Concubine Qing telling her that the paternity test failed. Our whimsical general thinks this is a good time for a celebratory bath.

QG: I don't think these existed back then.
Spud: What? <Feigns ignorance>

Poor guy was just splish-splashing in his own world when Bai Xue Lu showed up. He is completely defenseless as she ~~flirts~~ ~~interrogates~~ flirts him into silently confessing that the Priest is the Crown Prince.

Waterfall Douyin

30:30 Zhu Yan waits for Qing Gang. Priest suffered a lot to remove his poison. QG realizes Priest covered for him. Sincerely thanks Zhu Yan for being his friend.

They hold hands a lot for a platonic relationship.

[Ep12] 2:00 Class assignment, make flower bracelets that alerts you when distracted. Zhu Yan’s looks elementary, but Priest chooses it. Everyone is impressed by how focused Priest and Qing Gang are, until Bai Xue Lu completely distracts Qing Gang. Cute embarrassed guy runs away. https://weibo.com/6436652527/N8KpW2rW4

Chong Ming gives Priest something to avoid falling in love with Zhu Yan. Whoops, that something accomplishes this by turning him into a little white bear cat thing when she gets close to him.

I am ~~Xiao Zhan~~ Shi Ying

Preliminary scores read out, BXL in the lead with QG one point behind. She ain’t comfortable with this. Mid-term test coming soon.

21:30 Zhu Yan and Qing Gang are chatting by the waterfall about BXL probably being 1st since he doesn’t want the position. He compliments BXL and sympathizes with her. ZY: “You like her? Oh no, you’re a dead man.” He gives her a cake to snack on as he flashes back to why he thinks BXL is a sweet little thang.

This waterfall is a busy thoroughfare, Qing Gang, why did you think it was a good place for a bath? BXL

is chasing after him, sing-songing his name “General Qing Gang, General Qing Gang”. He keeps ignoring her but whips around when he hears her gasp in trouble. She smiles at tricking him. She was joking about the Crown Prince identity and would never reveal his secrets. She said she lied to him to find out his purpose to get to know him better.

QG shyly, “Why do you want to get to know me?”
BXL, “Because you’re my rival”.
QG, a bit crestfallen, “Oh, yes.”
BXL laughs, “I tricked you again. I just want to be your friend”.

She explains she has a competitive personality because people are envious of her beauty and that she is a concubine’s daughter. He sweetly tells her that as long as she is true to others, she will make friends. She apologizes and gives him cakes.

Back to Zhu Yan. “You mean these cakes???” QG, “I wanted you to taste her kindness.”

Yep, they were laced. Both pass out. They missed the mid-term exam. BXL is haughty in victory. In front of the class, she asks QG if he liked her and told him to know his place. Insert 🍵 and expletives. Zhu Yan zaps her, and is reprimanded by Priest for fighting.

Douyin video of how all that went down

These 3 cute dorks get drunk and commiserate. QG even affectionately calls ZY “Ai Yan”. I wish there were more scenes of The Musketeers. https://twitter.com/Grozkaza/status/1679027365358489600?s=19

There was a clearance sale on blush

With Zhu Yan and Bai Xue Ying stumbling and cheering him on, Qing Gang drunkenly shows off his sword moves…until he falls over with a bang. BXY has also passed out. Lightweights. Shi Ying comes across this mess when Zhu Yan taunts him to change into the cute bear cat thing. Suddenly, QG pops back up, points the sword at him, and mumbles "continue… With your dance". Bang! He passes out again. Hahaha. QG's dopey face contrasted with SY's surprised one. 😂

SY: I have seen demons less weird than you.

[Ep13] 20:30 Final Exam, big fight. Qing Gang recuses himself as expected. Don’t know why BXL looks at him. Spud still angry. ZY and BXL fight. BXL uses the special ice dagger that Da Si Ming gives her. But even with that advantage, ZY wins and knocks her in the water. Yeah!

Da Si Ming is mad at BXL for failing. This benefactor expels her. ZY stays to be 1st disciple.

[Ep14] 12:30 I feel like there must have been a deleted farewell scene with ZY. Qing Gang is traveling down the mountain with the Bai sisters. Xue Ying thanks him for taking care of them, they will part ways tomorrow. Xue Lu ignores him. Ice Queen ❄ here.

