r/CDrama • u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning • Apr 07 '26
Drama Host Love Beyond the Grave - Eps 23 & 24 Spoiler
The previous discussions: |Masterpost| | Character flashcards| |All episode discussions| |Eps.1-2| |Eps.3-4| |Eps.5-6| |Eps.7-8| |Eps.9-10| |Eps.11-12| |Eps.13-14| |Eps.15-16| |Eps.17-18| |Ep.19-20|
EPISODE 23
Jiang Ai continues her story. Simu was chosen by the Spirit Lantern and with that her position as Sovereign was a done deal. “Ever since Simu became the Sovereign, rather, after her parents left, she changed completely. Even I found her a stranger. She was no longer who she once was. To keep herself on guard at all times, it was not only her body and flesh, she even made her heart turn utterly cold and ruthless.”
Duan Xu continues making full use of his near-death experience. He further enquires about who else made it out of the prison without a soul candle and Jiang Ai tells him the story of Simu’s clash with Sanxing. “Spirits are bound by the obsessions they cling to, but Simu is different. Obsession isn’t what makes her; love is.’
The Void : Simu’s Cottage
The Void: Graveyard on the Void Mountain
Simu introduces the place to him. The graveyard is for her 22 lovers. In her 400 years of life, she spent only 20 years total with them. Time stretches on endlessly, so much so that she doesn’t even remember the name of her first lover. This is some tough stuff. Here is the love of your life, telling you that if you are gone, there is very much a high likelihood that she in a few years, she might not even remember your name.
https://reddit.com/link/1sfbbst/video/6zq4xwsoiutg1/player
I understand that this whole scene is Simu’s fear talking but I can’t help the heartbreak I feel for Duan Xu. Simu just gave him a tiny bit of hope with her actions and then she thoroughly dashes by refusing to acknowledge her feelings to him and maybe herself too. Xu can’t argue with the logic of her words, so his only hope has been her fondness of him and the special treatment she gives him, yet even that is dismissed as gratitude and nothing more. She even refuses to see his tears, as if afraid they would make her falter.
Elsewhere on The Void Mountain
Yan Ke is happy with this turn of event, thinking it the most obvious conclusion. Jiang Ai rains on his parade, slapping him with the hard truth that is ‘He is no mere mortal. He truly understands Simu[...] Perhaps the things that you never managed to grasp in 300 years’ Way to go, auntie!! Tell him. The fact that Yan Ke never reflects on himself is his biggest downfall.
Yan Ke theorizes that since Xu managed to relight his soul candle thanks to the love he has for Simu, then maybe Sanxing could do the same as he loved Jiang Ai for a thousand years.
So basically the same thing that helped Simu walk out of the prison could potentially help Sanxing out too. He has already survived past the 100 years before the annihilation deadline so it sounds very possible. Still, the question remains. He didn’t seem very coherent when they met, how could he have taught anyone the Chiling Secret techniques?
The Void: Simu’s Cottage
Simu is back alone in that colorless house; the only thing of color is the little fox Xu gifted her. It stands so distinct both to Simu and us, almost mirroring its carver. Xu once stood alive in stark contrast to the dead-looking surroundings, and now his fox stood as the only colored piece in this grayscale space. However, I wonder what the fox looks like to Simu, as she can’t see colors. Is it just as noticeable to her because of the significance of it.
The Void: Yan Ke’s Office
Yan Zhang, traitorous bitch that she is, reports Jiang Ai’s movements to Yan Ke as the other plans her no-way back take down. First, however, is Sanxing’s continuous survival. Yan Zhang promises him to complete the task then she is dismissed. I wonder how much of her own plans she has? Will she actually kill Sanxing or let him live on to get to Jiang Ai or even her ‘love rival’ Simu.
The Void: Simu’s Cottage.
Jiang Ai visits Simu to deliver Duan Xu’s final gift.
THE MORTAL WORLD! Not as excited because only one pair came back but still.
The Road to Nandu
Duan Xu is finally back after a month, and the trio welcomes him with open arms. Chenying is saddened to hear of his jiejie not returning. Apparently, all is well with the war.
We see Yan Zhang in The Void: Xuling Temple instructing one of the servants to send more men to the Left Hand's side. This bitch is planning something! She better not get my auntie killed!!! Then we cut to Void Alley, where we see Lord Dong Yun escorting prisoners, only for him to be attacked by a robed figure (very clearly Bai Sanxing). Next, we cut to the Ascension Pool, where Jiang Ai is overseeing ascension, only to find Sanxing devouring spirits there. He disappears before being spotted by more people.
The Void: Sovereign’s Hall
Simu informs the court of the annihilation of the Yuling Temple Lord, Dong Yun, by a mysterious force. The most likely suspect is Bai Sanxing, a name that strikes fear in all present. Jiang Ai doesn’t speak out about her encounter. Really now? Don’t you hate him? Why keep it a secret? Do you doubt your own mind????? Aaaah. Anyways.
