Many different plot points re-emerge following the death of Noble Consort Gao. Consort Xian get's promoted, Ying Luo becomes Yuan Chun Wang's sister, Consort Chun becomes upset that Fu Heng wants to marry a maid. Though the most important conversations perhaps are the inner reflections of the Emperor who expresses his frustrations he faces of being Emperor in the face of true love, which he cannot have.
This episode covers the difference between online only Chinese dramas and the dramas that air on television networks. There is a more stringent process for a drama to be allowed to air on television networks but that comes with certain perks such as eligibility for award shows and prestige amongst the general public. But online dramas do provide more variety and flexibility on content.
Noble Consort Gao is hit with molten iron from her Wan Zi Qian Hong or Blaze of Colors/Iron Flower Show and leaves her with severe injuries that unfortunately become infected. Recognizing her fate, she decides to dance one last dance for the Emperor before ending her life on her own terms.
A swarm of bats ruin a palace banquet. The Empress falls unconscious after Noble Consort Gao pushes her amidst the chaos. Wei Ying Luo refuses to see the unconscious Empress, stunning Ming Yu and Fu Heng. She gets bullied the Noble Consort Gao and falls ill. Consort Xian takes over the reigns of the palace and, after an unsteady start, wins over the crowd at a porridge shelter with the help of the Prince Hong Zhou and the eunuch Yuan Chun Wang. Consort Xian is slowly consolidating power within the Imperial Palace.
In the latest episode, Karen and Cathy discuss the current Chinese streaming platform landscape, the overall business model, and the key competitors. There are 4 major players, Tencent Video, iQiYi, Youku, and MangoTV. Tencent Video and iQiYi compete for the top spot while Youku and MangoTV have found their niches. Listen to our latest podcast episode to see the business strategies for these companies and how they dictate what dramas are produced and aired.
In an effort to save Wei Ying Luo's life, the Empress banishes her to Xin Zhe Ku to perform hard labor. Wei Ying Luo must find a way to survive as she encounters old foes and gets extra harsh treatment from the Emperor. She finds an unlikely ally in the form of Yuan Chun Wang, who, after being saved by Ying Luo, agrees to become a brother-like figure to her. Unfortunately for the Empress, without Ying Luo to protect her, nefarious plans are set in motion by Noble Consort Gao and Consort Xian to rid the Empress of her pregnancy.
Fu Heng publicly states his intentions to marry Ying Luo to both the Empress and the Emperor who oppose this match for different reasons. Meanwhile, Ying Luo successfully enacts revenge against Dowager Consort Yu who killed her sister by leveraging a powerful thunderstorm but is punished to do hard labor for this act by the Empress.
Karen provides her thoughts on the recent drama Thousand Years for You or 请君 starring Allen Ren Jia Lun and Li Qin. This 36 episode drama is set during the Republic of China era as the three thousand year old general Lu Yan awakes to seek the woman that saved him all those years ago. She just so happens to look just like Yu Deng Deng, the current leader of the Qing Quan village.
In episodes 24, Hong Zhou, showing no remorse for his previous actions towards Wei Ying Luo's sister, tries to seduce Wei Ying Luo in a night time rendezvous. However, Wei Ying Luo was prepared for Hong Zhou and attempts to kill him instead. Hong Zhou escapes and the two of them flee to the Emperor. Wei Ying Luo accuses Hong Zhou of rape (which isn't wrong). Before the Emperor can decide on a punishment, Hong Zhou's mother Concubine Dowager Yu arrives to whip her son and beg for forgiveness. In episode 25, the Concubine Dowager tries to quell the fires with Wei Ying Luo but Wei Ying Luo dismisses those pleas. The Concubine Dowager quickly shows her true colors and orders an assassination attempt on Ying Luo. The two come together once again but the Concubine Dowager issues a threat. If Ying Luo continues to find trouble for her son, Ying Luo's entire family will suffer. Ying Luo must now learn the virtues of patience if she wants to enact her revenge.
