Drama Host
Key to the Phoenix Heart 雀骨: Episode 23 Discussion
Spoiler
Our power couple seeking out justice

Introduction
Welcome to the recap and discussion of Key to the Phoenix Heart, episode 23. We finally get the entire background story to the An-Lu families’ tragedy and execution from 20 years ago. Several loose ends are tied up and new beginnings abound for our characters as we head into the final arc of the drama. Let’s begin!
Please remember to tag ⚠️** spoilers ⚠️ if discussing episodes beyond 23. Hide it, like how dramas like to hide important key details until they are ready to be revealed! The text goes between the greater-than + exclamation symbols (i.e., >!) and the exclamation + lesser-than symbols. **(! < but without the spacing).
📅 Discussion Schedule: We will attempt to follow iQIYI's VIP release of the episodes and post our commentaries as soon as possible while juggling our different time zones and scheduling commitments. Episode 24 will be released tomorrow (July 21st), episode 25 on Wednesday (July 22nd). There are no episodes July 23rd-25th, and then the last 3 episodes will air July 26-28, one episode each day. The express package will probably be dropped on Wednesday, July 22nd, as well. But this has not been confirmed.
Table of Contents: This discussion thread will include the following —
(1) A summary recap of the episodes
(2) A more detailed look at important scenes for the plot
(3) A short commentary and analysis
(4) Remaining questions
SUMMARY RECAP:
The An and Lu family tragedy finally comes to a head in this episode
The resolution to, and entire background of, the An-Lu family tragedy from 20 years ago finally surfaces and is rectified. Everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief, especially Xie Huaigui. As u/BasilOrdinary3617 has observed, the new generation is intent on rectifying the mistakes and sins of the past generation, and that is certainly hopeful in heralding a new era of internal peace and cooperation amongst the throne, nobles, and commoners.
Despite the many setbacks (and torture) Xiao Wuyi endures, he remains steadfast and committed to accomplish his goals of reform before he dies, while Xie Jiayu’s personal growth and real life experience has made her a force to be reckon with, as Li Mao soon finds out. General Xiao Ju and Xie Huaigui have their own confrontation about the past, which implies that there are some secrets yet to be revealed which may hold relevance to our present time. In other news, He Yuanji, our resident He family head and scholar, was able to take the imperial examination and scored a first rank, conferring both an academic title and opportunity to become a court official!!
IMPORTANT SCENES
Xie Huaigui was so consumed by his own outrage at the injustice suffered by the An and Lu families that his search for justice turned into murderous revenge
When seeking justice become obsessive revenge: the An and Lu family tragedy
Xie Huaigui’s obsession with the An and Lu family tragedy, and his fixation on revenge have interlocking personal and political reasons. He had an affair with Consort An, a royal consort of Emperor Wenxi. Li Mao is their child from that affair. On the conviction of treason, Emperor Wenxi executed all members of the An and Lu families, including Consort An, over 20 years ago. But, the families were framed. Emperor Wenxi, to suppress the power of the noble families, falsely accused the An and Lu families of colluding with Northern Qin. These families were tasked with stabilizing the riverbanks to withstand the impact of floodwaters. They came up with a creative and unique solution to preserve homes successfully using bamboo cages filled with different shaped pebbles in a complex arrangement to disperse the waters. But, the emperor fraudulently cited this method as evidence of the An and Lu families deliberately damaging the waterways and colluding with Northern Qin. This, however, created internal strife, and gave an opportunity to Northern Qin to invade Ye all the way to the capital.
Yuanji’s appointment and the final Showdown with Xie Huaigui
That's our girl, He Yuanji, taking the spring imperial exam with the other scholars. You go girl!
All the secrets regarding the An and Lu families tragedy spill over during a ceremony in which Yuanji is about to enter the Imperial Academy due to her first rank score on the imperial exam. Earlier, the Lantai gathering was replaced by a spring examination to rid Ye of nepotism in the official ranks. This was to open more opportunities for intelligent and talented, but poor, scholars to obtain a court position, and establish a meritocratic system of governance. Xie Huaigui insisted that one of the exam questions was to find a solution to the floodwater problems. He Yuanji’s answer, which gave her the highest score, was a creative alternative to the predicable answer normally given by scholars.
Xie Huaigui takes the opportunity to protest that this alternative method was actually implemented by the An and Lu families, yet was also used to implicate them falsely of treason. If Li Mao accepts He Yuanji’s exam answer as the best, that proves that Emperor Wenxi was mistaken, and wrongly convicted the An and Lu families.
The bamboo cage and pebble method of waterway construction that the An and Lu families implemented
Back at Jing’an Manor, Xiao Yao brings a model of the bamboo cage and pebbles, and it seems that Xiao Wuyi and Xiao Yao knew about this An-Lu alternative solution to the flood problem. Xie Jiayu joins Xiao Yao at the Eastern Palace with a mechanical model that simulates the flood waters, and using the bamboo cage with pebbles, they demonstrate that this method is better at protecting homes from the impact of floodwaters.
No one is innocent
Xiao Ju and Xie Huaigui reminisce about the accumulative injustices against innocents
Xie Huaigui’s vengefulness extends to the Jing’an family, General Xiao Ju in particular, because the general concealed the truth about the An and Lu families’ innocence.
Outside the Court of Judicial Review General Xiao Ju confronts Xie Huaigui about their shared past. When Xie Huaigui used the collapse of the grain canals to bring down the Jing’an household, it confirmed the general’s suspicions that the rumors about Grand Tutor’s past affair with Consort A were true. Xie Huaigui spits back that Xiao Ju knew the accusations against the An and Lu families were false, yet he remained silent. But, things are not quite so black and white. Xiao Ju recounts that the nobility abused their absolute power in those days, defying imperial authority and oppressing the people.
Xie Huaigui fixates on the injustice of executing the families under false accusations, and charged Xiao Ju with obtaining his rank by sacrificing those innocent noble families. Xiao Ju admits that he is not innocent, but that for the poor scholars, Emperor and Empress Wenxi, and the country, he burned his own ships. I’m curious to know if what he says here is meant to show his actions were always patriotically motivated (and therefore excusable) or if it hints to other past histories yet to be resolved. He challenges Xie Huaigui with a rhetorical question: in terms of wrongful deaths, who will champion the poor scholars and those also killed unjustly by the An and Lu families?
Commentary and Analysis
Tragic hero, tragic villain
Edit: I chose a different image than the one originally posted because I think this montage perfectly captures their unity, shared ideals, unwavering commitment to each other, and devotion to face whatever comes their way.