BXL goes out at night to practice magic. QG follows covertly but not hidden enough. She vents about her loss to ZY. QC says they don’t need to hate each other, she and ZY are similar. He pinpoints her weakness, she feels inferior to others because of concubine daughter’s identity. She lashes out. He knows her feelings because he is a concubine’s son. She cries that it’s not the same, her mother was a courtesan. She killed herself when BXL was 5 years old so that BXL could return to the White Clan instead of living in the courtesan house.

I think she fell in love with him here. But the lady still has blinders on.

She is genuinely surprised and touched that QG doesn’t look down on her, but is steadfast in her goal of being the realm's most powerful woman. The Bai sisters leave him in the morning without a goodbye. Sweet Bai Xue Ying heard everything and feels terrible for her sister, but big sis is like, “I am still going to steal your husband.” 🙄

Douyin recap their scenes till this episode

[Ep15] The Bai sisters are at the palace. Crown Prince Shi Yu sneaks Xue Ying out to have a date in the kitchen. 3rd couple are cute, but barely have any screen time.

13:30 Qing Gang is happy to see BXL. Not so fast dude, she is looking for Concubine Qing, her new benefactor. She sells out that Shao Si Ming is indeed the “dead” Crown Prince. She slyly mentions that Da Si Ming and Shao Si Ming are very persuasive and even Qing Gang had admired Shi Ying. 😡 Concubine Qing is pleased, and orders the guards to break up Shi Yu’s date.

17:30 QG has been waiting for BXL to come out. He pulls her over to talk and she tries her best distraction technique, flirting. “You are being physically intimate with me (holding her wrist) when we aren’t married, aren’t you afraid of gossip?”

Eh, you’re not special, he holds everyone’s hand.

He cuts to the chase, what did you tell Concubine Qing? She confirms his fears, she gave up Shi Ying’s identity. Everyone except Zhu Yan knows that he is the Crown Prince.

BXL: “This is who I am, you have known that long ago”.
QG: “No this isn't who you are. If you want to be successful, entering the palace isn’t your only pathway”
BXL: “You have misunderstood our relationship. You should worry about yourself. Concubine Qing knows you lied to her.”

Guards come to take Qing Gang away. He is being punished to kneel in front of the ancestors.
QG turns back to her, swoon worthy states, “I won’t give up on you.” She looks moved and guilty as hell.

She monologues, “Either Shi Ying or Shi Yu will be the Emperor and my partner. I am caught in the middle. Qing Gang, I know you are sincere to me, but you can only blame yourself for falling for the wrong person.”

26:40 BXL had her maid report on Qing Gang. Yeah, she was worried about him. He’s fine, kneeled for some days. Nonchalantly, BXL knew he wouldn’t be hurt because the Azure Clan needs his talent. She’s busy playing with her bird, which we see throughout the drama. Symbolism. BXL is the bird in the cage.

Qing Gang sent her a present, military strategy books. Aww, he is giving her the other pathway to be successful. She’s petulant, “I won’t look at them.”

Qing Gang gives the sweetest gifts

Shall we name this bird? He might be the new Mr. Rooster.

She was clever to pre-emptively tell Concubine Qing about Qing Gang. It protected him from a worse punishment when Concubine Qing would realized on her own.

Montage: Zhu Yan is studying magic with Shi Ying. Shi Yu and Xue Ying are happy in love playing dress up to meet up. BXL is lonely. She kept QG’s military books but still refuses to look at them.

Shi Yu and Xue Ying scenes (Weibo)

[Ep16 - 19]

2 long years pass by. No Qing Gang in these episodes, so BXL is more despicable. Obeying the orders of Concubine Qing, sets a trap for Shi Ying by forging ZY’s letters. Everything is ok because there is a kiss underwater.

BXL is rewarded with a marriage promise to Shi Yu. Their terrible father dotes on BXL now. He will flip flop a couple times in the drama, I can’t keep up.

ZY is told to go back home. Zhi Yuan’s plot is finally picking up. He’s so pitiful. ZY has to go on blind dates since princesses need to be married. She uses ZY Zhi Yuan as a buffer, saying she is in love with him. He flashes back to a memory, his 200 yr dead lover had a similar demeanor. He tells her about his love, as a merman, he is only able to love one person his lifetime. He can’t remember her face because she zapped his memory, telling him to await her reincarnation. Hearing him talk about love, ZY (hmph, just realized she has the same initials as Zhi Yuan which makes lazy recapper life more difficult) realizes her feelings for her Shi Fu are the same.

