⚠️ Note: The masterpost is for sharing first impressions of the initial episodes. Please use spoiler text if you are sharing thoughts beyond the first day of episodes.

Synopsis from the Tencent / WeTV app:

Defying the fate laid out for her, Princess Mu Wanyao [played by Meng Ziyi] joins forces with Yan Shang [played by Li Yunrui], a young man of humble origins with an unrivaled gift for strategy, to forge a realm of peace and prosperity.

With larger-than-life characters, thrilling twists, and exhilarating triumphs, the story follows a generation of young idealists who rise amid the storms of a troubled age, determined to shape the world around them and pursue their dreams.

Trailer, cast list, creative team, novel summary

MyDramaList link

Airing on Tencent / WeTV, Viki, and Disney+ (Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan)

Episodes: 40

Discussions

🗨️ All discussions on the drama

🗨️ Episodic drama discussions (please see the earliest comment)

🗓️ Airing schedule

👥 Character relationship chart

🎙️ OST List

🗣️ Dubbing / Voice Actors: * Mu Wanyao played by Meng Ziyi is dubbed by Sun Yachen 孙亚晨. Sun also dubbed Shen Xihe played by Meng Ziyi in Blossoms of Power. * Yan Shang played by Li Yunrui is dubbed by Gu Jiangshan 谷江山. Gu also dubbed Yuan Shen played by Li Yunrui in Love Like the Galaxy.

What does r/CDrama think about the show?

Look out for the wrap up post where we ask the sub to rate the drama a few weeks after the final airing date.

🗳️ It's a wrap! What's your final review? (post only appears a few weeks after the drama ends)

Wiki

2024 Drama Index | 2025 Drama Index | 2026 Drama Index

''Because this time I really mean it''

So, here it is everyone, let's crowdsource our data to pull through these One-Episode-Per-Day harsh times.

How dramatically will they say ''farewell let's never meet again for real'' this time? How many times has it been? Who's leading the Never Again Until Next Time race today? Also, don't we all deserve some light-hearted focus on hard data after what YPJ and YCX put us through on a daily basis?

A note that I decided to post this separately from the episodes discussions because I did not want to burden the hosts with even more moderation work or to interfere with more serious and deep-thought comments, hence this random post.

I'll be updating the table as the data comes in; kudos and thankyous if you can spare me a rewatch of every single episode by feeding in with any farewell you cam e across: which episode, which one of the two walked away 'forever' or promised to, and the 'source' (AKA the scene, or what they said.

-> P.S. 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of crucial interactions to escalate and trigger deep emotional survival mechanisms because the cycle of fighting, separating, and reuniting functions as an addictive emotional roller coaster'', Jane Austen once wrote. In other words, wait until those two discover Breakup Sex.

Table of Contents: 🔗 Airing Schedule | Master Post | Character Flashcards | All Discussion Index |   

Hey guys!! 

After yesterday's stressful and sad episode, I really hope today will be a bit lighter; my heart can't handle the heartache; I guess I have a weak constitution after all. 😂😂 

Just some reminders for those who are just joining us:   

1. We are following the Netflix schedule till further notice. ❤️   
2. Please no negative comments about the actors and actresses, but we can be angry at characters; that's fine. I get angry at characters all the time, so this is a safe space. 😊   
3. Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing any episodes beyond this post, or I cannot be held responsible when Wei Rao decides to slap you or asks you to slap yourself.👍🏽   

And now we will use their actual names:   

Unhinged Villainess - Jundai 🔪  🎭 

Our Girl – WEI RAO!! ♟️  👑 

Episode 16: 

• Just when our girl had surrendered, Lady Shou'an shows up!! 
• Jundai yells at Huo Jue, asking why he brought a sick woman into the hall to disturb them. 
• Lady Shou'an says there are ways to judge an old case, and they should just say someone is guilty... this woman...yalll💛 
• Aunt Heng'e is visibly distressed; I can't make up Yufeng's expression, but she is too? 
• She says that while the lock was forged, the clothes are REAL, and even though the wet nurse and guard are dead, there is a possibility they were silenced. 
• She appeals to Grandma Wei...who also says she can't bear to hurt our girl...these grannies...💛 
• She asks for her to be taken away for now while she investigates the matter; Aunt Heng'e says they must kill her now before she becomes more powerful. 
• Shou'an says I do not listen to outsiders.🔥🔥 

• Huo Jue gets a slap from Jundai because he betrayed her. 
• He asks her why she burnt a strong calming incense for Lady Shou'an; she says the physician said she must stay in bed. 
• She says it was prescribed. 
• He tells her she is on her own now. 
• Yufeng comes in and asks what Jundai's plan is; she says that now that Wei Rao is there, it will be easy to kill her. 

• Lady Shou'an asks Zhou Fu why she was acting recklessly; stupid people give stupid answers.🙄 
• She continues trying to defend Jundai's behavior. 
• Lady Shou'an suggests Zhou Fu meet up with Wei Rao alone, but she hesitates. 

• Jundai arrives and suggests they eat. 
• Jundai says that Wei Rao is not the only victim in the room; she confesses to having murdered a maid before. 
• She tells Wei Rao to leave the capital and never return, and only then will she tell Lady Li not to kill her. 
• Bi Tao struggles with pouring wine for Wei Rao, who reaches out to her and tells her she isn't doing anything wrong, and that everyone has to look out for themselves. 
• Turns out they wanted to poison our girl...Jundai starts laughing. 

• Aunt Heng'e and Lady Li walk into the room where Jundai and Wei Rao were sitting. 

I paused because they are about to blame my girl for some bs; she came there empty-handed- where will she have gotten the poison from?🙄🙄 

• Jundai...is dead...Lol, Bitao did a wine switcheroo there...It isn't her first rodeo😂 
• Aunt Heng'e starts blaming Wei Rao, but Bitao says the person who brought the poison was Jundai, not Wei Rao. 
• Lady Li is crazy afffff, ruining any potential relationship between her and Wei Rao, anyway she hesitates to kill her, so Aunt Heng'e takes matters into her own hands, but is stopped by Lu Zhuo. 
• Lu Zhuo brings one of the bandits from years ago, who confesses that he was sent by the Wei family to kill a man and a woman. 

Lv Lun starts talking; he tells the truth of what happened back then. 

• So Aunt Heng'e eventually confesses. 
• Wei Rao asks Yufeng why she asked Jundai to kill her, and why she killed Jundai in the end. 
• Lu Zhuo lays out Yufeng's place in all of this, and she claps for him. 
• She says she wanted the mother to kill her own daughter because she lost out on love years ago, and she wanted Lady Li to suffer.

• Lady Li tries to pull the I am your mother card; Wei Rao says she wishes she was never born by her and runs out. 
• Lu Zhuo runs after her...she tells him she was using him and that he should stop being foolish, cause she never loved him.💔 

"I knew you were a cold woman; you can never drive me away."😭 

Thoughts: 

• Lol Jundai said Lady Shou'an was senile...😂😂😂 
• I kinda miss Jundai now😂😂😂 
• I need Lady Li to GROOOVEEEELLLLLLLLLL 
• OUR GREEN FLAG GUYS!!! 
• This was a beautiful episode, with all the truths coming out. 
• What next? 😂😂 

Welcome to the discussion posts for The Lament of Autumn 玉簟秋 cohosted with u/a_HerculePoirot_fan and all GIFs courtesy of u/EasygoingEnigma!

🗓️ Discussion Schedule: We are following the VIP schedule. Click here for the airing schedule.

📋 Reminder: Use spoiler tags for anything beyond the episodes discussed. Text goes between the greater-than (>) + exclamation (!) symbols (>!) and the exclamation (!) + lesser-than (<) symbols.

🔗 Helpful Links: Masterpost | Character Flashcards | All Discussions | Episodes 1-3 | Episodes 4-5 | Episode 6-7 | Episodes 8-9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18 | Episodes 19-20

From the previous episode (in Herc’s recap):

At the Tao residence, Tao Zili returns home after being informed by Tao Yayi, Ziyi's sister, that Ziyi has been deeply depressed since Changxuan broke off their engagement. He is shocked and saddened to see the state she is in. When he learns that Pingjun is supposedly responsible for Ziyi's misery and that she is also the girl who injured Ziyi's face, Tao Zili becomes greatly dismayed. Great, looks like we're in for yet another scene of Pingjun being tortured. 

Episode 21

Yep. 

Tao Zili decides to abduct Pingjun and force her to kneel, apologize, and leave Nanhuai as punishment for what happened to Ziyi. During her ordeal, he reprimands her for being illegitimate and lowborn, claiming she lacks a father’s guidance and doesn’t know her place. Pingjun refuses to admit she did anything wrong. 

So he actually tries to kill her! Who knew Tao Zili was capable of murder!? I don’t think you can go back from that.

His men tie her up and throw her into the lake.

Having heard of the abduction from a witness who saw Pingjun get snatched, Changxuan arrives just in time to pull her from the water, much to Zili’s displeasure. He just rescued her from the Japanese, and now he’s rescuing her from Zili. I mean, she also kind of rescued him from Chu Wenfu, so at this point, we’re just ping-ponging between these two saving each other’s lives despite repeatedly vowing to stay out of one another’s. 

But then Zili goes pale when he notices the jade pendant that fell from Pingjun. He rushes to the hospital, where he unexpectedly comes face to face with his former beloved: Ye Shuwan. 

Shuwan & Zili

We finally learn what happened between them. 

Shuwan recounts how Zili hid her away in a small courtyard in Yixian while he became engaged to Miss Tang, news she learned through the newspapers. His plan was to use the marriage to rise from a junior bank clerk to a much higher position virtually overnight. 

Zili insists that everything he did was to support Shuwan and that he intended to “bring her home” after spending three years accumulating the wealth and power necessary to support them. Gross. He sounds like Xueting.

But Shuwan was never consulted, nor did she ever agree to being a “hidden concubine”. He destroyed her life and now, he nearly took her daughter’s. That’s when Zili realizes Pingjun is his daughter. Shuwan denies it, but the jade pendant, their old love-token, confirms the truth. 

Ye Pingjun

Pingjun overhears everything. She learns that Zili abandoned her and her mother in pursuit of his ambitions, something he doesn’t even deny anymore. At the same time, she feels betrayed by Shuwan, whose stories about her father painted a far different picture than the man standing before her. As painful as that revelation is, the realization that her biological father just tried to murder her cuts even deeper. 

Despite the truth, Pingjun refuses to acknowledge him as her father. To her, the only father she has ever known is Ye Zhaohe, and he died long ago. 

Changxuan and Xueting

Xueting tells Changxuan to leave the hospital, still referring to Pingjun as his fiancée and insisting that he is more than capable of protecting his own family. Changxuan fires back that if Xueting truly could protect her, he wouldn’t have to keep showing up to save her over and over again. Ouch.  

The two of them rush into Pingjun’s hospital room when they hear that she’s awake and are stunned by the truth about her relationship with Zili. After Zili leaves, Xueting stays behind to comfort Pingjun, while Shuwan thanks Changxuan for everything he has done but asks him to leave. He gracefully complies, making all the necessary arrangements and reminding her that she can contact him if she needs anything. 

