Note: This is a directory of drama discussions & their airing schedules this month. So, only leave a comment if you are volunteering to host a discussion. Comments from non-Mods or non-hosts will be removed.

If you want to discuss what you're watching this month, we have a "what are you watching" megathread every weekend.

PS: If you want to volunteer to host a drama discussion not mentioned here, leave a comment beneath this post. For newbie hosts, please also tag u/alcibiad in your comment.

To hosts: If you notice anything incorrect (hosts left out, drama links not updated etc let me know)

---

This month's drama hosted discussions

Here are Cdrama discussions for this month (which includes older, not currently airing dramas.)

Big, big thanks to the hardworking hosts:

(To go to the drama discussions, click on the drama name.)
Hosts, if I've not listed your drama or your name, DM u/latefair or leave a comment below.

• Legend of Rosy Clouds - u/a_HerculePoirot_fan, u/not_enough_griffons, u/Alarming_Tea_102, u/AquaphobicTurtle
• Never-Ending Summer - u/puddingpuppies

FYI: Airing schedules for the currently airing dramas.

Upcoming dramas - schedules & hosts:

• Liao Zhai - u/latefair (seeking co-hosts)
• Spring of the Blade - u/autuymnrain, u/Lotus_swimmer, u/sequesteredself and u/winterchampagne

FYI: Airing dates for upcoming dramas

If you're new to drama hosting, please DM u/alcibiad . She'll help get you started.

Some ground rules for hosts

• Use the "Drama Host" flair for your posts.
• Have commented and participated in the sub before and not be a brand new account.
• Have watched the drama before writing the particular episodes' discussions.
• Should try to engage in the comments section (don't have to reply to every comment, mind, but participate in the discussion)
• Write their thoughts about what they watched (we are not going to dictate lengths but please don't just write one sentence and call it a day lol)
• Don't add spoilers in the title, and if you are creating a photo post, please spoiler tag it if the picture reveals too much plot.

Some awkward situations

If there's a drama discussion already hosted, and you want to host, please approach the original host to co-host first. Don't try to double post - it'll be awkward for everyone as the mods will defer to the first host.

If you can't finish hosting the drama, try to get a replacement or let the mods know and we'll automate the discussions.

Co-hosting

u/winterchampagne has written a really good guide to co-hosting, so do have a read!

Mods won't interfere or dictate how people should co-host, but here are some tips:

• If you see someone had volunteered already, reply to her comment and ask if you can co-host.
• Create a chat room between your co-hosts to agree on schedules: (eg A can do episodes 1-10 and so on)

How closely should the discussion posts follow airing schedules?

We know how crazy CDrama schedules are, but here's a good guide:

Popular idol dramas (for eg Pursuit of Jade, The Double) should follow the airing dates as closely as possible. For eg, if episodes 5-6 dropped on Feb 2, discussion can happen on Feb 3).

Check the masterpost discussion for the drama. If it has above 50-60 comments, it's usually going to be really popular and people would probably be eager to discuss it.

As for other dramas (ie, one that the sub is not clamoring to discuss, I suppose) you can take a slower approach.

For eg, discussions for Swords into Plowshares and Man's Inhumanity to Man are still taking place even after the drama has stopped airing.

How do I write discussion posts?

Structure the discussions the way you want. Some ideas:

• "Classic method" recap of what happened in selected episodes with thoughts.
• Share favourite moments in the episodes you discussed
• Group episode discussions according to character development

Express episodes / posts about the ending

We don't expect hosts to pay for express episodes!

You can ask the mods to create special express threads for the drama so that you, the host, won't be exposed to spoilers.

For commenters

Please do not discuss future episodes in a thread unless someone specifically ask for information/spoilers. And if you do share, please spoiler tag it.

For example, do not discuss plot points for episode 26 in a post about episode 19.

Those who spoil future episodes will get their comments removed.

Hosts, if you see these spoilery comments, feel free to report them.

Previous months' drama discussions:

• June 2026: Ashes to Crown | The First Jasmine (Mo Li) | Archives: The Nanyang Mystery | Never-Ending Summer | Legend of Rosy Clouds
• May 2026: The Ingenious One S1 (rewatch) | The Heir | Zhan Zhao Adventures | The Lead | Born with Luck | A Splendid Match | Light to the Night | Fate Chooses You | Dazzling
• April 2026: The Eight Hundred | The Epoch of Miyu | Rebirth | Guardians of the Dafeng (rewatch) | Veil of Shadows | Love Beyond the Grave | Hold a court now | You are my fateful love | Love Beyond the Grave | Dream of Golden Years | Vanished Name | The Mirage
• March 2026: Hold a court now. You are my fateful love, Love Beyond the Grave, Dream of Golden Years, Vanished Name, The Mirage, Pursuit of Jade, About Love
• February 2026: Born to be Alive, Generation to Generation, The Devil Between Us, Love Story in the 1970s, Unveil: Jadewind, How Dare You!?, My Page in the 90s, Swords into Plowshares, Loving Strangers, Imperial Coroner s2, Man's Inhumanity to Man
• January 2026: My Page in the 90s, Swords into Ploughshares, Loving Strangers, Imperial Coroner s2, Love Between the Lines, Glory, The Unclouded Soul, Shine on Me eps 1-8 / 9 onwards, The Company, Dashing Youth (rewatch), Mysterious Lotus Casebook (rewatch), Strange Tales S4 aka Strange Chronicles of Tang, Man's Inhumanity to Man, The Vendetta of An, Speed and Love

Administrative

Welcome to the discussion space for EXPRESS VIEWERS. This post will contain spoilers for episodes 36-40.

Masterpost | Index | Flashcards | Episodes 1-3 | Episodes 4-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episodes 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18 | Episodes 19-20 | Episodes 21-22 | Episodes 23-24 | Episodes 25-26 | Episodes 27-28 | Episode 29 | Episode 30 | Episode 31 | Episode 32 | Episode 33 | Episode 34 | Episode 35

🔥⚖️ EVERYTHING IN THIS POST IS A SPOILER! ⚖️🔥

If you have not yet bought the express package but cannot resist the clear ringing of the wind chime of justice, BEWARE - all spoilers will be untagged.

Once again...

Ye Li's Council extends its deepest gratitude to everyone for joining us in our journey together with Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao.

If you'd like to catch up with us again:

• u/winterchampagne is tentatively part of the hosting team for Spring of the Blade (Zhou Ye, Xu Kai)
• u/kritihearys and u/winterchampagne are likely to host My Queen, My Rules (Shen Yu Jie, Ao Ruipeng)
• u/latefair is hosting Liao Zhai (Zhang Miaoyi, Chang Huasen - 🍉 mid July) and looking for cohosts

Thank you once again for sharing your feelings, insights, gifs, and screenshots. May your pillows always be cool, your stomachs full, and your hearts warm, and may your paths be guided by the warmth of the morning sun.

Administrative

Please see below for the last hosting schedule.

Episode 34	June 28	Night (PST)	Kriti
Episode 35	June 29	Morning	Misty
Express 36-40	June 29	8-9pm Beijing time	Latefair

Masterpost | Index | Flashcards | Episodes 1-3 | Episodes 4-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episodes 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18 | Episodes 19-20 | Episodes 21-22 | Episodes 23-24 | Episodes 25-26 | Episodes 27-28 | Episode 29 | Episode 30 | Episode 31 | Episode 32

🕯️🌕 Please tag spoilers for novel content as well as content beyond episode 33. Content from episodes 1-33 are fair game. 🌕🕯️

🌸🌸 A BIG THANK YOU to the Council - to u/kritihearys for the all-important work of organising us, to u/Feeshpockets and u/winterchampagne for your generous wisdom and guidance and companionship, and a warm welcome to the ever-encouraging and enthusiastic u/TheAlchemist420. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot from each one of you.

🍶🍶 and a toast of gratitude to all of you for journeying with us! My sincerest apologies for not being as present as I would have liked - life has brought me dangerously close to burnout, and this show is Not Helping lol. I loved reading all about your insights, feelings, and wishes for the show.

And before we begin: events depicted in this episode are distressing and may come close to evoking personal experience. It is always okay to step away from the show and tend to your peace of mind. The discussion posts will always be here when you are ready.