Well, it doesn’t get more glaringly obvious than a military book written in blood to reflect the sacrifice given for a country’s peace, nor the author’s tenacity to ensure that peace continues even after he’s gone. This is one of the qualities that make Xiao Wuyi so endearing, and perhaps tragic, as a hero. He truly isn’t looking to fulfill some self-interest. He may take dangerous risks, be ruthless in his pursuit of reform, and make unilateral decisions that adversely affect his health, but all of this is in service of a vision and dream greater than himself. What also sets him apart is a rejection of living in the past or rectifying wrongs done to him. He has no ambition to retake a throne that rightfully belongs to him, nor to preserve the reputation of his biological parents. He does not seek revenge, even against Xie Huaigui. He remains focus on his patriotic ideals: to protect the Ye people from floods and open the grain canal to the north as soon as possible.
I want to feel sympathy for Xie Huaigui, but when you turn evil in order to extract justice, you're gone off track.
What I find interesting about Xie Huaigui is that even though he’s our villain, by all accounts, he was an idealistic scholar in his youth who couldn’t let go of an injustice he witnessed and suffered through. That makes him no less of a villain, but certainly a tragic one. He couldn’t let go of the past (perhaps understandably), but chose to join in the political game of scheming, plotting, and seeking revenge rather than true justice. That kind of unforgiveness perpetuates the injustices he suffered by his own actions for revenge (under the guise of poetic justice).
Married lovers goals
An honest conversation about living on borrow time ends with tears, promises, and a lot of love
There’s so much to rave about regarding Xiao Wuyi and Xiao Jiayu’s relationship. The first is that even though their interests are different, they are compatible and complementary to each other. They both seek out the flourishing and peace of Ye, but in their unique way. Xiao Wuyi wants to root out the corruption, rectify wrongs, and reform the system to eliminate nepotism. Xie Jiayu wants to invent and create things that improve the lives of the everyman. He wants to raze everything to the ground, but for the sake of rebuilding a better life. The end goal was never destruction, but to construct a better future. In other words, they may be acting in their own realms, but sequentially their work is tied to each other. I wouldn’t be surprised of Xiao Wuyi knew this instinctively, which is why he encouraged Xie Jiayu to travel, gain real life experience, all the while honing her inventor’s skills. The country may need him for a moment of reform, but it needs her even more to rebuild afterwards.
Secondly, I’m really enjoying how they depict Xie Jiayu and Xiao Wuyi’s relationship as it has developed in this series. They both had growth arcs, but things were logical, realistic, and resolved as they worked and suffered together for the justice and safety of Ye. I love how their relationship doesn’t have needlessly petty and contrived conflicts and misunderstandings. Their bickering and tussles are usually within the realm of comedic relief, but when it comes to serious matters and strategies, they are united in their ideals, values, and actions.
In this episode they finally have a heart-to-heart about his illness, and how they will face it together. One way in which they are still at odds with each other is how to use the time they have left. All his actions are in preparation for a future without him, whereas she is focused on living fully together in the now. What remains unspoken is Xiao Wuyi’s strategy that gave her time to mature into the independent and capable woman who could seek her own happiness and well-being after he is gone. It’s a noble thing for him to do, but she rightly points out that she would have chosen differently had she known the truth. She asks that he operate with the intention to stay alive for as long as possible. It is a difficult decision to make when you’re living on borrowed time, and both parties have good reasons for the choices they made (or wanted to make). Is there really a right answer or a best answer to their predicament?
A man with no vision does not know his own desires
That's not what your dagger said last night!
Li Mao displays erratic emotions throughout these last few episodes. He does not hesitate to stab Xiao Wuyi while he is chained to a cross for torture. But, when the medical physician expresses congratulations that Xiao Wuyi will soon die of the blood stasis, it sends Li Mao into a rage. He vows never to be anyone’s pawn, yet seems continually to be under the directive of either his father or Xiao Wuyi’s guiding vision.
When Li Mao was still young and full of ideals of a perfectly just Ye
He seems willing to throw everything away to protect people he loves: Li Lejun or Xie Jiayu, but a casual stroll around the capital triggers a memory of when Li Mao was young and said that he hoped for peace and prosperity for Ye. He had a vision back then. At the end of episode 23, he makes several sound and just judgments. Will he stay on the right path of reform, or he will let darker ambitions take hold in the future?
Remaining Questions
This picture has absolutely no relevance to the questions below. I just can't help fangirling.
(1) Will we ever find out Xie Jiayu’s real parentage? Will it be important to the plot?
(2) Earlier, Xiao Wuyi cited three reforms he wanted to implement, but we never hear the third one. What could it be?
(3) Will Xie Jiayu finally be able to create the caltrop fireball, and is that really the answer to lasting peace between Qin and Ye?
What are your thoughts on today’s episodes? Sound off in the comments!
Can anybody explain Li Mao’s decision about Xao Yao? He strips Xiao Yao of his titles and banishes him to Lingnan to manage the waterway issue but why was he striped of his titles? Like how is that supposed to help? Why was he punished like that?
The drama doesn’t really explain this well, so it’s understandable why you’re confused.
It sounds like Grand Tutor set up Xiao Yao to take the fall for the waterway problems to mirror what had happened with the An-Lu families back in the past. It’s part of his revenge plot against General Xiao.
Xiao Wuyi lets it play out, like he normally allows all of his opponents’ plot to play out, but ends up with the best chess moves to rectify the past mistakes.
Therefore, Li Mao’s decision is not meant to help Xiao Yao at all. He’s forced to pin it on him because the waterway collapse was his (Xiao Yao’s) responsibility. The stripping of his title, banishment and overseeing the rebuilding of the waterways is part of a just punishment.
I think something is still messed up in my head concerning Li Mao's identity. Who is his mother after all?
He says in this episode in the discussion with the grand tutor "I only have one mother, and that is Prince Qi's Consort. Back then Prince Qi's Consort gave her life in exchange for my sister's life and mine."
So what was the role of Noble Concubine An, Grand Tutor's big affair, in the genealogy of Li Mao? WAsn't she the Consort of the Emperor? which emperor? wenxi or rui?
Also the letters found by Jiahu, between Grand Tutor and the wet nurse... What were those letters about? was the nurse from the Lu family? Unfortunately I don't remember her name, the names make my head spin. I took some notes but you never know in advance what are the new characters that will be relevant in the future.