The Truth Comes Out 

News of Pingjun’s parentage quickly spreads, and almost immediately, people begin gossiping that, by status, she is now considered a suitable match for Changxuan. At the Yu household, Zhongquan overhears the women gossiping about the situation and he promptly blames Changxuan for the entire mess. Fortunately, Baoru manages to calm him down. 

One person who has not yet heard the news is Ziyi. However, she becomes suspicious when she overhears Zili instructing the household servants to keep his visit to the hospital a secret from her. Naturally, she follows him.

Meanwhile, Shuwan and Xueting agree to take turns staying with Pingjun so that Xueting can continue working. Well, this arrangement certainly works very nicely in Changxuan’s favour.

After Ruitong informs Changxuan that Pingjun’s condition still isn’t improving, he postpones all of his meetings and heads straight to the hospital.

There, Zili asks Shuwan and Pingjun for an opportunity to make amends. He claims he searched for them all these years and promises to quickly acknowledge Pingjun as his daughter. He offers to buy them a house, hire servants, and provide everything they could ever need. Pingjun quickly rejects the offer and points out that all of this was his wishful thinking. She and her mother have managed perfectly well without him until now, and she sees no reason for that to change. 

Ziyi’s Worst Nightmare 

Ziyi overhears the entire conversation and responds as you’d expect. She lashes out further when Zili insists that she not take her anger out on Shuwan and Pingjun. Watching him defend them, she demands to know whether he considered her feelings before making all these promises. 

Pingjun, wanting no part in their family drama, asks them to leave and settle their issues elsewhere. 

For Ziyi, that changes nothing. It doesn’t matter that Pingjun shows no interest in the power, wealth, or status that comes with being Tao Zili’s daughter. She accuses Shuwan of deliberately inserting herself into their lives with ulterior motives. But Pingjun will not tolerate insults at her mother, so Ziyi redirects them at her, repeating all the cruel things Zili once said about her. She even exposes him completely by revealing that he tried to get rid of Pingjun altogether. 

When Ziyi becomes physical, Zili slaps her, and everyone is stunned. Ziyi completely unravels and, to make matters worse, Changxuan arrives in the middle of her humiliation. Ziyi accuses Pingjun of stealing not only her fiance, but her father too, and that she was born to destroy her. She storms away, and Shuwan throws Zili out too.

The Long Night

Changxuan remains near Pingjun, helplessly watching her suffer and ready to step in if she needs anything. The next morning, he spots her taking a walk outside and quietly approaches, offering her his jacket to keep warm. Pingjun realizes he has stayed at the hospital all night and thanks him for supporting her. 

Changxuan acknowledges how much pain she’s in and gently reassures her that none of this is her fault. She should not punish herself for the mistakes and choices made by others. 

Pingjun admits that part of the pain comes from the image she always held of her father. She wanted to make him proud because he was someone she admired. The realization that this heroic figure never truly existed shattered her world. 

In response, Changxuan opens up about his own past. He talks about his rivalry with his brother, and how his father eventually gave up on him. He admits that after his brother died, his own life seemed to lose all meaning. But then he recalls their very first meeting at the temple, when a young Pingjun told him not to become trapped by his obsessions and to live for himself rather than constantly trying to prove his worth. 

Now he gives that lesson back to her. He encourages Pingjun to follow her own advice, to live for herself, and not allow blood ties to define who she is or who she will become. As the sun rises, he reassures her that this pain will pass and her future remains bright. 

Uh oh... is the obsession back? He's feeling more protective of her than ever before. That last line is a bit ominous since we know what's he capable of, to keep someone close to him...

What's next? What will be everyone's next moves? How will Xueting plan to win Pingjun back? What will Ziyi do for revenge? Will Changxuan pursue Pingjun again? Is Zili going to insist on acknowledging Pingjun as his daughter? There is... what do you think is going to happen, but also, what do you want to happen??

Please remember to use spoiler tags if commenting about what happens in the novel.

Link to previous discussions:

1-4 | 5-6 |

Episode 7:

https://reddit.com/link/1xdd8gz/video/zpake9kir7xh1/player

To have such an amorous and lecherous father, I can understand why the daughter refuses to approve operational rights for him. Quite crafty for Director Long to persuade her to sign the agreement though by framing that the father will suffer more alive than dead. But after the operation, the father tried to emotionally blackmail her daughter?? What an asshole. And he was only concerned that after the operation, he was not able to live his usual lecherous lifestyle?? Damn, they should have let him die. I really like the way Dr Liu tried to comfort her though, awkward but effective.

In the end, the Chen Patriarch was really concerned about his son. He was just worried that his son will feel discouraged when he realised his skills are not as accomplished as Dr Liu.

And our dear Dr Che kept to her word and really divorced her husband. And really pity her family circumstances as she also have to take care of a father with schizophrenia.

And they finally found the body of Dr Liu’s mother. And Dr Liu’s cold and apparently emotionless approach to the treatment of his mother’s body, cremation rather than burial, left the others in disbelief and criticising him for being heartless. 

One have to really love Dr Liu’s colleagues though.  Except for them, no one else offered comfort or showed concern to Dr Liu. The scene of Dr Liu eating the meat bun though was quite heartwrenching to watch.

Episode 8:

https://reddit.com/link/1xdd8gz/video/7u6n96ujr7xh1/player

Ah!! There was a reason why our Dr Liu chose cremation! It was the wishes of his parents! Wise words from them! Funeral arrangements are unimportant, as long as they remembered each other in their hearts.

https://reddit.com/link/1xdd8gz/video/294dy0dlr7xh1/player

And damn, the shower scene. Both sad but oh so SEXY lol.

Of course, Chen Junnan really got himself employed in Little West Heaven Hospital. The scene of him offering a lollipop to Dr Liu was also so heartwarming.

https://reddit.com/link/1xdd8gz/video/nyqsibtpr7xh1/player

Aww. Dr Che’s attempt to let Dr Liu’s emotions out worked! Damn, Xiao Zhan really aced the scene here. 

Lastly I also have to applaud the attention to details in the funeral of Dr Liu’s mother. Quite an eye-opening look into the funeral customs of the Dongbei region.

Update: Coming soon to Viki

The Chinese drama title 尚公主 can be translated as “to marry a princess.”

The English drama title, Tigers Sniff the Rose, is from a poem by Siegfried Sassoon. More details are available here.

About half an hour ago, the production team released a new final trailer for the drama's premiere today.

The airing schedule will be posted in the comments when it's available.

Filming officially wrapped up on February 3, 2026.

Clip description:

Final Trailer

A desperate predicament can be a cage, but it can also be the blade that breaks the cocoon. With no retreat left, one must seek life through death.

The road ahead is long and fraught with obstacles. They do not fear falling into the dark night together; they ask only that they never abandon each other, in life or death. With nothing but their own solitary courage, they will forge a path to survival.

The curtain rises today at 6:00 pm. Join us to witness what unfolds!

Cast:

More information regarding the actor credit guidelines in this summary here and the full notice here.

(I put the character stroke count as: 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣)

Leading actors (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * 7️⃣ Li Yunrui 李昀锐 as Yan Shang 言尚 * 8️⃣ Meng Ziyi 孟子义 as Mu Wanyao 暮晚摇

Special appearances (sorted by the number of strokes in the surname): * Quan Yilun 全伊伦 as Liu Wenji 刘文吉 * Ken Wu Hankun 吴汉坤 as Yang Si 杨嗣 * Li Xiaoqian 李孝谦 as Wei Shu 韦树 * Shen Jiayu 沈佳钰 as Chun Hua 春华 * Yu Ailei 余皑磊 as Yu Cheng'an 鱼成安 * Myolie Wu 胡杏儿 as Mu Ningshuang 暮凝霜 * Tang Xiaotian 唐晓天 as Meng Zaishi 蒙在石 * Xu Haiqiao 徐海乔 as Mu Xun 暮恂 * Yan Zidong 晏紫东 as Feng Xianyu 冯献遇

Appearance: * Zhang Yue 张月 as Liang Lingyi 梁令仪

The production team did not update the rest of the cast list for today's release.

Special appearance: * Gong Lei 公磊 as Yan Zhanzhi 言瞻之

Supporting actors: * Bai Bingke 白冰可 as Zhao Ling Fei (Consort Zhao Ling) 赵灵妃 * Wu Bi 吴彼 as Mu Ti 暮惕

• Wang Zirui 王子睿 as Wei Qiao 韦桥
• Li Jiaxin 李嘉鑫 as Liu Ruozhu 刘若竹

Special appearances: * Liu Jun 刘钧 as Mu Yu 暮玙 * Huang Shengchi 黄圣池 as Yu Xianyao 鱼显耀 * Sha Baoliang 沙宝亮 as Zhang Renjing 张人靖 * Hou Changrong 侯长荣 as Liu Xiang 刘相 * Peng Yang 彭杨 as Li Ying 李萦 * Ding Jiawen 丁嘉文 as Lin Dao 林道

Co-starring: * Yang Zihua 杨子骅 as Li Zhi 李执 * Cui Zhigang 崔志刚 as Zheng Xing 郑兴 * Zhang Shulun 张舒沦 as Fang Tong 方桐 * He Ziyi 何子怡 as Yu Niang 郁娘 * Ji Lingchen 纪凌尘 as Yan Dalang 言大郎 * Pei Jiaxin 裴佳欣 as Yan Xiaozhou 言晓舟 * Ding Zi’en 丁子恩 as Cai Lian 彩练

🗣️ Dubbing / Voice Actors

🍉 According to the latest rumours:

• Mu Wanyao played by Meng Ziyi might be dubbed by Sun Yachen 孙亚晨. Sun also dubbed Shen Xihe played by Meng Ziyi in Blossoms of Power.
• Yan Shang played by Li Yunrui might be dubbed by Gu Jiangshan 谷江山. Gu also dubbed Yuan Shen played by Li Yunrui in Love Like the Galaxy.

The voice actors should be listed in the ending credits when the drama airs. I will include this information in the masterpost if the details are available. The masterpost will be posted after the drama airs.

• Episodes: 40 (according to Baidu Baike and MDL)
• Streaming platforms: Tencent 🐧, Disney+ (Hong Kong and Taiwan), Viki
• Main cast announced: June 22, 2025
• Official filming started: August 31, 2025
• Official filming wrapped up: February 3, 2026
• Distribution license obtained: early August 2026
• Filming time: ~157 days
• Filming locations: Hengdian World Studios; Zhejiang Province; Yangchun, Guangdong Province.
• Genre: costume, romance (according to Douban)

• 🎬 Director: Zoe Qin (In the Moonlight, Love Beyond the Grave, Lost You Forever 1 and 2; Love Scenery; Demon Catcher Zhong Kui; Love beyond the Grave)
• 🎬 B-team director: Yu Xiaotong (Moonlit Reunion, Duel on Mount Hua: Southern Emperor and Northern Beggar, The Legend of Shen Li)
• ✍️ Original creator: Yi Ren Kui Kui 伊人睽睽
• ✒️ Screenwriter: He Fang (Blossoms in Adversity, Till the End of the Moon)
• 📖 Novel: Shang Gong Zhu 尚公主
• 📽️ Production companies: Tencent Video and New Classics Media (Xinli Media)

🔗 Previous announcement, poster, wrap up special, etc.

