Hello and welcome to the ep 12-13 discussion! Today, I am back as your co-host.

Links to discussion: Masterpost & Ep 1–3 | Ep 4–7 | Ep 8-9 | Ep 10-11

⚠️ Spoilers: If you’d like to discuss anything past ep 13, please tag your spoiler. Anything up to ep 13 is fair game.

Ep 12

Opening Showdown

We open this episode with a dramatic face-off between the Emperor and the Ling/Luo clan. And wait... does Cangcang's pendant also deflect arrows?! If not, the Emperor has some damn good archers! 🏹

C-drama arrows are like modern precision-guided munition.

In the game of power, CC is once again used and sandwiched in between. And, because he does have a very soft heart for our FL and couldn't bear to see her so, brother Luo sacrificed himself.

Here's the big c-drama question: Will he actually die, or is this one of those cliff falling scenes where maybe, like a few episodes down the road, he'll magically show up again? You know how these dramas work, unless we see a body buried with witnesses, there's always a chance. And even with witnesses, some mysterious sect can come and revive ( 👀Fated Hearts👀 ).

A Glimpse of Zhong Lin's Backstory

Back in the capital, at the Prince Manor to be exact, we get to see a glimpse of Zhong Lin’s background.

https://i.redd.it/cbrysbgapa2g1.gif

Questions I have:

• What is this "Heartbane" that's inside ZL?
• Did she know that CC's Shifu was the Ghost King? Or did she just think he was some regular shifu who wanted to hide his identity?

Either way, Shifu was always protective of his disciple. Unlike one particular dad… (Yeah, I'm looking at you, daddy Ling)

Grand Tutor Delivers

And in the palace, Grand Tutor delivered in organising the support of both efforts.

I am confused and I may have missed it, is daddy Ling just a Grand Tutor or he’s also a minister or one of the left/right chancellor? Would a Grand Tutor usually have that much power?

Tower Angst

And where is CC during all this? Up on the tower, standing at the railings, contemplating her recent life experiences. Of course, Xiao Huan came up to see her as soon as he got the news.

Again, I think the two actors have done a stellar job of portraying all the emotions.

No, you didn't give it to the wrong person and you don't deserve this heartbreak!

Side note: Usually I'm not one for angsty shows, but this one works because of the thick palace scheming happening and the fact that the baddie is the FL's dad — whom she adores and finds no fault in.

The synopsis on Youku prepped us for misunderstandings AND her discovering his silent devotion. So hopefully, slowly but surely, she'll be able to piece things together and see for herself that her daddy isn't the dad she thought he was. That for the last however many years — maybe since even before she was born — he's been using her.

XH, in my opinion, isn't all wrong in not telling her because this kind of relationship is hard to break. If you say anything bad about a parent whom a person idolises, you're more likely to be seen as the bad guy. At this time, him telling her is a lose-lose situation. I do though hope that he finds solid proof soon and when he does, tell her ASAP and believe in her strength.

🐢💕 Turtle Couple 💕🐢

Before knowing what happened on the tower, we're back at the Prince's Manor with my favourite couple!

ZL is forging a seal. Not just any seal, it's THE Emperor's seal! The Prince thought she had guts.

I love all her little innocent looks here.

But when he saw that she also had the palace defence map, it went from "guts" to "this woman is insane." 😂

I can't get enough of these two and so, another gif...

https://i.redd.it/yb7htlx3ra2g1.gif

And the Prince seems to always be blocking her light 🤣

So, ZL is making the seal to help CC get her out of the Palace. But the Prince doesn’t think their plan will work. The below scenes had me laugh-smiling.

This part… “As long as you help me, I can…”

https://i.redd.it/eou1qygcra2g1.gif

What can you do?! His smirk at the end, that was mine too.

And will he help? Guess we’ll see since it depends on his mood.

https://i.redd.it/k4xe3rdfra2g1.gif

These two kids. LOVE them! I hope they don't change because if they do and I'm not co-hosting anymore, you know why. I'd have throw my laptop away and sulking somewhere 🤣

Angry Birds Pastry

Ok, I guess there was nothing more that happened at the tower and CC didn’t jump because she's now back in her room polishing her sword. Then her maid brought in an “Angry Birds” like pastry.

Can you see it too?

It seems like the Prince was in the mood to help and a token is inside. And before CC could do anything with the token, the announcement that the Emperor is coming could be heard. Quickly, CC hid the pastry and token in her sleeves.

Let's take a moment and pause here... Do these outfits really have pockets in their sleeves or it’s a c-drama costume thing? Either way, I want modern outfits to have these pockets also!! I want big sleeve tops or dresses with pockets AND be able to walk around with random things stuffed in there while looking elegant and at ease.

What's Our Prince's Motive?

Then we see the Prince and CC. Does the Prince wants to be Emperor? Or he’s just messing with her (and everybody else, his mom in particular)? What do you all think? Personally I think he's a nice guy and wouldn't make a bad Emperor but I don't think that's really what he wants.

What do you all think is his real motive?