Episode 33

https://preview.redd.it/f6ft9songu9h1.png?width=1173&format=png&auto=webp&s=12cbc86d8ef8d33b8be620a569ede89cd9d9f862

In Ye Li's imagination, Mo Xiuyao has earned the approval of the people she loves and respects the most in her Lishan family. (It's funny to see Master Zhu approving of him, when his disciple Li Feibai had the opposite reaction in episode 31.)

This is a bitter contrast with Xiuyao's recollections, as he comes to realise the depths of Ye Li's losses and sorrows.

https://i.redd.it/84jdm66qgu9h1.gif

I love this scene so much - the darkness and starkness. We are forewarned: this episode is at its core a horror story.

https://preview.redd.it/a3p4svkrgu9h1.png?width=1203&format=png&auto=webp&s=1d826205bd19663f03b3bdd310cad88fa383034c

In the episode 32 discussion, u/winterchampagne covered the wind chime's various appearances and how it ties to different stages of Ye Li's story. Now we see Xiuyao passing behind it - it is his turn to take up the story of Lishan, to carry it forward in Ye Li's stead.

The light clears the fog, and we finally learn where the bodies are buried.

https://preview.redd.it/9uzk2mbxgu9h1.png?width=1207&format=png&auto=webp&s=f60b71095237232b89ef7ca9f45e661bf51c58d8

The more chilling discovery is an empty grave and a tomb marker with Ye Li's name on it - implying that at one point, she anticipated her own death.

Xiuyao returns to her side, and clumsily tells her of his own struggle with mortality. If her trigger is loneliness, then perhaps the solution might be to continue to reassure her that he will be by her side - in chores and in death.

It's poignant that they are - for a while - living the simple, mutually caring life that Lingyun envisioned for herself.

Do we still think that she knows or has suspected as much about the fate of Lishan?

Meanwhile, Shunxi and Ah Jin have both submitted their respective reports. The young Emperor continues to defer to the Empress Dowager's authority, and she sends Gongshu Yang to Lishan as a Secret Investigator.

https://preview.redd.it/sakju1gshu9h1.png?width=1215&format=png&auto=webp&s=d60c98e2a8c94c024dcdec3a24151da73945fc48

This marks the end of Xiuyao and Ye Li's idyllic days. Xiuyao takes the chance to move them into a new chapter. Instead of watching the moon (a symbol of Ye Li's homesickness and desire for emotional connection), he proposes watching the sunrise - and turns it into a motivational speech encouraging Ye Li's subconscious to have the courage to move forward.

Ye Li's subconscious isn't able or ready to fully let go yet and welcome the dawn.

Perhaps there are/were real monkeys on Lishan, but Ye Li is now awakening to the realisation that at least *some* of these monkeys are products of her imagination.

Xiuyao brings Ye Li to the graveyard, and she (we) finally confront the truth of the end of Lishan.

https://preview.redd.it/bni03l5miu9h1.png?width=1180&format=png&auto=webp&s=e8eb7fd63d5d09dd35d2dc90293e8eac17119741

This is another of Ye Li's stock phrases, and we finally see its origins - Qingshuang doing her best to serve her mistress, amidst sheer terror and the real taste of death. Ye Li's guilt, grief, and helplessness over her beloved servant/friend's undeserved and unexpected death. Each time they repeat this dialogue, Ye Li is reliving the terror of this moment.

https://preview.redd.it/wil5oly4ku9h1.png?width=1252&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdf77218f110b6b86cfadfb1705e1c738170bdc8

Ye Li is now the sole survivor, but life must go on - and that means taking up the grim task of burying everyone.

THIS xhs LINK (in Chinese - use xhs's built-in translation) leads to a xhs post by Zeng Di 曾缔, composer of the song playing during this scene. It explains the rough meaning of the Sanskrit chanting, which is adapted from part of the Diamond Sutra.

Discussion: Convictions or Life?

"Sometimes dead is better"

https://preview.redd.it/gsmqs1ygiu9h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=994f1628448a67950c4f283a0e44205caecb9041

Once again, I'm reminded of what Wang Suwu said - sometimes, there's really no one left to blame.

It is true that the Empress Dowager's political machinations put this into motion, but we are shown that the residents of Lishan are not completely spotless victims who were taken by surprise. They are capable of making and owning their decisions, and this was a calculated (?) choice to risk death for the sake of their principles, their reputation, their political stance... but the cost of that decision is borne by the living who are left behind.

What makes it worse is that Ye Li (who is, I think, still a teen at this point) technically has no direct stake in this entire affair. Her grandfather was responsible for heading Lishan and for choosing to seal it off; her mother was the one who took the edict from Mo Xiuwen; her father was the one who handed it over to Qin Zheng. She inherits Lishan's "debt" to Xiuwen, and Xiuwen's responsibility for the welfare of his younger brother.

The only thing which comes from herself is an understandable and age-appropriate love for the people she considers her family (and a crush). With the abruptness of their "departures", it's natural for her to be constantly lonely and "homesick" for the family that she will never see again.

Things I'm wondering (I haven't watched episode 34 yet):

- How long were they sick for?

- When and how did Li Feibai get out unscathed?

- Ye Li spent so long concocting her own version of events and of people. How might she cope with the unveiling of the truth?

AOB

https://preview.redd.it/u9jax64wou9h1.png?width=1191&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cdbec9a7a21b88af5e391ae769b6fb15252f58d

I nearly forgot about this plotline and this fool. He's a horrendous liar. Feng Zhiyao looked a little pensive, and I'm wondering if he might pick up on it, and if it might prod him into action.

Also: a new unnamed character! It doesn't bode very well when we get new characters so close to the end...

Counter

Nipples [named characters only]: 1

Bath scenes : 2

Kisses: 6 (forehead kiss!)

Strawmen [unique]: 3

Lap time for Ye Li: 4

Mo Xiu Yao kneeling for his wife: 3 (+ 1? I'm not sure whether to count the recliner scene as one)

Administrative

Please see below for our hosting schedule. This is the final 2-episode post before the express drop.

Episode 29	23 June	Kriti
Episode 30	24 June	Feesh
Episode 31	25 June	Alchemist
Episode 32	26 June	Winter
Episode 33	27 June	Latefair
Episode 34	28 June	Kriti
Episode 35	28 June	Alchemist
Express 36-40	28 June	Latefair

 Please note that we are posting one day behind the Tencent VIP schedule.

Masterpost | Index | Flashcards | Episodes 1-3 | Episodes 4-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episodes 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18 | Episodes 19-20 | Episodes 21-22 | Episodes 23-24 | Episodes 25-26

🔥📜 PLEASE TAG SPOILERS for novel details or content from after episode 28. Plot points from episodes 1-28 are fair game. 📜🔥

And off we go! There's a ton of talking going on in these episodes.

Episode 27

Ye Li finds out that Han Mingxi is part of Tianyi Pavilion. Han Mingxi (LOL) finds out that Tianyi Pavilion is affiliated with Mo Jingli.

Han Mingxi foolishly tries to offer his life so that Ye Li can leave the prison. It's clear that he's had a remarkably sheltered upbringing - he has no idea of the current situation's breadth or depth, and one of his solutions is to "complain to his parents in the afterlife"...

He conveniently still has his hair accessories. Ye Li's grand plan is to swallow one so as to claim a poisoning. This allows her to summon Clerk Gu to the prison. He gives her an update on the situation, and she instructs him to keep an eye on Su Zuidie.

Han Mingxi also finds out about Ye Li's delusions, as Qingshuang makes a cameo in the middle of Ye Li's strategising.

Mo Xiuyao and his men intercept an outbound messenger carrying news of Princess Lingyun's death. The dude kills himself with a good ole poison tooth, but it doesn't matter, because it's now time for Mo Xiuyao, prefect of Jingzhaofu, to ✨show his quality✨.

https://preview.redd.it/qlohb67lmu8h1.png?width=1157&format=png&auto=webp&s=c59c9a301b8d1ec73a7126e63b8368de82968edb

Qin Zheng and Guo Jin discuss whether Ye Li really is the murderer. Qin Zheng says that if she murdered someone, she wouldn't let herself be gravely injured and remain vulnerable to capture. She proceeds to follow that exact same strategy, bidding goodbye to Guo Jin now that she's secretly handed over the edict.

https://preview.redd.it/2a7w6c50hu8h1.png?width=1107&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa0707be7b90b0cfc42bc92baf1a61aa487f95cd

Guo Jin gifts her an orchid pot, a symbol of friendship from giver to giftee. Their conversation sounds like a final goodbye. Shunxi comes out to enquire one last time, but Qin Zheng expresses her understanding that she has been living a lie all this while, and that she will eventually be replaced among the ranks of the Empress Dowager's favourites.