🎥 Previous trailer with official English subs

🎙️ OST List

Synopsis from MDL:

Princess Danyang Mu Wan Yao [played by Meng Ziyi] was ordered to leave Chang An and go to Lingnan to pray for her deceased mother. On the return journey, because the axle of the carriage broke on the mountain road, she met Yan Shang [played by Li Yunrui], a scholar who was returning home from the rural school. In the mountains of Lingnan, the mist and rain were hazy. The two fell in love with each other during the help and started a good story.

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

Later, Yan Shang got the help of the princess, entered Chang'an, embarked on an official career, made a name for himself in the court, and met a group of young people in their prime. Yan Shang's ambition and passion for serving the country were finally realized. At this time, the country was facing a crisis of internal and external troubles. Yan Shang took the lead, fearless of hardships, and worked with the princess to eradicate treacherous people, resist foreign aggression, and protect the world.

In the process, the relationship between the two people continued to sublimate, they tested each other, supported each other, and finally cherished each other and walked side by side! In the troubled times, they fulfilled a legendary story of worrying about the people first and then seeing their love, which started with small love and ended with great love!

(Source: Chinese = Weibo || Translation = MyDramaList)

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Shang Gong Zhu" (尚公主) by Yi Ren Kui Kui (伊人睽睽).

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL

📖 Novel Summary – translated from Baidu Baike:

《尚公主》 (which can be translated as “to marry a princess”) is a romance web novel written by Yiren Kuikui (伊人睽睽). It was serialized on Jinjiang Literature City from February 20 to August 18, 2020, and was completed on August 18, 2020. It belongs to the 中兴 (which can be translated as “Revival”) chapter of the author's 大魏王朝 (“Great Wei Dynasty”) series.

The work is classified as Original – Romance – Alternate History – Love, with tags including Palace Intrigue and Marquises and Nobles, as well as elements of serious drama. The novel consists of three volumes and has been adapted into a television drama of the same name.

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

The story is set against the backdrop of Princess Danyang Mu Wanyao going to Lingnan to recuperate following the death of her former husband. There, she encounters Yan Shisheng, a young man from a humble family who later changes his name to Yan Shang.

With the princess's guidance, Yan Shang enters officialdom through the imperial examinations. Relying on his high emotional intelligence and resourcefulness, he gradually rises through the ranks to become chancellor, ultimately marrying Mu Wanyao.

Their relationship gradually evolves from an initial dynamic of “overstepping the bounds of hierarchy” into one of mutual support and cooperation both within and outside the imperial court. The story portrays the emotional entanglements and political collaboration between a cold-hearted princess and a refined, gentle chancellor.

Beyond its central romance, the work also explores questions of power, the nation and its people through plotlines involving the imperial examinations and court politics.

Translated Synopses

Note: All translated synopses and information I share in the "trailers & posters" posts are based on the original Chinese sources (Douban, Baidu Baike, Chinese Wikipedia, etc.) and were first published here. If you see them elsewhere, please know they originated from our sub. Thanks for reading!

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

I've binged Against the Current for the past week and overall really enjoying it for the solid script, good acting and attention to details, cinematography etc.

But from episode 34 I'm starting to get nervous. I'm not watching it for the romance (the trailer made it look very much liked a female-centered drama, the romance as an add-on, and so far that's been the case) or for some big political plot, but I'm fine with both as long as it's well done.

But I don't think the director knows how to make proper fight scenes - so far all have been slow-mo and looked awkward, and the romance, well. I don't hate the ML despite his actions towards the FL, but I don't think he's fleshed out enough for the romance to work at this point. I liked Liu Xueyi just fine, but it feels like he's not getting enough to work with in creating the ML character.

I've noticed that the FL has been a bit too perfect the entire drama. I didn't mind it at first, and up until now I can still tolerate that she's always the smartest person in the room and can make no mistakes. Partly because the Tang Songyun plays her so well.

Now there's the big conspiracy stuff, and lots of things are happening - this is where the drama is starting to annoy me:

- it makes sense that the FL can deduce something is sus because of her knowledge of the opera environment - but suddenly she knows and can deduce more about military strategy and political conspiracies than the ML? How does it make sense that she literally has to explain it to him, when he was the one to figure out the conspiracy against the then-crown prince just a handful of episodes ago?

- the carriage kiss. Seriously. I thought awkward fish eye-kissing was dead by now. And the ML turns around in a super tense, time-is-essential-situation and rides back in slow-mo to steal a kiss from his wife (who acts totally surprised even though she had plenty of time to see what he was going for) - and the drama wants me to think that's super romantic?!

- the ML getting shot with an arrow. I didn't expect this type of serious drama to require me to suspend all logic and sense of realism. I mean, wtf was that supposed to be? What if they'd shot him in the eye instead - or on the right side instead of the left? And his hand get pierced but somehow he's still fine?

- and right outside in the woods the FL is now infodumping/explaining the plot to the guards (aka the viewers) and suddenly is totally in the know of everything that's going on (because she's a mental super woman I guess?)

Please tell me ATC isn't going to turn into another Pursuit of Jade where the FL is super OP (which is why I dropped that drama - too much suspension of belief there) and girlboss who can handle everything and never needs any help.

I've got 12 episodes left and would love to see what happens with Scholar Han, Xiuwan and the other side characters. I don't even much mind the FL falling for the ML (though I don't think they have much chemistry and not convinced they should be together except that she can't divorce him so might as well try to be happy).

But it's a lot of hours left to watch if this drama has suddenly decided to turn stupid. Does it get good again once they've stopped the evil Prince Han?

TL;DR: I'm watching ATC because I liked the thoughtful, female-centered, meticulous story, not some mindless idol drama (tons of other dramas with better romance that I could watch for that). Don't want to waste my time if the last part turns too idol drama.

Note: There are some changes at Reddit afoot, and in the future, markdown won't be used to implement spoiler tags.

The best way to keep yourself up to date is to read Reddit's documentation on how to implement spoiler tags.

But in general, to mark a comment with spoiler tags: use this syntax >!spoiler text!<

Or look for the little button with the <!> symbol in the text editor field.

Some guidelines about spoilers:

You are expected to use spoiler tags if your comment or post has spoilers/information about

• Major plot points such as secret identities, kissing scenes, marriages, who is the murderer or victim (you get the gist)
• Character deaths
• upcoming episodes that have not aired yet

If your comment doesn't have the necessary spoiler tags, they will be removed.

DO NOT include spoilers in the post titles

Make sure that your post title does not have spoilery plot points. For example, posts with titles such as "Love Show - everyone died!" or "Love Show - our main couple finally kissed in episode 20!" will be instantly removed, regardless of how many comments are under it.

DO include the name of the show in the title of the post

That said, please don't post overly vague titles. Please ensure that your post title contains the show's name at least. Imagine someone taking a chance to read the post only to be spoiled for a show they didn't want to be spoiled for.

Titles such as "A review" or "The ending of the show" does not tell you what show is being talked about. Even if they are marked spoilers, they will be removed.

Add spoiler tags to spoilery comments

If you're discussing a Show's plot point in a post unrelated to the Show, please tag your spoilers with spoiler tags, especially if you're dropping the comment on a post that has nothing to do with the Show.

Although I'm generally more lenient with comments with non-spoiler-tagged comments in posts marked as "spoilers", comments without spoiler tags under a post that has nothing to do with the show will be removed.

Posts such as Episode Discussions, discussions about a show's ending must be marked as spoiler or it will be removed.

What it said.

That's it!

Happy discussing!

Please read Reddit's documentation to learn how to implement spoiler tags.

Welcome to the thread where you share all the fannish things you’ve come across lately. This is a space to highlight your discoveries and to help others discover something new.

What to share:

• Fan art or crafts (your own or others’)
• Fanfiction recommendations
• CDrama-inspired food/recipes!
• Costumes or cosplays
• Fandom-related purchases or merch
• Edits, meta, or interesting finds

If you’re recommending something, a quick note on why you liked it goes a long way.

Guidelines:

• Please keep the thread free from drama. Gossip/celeb rumours belong to Yumcha Threads on Tuesdays. Fandom spats should always stay outside the sub. We're here to celebrate CDramas, not fight over it ;)
• Please don’t spam. If you have multiple things to share, keep them in one comment rather than making separate posts on the sub.
• Credit matters. If you’re sharing fan art, fic, or any content that isn’t yours, clearly state that and link to the original creator where possible. Respect creators’ wishes around reposting.
• Be genuine. Share things you actually enjoyed, not just your own content or things you’re trying to promote.

When I Fly Towards You 当我飞奔向你

As of the 22^nd of October 2026, When I Fly Towards You has an MDL Score of 9.0, with 62,102 ratings and a Douban Score of 8.0 163,854 reviews.

Why is this drama so loved?

This post is part of a series of posts meant to let people share why they love certain dramas. WIFTY is arguably one of the most beloved feel-good fluffy dramas out there.

Personally, this drama makes me squeel in the same way you can see Su Zai Zai squeel in the bottom right corner of the attached image.

For me:

Not to get too personal, but; I started watching WIFTY during a time when waking up wasn't fun. When I Fly Towards You helped me in the mornings. When I would wake up with heart palpitations, this drama quite literally helped me calm my breathing and stop the consistent feeling of stress that was haunting me.

The characters are sweet and endearing. There is no hurt or heartache. In fact, When I Fly Towards You proved to me that you don't need a central conflict or stressor to keep a drama's momentum going.

Zhou Yi Ran's dimples deserve an award for their acting alone.

I'm not going to spend too much time on my reason, since this post is actually me asking for your opinions, but I just want to say; this drama is heartwarming, it's the definition of a comfort watch, and although I like costume dramas more than modern dramas, this is my favourite drama of all time.

Why do you love When I Fly Towards You?

Disclaimer: this post and the larger series it forms part of is not meant to imply that everyone loves a drama, it's meant to ask those who do love the drama what makes it so special to them.

Previously On:

• The Real Reason People Love My Journey to You
• The Reason Why Hidden Love is so Loved
• The Reason People Love *Love Between Fairy and Devil*

If you have any recommendations regarding what dramas to cover in this series, feel free to add your recommendations on this post.

The drama is also known as Overseas Security Officer. It's listed as Overseas Security Guard on the Tencent / WeTV streaming app.

The Chinese drama title 莫语者 can be translated as “The Silent Ones.”

🎥 Trailer with English subs

On October 21, 2026, the production team announced the release date and dropped a new trailer.

The episodes were not available on the app for a day or so, but they are now released and caught up to the airing schedule. 8 episodes are out now.

Filming wrapped up in late January 2018.

🍉 Rumours say that there were financial issues so the drama was shelved.

Prior to Overseas Security Guard, Leon Lai's last drama where he played a leading role was the 1994 TVB drama Class of Distinction 阿Sir早晨. He had a supporting role in the 2018 drama Ever Night as Emperor Li Zhongyi.