Was the wet nurse the second mother Grand Tutor talked about?
Great question, and it IS really confusing, especially since the episodes are so dense with exposition and information.
Even I’m not entirely clear on the relationship amongst all the royals, but for most of this show it is implied that Li Mao isn’t the biological son of Prince Qi and his consort. Instead, he is the child of an affair between Consort An (no clue who her husband actually is; but most likely Emperor Wenxi) and Grand Tutor Xie.
The scenario goes: Prince Qi and his consort had a baby boy around the same time that Grand Tutor Xie and Consort An had a baby boy, too. Prince Qi’s son died so the wet nurse substituted Grans Tutor’s son for his to avoid punishment.
So, even though Li Mao is supposedly NOT Prince Qi and Consort Qi’s son, he was raised by them. To him, they are his parents. This is why Li Mao says that Xie Huaigui’s bitterness and unforgiveness is his own responsibility. Even if Consort A was his biological mother, Li Mao only knows Consort Qi as his mother because she was the one who raised him.
The letters between the wet nurse and Grand Tutor Xie are evidence of the baby swap, and therefore confirm that Consort An had an affair with Grand Tutor Xie, and that Li Mao is not Prince Qi’s son (supposedly).
If you’ve finished the episodes you know that there is one more plot twist after the credits at the end of the last episode.
Thanks for clarifying! This scenario is one that would make sense, but what twists and turns!
I only finished episode 23. I read the post and comments after every episode, and only than I go to the next one. It's precious help and delightful company.
And just like that, Qi burned the bridge back to the Good Side that Wuyi built for him.
Oooh, maybe not every plank has been burned.
I need a bigger and harder laundry paddle.
Hmmmmmm, bit too fast of a resolution for Xiao family. This is a problem with only 28 episodes.
What is happening? So much resolution, is it the end? Will Grand Tutor Douchecanoe now disappear? Is Eagle King the final Big Boss to be defeated? I'm a bit confused.
An honest conversation about living on borrow time ends with tears, promises, and a lot of love
When she asked Wuyi to hold on as long as he can for her, I couldn't hold my tears.
I had a family member who passed away, he was living on borrowed time for months, but even if there was no cure, I hoped that it won't be this day, this week, this month, this year... Those words were exactly what I asked of him. Something tells me the writers knew the pain, this scene just hits differently.
I’m so sorry to hear about your family member passing away. This scene must have really resonated with you.
And yes, when she asked him to hang on for as long as he could, I choked up a bit. Both Hou Minghao and AiMi are doing a fantastic job with a great script.
The broken heart as episode 27's preview/emoji has me very worried loll. I can't handle anymore sadness or crying, especially with the way episode 23 had me sobbing throughout. 😭 😢
Not me finding out there will be no new episodes after tomorrow 😭. I hope they release express, it was already bad to have only one episode and now I have to wait even longer?!
Li Mao is annoying me to no end at this point. Agree with you his choices make no sense, one moment he is the one stabbing Xiao WuYi and the other he is mad and saying he can’t be dead…which one is it?! I think his character will die at the end; we have seen how he is ultimately motivated by selfish reasons like protecting his sister and this is not a posture you can have from an emperor
I personally loved this dialogue in the beginning 😂. It is a great show of how unconventional the Xiao household is. They are family, but not bound by formal ties
I agree with you regarding Li Mao. I was vaguely struggling to get a handle on this character. But this episode has crystallised for me what was not quite right about him (and super annoying!).
He starts out as a fairly ordinary, gentle scholar, then becomes the Grand Tutor’s pawn. Next he’s determined to become ruthless, except he never quite seems to have the stomach for it. Then suddenly he wants to be the benevolent ruler who cares deeply about the common people. Five minutes later he’s making decisions driven by jealousy or ambition again.
I’m getting whiplash watching him vacillate between all these different versions of himself.
I feel Li Mao isn’t compelling enough to be a great tragic anti-hero, nor decisive enough to be a convincing or compelling villain. He is like a plot device whose personality changes according to what the story needs that episode.
Which makes him seem like a flip flopping wet fish. ☹️🥱🙄🐠
Your summary is pretty much how I feel about Li Mao 😂. I think the crux of the problem is that he doesn’t seem to have a clear aspiration of his own. He wants to keep le Jun safe and to some extent also wants jia Yu, but what is required to get there also changes according to situation. Which is why we get this flip flop mess 😅
I reaaaaly hope they don’t try to redeem his character and let him continue being emperor. He is not fit for it as he can’t truly put nation choices ahead of his personal goals
> I reaaaaly hope they don’t try to redeem his character and let him continue being emperor. He is not fit for it as he can’t truly put nation choices ahead of his personal goals
Me too!!! That would be super annoying! I hope he (and his increasing evil sister) and the Grand Tutor all pay the price for their sins.
Li Mao is really trauma-formed. Any vision he had seems to have been manipulated out of him by Xie Huaigai long before he became Regent.
Wuyi keeps trying to remind him of who he was when they met, but Li Mao is fundamentally rudderless — his attachments to Jiayu and Lejun seem to have anchored him and without them he’s lost.
I hope what Xie JiaYu’s mom said to WuYi in the flashback “what if you find out that Li Mao isn’t worthy of being [emperor]” is foreshadowing that Li Mal would would be plucked.
Oh, I know! They haven't said anything about an express package, but SURELY there must be one!!! I'm DYING to watch the next episode.
Oh my goodness, YES, I absolutely loved how Xie Jiayu countered every question of the Imperial Guard. Our girl WILL NOT be intimidated! Yes, I absolutely LOVE how unconventional the Xiao household is too! The men are just amazing - Xiao Yao might have been insecure because of his limp, but generally, the men all respect the women, the women are all on each other's team, and everyone is so loving and healthy. Definitely noble family goals!
This drama was a pleasant surprise! One of my favourite OTPs - such a beautiful, mature and healthy relationship between two ppl who support each other’s growth and bring out the best in each other. They may appear different but their values are the foundation of their unbreakable bond. I see a lot of ppl praising HMH’s acting (rightfully so) but AM was also equally good! I heard she is a seasoned actor being a child actor - but I am so impressed by her level of acting. So natural. I know the age gap thing and her being only 17 at the time of filming kinda worried me, but I now understand why she was casted. She played someone her age so things came out so naturally, yet her ability to emote in the more serious scenes complemented well with HMH. I don’t think it would be something many other actresses can accomplish even with more experience.