Qin Zheng then orders Ye Wenshen to burn the entire collection of Master Xiankun's posthumous work.

Her life's work is going up in flames, but it's helping her emerge from the mists of her own confusion

Su Zuidie uses her identity and knowledge of the Marquis's weapons smuggling to threaten him into framing Ye Li for the murder.

That's a death flag for sure - trimming a pot in Zui Die's presence (醉蝶 zui die is the Chinese name for spider flower, which means \"mystery\" in flower language. 醉蝶 also literally means \"drunk butterfly\".)

Li Feibai checks in with Clerk Gu. He is distressed to realise that Ye Li has incorporated his lie about Master Zhu into her dissociation, and therefore is no longer able to defend herself.

https://preview.redd.it/9imq1ryliu8h1.png?width=1197&format=png&auto=webp&s=651b1e88d678bf3915f5c0916f622c67cf725217

Han Mingyue questions Su Zuidie about her whereabouts actions. Girl is delusional, but some aspect of her remains human enough to reassure Han Mingyue that Mingxi will be fine.

The Marquis bemoans his current position. His man (Zhao Ting) swears his loyalty and volunteers to assassinate Ye Li so as to make their altered version of events the new reality.

Zhao Ting slaughters his way into the prison, but his assassination attempt is ultimately unsuccessful and he kills himself. Ye Li rewards Han Mingxi with proper employment lol (it's very important to make sure one gets one's employment benefits).

Ye Li uses this incident to convince Murong Shen that the murder is a diversion for something else. She is now free to confront Su Zuidie, and we find out a bit more about how the different interests are tangled together.

https://preview.redd.it/jofxj0toiu8h1.png?width=1227&format=png&auto=webp&s=8bb92bd877ea707f2d9d6b0bb84c2220f10f2426

Meanwhile, Marquis Muyang discovers that the Empress Dowager has been keeping Tianyang as leverage.

https://preview.redd.it/3fiqwuxviu8h1.png?width=1212&format=png&auto=webp&s=d151fe16d282d40a525b2d1859c2f30937e6e4d7

In her garden, the Empress Dowager sadly remembers her last interactions with Qin Zheng and the Marquis, and reflects that she is no longer the same person as 10 years ago.

https://preview.redd.it/qng5uivxiu8h1.png?width=1168&format=png&auto=webp&s=a274fe465c4b49ce20ddf9a86c280ce1ae9b9d7a

During court, she declines to continue investigating Princess Lingyun's murder, preferring for Cangbei to decide Su Zuidie's fate. Ye Li accuses the Marquis of attempting to assassinate her. Murong Shen ties it to Zhang Hengyuan's failed assassination of Zhong Xingtong.

Episode 28

The Marquis attempts to slither out of it by painting this as an attempt to slander a loyal subject. Unfortunately for him, Mo Xiuyao makes it back to court with Chen Longxiang's testimony and further proof of the weapons smuggling.

Ye Li hammers the final nail into the coffin with her presentation of the edict. Duke Hua wagers his life as a guarantee of the edict's authenticity. The entire court petitions for the reopening of Mo Xiuwen's case, which the Emperor grants. Guo Jin averts her eyes from the Marquis.

https://preview.redd.it/c3r43h9jlu8h1.png?width=1230&format=png&auto=webp&s=2cbf2714f96753c6238b7580b45e6a800d8af93d

Ye Li falls ill after the imprisonment. She wants to tell Xiuyao the truth about the edict but is stopped twice - first by him, and then by Qingshuang (i.e. herself).

Two steps forward, three steps back: Ye Li has successfully initiated the reopening of Mo Xiuwen's case, but her own mental health has taken a hit. Qingshuang now appears to be alive again (vs the theatrical lighting in episode 27).

The Marquis's plotline wraps up in two lines: we are told that thanks to all the evidence, the Marquis is facing the consequences for his own initiatives (the weapons smuggling) as well as the Empress Dowager's (the edict).

Ye Li worries about Su Zuidie and the Eastern Palace connection, but Xiuyao minimises her concerns.

At this point I was like \"really???? Come ON!\"

Feng Zhiyao finally discovers? acknowledges? that his Yun-xiong is really Princess Lingyun.. who is now truly dead and gone. Xiuyao returns the "double auspicious" fortune-telling tablet, which sparks a moment of irrational guilt.

Han Mingyue breaks Su Zuidie out of captivity, because it's all going way too easily right now 🙄

We have a weird romantic interlude between Ye Li and Xiuyao (with poor Ah Jin as witness), which illustrates Ye Li's continued desire to "fix" or "restore" Xiuyao back to an ideal state, as well as her guilt and persistent silence.

https://preview.redd.it/o8ifxxe0mu8h1.png?width=1037&format=png&auto=webp&s=c0d6567e1dede4f9b3b9304618b4ae401d08d6e4

Then we have a second weird interlude where two blind people criticise each other about their inability to communicate properly or considerately with their romantic interests, with no recognition that they're in exactly the same kind of bind.

Looks like emotional intelligence was not very high on Lishan's curriculum.

Very unfortunately, Li Feibai then heads to Xiangqi Pavilion to look for Yusheng. I am not enjoying this extra screen time because it doesn't bode well for them remaining together at the end of the show??

A messenger brings Han Mingxi back to Tianyi Pavilion. Mingyue bears the punishment for both him and Su Zuidie, allowing Mo Jingli to stab him in the shoulder.

https://preview.redd.it/g07e7g03mu8h1.png?width=1143&format=png&auto=webp&s=d55c41daa79aac91722f61b6eb03f8bc68c5cb84

We find out that Mingyue harbours the delusional hope that Mo Jingli will elevate him after his ascension to the throne. Poor Mingxi knows the least about what's going on, but he's the most clear-minded of the people in this room.

Plot things

The knotty relationship between evidence and truth

On the one hand, evidence (or lack thereof) can be used to construct any kind of narrative, with legal consequences. On the other hand, the real truth is often complex and does not fit neatly into any kind of box or system.

• Murong Shen believes that evidence will show the truth of the Princess's murder. Ye Li knows the truth (she did not kill the princess) and has tangential evidence (her knowledge of Mo Jingli, her theory that he is alive and intends to seize the throne, the seemingly unrelated incidents intended to sow discord), but knows that using it unwisely may backfire on her.
• Qin Zheng: "when has the truth mattered within these palace walls?"
• Zhao Ting to the Marquis: "I'll make this an irrefutable case for sure."
• Adult Ye Li to herself: "The truth is the truth. It can't be hidden."
• All the evidence pointing to Marquis Muyang, who now has to take the fall for the Empress Dowager

Final boss showdown

https://preview.redd.it/8qy6xtnvou8h1.png?width=1167&format=png&auto=webp&s=7961146fac03bd081cd65430a1a7eb9bc6f2b05c

Is it time to take Guo Jin off the board? With Qin Zheng headed to Nanyi and the Marquis implicated & imprisoned, she no longer has the support of her two main pillars. Furthermore, Duke Hua and Murong Shen have openly shown their support for Mo Xiuyao, who is the Emperor's man. She still has Shunxi (his unbothered reaction to Zhou Tianyang in episode 26 suggesting that he's seen much worse in her service), but he doesn't seem to have much power of his own.

Mo Jingli seems to be following the path she once took - building up support in secret, manipulating people against each other, taking advantage of laying low and waiting for the right time to launch a coup. He even has his own version of the Marquis and Qin Zheng in the form of Han Mingyue/Tianyi Pavilion and Su Zuidie.

