Thanks, @agdr03, for recommending this Cdrama. I like it. Here are my thoughts on the first episode. They’re also my reasons for continuing with this cdrama despite its 36-episode run.

1. The heroine Qiao Man (QM) wants to understand the character of the person by studying his actions.

The show opens with her question to elderly relative, “Grandfather, what kind of person is Wei Shao?” I thought this bodes well for the heroine because it indicates that she’s deliberate and judicious. She gathers intel to seek strategic advantage before she acts.

Also, unlike the other women in the court, notably her female cousin, she’s been tracking the military movements of the male lead, Wei Shao (WS). She knows that he’s about to re-take his homeland and she anticipates that he’ll then march his troops to her kingdom’s outer region, Panyi. She wants to save the people of beautiful and idyllic Panyi from the carnage. Thus, she asks her grandfather about WS character, not because she dreads WS’ annexation, but because she aims to optimize the use of her one trump card:  marriage to him.

In response, her grandfather recounts the background story of the collapse of WS’ family dynasty. From his narration, it’s clear to me that:

a) the grandfather is making allowances for WS’ brutality on the battlefield.

He says that, as a child, WS witnessed the slaughter of his grandfather, father, and much-idolized older brother by the invader of their Wei kingdom. From a young age, he was programmed to think of himself as the sole hope of the Wei clan to regain their stolen territory, and to punish their ally, QM’s clan, who abandoned them.

To me, QM’s grandfather admits his personal responsibility for the way WS turned out to be — that is, full of hate and vengeance — when he gives his final instruction to QM, “Be good to him and the Wei clan.”

b) the grandfather is guilt-ridden by his failure to honor the alliance between the two kingdoms of Wei and Qiao clans and come to the aid of WS’ grandfather to fend off the enemy.

At the time of the invasion, QM’s grandfather faced a dilemma. He could either protect his kingdom of Yan by playing neutral or fight with WS’ grandfather and embroil his own kingdom in the conflict. Since he nor his sons were trained in warfare, he knew the latter proposition was a losing battle (literally) for them.

c) the grandfather used the heroine QM’s divination as an out.

QM had been a child during the invasion. But even back then, she was hanging around the men as they discussed state affairs and the impending war. She was playing with what looked to me like moon blocks (or blocks shaped like moon). She cast them to the ground, and she came up with one block facing up and one block facing down.

In Chinese superstition, this outcome means a “yes.” Conveniently, the grandfather interpreted this as a a sign that his troops should withdraw. To me, however, it could have been interpreted both ways: it could also have been a “yes, they would withdraw” or “yes, they would fight with their Wei ally.” I think, the grandfather merely used QM’s moon block as an excuse to abandon his longtime ally.

Anyway…

after hearing the reason for WS’ twofold hatred for the invaders and her family, QM remains curious about the kind of man WS is. As I said, this tells me that she doesn’t fault WS for his quest for vengeance, but she wants to know his real character (e.g., integrity, sense of right and wrong, treatment of people, fairness, trustworthiness, etc.) to determine whether he will make a good partner for her.

By the end of Episode 1, it’s very clear to me that QM has already hatched up a plan to save her world through a marriage alliance. She’s different from her cousin who views the state-mandated marital alliance as standard practice among daughters of their rank, thus it’s futile to resist.

For QM, she sees the union as an opportunity. She intends to actively use her marriage and her position as WS’ wife to protect and defend her people from WS’ own vengeful wrath. Additionally, although it isn’t explicitly stated, I think she sees herself as the best possible option to correct her clan’s dereliction of duty and make amends for her grandfather’s crime of abandonment.

2. Watch out for QM’s pivotal moves – and her looks – throughout the series.

A few examples here and there.

a. In Episode 1, she throws her moon blocks when her grandfather and uncles are arguing on the best course of action to the Wei kingdom’s invasion. And the look on her face? She looks innocent.

b. Also in Episode 1, she silently signals their Yan emissary to propose her as the replacement wife to the fearsome WS when her cousin eloped with the stable hand. While everyone in court is wringing his hands about the runaway (prospective) bride, QM gives the emissary a death stare, an annoyed look. It’s like she’s reproaching him for being slow-witted, “Helloooo? I’m here! Isn’t it obvious that I can serve as her replacement?”

c. Also, in Episode 1, QM discreetly coughs in the antechamber when their Yan emissary and WS’ counselor can’t agree on the venue of their wedding. This is her signal to her emissary not to give in to WS’ hard demand that the nuptials be done in Panyi because this can be merely a ruse to invade their kingdom BEFORE a formal alliance is formed.

Then, hearing her cough, WS walks over to her side room, and lifts the screen curtains. When he sees her, she gives him an unblinking look. This time, however, she looks at him beguilingly.