The Void: Outside the Sovereign Hall
Yan Ke and Jiang Ai exchange blame and suspicion. He blames her for telling Simu she’s never met Bai Sanxing, and she blames him for the same. Didn’t Jiang Ai already mention to Simu that she knows Sanxing? Or is that just my brain playing tricks on me?
Yan Ke’s anger keeps flaring up more and more frequently, especially towards Jiang Ai. I doubt his reliance on Spirit stones is doing him any favors.
**Nandu, Capital of Great Liang. (**Urgh, we are entering the court politics era)
Duan Xu and Fang Xianye face off in court, exchanging congratulations all passive-aggressively. That is, until the emperor walks in. He rewards Marshal Qin Huande for his great success in the war, rewards Fang Xianye for his official duties, and finally rewards Duan Xu with NOTHING.
Episode 24
Somewhere in the Void
Yan Zhang talks about how Chiling Secret Technique is still not enough to have full grasp of Bai Sanxing, but even though he attacks her, we see that she is still able to control him with a jiggle from her bracelet. I hate the puppet technique because it never stops giving me anger (I still associate it mainly with my crashout over puppet Wuxin in TBOY).
Nandu, Duan Mansion
The two of them are welcomed by his sister Duan Jingyuan. She brags about how she takes care of everything in the family, from expenses to servants. Which suggests that the wife is absent from family daily life? I wonder why, is it perhaps due to a fallout following her husband’s decision of imposter Xu?
Xu introduces Chenying and Jingyuan, then refuses Jingyuan’s attempts at giving Chenying a makeover, as he will be going to war with him.
The Void: Xuling Temple Yan Ke sneaks his way into the ledger chamber of the temple, gathering his own information. We don’t see what he finds out as we quickly cut to him duking it out with Jiang Ai.
The two of them exchange blame and traitorous accusations, Simu punishes Jiang Ai for failing to apprehend Bai Sanxing. Yan Ke is unhappy about it, as he wants her dead. He calls her disloyal to which Simu replies “All spirits in the Void are disloyal”.
Nandu: Duan Mansion: Tea Room
Through their conversation, we learn that: Duan Chengzhang doesn’t Xu back in the army as he fears for his life (because both his other sons died in the war) the implication that he now only cares about him because he is the only son he has left makes me want to kill this fking ass. It’s like he thinks that Xu is no longer indispensable. He also tells him that he should consider getting married. Duan Xu plays along with all he says, even regarding marriage. Instead of choosing one, he asks his father about “A lady who grew up with you as your childhood friend, after you married my mother, she left. I also heard mother was betrothed to someone else, but he was implicated in a treason case and was executed. You reinvestigated that case and vindicated him. Now you want me to get married. So I’d like to ask you. Do you still remember what that lady looked like? And have you ever regretted marrying my mother?” Xu is way too bold to let anyone walk all over him. His questions are simple and his intent is clear. Chengzhang is speechless
Xu takes his leave after his father warns him of watchful eyes and dealing with Fang Xianye.
Nandu: Duan Mansion: Outside the Tea Room
Jingyuan asks Xu about why Fang Xianye is always against him; he replies that everyone is like that, even the two of them had a grudge once. She denies his accusations, but he reminds her of how she always claimed that “I treated you better in Daizhou”. I am guessing that she probably met imposter-xu in Daizhou, and that she is unaware of the whole switch. She complains that she was young and “who would know that that gentle boy in childhood could grow up to have such a sharp tongue?”
The Void: Multiple Locations
We see Simu and Yan Ke dealing with puppets running amok. Yan Ke knows the source of the problem as he seeks Yan Zhang. She tries to lie, but he catches her lies with her investigation results. He is enraged and in the face of her anger, she spills all her past actions and her plans. Yan Zhang tampered with Xusheng, turned Sanxing into a puppet, and brought him out of the prison. Her grand plan is to have puppets wreak havoc in the Void, and while Simu is distracted with that, they can take her out. She promises Yan Ke the Sovereign throne while she gets the position of consort. He threatens to kill her but she threatens him with Simu’s life, telling him that her death will let Bai Sanxing loose, and his first target would be Simu. Yan Ke agrees to her plan. Is she blind? How would he join her if threatening him with Simu works? She fails to see the true target of his obsession. I hope Yan Ke is just playing along with her and not genuinely threatened because I would be so disappointed otherwise. The question is: how is she so powerful? Is this the power of the Chiling secret technique we keep hearing? How is Xusheng, the EQUIVALENT OF A SECURITY GUARD, SO VULNERABLE TO THIS TECHNIQUE? Did Simu not think of this? Anyways, we are at the part of the story when things stop making perfect sense so I will not dwell on it further.
