The thread is open.
I’m assuming that all the pieces are out and any major criminal case will only involve a member of the royal family moving forward.
Who else thinks the blind prince is suspect? All recruits of the Heavenly Way cult seemed to have been chosen specifically because they have a grievance against corrupt and unjust officials. I wouldn’t be surprised if the blind prince formed the secret society as a way to get back at those who tried to poison him.
Who else thinks that the news about Prince Yu having twin babies isn’t random in the plot? The empress dowager looked uncomfortable when the Grand Princess brought it up. The GP also mentioned that she only bore one child, implying that the empress dowager should feel lucky because she had more kids. But instead of agreeing and sharing fond memories of her children, the empress dowager let the moment slide. Did she avoid talking about her offsprings? Did she know somebody in the family with a twin aside from Prince Yu? Or did she give birth to twin children herself?
Who else thinks the emperor is weirdly clingy to his mother? I understand his anxiety when she suddenly became ill on New Year’s Eve and Shen Wan had to treat her. But this whole dramatic scene in Ep 32 when he wailed that he was also his mother’s son was so bizarre. His younger brother Prince Rui just died and his mother naturally wanted to see her dead son, so why was he kicking a fuss? It wasn’t the right time for him to throw a pity party for himself. Was he switched at birth or something? 😂
Who else thinks that emperor tends to favor Yan Li over the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng? I found it odd when he singled out Yan Li and told him to spend more time with the empress dowager. Why not Princess Yongning?
Who else thinks that haughty Qin cousin is in for a rough ride? I saw that hickey on her neck and was instantly reminded of the headless bride.
Who else is looking forward to Shen Wan and Yan Chi’s wedding? 🙋🏼♀️
Let’s enjoy the show!
Hi @pkml3
I was taken aback to see the blind prince. I barely heard that he existed, and forgot about him. Where did he crawl out from? I guess I should look at your detailed listing of characters again…. 🧐😬🤔😔😶 okay found it Episode 22-24 thread.
Now that blind prince has made an appearance at this late stage and remains visible for a bit, he takes on some significance ie he becomes a suspect.
I did notice that the Empress Dowager was not exactly happy when Prince Yu had twins. There was no more info about twins in the family so I also forgot about it. If there is a hidden twin somewhere about, the fight for the throne will be even more complicated than now. Too many princes!!!
I did wonder why the emperor is so suspicious of his brother, and why he keeps wanting mummy to acknowledge him as her son too. He looks like a possessive, filial son who wants to keep mummy to himself. He won’t even let her get near the corpse of his brother!
I know that everyone found it strange that Yan Li was the one the emperor singled out to spend time with grandma. I thought it was to keep Yan Li away from protecting Shen Wan. I don’t know if it’s a sign of favourtism.
There are times the emperor just wants to pit one son against another or ‘threaten’ them by showing favour towards a nephew here and there. He’s definitely not one with a benevolent heart.
The foolish Qin legitimate daughter shames her family and gets thrown out. Fortunately P Cheng took her to be a concubine, but that still shames the family because she should be a primary consort. I don’t think the consort, Feng Chen Bi is going to treat her well and P Cheng himself will merely toy with her and toss her. If she does not end up headless, will be a fortunate thing.
Well I am but at the same time, I’m wondering if it will be an ill-omened occasion or offer opportunity for some nefarious crime to take place. It’s supposed to be a simple affair during the period of mourning but will be open to lots of criticism.
One thing I’ve noticed in this series is that unlike others I’ve watched before, there is not much show or mourning. When the Qin family lost the syphilic father and grandma, they did not wear white. In fact they happily sent off their daughters and niece to the capital. I thought it odd but figured this drama wanted to just get on with the crimes and the romance, minus the customary rituals.
Huh? All six episodes dropped while I was sleeping?!! What the?
This ruins the rhythm I’ve set for myself.
Will try to watch and update after church and brunch today.
