Episodes summary/ musings/ review

I have written a brief long ?, summary along with my musings on all 30 episodes.

 While watching the series, I noticed many parallels between episodes/ tributes/ references/ mirroring of scenes/ symbolism in them.

If anyone else has noticed something of similar nature in any episodes and would like to share their perspective, please leave a comment below...Many other viewers and myself would love to read it.

Episodes 1 to 10

Qi pa: Maybe everything is meant to be  (episode 10)

Rewatching Episode 1

as the darma will release new episode on 30th july.

The first time, I saw it I found it interesting and funny but as we were not introduced to the characters and their background, like all first episodes of all series it felt a little draggy. If you like a series, you should rewatch the episodes they seem better the second time around.

The series makers introduced a sharp contrast in the very first episode between kui mulang and qi pa's supposed fiance Alai. Even though Alai was handsome on the outside he had beastly nature... Kui mulang has a beastly appearance but has an innate goodness... This introduces the theme of " Outward appearance are deceiving".

I loved how kui mulang reached to help qi pa when he heard her scream, he swatted the fiance like a pesky insect, not worthy of his attention. ?

Hong xiu and qi pa's ride in the carriage was extremely funny. Hong xiu's caring nature of a cat is very endearing as  she hangs on tightly to qi pa.  ?Both actresses looked adorable.

The series definitely gets better the second time around.

Episode 2- Run Qi pa Run

Kui Mulang declares his intention to marry qi pa and make her his queen to give her an unshakeable status in the Beast clan. Apparently holy pearl that qi pa has consumed by accident can only be passed to kui Mulang through true love's kiss.

Qi pa who has managed to escape from Hong xiu, enounters some local hoodlums of the Beast city. Liu jun saves her and addresses her as 'Queen'. Poor qi pa can't seem to catch a break, she fell from the frying pan into the fire... Didn't she just manage to escape from a disrespectful, unwanted would be groom, Al ai? Frustrated by this turn of events qi pa says "why am I getting married again? When did I promise your king to marry him?"

Qi pa eagar to go home breaks into kui mulang's chamber, to get the king's help in returning back.  Inadvertently she sees his night time wolfish appearance and gets scared. Initially kui Mulang had planned to meet her during day when he is in his human form but that idea fails due to overzealous, qi pa.

Not one to give up easily, qi pa continues her escape attempts while quick footed cat, Hong xiu always catches up to her. ??

Finally after some metal juggling of palace's layout and some quick mathematical calculations, qi pa manages to escape from the palace.

In order to blend with the local population she disguises herself as a male fortune teller, she bribes the real fortune teller to get his clothes. Just as she is about to escape through the city gate past the ever vigilant Hu Die, the real fortune teller comes running exposing qi pa as fake. Supposedly kui Mulang offered him a bigger bribe to expose qi pa. ( never trust a person who takes bribe, he may betray you for a higher price ?)

Both kui Mulang and qi pa are good at playing cat and mouse game, unfortunately for qi pa, kui Mulang always ends up being the cat to her mouse.

Qi pa rushes into male bath to escape from Hu Die and ends up in the same room where kui Mulang is soaking in medicated bath water. Kui Mulang hearing an intruder rushes to confront him but to his surprise he encounters an awestruck qi pa. Qi pa can't help but admire the male specimen in front of her.

Kui Mulang pulls qi pa's hand and drags her out as he fears being exposed as the king by Liu jun. Qi pa finds her shadow guard from Daxia, zimei's badge on him and mistakenly assumes he is her guard from home. Kui Mulang taking this as an opportunity to get close to her doesn't contradict her and asks her to address him as Li xiong.

So starts the game of double identity. Where qi pa knows his (night persona) kui Mulang as the king having wolfish form and his (day persona) Li xiong as the handsome guard.

Episode 3 -Establishing Trust

Kui Mulang informs Liu Jun that qi pa thinks of him as a shadow guard of Daxia because of the badge they had appropriated earlier. Kui Mulang decides to spend time with qi pa using the shadow guard's identity during the day and kui Mulang, the king at night.

From all the running around the city, Qi pa has obtained a rough idea about it's layout and has cleverly drawn a map. Hong xiu brings qi pa breakfast but to qi pa's dissatisfaction all dishes are vegetarian in accordance to the dietary habits of the beast clan. Qi pa needs meat in her diet.

A morose qi pa says, "Beast clan is really against me everywhere."

Kui Mulang gets a lot of complains from people whose property qi pa damaged while trying to escape Hu Die. Kui Mulang orders Liu jun to compensate everyone from his private treasury... He will take full responsibility of qi pa's actions.

According to their plan, Liu jun takes kui Mulang to qi pa's palace and introduces him as Li xiong who will be qi pa's guard. Qi pa who believes him to be her guard from Daxia welcomes his presence. Li xiong trying to form a  camaraderie with qi pa shows her the "exit token" that would allow qi pa accompanied by Li xiong to leave the palace and roam the city. To Li xiong exasperation, qi pa has drawn quite an accurate map of city's defense in order to enable her escape.
(Hapless qi pa always derails her escape plans by discussing them with Li xiong, who takes counter measures to stop them)


While discussing escape strategy, qi pa's stomach growls in hunger. Li xiong goes to arrange some meat for her.

At night, qi pa is tossing and turning, she nostalgically thinks of her home looking at the Durian doll keychain that her niece, xing ping gave her. (this keychain metaphorically would lock in qi pa's sweetheart according to xing ping. Qi pa later gave this to Li xiong. Kui Mulang in episode 26 holds the same keychain in his hand when he overhears xing ping and daxia palace maid's conversation and understands the significance of the gift given by qi pa)

Li xiong arrives bearing gift of roast chicken. Qi pa generously offers to share the meat with him. Accidentally qi pa smears the chicken on Li xiong's mouth while trying to offer him some... Li xiong declines to eat it, apologetic qi pa wipes Li xiong's mouth with her  stole...  Li xiong's ears flush red in response to the action.