The airing schedule is in the comments.

Clip description:

Bound by a blood feud, they come face-to-face on a narrow path. One battle to the death will settle their fated rivalry. Premiering today [October 21], the ultimate showdown begins now!

The first TV drama about overseas security services, Overseas Security Guard, premieres today. Starting today, with new episodes updated daily at 12 noon. Witness this fateful showdown together!

Cast:

More information regarding the actor credit guidelines in this summary here and the full notice here.

(I put the character stroke count as: 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣)

Leading actors (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * 1️⃣5️⃣ Leon Lai / Li Ming 黎明 as Wei Tian 卫天

Special appearances (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * Eleanor Lee / Li Kaixin 李凱馨 as An Da 安达 * Yang Le 杨玏 as Xiang Lai 项来 * Zhang Fengyi 张丰毅 as Xiang Pingsheng 项平生 * Maggie Huang Mengying 黄梦莹 as Hai Lun (Helen) 海伦

Appearances (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * Bai Huizi 白卉子 as Sha Lan 沙蓝 * Thomas Price / Bai Zixuan 白梓軒 as Ha Di Si (Hades) 哈迪斯 * Zhu Xiaohui 朱晓辉 as Shen Yu 沈煜 * Zhang Chenghang 张诚航 as Xiang Bei 项北 * Zhao Liang 赵亮 as Qu Shengli 曲胜利 * Zheng Kai 郑凯 as Zuo Feichen 左非宸 * Rossi Zheng Luoxi 郑罗茜 as Ye Wan 叶婉

• Episodes: 32
• Streaming platform: Tencent 🐧 and Tencent's YouTube (membership required)
• Filming started: May 29, 2017
• Filming wrapped up: January 27, 2018
• Filming locations: Yinchuan, Morocco, and other locations
• Genre: overseas, rescue (according to Baidu Baike)

• 🎬 Directors:
  • Lin Feng 林峰 (Thunder Chaser, The Vendetta of An, Love and Crown, The Journey of Legend, Singing All Along, The Legend of Chu Liu Xiang)
  • Liu Shun’an 刘顺安 (Homeland Guardian, Home Troopers, Regeneration Edge, Crimson Sabre, The Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain, The Duke of Mount Deer, The Condor Heroes 95)
  • George Leung / Liang Xinquan 梁辛全 (Memory Lost, New Mad Monk, Introduction of the Princess, Schemes of a Beauty)
• ✒️ Screenwriters:
  • Wu Yao 武瑶 (Love Kills Slowly, Truth, Extreme Punishment Suit, Justifiable Defense, Genuine Heroes, The Legend of Heroes, Under the Skin, Siege in Fog)
  • Zhao Shi 赵实
  • Hao Jing 郝婧
• 📽️ Production companies: Donghai Xuri Pictures, Beijing Summer Star Media

Synopsis from the Tencent / WeTV app:

Set against the Belt and Road backdrop, this drama focuses on a real-world story of overseas private security.

Wei Tian [played by Leon Lai], a man with top-level protective skills, loses his wife and daughter in a terrorist attack. He assumes a hidden identity in Antilocaris* and forms a private security squad called "The Silent Ones" to protect Chinese compatriots living abroad.

*fictional location

Synopsis translated from Baidu Baike:

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

To uncover the truth behind the deaths of his wife and daughter, Wei Tian [played by Leon Lai], who possesses top-level security and protection skills, gives up his identity and establishes “The Silent Ones Agency (莫语者事务所)” in Antilocaris (安提洛卡里斯), the place where the incident occurred. The agency provides security services to businesses and the public in the Belt and Road Economic Zone.

Wei Tian shares a deep bond with Xiang Pingsheng [played by Zhang Fengyi], president of Zhong'an Group, but clashes with his son, Xiang Lai [played by Yang Le], due to their conflicting personalities.

Zhong'an Group and The Silent Ones operate independently, yet both have a strong sense of a community with a shared future for humanity. In their own ways, they safeguard the overseas security of Chinese people in the Belt and Road Economic Zone.

The Silent Ones and Zhong'an Group join forces on multiple occasions to foil the schemes of unscrupulous pharmaceutical companies, provide security for China's high-speed railway project in Africa, and resolve repeated security crises caused by terrorists in the Belt and Road Economic Zone.

During an operation, Wei Tian rescues An Da [played by Eleanor Lee], deputy manager of the Plato International Hotel, and the two grow closer as they protect one another and are protected in turn. Members of The Silent Ones team, Sha Lan [played by Bai Huizi], Qu Shengli [played by Zhao Liang] and Ye Wan, also come to terms with their past experiences through their successive missions.

In the end, under Wei Tian's leadership, the Silent Ones join Zhong'an Group and successfully protect the safety of businesses and the public throughout the Belt and Road Economic Zone.

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL

Translated Synopses

Note: All translated synopses and information I share in the "trailers & posters" posts are based on the original Chinese sources (Douban, Baidu Baike, Chinese Wikipedia, etc.) and were first published here. If you see them elsewhere, please know they originated from our sub. Thanks for reading!

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

Welcome to the discussion posts for The Lament of Autumn 玉簟秋! This drama will be hosted by yours truly and u/BasilOrdinary3617

🗓️ Discussion Schedule: From Friday (October 23rd to Sunday October 25th), we're back to the single-episode release schedule, with one new episode airing each day. Click here for the airing schedule.

📋 Reminder: Use spoiler tags for anything beyond the episodes discussed. Text goes between the greater-than (>) + exclamation (!) symbols (>!) and the exclamation (!) + lesser-than (<) symbols.

🔗 Helpful Links: Masterpost | Character Flashcards | All Discussions | Episodes 1-3 | Episodes 4-5 | Episode 6-7 | Episodes 8-9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episodes 17-18

Before we get into today's episode discussion, here's some historical context because the real-life events surrounding Japanese imperialism are closely connected to what unfolds in these 2 episodes and help set the stage for what's to come. Understanding this background will give you guys a better appreciation of the political tensions and the consequences of Changxuan's actions.

Historical Context: The Twenty-One Demands and Anti-Japanese Sentiment

What were the Twenty-One Demands?

In January 1915, Japan presented Chinese President Yuan Shikai with the Twenty-One Demands, seeking extensive political, economic and territorial privileges in China.

The most severe was Group Five, which demanded that China appoint Japanese political, financial and military advisers, establish joint Chinese-Japanese control over certain police forces, and purchase weapons from Japan or operate joint arsenals. It also sought additional railway and economic privileges. All these demands threatened to reduce China to nothing more than a Japanese protectorate and stripping away much of its independence.

Although Yuan resisted Group Five, which Japan later withdrew, he still accepted other concessions in May 1915 under threat of war, provoking widespread anger and national humiliation.

Why the protests and boycotts?

The Twenty-One Demands fuelled Chinese nationalism, prompting anti-Japanese protests and boycotts of Japanese goods. Students and intellectuals, including those studying overseas, mobilised against Japanese expansionism.

References:

1. ^{Luo, Z. (1993}. National humiliation and national assertion: The Chines response to the Twenty-one Demands.) *^{Modern Asian Studies, 27}*⁽², 297–319. Cambridge University Press.) ^{https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X00011501}
2. ^{Bond, J., & Brewis, G. (2025}. ‘Ambassadors of cultural appreciation’: The social, political, and associational life of Chinese students in Britain, 1908–37.) *^{Modern British History, 36}*⁽², Article hwaf007. Oxford University Press.) ^{https://doi.org/10.1093/tcbh/hwaf007}

Episode 19

Pingjun waits for Changxuan at Nanhuai Military Headquarters to thank him for saving her mother's life. Changxuan, however, acts cold and indifferent towards her. But who is he kidding? The moment he sees her, he lowers his eyes before composing himself.

Changxuan brushes off his efforts to save her mother as a minor matter and coldly reminds her of their parting agreement: they are never to see each other again. As Pingjun walks away, Changxuan watches her from the window, his expression a mixture of yearning and steely determination.

At the temple, Pingjun prays to Buddha in gratitude for bringing Changxuan home safely from the battlefield. Our man Changxuan's resolve to stay away from Pingjun lasts less than 10 minutes into the episode because he quietly follows her from a distance and buys her an umbrella when it starts raining.

We are now beginning to move into the wartime arc, with widespread protests and boycotts of Japanese goods following the brutal killing of Chinese civilians by Japanese forces in Changsha. The boycotts also stem from growing resentment towards Japanese imperialism and the Twenty-One Demands.

Pingjun is among the leaders organising protest marches and writing speeches condemning the Japanese government. Unfortunately, their activities attract the attention of the Japanese authorities, who arrest Pingjun for her role in organising an anti-Japanese performance and for allegedly injuring 2 Japanese rōnin outside the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. She is ordered to apologise publicly, but when she refuses, she is subjected to cold-water torture.

Meanwhile, Changxuan and Gu Ruitong are investigating the faulty weapons that were swapped into their military supplies, leaving them ill-prepared for the Qi Army's ambush in the previous episode. Their investigation also leads them back to the pistol used in the assassination attempt in Episode 1.

However, the arms dealer has committed suicide, leaving them without further clues. Changxuan now suspects that the mole within the Yu Army is a senior officer with access to its weapons. He orders Gu Ruitong to investigate all senior officers, including Kuang Bingwen.

Just then, Li Boren rushes in to inform Changxuan of Pingjun's arrest by the Japanese. Alarmed, Changxuan immediately prepares to intervene, but Boren stops him and warns him to proceed carefully because the Japanese enjoy administrative autonomy within their concession.

Meanwhile, Xueting and a few others, armed with, uhhhhhh, sticks, are heading towards the Japanese consulate to rescue Pingjun when they learn that the Yu Army has already assembled outside the Japanese Chamber of Commerce.

Gu Ruitong and Li Boren lead the troops and, under the pretence of conducting military training, order their men to open fire on the Japanese Chamber of Commerce building. President Takahashi of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce is dismayed to discover that his men have arrested Yu Changxuan's woman.

However, the Japanese are equally unwilling to bow to pressure, fearing that doing so would undermine their national pride. Outside, Li Boren informs Changxuan that the Japanese have agreed to release Pingjun, but on one condition: Changxuan must join them for dinner to discuss business.

Changxuan finds Pingjun weak and exhausted from the torture. He gently drapes his coat over her and cradles her tenderly in his arms. Pingjun briefly regains consciousness and murmurs that he has come for her after all. Changxuan reassures her that he's there and that she's safe. I really like the gentle piano BGM accompanying this scene!

Carrying Pingjun out bridal-style, Changxuan leaves the Japanese Chamber of Commerce building. Lmao, the sight of Changxuan striding out with Pingjun in his arms, his troops parting to make way for him and even the Japanese bowing as he walks past, is PEAK REPUBLICAN DRAMA VIBES. I had to make a gif out of this.

In the car, Changxuan is furious over the suffering Pingjun has endured at the hands of the Japanese. He orders the military "training" to continue, prompting the Yu Army to resume firing at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce building. Changxuan's car drives past Xueting, who looks more upset that Changxuan has stolen his thunder and taken the credit for rescuing Pingjun than relieved that she's safe.

