Love and Crown 凤凰台上 (2025) Episode 8-9 Discussion
Hello cdrama family! Welcome to the Ep 8–9 discussion, and today I am back as a co-host.
Before we get started, some basics...
Links to discussion: Masterpost & Ep 1–3 | Ep 4–7
Spoilers: If you’d like to discuss anything past Ep 9, please tag your spoiler.Anything up to ep 9 is fair game.
Let’s begin...
Episode 8
The Younger Xiao Siblings + Empress Dowager.
The episode opened with the two younger Xiao siblings reuniting in the cold (and dark) palace. The actress portraying Princess Xiao Ying is doing some serious work here. Within a minute, she's adorable, pitiful, and low-key creepy.
https://i.redd.it/gguhwcyeow1g1.gif
Here she was, begging her brother to help her kill the person who lied to her about protecting her. In the background, the Empress Dowager is watching and I think we can see her thinking "Child, if you ever figure out it was me who started that fire, I'm done.” I think as the audience this is when we hear something like “完了完了/wan le wan le"
Is that the I may be done for look?
Here's what I love: Xiao Qian isn't falling for his mom's schemes. He saw through the fire incident. He knows what happened to his sister, and he's not about to let his scheming mother manipulate him. It's always nice to see a c-drama where imperial siblings actually care for one another and the son doesn't blindly follow his mother's schemes.
Mother, he's big disappointed in you!
Side rant: What's up with some of these empresses/concubines in c-dramas who have good sons but refuse to listen when the sons say they'll protect them? If only they'd listen, they could have a nice old life in the harem sipping tea. But nooo, gotta keep plotting. 🤦♀️
Xiao Qian & Zhong Lin: The Turtle Power Couple
And who is shipping these two? Because I AM.
https://i.redd.it/0gj7d8yhpw1g1.gif
Xiao Qian and Zhong Lin are too cute together! They're already acting like a married couple with all their bickering, and Zhong Lin is so proud of her turtle.
Her second art work for him, the first he can't see so well but this one, it's right there 🤣
My ship status: 🚢 Fully sailed.
Cangcang's is in Denial Stage
She's still in the dark, but she's not wanting to be anymore. Slowly, she's moving toward the truth — even if it’s a struggle to accept.
We’re starting to see that she's smart.
Exhibit A: She knew her brother wasn't really there to see her shifu, since her shifu didn't like Bamboo Leaf Green wine (竹叶青/Zhú Yè Qīng).
Booze fun fact: Bamboo Leaf Green is a real Chinese herbal liqueur that supposedly dates back to the 5th century. Bamboo (竹/zhú) is the main ingredient, giving it a slight green tint and sweet taste.
About that pendant… 🤔
Okay, I'm confused about the part where Cangcang said the pendant protects her so that no poison can get close. But wasn't she poisoned in the cave earlier in the show? And Xiao Huan had to give her his antidote pill?
Am I missing something here, or is this a plot hole? Someone explain this to me because I feel like I may have missed something.
Luo Xian's Dilemma and His “Fake” Acting.
Is it just me or do you feel like her brother is going to die at some point, to protect her out of guilt and because he really like her, or be the one to finally tell her the truth?
I mean he almost came clean.
https://i.redd.it/pr6rbw9iqw1g1.gif
But then realized she was drunk and thought he was her husband.
I think the idea of Cangcang hating him when she finds out the truth will weigh heavily on him going forward. He's not a bad guy, I think he's just too damn grateful to Daddy Ling for saving him, so now he's stuck in this mess.
That "Discovery" Was SO Staged
The act of Luo Xian "finding" that secret passage? His side glances. SO. FAKE. I wish Cangcang were a bit more observant. Like, girl… he obviously planted everything and is making it way too easy for you to find all these clues.
On the portrait: Does the portrait look like Perceptor Du? Is she Shifu's missing daughter? Or was that just some random portrait Luo Xian planted to throw Cangcang off their tracks?
