Was there a reason for ML to be that... how…

Was there a reason for ML to be that... how shld I say this? a playboy? I thought he was smarter than that. Whatevs. OK I know that actor who played as the ML's younger brother, I saw him as a villain in the drama Dr. Cutie. Oh... So that was how his unsavoury reputation got created? It's a pity bcs that Young Lord Qi really likes Ming Lan but... their status wld not allow them to easily be marry together. Humh! Molan was exactly like her mother, I pity whichever ever good family she'll marry into or wld rejoice if she marry into bad family coz I want to see all the drama she going to create. Also, humph! the Master obviously favoring Molan coz she was Second Concubine In daughter.

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Thoughts on the scene of Tingye being accused…

Thoughts on the scene of Tingye being accused of not paying his debt at Thousand Spring Pavilion: This series is masterful at throwing you into ambiguous situations. A constant motif that runs through most scenes (so far) is "the truth", which is always a fragile, malleable thing, of which most of the characters involved can never be completely certain. Many scenes turn into extemporaneous trials, where the audience is frequently left in doubt and feels as tense as any of the characters involved – and it takes superb and subtle direction and acting skills on the part of the entire cast to pull this off! I love (and hate) that the "villains" are so convincing and so vehement in their pleas, who truly know the art of emotional manipulation when in front of their target audience – truly formidable antagonists, instead of the blatantly wicked opponents we see in most Asian dramas.

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How the Sisters React when faced with Punishment

Spoilers Ahead
Summary: This episode highlights the intelligence of the sisters. Mo'er is the most clever: she avoids punishment with underhanded ways and even walks away looking like an angel. Ming Lan is wise: she tries to avoid trouble, but once in it, keeps her mouth shut in order to minimize damage. Rulan is the most honest: she can't tolerate indignity or injustice (kind of like GTY) and is not only punished, but she makes things worse by opening her mouth

1)We learn that Gu Ting Ye is called Second Uncle because if you look at the genealogy, he is a generation removed from everyone in terms of birth. I am guessing he is about ten years older than the female lead. For much of the show, he is called Second Uncle.

2)Yuan Ruo is surprised to see that Ming Lan gifted the paintbrushes to her sisters. While both girls show off in order to impress Yuan Ruo, it is more like a mini fight as they are competing with one another. After, Concubine lin encourages her daughter to consider GTY as a suitor because he will probably be the next marquis but Mo'er refuses--GTY has a deplorable reputation. He is basically frequenting brothels, gambling, and engaged in all sorts of immoral acts (this is actually a huge farce perpetuated by the Gu family but that is to be discussed later). Side by side, mother and daughter are not that different--both beautiful, graceful, elegant and ambitious,

3)Under the guise of returning a book, Xiao tao gives yuan ruo snacks she made and an apology: she basically says her mistress (Ming Lan) knows he meant well and encourages him to basically stop pursuing her in order to protect his own reputation. She also tells him to stop giving her gifts. Now, this may have deterred other men, after all, some may have been offended that a concubine born from a non noble family is so clearly rejecting them, but Yuan Ruo quite clearly is in love with her. He can't back away.

4)GTY, meanwhile, is on his way to Sheng manor to study. the personal servant to stepmother Gu, nanny xiang, is trying to chase away a man from the brothel there to collect a debt. Stepmother gu defends GTY, and even though GTY tries to prove the signature (fingerprint) isn't his, his father refuses to believe him and has him caned. (it is unclear if he is doing this because of the alleged brothel balance/debt/immorality or because GTY is s good at provoking his father with his direct and angry words that he caning him out of spite and anger--either way, this is an obvious example of how men and women are treated differently--you would not cane a daughter and a daughter would be in trouble for being caught speaking to a man without a mother/brother/father present). (I think GTY's flippant dismissal of his father's words are truly what provokes him to be caned).

5)Big Madame Wu, the wife of a count, arrives with her sixth son. Big Madame gives the order for her daughter to change clothes. Rulan could care less but she must do as she is told. Similarly, Concubine Lin dresses her daughter to be summoned. however, Big Madame Wu is placed in an uncomfortable position while talking to Madame Wu because Madame Wu seems to only be interested in discussing the Old Madame (meaning she would probably have Ming Lan summoned). Rulan is not summoned, and she is bored so she goes for a walk. Concubine Lin believes that Big Madame is deliberately refusing to summon them and as a last chance to gain something from this she sends Mo'er out so she can catch a glimpse of Madame Wu so she knows what she looks like. (in truth, concubine Lin is correct. Big madame is concerned for her daughter, she would never want Mo'er to marry above her own daughter because she can't give lin the satisfaction, and she does not priortize Ming Lan)

6)Rulan runs into Ming Lan, and they run into Mo'er. Mo'er goes in to peak behind a screen, and Rulan follows her, dragging Ming Lan,. Ming Lan does not want to be there. Mo'er eyes the guys, and Rulan and her have a heated exchange. It reaches a point where her and Rulan struggle, and they lose their footing. Molan has the bright idea to push Ming Lan and Rulan onto the floor, resulting a very shameful scene. Madame Wu finds it amusing, Big Madame is embarassed, and their father, who is present, is furious.

7)Mo'er is not punished. She is able to tell their father that she tried to stop the girls, but faield as a sister by not stopping them. Rulan, who is too honest for her own good, argues with her father until he is red in the face, because she insists that they are innocent and Mo'er is lying (she does this even though they are hit). This results in an even harsher punishment.

Note: At the end of this episode Ming Lan and Rulan must kneel for three days, all because of Rulan's stubbornness that she is framed and refusal to admit she did anything wrong. It is important to note how Big Madame and Master Sheng react. Big Madame stands up for her daughter but not Ming Lan. She also lashes out at Mo'er which only makes the master protect Mo'er more. Neither parent really thinks of Ming Lan. Also, Master Sheng is adamant Rulan must be punished harshly otherwise her behavior will never change and get worse. He also insists that even if Mo'er incited her, Rulan had to be there to pushed, so matter what she erred (I want to emphasize the fact that master Sheng said Rulan needed to be punished so that she learns how to behave properly because that is a theme in this story which will come back a lot in the first half--the idea of how one raises one's children.)

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