episode 16 review

Spoilers Ahead

Qiu Lu: the queen's personal servant

1.The queen wakes the king up personally every morning (they seem to have a solid partnership). Qiu Lu, her personal servant, reports that Tian Ji knelt for more than an hour but expresses concern that they should guard against her. Tian Ji meanwhile expresses frustration with her attendant who ignores her orders to expand her mind. She tries to passive aggressively learn her plans but isn't very successful. 100 days since Qin'er died, Yin burns incense for him. Tian Ji arrives to visit her, entering without permission, and greets her. Tian Ji want to know if she is afraid she will break palace rules, but Yin answers that the rules are dead :/ Tian Ji returns and basically reports that Yin is not someone whom they can look to for help. So the only person is Nan Hou (the Queen). She visits her and extends an olive branch. The queen essentially tells her not to play any games with her because she has seen it all (but it seems to be a successful meeting)

2. Xia'er explains a little bit about the powerful families (her father sent the jade, Jing sent the best food, qu sent the best poem). We learn that he fails people every year. But the emperor happened to walk by for the last poem, Ode to Orchid, and wants to pass him. (I thought he had it set up) Qu Yuan is very critical of the poem believing that poem is about himself (OMG HE PISSES ME OFF) and fails him (MY PITY HAS GONE OUT THE WINDOW) He returns in defeat.

3.He blames Qu Yuan (the king liked his poem) but Qu Yuan made things harder. This is because Qu Yuan does not understand human nature. He blames his life being ruined by Qu Yuan (I don't blame him the emperor really did like it). Anyways, a feast is held to send Qu Yuan off but Tian Ji is not invited. At the festival (most of this is unsubbed). Lord Zhao uses this as an opportunity to set up a marriage with Qu Yuan, and he cannot get out of it because the emperor himself agrees to it (YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW)(HE WAS SO COCKY--)

4.Chou Nu arrives to see Qu Yuan and waits for him while he is at the palace (awww). The empress takes this opportunity to mention Tian Ji and have her summoned (oh...Consort Zheng is about to be showed up). Lord Zheng tries to insinuate she smells to keep her from being summoned. Meanwhile, Xia'er goes to confront Qu Yuan (I would to). The emperor explains that he is very naive and that this union is a mind blowing accomplishment since their families are so powerful (I really, really need this guy to grow up).

5.Chou Nu observes him walking off with a beautiful woman, Xia'er. Naturally thi will make her insecure. He follows her to Cang Yun's home and tells him that this is where Cang Yun lives. He states what does this have to do with me. It seems he left without saying goodbye and she tells him this is his fault for making things hard. Her criticism is spot on: are you the only ne in the world who is worthy. She says she won't marry him and storms off. Chou Nu overhears and he stops her before she can also storm off to explain what is going on. (I do feel bad for Xia'er).

6.Elsewhere he explains the engagement dilemma to Chou Nu. He confesses he can't marry her because he loves her. She wants to know what he will do about it, and he says he will go home and immediately tell them who he will marry. Even though it is apparent she likes him she hasn't said those three words. They return to Quan county. Tian Ji practices her dancing for the empress and we know what she will plant: she will use her to exercise control 100% in the harem. She will dance at Queen Mother's birthday. This is her chance.

Comments: We finally begin to see all the little seeds for the harem subplot begin to expand. Up to now, everything has been set up. But finally Tian Ji has arrived and is getting an ally in the queen. And hopefully Qu Yuan realizes how his actions can really hurt people.

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