[Ep20] 3:30 Qing Gang returns! Roh-oh, Concubine Qing orders him to propose marriage to Zhu Yan. A political alliance is needed. Of course, he rushes to find Bai Xue Lu and tells her about this marriage deal. She can’t even look at him as she feigns a “Congrats!” Actually this scene is funny, everytime she is afraid she is going to reveal her true feelings she turns toward her bird (Mr. Goldfinch?).

QG: I heard you are going to marry Shi Yu
BXL talking to bird (Robin?): Yeah, are you here to offer congrats too?
QG: I am here to ask if you are truly accepting this marriage.
BXL: Royals have no choice in marriage.
Facing him: You and Zhu Yan are getting engaged, is it because you like her?
QG: *Grimace*
BXL: Qing Gang, you like me, is that right?
QG: You know?

Everybody knows, the bird (Big Bird's dwarf cousin?) knows too.

She tells him she doesn’t care for love, but for her interest. He should marry ZY since it may promote him to be king. He doesn’t care about that, he is here to ask her… She stops him before he can finish his sentence. I think she is afraid of her response if he actually was able to ask her to marry him. She tells him he should already know her answer. Back to the bird (Fowler?).

He understands. He tells her to take care of herself and leaves. She looks at him longingly. Internal monologue. “If there is a next life, I am not a Bai and you are not a Qing, perhaps we can be together...”

The king has his awesome moment. He tells Shi Yu to choose his wife, BXL or BXY? Shi Yu: “Uh, is this a trick?” He chooses BXY and King is elated that his son gets to be with the one he loves.

BXL is actually happy for her sister. But then sets her target at Shi Ying again. Two steps forward, 10 backwards with this one…

20:30. Qing Gang comes with proposal gifts to the Crimson family.

ZY: Fine, let’s get married.

QG: Sh*t.

ZY turns him towards her. “Can you imagine us as a lifetime together?”

I can! Spunky princess with simple cute general. Buddies in a marriage of convenience turning into love. Yep, that’s my rom com.

He laughs and thanks her for enlightening him. He will go back to Concubine Qing to refuse this marriage arrangement.

Shi Ying writes a marriage congratulations scroll for ZY and QG. She’s devastated.

[Ep21] 17:00 Concubine Qing tells BXL that she should be Shi Yu’s concubine. Ouch. Qing Gang comes to report that he refuses to marry Zhu Yan because he already has someone he loves. Concubine Qing wonders aloud who it is that Qing Gang loves.

BXL can make coal into diamonds with the tension she is feeling.

Trembling lips

QG protects her. He never names her. The person he loves, has no feelings for him, has her own aspirations and he wishes her the best. He resolutely refuses to give up his feelings, he prefers to be unmarried and lonely for the rest of his life.

BXL trying hard not to be touched. She and the audience fail.

Concubine Qing is about to strip QG of his general title when BXL slyly protects him by reminding her that there will be disruptions if he weren’t general. His talents are important. BXL started blaming Zhu Yan but then they were interrupted. Zhu Yan has accepted the proposal because of the pressure on her father. BXL doesn’t look happy about this either. Girl, make up your mind. Be a concubine in a loveless marriage or have this intensely devoted supportive man.

Some kind Twitter account cut this scene for me.
Douyin video, QG refusing to marry

ZY magically turns herself into Zhi Yuan’s lover to make him feel better. Yep, epic stoopid mess. Spellbound, he’s about to kiss her when her parents see them. He is beaten and kicked out of the family. Poor guy. I feel the most sorry for him in this drama.

[Ep22] Some other far away country wants to marry ZY for their prince (Ci Sha). Qing Gang is off the hook. Sweet fireworks moment with Shi Yu and Xue Ying.

38:00 ZY, QG, and BXY are about to get drunk again to say good-bye to ZY. It’s not as fun except for when BXY told ZY she should have married QG to be at least closer. Ha, his frightened stare. Eh, ZY is planning on being a runaway bride.

QG: BXY, don’t mess with me like that

ZY: You scurred him!

BXY: Fine. But you guys would be cute together.

[Ep23 - 25]

ZY conjures up a robotic look-alike to fake being eaten by a monster. We circle back to the 1st episode. Ci Sha’s mom is evil. He commits suicide to atone for her deeds. At least he gets to be pretty and not annoying in this drama.