Inside the car, Pingjun rests on Changxuan's lap, their hands intertwined. Changxuan ruefully wonders why she has appeared in his life again.

Elsewhere, Kuang Bingwen and Mou Linsen hold another of their clandestine meetings. Bingwen warns that Changxuan has begun suspecting a mole within the army and suggests that they lie low and cease all contact for the time being.

Pingjun regains consciousness at home. Her mother tells her that Changxuan sent his men to bring her back the previous day, claiming that she had merely been caught in the rain.

Her mother then reveals that she knows things haven't been the same between Pingjun and Xueting since Pingjun became temporarily involved with Changxuan. Unaware that Xueting is listening outside, Pingjun confides in her mother that she now realises she and Xueting are no longer the same people they once were, despite having always dreamed of marrying him.

Her mother remarks that she can tell Changxuan truly loves Pingjun and encourages her daughter to follow her own heart. Outside, Xueting angrily clenches his fist upon hearing this.

Meanwhile, Changxuan and Ziyi are viewing the house her uncle has purchased for their upcoming wedding. Ziyi has already sensed Changxuan's reluctance to go through with the marriage but chooses to pretend otherwise. However, midway through the house viewing, Changxuan stops her and announces that he wants to break off their engagement.

His experiences during the war have changed him. No longer the man he once was, Changxuan refuses to continue putting on a façade in front of his family, friends or even himself merely to pursue power. Ziyi counters that these are nothing more than excuses and that the real reason is his love for Pingjun. This time, Changxuan doesn't attempt to deny it, and openly admits that he loves her.

Ziyi reminds him that the Yu Army depends on the Tao family's financial support and questions whether sacrificing all that for Pingjun is really worth it, and even offers to compromise by allowing him to take Pingjun as his mistress or concubine, but Changxuan refuses.

Furious, Ziyi reminds Changxuan that Pingjun doesn't love him at all. To Changxuan, however, that no longer matters. He loves Pingjun, and even if she eventually marries Xueting, he refuses to remain trapped in a loveless marriage himself. Ziyi laughs incredulously at how he has turned into such a lovesick fool. She then grabs his face and attempts to kiss him, but Changxuan stops her and apologises once again. Ziyi slaps him before storming off.

Changxuan later meets President Takahashi for dinner, as promised in exchange for Pingjun's release. They are soon joined by another Japanese man, Fujiwara Ko, whose father was a founding statesman of the Meiji era and a hereditary count. Fujiwara professes to be very "fond" of China's wondrous landscapes.

The two men seek to establish an alliance with the Yu Army by offering Changxuan a generous loan, similar to the arrangement they previously made with General Xu of the Cheng Army. After dinner, Fujiwara offers Changxuan a precious family medal as a gift, but Changxuan sees through the gesture and deftly declines by presenting a gift of his own: a painting. The gift clearly displeases both Japanese men, although they manage to maintain their composure.

Unbeknownst to Changxuan, a journalist is secretly photographing his meeting with the Japanese.

In the car, Changxuan orders Ruitong to investigate the mysterious Fujiwara Ko. Meanwhile, we learn why Fujiwara and Takahashi are so offended by the painting. It depicts the Honnō-ji Incident, which they associate with a moment when Japan was on the verge of collapse. Fujiwara, however, remains unperturbed by Changxuan's refusal to cooperate. He believes their ambitions for China will take years to accomplish.

The following day, news breaks that Changxuan has been colluding with the Japanese, drawing harsh public criticism from those who view his actions as treacherous. Angry protesters soon gather outside Nanhuai Military Headquarters. Inside, Zhongquan demands an explanation from his son.

Changxuan claims he had no idea that Fujiwara Ko was actually a Japanese military officer named Kuraida Ichiro and insists that they were merely discussing a business deal, but Zhongquan sees through his son and asks whether the real reason for entertaining the Japanese was Pingjun.

Changxuan remains silent, which Zhongquan takes as confirmation. Zhongquan questions whether it is worth damaging the Yu Army's reputation for the sake of a woman. Changxuan fires back that his father has never thought highly of him anyway.

Zhongquan replies that it is difficult to trust Changxuan when he repeatedly acts without his knowledge. He then orders his son to receive fifty strokes of the cane. Haha, I love Changxuan's defiant expression here, like a petulant child lol. Cheng Lei absolutely nails it!

Changxuan's reputation within the Yu Army also suffers. His fellow officers and soldiers cannot understand why he would privately conduct business with Kuraida Ichiro, whose hands are stained with Chinese blood. Li Boren and Gu Ruitong look on anxiously as Changxuan is publicly caned. This is why Xiao Taochun observes that Changxuan will be scorned like “The President”, who irl was Yuan Shikai for conceding to the controversial agreement. Remember what you read earlier about the Twenty One Demands? As a military commander responsible for defending Chinese territory, his alleged willingness to accept Japanese financial support evokes memories of Yuan Shikai's concessions. To the public, Changxuan appears to be compromising national sovereignty for political and military gain.

Episode 20

As news of Changxuan's alleged collusion with the Japanese spreads, Chu Wenfu arrives at Nanhuai Military Headquarters amid the protests taking place outside. He has come to arrest Changxuan and take him to the Sujing Military Tribunal for a public trial.

Handcuffed, Changxuan is about to be led away when he hears Pingjun's voice. Pingjun manages to force her way inside and rushes towards him. Even handcuffed and dishevelled, Changxuan immediately orders everyone not to touch her. Lol, the whole thing has become quite a spectacle, and Changxuan isn't making any effort to hide his feelings from the entire crowd. Feels like the cat is out of the bag now.

Changxuan demands to know why Pingjun is there, and she replies that she believes in him and knows he attended the dinner with the Japanese for her sake. However, Changxuan flatly denies that it has anything to do with her and tells Boren to take her away, but Pingjun refuses to leave.

She reminds everyone present, including the protesters, Zhongquan, Chu Wenfu and the Yu Army officers, that following the Battle of Luanjiang, Changxuan himself established rules prohibiting trade with the Japanese. Drawing on her experience working at Hsiang Hsi Hotel, she also testifies that Changxuan has repeatedly rejected business proposals from the Japanese.

Pingjun then turns to Zhongquan and boldly tells him that, as Changxuan's father, he should know his own son better. Her words calm the protesters somewhat, but they do little to change the situation. Chu Wenfu remains determined to take Changxuan away.

However, Pingjun's intervention prompts Zhongquan to have a change of heart. He declares that Changxuan will not be leaving with Chu Wenfu. As his only surviving son, Changxuan is someone he will never allow to come to harm.

Awwww, I love how the camera zooms in on Changxuan's expression here. He looks almost disbelieving as he listens to his father openly defend him against Chu Wenfu. Zhongquan even declares that if Changxuan must stand trial, he will stand beside his son in the dock.

Chu Wenfu interprets this as an open act of defiance and, almost on cue, everyone draws their weapons. With neither side willing to back down and tensions reaching breaking point, Gu Ruitong arrives just in time with evidence that clears Changxuan.

It turns out that Changxuan had already discovered President Takahashi's true intentions: to smuggle tungsten, a crucial material used in weapons manufacturing, back to Japan. Changxuan had only pretended to cooperate with the Japanese. In a flashback, we learn that Changxuan had decided to play along with their scheme so that the Yu Army could seize the shipment of tungsten at the port before it was transported to Japan.

Back in the present, Gu Ruitong reports that the tungsten is now securely stored in a warehouse at Nanhuai Port. Satisfied with the evidence, Chu Wenfu declares Changxuan free. Relieved that Changxuan is no longer in danger, Pingjun quietly walks away while Changxuan watches her longingly.

At the Yu residence, Baoru is beside herself with worry over Changxuan's arrest. She is preparing to storm into military headquarters when Changxuan finally arrives home. I always love watching Baoru fuss over her son and shower him with unconditional love.

Meanwhile, Pingjun is at home, recalling how Changxuan instinctively protected her even while he was handcuffed. Later, while out buying medicine for her mother, Pingjun encounters Changxuan, who has been waiting for her.

He gets straight to the point and asks why she defended him earlier. Pingjun replies that she merely wanted to repay him for saving her mother's life. Overcome with emotion, Changxuan pulls her into an embrace and tells her that all he wants is to hear her admit that he has a place in her heart.

When Pingjun repeats that she only acted out of gratitude, Changxuan grows increasingly emotional. He accuses her of toying with his feelings and giving him false hope before forcibly kissing her. Ahhh, Changxuan. This is one aspect of your character that really needs to change.

He kisses her passionately until he notices the tears streaming down her face. Confused about Pingjun's true feelings towards him, Changxuan finally pulls away and leaves, while Pingjun remains behind in tears.

As Pingjun makes her way home with her mother's medicine, her thoughts return to Changxuan's question about whether he has a place in her heart, her every step heavy with emotion. When she approaches Xueting's courtyard, she overhears a conversation between him and another journalist.

The journalist accuses Xueting of deliberately distorting the facts in his reporting. Xueting, however, remains unrepentant and insists that warlords like Changxuan should be their primary targets. Disgusted by Xueting's unethical approach to journalism, the man leaves.

Xueting then realises that Pingjun has overheard their conversation and now knows he was responsible for the article condemning Changxuan. Far from showing any remorse, Xueting doubles down and declares that he will bring Changxuan down no matter what.

Pingjun pleads with him to stop, telling him that he has changed far too much, but Xueting immediately accuses her of being concerned about Changxuan. Pingjun finally reaches the end of her patience with his constant suspicions about her relationship with Changxuan, and tells him that perhaps it would be better if they ended things between them before walking away.

Back at Nanhuai Military Headquarters, Li Boren has spent the entire morning observing Changxuan and racking his brains over how to play Cupid for him and Pingjun. Determined to bring the two together, Boren enters Changxuan's office and casually brings up Pingjun, but Changxuan refuses to discuss Pingjun.

However, Boren sees right through his friend. Despite Changxuan's insistence that he has finally let Pingjun go, Boren knows he is nowhere near getting over her. Before leaving, Boren tells Changxuan that he has already arranged a meeting with Pingjun at Baidu Bridge, and whether Changxuan chooses to attend is entirely up to him.

At Hsiang Hsi, Boren continues his matchmaking efforts by telling Pingjun that a distant cousin of his needs help with a script. He arranges for a car to collect her that evening and quickly makes his escape before she has a chance to protest.

Pingjun arrives at Taifeng Restaurant, where Changxuan is already waiting. She is about to leave when Changxuan calls her back and invites her to stay and watch the fireworks with him as their final farewell.

As they watch the fireworks, Changxuan reflects on how his entire life has revolved around the army, military power and weapons, all in pursuit of greater influence in the Sujing region. He admits that he has always measured everything in terms of gains and losses, paying little attention to love or sentiment.

Changxuan then turns to the darkest chapter of their relationship: the time he imprisoned Pingjun at Fengtai. For the first time, he openly acknowledges that what he did was wrong.