Counter

Nipples (named characters only): 1

Bath scenes : 2

Kisses: 5

Strawmen (unique): 2

Lap time for Ye Li: 4

Mo Xiu Yao kneeling for his wife: 3

No changes Some changes because I can't count* to the counter, only the last surviving bloom 💮

https://preview.redd.it/42pqvoa6ou8h1.png?width=1178&format=png&auto=webp&s=b8f6ea0b1cb39a8a0b8a03b4514c6cf3eddab595

Administrative

We are posting one day behind the Tencent VIP schedule. Discussions will be posted based on each host's timezone and availability.

Please see our tentative hosting schedule below:

Episodes 21-22	19 June	Alchemist
Episodes 23-24	20 June	Winter
Episodes 25-26	21 June	Feesh

Masterpost | Index | Episodes 1-3 | Episodes 4-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episodes 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18 | Character Flashcards

🙈🙉🙊 PLEASE TAG SPOILERS for novel details or content from after episode 20. Plot points from episodes 1-20 are fair game 🙊🙉🙈

And off we go, with two "bridge" episodes!

Episode 19: My Name is Sherlock Holmes

Marquis Muyang and Qin Zheng join forces to convince the Empress Dowager that she should root out anyone affiliated with the former Crown Prince in an overwhelming show of force.

The Emperor lets Guo Jin take the lead but doesn't seem to agree with any of her decisions.

Qin Zheng is supposed to be the believer, but the Marquis seems to be equally delusional in his belief that he's the Empress's number one supporter... although it's probably more valid that he's her number one threat.

The Marquis confirms that he was the one who set fire to the Eastern Palace, in return for the Empress granting him his current political power.

Qin Zheng looks distraught? I don't know why - this shouldn't be new information to her - we see her eavesdropping on their conversation in the flashback.

It's chaos in the streets as the Marquis's men raid houses and offices and violently arrest people. If they wanted to tank the Empress's public perception rating, this would be an excellent way - there's even mention of censorship, punishment for whispering about the arrests.

Ye Li is adamant that Mo Jingli would never kill himself. Xiuyao tells her that she can confide in him - even though he's just completely disregarded her suspicion about Mo Jingli. She (understandably) shuts down this attempt at connection and changes the topic to his legs. The cracks are beginning to show in their relationship, as Ye Li refuses to play along and Xiuyao lacks the key, the knowledge to decode her inner world.

Lots of smiles but they don't reach the eyes. ♫ you, me, we're face to face, but we don't see eye to eyeeeeeeee ♫

The Marquis arrests Wang Suwu. In his rush to stick it to Xiuyao, he overplays his hand - and Xiuyao now knows who Deputy Prefect Zheng reports to. Xiuyao smacks Deputy Prefect Zheng around a bit in revenge, revealing his recovered legs for the first time. I'm not sure that's a wise decision, given that he can't kill Zheng outright?... but anyway, that's one mole down.

Later when Wang Suwu returns alive (but injured): I love me some good hand-holding. We've come a long way from \"27 wronged souls of my Wang family send you their regards!\"

Ye Li's suspicion still lingers on Xiuyao's mind, and he sends Gu Zheng to investigate the possibility of hidden tunnels around Prince Li's mansion.

Ye Ying attempts suicide in order to "join" Mo Jingli. She and Mo Jingli are weirdly well-matched, if their first "last resort" is suicide... but it also speaks to how disempowered they are (or they feel) or how little they have to live for, that they're willing to use their lives so cheaply.

The Marquis makes a ghoulish attempt to arrest her but is rebuffed by Ye Li, as they both exercise the Empress's name in vain. Ye Ying delivers a woeful lament about one-sided love, and Ye Li hits her with a devastating clue-by-four.

https://preview.redd.it/f02r8p7r228h1.png?width=1153&format=png&auto=webp&s=9d2b3668438d5b84ffcd99610af236cecbdb35af

✅ Completing the "I'm A Good Big Sister" quest earns Ye Li a reward - Mo Jingli's final words to Ying support her suspicion that this death is fake - and we can now level up to the Investigation phase of this plotline.

She puts her bait for Qin Zheng on hold, and Mind Palaces her way into figuring out Mo Jingli's escape plan.

https://preview.redd.it/gs4j4vbu328h1.png?width=1215&format=png&auto=webp&s=9e5e83b05129448b59781d5320b5c4b5a1e49aa3

https://preview.redd.it/ojou752g328h1.png?width=1005&format=png&auto=webp&s=9c2e73fa4b0f0a1ef8f219d7846639420888634a

Li Peiyi Ye Li waits for cover of night to break into Prince Li's mansion (presumably wearing Xiuyao's clothes? lmao), with the assistance of Han Mingxi, who has been stalking her around town. Yeah, she was definitely thinking about her husband... successor to the title of Prince Ding, current head of the Jingzhao Prefecture... when setting things on fire breaking into the site of an active investigation with huge political ramifications. For sure.

More Sherlocking reveals the water-powered secret entrance leading to the underground waterways, but they are also being observed by... someone.

I feel like I'm supposed to know, but who on earth is this?

Han Mingxi pledges his allegiance to her, and offers her a friend discount for future services... but he's still clever enough to remain tight-lipped about Tianyi Pavilion and their connection to Mo Jingli. He's such a cutie.

https://preview.redd.it/dq4wu1n6428h1.png?width=1111&format=png&auto=webp&s=1b8fa6179aa53e6ba8e8b30cf2c643347ecf1ce9

Even more Mind Palacing leads them to the final exit, along the main flood drainage canal - where they are greeted by a welcome squad of assassins.

https://preview.redd.it/bkzl54z8328h1.png?width=1155&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4240f00a1e6868df500c0574da6ba3975806204

Meanwhile, in other fucked-up family dynamics: I feel very sorry for Qin Cang, because all he gets from the Zhou family are scraps, the leftovers that have been rejected by the "official" father-son relationship. Lin Tinglan is presumably the first time someone has ever appreciated and valued him for himself, rather than as a stand-in for someone else.

It's a bit ominous that the Marquis (being the person that he is) has now found out that Qin Cang has a soft spot, and also ominous that Qin Cang doesn't appear to have an idea of how to safeguard his weaknesses against the Marquis.

Episode 20: Congratulations, you have unlocked a new level!

https://i.redd.it/mkzcgrff528h1.gif

Han Mingxi gets some cool fight choreography but is quickly outnumbered. Ye Li's protective dissociation kicks in - we get a feature from Yan Jie and some cool CGI shenanigans, and Ye Li unlocks the hidden skill of shounen protagonist Master Swordswoman.

Unfortunately, Xiuyao catches sight of her on the way home. They're now awkwardly dancing around a huge elephant - she knows he knows (part of it), he knows she knows he knows, and she has a proven track record of getting him to crack first.

The tension with Ye Li causes Xiuyao to lose his temper and prematurely call out the Marquis's abuse of power in court. It earns him an (implied) scolding in the principal's office, and the Marquis seizes the opportunity to continue taunting him about the past - reminding him that he (the Marquis) had power over whether Xiuyao lived or died, and that even now he still attaches so little value to Xiuyao's life.

https://preview.redd.it/99pymykk228h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d83ab58318c8c271f2545202bd6fe3e822f4c9f

https://preview.redd.it/k7b9kqrr528h1.png?width=1123&format=png&auto=webp&s=1f013c356115f0694422c43df0ad4bbe8208ae6d

Lin Tinglan and the Empress Dowager bond over their shared admiration of another strong independent woman who don't need a man - Princess Lingyun of Cangbei. Qin Zheng kills the vibe by insisting on the necessity of having a man to anchor the reception, especially when she suggests the Marquis as someone "steady".

https://preview.redd.it/2iak5rcv528h1.png?width=1169&format=png&auto=webp&s=81b0580eb613f3152d38c9189a1cb63bdb4c1a50

Guo Jin finally vocalises that her relationship with the Marquis is fully dependent on what she can do for him, which is why she holds him at arm's length despite being greatly beholden to him (we also get a hint that she'd asked him to make the edict disappear all those years ago). This is probably why she seems to admire Princess Lingyun, whose life appears to be entirely free of needing a man - rather, who has a man (a king!) beholden to her.