Episode 35 and 36, SPOILERS
SPOILERS
I believe we have the ‘twin’ connection now.
There probably was a twin who should have been emperor. The character most desperate to have and keep power is none other than the current emperor. He has made use of his ‘sons’ to get rid of each other so that he remains unchallenged. But he might not be the rightful heir to the throne… there might have been a twin. Perhaps he got rid of the twin and replaced him, because the handwriting before and after he took the throne, and the change in his temperament as well were too marked.
He ignored the legitimate son and the empress, AND became cold and distant towards his ‘sons’.
When Consort Jin pointed out to him that his handwriting had changed he killed her and little Prince Sui witnessed it.
@pkml3 noticed how clingy he is towards his mother, wanting her attention and acknowledgement… it could be because he was the unwanted twin who had been hidden away. But the question is why no one knows that there was a twin, and why he should have been hidden.
@pkml3 you also cottoned on that Yan Li was favoured, and so he should be, since he’s the legitimate son of the current emperor. Hence we know why there could be a power struggle between Li and Chi.
SPOILERS
The answers all come in Episode 37.
We end I guess with a coup and blood bath. I’ll find out tomorrow.
TY @pm3 @GB I could not decide whether to continue watching first love or finish up coroner’s diary.
After reading your thoughts It will be coroner’s diary starting NOW.
Wait! Seriously? There was a twin? 😂😂😂 Were they identical twins? How come nobody knew that there was a twin?
I’m guessing the swap happened at that Fu rebellion 20 years ago, right? In Ep 21, I had wondered why the face of the farmer named Yan Han, who became a trusted General in the Fu army, then became a turncoat and rescuer of the Crown Prince in the battle was NEVER shown. I thought it was a “stylistic” decision by the director because the character wasn’t important. 😂😂
All I could tell in Ep 21 was that the farmer had a strong punch, squarish body and reddish beard. But his face was hidden by the umbrella.
Then he stabbed his father-in-law Fu in the back to rescue the supine Crown Prince. The camera first showed us the CP’s reaction and when it shifted to focus on the face of the CP’s rescuer, only an armored back could be seen.
Interesting….
I’m still on Ep 32. Will take a siesta now then watch later.
So are the CP and Prince Cheng sons of this emperor or not? I guess they aren’t if he kept looking for ways to depose or sideline them.
lol. Yan Li was suspicious. I mean, I don’t doubt that he’ll side with Team Hero in the end, but I didn’t get why the emperor seemed kinder, more indulgent with him than the other princes. I understand giving him a courtesy title/honorary status but I don’t see why he had to warn Yan Li and Yan Chi about not jockeying for CP position.
Did we also find out who rescued Yan Li when he blacked out on the street after having too much to drink?
Oh…that explains why the Madam/mom of Li looked unhappy at the commemoration of her beloved “dead” hubby. She also looked dismayed when she entered her new mansion with the young Yan Li.
She also got rid of that hairpin from her husband too quickly. She handed it to Shen Wan even before seeing her face. She was definitely not attached to it anymore after living with the fact for 20 years that her husband easily exchanged her for the throne.
But wait! Her son Yan Li should have recognized his own father at the commemoration then. Was that why he smiled at the emperor back then?
Maybe his memory of his father just became blurry as time passed by.
I’ve gotten half way through Episode 38.
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
I’m thinking how convenient it is that the bad guys just off each other. Our good guys are spared the trouble. (Reminds me of how Disney villains come to their end. The good guy never did the killing, while the bad guys would fall to their deaths or hang themselves by accident, etc)
I think I actually enjoy this episode despite the bloodbath. I have to watch those choreographed fight scenes again. This is about the only episode which brings in the wu xia at length.
Thanks, @GB.
I’m so slow. I’m still on Episode 34 but I don’t mind spoilers. They alert me to details I should watch out for.
I’m still waiting to see:
a. whether the blind prince is good or bad
b. who picked up Yan Li when he slept on the ground, outside the brothel. Don’t tell me it was the emperor. What’s he doing roaming the street?