Qi pa longs for some wine to accompany good meat. Upon knowing that Beast Clan have low tolerance for wine, a plan suddenly forms in her head to get kui Mulang inebriated to get his cooperation in qi pa's 'mission home'. Qi pa whispers in Li xiong's ear whose heart beat increases at such close proximity, frustrated he gets up from beside her and goes to purchase the wines. (Li xiong is getting allured by qi pa)

Qi pa behaving like a professional bartender mixes the wines and prepares cocktail effortlessly... Quoting that it was their ancestral skill which she learned from her mother (probably another reference to her mother's past). Qi pa prepares Li xiong and  Hong xiu a glass of mixed drink each, both of them become intoxicated after drinking two glasses. Tipsy, Li xiong hangs onto qi pa who tries to soothe him all the while wondering how a Daxian can get drunk so easily. .. With Liu jun's help qi pa manages to send Li xiong to kui mulang's chamber,
Qi pa is charmed by a man who gets drunk after one glass...

Kui Mulang knows what qi pa plans to do that night so he is preparing to thwart her plans and she is preparing her armour... (Cat and mouse game on) ?

Episode 4 - rock paper scissors

Qi pa is getting customised dress stitched to charm kui Mulang. Whereas Hai tang the chameleon assassin, prepares to kill qi pa at her master's order.

Qi pa effortlessly manages to seduce kui Mulang/Li xiong, he is really enchanted by her impulsive antics. Qi pa enters kui mulang's chambers and prepares three cups of mixed wine, she offers them to him:

1st cup "please let me go"
2nd cup "focus on your career instead of marriage"
3rd cup "it's good to be lonely"

To make drinking more interesting, qi pa proposes to play the game of rock-paper-scissor.  Kui Mulang's keen eyes catches on to her moves and she ends up losing all rounds while a gleeful kui Mulang comments on the simplicity of the game. ?


Qi pa who is drunk after three glasses of wine, begs kui Mulang to let her go. Kui Mulang becoming serious promises her anything but that. Under the influence of alcohol, she falls by kui mulang's  side who catches her in his arms. Qi pa finding herself in kui mulang's embrace reacts by stabbing him with her hairpin. Kui Mulang looks at her in disbelief as qi pa realises she overreacted so she apologies.

Kui Mulang whose internal force is getting weaker cannot tolerate even such minor injuries and fearing he might go insane, angrily orders qi pa to go back to her chambers.

Enroute qi pa gets ambushed by hai tang and cries out for help. In spite of his injuries and effect the full moon will have on him, kui Mulang rushes to her rescue. Kui Mulang staves off hai tang's attack but falls under the full moon's influence and attacks qi pa.

Later that night kui Mulang rightly infers that qi p's attempted assassination was due to his enemies. For her safety he decides to ground qi pa in the palace and protect her personally.

Next, morning Li xiong approaches qi pa. He applies medicine on qi pa's injured neck. Hu Die accuses qi pa of attempted murder of the palace cook, chun'er by pushing her in the well. Qi pa in an attempt to save chun'er's life gives her CPR to revive her. Rattled kui Mulang inquires as to what qi pa was doing.(kui Mulang is extremely possesive and gets discomfited when qi pa gets close to any other person) qi pa explains to everyone present that it was a life saving technique taught by her mother. Chun'er upon regaining consciousness accuses qi pa of pushing her in the well ( it was the chameleon assassin, hai tang who impersonated qi pa)

Note: Bai ke is a staunch supporter and admirer of qi pa... He always champions and applauds qi pa's uniqueness.

Kui Mulang tries to defend qi pa but Hu die demands qi pa be imprisoned and executed. Qi pa realising the political sensitivity of the issue, volunteers to be imprisoned while investigation is underway.

Qi pa's encounter with rats and cockroaches in the prison is hilarious. ?

Li xiong questions chun'er regarding the events and heads down to prison to meet Qi pa.

Qi pa who is losing the battle against the vermins is glad to see him and accuses him of leaving her in a lurch and disappearing. Li xiong declares that she shouldn't have requested to come to jail...she informs him that kui Mulang really tried to defend her and she understands the dilemma of a king as she has been brought up in a royal family. Kui mulang is appeased on hearing this, he acts a little smug that qi pa appreciates his position and understands him.

Qi pa and Li xiong forms a plan to catch the chameleon assassin.

Episode 5  - catching the master mind

Qi pa wants to be vindicated after she catches the real culprit and wants kui mulang to allow her freedom to leave the palace and not be grounded any longer.

Kui mulang visits qi pa in prison at night as she was alone and would be frightened. He brings pesticide powder to scare rats and cockroaches.. Qi pa strangely sprinkles some powder on her clothes and some on kui mulang's garments because that would be more effective. ?

Qi pa plans to use distraction for catching the real culprit... She will use misdirection to see who reacts involuntarily.

Hai tang disguised as stewardess qing assures xiniang that qi pa's investigation failed... But unbeknownst to her kui mulang has her followed. Haitang goes to the prison secure that her cover is safe to assassinate qi pa but is caught in the trap sprung by qi pa and kui mulang.

After catching the real culprit, qi pa goes to kui mulang to remind him to fulfill his promise and set her free from restriction to stay in the palace... Much to qi pa's surprise, kui mulang acquiescence.

Qi pa accuses Li xiong of being remiss and not trying to find a way to get back home to Daxia. ... In order to retain qi pa's trust in him Li xiong pretends to go along with qi pa's escape plan and takes her out of the palace.

After escaping the palace, qi pa decides to disguise both of them by cross dressing... Qi pa dresses as a man and li xiong as a woman... (This scene is very nicely enacted by both the actors)

When li xiong dressed as a woman draws qi pa dressed as the husband's attention on the leering guards who are ogling li xiong's pretty form... Qi pa scolds the guard and waist grabs 'his wife' and takes li xiong away from the lustful gaze of the guards.
( this scene is also mirrored in episode 30,kui Mulang waist grabs qi pa and  walks her forward away from the guard's gaze when  they both are dressed in Western clothes going for their honeymoon)

Qi pa reaches the forest but the jaunt is useless as only kui mulang can remove the enchantment.