Limited character.

I wonder if part of those braids are his real long hair.

There’s also a Merfolk concubine and young boy that ZY rescues. This young boy is actually the Sea Emperor aka ultimate plot device. Mama mermaid dies. Someone is capturing all the Merfolk and gouging out their eyes. Zhi Yuan and SY team up.

[Ep26] 31:30 QG talks to BXL. He mentions that things have been chaotic and he is worried about her. There is some war going on, I am lost about who is fighting who. Big Kingdom fighting Merfolk because Merfolk dares not to be oppressed anymore. She has gotten back into Da Si Ming’s graces and plans on marrying Shi Ying. She cautions him that if he fights with her brother, he won’t stop till he wins. “If he offers you a toast, you better not touch a drop”. Sounds like a lovely guy. Yes, she’s protecting him again.

[Ep27] There’s a pretty new character, Zhi Yuan’s sister, Ruyi (Wang Yi Hao). I am glad he gets someone that cares for him.

[Ep28] Zhi Yuan saves the boy Sea Emperor. He pretends to be the Sea Emperor when confronted by SY.

6:30 QG flies down from trees to meet with SY and Chong Ming. I like his general gear. He is after the Merfolk army. He tells SY that Shi Yu is commanding the army and misses him. SY goes back to QG’s base. There’s a strange illness making the soldiers weak.

Looks like Little Goldfish but can fight.

It’s cute how happy Shi Yu is to see Shi Ying.

SY gives QG a prescription for the soldiers. He reluctantly informs SY that there are rumors of ZY eloping with SY. Concubine Qing heard these rumors and summoned ZY to the palace. And that’s it for QG. See you in a few episodes.

ZY is beaten for some reason.

[Ep29] Little Sea Emperor is sick and a traumatized brat. He runs off and is captured by Bai Fenglin, the Bai sisters’ oldest brother. This actor is either really good at making me hate him on sight or really bad because I hate his 2D acting. But now we know the girls take after their mothers, the son takes after the despicable father.

Smell his arrogance

SY is at the palace court. He’s arguing about something with the other officials in front of the Emperor. He said he found the reason for the strange illness in the army. They touched this Ice Clan sword. Plot is dull but made me realize QG’s scenes from this story were cut.

[Ep30] SY sees Gallen Lo (Lo Ka-Leung). At least, I think this is Gallen Lo. 60 years old. He’s some ancient emperor taken over by the Black Smokey Monster because he is still hung up on his lover.

‘90s Heartthrob

10:00 QG makes a cameo. He’s arguing with the slimy Bai Fenglin. Slimeball wants to torture some Merfolk. QG protects them.

There’s a lantern festival, hand-holding, and some romance with SY and ZY. BTW, I haven’t mentioned before, every Emperor must marry an empress from the Bai Clan. That’s another obstacle for Crimson ZY.

[Ep31] Concubine Qing tried to poison SY. This stepmother relationship ain’t good.

15:00 Another Qing Gang cameo! Discussing military strategy with SY and Bai Fenglin. Bai Fenglin laughs like a mocking arse, SY zaps him with Merfolk magic. QG snarks, “You said you know Merfolk, but you don’t even know that this is their technique?".

Hee. I like when he is mean to jerks.

Everyone is staying at the Bai Residence. ZY looks for SY, he is in the study. Da Si Ming brings her there to witness BXL bringing him dessert looking like a perfect couple. ZY leaves in jealousy.

21:00 Poor QG is in the background there too. SY cold shoulders BXL and runs after ZY. QG feels bad for BXL and cheerfully says he’s hungry and will eat those cookies. She grabs them away from him. I think this is probably the meanest thing she’s done to him thus far. Do not come between a man and his pastries. Jokes aside, fair warning, she is going to do much worse later on.

Are you sure you want this? Have you not been sleeping well?

Ice queen doesn’t want his help. He can’t bear to see her stoop like this. Broken record, she’s not giving up.

BXL schemes with Da Si Ming. “I will give up everything to be Empress. Including my feelings.” Interesting, you have feelings?

More shameless BXL antics. Zhu Yan is sad.

[Ep32] Shi Yu and Bai Xue Ying elope. These young ones were the smartest of the bunch. Get out of this crazy world.

I don’t remember this scene. Might have been deleted. Shame, since it looks like BXL is supporting her sister.