He recalls seeing Pingjun lying in a pool of blood and realising that he could no longer keep her by his side. He had to let her go. Facing Pingjun, Changxuan admits that she was right all along. They come from vastly different worlds and were never meant to be together. He promises that once the fireworks end, he will never appear in her life again. Later, Changxuan watches forlornly as Pingjun walks away. She turns to glance back at him, presumably for the last time, and he responds with a rueful smile.

At the Tao residence, Tao Zili returns home after being informed by Tao Yayi, Ziyi's sister, that Ziyi has been deeply depressed since Changxuan broke off their engagement. He is shocked and saddened to see the state she is in. When he learns that Pingjun is supposedly responsible for Ziyi's misery and that she is also the girl who injured Ziyi's face, Tao Zili becomes greatly dismayed. Great, looks like we're in for yet another scene of Pingjun being tortured.

Back at home, Pingjun appears distracted, no doubt still thinking about her final meeting with Changxuan. While taking some clothes out to air, she discovers the half-jade pendant that her mother had previously claimed to have sold. Suspicious, Pingjun remembers seeing Tao Zili with a matching half-jade pendant bearing the same bamboo-leaf design.

At the temple, Changxuan lights incense and prays when the abbot approaches him and advises him to let go of his obsession. Lmao, what? No context, no explanation, nothing. Are you telling me even the abbot can see how obsessed Changxuan is? Lol

Changxuan tells the abbot that he feels weary at the thought of the lonely, cold path ahead of him, now that Pingjun, the light of his life, is no longer by his side. As they walk together, Changxuan notices a familiar-looking blessing sachet that reminds him of the same sachet left by the girl whom he met at the same temple all those years ago.

He reads the wish written on it and discovers that someone had prayed to Buddha in gratitude for bringing a soldier safely home from the battlefield. Suspecting that Pingjun was the one who wrote the wish, Changxuan asks the abbot to show him the list of people who donated lamp oil to the temple.

Thoughts

Changxuan: When the eyes reveal what the heart feels

One of the most striking changes in Changxuan since his return from the battlefield is the way his eyes convey his emotions. Jin Zhongfang is right when he observes that Changxuan's eyes now show compassion. But I think there's something else in them too: a newfound vulnerability and emotional sincerity that we rarely saw before.

Previously, Changxuan's eyes were often filled with arrogance, mischief, reckless bravado and a certain calculating sharpness. There was always that glint of someone who believed he could outsmart everyone and control any situation. Even when he cared deeply, he tended to conceal his feelings behind a mask of indifference, sarcasm or swagger.

His experiences on the battlefield have removed that façade entirely. Having witnessed loss and recognised the limitations of his own power, Changxuan is becoming more emotionally open, and this is reflected not only in his behaviour but also in his expressions.

With Ziyi, his eyes convey guilt, regret and genuine sympathy for the pain he's causing her. With Pingjun, they reveal such tenderness and longing, but also uncertainty and confusion as he struggles to interpret her seemingly mixed signals.

This is where I really have to praise Cheng Lei's acting. You know there's the saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and Cheng Lei embodies this beautifully in his portrayal of Changxuan. His ability to convey such subtle emotional shifts through his eyes alone is remarkable. It's still the same man, but the way Changxuan looks at peeple has changed. Much less of that challenging, provocative glint and now more tenderness, introspection and emotional vulnerability.

Changxuan's changing understanding of love

Can you even imagine Changxuan saying the above just a few episodes ago? I mentioned in the episode discussion for eps 17-18 that Changxuan's understanding of love is changing alongside his understanding of power. His willingness to acknowledge this openly shows a whole new level of emotional maturity. For a man who once regarded sentiment as a weakness, admitting to an unrequited love without embarrassment or defensiveness is quite a departure from his former self. Previously, Changxuan could never accept that his feelings might not be reciprocated. Every rejection became another challenge to overcome, as though loving Pingjun fiercely enough, or sacrificing enough for her, would eventually entitle him to her affection. He approached love almost as he approached his military campaigns.

I love how the last 3 episodes seem to have prompted a deeper reassessment of how he has lived since he came back from the battlefield. The real measure of his character growth is how he admits that he was wrong for imprisoning Pingjun during the fireworks scene. He puts her freedom to choose above his own desire to be with her, which I think is a far more convincing expression of love than all his previous grand gestures and sacrifices.

He's not quite a fully redeemed man, and his actions don't always reflect his newfound understanding, like his instinct to respond to emotional rejection through force hasn't entirely disappeared. But at least he is now beginning to understand that he can continue loving her without expecting her to return his feelings or remain in his life.

Pingjun: She loves me...she loves me not

"Ever since we met, my life has strayed so far off course." - Pingjun during the fireworks scene

I think this line from Pingjun during their farewell scene reveals quite a lot about her internal conflict. I believe Pingjun has developed feelings for Changxuan, but acknowledging those feelings, let alone acting upon them, is not the same.After everything Changxuan has put her through, she can't simply forget his previous treatment of her because she now recognises his admirable qualities or finds herself increasingly drawn to him.

Imo, there's another important dimension to why Pingjun believes they come from fundamentally different worlds, and that's the political and social climate of Republican-era China. Many young people were increasingly critical of the militarism and political fragmentation associated with warlord rule.

Pingjun, as an educated and idealistic young woman involved in patriotic activism, represents many of these emerging values. Changxuan belongs to the very military establishment that people like her are increasingly questioning. This might explain why her growing feelings for him are so unsettling. Xue Ting may no longer be part of her future, but it's not easy for Pingjun to reconcile her emotions with her principles, her earlier experiences and the future she once imagined for herself.

Other random thoughts:

Zhongquan and Changxuan:

The romance aside, one of the most defining moments in Episode 20 for me is when Zhongquan stands up for Changxuan in front of Chu Wenfu. It's a relatively brief scene, but given everything we know about their complicated father-son relationship, I think it carries enormous emotional weight.

When Changxuan turns around and gives his father that sad, almost resigned smile before being taken away, I couldn't help thinking about all the times Zhongquan has overlooked him, doubted his abilities or failed to give him the recognition he desperately wanted. There's also the painful memory of his father choosing to save Mingxuan over him on the battlefield.

That little smile feels almost like an expression of resignation, because Changxuan is so accustomed to being disappointed by Zhongquan that he doesn't expect anything different, so when Zhongquan openly defies Chu Wenfu, declares that he will protect his only surviving son and even offers to stand beside Changxuan in the dock, the look of disbelief on Changxuan's face says everything. I love how Cheng Lei conveys that mixture of surprise, vulnerability and being deeply moved without saying a word.

I think the timing of Zhongquan's defence is what makes this scene important. Changxuan already knows he's not in immediate danger because he has set a trap for the Japanese and possesses the evidence needed to clear his name. From a practical standpoint, he doesn't actually need his father to rescue him.

But Zhongquan chooses to believe in and protect Changxuan before the evidence of his innocence is revealed. He's willing to risk a direct confrontation with Chu Wenfu without knowing whether his son can vindicate himself. For a father who has so often questioned Changxuan's judgment and placed his responsibilities above their relationship, this is a significant departure from his usual behaviour.

Xueting

Xueting is really entering his dark era, isn't he? When accused of distorting facts, Xueting doesn't even seem interested in examining whether his reporting is accurate or fair. I can understand Xueting's opposition to warlords, but his pursuit of justice is deeply entangled with his personal resentment towards Changxuan. The man who once condemned abuses of power is now exploiting the power of the press to pursue his personal vendetta, the irony.

Note: Please don't start/continue fandom fights from other social media here. Read our guide about how to properly discuss fandom stuff in our sub.

Here's where you can ask discuss the ins and outs of the CDrama industry!

Now, as discussions around this topic can get SPICY (especially around actors), please abide by the following:

What's OK:
1. Discussions about the acting industry, including how actors work, industry trends, and the filmmaking process, are encouraged. Feel free to share insights into acting techniques, career paths, and the business side of entertainment.

1. You may post about actors' roles in films or television, their contributions to the industry, and their professional achievements. Please ensure that the focus remains on their work rather than their personal lives.

2. Maintain a respectful tone in all discussions. Critiques should be constructive and focused on professional aspects and acting techniques rather than personal attacks on an actors' looks, rumours etc. It is fine to critique an actor's performance, but not ok to be derogatory about them.

What's not OK

1. Comparing actors' popularity like it's some kind of race to the top.

2. Treating melon (rumours) like facts, so let's avoid accusing actors of this or that based on unverified melons.

3. Being mean, rude and nasty during discussions. Please leave fandom fights outside the sub. Read our guide about this.

4. Calling the actors or other celebrities mean names or talk about them in a derogatory way. BTW, critiquing an actor's performance (it's bad/good) is fine.

I was randomly recommended this on Xiaohongshu, and I was quite blown away by how well filmed this movie is! The fights are top tier and it has all the classic tropes: the inn that somehow gets besieged by Jianghu masters, the Imperial Guards chasing after an outlaw with supernaturally good martial arts, and corrupt officials, of course. It definitely made me feel nostalgic for the old wuxia Hong Kong movies.

It doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but it still had a lot of twists and turns that surprised me. For one, nothing is as it appears, and there is a bit of an unreliable narrator going on as well.

Basically, the story is about a low-ranking official who is accused of murdering an entire squad of Imperial Guards, including an envoy from Jin. He is on the run, trying to find this mysterious Jianghu hero who rides a camel (whom he says is the real killer), while being pursued by the Imperial Guards (who seem to also be after the camel hero). This leads our poor official from one adventure to another, but in the end, nothing is what it appears. This is the kind of movie where the less said, the better. So do watch it.

I really loved this movie. The martial arts scenes were so cool, and I enjoyed how they leaned into the classic tropes. I was just thinking to myself that innkeepers really need to be martial artists, because how in the world do they survive the constant Jianghu fights at their inns??

Anyway, if you like wuxia, give this movie a try. It is available on iQiyi.

Link to previous discussions:

1-4 |

Episode 5:

Dr Liu finally faced the trauma of his past failed operation head-on and successfully operated on a girl patient with severe head injuries from a vehicular accident.

https://reddit.com/link/1xchuhz/video/8i768xsfn0xh1/player

And wow, such unscrupulous funeral operators. Heading to the hospital while the patient is still having an operation in the hopes of her dying. Jeeze. It was so hilarious and satisfying to see Ai Chen and Zhengguang scare the hell out of them with the ‘coming back to life’ trick!

https://reddit.com/link/1xchuhz/video/4n9eqnzgn0xh1/player

Ai Chen’s mum is one hell of a character, stealing a pen in the police station?! 😂 

Episode 6:

https://reddit.com/link/1xchuhz/video/qd9qqlnin0xh1/player

And of course, Ai Chen become infatuated and attracted to our Dr Liu after the above successful operation. I really sincerely hope they keep the romance to a bare minimum lol. But I do admire her guts for outrightly confessing her love to our Dr Liu. And of course, her words that she will not be careless with her love and that she will only find someone that she loves and that also loves her. 

This episode also further explores and highlights the difficulties of poor families of patients who have to juggled with the best medical interests of their loved ones and their financial constraints.