Episode 6 - novels to the rescue

While in the forest trying to find way back to Daxia, the weather turns bad. Li xiong pulls qi pa in a cave to take shelter from the rain. To Li xiong's  amusement, qi pa has not brought any useful survival items in her bag full of goodies.

Qi pa is shivering from cold, li xiong sits besides her to give her some human warmth and they start chatting.. Li xiong tells qi pa  that even if she can't go to Daxia it is fine, she is not alone, li xiong will always be there for her. ❤

Li xiong tells qi pa his background story and qi pa expresses a desire to get a compatible husband who would be her perfect match... Li xiong assures her that she will surely get such a husband (obviously he is her perfect match)...

Qi pa faints due to fever and fatigue, kui mulang carries her back to the palace... Much to the ire of hu die, kui mulang takes care of qi pa at night.

Next morning when qi pa finds out that Li xiong has to returned back, she assumes li xiong is punished by kui mulang and goes to confront him.

Kui mulang gets angry at qi pa for caring about other man(li xiong) in front of her future husband who is a king... Qi pa refutes that fact that she is his queen to be as she won't marry him.

Kui mulang realises he over reacted and wants to salvage   his relationship with qi pa so he goes to Daxia to search for a way to make qi pa fall in love with him. Kui mulang accompanied by Liu Jum go to Daxia and bring back romance books.. The one entitled 'the perfect husband' attracts kui mulang the most.

Kui mulang sincerely wanting qi pa's love studies the romance novels diligently and decides the metho 'love after marriage' is most suitable and declares he will marry qi pa within 7 days... Kui mulang following the novels route gives qi pa ridiculously expensive gifts. Hu die goes to complain to kui mulang regarding such extravagant gesture.

Qi pa gets a brilliant idea from hu die's complain and informs kui mulang that she would not be a suitable queen as she is indisciplined and unruly.... Kui mulang who has been following romance novels, quotes from one of them: "qi pa even if everyone is against you, I'll still marry you and make an enemy of them "

Qi pa is speechless after hearing this and leaves in a huff... Kui Mulang is happy that the novels are really helping him ?

Episode 7 Durian Anyone? 

Qi pa prepares a banquet that is traditionally required for the queen-to-be before the wedding. Qi pa deliberately tries to spoil the food but smart kui mulang switches the food. Guests end up eating delicious food while the real food prepared by qi pa is eaten by Kui Mulang, it is unpalatable but besotted kui Mulang as per the romance novels he is reading, shoves few mouthfuls. Qi pa unintentionally has added some aphrodisiac, drugging kui Mulang who becomes amorous. ( I bet qi pa did not intend for that to happen ?)

Qi pa visits kui Mulang to apologise for unknowingly drugging him the previous night. Qi pa reiterates that she is not fit to be his queen. Her reasons:

1. She does not want to obey palace rules.
2.she can't cook, how can she be a queen?
3.she often hurts kui Mulang even without knowing it.
4. She has a quick temper and often argues with kui Mulang
5.lastly she softly murmurs, kui Mulang is bad looking and it scares her.


Qi pa wants to leave and at this stage kui Mulang due to holy pearl cannot allow her to leave... Both are at an impasse.

Kui Mulang offers to bring anything from Daxia to relieve her home sickness... Qi pa requests for Durian and 'David' statue.... Kui Mulang gets both the items for her.

Li xiong approaches qi pa feeling self-satisfied at having acquired everything she demanded... Qi pa talks about 'feelings' and apprises Li xiong that she doesn't have those for kui Mulang.. She describes what she has heard from her mother about how a person feels when they are in love... Li xiong wants to know if she ever has had such a feeling before... Both qi pa and kui Mulang are novice at love.

Prosaicly, qi pa wants to eat Durian to ease her sadness.. When she cuts open the Durian, the stench of it drives Li xiong backwards and qi pa good naturedly advances towards him to share it. Li xiong trips while walking backwards and topples on his back on the floor, qi pa trying to save him catche him falls on top of him.. They share their first kiss. (Then kui one of kui mulang's theme song, if only plays for the first time). Both of them blush while trying to avoid looking at each other.

li xiong goes back to his chambers with a dazed look, he experienced the feelings qi pa was talking about... Boy has fallen in love with qi pa.

Episode 8 Let's Tango ?

Qi pa converses with Jing Muhan who had approached her with an ulterior motive to create a strife between qi pa and kui Mulang.

Kui Mulang upon hearing of their private meeting reacts "This Jing Muhan must have thought that qi pa is beautiful, kind, interesting and cute so he covets her"----"poor worm though art inflected" (The Tempest, william Shakespeare)

Chun'er  the gossipy cook, informs qi pa that Jin Muhan had rebelled against kui Mulang for a girl, su he... So qi pa utilizes this information to use Jing Muhan and make kui Mulang jealous so that he would cancel their wedding.

Qi pa pretends to flirt with Jing Muhan in front of kui Mulang but he instead of getting angry declares
"Qi pa, whether you love Or not, and whether you have someone you like, you can only be my wife"

Qi pa never one to give up easily, decides to dance Tango ? with Li xiong to break off her wedding plans. Qi pa while dancing pretends to fake kiss Li xiong to generate gossip.... Because according to qi pa the best way to make a man give up a woman is to make him realisew she loves another man. (All of her plans are bold and logical but she ends up revealing them in front of Li xiong who is kui Mulang and all her plans are thwarted ?)
 
Kui Mulang hastens the wedding and declares to marry her in 3 days.

Qi pa again meets with Jing Muhan who advices her to request Kui Mulang to bring some people back to the Beast city from Daxia.. His intention to find out where Daxia is.

Qi pa as per plan asks kui Mulang to bring someone from Daxia to relieve her home sickness... Kuu Mulang, is slowly falling in love with qi pa and wants to make her happy so he acquiesce... Again qi pa discusses her plan to follow kui Mulang with li xiong who being forewarned, tricks qi pa and Jing Muhan to follow decoys.