It's implied that Princess Lingyun is the same person as "Yun", Feng Zhiyao's newly-introduced penpal... and the two-year crush that he won't admit to. Their meet-cute is SO cute (Feng Zhiyao is smitten), but now she's coming to Dachu to choose a husband? What is this, the doomed version of 五福临门 (Perfect Match)? Why are we getting so many strange match-ups?

This is how Xiuyao finds out that his good friend's type is Muscle Mommy

✅ Ye Li levels up by completing yet another sub quest: paying back the financial debt incurred by the deaths of the Seven Martyrs. The sub quest also achieves two secondary objectives - Han Mingxi returns her mother's jade pendant, and Xiuyao witnesses the completion of this quest.

✅ The Marquis later gets some subtle revenge by nominating Xiuyao as his deputy envoy - presumably to humiliate Xiuyao by forcing him to act diplomatically while surrounded by the very people who inflicted and exacerbated his leg injuries.

❌ Ye Li's act of normalcy continues to fail - Li Feibai comes to terms with the fact that she's most likely hallucinating Master Zhu's presence. This prompts him to go off on a trip, presumably to Lishan to verify her story.

❌ Xiuyao continues to meet roadblocks in his attempt to level up in the "Form Emotional Connections with My Wife" quest. She won't respond to his bait regarding Prince Li's funeral, nor does she want a pet... but at least, she's willing to share a childhood story which ends on a cliffhanger. Is it about the impermanence of relationships? The fragility of life? The flexibility of "truth" and good intentions? Some kind of trauma resulting in an avoidant attachment style?

Is it possible to still feel lonely when you're next to someone? They started the episode intertwined with each other, but now they're lying stiffly apart, not even holding hands, and he's still trying to be close to her while she maintains her neutrality.

Questions:

• What are your bets for our budding relationships? Who do you think will get to walk the red carpet, and who can only pine from afar?
• Both Ye Li and Xiuyao are coming up against huge triggers, as Xiuyao greets the Cangbei contingent and Li Feibai goes to personally verify Ye Li's story. Who do you think might crack first?
• Where do you think the edict might be now?

Counter:

• Bath scenes: 2
• Nipples (named characters only, by pair): 1
• Kisses: 2
• Straw men: 3 (destroyed)
• Ye Li laying her head on Mo Xiuyao’s Lap: 4

No change to the counter, only despair!

Masterpost | Index | Airing Schedule | Flashcards | Episode 1-3 | Episodes 4-6

Administrative

Very excited to be part of Ye Li's Council together with u/kritihearys, u/Feeshpockets, u/winterchampagne, and u/TheAlchemist420 (in her hosting debut!) 💖

We are posting one day behind the Tencent VIP schedule. Discussions will be posted based on each host's timezone and availability.

June 13	kriti
June 14	alchemist
June 15	winter
June 16	feesh
June 17	latefair

Respectful Language:

The First Jasmine | Mo Li hosts would like to request that community members use inclusive, unbiased language when discussing the male lead’s physical disability. Please find additional context at the following links:

ADA Guidelines for Writing about People with Disabilities

APA Bias-Free Language: Disability

Our goal is to foster a safe and respectful environment for all individuals in this community. Please avoid derogatory terms such as cripple, lame, invalid, etc., as well as euphemisms like differently-abled or challenged. While Mo Xiu Yao has expressed no preference for either person-first or identity-first language in relation to himself, we encourage commenters to respect each other's preferred language choice when dialoguing about disability.

Because language standards evolve and many in this community are non-native English speakers, we’re sharing this guidance proactively. Hosts will gently remind members when ableist terms are used, and continued violations may result in moderation action.

🥀🪷 PLEASE TAG NOVEL AND EPISODE SPOILERS FOR ANYTHING PAST EPISODE 8 🪷🥀

Episode 7: Healing

And off we go! Word of warning: I am a yapper but also a time-starved corporate slave, so this post will have lots of words and no gifs.

Li Peiyi Ye Li solves her next case - the mystery of the grieving widow. We get a peek at the key members of the first branch of Prince Ding's household.

https://preview.redd.it/s5mxc5hb9v6h1.png?width=1228&format=png&auto=webp&s=b788e874f3cae8d1c98da041f05228da756c13e3

Ms. Wen has been shattered to pieces, but her open vulnerability and naked longing give Ye Li a space to admit to her own desire to see her departed mother again. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao have already formed a fragile connection based on their shared history, but this intertwines with their plans for revenge.

https://preview.redd.it/2730cfzmbv6h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b2b1dfb4dd8b32a8c2bd613984539d90d6aef1a

Ms. Wen's grief, on the other hand, carries no secondary agenda - it makes her a safe character for both Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao to process their loss, no strings attached.

https://preview.redd.it/v8j0kcdobv6h1.png?width=1281&format=png&auto=webp&s=d7318dfcbc33740ff768e81ecada557b3caf2ebd

Are intelligent child characters the new trend? Mo Wuyou is surprisingly emotionally mature, which speaks volumes about the atmosphere in which he was raised (prior to the executions). I can already imagine him flourishing at the child emperor's side, now that the adults are starting to get their acts together and can give him the guidance that he needs.

Mo Xiuyao's and Ye Li's day run on similar tracks - he heads off to straighten out the Prefecture, and clashes with several dissenting subordinates. She straightens out Wuyou's classmates.

I feel as discomfited as Xiuyao looks lol.

They reunite in a restaurant and share a deeply (uncomfortably) intimate moment over mouth sores. Their relationship has progressed a little, but not enough for Xiuyao to immediately accept her offer to help rehabilitate his legs (although he doesn't say no!). I'm reminded a little of Zhuang Hanyan and her mother in The Glory. Independent mobility is a tangible marker of freedom, but what they really need (what they really gain from the process) is to be set free from their mental prisons. There's a nice contrast with Wei Zhuang, whose employment as Ye Li's steward has allowed him to flourish and exercise his gifts.

More mist - a sign of Ye Li's confused mental state

Next is Ye Li's turn to have her fragility exposed, when a wayward monkey sparks a traumatic flashback. Again, she's comfortable enough to seek surface-level or symptomatic relief (a hug, a late-night patrol, a presence to watch over her sleep), but there's no way that he can go much deeper into her mind and heart to see the trauma within.

So I genuinely CANNOT figure out which knee/leg is injured... could've sworn that he was stabbed in the right leg, but here he's clutching his left.

Episode 8: All the world's a stage

Ye Li is now forced (by underhanded means) to take a more prominent position on the chessboard.

The Dowager Consort Qin Zheng (aka Devotee Yunji) and her guest Lady Lin Tinglan use their banquet to interrogate Ye Li, cementing her as the public face of Lishan Academy. We also find out that Third Uncle is a close associate of the Dowager Consort... does that make him no longer a safe person for Ye Li? Is he moving into the Ding household to act as their spy?

https://preview.redd.it/57yp3dzscv6h1.png?width=1198&format=png&auto=webp&s=b77e5d9a36464a8c97f5f68c50fb41f67c5bd10e

A maid decoys Ye Li into an isolated room, where Prince Li performs an incredibly audacious and theatrical monologue about his feelings for her. He also audaciously assumes that her murder of Lu Changfu was an action taken for his benefit. Omg the toddler tantrum... I cannot take this man seriously. (On second thought: is that the point? That would be so sad, if Prince Li can't even be his authentic self while confessing to the supposed love of his life.)

Ye Ying, this is so pathetic! 😭 either way, the presence of witnesses (even if it's just Ye Ying's servants) forces Ye Li into an uncomfortable and public love (?) triangle with the Li couple (ew).

Me in meetings that could've been an email and should've been a single standard-sized post-it note

Xiuyao performs his own unserious monologue in order to win the allegiance of prisoner and former official Gu Zheng. They seal their pact with a secret handshake.