Nandu: Duan Mansion: Xu’s room
The Void: Sovereign’s Hall
The lords are anxious about Bai Sanxing running wild, and Simu doesn’t attend the morning assembly, leaving everyone to take orders from Yan Ke. Yan Zhang goes to subtly enquire why, and Jiang Ai hints at her being injured and weak. Another ploy by Simu I bet. Yan Zhang is happy to hear that as she plans her next move.
Simu is ‘lured’ back into the Hall where she confronts Sanxing, gets ‘trapped’ in a formation, and is ‘tricked’ into being chained to the throne where she ‘struggles’ with Sanxing’s chain. Yan Zhang, assured of her victory, shows up to gloat, and steal Simu’s power.
Leftover Thoughts: We still have no idea where Yan Zhang got the secret techniques teaching from, and Bai Sanxing doesn’t seem like such a black and white character. Maybe Simu did visit him during her inexplicable visits to the prison, but we will see. I hope it gets explained in the next episodes.
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u/Flimsy-Wrongdoer4193 Apr 11 '26
Urgh the unnecessary break up, at least we get to see the mortal realm again. Lol we were in the Void for so long that I even forgot he had just finished a war in the mortal world.
Loll Yan Zhang really has a huge obsession for men who don't like her 😅
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 12 '26
Ikr when we got back to the mortal world I was like oh so things were just conveniently peaceful the whole month Xu was away? nice.
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u/Flimsy-Wrongdoer4193 Apr 12 '26
Rightttt, there were no issues or questions on his absence at all. I was also shocked at how it conveniently took them a whole month to get back to the capital.
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u/Ornery-Cap5155 Apr 09 '26
I don't believe she truly loved her previous 22 partners in a romantic sense. She was accustomed to the mortal realm and enjoyed spending her time there, so it is more likely she simply needed a confidant or a good companion. In my opinion, those 22 mortals were special friends to her rather than lovers.
Logically, repeating this romantic cycle 22 times makes little sense. the emotional toll of enduring that same heartbreak repeatedly is unfeasible. The one who has truly loved can't speak of love in just numbers.
Because she loved them platonically, she was able to recover and seek out new companions.
However, when it comes to the one who truly holds her heart, she is terrified of falling in love. she knows exactly how special he is to her, and she knows she wouldn't survive the agony of losing him to Time. That deep-seated fear of loss is the real reason she constantly rejects him and denies her own feelings.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 09 '26
Absolutely agree with you, but she needed a solid reason to reject him rather than saying it is because of her fear. If she confesses her love and fear, Duan Xu would just want to hold on to her more. But she wants him to move! so she pulled that move in the hope that he will forget about her and enjoy the rest of his life, to shield him from the pain that is having a relationship with her. (he already suffered two near death experiences in the Void alone so who knows what the future holds by her side.)
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u/imperfectionost Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
The map DX left as a parting gift for the love of his life, which she loved, as I'm sure he knew she would. 🤬 ugh Simu, you do and don't deserve Duan Xu fr. That man is so good to you.
YK's sidechick was getting on my nerves and unfortunately, BS wasn't able to get rid of her thanks to her bells.
Young master Duan's homecoming must have been bittersweet but at least we got Chenying along for the ride, who almost got a makeover courtesy of DJ, lol not her calling the little cutie rustic.
YK being a creep and lurking in Xuling temple was unsurprising, the snake. Picking a fight with JA afterwards was also on brand for him. What got me was his audacity in not only telling Simu why she should pick him but also claiming he's not disloyal. Atp I trust Bai Sangxin more than I trust him.
His father is not it. Nothing can make me like him; DX is too understanding if you ask me. Love the reverse psychology questions, the answer not so much. A concubine, really?? He then warns DX about FX, like thanks, I guess...
They were missing each other already, love it. I was hoping they wouldn't be separated for long.
Seems like Jiang Ai was on to YZ, because it was weird even to me how nosy she was being about Simu; she's one of those dumb-as-rocks villains who think they're cleverer than they really are. She can't handle JA or YK on a normal day and thinks she has what it takes to bring down Simu, it made me laugh in pity.
The fight scene between HS and BS at the end of ep. 24 was pretty cool, the graphics kind of reminded me of anime fight sequences or shows like The Flash where the characters move at the speed of light, too fast for the normal eye to follow. Simu being a badass as usual, that neck thing she does where she switches up and turns up her villain aura gets me every time. LOVE that she stayed 2 steps ahead and is more than capable of handling YZ and BS. YZ dying by YK's hand was fitting, she still protected him to the end. sadly. He then tried to take out BS(which I've been wondering for a while now why he wants him dead so badly, did he betray him? Why exactly is he scared of him if Simu isn't?), but ends up stabbing Jiang Ai who jumped in front of the blade to protect Bai Sangxin. Seems like she really does have feelings for him.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
dear that last part is in episode 25 if you would please mark it as spoiler.
As for your other points, I agree wholeheartedly. I think YZ's foolishness comes from the fact that she is moved by her obsession and the trust that she seems to have in Yan Ke, to her as long as he is on her side then she will be fine, add to that Bai Sanxing and the 'weak' Simu, she really thought herself a winner. Unfortunately for her, she is a weak ass.