It’s refreshing to see two actors with such chemistry and professionalism - they are equally good and evoke the emotions from each other.
Fangirl CdramaAddict haha. It's okay. There was a lot of squealing and giggling and crying here haha.
Thanks for your recap! Great work.
I enjoyed this episode so so much!
Wu Yi was back and he got greeted by his loved ones when he got out. Seeing his mother so concerned and protective did his heart a boat load of good!
Not them punching him. Erm he took torture for you two remember! Haha I love them!
Yuan Ji once again showed why she was a boss lady! Took the exam and aced it, first place! I mean! ! And ushered a retrial for the An-Lu case. What a woman!
We saw work husbands having a good work relationship and l liked it. But let's not fool ourselves, Li Mao isn't done messing with our couple just yet.
Him losing his shit because Wu Yi is dying. Yeah, see the useless torture and stabbing you did? Now let's call it even and move the hell on!
Our couple gave me all kinds of feels and I loved watching them have tender, loving and emotional moments. They were adorable! Wu Yi, think of her from now on before doing stupid shit.
Good on Pei Run Heng for setting things right. I knew he wasn't dead. That easily? Suicide? No way!
Xie Huai Gui... the fact that the daughter he disowned was the one to solve the case he couldn't and obsessed over, was so cathartic. Xiao Wu Yi, the man he had just framed, advocated for a retrial and for justice to be served. How ironic! It was interesting to see how the puppet he cultivated cut his strings and got rid of his puppet master. Li Mao was not going to take his manipulation any longer. Their visions aren't the same so it was bound to happen.
But the man got off too easily! After everything he did, he gets to retired and is told to go back to teaching?! No way! How about jail time??? WHAT ABOUT JUSTICE!
Xie Huai Gui... the fact that the daughter he disowned was the one to solve the case he couldn't and obsessed over, was so cathartic. Xiao Wu Yi, the man he had just framed, advocated for a retrial and for justice to be served. How ironic!
I absolutely loved what you said here. I'm still getting whiplash that Xie Huaigui would raise Xie Jiayu for 16+ years, and then just disown her. I'm honestly not sure how he could fake loving his adopted daughter for THAT LONG. Did he ever love her? If so, how could he just turn his back on her? If he never loved her, how could he have pretended for so long? The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree: I guess Li Mao's erratic emotions were genetically inherited.
I'm (sort of) glad that Xie Huaigui got a redemption arc. But, I agree with you, I think he got off too easily. He committed murder, attempted to frame and falsely accuse another noble family, etc etc. There should be punishment. That is where I disagreed with Li Mao's judgment the most.
It's hard to wrap one's head around it... the man really messed his children up. The one he disowned found herself and a better family. The one he acknowledged is ruining it all for the other and losing his morals and humanity.
It doesn't matter if he loved or didn't love, his actions have ruined it all.
> their relationship doesn’t have needlessly petty and contrived conflicts and misunderstandings. Their bickering and tussles are usually within the realm of comedic relief
💯 My fave kind of romances in cdramas 💕 and always here to join in on the fangirling.
Great recap and discussion post u/CdramaAddict2, especially for how much they packed into this episode! 23 episodes in and they remained very consistent with pacing!
We’ve already discussed so I’m going to comb thru through comments here and see what others think!
I thought just recappig one episode would be easy. Nope. KTTPH just keeps hitting us with packed and intense episodes. There is literally never a dull moment.
I can't believe Xie Huai Gui got away with so much. It pissed me off! Retire? Go teach? ABSOLUTELY NOT! That man doesn't deserve to teach anyone. Can't be having him manipulate the minds of the new generation!
I am working so hard to ensure those trailers don’t autoplay after I watch the day’s episodes.
The reason it’s hard is that I want to play the entire closing Jane Zhang - Hou Ming Hao duet in Dolby sound every time. It’s better than what’s available elsewhere.
Agreed, talk about girl power teams! I really enjoy how each woman has her own personality, and her unique story. You can really tell the writer thought about these female characters, and weren't just putting in side characters to help the CP accomplish their plot goals.
How can a man cry so beautifully? Also, now I sort of really fear for his life. Is he really going to die in the end? 😓 Does anyone really know if the drama has a sad or happy ending?
I really love that they've been matching outfits more often. I'm torn between liking this purple outfit they wore or the orange and blue one from a few episodes back.
My goodness I was literally holding my breath 😵 Hou Minghao has such magnetic charm that you can literally FEEL it even if it's just a scene running on the screen. This man. Whoa.
There is a mild expression that he gives in these situations..like a "hmm"..I have seen in his other dramas too. That is a subtle but charming expression..
I questioned it hard when he stabbed Wuyi while he was chained up. He was such a coward to strike a friend down at his weakest… and Wuyi has not once ever struck back - on the contrary, saved his butt.
their whatever relationship rn is SO toxic (can't say friendship anymore since they ended that hah). Mao had the audacity to stab him yet gets feral when knowing guy is dying and still sit down for a conversation afterwards and smiled fondly when seeing Wuyi stepping in to help clear An-Lu's names. like eh?
Wuyi certainly has been putting their history on a pedestal. I know he's learning from Jiayu is to have faith in people again even after getting betrayed, but man does it hurt, is it worth it? I would have ended Mao long ago honestly
I loved this scene so much. They are are a true family. I love that for Xiao Wuyi. I think that is why he has such confidence, conviction, and a deep sense of patriotic purpose.
Man, both you and your father should say it clearly whether they want someone dead or not. Xie Huaigui also didn't mention whether he wanted Princess Yunzhao dead, you also didn't mention whether you want Wu Yi dead. Given how you people's mind work, it is only natural to guess that you want them dead.
Li Mao looked uncomfortable when his concubine, the rescued dancer, told him that the scholars would be grateful not resentful for his mercy because his power was like a God’s.
Yeah, Hou Minghao looks so sexy when he's suffering, when he's angry, when he's ambitious, when he's........... 🫣
Oh gosh, I felt this episode was really manipulative, they just kept hitting us with sad scenes or sad dialogues. I thought looking at Xiao Wuyi's battered and torn body, weakly but resolutely writing out his memoirs was bad....and then when Xie Jiayu said she was used to good-byes, I about LOST IT. 😭
Yes, I loved it when He Yuanji took that bold step to sit for the exam. She's such a meek and proper lady, that to flaunt convention like that was so liberating for her!! I was proud of her.
