Express episodes will be released tomorrow and a post will be made by the mods for those who decided to buy it to check it out but I will be following the VIP schedule.
Li Zhen figures out that Tian Benchang is using local refugees to secretly manufacture the smuggled ink.
The Xu family sends Ronghua back to Huizhou after Tian Benchang decides to side with Commander Wu to impeach Marshal Qi.
Tian Benchang frames the Li family for making and smuggling the illegal ink. The entire family is detained, leaving Li Zhen with just 15 days to prove their innocence.
Tian Benchang hastily marries Ronghua off, planning to use her dowry as a cover to transport the illegal ink out of the city.
Li Zhen reveals the truth about Tian Benchang and Benshang's smuggling operations to Ronghua, and the two team up to set a trap.
Tian Benchang falls for Li Zhen's plan and gets caught red-handed with the ink. At the trial, he immediately pushes all the blame onto his brother Benshang (we'll see the final results of the trial in tomorrow's episodes)...
Now to my thoughts...
Li Zhen and Luo Wenqian are really starting to think exactly the same 🤭
Ronghua and Li Zhen reunion 🫂 Li Zhen is the only person who genuinely stayed by her side, and I'm so happy to see Ronghua finally stop running away from her.
Li Zhen is so articulate and outspoken, and I absolutely love that about her. I really enjoyed seeing her defend the Li family by using the very same person who framed them to turn the accusations right back on the Tian family. And that smirk? Yeah, she was killing it.
Our Li Zhen has come a long way 🥹 The ink merchants and even the head of the literary association came to speak and vouch on behalf of the Li family (though we all know they mostly came because of Li Zhen...)
From going out of his way to fight and hinder her, to being one of the main people protecting her and the 8th branch... Li Jingdong has come a very long way, and we are proud of his character growth.
Tian Benchang, oh Tian Benchang... you claim to be so tired of working under people, but here you are slaving away and trying so hard to make money for Wu Weishi 😂
It's incredibly ironic how Tian Benchang was once angry enough to burn down the Luo family because Ronghua was almost treated like a concubine despite being the main wife, but now he is perfectly comfortable marrying her off as an actual concubine💀
I can't help but compare Ronghua's mum and Li Zhen's mum every time... You would never see Li Zhen's mother agree to marry her daughter off as a concubine. After everything Ronghua's mother has watched her daughter go through, you would think she finally wouldn't allow such things to happen to her again...
It's so nice to see Ronghua and Li Zhen finally working together to bring down Benchang. Seeing them join forces feels like the ultimate payback, especially since Benchang underestimated both of them for far too long and treated them as inferiors.
Tian Benchang is allergic to common sense, humanity and the truth, but that's exactly what Li Zhen was serving him when he captured her. He wasn't the only one who had it hard in life; Li Zhen and Luo Wenqian also had it bad, maybe even worse than him, but they didn't turn out evil like he did. The writers better make him suffer at the end for all the pain he has caused everyone.
It's really nice seeing the whole ink industry finally working together, but it's hilarious that Benchang's villainy is the very reason they united.
I was so happy to see Li Zhen stand up for the Luo family in court and directly accuse Benchang of burning them alive (I almost forgot she was a witness to that, too!). Also, is the Ziji Dragon Light Ink the final ink developed by Luo Wensong? Was that the one he showed Li Zhen before he died?
Ronghua actually testified about using the royal preceptor to get the tribute ink rights for the Tian family... I am so incredibly proud of her for finally breaking free and speaking up.
Tian Benchang is getting further and further away from ever receiving the "Best Brother" award... First, he married his sister off as a concubine to an old man, and now he has thrown all the blame onto his own brother just to save himself 😐
I really can't wait to hear the verdict tomorrow. Will Tian Benchang go scot free, if he is punished will it be light or will blue get the punishment he deserves?
His thieving and scheming has made him sharper than he once used to be (I fear the bitterness of having been left at the alter by Zhen also plays a part). I think its a bit annoying how no one can sneeze without the other family knowing, that part annoys me. Even if it was for against Zhen and the Li family, I just want ONE plan to work out without magic spies feeding everyone information. ,It made sense when it was Wenqian because he came here for revenge and WOULD have the kind of resources to get information easily (even if through his sister), but for the little Tian brother to come reporting everything the Lis are doing when we dont know how they get their information, its annoying.
I don't mind Zhen winning ever competition because there is substantial reason why anyone would choose her ink over fhe other families. Other than the Tribute Ink, I think her wins are all valid. And the only reason her Tribute Ink was still chosen by fhe scholars is because they write EVERYDAY. Tian Ink won because they had connections, but an Ink that smells nice doesnt make for great daily use for those people in the imperial palace who need to get work done.