Director Jiang’s action of using newspapers to seal the windows of Dr Liu’s accommodation in the hospital reminds the latter of his mother. Perhaps the both of them will find warmth and care from each other. And of course, his other colleagues would also be the cure for his anti-socialness, although their first department dinner ended up awkwardly.

https://reddit.com/link/1xchuhz/video/s9fck32mn0xh1/player

Phone’s facial recognition on an unconscious patient. Ingenious and so unexpected lol. And I am dying to know more about this patient with so many girlfriends and whom his daughter wants to disown lol. Cannot wait for tomorrow’s episodes 

Table of Contents: 🔗 Airing Schedule | Master Post | Character Flashcards | All Discussion Index |   

Wazzzuuuuuhhhh, we are down to 1 episode per day... please don't let me watch these alone while you guys bank up to binge-watch? I'm kidding...maybe I'm not... cue up Guo Yufeng's creepy mirror stare.😂😂😂 

On a much happier note, the theories are still pouring in, but we all seem to be thinking almost the same thing now, so let's get to it and see if we were right. 

Just some reminders for those who are just joining us:   

1. We are following the Netflix schedule till further notice. ❤️   
2. Please no negative comments about the actors and actresses, but we can be angry at characters; that's fine. I get angry at characters all the time, so this is a safe space. 😊   
3. Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing any episodes beyond this post, or I cannot be held responsible when Wei Rao decides to slap you or asks you to slap yourself.👍🏽   

And now we will use their actual names:   

Unhinged Villainess - Jundai 🔪  🎭 

Our Girl – WEI RAO!! ♟️  👑 

Episode 15: 

• The couple finally leaves the old house Wei Rao grew up in. 
• They meet up with the person Lu Zhuo said he wanted her to meet, from the Court of Justice. 
• 16 years ago, during the lantern festival, the daughter from the 2^nd branch at the Earl's residence went missing. (Wei Rao), After that, her Wet nurses and guards fled, but were 🔪🔪by mountain bandits. 
• His Majesty was pissed, and he helped with the search efforts till the Wei family found the girl at a supermarket a year later. 
• Wei Rao asks what the girl was wearing when she went missing, and the guy confirms the outfit they found in the old house. 

• Madam Guo Yufeng's lackey (I think Governess Chang's husband was eavesdropping and watching, but they caught him) 
• Bitao....Bitao...what was that look...what was it??? Oh, Jiede noticed it too. 
• Ah so he is Governess Chang's husband. 
• He tells them that 3 days ago Governess Chang fled and was murdered by the Fake Wei Rao. 
• He tells them that he knows what happened back then as well, instead of waiting to be murdered he took the risk to come to Wei Rao and Lord Lu in hope to atone for his sins. 
• So turns out Aunt Heng'e hated Zhou Fu for abandoning Wei Rao and remarrying; she paid the wet nurses and guards to abandon Wei Rao. 
• To stop the royal couple from targeting the Earl's mansion, Madam Heng'e brought in a girl who looked similar to Wei Rao. 

• Wei Rao says that something is not adding up...yes, because Jundai looks like youuuuuu. 
• They start questioning Wei Heng'e and conclude that Jundai is her daughter. 
• He sends men to follow her to the estate, and Jiede tries to warn him about Bitao.....Yes Jiede!!!!
• Lady Li plans to go kill her own daughter... stupid fool...I wanna cuss more... 
• Aunt Heng'e comes running to  Yufeng and tells her that Lady Wu'an is here claiming to be the real Wei Rao, with a witness and evidence. 
• Yufeng says there is always a way. 
• Lady Shou'an was fine all along, and she is sick now; how is she not suspecting that snake in her house?????? Foolish Huo Jue. 

• Aunt Heng'e stops Lady Li on her way. 

At the training grounds, our green flag senses that something is wrong when the emperor decides to drop in. 

He believes Lady Li sent him here... So smart. 

Ohhhh my soulllll, this episode is so stressful. Why hasn’t Jiede told this man about BITAO???  

•  Granny Wei and Lady Wu'an go to meet up with Lady Li, and she, Madam Qiao, and Lv Lun tell the story of what happened 16 years ago. They describe the outfit and all. Lady Li inspects the stuff, but the necklace has been changed....Bitao! 
• Aunt Heng'e says she would never harm Wei Rao; Lv Lun changes the story and says he was acting on Lady Wu'an's orders... 
• Grandma Lu and the 4^th Aunt from the Lu family try to make their way to Lady Shou'an's house, but are stopped on the way by a fight. 
• Aunt Heng'e swears to the heavens that the fake Rao is the real Rao and that our girl is lying.

• Just when Lady Li was about to give in and believe us, that wretched Jundai comes running in.

I cried during this episode because wtffffffff....Bitaoooo you broke my heart😭😭😭 

Thoughts: 

• What about GUO YUFENG!?? 
• I wanted him to go with her, but she said he must go back to work basically...ughh 
• Lady Li is just stupid, man. Look, even if that fake Wei Rao is your daughter, why are you enabling her to do wrong? Why are you doing wrong on her behalf??  
• I don't know what to say...you guys go at it... I'm gonna go cry in my corner...

The Chinese drama title 尚公主 can be translated as “to marry a princess.”

The English drama title, Tigers Sniff the Rose, is from a poem by Siegfried Sassoon. More details are available here.

About an hour ago, the production team released a new OST music video 《我护我》 (which can be translated as “I Protect Myself”) sung by Zhang Bichen.

If there is no trailer or long clip released tomorrow for the drama's premiere, the airing schedule will be posted below in the comments.

Filming officially wrapped up on February 3, 2026.

Clip description:

When trapped in a cage with no one to rely on, she hones her own claws and fangs. Even without a blade in hand, she can protect herself; even when there is no path ahead, she can carve out her own way.

The MV for 《我护我》 (“I Protect Myself”), the character theme song for Mu Wanyao (played by Meng Ziyi), performed by Zhang Bichen, is officially released!

Cast:

More information regarding the actor credit guidelines in this summary here and the full notice here.

(I put the character stroke count as: 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣)

Leading actors (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * 7️⃣ Li Yunrui 李昀锐 as Yan Shang 言尚 * 8️⃣ Meng Ziyi 孟子义 as Mu Wanyao 暮晚摇

Special appearances (sorted by the number of strokes in the surname): * Quan Yilun 全伊伦 as Liu Wenji 刘文吉 * Ken Wu Hankun 吴汉坤 as Yang Si 杨嗣 * Li Xiaoqian 李孝谦 as Wei Shu 韦树 * Shen Jiayu 沈佳钰 as Chun Hua 春华 * Yu Ailei 余皑磊 as Yu Cheng'an 鱼成安 * Myolie Wu 胡杏儿 as Mu Ningshuang 暮凝霜 * Tang Xiaotian 唐晓天 as Meng Zaishi 蒙在石 * Xu Haiqiao 徐海乔 as Mu Xun 暮恂 * Yan Zidong 晏紫东 as Feng Xianyu 冯献遇

Appearance: * Zhang Yue 张月 as Liang Lingyi 梁令仪

The production team did not update the rest of the cast list for today's release.

Special appearance: * Gong Lei 公磊 as Yan Zhanzhi 言瞻之

Supporting actors: * Bai Bingke 白冰可 as Zhao Ling Fei (Consort Zhao Ling) 赵灵妃 * Wu Bi 吴彼 as Mu Ti 暮惕 * Wang Zirui 王子睿 as Wei Qiao 韦桥 * Li Jiaxin 李嘉鑫 as Liu Ruozhu 刘若竹

Special appearances: * Liu Jun 刘钧 as Mu Yu 暮玙 * Huang Shengchi 黄圣池 as Yu Xianyao 鱼显耀 * Sha Baoliang 沙宝亮 as Zhang Renjing 张人靖 * Hou Changrong 侯长荣 as Liu Xiang 刘相 * Peng Yang 彭杨 as Li Ying 李萦 * Ding Jiawen 丁嘉文 as Lin Dao 林道

Co-starring: * Yang Zihua 杨子骅 as Li Zhi 李执 * Cui Zhigang 崔志刚 as Zheng Xing 郑兴 * Zhang Shulun 张舒沦 as Fang Tong 方桐 * He Ziyi 何子怡 as Yu Niang 郁娘 * Ji Lingchen 纪凌尘 as Yan Dalang 言大郎 * Pei Jiaxin 裴佳欣 as Yan Xiaozhou 言晓舟 * Ding Zi’en 丁子恩 as Cai Lian 彩练

🗣️ Dubbing / Voice Actors

🍉 According to the latest rumours:

• Mu Wanyao played by Meng Ziyi might be dubbed by Sun Yachen 孙亚晨. Sun also dubbed Shen Xihe played by Meng Ziyi in Blossoms of Power.
• Yan Shang played by Li Yunrui might be dubbed by Gu Jiangshan 谷江山. Gu also dubbed Yuan Shen played by Li Yunrui in Love Like the Galaxy.

The voice actors should be listed in the ending credits when the drama airs. I will include this information in the masterpost if the details are available. The masterpost will be posted after the drama airs.

• Episodes: 40 (according to Baidu Baike and MDL)
• Streaming platforms: Tencent 🐧, Disney+ (Hong Kong and Taiwan)
• Main cast announced: June 22, 2025
• Official filming started: August 31, 2025
• Official filming wrapped up: February 3, 2026
• Distribution license obtained: early August 2026
• Filming time: ~157 days
• Filming locations: Hengdian World Studios; Zhejiang Province; Yangchun, Guangdong Province.
• Genre: costume, romance (according to Douban)

• 🎬 Director: Zoe Qin (In the Moonlight, Love Beyond the Grave, Lost You Forever 1 and 2; Love Scenery; Demon Catcher Zhong Kui; Love beyond the Grave)
• 🎬 B-team director: Yu Xiaotong (Moonlit Reunion, Duel on Mount Hua: Southern Emperor and Northern Beggar, The Legend of Shen Li)
• ✍️ Original creator: Yi Ren Kui Kui 伊人睽睽
• ✒️ Screenwriter: He Fang (Blossoms in Adversity, Till the End of the Moon)
• 📖 Novel: Shang Gong Zhu 尚公主
• 📽️ Production companies: Tencent Video and New Classics Media (Xinli Media)

🔗 Previous announcement, poster, wrap up special, etc.

🎥 Previous trailer with official English subs

🎙️ OST List

Synopsis from MDL:

Princess Danyang Mu Wan Yao [played by Meng Ziyi] was ordered to leave Chang An and go to Lingnan to pray for her deceased mother. On the return journey, because the axle of the carriage broke on the mountain road, she met Yan Shang [played by Li Yunrui], a scholar who was returning home from the rural school. In the mountains of Lingnan, the mist and rain were hazy. The two fell in love with each other during the help and started a good story.

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

Later, Yan Shang got the help of the princess, entered Chang'an, embarked on an official career, made a name for himself in the court, and met a group of young people in their prime. Yan Shang's ambition and passion for serving the country were finally realized. At this time, the country was facing a crisis of internal and external troubles. Yan Shang took the lead, fearless of hardships, and worked with the princess to eradicate treacherous people, resist foreign aggression, and protect the world.

