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extrapenguinI spent most of these headdesking at how petty, spiteful, and dumb Minister Xun and the Empress could be. Yuanqi essentially blackmailed Xun into cooperating, then opened Pingjing and Tingsheng's letters to show to Minister Xun. Neither of them was willing to put aside their one-sided faction fight for long enough to realize that Da Yu was invading. Then they pass a decree that, literally taken, states that Pingjing should just sit back and let Da Yu invade. You put him in a lose-lose situation, Minister Xun, why are you surprised he'd do what's right – and then continue with doing what's right by going to Jinling to face justice?
Pingjing is excellent at warfare. The whole battle against Da Yu was essentially competence porn, and scheduling it during the eclipse was A+ use of the environment. Leaving Prince Kang alive to make Ruan Ying's life harder was a good ploy. (Meanwhile, Minister Xun was like "if I had an army, I'd totally pull a Chiyan" while getting offended about the fact that military tactics exist.)
Pingjing did spot the altered seal. Maybe one day they'll realize Yuanqi isn't trustworthy. Yuanqi did some staring at Xun Anru, which feels like the show will go into the Yuanqi/Anru place. Not sure if DNW or if this'll mean Yuanqi's relations with the Xun clan get more complicated.
Feizhan's been quite the MVP here. He hinted at the scheming to Tingsheng, who then outright said that he knew Xun was scheming. At the realization that Tingsheng trusted him, Feizhan almost cried. Then the anti-faction speech from Tingsheng where Feizhan actually was crying and they were holding hands... (Why do I want Tingsheng/Feizhan daddykink?) Feizhan going from trying to stay out of his family's schemes to outright opposing them because honor was catnip for my id. The part where he revealed to Yuanshi the corruption of the person who forwarded the appeals for and against Pingjing was very much a "fuck you" to the Empress and also extremely necessary for Yuanshi's sake. "Take care, Your Majesty, not everyone is on your side." Feizhan's confrontation with Minister Xun – the man who raised him – about honor, and loyalty, and not judging people for crimes they have yet to commit, and not being a fucking idiot who endangers the border regions – was also a significant point in his narrative arc. He's also been a walking reaction gif:
Minister Xun didn't even deliver the decree in the end, which was idiotic and also a colossal failing on his part. He also looks vaguely annoyed whenever his sister opens her mouth, which is fair, as she isn't the sharpest knife in the kitchen and tends to colossally overplay her hand.
Pingjing's sendoff at the military camp was heartwrenching. All these people, showcasing their loyalty and trust. His conversation with Tingsheng, as well – the "I'm proud of you" was simultaneously a tear jerker, a gut punch, and the sweetest thing ever. Then Minister Xun sends some goons over to toss Pingjing into prison, but thankfully, Meng Qianxue has found Langya Daycare adequate and has returned to Jinling to have fun while Ce'er is safe elsewhere! The scene at the gates where she refuses to let anyone in to read the decree and refuses to accept the decree as it's not for her, and the goons all going No, YOU deal with this! was hilarious.
The entire scene in court in ep 36 was one long awesome moment. Pingjing's appeal that he did all of it for Da Liang and the border citizens – 10 years of peace! – and all of Tingsheng's interruptions of other ministers trying to escalate the charges, Tingsheng's delivery of the advice to Yuanshi, Tingsheng's appeal to the ministers that they should look after all the citizens, all of it. That was excellent. Yuanshi cried a bit, and I do not blame him.
Then, finally, Yuanshi stood up to his mom a bit.
Pingjing is excellent at warfare. The whole battle against Da Yu was essentially competence porn, and scheduling it during the eclipse was A+ use of the environment. Leaving Prince Kang alive to make Ruan Ying's life harder was a good ploy. (Meanwhile, Minister Xun was like "if I had an army, I'd totally pull a Chiyan" while getting offended about the fact that military tactics exist.)
Pingjing did spot the altered seal. Maybe one day they'll realize Yuanqi isn't trustworthy. Yuanqi did some staring at Xun Anru, which feels like the show will go into the Yuanqi/Anru place. Not sure if DNW or if this'll mean Yuanqi's relations with the Xun clan get more complicated.
Feizhan's been quite the MVP here. He hinted at the scheming to Tingsheng, who then outright said that he knew Xun was scheming. At the realization that Tingsheng trusted him, Feizhan almost cried. Then the anti-faction speech from Tingsheng where Feizhan actually was crying and they were holding hands... (Why do I want Tingsheng/Feizhan daddykink?) Feizhan going from trying to stay out of his family's schemes to outright opposing them because honor was catnip for my id. The part where he revealed to Yuanshi the corruption of the person who forwarded the appeals for and against Pingjing was very much a "fuck you" to the Empress and also extremely necessary for Yuanshi's sake. "Take care, Your Majesty, not everyone is on your side." Feizhan's confrontation with Minister Xun – the man who raised him – about honor, and loyalty, and not judging people for crimes they have yet to commit, and not being a fucking idiot who endangers the border regions – was also a significant point in his narrative arc. He's also been a walking reaction gif:
Minister Xun didn't even deliver the decree in the end, which was idiotic and also a colossal failing on his part. He also looks vaguely annoyed whenever his sister opens her mouth, which is fair, as she isn't the sharpest knife in the kitchen and tends to colossally overplay her hand.
Pingjing's sendoff at the military camp was heartwrenching. All these people, showcasing their loyalty and trust. His conversation with Tingsheng, as well – the "I'm proud of you" was simultaneously a tear jerker, a gut punch, and the sweetest thing ever. Then Minister Xun sends some goons over to toss Pingjing into prison, but thankfully, Meng Qianxue has found Langya Daycare adequate and has returned to Jinling to have fun while Ce'er is safe elsewhere! The scene at the gates where she refuses to let anyone in to read the decree and refuses to accept the decree as it's not for her, and the goons all going No, YOU deal with this! was hilarious.
The entire scene in court in ep 36 was one long awesome moment. Pingjing's appeal that he did all of it for Da Liang and the border citizens – 10 years of peace! – and all of Tingsheng's interruptions of other ministers trying to escalate the charges, Tingsheng's delivery of the advice to Yuanshi, Tingsheng's appeal to the ministers that they should look after all the citizens, all of it. That was excellent. Yuanshi cried a bit, and I do not blame him.
Then, finally, Yuanshi stood up to his mom a bit.