Kui Mulang and Liu jun find Ma yingxong along with other soldiers and despicable Alai by following the stench of Durian?... Kui Mulang decides to take all of them back also not forgetting 'Durians' as dowry for qi pa.

Episode 9 - Qi pa's Guarding Angel

Kui Mulang has brought General Ma, Alai and other soldiers to the beast city as per qi pa's wishes.

Qi pa tries to get opportunity to meet General Ma alone so that she can make an escape plan... However kui Mulang has her under strict guard. Eunuch Ruo overhears Alai and General Ma's conversation where Alai was thanking General Ma for his help and himself and qi pa would be forever grateful to him when they are engaged. ( as if, dream on Alai ?)

This conversation gives Jing Muhan an idea to send qi pa and Alai notes so that when they meet alone, kui Mulang will get jealous and kill qi pa in a fit of anger.

According to the plan,  qi pa gets a fake note from Ma yingxiong asking her to meet outside the palace  whereas Alai gets a fake note from qi pa.

When qi pa sees Alai instead of Ma yingxiong she gets angry. Alai sneers at her and insultingly tells her that kui Mulang must not be cherishing her so she has turned to him. Qi pa hits Alai when he tries to take liberties with her, like a would be rapist Alai tries to subdue her by throwing and pinning her against the wall... Kui Mulang arrives just in the nick of time, grabs Alai's shoulder and throws him away from qi pa. Alai crashes into a pile of boxes on the opposite side and falls down. Kui Mulang now recognises him as the same person who was harassing qi pa in Daxia in episode 1.

Contrary to Jing Muhan's plan, a concerned kui Mulang take qi pa back to the palace to apply some medicine on her bruised hand and all his ire falls on Alai where it deserves. Back at the palace kui Mulang tenderly applies medicine on qi pa's injury all the while wondering how her family could allow such a person to get engaged to her... Qi pa defends her family by telling him that they are not aware of Alai's true character.

Qi pa realises that something weird happened because Alai was not capable of entering the palace to send her a fake note hence it must be someone inside the palace who was responsible for that night's incident.

Jing Muhan is eagerly waiting to hear the news of kui Mulang killing qi pa, much to his disappointment Eunuch Ruo informs him that their plan failed again.

Ma yingxiong goes to kui Mulang after discovering Alai missing. Much to his shock, qi pa makes hindi aware of Alai's true nature. Qi pa sides with kui Mulang and praises him for punishing Alai.... Ma yingxiong goes to the jail and. Kicks Alai. General Ma is satisfied with kui mulang's punishment for Alai to make him toil his whole life by making him perform menial labour.

Kui Mulang wants to get married to qi pa as he has fulfilled all his promises to her... Qi pa in order to stall for time wants a marriage proposal from kui Mulang as per the tradition of Daxia.

Kui Mulang wants to fulfill all of qi pa's desires and wishes so he tries to give her ' A dream proposal'

Episode 10 - Marriage proposal

Liu Jun contacts Hong xiu to get her advice on qi pa's likings because kui mulang wants to propose to her. Hong xiu who was dejected earlier as she had assumed, Liu Jun  had fallen in love with someone else, perks up.

Hong xiu informs Liu Jun that as per qi pa when a man proposes in her home town there would be a grad ceremony, it would have candles, cluster of flowers, light gauze, white curtains and shiny stars.

While Hong xiu and Liu Jun are discussing the specifics of Daxia's customs, qi pa flees from the palace to meet Ma Yingxiong. Qi pa feels that as Ma yingxiong is in the beast city, she can escape along with him when he returns to Daxia... She intends to tell kui mulang to send Ma Yingxiong back to Daxia before the marriage ceremony and she will hide in a big box that Ma yingxiong would take back with him... She also plans to take Li xiong along with her as she mistakenly still believes that he is the shadow guard of Daxia.

Harried Hong xiu and Liu Jun find both qi pa and Ma Yingxiong together, they pretend to be bidding tearful goodbyes to each other.

Haitang impersonating chun'er gives weakening powder to Ma yingxiong so that he could escape with qi pa and weaken kui mulang.

Kui Mulang has restricted entry in imperial garden for others that night as he has planned a big proposal for qi pa... Hong xiu brings a blind folded qi pa to the garden and leaves her with kui mulang... Kui mulang leads the blindfolded qi pa inside telling her he has a surprise for her... Qi pa quips back "why so mysterious? "... Kui Mulang lifts Qi pa in his arms and carries her inside to show her his surprise.... He has decorated the room with flowers, candles, light gauze, white curtains just as Hong xiu had suggested earlier..

Kui Mulang ardently asks qi pa if she was satisfied with his preparation for the proposal... Kui Mulang requests qi pa to give him a chance and they could get to know each other from scratch... He gets down on his knees and proposes:

Kui Mulang: will you marry me and be my queen?

Qi pa: I do

Kui Mulang is overwhelmed as he did not expect her acquiescence.. Qi pa uses this opportunity to request kui Mulang to send Ma yingxiong back to Daxia before their wedding, unsuspecting kui Mulang agrees to this.

Kui Mulang who is in euphoric mood due to qi pa's acceptence reveals to Liu Jun that it all feels unreal to him.

Next morning, Li xiong goes to  see qi pa, he smugly comments that qi pa looks happy and want to know if the reason for that was kui Mulang's proposal... Qi pa breaks his heart by revealing her true purpose.. She discusses her paln to escape   along with Li xiong... Pitiful Li xiong world crashes. In a dazed state he listens to jubilant qi pa's plans (tilting of camera show his inner despondency and dismay)

Kui Mulang trudges back to his chambers and reveals qi pa's plans to Liu Jun... Kui Mulang firmly informs Liu Jun to arrange Hu Die to hide in the big box to deceive  Ma Yingxiong and escape from it later.

Kui Mulang : I want to get qi pa back and send Ma Yingxiong back to Daxia.


Unfortunately, Eunuch Ruo overhears their plans and informs Jing Muhan who in turn arranges to inform the master mind...