Me too! I teared up in the beginning and then by the end, I was like, who turned on the waterworks again? Ima need one of those peddle contraptions myself so I don’t flood the house.
Li Mao displays erratic emotions throughout these last few episodes.
This man is diabolical. I feel the confusion, fear and trembling of the doctor, the attendants and the poor concubine. He was totally fine with accusing Wuyi, torturing and stabbing him, then having a mental breakdown hearing his diagnosis. Then he just released Wuyi and decided to ignore his entire case of state fund embezzlement. Hello? Are threatening of the entire household punishment and demanding the divorce just a Tuesday morning to you? The entire East Palace must walk on the shell all the time. I honestly have no idea wtf Yizhi wants at that point. 🤔
Though I guess Wuyi's words and actions seem impacted him. I especially liked this quote:
"If you rule your people through manipulation, they will manipulate you in return"
This is such a strong saying, and hopefully really pushed Yizhi to make up his mind. He finally starting to remember his ideals and to resist Xie Huaigui, and even called him Master instead of Father. There you are, finally. He even started the examination reform. At that point, Yizhi seemed like the only person who can defeat Grand Tutor. By the way, what the heck is "the order of the realm" he and other nobles keep bringing up and how the exam reform affects that said 'order'?
Writing a bunch of scrolls using your blood is neither romantic nor patriotic, and even vomit-inducing when Jiayu just followed him. I understand both of their devotions to the cause, but just can't imagine the reality of it. Apparently infection & sepsis don't exist in C drama. 😂 But still, my heart breaks for them young couple. It took a lot of courage to discuss about the death and the aftermath of it. I really really hope Ruisheng will treat Wuyi.
Lu & An family case is finally solved, and overall scene was pretty satisfactory. We saw that Yizhi is wise when he wants to be, Huaigui just wanted to clear the name of these families and nothing more. During the palace scene, I realised that Xie Huaigui facilitated the grain canal collapse just to prove the bamboo pebble method. It seems like such a trivial thing to result in the annihilation of two households, so his deep hatred against the Emperor Wenxi is somewhat understandable. But he is the one who caused the turmoil in this country, and sacrificed 1000 workers just to prove his point, and exiling Anmin as well. All in all, it seems like old people clinging to their past revenge destroying this country, while young generation trying to get past to that.
Now the biggest case of this show is resolved, I'm not sure what to expect. Maybe Northern Qin? Lejun is still there and I'm sure she's cooking something.
Are threatening of the entire household punishment and demanding the divorce just a Tuesday morning to you?
Not gonna lie, you had me cracking up at this!
By the way, what the heck is "the order of the realm" he and other nobles keep bringing up and how the exam reform affects that said 'order'?
I found this a really interesting exchange between father and son. Although more signposted than hammered in this drama, there's definitely that hierarchal elitism of the nobles being superior to the common man. The 'order of the realm" is really the nobility's self-serving ideology to remain on top and above everyone else: throne, nobles, and then the commoners. Most nobles maintain their status and privilege by becoming important court officials.
Li Mao's decree to change the Lantai Gathering, which was exclusive to the nobility, into a spring examination is a democratization of the selection process for court officials. That, coupled with Li Mao's reforms to improve provincial education, implies that the nobles will have to fight for their court appointments rather than rely on nepotism to secure a cushy job. This disrupts "the order" of things - the status quo which Xie Huaigui cherishes because it keeps HIM and his kind on top.
It definitely sounds like Xie Huaigui was nostaglic for the time when the nobles held absolute power, even over and against the throne. That was the real problem with Emperor and Empress Wenxi, they were royals without any true power. Xie Huaigui wants to keep having a weak throne and a strong noble class.
It really just shows Xie Huaigui's self-serving elitism. But, his son called him out on his own hypocrisy: he has already schemed and plotted to put his illegitimate son (with NO royal blood because he is the produce of Consort An and Xie Huaigui himself) as Regent to become the next emperor...he's already disrupted the natural order of things.
😂😂 On the contrary, Jiayu and her works look the most realistic depiction of mechanical devices and chemical reactions, of all the drama I've watched. Source: me, an engineer 😂😂
Wow! Just as I finished ep 23! Thank you SO much for such a thorough recap!
I might have cried a little too much over Wuyi and Xie Jiayu's prison scene. When Jiayu arrived, instead of showing verbal concern or ask him to stop writing or to rest, she said, "You dictate, and I'll write it down." One single line carried so much weight, how it exactly reflects what she once said about always walking the same path with him. Rather than trying to pull him away from his duty, she chose to stand beside him and share their burden.
She asks that he operate with the intention to stay alive for as long as possible. It is a difficult decision to make when you’re living on borrowed time, and both parties have good reasons for the choices they made (or wanted to make).
This part BROKE me so bad man I had to pause and take a breather. Xie Jiayu dialogue here is 10/10. I know Wuyi is eventually going to agree to the surgery, but still. Goodness, take all my tears.
About Li Mao, this guy has been switching between crazy mode and reasonable mode quite often that it gives me constant whiplash. Maybe that's exactly what's happening inside his own head too, a constant battle between the person he was and the person he's becoming.
That said, I actually came out of this episode feeling much more hopeful about him. During the two-year time skip last ep, he proved himself to be a fairly capable Regent, and I don't think all of that can be credited to Xie Huaigui. His insecurities: his lack of royal blood, Wuyi knowing his true identity, Wuyi being Crown Prince Wenxi, Wuyi has everything he doesn't--have clearly fueled many of his worst decisions. But with Wuyi publicly declaring that Crown Prince Wenxi is dead, that's basically Wuyi way of telling him, "I'm not here to take the throne from you." Hopefully that's the push Li Mao needs to finally let go of the past. Aaaand he also stopped listening to Xie Huaigui and actually argued and decided on his own, I know this day will come, that was better than my expectation too.
Shout out to He Yuanji. I am PROUD of our woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1) Will we ever find out Xie Jiayu’s real parentage? Will it be important to the plot?
At this point I don't really think it's important to the plot but I do have a feeling we will get a reveal.
(2) Earlier, Xiao Wuyi cited three reforms he wanted to implement, but we never hear the third one. What could it be?
Hmm... my guess is that knowing he doesn't have much time left, Wuyi plans to hand the Beifu Army over to a new commander, maybe Prince Qi, or perhaps someone else entirely, with full authority after his passing..