Maybe the blind prince? My bet’s on the blind prince. If he’s associated with the Heavenly Way (like I’m guessing) then he didn’t have Yan Li killed because he recognized Yan Li and they were most likely very close growing up. I mean, Yan Chi was very close to both Yan Li and the blind prince so by association, Yan Li and the blind prince must have known each other way back then and been good friends, too.
BUT DON’T TELL ME, please! I’ll get to it anyway.
@pkml3
What was it that got you thinking the blind prince has something to do with the Heavenly Way?
The mask. 😂 He has the face that could match the mask. We know that there was a leader and a deputy. He likes to wear white and we all know that white is associated with heaven, divine justice, purity, sinlessness, etc.
He has motive to form the organization. The death of his mom. No justice. Coverups in the upper echelons of society, etc.
Yan Li. It bugged me that he was rescued and we didn’t know how. Ordinarily, he should have been targeted by the society because he was frequently at the brothel and had a dissolute life. Yongning was right to fear that he was the victim, but he was inexplicably spared. Why?
The blind prince’s timely appearance after the death of the painter. 🙂 The case wasn’t closed yet so like most serial killers, he came out of hiding to check this girl who almost uncovered his secret society, operation.
He has the personality to wait it out. He had his mom frozen for decades, right? He can keep secrets.
He isn’t really blind, is he?
The rationale of the secret society. SW and YC discussed it at length. Doubt the painter could come up with it on his own. He doesn’t strike me as a deep thinker. Plus, the way he just simply killed himself without crowing about the organization he created struck me as lame. The real leader would try to “win over” or convince SW and YC about the rationality, righteousness of his form of justice.
— Besides that’s another running theme of this cdrama. Did you see it? Each case exposes the criminal’s warped sense of justice and pits it against SW and YC’s ideals. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you and @monmor about it sooner. I avoid talking about justice, law and order outside work hours. Too tiresome. 😂
The homage to astronomy and literature in the crimes. Doubt the painter could come up with it. Those subjects were a sign of erudition. Princely level erudition.
The flower symbol painted at the crime scene. It was such a royal/princely thing to do. Doubt that the painter would have come up with that idea.
He has that perfume (agarwood?) that Chi Yan identified at one of the crime scenes. Doubt the painter could afford it.
The sect has a following. Doubt the painter has that clout or influence to pull people in or money to sustain the organization.
Also, the fact that the fortune-teller was released from the cult. Usually, death was the only option. That indicates that the leader has a different view on loyalty.
Did I miss anything? 🤔
Hmmm @pkml3. You’ve an amazing memory. Yes, he has the attributes that could point to being the one behind the Heavenly Way. Yes he only appeared after the painter died. I do not recall him from early on.
His eyesight comes and goes (conveniently?) and it would take a lot of money to keep the society going, which blind prince seems to have, since he has had to keep his mum’s body well iced for years.
Thanks for listing the things that did not add up until blind prince came onto the scene.
And thanks for indulging me my theories, @GB. You already know the ending and
I could just be spitting the wind. 😂😂
@pkml3, I didn’t want to spoil your fun so I say as little as possible. However the wind won’t be against you! 😜
Just for my notes for Episode 33.
In Episode 33, the empress blew a gasket when the CP suggested giving up the throne in order to cover up his mother’s complicity in the death of Prince Jin’s right-hand man.
She slapped him, saying that “only by claiming that throne can you make your father…” She didn’t finish her thought. She looked away then continued “can you make your father pay for his indifference toward us.
Her body language indicated that she was lying. She was about to blurt out something else, but stopped herself in the nick of time.
CP: Mother, please calm down. I was wrong. I was wrong. (looks up at her imploringly)
Empress: Your expression, especially around the eyes, looks just like his. If he saw you, he would surely be delighted.
CP: Mother, what are you talking about? Who is “he”?