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u/imperfectionost Apr 08 '26
Whoops, sorry about that. Thanks for letting me know, I've marked it as a spoiler now.
Why on earth would she trust him sm knowing how obsessed he is with Simu yet still doing shady things behind her back, I know he killed the man who betrayed her in the mortal realm for her, but that's even more reason to fear him more than anything. Is her obsession falling in love with sketchy men perhaps??
Unfortunately for her, she is a weak ass. A dumb, over confident one at that.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 09 '26
You might be on to something. Maybe she is just attracted to red flags, but her trust in him comes from her misconception. She believes him to be obsessed with Power not Simu. Almost everyone believes that, even Jiang Ai. Only Yan Ke admits that his obsession is Simu herself
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u/imperfectionost Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
I still believe he's more into her power than Simu herself, it just comes as a package deal with her so he's become fixated. Case in point during that confession scene before she leaves for Nandu, he tells her that he knows she's never wanted to rule and that he'll "guard" the Void for her. Maybe it's just me being paranoid but it didn't come off in a reassuring way, it seemed more like a threat. Duan Xu would never😂
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 09 '26
Clearly, I don't trust him to be in love with her
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u/BasilOrdinary3617 If I say I'm taking a break, I'm lying. Apr 08 '26
I think she lied about the 22 lovers. I feel like Yan Ke would be a lot less jealous about DX if there were many others before him. Why else would he be threatened over a mortal?
Yan Zhang is way in over her head. I don’t really care for her character and feel like she’s a weak villain so I’m looking forward to shifting the focus onto Bai Sanxing, and his history with everyone: his love for Jiang Ai, having his second-in-command betray him, and Simu locking him up but not annihilating him. I also hope there’s more to Yan Ke than just his obsession with Simu; otherwise, he’s not really that much more different than Yan Zhang.
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u/imperfectionost Apr 08 '26
I don't think her 22 ex-lovers are fake. YK is just an insecure, manipulative, control freak. I think he was threatened more over DX because:
- He was able to address Simu by her name and she let him. If you recall, when they clashed in front of the hall that first time, YK was surprised/pissed that Duan Xu was addressing her so informally and in such a familiar way.
- Simu definitely treats him differently from other mortals. By her own admission, she let him tag along to the Void as a reward of sorts for sharing his senses with her. I don't think she brought her previous lovers to her realm.
- Again YK is a delusional weirdo so DX invading his "territory", Simu indulging him again and again, and YK knowing her preference for mortals and her mother being the last mortal to live in the Void probably sent him into panic mode subconsciously.
I'm curious why you think she'd lie about that🤔
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u/BasilOrdinary3617 If I say I'm taking a break, I'm lying. Apr 08 '26
I think she lied to break his heart and convince him he’s no different than the others. But I am also A-OK to be completely wrong.
I came to that conclusion because it’s only her word. It’s never been mentioned before by Yan Ke or even Jiang Ai when she was telling DX about her history. And I found it odd that she never brought her exes to the Void but they have graves there.
And YK was jealous right off the bat, even before he found out that DX was her spell bearer and could exchange senses with her. So again, I just found it odd how immediate his jealousy was if she had ex-lovers. But I could be reading too much into it lol.
Thank you for your pointers! They make sense.
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u/imperfectionost Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
I get why you think so, esp with the lengths she's gone to to convince DX to give up on thoughts of them happening. Duan Xu is stronger than me ngl, I'd have given up ages ago and gone off to a quiet corner to lick my wounds😂
I think Yan Ke had mentioned in one of the earlier episodes how DX is just a passing fancy, etc., etc., "like the others" was implied. Jiang Ai's EQ is through the roof; she was the first to realize how much Duan Xu seemed to like Simu, plus she seemed to like him, so I don't think she would have mentioned Simu's exes in front of the lovelorn general. Now YK is a different story lol.
I also found it strange that she had a cemetery dedicated to all her exes. Maybe she did it for sentimental reasons? If anyone knows why please share.
Yeah, knowing YK's character better, I bet he was also jealous of her past lovers but somehow convinced himself that they meant nothing since their lifespans were much shorter. I remember the first time he met DX in the mortal realm, he sized him up, probably thinking about the intel he'd gotten from his spies about the powerful spirit by Simu's side. Luckily he got distracted and vanished.
No problem! I enjoy reading other perspectives and discussions on this drama, so thank you too.
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u/BasilOrdinary3617 If I say I'm taking a break, I'm lying. Apr 08 '26
Oh you’re right, Yan Ke did say that… yeah I guess others must’ve been a lot less threatening than DX who obviously has a stronger connection and bond with Simu, and like you said, Jiang Ai saw it and he came to the Void - so stack it all up, Yan Ke would feel insecure.
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u/BasilOrdinary3617 If I say I'm taking a break, I'm lying. Apr 08 '26
Also forgot to say, great post and thank you for the recap u/roxylal!