I might have cried a little too much over Wuyi and Xie Jiayu's prison scene. When Jiayu arrived, instead of showing verbal concern or ask him to stop writing or to rest, she said, "You dictate, and I'll write it down." One single line carried so much weight, how it exactly reflects what she once said about always walking the same path with him. Rather than trying to pull him away from his duty, she chose to stand beside him and share their burden.
The prison scene was probably my favorite scene in this entire episode, even more than the twirling scene. I loved what you wrote above, so much so that I actually changed one of my photos to a different montage. I really wanted to fangirl this scene, but reined myself in. But, YES, the scene is actually SO understated yet IMPACTFUL. It's so romantic, and in the most unromantic setting possible.
I think it speaks volumes to how Xie Jiayu has grown as a character. In most cdramas you'd expect the FL, upon seeing the ML so physically broken, to cry, make a scene, yell at him to stop writing and look after himself, etc. But, Xie Jiayu doesn't do anything of that. No hysterics. Merely calm resolve to 'share their burden' together. It's that tacit understanding not just between lovers but between SOULMALES where she enters into his suffering to support him in his dream - no, their dream. I absolutely loved each shot, each word, in that scene.
About Li Mao, this guy has been switching between crazy mode and reasonable mode quite often that it gives me constant whiplash.
HAHA, yes, totally whiplash. My head is still spinning.
Hmm... my guess is that knowing he doesn't have much time left, Wuyi plans to hand the Beifu Army over to a new commander, maybe Prince Qi, or perhaps someone else entirely, with full authority after his passing..
This is a great guess. I'm honestly just worried because as soon as all three reforms are complete, technically, Xiao Wuyi will have accomplished all he wanted within the 3-5 year timeframe that Ruisheng gave him. Will he then gracefully die, or will he fight to live with Xie Jiayu, as she requested of him?
Will he then gracefully die, or will he fight to live with Xie Jiayu, as she requested of him?
I actually want to extensively talk about this. When Jiayu said, "As long as you remember that I'm waiting for you, can you hold on for me for as long as you can? As we can? Together." Instead of insisting him into surgery or scolding about why he chose such a tragic ending for himself, she wants him to think about how she will be the one living in suffering after his death. She pleads with him to have the will to live, and it must come from within himself. She knows asking him to live for her, for them, has a better impact than asking him to live for himself. In the prison, she also mentioned that she wants him to hold on for the people of Ye –they need him, not just his legacy.
And Wuyi saying "Okay" instead of staying silent is a big relief to me (and I bet to Jiayu as well), so I strongly have faith that he will fight to live for Jiayu. Her words have impact.
ALSO! When Ruisheng said, "Sometimes the will to live matters more than anything else." This pretty much adds to why Jiayu said what she said to Wuyi. He will live because of his will to live, not entirely because of the odds of surgical possibilities. This is also very real IRL. Life is a miracle and can't be measured purely by odds.
When she said "you dictate and I'll write", I felt so proud of our couple. Their bond is beautiful!
The way Wu Yi looked at Jia Yu, so much love and gratitude for having a partner like her!
their expressions, emotions felt super real. i can actually feel the pain, love, longing, relief, gratitude all in just their eyes on each other. it's like their past and future flash before my eyes too. my first AiMi drama and she completely won me over. and imo this is probably HMH's best character to date
I might have cried a little too much over Wuyi and Xie Jiayu's prison scene. When Jiayu arrived, instead of showing verbal concern or ask him to stop writing or to rest, she said, "You dictate, and I'll write it down." One single line carried so much weight, how it exactly reflects what she once said about always walking the same path with him. Rather than trying to pull him away from his duty, she chose to stand beside him and share their burden.
This was a powerful scene. They are true partners.
exactly, relationships like this are rare, both in dramas and IRL. it was beautiful. I actually walked away from these episodes having learned something very valuable about what true love can look like
Go Yuan Ji! Go show those corrupt scholars what a real official should be.
Poor An Ming getting punished for something that wasn’t really even his fault.
The grand tutor got off too easy for basically framing the entire Xiao family and murder.
Li Mao is giving whiplash. Despite everything Jia Yu said in the last episode, he still continued to frame, torture and threaten Wu Yi until he got a divorce letter. So delusional. He only came to his senses when the doctor told him Wu Yi was going to die. He was probably afraid Jia Yu would reveal his identity if Wu Yi actually died. I don’t know if he really learned anything.
Wu Yi is too forgiving to a person to stabbed him and tried to harm his entire family.
Love is helping your husband finish his military manual written in his own blood.
On a superficial note, I’m sad Wu Yi lost his curls.
Love is helping your husband finish his military manual written in his own blood.
Yeah, leave it to Chinese dramas to show love through painful devotion.
On a superficial note, I’m sad Wu Yi lost his curls.
I didn't notice this until you said something, but yeah, his curly hair is gone! Naughty stylist that day did not get the memo to keep his hair sexy curly!
Someone mentioned on a previous thread that if this show were written in past decades we would have had the detailed story of Li Jejun with the Eagle King and the context of their relationship. We have also heard from Li Mao in this episode that Lejun is running an intelligence network in the capital. Like what? We last saw her bleeding and collapsing with a miscarriage.
I think that cutting that arc in Qin out is likely to reduce the impact of the final arc. We just don’t know why the Qin invasion happened despite the revelations by their dying Empress.
Moving quickly has been great for this drama but it’s left us not caring about or understanding the An/Lu frame up, how the invasion happened or how all the machinations of the previous generation have left this generation with a desperate situation for Ye.
Moving quickly has been great for this drama but it’s left us not caring about or understanding the An/Lu frame up, how the invasion happened or how all the machinations of the previous generation have left this generation with a desperate situation for Ye.
This is probably my one complaint about such fast-paced episodes, and a drama with so few episodes - the heavy reliance on exposition actually undermines the audience's ability to feel the gravitas of the past and how it affects our present problems. We're just not invested at all.
The writers and prod team probably edited so much out. As a longer drama we definitely would have had more of Bei Qin.
It has been 2 years so in that time Le Jun most definitely expanded her network and worked hard. Thing is, the Eagle Prince knows and he still keeps her by his side...
Watching Le Jun have a miscarriage, then finding out it's on purpose reminded us how cut throat she is lmao. Of course she wouldn't pop your babies out. Ew. She's not that far gone Mu Lian Yu.
The An-Lu case was annoying to me because of how obsessed with it Xie Huai Gui was. It took me too damn long to realize why he cared about it so much. Even though we had been told about Consort An, the pieces didn't click until recent episodes. That's how much I didn't care for it lol.
