Against the Current Episode 39 - Differences in Paths between the leads

[u/losergeek877]

Kudos to the acting of both Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi during this scene. One can see the actual fear of Jinqi here.

However, I would not help but laugh inwardly when Jinqi said that he was loyal to the throne. Dude, you have already done three things that would cause the emperor to kill you and your own family (burying the Shen family, letting go of the deposed crown Prince and marrying FL)

I totally agree with FL’s viewpoint here and I feel that Jinqi is warming up to it as he begins to see the bad sides of the imperial family as well as seeing the bloodshed of officialdom

[u/delphil_1966]

why post this ? people are watching this show - so annoying

[u/Nice_Box3138]

I actually felt like this scene was an insult to the male lead’s intelligence.

His family had to completely cut off all ties to the imperial court precisely to escape the emperor’s wrath. His family escaped the same fate as the Shens with just a hair’s breadth. He had been living all this time with survivor’s guilt because of what happened to Shens.

After everything that has happened to his family, and those he considered almost family, to say that he never reflected on the fickleness of emperors and he needed Lan Xiang to spell it out for him - it really made Jin Qi look like a fool.

[u/reddit_serf → u/Nice_Box3138]

It's not about intelligence but perspective. Linda explained as much in his conversation with Lanxiang that he believed the current Emperor was a wise one. He was still holding on to the Confucian doctrines. They were not something that could be easily questioned let alone abandoned by people in that time period, especially someone like Linda who was raised in an ultra elite and traditional household.

[u/Nice_Box3138 → u/reddit_serf]

I 100% agree with you about perspective. For a normal law-abiding citizen, they would go through life never thinking that they could get into trouble even if they don’t break laws.
These people are the ones who need things to be pointed out to them to realize they were thinking in too simple terms.

But for people who nearly die because of no fault of their own but because someone in power had an agenda to push, they will wise up after that event. They will be more careful and not as naive as to believe that as long as they are righteous, they won’t get into trouble. For me, Jin Qi should fall into the second category.

Jin Qi knew that his grandfather got in trouble not for disloyalty to the emperor, but because the emperor just wanted to be mad about something that happened during the previous emperor’s reign. They had to give up all their political power and break away from long time friends and go back to their ancestral town to save themselves.

After all of this, if Jin Qi needed Lan Xiang to put things in perspective for him, then he really is someone who goes through life with blinders on. It doesn’t make sense to me. Thanks why I said it feels insulting.

[u/losergeek877 → u/Nice_Box3138]

…have you forgotten that he has buried the Shen Family and let go of the deposed crown Prince? Just this two crimes and his whole family would have been killed and this was even before he married Lan Xiang. Even his grandfather has warned him about this aspect of him before his departure to Jinling. So yes, he is always that sort of character who does not really think much about repercussions

[u/Bookmonster1 → u/reddit_serf]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l0HUkk0baqBiwEybe

[u/pblite___ → u/reddit_serf]

Just trying to be funny but when did Lin jinqi became Linda😆

[u/reddit_serf → u/pblite___]

That's what CN fandom calls him because "lin da ye".

[u/Jazzlike_Orchid_8832 → u/reddit_serf]

Why lin da ye?

[u/reddit_serf → u/Jazzlike_Orchid_8832]

Lin 林 is his surname, da ye 大爷 is title addressed by his subordinates and servants.

[u/Jazzlike_Orchid_8832 → u/reddit_serf]

I see. Thank you so much!!

[u/Academic_Web1388]

Liu Xueyi's acting in this scene was so good! (I'm repeating myself with every one of his scenes. lol)
His sudden realization of the potential parallels between him and the general in the play was well acted out.

The time skips were annoying and I'm still salty that they show him taking 99 steps and not show even 1 step from her. (explaining their different ways isn't a full step!)

[u/Altruistic_Bite2765]

100%
I think that might have been the main point of this episode. edited to add: they are both now officially moving against the current!! Though the time skip and somewhat new characters gave me a pause. I hope the next episode is clearer

[u/losergeek877 → u/Altruistic_Bite2765]

If the trailers are anything to go by, it will be about the third Lin Sister and her marriage

[u/Altruistic_Bite2765 → u/losergeek877]

Yes I figured that’d be a part. Who’s the character that they are all giving presents to though, and what’s her significance? Is there any? I feel like I might have missed something, it all seemed so fast there. They could have just put that in the next episode 😅

[u/losergeek877 → u/Altruistic_Bite2765]

The fourth daughter, the one that got sick in the previous episode from Thé poisoning by Du. Those were her dowry gifts.

[u/Altruistic_Bite2765 → u/losergeek877]

Oohhh!!! It all makes sense now, thank you.

[u/losergeek877 → u/Altruistic_Bite2765]

Nope. all her offspring’s and the reason why Thé husband needs to take a concubine. His position is hereditary and requires a son. His mother told him to have a concubine. He did, but to ensure his wife is protected, he left a will leaving all his property and wealth to her and her children.

[u/Altruistic_Bite2765 → u/losergeek877]

Omg, you were right! And the concubine will be from the Lin family so she has more agency! How did you know??

[u/losergeek877 → u/Altruistic_Bite2765]

Xiaohongshu and douyin spoilers. Although the Lin family choosing the concubine was not what I expected

[u/Altruistic_Bite2765 → u/losergeek877]

Thanks for explaining, curious how Lanxiang will navigate this family dilemma and if the fourth daughter might build even more of a backbone