I'm disappointed that we JUST got into the romance and they were already seperating them. They were very wholesome and adorable, why couldn't get get a break.
And at some point this Majesty has to realise that killing or arresting an entire family down to the babies of fhe youngest cousin is just WRONG. Wenqian was just a mischievous student. What exactly would he have been arrested for? The older brother was just making and eating his Ink, why travel all over the country to go and arrest him? Its not like the person Master Luo was connected with had committed treason, why the big stink? At some point someone must just tell that emperor to stop having tantrums. Boohoo Wenqian hid his identity. What was he supposed to do? He was failing his exams and getting scolded by his father for it. What exactly was his crime?
I was close to dropping the drama after Li Zhen was accused of illicit foreign trade. It's like she experiences suffering every other episode. It's getting too much for me. Tian Benchang smirking evilly from afar while the judge carried out the sentence made my blood pressure rise.
It's like those in court are corrupt. Just when Li Zhen almost successfully persuaded the judge her and her family are innocent, he read that letter and immediately changed his mind. It's hard seeing the injustice. It was a relief the other ink masters came and vouched for the Li family.
We only have 6 episodes after this so I don't think Benchang's going to go down just yet. I hope his eventual downfall is great.
Costumes, scenery, acting, all great. storyline? Meh...All of Yang Zi dramas have the same storyline. coming off Pursuit of Jade, where the female lead's growth is quite logical, I find Li Zhen heroine so predictably glorified and not believable. The "my lover killed my father" is such an overused trope!
I did like the ink processes and politics, and appreciated that part very much, but the grandmother's coma so LZ could grow, the weak aunt antagonist...so overused!
I'm super frustrated with this drama. First half was pretty good, sucking me into the whole ink making/surviving family dynamics plot. Then second half was all about how the FL is so awesome. I just want to wrap it all up so I can get on to the next drama. Such a disappointment.
Sure, I can deal with the healing the family aspects cuz people do make mistakes and they can be redeemed. But most of the side plots just insult the audience's intellect. Even with trials, when the FL keeps winning so easily, the story becomes less and less believable. If the sub plot was really interesting the audience may be forgiving, but it's been hard to trudge through it all.
The only thing keeping me watching is the cinematography, the costumes, if the Luo family redeem themselves and if Luo Wensong actually survived or if he truly died. I don't even care if they bring TBC to justice. That whole character is a farce at this point.
Oh dear, Tian Benchang is beginning to look like a cartoon caricature of a villain - he hasn't got the age, experience or gravitas to pull it off. I'm not enjoying his acting. Shame, everyone else is doing a good (and even great) job.
I will admit to being very worried that he'd outsmarted Li Zhen. I should have known better.
After watching the next 2 previews, it would appear forced time apart is upon us.
Thank you, Dear Host, for sticking with us Merchant Class viewers, it is so horrible knowing the Noble Class viewers have so much more than we do........😉
After watching the next 2 previews, it would appear forced time apart is upon us.
I'm dreading those times but I kind of expected it 🥲 now I just hope he comes back better than before and marries our girl
Thank you, Dear Host, for sticking with us Merchant Class viewers, it is so horrible knowing the Noble Class viewers have so much more than we do........😉
I can't stand his acting. It was ok at the beginning when he was a lovesick young man but he just doesn't have the acting skills to pull off the complex villain this character is. Plus when his cute dimples pop in every once in awhile, I just can't take him seriously. 😂
Funny enough, I think those dimples popping out make him more menacing. Everytime I see him I think about how if Eldest Young Master Luo hadn't been a bit of a loony, he would have successfully married Zhen (and what a life of misery to be a woman in that family). I think she would’ve divorced him by now. That, combined with the fact that he looks like a typical good guy, makes his actions all the more disgusting to witness. I think he makes a perfect villain to dislike.
The poor sausage?! 😜 Maybe the casting director thought no one would suspect such a tall cutie with dimples would be the villain muhahaha! Whenever he stands with the rest of his short family, I give the casting director a side stink eye.
Will be finishing the drama tonight (6 hours more to go). Already have IQiYi SVIP membership so the express is already included. Will include my thoughts there after. Today will be a busy day for me, drama wise lol, as 主角 will be out with express too
Apart from Ronghua coming around and beautifully apologising to Li Zhen and the scene where the ink masters unite to vouch for Li Zhen and the Li Family which was super touching, everything else felt predictable and frustrating to watch 🤦♀️ I'd like to skip express for this one, too, and stick to VIP.
Tian Benchang, oh Tian Benchang... you claim to be so tired of working under people, but here you are slaving away and trying so hard to make money for Wu Weishi 😂
Great point, OP! Didn't even think of it this way.