Pseudo Chun'er gives Ma Yingxiong debilitating powder.....

Kui Mulang invites qi pa to taste dishes for their wedding reception... Qi pa is eager to escape so give polite responses to keep kui mulang's guard down.... Kui Mulang in an effort at sincerity;

Kui Mulang: The wolves only marry one person in a lifetime. After I marry you, I will treat you wholeheartedly.

Qi pa coached by her mother,  mumbles to herself that all men are liars... Making some excuse qi pa leaves... Inspite of his heartbreak, kui Mulang can't help but smile at her over the top pretenses.... Kui Mulang really indulges qi pa and loves her to bits.

(This episode was quite heartbreaking for the viewers  to watch inspite of a perfect romantic proposal due to all lies and heartbreak of main leads... However in this series the creators always applied healing balm to the viewers frayed hearts by giving them pay off later... In episode 30, the last episode there is a parallel scene to the proposal scene in episode 10 where viewers are soothed by witnessing a true love confession)

1. So mysterious

Ep 10- qi pa is blindfolded and led by kui Mulang to see the surprise he has prepared... Qi pa retorts 'why so mysterious? '

Ep 30- qi pa closes kui Mulang's eyes and takes him to her chambers to show him the surprise she has prepared.. Kui Mulang wonders 'so mysterious'


2."Are you satisfied? "

Ep 10- qi pa wanders around the decorated proposal room to admire it. Kui Mulang asks her my queen-to-be "Are you satisfied? "... Qi pa courteously replies that she didn't expect him to propose to her.

Ep 30- qi pa wants kui mulang to confess his love, kui mulang charmingly says " The only thing, I want in this life is you. I love you". Both qi pa and kui mulang giggle like shy children who have just been gifted a box of candies... Both of them blush after qi pa lovingly kisses him on his cheek... Kui mulang adoringly looks at qi pa and inquires "Are you satisfied?".. This time she genuinely nods, as her heart desires his commitment and everlasting love.

Episodes 20 -30

Qi pa:  Prince Consort, Aren't you supposed to give me a honeymoon? 

Kui Mulang: It's all up to you.                        (episode 30) 

(Kui Mulang says "It's all up to you"   in episode 14 too... This is quite reminiscent of what westley says to buttercup in the movie The Princess Bride... Westley always says "As you wish.... " whenever buttercup wishes him to do something) 

Episode 20 & 21

The drama is becoming interesting again... Qi pa's charm classes, everyone in the palace including the king, gathered in the courtyard to see their queen's ?  new scheme.  The Queen is quite popular and well loved by everyone in the palace. Poor king working overtime to get rid of unwanted concubine.

Qi pa teaching haitang tango and li xiong standing outside watching qi pa with admiration... Their little exchange outside in the garden was so ❤,  li xiong's don't tease me and touching qi pa's nose gently, both staring at each other shyly while haitang over looking their exchange suspiciously.

The actual ball room scene, trying to copy european tradition. Haitang starting the dance, but when qi pa joins haitang everyone in the palace gives a big round of applause ' your highness',  bai ke adding to her praise by saying our queen is multi talanted. Kui mulang insisting to dance with qi pa and ignoring haitang completely was pure gold ?.  I found kui mulang and qipa's dance to be more energetic and passionate even though it was not technically perfect as the dance performed by the ladies.

Finally penny dropping in qi pa's mind,  kui mulang dances the same way as li xiong ?. She actually keeps noticing such similarities through out the series but often dismisses them, she had commented earlier when li xiong crept up on her that why li xiong walked as silently as kui mulang and li xiong immediately touched his ear to see which form he was in ?

Poor haitang being continuously dismissed by kui mulang, this is the game between the king and the queen where haitang a mere ♟️ doesnt stand any chance.

But qi pa IS JEALOUS  ?.. Finally we see a jealous qi pa, she sends haitang inside kui mulang's room and then bursts inside it ?.. Poor haitang is left confused and totally high and dry.

Kui mulang read so many romance novels but did not understand one basic principle, that the more jealous the heroine gets the more distant and flippant she becomes to save her face and hide her emotions, the key to know the heroine's true feelings is to ask her best friend, in this case hong xiu.... Hong xiu being a close confidant can easily see qipa's inner turmoil  which qi pa herself is not ready to acknowledge.

But kui mulang takes the award for being the husband of the Millenium ?... He is so steadfast and loyal and loving.... Actually these are the same qualities in qi pa too, she too is steadfast, loyal and loving, that is why she is well admired in the palace...  

Liu jun and kui mulang using haitang to make qi pa jealous... Poor haitang playing musical instrument the whole day while both of them like naughty boys spreading rumours about the king's pseudo romance. But ever thoughtful kui mulang doesnt want to overdo it as he doesnt know how qipa will react.

Qi pa's reaction in the end was everything kui mulang hoped for but did not get to see... She is soooooo jealous, but doesn't understand why she should be jealous as she loves li xiong...

Episode 22...quite enjoyable ?

Kui mulang/li xiong pacing restlessly awaiting qi pa's reaction to the rumours he had spread... He desperately hopes qipa will reprimand him for his unruly behaviour and supposed intimacy with hai tang... Liu Jun and kui mulang are using reverse psychology on qi pa...

Kui mulang unhappy that qi pa hasn't shown any jealous reaction, it's night time and hi tang has been playing zither in kui mulang's  room the whole day... Kui mulang fed up with waiting outside the whole day, tells liu jun to toss haitang out and bring his queen to his room.  ?

Meanwhile hitang the seductress has been playing zither alone the whole day her fingers have started bleeding, Liu Jun comes to announce that she should return back to her own room as the king is busy... He ruthlessly informs her that everyone cannot see the king as and when they desire( this privilege only available to qi pa) ... I took a perverse pleasure when haitang hightails it out from there nursing her sore fingers...

Qi pa still awake not able to sleep, shouldn't she be happy her plan worked and haitang and the king have spent some romantic time together as  per the rumours, so why is she so unhappy???  My girl, be careful what you wish for, you may actually end up getting it.  Tsk tsk.