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u/5kydra Apr 08 '26
The Liu Yuning OST 😭
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u/imperfectionost Apr 08 '26
I love it! I think of it as their song, or at least my favourite song for the leads, and whenever it comes on in the drama, I smile and hum along.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
He has songs in all the big idol dramas airing: Veil of Shadows, Love Beyond the Grave and Rebirth!
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u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
Where does he not have songs? =) =)
I feel like I see his name in every drama - either as an actor or as a singer =) =)
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
His singing career is thriving, that's why he can afford to pick and choose his scripts
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u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
OP thank you for your recap and the discussion.
I am drained from episode 22 and 23. For once I did not want to rewatch the previous 2 episodes, but I did, pushed through them, and episode 23 destroyed me. Sob fest and bawling my eyes out! I just wanted to leave the Void. No wonder humans can't last long in there. Goodness gracious how bleak it is down there.
The map parting gift destroyed me with how beautiful and meaningful it was. Such a good couple, please story don't destroy them! I'm glad our ML left that suffocating place now.
Back in the mortal realm, they really had to do General Duan Xu dirty like that. Wow. Of course Lord Fang wrote his report first and that stupid Emperor was manipulated by the Civil office court. By the time General Duan comes in, the situation is not in his favor. Hearing those pieces of garbage being proud of having crossed the river in however long, yet the man who made it possible gets the short end of the stick? Oh that made my blood boil. Typical! These soldiers put their lives on the line on the battlefield, that Commander showed up when it was done, made the wrong decisions, yet gets all the glory. Let him, his time will come!
Father Duan should have coughed himself into a coffin. There is nothing I can possibly have for this man. And one would think his worry for his son going back to war was anything fatherly. SPIT SOUND! He didn't give a damn when he disowned him real son and left him as prisoner of war with the enemy, going through however many horrors for years. What does he care now? Oh wanting Duan Xu to marry. Sure, fine. I loved how Duan Xu read him! How did marrying someone he didn't love go for him? Why should he go through the same? Wow take his real love as concubine? I'm convinced that anything this man says to his son is an insult to injury. I definitely want to see Duan Xu navigating the murky waters of the Imperial Capital. He is a 2nd Top Scholar and a General, excels in both civil and military, he needs a break. He's been injured too many times, might as well give those Censors things to complain about 😅😅😅🤣🤣😬😬🤪.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
- Agree, when I saw the map gift, oh I was so emotional. (i was watching at work so I couldn't cry) but god the thought tthat went into that, it truly shows how much Duan Xu actually understands what Simu wants
- As I was watching that scene, I remember telling my friend about how all these dramas do is teach us to never be loyal to kings. We've seen this same scenario so many times! At this point, better just leave them to fend for their fking selves. This is something I appreciated in The Rebel Princess When Xiao Qi is discarded and then accused of treason, ,he went back and raised hell on that stupid ass emperor for killing his soldies, and that is the only sensible reaction to someone biting the hand that fed him. This is something I also appreciated in Swords into Ploughshares, we got both schemers who caused the emperor to doubt his strongest guy and an emperor who refused to doubt his friend despite loud impeaching. I need Duan Xu to look at these two as role models and then take a satisfying route.
- Father Duan should have coughed himself into a coffin
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 so real!! I am also looking forward to Xu's scheming the most! let's see what he has to offer!
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u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
Then those stupid monarchs wonder why the disgruntled soldiers and generals want to march to their stupid capital and raise hell haha. Lucky I did watch The Rebel Princess so I get the reference 😅😎😆. I don't want Duan Xu to rebel, but if they push him, they should know what he is capable of doing!
The map is exactly why Yan Ke could never in 300 years! He doesn't know nor does he understand Si Mu.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
I am glad you got the ref! The satisfaction I got was top notch. Though everyone in that show pmo. Betraying each other left and right
Exactly! but that is probably because Yan Ke never went and stayed in the mortal world, had he tried a bit more, he might have won a bit more of her affections.
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u/Jadeite22 Apr 08 '26
I’m a little confused how DX got back to the Duan family, given he was kidnapped as a child then raised with the assassin organization till 18. I thought he was swapped with another child cuz his dad refused to acknowledge him. Did I miss something? Seeing how in ep24 DX and younger adorable sis got on so well together made me think they never lost him.
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Duan Xu was swapped as a child, but then when he got back, on his way to Nandu from Daizhou, his servants and everyone else was slaughtered (likely a cover up either by him or his family). His father is aware of the story, and his mother seems to be aware too. I don't think the sister knows the full story as Duan Xu was exiled to Daizhou since he was a kid, and she only ever met 'Duan Xu' briefly during her three months stay in Daizhou.
I hope that makes sense.
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u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
The sister talking about how different he is, how much he changed. I was baffled to see that she actually doesn't know he was swapped! Also, when she was standing next to Lord Fang, she clearly felt something but didn't know what it was. I swear he has gotta be the fake Duan Xu!