Zhi Yuan is the leader of the Merfolk. He wants to lead them back to the Sea to stop these wars.

38:30 Qing Gang and Bai Fenglin ride into the Merfolk camp. Merfolk have escaped. QG finds a note that some Big Kingdom traitor wrote to give away their army’s movements.

Big traitor finds his little sister reading a sweet General’s military strategy books. He uses her mother’s memorial tablet to threaten her to steal back the note from Qing Gang.

BXL: Romance novels are not as good as “The Art of War”

[Ep33]

XHS cut:

02:00 Ugh, Bai Xue Lu goes to Qing Gang’s room. He hides the paper under a mat on his desk. He compliments her by saying she can be a military heroine like Zhu Yan. Pouty BXL pretends to be jealous of Zhu Yan. She has been thinking about what he told her before about studying war books and wants him to explain military stuff to her. They go over to the desk and he expertly shows off his fancy maps. Blinding lights, weird music.

She has been thinking about the night they moon gazed together (another deleted scene?). She asks him if she can really choose another path and if he didn’t mind her previous mistakes. Of course he will always support her. She tells him to close his eyes.

The only time Wang ge deployed his eyebrows in this drama.

High beam lights shine in our eyes as she slowly tiptoes to kiss him. She smiles shyly and in a daze, he cups her face with his hand, and passionately kisses her back. Spud looks up class action lawsuit for drama-induced photosensitivity. Ink brushes are knocked off the desk. She sneaks the secret paper away. I am so angry that this moment is ruined this way.

Qing Gang can’t believe this is happening. Dude, we are with you there. Adoringly, “Xue Lu, you’re beautiful”. Our seductress looks guilty.

He was so right about her during the Qiong Qi scene.

Before she leaves, Qing Gang puts in her hand his family Jade heirloom pendant. “If I encounter danger on the battlefield, I hope the last owner is you.” Her heart swells. “When the war is over, I will go to your father and ask to marry you.” If I weren’t mad at her, I would worry that she may have cardiomyopathy from this.

Douyin kiss video

QG meets up with SY and Bai Fenglin for military strategizing. BFL is being his usual arse self but then becomes even creepier when he sees SY’s drawing of Ruyi. Ruyi is the helper of the Sea Emperor (Zhi Yuan) and SY wants to find her to catch him.

Bai Fenglin catches Ruyi and tortures her. ZY wants to find SY to mitigate the fight between him and Ruyi/Zhi Yuan. She goes to BXL to ask SY’s location. 31:00 Guilty lady is staring at Qing Gang’s Jade pendant. “You are so silly. Would you give this to me if you knew I duped you?”

Eaten by conscience monster

BXL actually helps ZY because she remembers how Qing Gang says BXL can be a heroine like Zhu Yan. She’s finally letting him be her moral compass.

More wrist holding.

SY wants to kill Zhi Yuan because there is a prophecy that the Sea Emperor will rise up X years later and destroy Big Kingdom. Zhu Yan blocks him and declares she loves Zhi Yuan.

[Ep34] Can’t miss episode.

XHS cut

SY ends his master/disciple relationship with ZY to protect her from Da Si Ming. She kneels all night in the rain. Ren Min had to cry so dang much in this drama. BXL is kind to her in the morning and gets her to go home.

31:00 BXL inspects fancy ingredients to cook for Shi Ying. Her maid is like, “why bother, he won’t eat it”. BXL states she will never. give. up. Somewhere Elsa is crying.

“Never give up, huh? So you were lying to me.” Qing Gang comes in fuming mad. The kind of mad where it’s calm on the surface but you know it’s deep down explosive. Yes!

She dismisses the maids, closes the door, and saunters with her flirty voice. Nope not going to work. Did she take his important document? He knows Bai Fenglin sent her to him. He gives her another chance to confess. She denies once again. Disappointment. Resignation. Betrayal. He tells her that the document was just a copy. He will go to SY with the real one later.

Alarmed, she gasps, “Don’t do it!”.

Ooh, look at our simple general tricking her into a confession. He is a military genius.

He rips off his necklace. Our romantic guy made that leaf that was nested in his shawl into a love trinket.

“This Leaf of Love has trapped me till today. It was a sweet experience for me. However, I have a bottom line. You manipulated me time and time again. I don’t blame you, I was willing. But that was between you and me. However, since you chose to help a traitor, I was wrong about you. From today, I can no longer keep you company”.