Qi pa is Summoned to kui mulang's room... Hong xiu being the only voice of reason refuses to believe that kui mulang can spend time with other woman when he so adores qi pa.

Qi pa goes to kui mulang's room... Kui mulang is upset because qi pa is NOT upset with his rumoured affair.... Qi pa pretending to act cool and supportive on the outside but she is upset because she IS  UPSET at her own plan being successful. .. I think this encounter was beautifully enacted and presented.

Haitang and jing muan's alliance makes them better antagonists compared to when they were working separately. .. Haitang decides to impersonate li xiong to lure qi pa away to test li xiong's identity...
Unsuspecting qi pa follows the imposter li xiong like lamb to slaughter..

Real li xiong quickly realizes what has happened and rushes to save qi pa, him using his super hearing was sooo cool to witness  ?.. When qi pa opens her mouth to speak, he immediately zeros in her location and starts running to save his love.

Qi pa expecting a surprise from li xiong but getting the shock of her life when the imposter li xiong pushed her and throws her on the ground... Kui mulang/ li xiong have always been extremely gentle with qi  pa..

Haitang the assassin reveals her true face and before she goes in for kill ?  li xiong arrives.. I prefer assassin haitang to seductress haitang..

Next scene was beautiful picturised and enacted by the actors... Wu xuanyi portrayed the helpless look beautifully, she didnt want li xiong to get hurt on qi pa's behalf, while czy also did an exceptional job in portraying li xiong/ kui mulang's love for qi pa, he was willing to be hurt if it meant keeping qi pa safe... This scene made me believe that qi pa and kui mulang are really made for each other... Willing to sacrifice their life for the other... Protecting  the other even at high cost.

After qi pa took the nail in her neck to save li xiong, kui mulang's ( he was not li xiong but kui mulang from then onwards) anger towards haitang was sizzling, he wouldn't allow haitang to go scott free after hurting qi pa,  even though jing muan tried to save haitang from the nail that kui mulang threw, kui mulang managed to kick the knife? right in haitang's heart...

Both brothers mirroring each other,  clutching the women they care about ❤❤.. I don't know if jing muan and hai tang  have a future or if they will be redeemed in future but they do have a connection... I personally wouldn't like to see them being redeemed but the creators seem to be going in that direction.

The most impactful scene in the whole episode was when kui mulang transformed into his half wolf form due to internal force depletion after massive injury.... The savage look he threw towards both the assassins,  approach us at your peril... He started coughing blood only after jing muan left taking the injured haitang with him... He dared not show any weakness till the threat has passed .

Lastly, the scene when kui mulang knew that qi pa was blinded by the nail she took for him and he ran from his sick bed to comfort her... Qi pa also wanted to see li xiong(  I believe she wanted to see li xiong because she had seen him being hurt and wanted to ensure he was well)... Qi pa Stumbling into li xiong's arms.... Both lovers have returned back from almost death's door, qi pa's fear of losing her eyesight forever seemed so tangible... Kui mulang vowing to cure her... The hug they shared was full of promise and desperation......

I really enjoyed the warmth of emotions in this episode... Our protagonists have started to build the foundation for the lasting relationship, hopefully we will hit pay dirt soon.

Episode 23 & 24...beautifully progressing love story... I loved both the episodes.

Qi pa DOES love kui mulang/ li xiong, finally she has all the key answers that the viewers were aware of since the beginning of the drama.... Her inner turmoil of loving both li xiong and kui mulang was very sensitively put forth in these episodes... Qi pa is no longer the same childish princess who was trying to escape, she has accepted the mantle of the queen of the beast city.

What most of the viewers forget is that  all the facts that we were made aware of  since the beginning, were revealed to qi pa just some time ago... This is called DRAMATIC IRONY..  Viewers were aware from the first episode that kui mulang the upright king is dying without the holy pearl,  so it is but obvious that they are getting frustrated with qi pa's refusal to accept him....

To get the holy pearl there should be true love between two people... They should be soul mates... Falling in love with each other is JUST THE FIRST step in the journey of being soulmates... To be perfect soulmates one has to let go of doubt, ego, pride, insecurities, jealousy, hatred, lies and fully trust their partner.

At this point even though kui mulang and qi pa love each other they still have extra baggage of other emotions weighing them down.

Qi pa upon learning that kui mulang married her for holy pearl is full of doubt and insecurity, she believes kui mulang  wants her only for pearl,  after lui jun clarifies to her that kui mulang will die without the pearl, it is her LOVE that makes her go to kui mulang to offer to kiss him.. But she lets her pride get in the way when kui mulang asks if she ever loved him.

Kui mulang , eventhough loves qi pa allows his ego and self hatred for forcing qi pa get in the way so he rejects qi pa's offer to kiss him, he doesn't want her pity.

But as the series has already taken a step in the right direction and the protagonists have fallen in love with each other, they will have to deal with the extra baggage of  negative emotions they each are carrying  to become each other's soul mate.

It is good that qi pa is going back to her home, a little absence makes heart grow fonder and  both should get a chance to miss each other to realise how important they are to each other.

I am fully satisfied with how last few episodes are progressing... They met, they will part to meet again and become more stronger together and now the outside forces are getting stronger... The king and the queen of the beast city will soon be tested.

Episode 25 and 26, home is where the heart is!!  ?

You can never turn back time.... Qi pa can go back to xia kingdom but she wont have the same feelings about it  as before, she is irrevocably changed by her experience in the beast city, she is incomplete without them as they are without her.

Qi pa wants kui mulang to stop her but he is as clueless as ever as to how he could be forgiven by qi pa... So he begrudgingly takes qi pa to xia kingdom's gateway... Along with qi pa's and kui mulang's heart,  all the viewers hearts are also hurting... IF ONLY, kui mulang would have asked qi pa to stay, she would have in a heart beat.... Kui mulang needs to learn communication 101 and burn those useless romance books for our sanity as well as qi pa's.