WS: (sternly to the emissary) This matter is no longer up for discussion. If Yan does not act in good faith, you may all turn around and take her back. (lifts the screen curtains and sees QM for the first time)
QM: (wordless, but her eyes are saying, “Really? You’ll send a poor little innocent girl like me back? Don’t you see all this beauty?” Then she breaks their eye contact and looks down like a docile girl.)

So, he back pedals. In Episode 2, he backs away from his strict order to send her packing.

WS: (lowering the screen) However, this marriage was my grandmother’s wish. So, if you want it to happen, the wedding must be held in Panyi.

source:  dramaism’s tumblr

Smooth! Without skipping a beat, he’s given her and her emissary a grace period to think it over and accede to his demand.

d. Also, in Episode 2, QM inserts herself in the trial of the Xindu magistrate.

This scene reminds me of the scene of the moon blocks, but instead of throwing moon blocks, QM throws the gauntlet…or a challenge to WS.

Like her grandfather, WS is caught in a dilemma. On one hand, his soldiers demand that the magistrate be killed and be made an example to future protestors. On the other hand, the folks of Xindu who have gathered to watch the trial and judge QM’s leadership for themselves, demand the magistrate’s release. He has no easy way out.

Fortunately for him, QM arrives at the scene and saves the day, and his ass.

She suggests a preposterous scheme to WS and the crowd. She proposes that WS kill the magistrate as a example and warning. If the people continue to rebel against his rule, he can kill ten more, even a hundred, until they finally learn to obey him. The sooner the people learn to bow to him, the sooner she and WS can marry.

Of course, her proposal shocks everybody.

Only WS understands her strategy. For earlier that day, they had an argument about wildflowers. QM believed that the flowers offered to her by the Xindu residents aren’t really meant for her. She insisted that she was only a stand-in. She told him, “The people treat me kindly because they long for you, waiting to see where your heart lies. Everyone knows that I am a Qiao from Yan. Compared to the people of Bian, I am the one you despise most. If you can set aside past grudges and marry me, it means you are magnanimous. Then the people will no longer fear you and will follow you.”

His reaction to her logic? He accused her of twisting her words and manipulating the situation.

This time, however, he finally gets her point. He knows that QM is offering herself up as his stand-in, or in other words, his convenient scapegoat. She wants the spectators, both the soldiers and the common folks alike, to think that she’s pure evil, so they’ll side with WS as he’s the lesser evil, or saner one of the two.

Finally, WS understands that QM is providing him with the perfect opportunity to show the people that a) he will be a level-headed and magnanimous leader, b) he isn’t crazily vile and blood-thirsty like QM, and c) he isn’t fooled one bit by QM and her Qiao clan so the people can trust him. So, WS plays along with QM. He grabs a sword and thrusts the blade to her neck.

WS: If I followed your advice, how would I be different from Li Su (the invader)? Your grandfather’s betrayal brought me to ruin. And now you try to sway me into slaughtering a city for your sake?

To me, this scene is significant for three reasons.

One, this marks the first time that they are on the same page or wavelength, as a couple facing a problem.

Two, he’s moved by her tears. (More on this later)

And three, this forces him to openly confess his deep-seated hatred for her family, but he’ll later grudgingly recognize that she’s different from the others.

After this trial, he approaches her where she’s hiding on a bridge from the angry mob. Noteworthy: the crowd is jeering at her and calling her ugly. But he defends her by questioning their eyesight and tells them that she’s far from ugly to look at. QM hears him and remarks on it.

QM: You are so different from earlier.

Meaning, she notices that he’s now defending her unlike earlier when he attacked her with a sword. To me, her casual attitude about his rough treatment implies that she’s willing to overlook it. She’s being magnanimous, of course.

WS: I know you put on that act to help me out of trouble. But what I hate most is how your family manipulates people at every turn, always scheming, thinking you can control everyone. Yet you do not know that heaven follows rules, but people do not.

To me, it sounds like he’s admitting that he was triggered him to draw the sword at her because of her deviousness. He knows that she was deliberately provocative in front of the people to save him. However, despite her good intentions, he couldn’t help being repulsed by her deceit and manipulation. He excuses wielding the sword on her and blames his rough manhandling on her, specifically, her arrogance. She presumed that she could control him with her schemes. He’s letting her know that he won’t tolerate an underhanded trick like that as it reminds him of her family’s infamy.

WS: (continuing) Still, you are a bit better than your grandfather. At least, you know that in acting, one must pay a price.

And by “price,” he means the cut on her neck from the blade of his sword. This sounds like a warning that if she plays with fire, she should expect to get burned. She shouldn’t assume to know him or his trigger buttons.