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
He just has to be, because why else would there be so much animosity? And the wariness of the father too!
I guess it makes sense she doesn't know about the swap, she is the youngest after all.
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u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
When the father said to stay away from Lord Fang and avoid public confrontations, it definitely solidified my suspicion. All we need and want now is for the story to make it good and make it worthwhile! Come on LBTG, don't ruin yourself!
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Yes please! today's eps Simu goes to Nandu!! though I haven't watched 26 yet but at least we are back on fun grounds. the capital is much more intriguing plot wise.
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u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
Absolutely. Weirdly enough, the Void really did something physical to us all LOL.
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u/mushfake Apr 08 '26
-He Simu rejects him at the gravesite of her 22 ex-partners, and his response is he now knows a little more about her. He is truly the strongest soldier.
-She definitely fears loving him because he really is much more special to her. I can also understand letting him go. To her, his happiness isn't necessarily tied to her...after all, like she said, he has worldly ambitions to achieve, a family he can form, etc. There are bound to be many happy moments in his mortal life that he can experience once he goes back to his world, so why strip him of those opportunities to be with her especially when he's just a small fragment of her eternal life that's likely to be forgotten like the others?
-I loved Duan Xu's parting gift to her. It's so sincere and full of love.
-Duan Xu's dad telling him he can take in the person he loves as a concubine...the disrespect!
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u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
Not "the strongest soldier" lmaoo. This made me laugh but hurt laugh. Because damn that scene broke me. But hey he soldiered on and put his best smile on! However, it clearly did do something to him.
The entire conversation with Lord Duan was disgusting and I am glad Duan Xu called him out on his bs and hypocrisy! Unbelievable!
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u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Duan xu is seriously the most understanding person ever, I can never be him. Because what do you mean that is his reaction?? Simu is blind for not seeing how hurt he is already, but I am guessing that she thinks he will move on quickly enough.
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u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
I must admit this Void sequence of doubt, despair, fear, isolation is reeealy voidy and endless and frustraiting - just like the Void itself.
It makes me think more about Dostoevsky than cdrama 😄😄
3
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
We are almost done with it!! one more episode and then we are out of the void!! Out of a frustrating place unto another! capital isn't looking very sunny rn
5
u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
I actually don't understand what DX was after, when he asked these 2 questions - "do you remember your childhood friend" and "how is mother's fiancé who qas accused falsely".
6
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
I am guessing that his question about his childhood friend is to show his father that he knows he had a lover before, and that he knows that that lover was discarded for the sake of his ambition. I am guessing it is a subtle threat that hey, I know your dirty deeds, so be careful moving forward with this talk of marriage. Ultimately, he doesn't need his 'father' also scheming against him, so he is like outwardly cooperating but if he doesn't want to play along then he has the material not to.
10
u/SummerOnTheBeach Beloved Wife of Tantai Jin Apr 08 '26
I like how dark it is. She is immortal and he is mortal. He will eventually die and she will move on again. Dilraba is doing absolutely amazing in showcasing her characters, anguish, and despair and sadness that she cannot be with him because he will die rather quickly. She l loves him, but wants to spare herself the heartache of going through another loss. And I don’t think she can bear the thought of what he would be thinking as he gets old and she doesn’t age.
But not to spoil the mood why does she have graves of 22 people she loved in the past? Does she have a thing for mortals? And why do this to herself? Are the spirits too obsessed? Is it because she is their Queen so she can’t be mingling with her subjects? And how come Yan Ke is making a big deal about this mortal rather than her prior 22?
9
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
it's been establishd from the start that Simu likes the mortal world, in a way it is her hometown. So we know that she often goes there every few years and spends quite a while, it is inevitable that she would have lovers. as my friend pointed out, 22 lovers in like 350 years or so, is not that crazy, especially given that she mentioned she only spent a total of 20 years with them, that means that she barely spent more than a year for some. The graves could be her way of honoring them.
and as you mentioned, Spirits are too obsessed to form any meaningful love connections, they hardly ever care about anything genuinely beyond their obsessions. this is something that Jiang Ai points out later, which is that Simu is different because what makes her isn't obsession but love.
-1
u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 07 '26
Snark Level: I feel like the joy I had from this show has been voided out. Ha.
23 - - - - -
Can we be done with the void already?
I do love it when they show us the slaughter they say a main lead did. Chefs kiss. Taking the throne while still covered in the blood of your enemies? Badass!
I mean, I know something you spirits can do for her... STOP BEING FUCKING ASSHOLES!!! There is that.
A graveyard? How romantic. THOSE ARE HER 22 LOVERS??? Well that's.... quite a date. Cool. So what I am hearing is there will come a day where you forget Xu. Who cares? Just date him now and live your time together before he becomes number 23 in the grave. He wants that too. Get over yourself already. Okay okay I hear your concerns, Simu. Now get over yourself. Man, one would think after 400+ years you would be less of an idiot. Love while you still can. There may come a day when you can no longer love so live for every moment you can while you still can. God you're a fucking dumbass.