Prince Li has at least a legitimate reason for his dramatic streak - it's been his survival strategy and cover identity for so long that he probably doesn't know how to be normal anymore... but I bet you it's in the Mo genes. We have confirmation that Prince Li is the son of the former crown prince, who was probably murdered by the Empress Dowager so that she could seize the throne.

https://preview.redd.it/9v2fx7cidv6h1.png?width=1261&format=png&auto=webp&s=220d90685489692d5703e4e85fb2477b8a020c2e

Why is this episode so goofy? Is this a meet-cute between Ye Ying and the (weirdly bright and cheerful) assassin Han Mingxi? Either way the framing suggests plenty of obstacles in their path lol.

https://preview.redd.it/j6kwtsoudv6h1.png?width=1058&format=png&auto=webp&s=ccab075d4aca1dbe289877b9a454e66c84ab0750

We get more lore on the blood feud between the Marquis/Lu Changfu and Lishan Academy, but also a masterclass where Qin Zheng artfully helps to widen the gulf of mistrust between the Empress Dowager and the young Emperor. She's a very slick operator and I admire her skill... and I wonder what she's doing all this for? Or who?

Ye Li appears to have regained her sanity, and uses it to freak the bejesus out of her father - I guess he's the next target on her list. Xiuyao wakes up in the middle of the night because of pain, and catches her sneaking back into her room.

Theories & Plot Points

Qingshuang: there's a scene in episode 2 (?) where Ye Li is staking out the Ding mansion, and Qingshuang goes forward to kneel in front of the gate and clasp her hands respectfully. At that point I started to wonder if the hallucination's behaviour was not representative of the real Qingshuang, but really of Ye Li... and now the matching bite mark has solidified my suspicion. There definitely was a real servant girl named Qingshuang (corroborated with Qingyu), but I wonder if this version of Qingshuang is really Ye Li projecting her own helplessness and fear onto the image of a person whom she is bound to protect.

Monkeys & Lishan Academy: Ye Li and Xiuyao's conversation in episode 7 seems to imply that the monkeys were indeed their enemies who raided the Academy for food and other things... which lends a really awful implication to the bite mark.

The Dowagers' conversation in episode 8 confirms that the Marquis did act out of his own grudge? against Lishan Academy - the way Qin Zheng structures her sentence implies that the Empress Dowager had nothing to do with it.

Other things

https://preview.redd.it/az63h9nbhv6h1.png?width=1166&format=png&auto=webp&s=6eab654018abff57d083ff48f77f391038157f65

I think this is a common sentiment in the comments, but god I love how "normal" and "unvarnished" things look. Look at the lighting!! The colours!! The grass!! I mean, yes, it's also meant to be representative of the terrible and disorderly state of affairs in the show, but... the grass looks like everyday overgrown grass, not something carefully curated to scream "disheveled" in your face.

Counter:

Nipples: 1

Bath scene: 1

Kisses: 0

Brown Straw Men (unique): 2 (1 destroyed)

No change to the counter today!

Note: This is a directory of drama discussions & their airing schedules this month. So, only leave a comment if you are volunteering to host a discussion. Comments from non-Mods or non-hosts will be removed.

If you want to discuss what you're watching this month, we have a "what are you watching" megathread every weekend.

PS: If you want to volunteer to host a drama discussion not mentioned here, leave a comment beneath this post. For newbie hosts, please also tag u/alcibiad in your comment.

To hosts: If you notice anything incorrect (hosts left out, drama links not updated etc let me know)

---

This month's drama hosted discussions

Here are Cdrama discussions for this month (which includes older, not currently airing dramas.)

Big, big thanks to the hardworking hosts:

(To go to the drama discussions, click on the drama name.)
Hosts, if I've not listed your drama or your name, DM u/latefair or leave a comment below.

• Dazzling - u/Rebelarkey
• The Ingenious One s1 rewatch - u/Regenwanderer and u/Lotus_swimmer
• The Heir- u/PsychologicalWay816
• Zhan Zhao Adventures - u/Pale-Enchantress and u/Rebelarkey
• The Lead - u/Large_Jacket_4107

FYI: Airing schedules for the currently airing dramas.

Upcoming dramas - schedules & hosts:

• Mo Li - u/latefair, u/Feeshpockets, u/Winterchampagne, u/kritihearys and u/TheAlchemist420.
• Spring of the Blade - u/autuymnrain, u/Lotus_swimmer, u/sequesteredself and u/winterchampagne

FYI: Airing dates for upcoming dramas

If you're new to drama hosting, please DM u/alcibiad . She'll help get you started.

Some ground rules for hosts

• Use the "Drama Host" flair for your posts.
• Have commented and participated in the sub before and not be a brand new account.
• Have watched the drama before writing the particular episodes' discussions.
• Should try to engage in the comments section (don't have to reply to every comment, mind, but participate in the discussion)
• Write their thoughts about what they watched (we are not going to dictate lengths but please don't just write one sentence and call it a day lol)
• Don't add spoilers in the title, and if you are creating a photo post, please spoiler tag it if the picture reveals too much plot.

Some awkward situations

If there's a drama discussion already hosted, and you want to host, please approach the original host to co-host first. Don't try to double post - it'll be awkward for everyone as the mods will defer to the first host.

If you can't finish hosting the drama, try to get a replacement or let the mods know and we'll automate the discussions.

Co-hosting

u/winterchampagne has written a really good guide to co-hosting, so do have a read!

Mods won't interfere or dictate how people should co-host, but here are some tips:

• If you see someone had volunteered already, reply to her comment and ask if you can co-host.
• Create a chat room between your co-hosts to agree on schedules: (eg A can do episodes 1-10 and so on)

How closely should the discussion posts follow airing schedules?

We know how crazy CDrama schedules are, but here's a good guide:

Popular idol dramas (for eg Pursuit of Jade, The Double) should follow the airing dates as closely as possible. For eg, if episodes 5-6 dropped on Feb 2, discussion can happen on Feb 3).

Check the masterpost discussion for the drama. If it has above 50-60 comments, it's usually going to be really popular and people would probably be eager to discuss it.

As for other dramas (ie, one that the sub is not clamoring to discuss, I suppose) you can take a slower approach.

For eg, discussions for Swords into Plowshares and Man's Inhumanity to Man are still taking place even after the drama has stopped airing.

How do I write discussion posts?

Structure the discussions the way you want. Some ideas:

• "Classic method" recap of what happened in selected episodes with thoughts.
• Share favourite moments in the episodes you discussed
• Group episode discussions according to character development

Express episodes / posts about the ending

We don't expect hosts to pay for express episodes!

You can ask the mods to create special express threads for the drama so that you, the host, won't be exposed to spoilers.

For commenters

Please do not discuss future episodes in a thread unless someone specifically ask for information/spoilers. And if you do share, please spoiler tag it.

For example, do not discuss plot points for episode 26 in a post about episode 19.

Those who spoil future episodes will get their comments removed.

Hosts, if you see these spoilery comments, feel free to report them.

Previous months' drama discussions:

• May 2026: The Ingenious One S1 (rewatch) | The Heir | Zhan Zhao Adventures | The Lead | Born with Luck | A Splendid Match | Light to the Night | Fate Chooses You | Dazzling
• April 2026: The Eight Hundred | The Epoch of Miyu | Rebirth | Guardians of the Dafeng (rewatch) | Veil of Shadows | Love Beyond the Grave | Hold a court now | You are my fateful love | Love Beyond the Grave | Dream of Golden Years | Vanished Name | The Mirage
• March 2026: Hold a court now. You are my fateful love, Love Beyond the Grave, Dream of Golden Years, Vanished Name, The Mirage, Pursuit of Jade, About Love
• February 2026: Born to be Alive, Generation to Generation, The Devil Between Us, Love Story in the 1970s, Unveil: Jadewind, How Dare You!?, My Page in the 90s, Swords into Plowshares, Loving Strangers, Imperial Coroner s2, Man's Inhumanity to Man
• January 2026: My Page in the 90s, Swords into Ploughshares, Loving Strangers, Imperial Coroner s2, Love Between the Lines, Glory, The Unclouded Soul, Shine on Me eps 1-8 / 9 onwards, The Company, Dashing Youth (rewatch), Mysterious Lotus Casebook (rewatch), Strange Tales S4 aka Strange Chronicles of Tang, Man's Inhumanity to Man, The Vendetta of An, Speed and Love

https://preview.redd.it/b32jpnlufbzg1.jpg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5ef1bef92a9624ca04fa230dd993c3641ed6eb4

Welcome to the discussion posts for EPISODES 27-28!