He then leaves a bottle of ointment with a brusque order to apply it on her neck. This tells me that he saw a tear drop from her face earlier and knew that she was hurt. But he isn’t going to apologize to her because he thinks she has it coming.

I think this scene is important because he’s learning to appreciate her, not only for her keen mind, but also for her quiet dignity. She has accepted her injury as her just deserts and doesn’t try to make him feel guilty about it.

3. Watch out for the various representations of water, its symbolism, and meaning.

One of her grandfather’s words of wisdom for QM: Water is the softest material in the world. I have been taming it my whole life. Overcome hardness with softness. Keep that in mind and you will live.

a. From the first episode, it’s clear that the region called Panyi becomes part of her QM’s dowry because of it’s the source of water. The alliance between her Qiao family and WS’ Wei family began when her Qiao grandfather gave water to the Wei kingdom through a canal. They further built a Yongning Canal directly linking Pangyi and the capital Xindu. But when Xindu was taken from the Wei family, a dam was built.

So offering Panyi up as her dowry is significant. In fact, it’s this dowry that spares her life her bridal procession reaches the city gates of Xindu. He’s ready to kill her with an arrow but he’s stopped by his minister because of her Panyi dowry. It’s too good to pass up.

Then, for good measure, his minister informs WS of the famed beauty of his future bride. He quotes, “’The waters are too beautiful thanks to the pretty duo.’ The ‘pretty duo’ refers to Qiao’s two girls.”

b. In Episode 2, he sees her a single teardrop after he hurts her with the blade. He would have to be wooden not to be impressed with her steely resolve to help him and her quiet dignity afterwards.

c. In Episode 4, he finds her in Panyi and tends to her injuries on a bridge over water. Here, QM’s softness-like-water is in full display.

WS: (gently touching her ankle) Does it hurt?
QM: Mm.
WS: Here?
QM: Mm.
WS: You are so delicate! Out on the battlefield, some get their legs broken, with even the bones showing. They just wrap it up and keep fighting. Why cry over this scratch?
QM: (pulling her leg away from him) Yes, it’s all my fault. Blame me, a spoiled girl, for not being as tough as the soldiers in your troops who can forge their shattered bones anew, hardened like steel. That is why I don’t deserve to marry you.
WS: You do not have to be so sarcastic. (then seeing the burn on her wrist)
QM: (hiding her wrist from him) And I am not crying over this wound. My pain is nothing compared to the people’s suffering.
WS: Then why?
QM: I just never thought we would meet again after I left Xindu. (sniffling) If Wei Xiao’s arrow had killed me, I would never these kind words from you.

Lol. She’s totally being sarcastic here but he doesn’t hear the sarcasm anymore.

WS: (defensively) I stopped him, didn’t I?
QM: (wailing) But what about “Kill the Qiao girl for morale!”?
WS: (wordless)
QM: You would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty one go. You had no proof, yet you still believed that I eloped with Liu Yan! While I burned the sulfur for you. And even helped you take the city.
WS: You should have stayed out of it. Matters of war are no place for a woman to meddle. You nearly died here.
QM: If my life can buy the lives of the people, then it is worth it. The Qiao family has always protected the people and the soldiers, never letting one die in vain. It has never changed since 14 years ago. (sniffling)

Noteworthy: WS doesn’t challenge her on this and he lets her defend her family’s reputation, despite his kingdom being massacred because her family didn’t come to their aid.

QM: (continuing) Fine! Blame me for meddling, all right? Blame me, a woman who cannot fight ten men on her own. Who got captured outside Xindu’s gates. Who was too slow to help you take Panyi. And now has to be taken care of by you. (sniffling still)

She’s really piling on her self-pity. But it works like water.

WS: Enough! Quit acting so pitiful. (kneeling in front of her) Get on. I will carry you back.
QM: How dare I?
WS: Stop talking. Get on!

d. In the same scene, a single teardrop wells from QM’s eye again and lands on his neck. The metaphor is clear. Her tears are slowly eroding the hardness in his heart.

e. In Episode 5, she’s left in her carriage with her maids in the pouring rain for three days.  The thought that he unwittingly made her suffer ends up tormenting him.

f. In Episode 6, he notices that she’s struggling to keep pace with him because she’s avoiding getting her long skirt wet in the the rain puddles. So, he picks her up.

source: xiaolanhua’s tumblr

In all these instances (I’m sure there are more in later episodes), the water wears away his hatred for her and helps strengthen their connection.

4. I get why @agdr03 recommended this to me. 

You know me, @agdr03, and my fondness for groveling scenes from the male lead. I think in these early episodes, WS is groveling for mistreating and/or misjudging QM. It’s so satisfying to watch.

Will open a separate open thread for those who want to discuss this cdrama, and without waiting for my commentaries.