Back in xia, qi pa is dragging her feet,  she doesnt have the same gait as earlier, she is heart broken... Both kui mulang and qi pa have a different way to process grief.... Kui mulang declares there is no queen, no qi pa, decides to abdicate as his queen is gone and he wont have any heirs, in a melancholy, writes 'qi pa''s name the whole time..... Qi pa goes on a useless shopping spree, the food that gave her immense pleasure seem lack luster now, dancing and spa sessions are just motions to go through... Both qi pa and kui mulang are
suffering .

But after the heavy rain,  rainbow has to appear, we get to see how kui mulang visits her at night just to take a peek at her, surprisingly he has the key chain that qi pa gifted him, lo and behold, durian key chain to lock their sweethearts in... Qi pa is also fiddling with the wolf's tooth necklace that kui mulang gifted her on her birthday. .. I love the symbolism behind both the gifts...

Qi pa who always sleeps soundly is wide awake, comes out on the porch trying to find 'kui mulang' constellation that kui mulang showed her on her birthday and also gifted her protection and care of day and night. ... Kui mulang is pleasantly surprised and touched by qi pa calling his name because qi pa senses his presence nearby... That is beginning of true love.

Qi pa being qi pa decides to trap kui mulang with general ma's help, both the foreigners have fallen for residents of beast city and now their home feels alien to them... Qi pa decides to gamble, pretends to fall and like always kui mulang is there to catch her... Kui mulang has always protected qi pa and she realises it in this episode, he was not merely using her but was a wall of strength between her and any danger.

Qi pa's niece proves to be  'a little cupid' , calling kui mulang uncle and highlighting the significance of the key chain that qi pa gifted him.. Qi pa wants to go back, she names everyone she misses in the beast city except kui mulang ?,  he is the air she breathes, how can you MERELY miss it when it is the reason of your existence..

All three, kui mulang, qi pa and  general ma are beaming because finally everything is getting back in the place that it belonged... Qi pa has brought too many gifts for the people of beast city and those gifts play a part in uniting other lovers, just not the way she intended it to.

Kui mulang is pouting because, she did not bring him a gift. Ever resourceful lui jun informs the king, that he too did not get the gift because he is kui mulang's right hand man ??.

Finally lui jun gives a million dollar advise to kui mulang 'sweet talk the wife', obviously she came back just to be closer to her husband...

 qi pa and kui mulang are back together, now they need to strengthen their bond before the conspirators make their move.

Episode 27 ... Game Set Match... Qi pa is about to unsheathe her hidden claws.

The episode starts with much needed sweet exchange between kui mulang and qi pa.

Qi pa: you're good. A fan of cosplay?

Explaining cosplay to the Clueless kui mulang, qi pa says cosplay means, one minute you are  li xiong and next minute you are kui mulang... I feel qi pa and kui mulang will enjoy this play in future to bring spice to their married life, both are quite good at this. ?

Qi pa asks kui mulang to sit by her bed and tell her a bedtime story, she has become quite addicted to his meaningless ramblings about his childhood. Probably it is the left over feeling of security she has from her blind days, she promptly falls asleep secure in her cocoon of love and warmth.   ?

Kui mulang : I did all the happy things with you.
Qi pa's response in her sleep: l'll always be at your side.

Quite  a sweet love story is about to unfold. ??

Cue to bring in the vamp....

Su he to qi pa:  you must be the new queen. I've  heard the new queen is beautiful and  extraordinary.

Qi pa (nobody's fool) : full of pretense. She must have come with evil intent.

Su he very snidely looks at qi pa and tells kui mulang, she must speak with him privately... Our wonderfully faithful kui mulang asks her to speak in the presense of his queen ? and lui jun.... Qi pa leaves them to gather ammunition against su he via gossip.... Kui mulang tells su he quite clearly that he sees her as a subject and not potential lover.... Su he is proving to be quite a formidable enemy for qi pa, su he starts turning everyone in the palace against qi pa..... Qi pa realises "THE GAME IS ON"... Qi pa tells chun'er  I will show you how to deal with an angelic b*tch.... I hope qi pa proves to a good match for su he.


Another aspect of the episode  was the MOST INTERESTING chat between kui mulang and lui jun..

Lui jun : what came first, your desire to utilize qi pa for holy pearl or your love for her?

Kui mulang: qi pa also means a lot to me. I got to know her because of holy pearl. But our relationship is now beyond that. Even if she doesn't have the holy pearl, I still want to be her only beloved.


This above conversation was quite Illuminating and probably the assurance that qi pa requires to trust whole heartedly in her new relationship.... Truth will always remain that kui mulang brought qi pa because he wanted the holy pearl, then this became a moot issue as kui mulang fell in love with qi pa and his desire for pearl was over shadowed by his love for qi pa ❤....

But what if ❓❓Qi pa did not have the pearl, would kui mulang love her as dearly... What if someone else had the holy pearl, would kui mulang fall in love with that person?

Viewers have gotten a fairly good idea about kui mulang's character to know he wouldn't forsake qi pa for anything in this world... But qi pa needs to see this for herself, the question that bothered her before she left the beast city was, does kui mulang really love qi pa or he just wants the holy pearl??

Trailer for next episode seems to hint that  writers want to play with this insecurity of qi pa... What if some other woman had the holy pearl... Where would qi pa stand???

I am also looking forward to know how that will play out.

Episode 28 & 29
Yin-yang.... Qi pa- Kui Mulang..... Honourable- survivor.......

We get to see great team work of kui mulang and qi pa in these two episodes.

Qi pa has started writing a novel 'princess and the werewolf', her and kui mulang's romantic story.  Everyone in the palace is suddenly enamoured again with qi pa and she starts regaining the staff's and the elder's support

Qipa  1,   Suhe 0
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Kui Mulang and qipa finally have a heart to heart. Kui mulang is happy that qi pa is defending her position as his queen. Qi pa very tongue in cheek tells kui mulang  'I hate to lose'.......Upstanding kui mulang confesses that his  love for qi pa will never change. For the first time in the drama, both kui mulang and qi pa are on the same page where feelings are concerned...... Suhe interrupts  them, kui mulang once again tries to reason with the obsessed Suhe and holds qi pa's hand to show his acceptance and love for qi pa.... Suhe leaves in a huff like an injured ? ready to sting.