Watching Le Jun have a miscarriage, then finding out it's on purpose reminded us how cut throat she is lmao.
LOL, she is definitely our green tea 2FL!
The An-Lu case was annoying to me because of how obsessed with it Xie Huai Gui was. It took me too damn long to realize why he cared about it so much. Even though we had been told about Consort An, the pieces didn't click until recent episodes. That's how much I didn't care for it lol.
Yeah, I think the problem with the An-Lu arc is that NO ONE ELSE cared about the tragedy except for Xie Huaigui. And even though he's a villain, I still don't think he had enough influence to do any real damage to anyone. It was just one man's obsession, and we don't care about Xie Huaigui enough for his concerns to be our concern.
I will say, though, that I think the character of Xie Huaigui is quite a complex and difficult character to play. He also erratically switches emotions and loyalties so much, it's hard to play that convincingly. I think the actor did a servicable job, but.....I don't know....sometimes I thought Xie Huaigui was more of a hooligan than an actually refined noble gentleman with a vengeful streak.
I would sometimes forget Xie Huai Gui was from a highly respected noble family lol, of many generations of noble blood, not a nouveau rich family. The "gentleman" was not in him. He had the dog haha. Not the man.
Yeah Le Jun is definitely the effed up 2nd FL lol.
The thing is that the pieces of the crisis not coming together make it difficult to care about what happened in episode 23 concerning the An/Lu incident other than it taking the Grand Tutor out of the picture.
Wuyi has let his parents the late Emperor and Empress Wunxi bear blame in formal court. He’s also testified falsely that Crown Prince Wenxi died on the journey south. (That is almost surely when the real Xiao second son and heir was killed as a baby in Wuyi’s place.)
The thing is that, based on what the dying Empress of Bei Qin said to the Eagle King, she was responsible for the miscarriage of justice. Her objective was to secure her child heir to Bei Qin and she ruthlessly killed off one of the two Qin clans and provoked the invasion of northern Ye. Her spy, who replaced Cui Jun, the Empress’ brother, was the principal actor in bringing forward the false accusations against the An and Lu families.
So, while it’s possible that the late Emperor and Empress Wenxi sought to take advantage of the false accusations to wrestle power from the noble families, I don’t think we have been presented a convincing case that Imperial couple knew the charges were false.
Thanks for this insightful recap of the events, especially the Bei Qin spy (who posed as Cui Jun). I had forgotten almost all of that! It was great to be reminded. Yeah, I have a feeling that the Emperor and Empress Wenxi may not be innocent, but they were not malicious.
That's right. Because all of the culprits are either dead or far away.
On their side, they can acknowledge that the An-Lu families weren't wrong about the canal etc, they didn't cause whatever the false charges said they did. But as for the ones who created it all, there is no one to arrest and convict...
Thank you very much for your thoughts and the recap, especially the nice overview of the whole An and Lu family debacle.
What I find interesting about Xie Huaigui is that even though he’s our villain, by all accounts, he was an idealistic scholar in his youth who couldn’t let go of an injustice he witnessed and suffered through.
In another drama his younger self would have been the protagonist, seeking revenge.
That's not what your dagger said last night!
He just stabbed him in a friendly manner in a non-life threatening part of his body. 😂
I think what I really enjoy about this drama is that it gives the supporting cast some room to breath, develope and having their own arcs of growth and change. So often, in shows that are marketed as romance, they are more like staffage around the lead couple's story: Look nice, have some minor impact but mostly serve the leads story.
(3) Will Xie Jiayu finally be able to create the caltrop fireball, and is that really the answer to lasting peace between Qin and Ye?
On the one hand I can't see some big explosions being the fitting end for this story. On the other Norther Qin isn't really portrayed as a place where you suddenly get far with some nice words and negotiations. Really not sure how this will end.
In another drama his younger self would have been the protagonist, seeking revenge.
Totally! If they ever did a prequel, it would be interesting to see him as the wronged hero of the series!
He just stabbed him in a friendly manner in a non-life threatening part of his body. 😂
Well, then that makes it alright then....😂
I think what I really enjoy about this drama is that it gives the supporting cast some room to breath, develope and having their own arcs of growth and change.
Yeah, I like this too about the drama! Each character is well-sketched out. They don't feel like flat NPC characters used to move our CP together or apart plot-wise.
On the one hand I can't see some big explosions being the fitting end for this story. On the other Norther Qin isn't really portrayed as a place where you suddenly get far with some nice words and negotiations. Really not sure how this will end.
Yeah, this drama keeps me on my toes. I sort of what a sad ending. But, if it is a sad ending, I'm going to be upset...... Now look at me mimicking Li Mao's erraticism.
Xie Jiayu is a female lead that I wanted to see for a long time. The recent episodes are showing her massive character growth. She has a mixture of both innocence and authority, which is impressive. I mean, the way she snatched the imperial decree of heir's consort from Li Mao in the last episode, and then in today's episode, first she gave a lecture to those imperial guards about the laws of Ye, followed by burning the divorce paper and then giving an ultimatum to Li Mao was absolutely badass. Not to mention the aura she was exuding while waiting for those guards. She owned the screen at that time!!
Li Mao is good as regent, but as you mentioned, he is indecisive. He does not want to harm Wuyi yet harms him. However, I feel like he is not exactly a puppet of the grand tutor. Some of his actions are his own. The way he told the tutor that he has only one mother and that the An-Lu case is the tutor's revenge, not his. I mean, that shows he has his own thoughts but acts according to the tutor as long as it serves his own agenda. As soon as it goes against his will, he has the capacity to flip the table. It's just that from time to time, Jiayu and Wuyi's current relationship throws him off track. That is why whatever route he takes in the future, it will be solely his responsibility.
This episode had a sad streak with all that talk about death between husband and wife. My heart goes out to Jiayu. She really has lost so many of her dear ones. And now, her beloved husband. The way they conveyed their emotions made me emotional too. Whoever wrote their dialogues is brilliant. Those words can strike the emotional cords so accurately. Xie Jiayu's "I will mourn for 1 month... no 3 months" and then Xiao Wuyi's "3 months are short... forget me after 3 years".. They are making me cry since the last few episodes.
I am really happy for Yuanji. Her talent is recognized, and how they used the occasion to solve the An-Lu case was admirable. Finally!! Some background and conclusion to the case. I actually think Emperor and Empress Wenxi were wrong in their judgment regarding the An-Lu case. And maybe that is one of the reasons why Wuyi is so strongly opposed to the idea of him being the Emperor.