Tears are streaming down her face. “Please don’t do it”. He finally quits her, destroys the leaf necklace and asks for his Jade Pendant back.

She’s petulant in her heartbreak, “Who cares about your jade pendant? I threw it away long ago.”

He cautions her before he leaves, “Princess Xue Lu, no matter the reason, treason is a heinous crime”.

She is devastated. Trashes everything on the ground including her birdcage and Tweety (👍?). Sobs while gripping his Jade Pendant. 😭

I cheered for him and cried for her. Great acting from both. Angsty story.

Douyin of the kiss and that scene.

BTS of crying scene: Weibo & Twitter. (Poor WCR looked like she needed a minute to pull herself out of character. Nice work!)

Qing Gang and Bai ~~Fungi~~ Fanglin are sparring with words. Traitor wanted to prolong the war to score more merits. Actually quite realistic $$$ in today's world too. When he leaves, the evil guy tells his approaching sister that they need to eliminate QG. She meekly questions him. Is she going to be strong enough to stand up to her brother?

[Ep35] Best Episode!

XHS cuts: [1], [2], [3]

5:15 War strategizing. Yawn. SY really believes in prophesies now. Wants to kill Sea Emperor but is okay allowing his people to go back to the sea.

Zhi Yuan & ZY. She is going to help him evacuate his people, he will lure SY to another location and he promises to meet up with her after. He’s lying. He plans that this will be a suicide mission to protect the real Sea Emperor.

ZY magically disguises herself as a Merman to help lead the evacuation. Whoops, everyone knows she is fake because she picked a dead Merman. Eh, they don’t care.

11:30 Qing Gang and Bai Feckless ride into battle with the Merfolk. Zhu-Mer claims to be the Sea Emperor. QG flies off his horse to fight her. He tells her to take him hostage in order to allow the Merfolk to escape.

I don’t think Zhu-Mer has a good grip on that sword

Bai Turncoat sees his chance. He orders his archers to be ready, General Qing Gang is willing to sacrifice himself to die with the Sea Emperor. Eek! Will our adorable general be shish-kabobed?

Awesomeness happens! Bai Xue Lu stops her brother and threatens him to withdraw or else she will tell all his secrets now. She counts down like a boss.

QG: What?!? She does care for me?

Tense moment. Zhu-Mer retreats QG backwards down the bridge. Bai Xue Lu looks on with worry as QG locks eyes with her.

QG allows the Merfolk to escape but he fights with Zhu-Mer because he can’t allow the “Sea Emperor” to escape. She reveals her identity. He no longer goes after her and stops Bai Snake-eyes from chasing her.

QG: Zhu Yan? I didn’t recognize you with that eyeshadow.

Stare down. No chemistry here.

Chong Ming breaks up the fight.

SY kills fake Sea Emperor Zhi Yuan. Zhu Yan is a sobbing mess as he dissipates. She vents her anger at SY who pushes the sword she is holding into himself. He dies too. More tears. Da Si Ming is infuriated and devastated.

Alen Fang posted that “Brother really killed the wrong fish”. LOL

38:00 Bai House. Father of the year orders his daughter to prostitute herself to Shi Ying to be Empress. Just a minor inconvenience to protect her brother and the Bai family. Can’t she use the same tricks as her mother? She refuses. Qing Gang hears everything.

Big Bai Scumbag, applying pressure, “Will you marry Shi Ying or not?”
Qing Gang loudly declares, “She will not!”

Music and my heart swells.

Surprised, relieved, and elated to see him.

QG: Right back at ya.

BFL scoffs that his sister's marriage is none of his business.
QG: “Of course, it does. Xue Lu and I have promised ourselves to each other.”

BFL is no more than 5 years old. “Prove it!”
QG gives him a WZQ trademarked smirk. “Xue Lu, I gave you my family heirloom jade. I know you always carry it with you.”

He knows her so well.

Their music is really kicking in. QG reaches out his hand and asks her to come with him.

Will she risk everything and give up her life’s obsession for him?

YES!!!

Screenshots are blurry. I need to Gif this.

Hand in hand they barge out of Bai House. Brother chases after them. Epic fight scene ensues.

Power couple moment #1.