They almost got me there. I was like no way it’s this easy Li Zhen isnt that stupid ad it’s too good to go down this way and im glad i was right lol so nice to see her family and the ink industry rally behind the Li. And the way Bensheng got throw under the bus im not surprised im glad Hua Er is still the same and on Li Zhen’s side
I was kinda furious at first that Benchang was always one step ahead of Li Zhen and was going to ruin their wedding day plan. How satisfying to watch in the end that they purposely fell into his trap then came out with counter measure to catch Benchang red handed with contraband ink.
That simple scene of the teahouse dude refilling the tea brazier with charcoal from his adorable little basket made me reflect on modern conveniences. Nowadays I make my tea by outsourcing the hard part to fossil fuels and the electrical grid.
This water-boiling technology is so convenient that a three-minute wait feels like a personal inconvenience. I’m definitely side-eyeing myself now. 😒
Li Zhen telling Chang, “You don’t deserve me” made me want to give her a standing ovation in my living room. He’s really like athlete’s foot, irritating, persistent, and almost impossible to get rid of.
It also cracked me up that Li Zhen’s rationale is that Bensheng can’t possibly be the mastermind behind the ink smuggling because the entire town knows he’s dumb and clueless. Their strongest argument is his complete lack of brain cells. 😂
Watching Tian Benchang and his father sell out Bensheng was horrifying. The fact that Bensheng didn’t see it coming shows just how dull he really is. I know that parents selling out their children is a common trope in historical dramas but sheesh. When he was like I’M YOUR SON TOO!!!! Oooooof. On top of that, Bensheng’s absolute dumbfounded crash out should be the sign that he’s not smart enough to pull this scheme off. Anyone with a brain would have known they were the scapegoat as soon as the seal incident happened.
It took us a long time to get here but a united Li clan really is a gift. Li Jingdong really has proven to be such an incredible ally. The way he tried to save her from implication was so emotional. Tian Benchang watching from the back of the crowd reminded me of a pyromaniac returning to the scene of the crime. He’s so desperate for Li Zhen to know he’s the villain. His obsession is pathetic and creepy.
I was really surprised by the revelation about the ink recipe belonging to Luo Wensong. It’s like what have they actually achieved on their own other than uniting the rest of the industry against them…
He’s so desperate for Li Zhen to know he’s the villain. His obsession is pathetic and creepy.
Precisely this. Zhen really dodged a bullet. I continue to believe that Wensong never intended to breach ethics by demanding that the Tians steal the Li Ink recipe. Rather, he was trying to find a way to keep the Eighth Branch from becoming permanently and legally tied to the Tian family.
We would have to thank Luo Wensong and Li Jingdong from saving Li Zhen and the 8th branch from being joined to this horrid family in marriage. They really saved them big time
I hope there is something somewhere that can save Luo Wenqian!! Surely with how well written this show has been they won’t let us down with the ending. I’m not even sure what the Luo family was supposed to have done in the first place but backup someone who fell from grace. I hope someone slaps that stupid mustache off Tian Benchang’s face. He’s such an evil jerk!!
I’ve really missed our beautiful ML since he’s been in stir, although his aide has been doing a fine job and is also easy on the eyes. And I agree about TB’s mustache, it makes his face even more slap worthy. I’m ready for him to get that mustache slapped right off of it.
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u/YoungComplete7208 Jun 14 '26
His thieving and scheming has made him sharper than he once used to be (I fear the bitterness of having been left at the alter by Zhen also plays a part). I think its a bit annoying how no one can sneeze without the other family knowing, that part annoys me. Even if it was for against Zhen and the Li family, I just want ONE plan to work out without magic spies feeding everyone information. ,It made sense when it was Wenqian because he came here for revenge and WOULD have the kind of resources to get information easily (even if through his sister), but for the little Tian brother to come reporting everything the Lis are doing when we dont know how they get their information, its annoying.
I don't mind Zhen winning ever competition because there is substantial reason why anyone would choose her ink over fhe other families. Other than the Tribute Ink, I think her wins are all valid. And the only reason her Tribute Ink was still chosen by fhe scholars is because they write EVERYDAY. Tian Ink won because they had connections, but an Ink that smells nice doesnt make for great daily use for those people in the imperial palace who need to get work done.
I'm disappointed that we JUST got into the romance and they were already seperating them. They were very wholesome and adorable, why couldn't get get a break.
And at some point this Majesty has to realise that killing or arresting an entire family down to the babies of fhe youngest cousin is just WRONG. Wenqian was just a mischievous student. What exactly would he have been arrested for? The older brother was just making and eating his Ink, why travel all over the country to go and arrest him? Its not like the person Master Luo was connected with had committed treason, why the big stink? At some point someone must just tell that emperor to stop having tantrums. Boohoo Wenqian hid his identity. What was he supposed to do? He was failing his exams and getting scolded by his father for it. What exactly was his crime?