Qipa  1,  suhe 0

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Suhe 's father wins the father of the year award. He presents his insane scheme to use scorpion's poison to draw out holy pearl from qi pa( guess qi pa could have  been injured ? and sent near death to remove the holy pearl by kui mulang too, but he wouldn't even think of such way) .... Suhe will inevitably die in few months too due to the poison.... Suhe's father gets a medal for being the most manipulative, selfish father even among villains.. Suhe goes and infects qipa with scorpion poison... Heroic kui mulang rushes to  aid qi pa, even knowing that now suhe has the holy pearl, his main concern is to save qi pa's life, he isn't tempted even for a moment to trade qi pa's life for holy pearl, which will save his own life.... Lifting qipa he rushes to save her.
Suhe 1,    qipa 0

____________________________________

Kui mulang sucks poison from qi pa's neck to revive her and ends up poisoning himself due to which he remains in wolf ? form even during day.... Our protagonists share some very sweet moments, they reaffirm their wedding vows under the sky with 'kui mulang' constellation as their witness..... But without the holy pearl and heavily poisoned kui mulang's days seem numbered.... There was an underlying doom for kui mulang in their sweet interaction.... Su he manages to catch kui mulang as he loses control during the full moon ? night.

Suhe 1,   qipa 0
____________________________________

Another heart wrenching scene, kui mulang is tied to a magical heavy chain that controls him and qi pa is imprisoned in another cell.... Kui mulang drags himself to her side and both clutch each other desperately... Suhe offers to save kui mulang by giving him holy pearl, if only he marries her and leaves qi pa....

Noble kui mulang :  I will never give up qi pa for you. From the day I fell in love with qipa, I never thought of giving up and changing my mind.



Wolf whistle for this ethical, foolhardy man who holds on to his beliefs and principles even in the face of death, probably because he has been conditioned  to sacrifice his life since he became heir to beast city... Kui mulang will never surrender but will not hesitate to sacrifice his life to uphold his honour... This is the time when kui mulang needs qipa to save him from his nobility and self sacrifice.


Qipa quickly realises their futile position and makes a deal with suhe.... Qipa says she wants to live and is willing to kill kui mulang. Qi pa is a survivalist, she values kui mulang's life above honour and truth... Qipa has never hesitated to lie, cheat and break any rules to get what she wants in the past... She will never let kui mulang die and will move heaven and earth to ensure his survival..

Qipa is ready to sacrifice her honour for love while kui mulang is  ready to sacrifice his life for love...

Both are incomplete and weak without the other. They fit together like jigsaw?? puzzle pieces. They are yin and yang and when trying to save each other they cross all limits.... They are an undefeatable  formidable team.

Suhe 0,  qi pa 10

____________________________

Episode 30

Qi pa : I am a little tired. I am going to sleep.

Kui Mulang : Go Ahead. I am here.

The above dialogue sums up their relationship. Kui mulang  provides trust, peace and security to qi pa with his warmth of love.

This episode was pure feel good, paying dividend to the viewers who have invested their time and energy in watching the series.

After yesterday's episodes which were full of action and suspense, today the creators resolved the issue quite quickly.... It was explained by liu jun in earlier episode when qi pa sucked poison out of li xiong's hand and he did not convert to wolf form at night for few days that qi pa had the holy pearl for 5 years in her body, it must have changed her physiology... They used the same logic to save kui mulang, although qi pa had lost the holy pearl to suhe, she still had her uniquely affected ?, she merged her blood with kui mulang and voila, kui mulang got enough power to kill suhe, take back the holy pearl and defeat all enemies.  I think the series did not have budget to film elaborate fighting sequence so the fights are always quick but interestingly depicted.

After the resolution of external conflict,  like rain on parched earth, our main leads have a moment of relief and sweet confession of their love... They can finally plan their future now that the hanging knife of kui mulang's health has been removed from the equation as he has consumed the holy pearl and will live a long healthy life and continue to save the people of beast city.

Sudden death of Ma Yingxiong in previous episode was jarring... But it seemed apt the creators would go that way... Both citizens of daxia, qi pa and Ma Yingxiong  were depicted as superficial, flaky and frivolous interested in their foppish appearance and attached to wordly pleasures, however in the end when everyone including kui mulang were at the mercy of the enemy, it was both of these Daxian who proved to be more righteous and loyal , managing to save the beast population from annihilation and destruction...

Beautiful  ?tribute was paid to Ma yingxiong, it was poignant and heart felt,  it  managed to portray grief for a life lost but also there was hope for the future.

As expected kui mulang forgave his brother and haitang after giving them some minor punishment, I knew kui mulang would always be soft towards his blood relative and especially when his brother was showing remorse and regret... Afterall blood is thicker than water.

Other side couples got their happy ever after...

Time to give kui mulang some romantic moments, qi pa  had designed a haute couture couple dress,  with a  flower ? embroidered on kui mulang's dress and a wolf ? on hers... kui mulang was momentarily horrified at the  colour selection but when has he ever refused qi pa anything?  so he agrees to wear the dress... Time for much awaited wedding night❤.

Last scene in daxia, kui mulang and qi pa are going for their honeymoon? to Europa... Both are dressed in ancient western clothes... But somehow kui mulang with his wig , shirt, trouser and hat looked like  dracula visiting Transylvania and qi pa looked like young mina (dracula movie) ?? They both are very excited to travel the world ? moving on to new adventures of qi pa and kui mulang.

The Beast King finally gets the love he so  desperately wanted  and gets to ride into the sunset with his beloved... May their love continue to prosper.

Wow, that was a very detailed and personal review !   :)

Maybe you can have a look on the new column I did for Wu Xuanyi and if you have things to add,  be my guest !  It's here : https://mydramalist.com/discussions/lang-jun-bu-ru-yi/111031-actress-and-singer-profile-of-wu-xuanyi