Qing Gang fights with BFL. Uh oh, he’s no match for the Bai family’s strongest weapon, the Mood Blade. His neck gets sliced. The mood blade comes barreling down at his head. Suddenly it stops. Bai Xue Lu has controlled the Moon Blade! Does this mean she is the strongest Bai?

Yep!

She knocks her brother away and saves her guy. Wow!

Pure admiration and adoration of each other

Her father demands, “Why didn’t you tell me that you have achieved this level of magic?!?”.

Boss BXL: Same reason I didn’t tell you about General Qing Gang and me. You don’t deserve to know.

Elopement Douyin

QG: What neck wound? I don’t feel anything but joy.

Get-away carriage. BXL is tending to Qing Gang’s neck wound. She can’t stop smiling at him and I can’t stop smiling at them. QG is in awe that her magic has become better than her brother. She never stopped practicing, but it was only when she saw him in danger that she was able to harness her power. So cheesy. Love it. Give me more!!! His love has redeemed her and made her better in every way. She naturally says “we” and QG looks like he won the lottery. So many sweet smiles. He says her family won’t let them go this easily, they need to travel to SY’s mountain to ask for help. She will come with him. She will always be with him now.

Such bliss

Shi Ying is busy being dead right now. Da Si Ming, Chong Ming and Zhu Yan think of ways to save him.

1:10:00 Didn’t realize that this was an extended episode. It’s been so goooood.

Our couple is eating at a street stall. Or rather, QG is piling Xue Lu’s bowl with food. “Try this”. He’s such a foodie. Another reason to love him.

Stall owner can’t stand all this sugar either. “Your husband is so thoughtful. You are a lucky woman.”

BXL says they haven’t had a wedding ceremony yet. Stall lady knows how to work for tips, tells QG that he needs to try harder or else someone will snatch this gentle girl away from him. He smiles and says he hopes to marry her soon too.

BXL: “Who says I am going to marry you?”

QG gives a confident knowing smile. He keeps giving her more food. He knows that she was forced into saying yes that day, but everyone in the kingdom now knows they have eloped.

QG: Xue Lu, I will never let you down.

Melting. Xue Lu, me, the whole screen melts.

Soldiers come to attack them. QG holds her hand as she flies up away from the arrows. Gorgeous shot.

Power Couple Moment #2

She jumps ahead and kicks butt. “How dare you touch my guy!”. Thank you, show, I asked for this mozzarella. She is distracted by an arrow that cuts her hand. QG fly kicks a guy away. BXL then Moon Blades the rest. She saves QG by grabbing an arrow mid-air and flinging it back.

Beauty saves Hero.

Funny food stall lady compliments BXL for being a fierce heroine. "You're a lucky guy". Concerned QG tenderly wraps up her injured hand.

QG: “When you are fighting and when you are eating are like 2 different people. You scared me.”
BXL laughs. Coquettishly, “Which one do you prefer? The gentle one or the fierce one?”

Holding both of her hands, he gazes at her. “I like them all. As long as it is you.”

She is so shy! She can’t even look at him. Diabetes.

***I had a link to these fight scenes, but the video was deleted. This one is pretty good. But really, I think this deserves to be watched in the show.***
https://b23.tv/amQRaPa

[Ep36] Our couple isn’t in this. ZY has revived SY but he needs to be amnesiac for 3 days before being back to his normal perfect self. She will lose all her 5 senses and half her lifetime for saving him.

[Ep37] Zhu Yan. Anosmia. Tasteless. No touch perception. Deaf and blind. She leaves SY so he doesn’t see her pitiful state and brings him more prophesy danger.

23:40 BXL and QG saves ZY. BXL knows acupuncture? I think this is too much random perfection. They each use their clan’s ancestral objects, Mood Blade and Jade Pendant, to restore ZY’s vision and hearing.

BXL: I already have the Azure Clan’s most precious object (him), I don’t need anything else. Insulin, STAT.

Power Couple Moment #3

QG & BXL save ZY (Douyin)

SY is back to normal. He realizes ZY’s sacrifice and wants to look for her. Da Si Ming won’t force him to do anything anymore, he just wants his adopted son happy.

[Ep38] 2:00 ZY wakes up. She is glad that QG and BXL found their way to each other. A friendship is born. Nice, we needed some sisterhood.

Royal decree comes. Concubine Qing committed suicide when her crimes were revealed. Azure King was demoted. Qing Gang has been promoted to Azure King.