🚨⚠️ Please apply spoiler tags for any content beyond EPISODE 28. ⚠️🚨

The discussions will be released at a more relaxed pace - approximately every two days or so. Thank you for your understanding!

Useful links:

Masterpost | Airing schedule | Timeline (comment)

Episodes 1-2 | Episodes 3-4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episodes 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18 | Episodes 19-20 | Episodes 21-22 | Episodes 23-24 | Episodes 25-26

Episode 27: Meeting Halfway

The episode title in Mandarin is 双向奔赴 shuang xiang ben fu, which can also be translated as "travelling in both directions". It became popular as an online term to describe relationships built on mutual effort.

Huang Yue arrives to take over the watch on ZF, while Yanzi and Shun tail BS and stake out her room at the cemetery accommodation.

GWJ is reading Xiao Yu to sleep in the fishtank, when she receives a call from "Huang Zhi Qiang". ZF tells her that he knows everything, and arranges to meet at the reservoir in 15 minutes. The camera focuses on a spider in its web. ZF plays Auld Lang Syne on the harmonica while waiting, while Huang Yue watches from afar.

GWJ refuses to take culpability for causing the car crash. She tells him that he has no other choice besides working with her, framing it as him helping out his friends BS and RXM, but ZF knows that he's been acting as her pawn all along - shielding her from implication in the corpse case, helping her keep BS within her control.

GWJ says that they will be fine, because the police will never be able to find evidence. ZF laughs that no one will help her bear the responsibility, and then jumps into the water. Huang Yue dials for backup, while a distraught GWJ quietly whisper-shouts his name. She then flees the scene in horror, frantically looking around to make sure they were unobserved.

https://preview.redd.it/ni4x7ofyfbzg1.png?width=1264&format=png&auto=webp&s=17f985303afda262d34b1ed9f4a5f4cbdd5aa41f

Meanwhile, Yanzi's suspicions are aroused when BS still appears to be pacing at 2am. They realise that she has rigged a contraption to fake her presence in the room.

I absolutely just love that clod of dirt hanging around... GWJ is so fastidious about covering her tracks, but they genuinely had her rattled at that point.

A shattered GWJ returns home and collapses on the bench. BS finds her there the next morning, still wearing her dirtied shoes. She tells GWJ that she doesn't believe that GWJ will hand over her leverage to the police.

GWJ again refuses to take any kind of culpability for ZF's "death". Instead, she blames BS for pushing someone who loved her to death, all for RXM's sake. BS repeats her belief that the truth will come out someday. She informs GWJ of her intent to leave and take Xiao Yu with her. This statement finally throws GWJ off-balance, as BS declares that the "trial" has just begun.

We cut to BS taking a taxi with Xiao Yu, as they head to the airport. Meanwhile, LY - wearing an outer coat, headscarf, and face mask - enters RXM's hospital room.

She reluctantly hands over RXM's phone and copy of "A Hundred Years of Different Paths", in exchange for RXM fulfilling her promise to her. In the taxi, BS sends RXM a coded message - she intends to entrust Xiao Yu to her. RXM sends a coded message in reply (left untranslated), and BS sends her their flight details. LM assigns her team to track them down.

https://preview.redd.it/yvoiita8gbzg1.png?width=1265&format=png&auto=webp&s=e936adb2b157897613e6041d0298270a24734853

https://preview.redd.it/z2qhviw5gbzg1.png?width=1262&format=png&auto=webp&s=7af4075c5d997a0255e268f7f934d46b03dea124

RXM apologises to and thanks LY, whose only response is to hold her to their promise. They both shed tears. RXM leaves the hospital ward, wearing LY's disguise. She takes a taxi to the airport.

The show cuts between RXM and BS, gazing out of their respective taxi windows at the full moon, and LM, determinedly driving to intercept them.

LM arrives at RXM's hospital ward, where the hospital staff have already discovered the deception. They show her RXM's room, which is empty save for the book sitting at the head of the bed. LM realises that this is the key, and she can now decrypt the message RXM asked her to send to BS in episode 17. In it, RXM threatens to turn herself in, and mentions the unnamed deceased. LM realises that this is a hint, and sends Huang Yue to check out the burial plot that RXM purchased at Wuming Mountain (无名 wu ming being the name of the mountain, as well as meaning "nameless").

Meanwhile, Yanzi has traced BS's flight. RXM reaches the Qingzhou airport, where she is tailed and then arrested by Qingzhou officers before she can reach the arrival lounge. She watches as Xiao Yu is led by an air stewardess to another woman - who turns out to be RMY.

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We flash back to some time prior, as RXM informs RMY of the plans and resources she's prepared for them. She warns her mother that she will be arrested, and asks her for a favour - not to cry when it happens. RMY tears up anyway.

LM and RXM ride in the same car, saddened for different reasons. RXM recalls the bus ride from episode 10, as a young BS wonders where they will be in 20 years' time. She reassures her tearful younger self (flashback from episode 19) that today is the easiest day in many years.

LM's team has found the diary at the burial plot, but not BS. They are frustrated to discover that the diary is identical to the novel - without mentioning who the killer is. LM wonders why the two women have been orbiting this diary.

BS attempts to turn herself in. She is briefly intercepted by LY, who is unsuccessful in convincing her to stop.

RXM gives her version of events. We flash back to August 10, 2010, as RXM returns to Qidaohezi to meet up with HYQ. She is waylaid by her mother, and they have an embarrassing public scrap about her involvement with HYQ. RXM manages to escape and heads to their favourite eatery, where HYQ is waiting for her. However, they don't manage to reconnect - RXM spots Zhou Na across the road holding a knife, and chooses to follow her instead.

There's a bit of a continuity error - HYQ is shown carving the words \"Friendship Forever\" into an untouched table, but the carving is already shown during their flashback in high school, eating at the same table!

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They end up in the cemetery, where she spots Zhou Na wrestling with BS. In the ensuing struggle, she stabs Zhou Na in the neck with Ms. Zhou's fountain pen, killing the other woman. However, she has no idea how the body ended up in the statue, claiming that they never entered the woods again.

RXM confesses to releasing RXF's medical records as well as the recording of her unhinged behaviour. She also acknowledges that her other behaviours were to devise a way out, and disdainfully disclaims LXR's involvement. She tells the police that she began devising her plan after LM asked her to identify the fountain pen.

In this moment it seems almost otherworldly, like RXM has successfully hoodwinked them... but then it all starts falling apart.

LM points out the inconsistency - the cause of death doesn't match up. Huang Yue adds that they would technically have been acting in self-defense, since Zhou Na was wielding a knife.

We cut to them interviewing Wang Hao, who corrects this - Zhou Na was in fact wielding a gun, obtained from one of her shady Southeast Asian casino connections. We flash back again to 2010, as Zhou Na photographs him meeting up with BS in the abandoned factory. She then confronts him in the hotel room, where they quarrel about his feelings about BS. He curses her out, and she shoots him. Wang Hao tells the police that the bullet merely grazed his head, but Zhou Na must have thought that she'd killed him. He wasn't able to contact her (her phone was turned off), and he eventually left for Singapore a few days later. He also tells the police that he was the only one who cared about Zhou Na's life.

BS turns herself in. LM refuses to answer her questions about the diary, and BS tells them that she left a coded message at the end of the diary, indicating how Zhou Na died. We see a brief cut of a forensic worker taking an impression of some handwriting, while BS narrates the text - it's her version of what happened in August 2010.

In her flashback, Zhou Na confesses to killing Wang Hao and asks for her help. BS advises her to turn herself in, but Zhou Na refuses to accept this course of action. RXM sees them struggling and intervenes. BS reassures Zhou Na that she will keep her secret and tells her to leave. However, RXM notices the bloodstain and asks BS about it. Zhou Na overhears and pulls her gun on them.

They flee deeper into the forest and split up, but Zhou Na eventually finds RXM. Just as she is about to pull the trigger, BS stabbed her in the neck with the fountain pen. Zhou Na continued chasing after them as they fled from the back hill.

BS tells the police that RXM received a phone call and then left. BS returned to the scene, where she found Zhou Na dead on the floor. She "confirms" that the death was from accidentally hitting Zhou Na's carotid with the fountain pen. She intended to call the police, but realised that the gun was gone - indicating that there had been an eyewitness who had disturbed the scene.