I need answers. 🕵️♀️
Capital Shenanigans
Back in the capital, the Song Luanxi incident has made me laugh multiple times. I LOVE IT and these two are becoming my latest cdrama fave second lead couple.
The pencils/pens on each ear that keep falling off and the whole good news/bad news relay — which I can totally relate to in real life, by the way.
https://i.redd.it/1rdgkz3zqw1g1.gif
And who snorted hard seeing Xu Feng's reaction? I feel you, Xu Feng. I FEEL YOU.
https://i.redd.it/pqt5vk42rw1g1.gif
The Two Xiao Siblings: A Study in Scheming Styles
These two Xiao siblings have completely different styles of scheming, and one is definitely more confident than the other.
- Xiao Huan: Smooth operator. Always three steps ahead.
- Xiao Qian: Mostly smooth. A bit rough around the edges.
The Prince isn't that confident with her calligraphy 🤣
Daddy Ling's Logic: Does It Actually Make Sense?
What are your thoughts on Daddy Ling's rationale for Cangcang needing to know the truth?
On one hand, I agree that she shouldn't be kept in the dark. But on the other hand, he's nowhere near her to support his daughter, and he's doing everything he can to cover up the connection between her shifu and himself.
It's sad that her shifu died thinking he might have been duped, even though he said it was impossible. The tragedy of it all.
Episode 9
Confidence, Consorts, and the Phoenix Seal
Ep 9 started with the Ling family. Daddy Ling is confident (maybe a bit too much?), that the Emperor won't break his promise, and he has total faith in his daughter's loyalty to the Ling clan.
I did chuckle at the dad's assumption that the Emperor and his daughter are busy "making an heir." Did he get a different vibe and intel than the rest? I mean even Empress Dowager knew that there’s no action happening.
The Mysterious Saintess: I wonder who this Saintess is and what she can actually do. 👀
The Consort Scheme
The whole "finding a consort" scheme is amusing. You've got these two on opposite sides of the chess board…
https://i.redd.it/ujs8awgrrw1g1.gif
Except they're actually not, and Cangcang finally gets the Phoenix Seal.
Poor Xiao Huan was disappointed though, realizing that the seal is all she's thinking about. Ouch.
https://i.redd.it/fl8an1htrw1g1.gif
The Inner Archive
Now that Cangcang has the seal, she can finally go into the inner archive to gather info on the Lingbi Sect. But of course, the Emperor — as is always the case so far — is one step ahead.
Meanwhile, we have a delulu Empress Dowager who thinks she's smarter than everybody else.
The Angst Zone: Shifu's Body & Half-Truths
I'm glad Cangcang was brought to see her shifu's body, even if she only knows half the truth right now. And even though it hurt Xiao Huan to see her so sad, he's finally sharing some of the truth with her. The angst here is real — her not knowing who to believe anymore, his regrets over having had to use her, and only able to give some truth because the real truth may completely break her.
Thoughts popping in my head: What ancient technology did they have back then to keep a body fresh like that?
Cangcang in Town
Cangcang went to see Luo Xian at a hotel? No wonder it’s juicy for the auntie.
Anyhow, this part here… Girl… THAT is too long of a pause! I know you know he’s not being honest!
https://i.redd.it/pce5fwwfsw1g1.gif
Then we have Xiao Huan’s impressive teleporting skill…
Side thought on the personal assistants of important or scheming folks… it must be exhausting being the right hand to the likes of the ML, the Dowager Empress, and Daddy Ling. These people are always busy gathering intel for their bosses/dad. Do they ever go on holiday?
Is Cangcang softening up again for him?
https://i.redd.it/3v0uiqcrsw1g1.gif
Night Market Outing Ending
We end this episode with our two not-quite-lovebirds on an outing at the night market.
Tomorrow we have a new host co-hosting with me. Stay tune!
Posted Nov 18, 2025, 12:37 AM UTC