I’m opening this thread for those who want to dabble in this 40-episode Chinese drama starring Bai Jing Ting (the skinny-waisted male lead in “You Are My Hero”) and Tian Xi Wei (never heard of her, but she looks cute).

Unlike that other Cdrama “Love Like the Galaxy” with a confusing cast of 1.4 billion supporting members who all look alike to me, this drama has a doable list of 25 secondary characters who are given distinct features, costumes, and personalities from the get-go. Thank you, Director and Writer, for not taxing my visual perception.

Take for instance the prologue of the show. The viewers are introduced to the nine states in the “world.”

Side note: To be honest, I raised an eyebrow at the way the writer reduced the entire world to just nine regions of China. The outside world didn’t exist; only China. 🤨 As early as the first century, the geographers and cartographers of the Western world knew that the world consisted of continents like Europe, Africa, and Asia. Marinus of Tyre (AD 70-130) was the first one to show China in his maps.

Oh well. Since this is cdrama after all, I will tolerate this sinocentrism.

The narrator of the show then proceeds to describe the different states in this fictional Qing kingdom.

From Viki:

Mo State in the north has a strong army where herdsmen live in a scattered manner. Gang State in the northwest is dry and barren with a few resources. Dai State in the center is mountainous and rich in minerals. Yan State in the south is small with few resources but abounds with flowers and fruits. Ying State in the southeast has abundant rainfall where plants are evergreen.

In most states, men are considered superior but Ji State in the southwest pursues monogamy where men and women are equal.

In Dan State where everybody loves spicy food, women rule. The women there are shrewish and straightforward (is “shrewish and straightforward” a euphemism for “domineering and rude”?) who usually have a matrilocal husband (matrilocal = husband will live with wife’s family after marriage).

Jin State in the east is along the coast where trade flourishes. Generations of local do business; rich people are deemed superior.

Xin State is the strongest state among the nine where lineal descendants (or direct descendants) are more honorable and women are inferior to men.

These nine states had been fighting wars for years until the Xin State won. A peace agreement that would last for a century was made. Girls of the right age from each state shall marry young Lords of the Xin State.

Excluding the Xin State, the descriptions of the other eight states function as a guide to the personalities of the female wives/concubines. The mindset of these women are shaped by their society’s traditions and mores.

As I said in another thread, it’s in the best interest of the ruling Xin State to marry into the noble families of the other eight states in order to preserve the alliance and continue ruling all over the land. For their part, the noble families of the other eight states can increase their political clout and widen their sphere of influence by marrying the more favored sons of the Xin State ruler.

One thing to note: the Xin State and the Ji State are the natural antitheses of each other. Whereas Xin State practices polygamy and deems women inferior to men,

the Ji State upholds monogamy and views men and women as equals.

It should come as no surprise that the male lead of this cdrama is from the Xin State, while the female lead is from the Ji State. They have the starkest cultural divide to bridge.

In addition to the summary of the states, the individual characteristics of the ten sons are outlined in the first episode.

A book written about the ruler’s sons is smuggled inside the palace, and the young ladies consult it to learn about their potential partners. The young ladies are selected to become the wife or concubine of the princes — or “Young Lords” as Viki subbed it.

From Viki:

Lord of Xin State has eleven sons. But the Eight Young Lord died when he was little so there are only 10 Young Lords left. The first four have married. After they started working in the court, they moved out of the palace to live in their official residences. The remaining six young lords still live in the palace. The selection this time is held to choose wives for them. Yin Qi, Fifth Young Lord. He’s simple and honest.

Spoiler: I thought Fifth Prince had the misfortune of marrying that woman from the Dan State. Remember? The Dan citizens liked spicy food, and their women are domineering.

I skimmed through the episodes, and I so disliked that the Fifth Prince was transformed into a henpecked and obsequious husband to please his warrior wife. 🤦‍♀️ He swore that he came to love her, but his situation looked like Stockholm Syndrome to me. As there are 6 more episodes to go, I hope the wife will show that she’s worthy of him at the end. I’m all for equal rights, so one sex dominating and subjugating the other sex — even in the name of role reversal — is never a fun watch.

Yin Yang, Seventh Young Lord, is taciturn and nice. They can be good husbands (meaning, the 5th and 7th princes). The last three young lords are too young to get married (meaning, the 9th, 10th and 11th princes).

This one is Yin Song, Second Young Lord. He’s the lineal son, titled the Crown Young Lord. Look at him. He’s handsome and talented. Wise and brave. He’s a very good choice.

The owner of the book is the Pretty One. (Don’t make me remember her name, please.) She alone had the smarts to sneak the book in. She shares her intel with the rest of the candidates.

In another drama, I’d be wary of her because she is sneaky. But her saving grace is that she helps her fellow women. I get that she has no choice but to be scheming and shrewd in order to survive. I find her pragmatism, loyalty and honor laudable. She doesn’t drag other women down to get her way.

The female lead points out to her that Yin Song already has a wife. Remember now: the female lead is from the Ji State where monogamy is practiced. Having to share her man must be outrageous to her.

Female Lead: But this book says he already has a wife. How can he be a good choice?
Pretty One: He’s the Crown Young Lord, the future lord of Xin State, silly girl.
Female Lead: Where’s the Sixth Young Lord? Why isn’t he in the book? Did he die, too?

The Pretty One shows her a picture of the male lead in the background. He was playing Go. His name is Yin Qi/Yin Sheng. He’s the male lead.

Side note: Knowing how to play Go is shorthand for he’s a patient, strategic and capable young man.