The Sword Dancer Escape Plan

Ok, so CC is disguising herself as one of the sword dancers that’s seeing the troops off. That’s how she plans to leave and the reason she refused the Prince’s help.

Viewer’s note: I don't know about you, but I love watching ceremonies in historical dramas. The costumes. The details. The choreography. Give me all of it!!

Does the Emperor Know?

https://i.redd.it/kqnpxp5xta2g1.gif

HE DOES!!

It seems like nothing can escape the Emperor’s eyes.

https://i.redd.it/q1vngz84ua2g1.gif

I must say, they look great together.

And he lets her go… 💔

https://i.redd.it/5xiq8n77ua2g1.gif

Why? Because he never had a choice or freedom, and he doesn't want the same for her.

💔💔

Empress Seal

The Phoenix Seal power works outside the palace also? I thought it was just a harem power thing. Should she really have that seal with her outside the palace, and to war even?

Preceptor Du

Initially I thought she's team XH and CC. I thought she truly wanted to wish them well. But, it seem more and more that she longs to be with the Emperor. I was a bit excited thinking that there's somebody who was helped as a child and not have romantic wishes towards her saviour. I think I was wrong.

https://i.redd.it/633cdeb1va2g1.gif

I think the likes of Luo and Du haven't watched enough c-dramas, because they clearly don't know: If the person you like hasn't been into you since childhood when you met and grew up together, then it ain't gonna happen.

That above is c-drama law.

The end of ep 12 is the war in Jiangzhou. Before the the ending, we get to see CC be a badass fighter. Yes, girl! Show them what you've got! 💪

https://i.redd.it/cfgr3lacva2g1.gif

Ep 13

Reinforcements

We have reinforcement in Jiangzhou and for now, the enemies retreated.

The two siblings had a bit of time to catch-up and maybe, this is the start of her seeing things because maybe slowly she will not be as protected.

https://i.redd.it/auilesomva2g1.gif

➡️ “No dicussion!”— is this a sign?

Daddy Ling

Is not happy with his slow intel. Li Hongqing did too good of a job covering his tracks and the Empress' whereabouts.

He’s big mad here.

Jiangzhou to Sand City: The Grain Heist

In Jiangzhou, the Ling siblings and other officers are planning their next move. Off to Sand City they go!

CC got duped by the Sand City Lord initially. BUT our smart gal could put two and two together, and they managed to get the grain!

BUT WHY DIDN'T CC RUN OFF WITH HER MEN AND THE GRAIN?!

Girl, what are you doing?!

https://i.redd.it/jh91ersfwa2g1.gif

Is it just me, or is there a bit of a spark between CC and the Lord?

Oh never mind, so this Lord is the sister of Kumor and she thought that CC is a guy, thus that look. Got it!

At the Palace

The Emperor had a nightmare about the Empress. If only he knew that she got caught by the enemy.

With the Enemy

And although tied up, CC is taking a gamble on some psychology game with Kumor.

https://i.redd.it/l2b6fc14xa2g1.gif

But oh crap, the Phoenix Seal is on her and it FELL TO THE GROUND!!!! WT?!

Kumor is no slacker, he quickly sent XH a letter. XH ain't having it and he wants to see Kumor in person. No worries CC, he’ll somehow come and save you in Xijiang.

Before Xijiang

A visit with Perceptor Du and papa Ling.

Of course Du doesn’t want XH to go. I think for at least two reason, the country and to personally save CC. So, she offers to go and negotiate on the Emperor’s behalf. I know she's smart but will she really have the Empress in mind?

https://i.redd.it/cjq939z5ya2g1.gif

What does that smirk at the end mean?

The Yushu Pill: Poison With No Antidote, Yet

XH wants this thing called a Yushu Pill.

I am glad to see a small pill. Some of these c-drama pills are as big as a thumb 🤣

It seems like it's a poisonous pill. Is our Emperor trying to do a fake death plot? If it is, if he's not careful, it may end up being a real death. The man is gambling way to hard to save CC, and win for his country while he's at it.

Little XH and CC

We get a little backstory of the Emperor and Empress when they were kids, meeting for the first time, and how Daddy Ling got into the matchmaking business. So we can possibly guess that this was the start of when CC became his handy pawn.

While I didn’t quite understand the convo that went on between the Emperor and his Tutor, it seems like the Emperor got his way. And, the Prince heard everything.

Prince Regent

Before ep 13 ends, we see the two Xiao brothers together and the Emperor appoints his brother as Regent. Little brother, being his little brother self, acts hard-to-get about accepting the appointment — but then he quits the act and accepts. The way he speaks to his older brother is always the same, whether he's trembling in fear or being granted a big responsibility 😂

https://i.redd.it/ps3lulf71b2g1.gif

And the pouch...

What’s in the pouch?! When IS the right time? I want to know!!

https://i.redd.it/6wjri2j60b2g1.gif

I trust in the Prince also!

This is the end of ep 13, until next time! Can't wait to read your comments on these two episodes!