Empress: Your father, of course.
No wonder she didn’t make sense. It’s only made clear now – after the spoilers – that she was talking about two different people.
Not only was the current emperor indifferent to them, he also showed contempt and impatience for the CP. Poor CP. He didn’t know that he was being set up, that no matter how hard he tried, he would fail to live up to the emperor’s expectations because he wasn’t the emperor’s son.
But I get why the empress was adamant that the CP succeeded the emperor to the throne. Now that I know the background story, I agree with her insistence that CP fight for the throne. It’s the only way that 1) her husband could be avenged, 2) the heir of the pretender/usurper could be stopped from ascending to the throne, and 3) line of the succession would be restored to the legitimate ruler.
The CP’s real father loved him the way he was. But the emperor had a vested interest in the CP’s deposition, paving the way for his own flesh and blood to inherit the throne.
Thank heaven for small mercies: the CP didn’t know the truth about his emperor and his father before he was killed by Prince Cheng.
Just a note as to why Shen Wan seemingly can’t shoot her target with her wrist arrow.
I think she deliberately misses her target because:
— as an ethical doctor, she must uphold the principle of non-maleficence and
— as her father’s daughter, she believes justice must be served by legal means, not violence.
She uses the weapon, not to kill, but to distract the aggressor and subdue him in a non-lethal way.
Yan Chi did the same in the case of the doctor in the snowy village. He borrowed SW’s weapon but instead of aiming for the kidnapper’s heart, his shot just whizzed by the ear. It was the assistant of the doctor who killed the kidnapper to silence him.
I’ve had a bit of a viewing marathon and got to the end.
I’ll wait until people catch up.
@Packmule3, I just finished Episode 38. Loose ends are tied up. Couples head toward happy futures. Our FL is changing her world as a career woman, training others in forensic science: her father’s and her legacy will endure. What we don’t see is any scenes of our lead couple’s domestic bliss.
Because of injustices exposed in cases handled by Shen/Qin Wan as her story unfolded, criminal laws were rewritten under the new emperor. I believe it is no accident it is the FL’s voiceover informing viewers of the changes and additions: I highly suspect Shen Wan played a pivotal role in codifying the laws (along with with Regent Yan Chi). I did cringe when mention was made of sending some perps into reeducation: that concept doesn’t play well outside China. Also, I grimaced when I heard the plan to re-sentence convicts by higher standards after new laws are implemented. That may be considered acceptable in China, but where I live…nope. Hearing that kind of off-hand propaganda in the final minutes of this drama soured it a bit for me.
A few comments I hope I can make without going into the reveals.
I really enjoyed the way everything escalates and the big overview in this final segment.
The writer really delivers on pace, endings and resolutions and it is a bloody and ‘hammer blow’ bold process.
In fact, it almost felt like we tipped over into another genre in this last segment. More noir/gothic tragedy and less romantic drama mystery.
In this big final movement – there were one or two small problems for me.
One was that the Emperor who was well played in the present – the actor suited his present day role – looked a bit like someone’s middle aged Uncle Bill in the flash backs where they re-styled the same actor! This made some scenes – for me- slightly incongruous. See if you agree.
Then there was the question of the characters who had lived through the backstory and the role they had played or what they had not done with the consequences of that approach.
I mostly found the unravelling of things made sense. There was – for me – though, an incongruously cosy conversation with one senior female in the final episode- given all that had happened as a result of decisions made. It was a little ‘ You’ve had a stressful time Luv. But never mind.’ after the catalogue of bloodshed in the present and the past. haha
On another note I agree with @Welmaris re the sentencing laws that are read out in the final episode – I have seen this on a number of occasions in Chinese crime and thriller shows.
But I am really glad that I watched the show – it kept my attention with its various phases. I am still struck by the staging and direction and props and scenery… how long did all this take to film?
A very likeable central couple always helps. Their journey will stay with me when I have long forgotten the intricacies of the plot.