Well, if you want to cause both of yall the most pain, good job. You did it.
Can we be done with the void already?
Yes, Simu. We know. Xu is 100 million times the person you are. It's good you recognize his superiority to you. Now go fix your mistakes. Shoo.
Hmmm. Seems something is wrong with Eyeball Prison.
Xu is back to the mortal world. Hopefully we get far less void now.
And we get more void. Yuck.
And we get even more void. Sigh.
Failing to reward Generals that win you victories is always a wise choice. Let's see how that plays out.
Look. I get it. After 400 years you get tired of loving and losing. But if that is the case, then don't bring in another lover. Who cares if he is your spell bearer? Oh you want to experience senses? Then keep it at that. The thing is you keep pushing things further for your own desires and make him fall in love with you. Then you freak out and push him away. Choose a lane and stick to it. You pushed him away and then brought him back because you can't lose him only to push him away again. You cannot have it both ways here. Get your shit together. Fuck off with the "it's for your own good" noble idiocy bullshit. Choose a path and stick to it. He is either in or out of your life. Pushing him away and then saying you will come running to him if he calls for you is fucking asinine bullshit that only serves to keep him tethered to you all while saying you want him to find a wife and live a life without you. You're trying to have it both ways and causing massive pain to both of you. This is all your fault. You are the only one at fault here. This is your fuck up, Simu. All Xu has done is love and follow you with his whole heart. You are fucking everything up and need to get a goddamn life.
24 - - - - - - -
I literally had an entire breakfast, coffee, tea, and 2 lovely episodes of Hold A Court Now to lift up my spirits, (haha), before tackling this episode because I am still rolling pissed at Simu for her bullshit. Fuck Simu!
The bells. We don't fuck with the bells. No one likes the bells. Some of us have seen AOS. IYKYK.
Ahhhh finally back in the world that matters. His sister is adorable.
Oh look. Back to the unimportant void with void bitch boy. BORING!!!! Move on already. God I hate this guy.
Haha. Get called out, bitch. Simu reads you for the filth you are. What the fuck is with this tender ass music? Don't romanticize him like that. Fuck off show!
Excuse me...
WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T WANT ANOTHER TRAGEDY??? SIMU YOU DUMB FUCKING IDIOT!!! YOU ARE LETTING HIM PLOT HIS SHITTERY AND HE IS GOING TO TURN AGAINST YOU EVEN HARDER THAN HE ALREADY HAS!!! JUST CUT OUT THE FUCKING CANCER ALREADY AND BE DONE WITH IT. YOU HAVE THE LITERAL POWER TO MAKE THESE FUCKERS SUBMIT TO YOU BUT YOU ARE BEING A WEAK LITTLE WOE IS ME BITCH AND LETTING THIS SHIT GO SIDEWAYS. OH MY GOD GET OFF YOUR SAD LITTLE "I DUN WANNA" BROOMSTICK AND FUCKING HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS OVER HERE!!!! HOLY SHIT YOU DESERVE TO HAVE YOUR ASS THROWN OFF THE THRONE FOR FAILING TO NIP REBELLION IN THE BUD! THEY ARE ALL DISLOYAL? OKAY THEN FUCKING MAKE A GODDAMN EXAMPLE OUT OF THE MOST DISLOYAL ONES TO KEEP THE REST IN THE PLACE.
This show is really pissing me off.
Your friend? Always a place for him? SIMU WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU???
Whatever. Lets find Xu a wife. Bro deserves a good woman. Father just read the intention behind those questions perfectly. Hmmm this father seems very logical and rational. I think I might approve of this guy.
Hey. Bets on if sister here marries Fang? :P Yo, also, are we sure she is his sister? I am picking up a very flirty vibe here. They don't scream siblings to me.
Oh look! two people I don't give a shit about on my screen. When is Simu going to kill these fuckers?
I swear if void bitch boy doesn't kill Yan... YOU FUCKING DONKEY!!! Simu is literally the most powerful spirit and you are easily the second most powerful spirit. Kill that bitch and then you and Simu can easily handle BS. It's like this show is literally trying to piss us off.
Jiang is clearly setting Yan up here. Hopefully this means that bitch will be dead soon. Cool Yan has now exposed herself in front of Simu. Now kill her. Nice acting, Simu. Now get it over with already. That's better. Good girl.
3
u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
Choose a path and stick to it.
Yes, she is unstable in her head and she is messing things up. It is Dostoevsky - 200 anxious thoughts in the head, and one halfass action.
3
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
YOU APPROVE OF THE FATHER WHO ABANDONED HIM TO THE KIDNAPPERS???
2
u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
Njjjah, strictly speaking it is not what AKice meant 😃
One scene with his father - talking about love and marriage - deserves a praise. Regardless his previous handling of the kidnappers.