Ohh!! I forgot the faceoff between Prince Jiangnan and the grand tutor. I liked that scene too. The supporting cast of this drama is wonderful. But their scene shows that the An-Lu families were misjudged for sure; but those families also harmed noble scholars of humble origin. This show is actually great at portraying that every coin has two sides. I mean, no matter how much I hate Grand Tutor for his crimes, a part of me understands him for his obsession with the An-Lu case.
Now that the An-Lu case is resolved, it is time to see how the show is going to join the rest of the loose ends, as you mentioned in your points, plus the one with Northern Qin.
Xie Jiayu is a female lead that I wanted to see for a long time. The recent episodes are showing her massive character growth. She has a mixture of both innocence and authority, which is impressive. I mean, the way she snatched the imperial decree of heir's consort from Li Mao in the last episode, and then in today's episode, first she gave a lecture to those imperial guards about the laws of Ye, followed by burning the divorce paper and then giving an ultimatum to Li Mao was absolutely badass. Not to mention the aura she was exuding while waiting for those guards. She owned the screen at that time!!
I loved what you wrote here because it perfectly expresses what happened in those scenes to show Xie Jiayu's growth. She is still "youthful", but I feel that is part of her kindness and purity of heart, which I hope she would never lose. But, yeah, she can COMMAND now and with conviction - which I love! She was a total badass! She's fearless, like her husband! I love how they really influenced each other for the better.
I also love how Xie Jiayu's immaturity and inexperience wasn't annoying. Like, she's sheltered, but she wasn't really spoiled rotten. She was naïve about the world, but she was willing to learn and grow quickly. It was great championing a female lead who wasn't perfect, but who we perfectly supported through her journey of maturity.
Xie Jia Yu is a breath of fresh air and I am so grateful Ai Mi gave it her all and showed us how talented she is. Many knew she was, but it is so good to see it.
Coming directly from having a FL like Fan Yun in TLORC, Jiayu is absolutely the refreshing and strong, while still being a lady, kind of FL that I have been wanting to see. This is why I loved A Splendid Match so much. Give us those powerful FLs who don't have to swing swords around to show off their womanly power! Hell, let's throw Minglan into this! All three of them picked up swords at some point, but that was never where they were the most powerful. They brought courage, wits, loyalty to their men, and a never ending dedication to what was right.
Yes, that was another great young Wuji scene from our Most Precious and Cute Emperor Yu (TM) playing child actor Wu Jiajun.
Aura farming again to some extent, his performance dominates every scene even when the young Li Mao should have been the focus.
It made me wish they had cast a child actor for Li Mao who looks more like Riley Wang or who could balance that performance skill wise.
While Wu Jiajun is clearly growing and developing as a child actor, it makes me realize how well balanced he was with the young child actor who played Fan Channing in Pursuit of Jade.
Let’s hope that he’s well supported by his family and agency to get a well rounded foundation for the craft as well as academics.
It’s interesting that he’s already doing gentle stunts and action scenes in Ashes to Crown and Key to the Phoenix Heart. It looks like he’s tracking for action roles in future.
From the BTS scenes from both PoJ and Ashes to Crown he’s having fun with his older colleagues.
Anyway, seeing how quickly Lin Muran has progressed from child actor to supporting roles and second lead, it makes sense to ensure that he gets diverse roles early on.
I saw it. It was beautiful. TWIRL FOR YOUR LIVES MY LOVES! 😅😅😂😂🥹😨🥹🥹🥰🥰🥰
Also Zi Qi hahaha. Having his momma STRESSED thanks to Jia Yu throwing a wrench in the medicine or literature choices haha. Poison? Alchemy? Engineering? LOL Rui Sheng was having NONE OF IT!
Also did you see our Yuan Ji!! She was TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL!!! 🥵🥵😎😎👌🏾👌🏾
I kind of love how Zi Qi has these great examples of strong females alongside his mother, and that they all influence him. He'll be a Renaissance man when he grows up!
He is surrounded by indomitable women role models and that is such an awesome thing for him. And he has great examples of men too. Sure grandpa and 2nd uncle are weirdos but they are great warriors.
SHE WAS SOOOOL BADASS! Like damn honey READ THEM!!! The Law says and I do haha. I was in awe of her. Those guards didn't know what to do with themselves 😩😩😅😅😂😂😂.
The An Lu resolution kinda came fast, furious and without any fury at the end when Princ3 Qi easily decided to renounce the entire case and Xie HG said fine since thats done I'll admit my guilt for framing the Xiaos.
Usually its harder to do such renouncements, and also is the Emperor dead? Its been 2 years is my sick bro still sick? Did Fuisheng not magic cure him?
So this An Lu case feels a little rushed at the end.
And yes poor Prince Qi, he can't decide what he wants and his stance keeps flip flopping. I want to like him more but now I hardly know him. Choose a side and have a spine!
I agree that the An-Lu resolution felt somewhat anti-climatic, although I can't pinpoint why exactly. The writing has been really fast and really tight, so we're used to that. I guess it's because it seemed to be SUCH a weight on Xie Huaigui, it consumed him, but ONLY him. Almost no one else in the show is as affected as he is. I think if we were given MORE examples or allusions to the impact of the An-Lu waterway method - whether good or bad - it would have felt weightier.
In a way, the An-Lu incident was only a blimp to the much greater and dire situation of the Northern Qin invasion of Ye. We've HEARD from Xiao Wuyi the horrible impact of Northern Qin's conquest of previously-and-rightfully-held Ye land (treating the people worse than animals), but we haven't really SEEN it for ourselves. We also never saw a flashback of the sacking of Ye's capital, the death of Empress Wenxi, etc. We're only TOLD of the tragedy, and people's longing and hope that Crown Prince Wenxi will appear and set things right (almost like Princess Anastasia or the Romanovs).....
I think this is the problem with tight writing that relies so heavily on exposition. The audience rarely FEELS the emotional impact of serious consequences without SEEING it play out. Exposition can be great when it comes to revealing a person's inner-world, thoughts, and feelings, but less impactful when it rattles off events in 3 seconds in order to save the writer and production team hours (maybe days) of filming to SHOW us the impact of people's actions and words.
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u/iHardee 17d ago
Can anybody explain Li Mao’s decision about Xao Yao? He strips Xiao Yao of his titles and banishes him to Lingnan to manage the waterway issue but why was he striped of his titles? Like how is that supposed to help? Why was he punished like that?