The following conversation between the Sixth Prince and his Tutor gives us a foreshadowing of the palace dynamics. Not only are we filled in on the status of four older princes, we’re also given an insight on the mindset of Yin Qi.

Tutor: Your Lordship, the way you play go differs from how you normally behave. Instead of remaining humble, you keep attacking.

Instead of “humble,” I think the better word is modest. To most people, the 5th Prince presents himself as meek and self-effacing.

Note: This is a common manly trait in Chinese dramas. Compared to the brash and arrogant chaebols seen in kdramas, I find that many male leads in cdramas like to pretend to be humble and unassuming until a situation demands that they show their real strength. They like playing the underdog and giving nothing away.

Tutor: (continuing) You’re nearly 20, but aren’t allowed to have your own official residence or work in court. As far as I see, you should bide your time.
Yin Qi: My eldest brother was sent to guard Mo State while my second brother is in charge here.

Mo State is the one with the strong army and herdsmen. I assume it represents the present-day Mongolia. I also assume that his oldest brother was sent there because he was expedient. He isn’t the Queen’s son, but a concubine’s. I hope he turns up before this drama ends.

Yin Qi: Even if Father favors my third brother, he still has to bow to my second brother. My fourth brother has an official residence and a job in court only because he follows my second brother. But it’s merely a job at the Ministry of Rites which grants him no power. If I weren’t a sick idler, I would have to flatter my second brother, too.

According to him, his stomach problem is only pretense. However, I really can’t tell whether he pretends ALL the time or he does get indigestion on occasions when he eats greasy foods. This is how the heroine will help cure him. She’s a gourmet.

At any rate, his admission indicates that he is conniving, too, like the Pretty One. He and the Pretty One could have made a good match, and a formidable couple. But the Pretty One has one fatal flaw….

Tutor: The Fifth Young Lord is unruly and dislikes to study. His Lordship hasn’t allowed him to step into court yet. It’s hard for you to go around him.

This means there’s a strict hierarchy. Yin Qi can’t be promoted because of the Fifth Prince. The only way he can jump ahead of his older brother is to distinguish himself on the exams, and gain the attention of the King, his father.

🤨 How sad is that? Royalty or not, I’d hate to be part of a family where children are ignored unless they accomplish something. Meritocracy is not the foundation of a family. Love is. I’d like a family where children are loved and their struggles, shortcomings and failures are NOT viewed as something shameful or sinful, but something beatable and forgivable. I think the Crown Prince had a point when he decried the King’s treatment of him in Episode 29. Although he’s the bad guy in the story, the father had a hand in his descent to corruption.

Anyway, to continue…

Tutor: But in this year’s Knowledge Exams, you always got first place. I think it’s time for His Lordship to notice you.
Yin Qi: I have nine brothers. I have nine brothers. But my father has only two eyes. To get his attention and become an official, I have to do more.
Tutor: For the wife selection, I’m afraid His Lordship won’t get you a nice wife.
Yin Qi: It’s boring to get promoted through marriage. No matter what I want, I can get it by myself.

I like this. He wants to be self-sufficient. He doesn’t want to use marital alliance to get ahead. This attitude is different from the attitude of the Pretty One. To be fair though, she wants to marry the Crown Prince to elevate her status because she knows that as a woman from the Yan State she has little power and no family backing. She’s on her own.

Yin Qi: (finishing the Go game) I win.
Tutor: I know you’re a proud man. But you should also have a reliable wife.

Lol. See the cultural difference? What Tutor considered “humility” earlier, I called modesty. What he considered “pride” I view as “self-reliance”. I see Yin Qi’s insistence to go it alone as his way to become independent and prove himself.

But it’s understandable that his tutor wants him to form an alliance, through marriage, with either a military or wealthy state. In case of a power struggle in the palace, it’s good to have political backers.

Tutor: Dan and Mo States have strong military forces. Jin State is rich. Dai State is rich in minerals. But Ji State… it has nothing but a good geomantic omen.

Spoiler: The girl from the Dai State is shy and unassuming, but she’s the richest of the group, indeed. When money was needed by one of the girls, she donated a treasure chest full of jewelry.

Yin Qi: So, if I married a girl from Ji State, it would also be good. (jokingly) I’ll at least have a good geomantic omen for my tomb. (turning serious) If I play tricks in my marriage, Father may be alerted. Our plan should be perfect. If I get too calculative, it’ll hurt me eventually.

The Dramacool version translates it differently. In it, Yin Qi says, “If we scheme too much on our marriages, I’m afraid Father will be annoyed. The scheme should be appropriate. If too much, it may backfire.

This can be the general message of this episode: moderation. Lest he is caught, he can’t be *too” sneaky, *too* conniving, *too* manipulative. That’s the primary difference between the Pretty One and the Sixth Prince. Certainly, both of them are calculating. But the Pretty One is depicted as too cunning. That’s her flaw. Her scheme boomerangs on her because of her over-reach. In comparison, the Sixth Prince restrains himself and avoids appearing too devious, so his plan works out for him.

However, while this general message of moderation appears innocuous to others, it presents an unfortunate corollary to me.

You see, while everything turns out well for the Sixth Prince who acts with just the right amount of shrewdness, the female lead — what’s her name? Ah! Li Wei — gets rewarded for comporting herself with all cuteness, naivety and scruples. I think there’s an implicit gender bias in this cdrama, touting men who are cunning, and admiring women who are guileless.

Heaven forbid that the women turn out sneaky like the Pretty One, and the men artless like the Fifth Prince! That’s a no-no.

That’s the secondary message of this cdrama: blessed is the simple-minded woman because hers are the kingdom of Qing and true marital bliss.

Sigh. Bitches like us are doomed.