BS calculates that between the police, the eyewitness, the gun, and the eyewitness's honest testimony, she only has a 10% chance of survival (i.e. a true and legal confirmation that they were acting in self-defense).

Episode 28: Intertwined Killers

BS calls herself a pessimist who doesn’t believe in such luck, which is why she chose to destroy the evidence. We flash back to the forest at night, as BS tells them that she went back to bury the evidence. However, the body was gone when she returned. She seemed to spot someone’s silhouette, causing her to panic and flee. She learned about the body’s whereabouts at the same time as everyone else.

BS tells them that she handed the diary to RXM when she left for the US, and that they haven’t been in contact ever since. She is confident of the diary’s authenticity and validity. LM asks her again about Zhou Na’s cause of death, and she repeats that it was due to the stabbing via fountain pen. LM muses that her testimony aligns with RXM’s, but neither of them have the correct cause of death. She wonders if they don’t know the truth, and if there was a third person at the scene who took the gun.

Yanzi informs her that they’ve found a recording of the incident. They watch the shaky video, which shows Zhou Na pointing a gun at BS, and RXM attacking her from behind.

They interrogate ZF, who turns out to be the one who gave them the recording. He jokes that he survived the “drowning” because he had an extra set of lungs. Yanzi finds evidence that BS bought two sets of diving equipment - ZF did indeed survive because BS was waiting for him in the water.

We find out that ZF (using the alias) worked for Jinghe Construction, the company which renovated Qidian Middle School in 2010. ZF tells them that he went to find BS at the cemetery and wound up witnessing the incident. He saw Zhou Na get up to chase them, and intervened by collecting the pen cap and then suffocating Zhou Na to death using her bag strap. When he saw BS returning to the scene, he grabbed the gun and hid. He decided to move the body at night, since nobody would be around, although BS returned to the scene at that point. He dragged the body to the construction site and encased it in the statue.

LM presses him about the circumstances of his employment at Jinghe. We find out that Jinghe is affiliated with GWJ - ZF admits that GWJ put in a good word for him. He says he wanted to commit suicide at the reservoir, so he called GWJ there to bid her goodbye. LM calls him on his bluff, hinting that they know about the diving equipment. ZF appears to start cracking under the pressure.

LM asks if he was “acting” at the reservoir for the sake of the police, or for GWJ. ZF shouts that he wanted to kill himself because he bore a grudge against GWJ and wanted to get revenge on her. LM wonders why he didn’t try to attack her like he did Wang Hao. ZF desperately defends himself, saying that he’s already killed once and can’t kill another. Besides, murder is against the law but suicide isn’t.

LM asks about the gun. ZF says that he took it and threw it into the reservoir. He tells them to stop asking questions and start looking for the gun - estimating that it will take them 2-3 years to find it in the reservoir.

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LM and Huang Yue return to the cemetery, as she muses about the gaps in the three testimonies. She then makes her team perform a theatrical re-enactment of the three testimonies, highlighting their mutual contradictions. The team briefly argue about ZF’s motives, but Huang Yue interrupts them with a report - forensics found traces of deer blood on the fountain pen. LM remains unfazed, noting that it’s common for people to attempt to contaminate the scene using animal blood. However, she notes that this point was never mentioned in any of the 3 testimonies. Shun speculates that they might not even know about it.

A same-day delivery arrives for the team - the sender is listed as LM herself. She tears it open to discover a small voice recorder pen. They listen to the recording, which is of the conversation between ZF and GWJ at the reservoir. Huang Yue recognises the splash from ZF leaping into the water.

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LM brings Huang Yue and Yanzi to GWJ’s house, where the door is unlocked. They barge in to find the house packed up, with taped-up boxes and furniture covered in cloth. The only item of significance is a square metal tin. Huang Yue cautiously opens it to find… another voice recorder.

This one is a recording made by GWJ, addressed to BS. She talks about her decision not to wait for BS any more, saying that BS has “lost” her. She reveals that she knows that ZF isn’t really dead - BS herself gave it away because of the diving mask bruises on her face. She tells BS that she’s told her before - if she’s done something wrong, she needs to accept punishment. Therefore, anything that happens from then on is because of the mistakes that BS has made.

\"My daughter\"...... which Bai Shu is she really addressing?

In the Rens’ apartment, a feeble RMY notices Xiao Yu staring out of the window. The girl asks when her mother and grandmother will come to pick her up. RMY offers to bring her grocery shopping, but the girl declines, and Uncle Li volunteers to get the groceries instead. As he leaves, RMY quietly faints on the couch. Meanwhile, Xiao Yu imagines that GWJ has come to pick her up. She slips out of the apartment unobserved. A while later, RXF emerges and discovers his unconscious mother, and desperately calls for help.

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LM receives a report of GWJ taking Xiao Yu from RMY’s house. She questions BS about the voice recorder pen - we flash back to ZF packing the voice recorder in a plastic bag. BS explains that she didn’t want to involve him in this matter, but she needed to get solid evidence against GWJ, so she asked ZF to help her record a confession. ZF says that he will turn himself in, and she advises him to take the fall only for what he’s actually done. We then see her arranging the same-day delivery of the recorder pen.

LM breaks the news that GWJ has seen through their ploy. She asks BS to continue the story of Zhou Na’s stabbing. BS says that they did return to the scene, where she was unsuccessful in preventing RXM from seeing Zhou Na’s body. BS deliberately put her fingerprints on the pen, saying that since the pen was given to them both, she will bear the responsibility together with RXM. RXM initially wanted to turn herself in, but BS pointed out that the gun had disappeared, leaving them unable to prove that it was self-defense. She advises RXM to go as far away as possible. BS wanted to dispose of the body herself, so she drugged RXM with sleeping pills. This was to keep RXM from knowing too much, as well as to prevent the police from being able to put together a case.

Almost corpse-like herself

During her interrogation, RXM tells the officers that BS didn’t hide the body - they were unable to find it again, and BS swears that it wasn’t her who got rid of it. In the ensuing confusion, they try to delude themselves into thinking that this is merely a nightmare. BS puts forth a theory that someone might be helping them, or that Zhou Na might have got up and walked away (lol). RXM knows that this cannot come without a price, but BS guilts her by bringing up how much it has already cost her to study in Qingzhou. She asks RXM to go out and see the world for her sake - and they will forget the incident and never see each other again.

However, BS returns home to find GWJ watching the recording that ZF took of the stabbing.

Thoughts

This show has a certain overly theatrical bent that should have been edited out LOL. I put up with it initially because it was most apparent in scenes depicting RXM’s internal world, so it could be attributed to her rather dramatic personality. Some of it also works really well in certain scenes, like the horrific aspects of what GWJ does, or heightening certain emotions... but the testimony re-enactment in episode 28 was a bit too much. It might have been fun as a standalone scene in some kind of play (TBH it felt a lot like I was watching an episode of About Love), but the police need to be depicted a bit more seriously, I fear.

This pair of episodes seems to show the best and worst of this show. On one hand, the exploration of the relationships and emotions (particularly from a female perspective) is high quality work - the show and the actors do beautifully in bringing out various shades and implications, like RXM missing out on meeting HYQ to tail Zhou Na, or the unspoken disappointment and tension between LM and RXM during the latter’s arrest, or GWJ being a total menace.

On the other hand, the actual crime portion is comparatively much less sophisticated. I think part of my frustration with the theatricality also stems from my frustration with how slowly the police are piecing together the story. I mean, isn’t it obvious from the testimony contradictions that there’s a possibility of a fourth person at the scene?? Where is their criminal imagination?? I get that LM is supposed to be the audience stand-in, but my goodness, some parts of the crime-solving process can be sped up. The writing for those scenes isn’t the most illuminating either. The show also takes RXM and BS very seriously, but it’s kind of backfiring because it’s becoming increasingly obvious that they’re flying by the seat of their pants with whatever they’re doing, and I wish the show was a bit more critical in the way it presents the plan unfolding.

Anyway, it’s inevitable that we’ll find out that GWJ is behind everything and everyone (how did she even get a hold of ZF's recording anyway?)… and RMY will probably not survive to the end of the show. It’s just a matter of why.