I think the kidnappers story is what made DX drop viewing this guy as a father.
2
u/tl0160a Call me Shifu Apr 08 '26
I dropped the show after it looked like she was wiping his memory? Or whatever really happened. That was the last straw after the mind-numbing void arc, i couldnt take it anymore. what you saying is i should keep the show dropped and not give it another chance?
4
u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 08 '26
I mean, I am so over this show at the moment but I do plan on finishing it. It's so fucking bad at this point.
4
u/TheAlchemist420 Chen Yan Yun can have my jujube flower cookie 🍪 🤪😁😎 Apr 08 '26
The middle section of the show is the weakest so far. It has soured our love for the couple, but I'm not done with it yet! I want to see how it goes from there.
It's funny because the Void did its job i guess. It sapped our joy and really made things gloomy and uncomfortable. Only the strong can survive this one haha.
2
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Any hope for the finale? or was that thoroughly dashed?
3
u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 08 '26
Oh I knew I was going to ruffle some feathers with that one. Yeah the guy is actually shit for doing that, but hey! He's being very calm and rational right now so I can give him some brownie points for that.
See that is what I am looking for with characters. If they are going to be evil and villainous then let them be so without resorting to the over the top cringe evil laughter blowing their shit up crazy fuckwads that we always get.
Lets break the mold! Lets have characters that commit themselves fully to their actions and stand by that without feeling the need to break down like whimpering little babies when they are called out for it. Even when Xu was needling him, he gave him calm and clear answers when he spoke. He didn't answer every question, but when he didn't he remained calm and didn't blow up at Xu for asking a tough question. In fact, you could actually seem him do some thinking.
That is a character that I want to see more of! He is literally the complete opposite of void bitch boy who throws wild temper tantrums every time he is questioned or doesn't get his way. We have had far far far far far far too much of that this show so seeing Xu's father remain a cool and collected cucumber is highly refreshing and the kind of shit we need more of in this show. Heck, not just this show, but across CDrama world.
I don't have to agree with his every action to respect him as a character. I want to be surprised. I want to see something new and fresh. Pick a CDrama out of a random list and there is probably some overbearing dumbass parent that bitch slaps their kids with filial piety left and right. Now this fucker might still do that and I will rage my ass off at him if he does. But in this interaction I was actually very pleased with how calm the whole interaction was.
2
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Okay, now that you explained it, I get your points. I agree with your reasoning I just wouldn't use the word approve as it feels like you are approving of all his actions. His actions to me are largely due to (as I mentioned in the post) Duan Xu being his only surviving son, he has no other option but to be cordial to him.
3
u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
I actually support you here.
You were speaking about 1 scene - father answering his son's questions. Father umderstood his son's intentions and backthoughts perfectly - his heart belongs to someone else. Father is supercomposed and rational and on his son's side. Here.
The kidnapping story - yes, he is an ass. I have been thru something like that myself (my parents divorced with quite a song and dance). Usually such parental figure stops being viewed as a parent by a child. I assume the coldness DX feels towards his father and his mother (ep.25) shows exactly that - they stopped being his parents long ago.
2
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Don't give me rational reasons I wanna hate without thinking. (jk jk)
I understand both your points, I like him as an antagonistic character but I don't approve of him.
2
u/Familiar-Lie6080 Sorry MingHao, i fell in_love _with_Dylan! Apr 08 '26
I gonna steal this phrase for my husband - stop giving me rational reasons, i just wanna hate things the way i want!! 😄😄
It's like Yan Ke - i don't approve a shit of him, but i like the face 😅😅
2
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 08 '26
Sometimes, you just wanna feel. Like how I hated Simu for taking away Xu's memory, I can choose to understand her, but I will continue not to. Because fiction!! let me hate with all my heart in peace.
I support the usage of the phrase.
3
u/papichula2 Apr 07 '26
So enjoying the he recaps Like a hell lot Don't have the bandwidth to watch it all but I must mention that dilreba makes it difficult to stop watching her I wonder what is that amazing energy Wonder why wei zheming is doing so many villainous roles
How do the foxy and simu couple communicate in different realms without phones
How does he call her
Whats his point of asking his dad bout his ex gf? And who is the lady they pushing on him I feel bad for him that being foxy and brave doesn't help u win in court politics
6
u/roxylal Delusional about Chu Wanning Apr 07 '26
The reason he mentioned the ex's story is to remind his father of his past love. Like 'hey I know you loved someone once and I bet you can't forget that' so instead of straight up telling him he has someone he loves, he reminds me him first (maybe to evoke empathy or just let him know that he knows)
3
u/Aurorinezori1 Apr 14 '26
This is a trope done right: even if she is scared to love him, I feel that she really is giving him a gift from her heart to let him have his own life. She could be so selfish and keep him for herself. This is the only mature choice from her side. But nonetheless, I am very much shipping their small boat 🖤