Thankfully, I was wrong about the ex-Azure King being his father. (See comment)

SY is giving up his priesthood but he needs to pass punishment first. ZY runs back to him. Torture happens. Ice Clan takes advantage of this opportunity to attack them. Da Si Ming dies protecting everyone.

37:00 Da Si Ming funeral. Our couple bids farewell to SY & ZY.

Shi Yu and Bai Xue Ying secretly return so that he can burn incense to Concubine Qing's memorial tablet. King Dad sees them and embraces him.

41:10 QG and BXL are walking in the forest (Did this drama have no budget for horses too? See comment) discussing why he didn't tell Shi Ying about her traitorous brother. QG didn't want to add more burden to his plate. They will head back to the capital for his Azure King coronation and tell the king about BFL.

[Ep39]16:50 Palace. King imprisons BFL and he will be sentenced to death later. White King is demoted to a commoner. When the King calls BXL’s name, she kneels awaiting her fate. QG defends her and asks that if she were punished, he would take her place.

King looks amused. “Are you willing to be demoted and imprisoned in her place?”

King deals out her judgment. She will be White Queen. Aww, this King has a soft spot for young lovers. He also allows her to bring her mother’s memorial tablet back to the White Palace. So happy for her!

BFL couldn’t die alone. He implicates the Crimson Clan for housing Sea Emperor Zhi Yuan. 🤬

SY and ZY are officially together. He tells her to stop calling him "Shi Fu"

Zhi Yuan is resurrected by the Dragon God. I am actually not enjoying this development. SY and ZY² try to send off little Sea Emperor and Ruyi (who BTW has permanent amnesia unlike SY's temporary one) back to the Sea. Black Smoke Monster appears. He and his digitized voice is the ultimate big bad villain. He takes over Zhi Yuan's body.

🙄 This episode is also extra long.

Smokey ZY knocks out SY (I forgot why he didn't kill him) and kidnaps ZY to make her into Yao Yi (200 years ago doppelganger great-grandmother lover)

[Ep40] Another extended episode

Drama kills off all the old people - Zhu Yan's mom and dad (Thanks, Bai F*ckling). King dies too. Shi Yu is emperor. SY and ZY get married. She leaves the wedding bed the next morning to go after Smokey Zhi Yuan (was it that bad? 🙃)

30:50 Everyone is together military strategizing how to fight the Smoke Enhanced Ice Clan. QG and BXL are deployed to lead the fight. But we don't get to see the battle!

Power Couple Moment #4
QG gets a gold hairpiece now that he is Azure King

We should have had this Power Couple Moment instead.
Them together in battle was deleted.

Final fight. SY and ZY fight Smokey Zhi Yuan. Finale is undetermined until Zhi Yuan was able to overcome Black Smoke Monster's compulsion making him lose focus. Zhi Yuan apologizes to Zhu Yan and dies. Black Smoke Monster possesses Zhu Yan. Shi Ying sucks Smokey into himself with a teary kiss as they spin around in the air.

Warning: do not take a beverage break now…

Smokey Zhi Yuan, Zhu Yan, & Shi Ying… 👀

Smokey controls Shi Ying now! In between lucidity, Shi Ying tells Zhu Yan to kill him with the Jade Bone Hairpin, he will visit her annually when their flower blooms. Tears. She stabs his shoulder and he dissipates into pink petals.

1:13:00 One year later. QG and BXL come to Emperor Shi Yu. QG resigns from his Azure King position because he's tired of being in a long distance marriage with Queen Bai. Aww, he's going to be a house husband. And damn, we didn't get to see their wedding either. They play with Shi Yu and Xue Ying's baby.

You guys know how I feel about WZQ and babies.

Zhu Yan is back to the flower tree where she first met Shi Ying. Tears in her eyes, she laments that she has kept her promises but he hasn't even appeared in her dreams. As she walks away, their flower blooms. Slowly turns around as he appears. They stare at each other and COVID precaution till the ending credits.

The end. Do all Xianxias end this way?

Remarks

by Potato Chip

[Behind the Scenes]

Qing Gang and Bai Xue Lu (Douyin)
Alen Fang (Twitter)
Karaoke with Han Dong and Zeng Li (Twitter)
Xian Zhan and Ren Min singing (Twitter)

[Review & Rating]

July 26, 2023

The Longest Promise | Recap and Review

Preface

Weecaps

Remarks

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