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extrapenguinEverything happens so much.
Northern Yan: Chonghua got to be relevant to the plot – by using Pingjing's sword as a tool to assassinate Prince Hui. That ... is not quite what I wished for, show. I loved the martial arts dorks Feizhan and Tuoba Yu being all excite at getting to trade some moves. The spinning in the Chonghua-Pingjing duel was borderline ridiculous, but all three duels – Feizhan-Tuoba Yu, Chonghua-Pingjing, and Pingjing-Tuoba Yu – were aesthetically pleasing. The way that Pingjing and Pingzhang just decided to demonstrate to Tuoba Yu exactly what happened was excellently played. Also, Pingzhang's a total drama addict, with the catching the sword-bit on the hilt. Convincing Tuoba Yu to take up Prince Hui's cause and unite Yan was touching, as was Pingzhang's continuous denfense of Pingjing and Pingjing's future.
Yuanqi took Mozi's advice and looked into Puyang Ying's operation. Well done, even if Puyang caught him. Too bad Puyang is very, very good at manipulating people's grief and fear. Just like the Empress. On the one hand, she really should've said no. On the other, she's essentially isolated, with her fate depending on her son, and this guy came to exploit her. I expect that with Puyang running out of town, she might be deposed, unless her brother burns some serious karma to keep her involvement unknown. (Though honestly, Puyang gives the air of a used car salesman. How on Earth did anyone end up trusting him?)
Remember Lu Yuan, the eldest of the three kids Mei Changsu nabbed from the Servants' Prison? Apparently he's Pingzhang's biodad. He conspired with Prince Laiyang, then had a change of heart and told Tingsheng what he'd done and committed suicide. Tingsheng brought Pingzhang to Lu Yuan's unmarked grave for a good cry and also the sweetest father-son conversation ever. I honestly cannot with Changlin Manor.
Mu Qing (Old Prince Mu) died a month before ep 18. RIP. Uncle Tai, the guy taking care of Yuanqi, is being very good and caring – if only Yuanqi were less involved in plotting and actually let him fuss a bit. We also know it's 9 years from Jingyan's death, so a lot of the young'uns remember him at least somewhat – Pingjing is now 21, so he was about 12 when it happened. Pingzhang older – so wait, Jingyan knew that Tingsheng adopted him, but does the current Emperor know Pingzhang is adopted?
I suspect the Nether Fire thing is a skill of Puyang's sect. The poisoned blade given to the Empress's chief maid is alarming. It probably won't be used against Yuanshi or the Empress, since they have positive views on Puyang, but the Emperor... (Unless he wants to eliminate the Empress as well?) Disciple is foreshadowed to kick the bucket in some self-sacrificing way. Bye, Disciple. Let's hope you end up on the side of the good guys for your deed.
The plague is ominous and threatening, and an interesting enemy. I loved Lin Xi's resoluteness and the way she just went and did her duty despite Pingjing wanting her to go be safe. She even recruited Pingjing as a messenger and thus prevented some of the more dreadful outcomes! The scenes where the doctors and assorted staff are taking care of the patients in Jinling is heartwarming. And Pingjing helps because of course he does.
Minister Xun seems to be getting better. He's recovered his backbone by first voicing his objections to Puyang,
then the scenes where he first finds out Governor Li and rages at the Empress, and those scenes at the end, where he and the Cabinet and Pingzhang seal the city... <3 Damn. I love responsibility.
Northern Yan: Chonghua got to be relevant to the plot – by using Pingjing's sword as a tool to assassinate Prince Hui. That ... is not quite what I wished for, show. I loved the martial arts dorks Feizhan and Tuoba Yu being all excite at getting to trade some moves. The spinning in the Chonghua-Pingjing duel was borderline ridiculous, but all three duels – Feizhan-Tuoba Yu, Chonghua-Pingjing, and Pingjing-Tuoba Yu – were aesthetically pleasing. The way that Pingjing and Pingzhang just decided to demonstrate to Tuoba Yu exactly what happened was excellently played. Also, Pingzhang's a total drama addict, with the catching the sword-bit on the hilt. Convincing Tuoba Yu to take up Prince Hui's cause and unite Yan was touching, as was Pingzhang's continuous denfense of Pingjing and Pingjing's future.
Yuanqi took Mozi's advice and looked into Puyang Ying's operation. Well done, even if Puyang caught him. Too bad Puyang is very, very good at manipulating people's grief and fear. Just like the Empress. On the one hand, she really should've said no. On the other, she's essentially isolated, with her fate depending on her son, and this guy came to exploit her. I expect that with Puyang running out of town, she might be deposed, unless her brother burns some serious karma to keep her involvement unknown. (Though honestly, Puyang gives the air of a used car salesman. How on Earth did anyone end up trusting him?)
Remember Lu Yuan, the eldest of the three kids Mei Changsu nabbed from the Servants' Prison? Apparently he's Pingzhang's biodad. He conspired with Prince Laiyang, then had a change of heart and told Tingsheng what he'd done and committed suicide. Tingsheng brought Pingzhang to Lu Yuan's unmarked grave for a good cry and also the sweetest father-son conversation ever. I honestly cannot with Changlin Manor.
Mu Qing (Old Prince Mu) died a month before ep 18. RIP. Uncle Tai, the guy taking care of Yuanqi, is being very good and caring – if only Yuanqi were less involved in plotting and actually let him fuss a bit. We also know it's 9 years from Jingyan's death, so a lot of the young'uns remember him at least somewhat – Pingjing is now 21, so he was about 12 when it happened. Pingzhang older – so wait, Jingyan knew that Tingsheng adopted him, but does the current Emperor know Pingzhang is adopted?
I suspect the Nether Fire thing is a skill of Puyang's sect. The poisoned blade given to the Empress's chief maid is alarming. It probably won't be used against Yuanshi or the Empress, since they have positive views on Puyang, but the Emperor... (Unless he wants to eliminate the Empress as well?) Disciple is foreshadowed to kick the bucket in some self-sacrificing way. Bye, Disciple. Let's hope you end up on the side of the good guys for your deed.
The plague is ominous and threatening, and an interesting enemy. I loved Lin Xi's resoluteness and the way she just went and did her duty despite Pingjing wanting her to go be safe. She even recruited Pingjing as a messenger and thus prevented some of the more dreadful outcomes! The scenes where the doctors and assorted staff are taking care of the patients in Jinling is heartwarming. And Pingjing helps because of course he does.
Minister Xun seems to be getting better. He's recovered his backbone by first voicing his objections to Puyang,
then the scenes where he first finds out Governor Li and rages at the Empress, and those scenes at the end, where he and the Cabinet and Pingzhang seal the city... <3 Damn. I love responsibility.