I mean whole conspiracy plot was interesting and tragedy was effective but reducing main protagonist of the show, Maomao to the role of helpless damsel in distress was mightily disappointing. After she got abducted, her role in the plot and her influence on events were practically non-existent. You can delete her character entirely and nothing would change in the plot. I thought that authors will give clever character like her something to do, some crucial role to play, but no. I thought that at least she will blow up place in which gunpowder was made but no, Shisui did that... I thought that Maomao will at least save this little boy who was nice to her... she kind of did that but only because Shisui used "resurrection potion" on this boy and other kids. The only contribution Maomao had in the second part of season 2 was that she give Shisui a harping which miraculously save her from death. She didn't do this to save her life and it was just extremely lucky that bullets landed exactly on the place where hairpin was, so again Maomao had nothing to do with Shisui surviving - it was a luck or rather plot armor. I admit that first time around I was to stupid to notice that harping stopped bullets and thought that Shisui somehow returned - or maybe it wasn't my stupidity, rather it was silliness of the plot because what are the odds that bullets will land at this specific spot, that soldiers won't use swords and that Shisui will survive the fall - snow or no snow ? In fact it's clear that this story was much more about Shisui and master Jinshi, than it is about titular protagonist who was just there and she had no impact on the events. Shisui was far smarter than Maomao, she had far more impact on the plot; she blow up gunpowder, she saved kids and she tricked both antagonist into killing themselves; both her father & mother died because of what she said... Master Jinshi had far more character development than main protagonist and much bigger impact on the plot than her; this season Maomao made ice cream, Jinshi lead army, Nuff said ! 😂I was waiting and waiting for the moment in which clever character like Maomao will find a way to either escape her captivity or thwart plans of antagonists but sadly this moment never come... The only scene with captive Maomao I enjoyed was when she ate snake in a pit - I admit it was funny. Other than that main character and her role in the plot was completely disappointing to me.
Now you can tell me how stupid I'm to expect main protagonist to have more active & important role to play. At this point I'm suppressed that there will be season 3 considering that author clearly lost interest in protagonist and that her story is over. What's there more to say other than whether or not Maomao will finally tough Jinshi's "frog", which she clearly not interested in ? Spin-off about Shisui would be far more interesting since she is going overseas and author seems to like her more. Anyhow, that's just my opinion