In the process, the relationship between the two people continued to sublimate, they tested each other, supported each other, and finally cherished each other and walked side by side! In the troubled times, they fulfilled a legendary story of worrying about the people first and then seeing their love, which started with small love and ended with great love!

(Source: Chinese = Weibo || Translation = MyDramaList)

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Shang Gong Zhu" (尚公主) by Yi Ren Kui Kui (伊人睽睽).

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL

📖 Novel Summary – translated from Baidu Baike:

《尚公主》 (which can be translated as “to marry a princess”) is a romance web novel written by Yiren Kuikui (伊人睽睽). It was serialized on Jinjiang Literature City from February 20 to August 18, 2020, and was completed on August 18, 2020. It belongs to the 中兴 (which can be translated as “Revival”) chapter of the author's 大魏王朝 (“Great Wei Dynasty”) series.

The work is classified as Original – Romance – Alternate History – Love, with tags including Palace Intrigue and Marquises and Nobles, as well as elements of serious drama. The novel consists of three volumes and has been adapted into a television drama of the same name.

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

The story is set against the backdrop of Princess Danyang Mu Wanyao going to Lingnan to recuperate following the death of her former husband. There, she encounters Yan Shisheng, a young man from a humble family who later changes his name to Yan Shang.

With the princess's guidance, Yan Shang enters officialdom through the imperial examinations. Relying on his high emotional intelligence and resourcefulness, he gradually rises through the ranks to become chancellor, ultimately marrying Mu Wanyao.

Their relationship gradually evolves from an initial dynamic of “overstepping the bounds of hierarchy” into one of mutual support and cooperation both within and outside the imperial court. The story portrays the emotional entanglements and political collaboration between a cold-hearted princess and a refined, gentle chancellor.

Beyond its central romance, the work also explores questions of power, the nation and its people through plotlines involving the imperial examinations and court politics.

Translated Synopses

Note: All translated synopses and information I share in the "trailers & posters" posts are based on the original Chinese sources (Douban, Baidu Baike, Chinese Wikipedia, etc.) and were first published here. If you see them elsewhere, please know they originated from our sub. Thanks for reading!

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

Welcome to our weekly Thirsty Thursdays thread! 🎉

Spotted a gorgeous photo of your favorite CDrama celebrity? Whether it’s the elegant hanfu, modern streetwear, historical costumes or cough, little at all, we want to see it all!

How to participate:

1. Comment below: Share a photo or describe the iconic looks of your beloved Cdrama celebrities. Don’t forget to mention the show or movie they appeared in!
2. Discuss: What trends, fashion tips, or style inspirations did you get?
3. Keep it fun, civil and PG-13: No bashing actors etc. This thread is all about sharing beautiful photos and red carpet looks. No sharing of inappropriate pictures please!

Let’s turn this thread into a virtual red carpet. Ready, set, fashion! 💃🕺

​

A few observations before I dive in.....

First of all, Luo Yunxi just doesn't age😮‍💨. Whoever styled Alen Fang and did his makeup deserve a raise because wheewww😮‍💨...I was addicted to that man's face. Also, does anyone else think Alen Fang and Gong Jun could be like...cousins? I kept seeing Su Muyu from Blood River on my screen😂.

Henceforth, any role that involves strutting around in gorgeous costumes while being ridiculously smart with just a touch of sass should automatically be offered to Luo Yunxi. I was obsessed with his character 🤌 and I'll eat it up again.

I would not have picked this show up this quickly if not for the presentation made by u/Alone_in_Pajamas. There was so much enthusiasm I couldn't resist from there and woowwwww😭..thank you honestly😭

YOU NEED TO LOCK IN ON THIS GUYS!!!

The mysteries are excellent, the magical elements are wildly creative, the teamwork and friendships are fantastic and the plot twists??...Absolutely mindblowing🤯.

It follows a similar structure to Unveil Jadewind, where the leads are pursuing one larger answer while solving smaller interconnected cases that slowly guide them toward the truth. The creativity was peak ✨️😮‍💨.

I think the fantasy elements gave the writers so much room to play because the cases were genuinely so outside the box. The way everything unraveled was incredibly satisfying. The final stretch delivers revelation after revelation, escalating the stakes again and again🤯. THIS SHOW JUST DIDN'T FUMBLE!!!!!

And yes, there's no romance...WAIT DON'T LEAVE YET!!😭😭

It wasn't needed okay. The friendship and teamwork are the heart of the story and they carry it beautifully 😭. There is something deeply satisfying about watching a squad that genuinely loves and cares for each other and sticks together.

The bromance between Meng Rui (Alen Fang) and Li Si (Luo Yunxi)???...I was the target audience😮‍💨. Those two mean a lot to me just like Su Muyu and Su Changhe from Blood River. The cold x carefree dynamic will always do it for me🥴. They're so precious😔.

And lemme circle back to the plot twists? Oh my goodness 🤯. Episode 26 to 30 had me repeatedly picking my jaw up. Watching this right after A Prophet has me riding a high and now I'm wondering how to keep this streak going.

The villains were also excellent with layered schemes, and the Imperial Court was a twisted mess- fork found in kitchen. I spent so much time suspecting very specific people only for the actual culprits to be someone I barely had my eye on.

I have no further words, y'all😮‍💨.

That's a lie...I have a few more

You won't regret this one💃🤌😩

Onto the next😗

The Chinese drama title 灼灼烈日 can be translated as “The Scorching Sun.”

The production team announced that filming wrapped up on October 20, 2026, and released the rest of their cast list (see the next section below).

They also released a few short character clips and character posters – I stitched the four clips and character posters together for this update.

The wrap up ceremony photos are in the comments below.

Announcement description:

Youth burns bright, awaiting its moment to begin!

Thank you all for joining us with such passion as we embark on this journey of youth together.

Cast:

More information regarding the actor credit guidelines in this summary here and the full notice here.

(I put the character stroke count as: 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣)

Leading actors (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * 6️⃣ Bi Wenjun 毕雯珺 as Yan Lie 严烈 * 8️⃣ Zhou Jieqiong 周洁琼 as Fang Zhuo 方灼

Special appearances (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * Wang Kaining 王凯宁 (stage name: Wang Kaimu 王凯沐) as Ye Yuncheng 叶云程 * Wang Zihao 王梓豪 as Bai Lufei 白鹭飞 * Yang Yutong 杨雨潼 as Wei Xi 魏熙 * Li Kaixin 李凱馨 as Xu Bingyan 许冰妍 * Li Zhehao 李哲豪 as Li Xiaohao 李小豪 * Li Chen 李晨 (stage name: Li Xirui 李溪芮) as Gao Mengzhu 高梦竹 * Yang Xin 杨鑫 (stage name: Yang Tingdong 杨廷东) as Zhao Jiayou 赵佳游 * Lin Mingyuan 林茗源 (stage name: Sheng Jie 盛杰) as Shen Munsi 沈慕思 * Yan Yuanwei 晏远玮 (stage name: Yan Yunjing 晏云璟) as Lin Menglong 林梦龙

• Episodes: 24 (according to Baidu Baike)
• Streaming and broadcasting platforms: MangoTV 🥭 and Hunan TV
• Filming started: August 11, 2026
• Official full cast announcement: October 20, 2026
• Official filming wrapped up: October 20, 2026
• Estimated filming time: ~70 days
• Filming location: Taining County, Fujian Province; Yanping District, Nanping, Fujian Province; Anhui Province
• Genre: urban, inspirational (according to Baidu Baike)

• 🎬 Director: TBA
• ✍️ Original creator: Tui Ge 退戈
• ✒️ Screenwriters:
  • Li Lin 李林 (Justice in the Dark, A League of Nobleman, A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College, I Won't Get Bullied By Girls, The Flame of Youth)
  • Li Qiong 李琼 (A League of Nobleman, A Dream of Splendor, A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College, I Won't Get Bullied By Girls)
  • Yan Shuxian 闫淑娴 (Growing Pain Season 2, I Won't Get Bullied By Girls)
  • Li Pengyu 李朋钰 (Growing Pain Season 2, A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College)
• 📖 Novel: Zhuo Zhuo Lie Ri 灼灼烈日
• 📽️ Production companies: Shangxiang Entertainment Group, The Alliance of Gods Pictures (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.

Synopsis from MDL:

Fang Zhuo [played by Zhou Jieqiong], a girl like a tumbleweed, is uprooted by fate but never stops growing. Yan Lie [played by Bi Wenjun], a boy under the scorching sun, illuminates her dark world with the purest light. He teaches her to accept kindness without feeling indebted, and she teaches him that even the sun must dare to show its shadow. The two make a promise, and for their ideals, they will run from childhood to the future, crossing mountains and seas, pursuing their passions together.

(Source: Chinese = Weibo || Translation = MyDramaList)

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Zhuo Zhuo Lie Ri" (灼灼烈日) by Tui Ge (退戈).

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL

📖 Novel Summary – translated from Baidu Baike:

Zhuo Zhuo Lie Ri 《灼灼烈日》 is a youth inspirational campus novel written by Tui Ge. It was originally serialized on Jinjiang Literature City and was later published by Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House in March 2023. The work has been adapted.

The novel tells the heartwarming story of Fang Zhuo, a girl who grows with unwavering determination, and Yan Lie, an energetic and spirited boy, as they accompany one another and grow together.

Translated Synopses

Note: All translated synopses and information I share in the "trailers & posters" posts are based on the original Chinese sources (Douban, Baidu, Chinese Wikipedia, etc.) and were first published here. If you see them elsewhere, please know they originated from our sub. Thanks for reading!

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

Man, bless October.

Last year, I was inspired to make a similar post for Love in the Clouds.

This year, October has delivered.

Where the Mask Ends 嫁金钗

First

Look, I love stories, but it's no secret that certain tropes and storylines end up being reused and repeated.

Recently, I've had this feeling with 'historical' costume dramas.

Where the Mask Ends has brought back that feeling of "what's going to happen next?" for me!

Second

How do I 'define' when a drama is special to me?

It's when I wake up craving a drama. When the first thing I want to do in the morning is pickup my phone, go to the relevant streaming platform, and just get lost.

I crave this drama.

Third, Fourth, Fifth and so on

I absolutely love our female protagonist A Chou, I'm rooting for her all the time. Tian Xi Wei is doing a brilliant job making me love our main character and making me hate our main antagonist.

I'm seriously enjoying seeing Yan An in a role that isn't just "brooding handsome guy". The way that Lu Zhuo and the disguised A Chou play off each other is fantastic. The suspicion, but also the slow softening to the point where he realises she's manipulating him to get something and he just goes with it, I love it!

I'm loving every second!

Episode one mainly deals with our antagonist so it's important to remember that Wei Rao is not the character you will be spending most of your time with.

Lastly

Thanks so much to u/Stormraury_ for hosting this drama (with special guest appearances from u/autuymnrain). You can find the discussions here.

The post image is a screenshot of my conversation with a friend this morning.

It's very accurate.

Edit: Disclaimer for safety. I'm on episode 7, no spoilers please 🐢

This is another vertical drama of about 15-20 mins per episode but it's absolutely insane, it's so intense and the chemistry between the leads is just crazy. The cdrama is very similar to the kdrama Perfect Marriage Revenge.