Nearly everyone has died
The drama is moving quickly and it’s nearing its end. A lot of people have died in these few episodes and Mei Niang is officially Empress Wu. They spent so much time in the beginning with such small things that weren’t even in history, and now for these big historical things, they merely speed through it. I think they should have spent more time with the big events – I mean, it’s what everyone was looking forward it, how they would cover these big historical things right? It seems like they created a whole drama, and added covering these events as a second thought.
The episode starts with Princess GaoYang and Mei Niang meeting in the gardens. Princess GaoYang finds out Mei Niang just met with the ex-Empress Wang, and was afraid for a second that Mei Niang would find out more information from her. Luckily Mei Niang plays dumb – but accidentally confirms that Princess GaoYang was the reason for her miscarriage, because Princess GaoYang so accurately named and described the material used in the divider that caused Mei Niang to miscarry.
There is one part that I didn’t understand. While leaving with her servant, Princess GaoYang makes sure that Consort Xiao’s daughters stay close by, even though they’re now punished by becoming commoners. She wants to make sure that one day, the daughters can come back and seek revenge on Mei Niang.
I thought the whole thing that Princess GaoYang is doing is just to get revenge on Zhang Sun Wu Ji and the deceased Emperor? Why does she want Mei Niang to suffer too? Perhaps it’s because Mei Niang was so deeply loved by the deceased Emperor, but she never really clarifies her motives. I feel maybe it’s another thing thrown in by producers to make Princess GaoYang even more antagonistic?
Meanwhile, Li Yi Fu is sent to Fang Yi Ai to get information from him. Fang Yi Ai is Princess GaoYang’s legal husband, but she feels no love towards him and pretty much treats him like sh*t.
Meanwhile the Emperor has a drink with Li Ke. Mei Niang, afraid that Li Ke might assassinate the Emperor, suddenly arrives to take him away. She knows that Li Ke, who returned for the anniversary of the death of the deceased Emperor, brought also 5000 soldiers as well, but the soldiers have not left Chang An after protecting him along the way here. She feels like he is planning a coup.
Through this encounter, she finds out that it is the Emperor that is planning a ‘coup’ against Zhang Sun Wu Ji, to retain more power over the government.
As the drama progresses, I feel like I like the Emperor a lot less with every episode. He seems so incompetent, unsure, and so insecure. Mei Niang has to take care of his drunken self, and help him with looking through and approving official documents while he sleeps – and wakes up with a hangover. She was unimpressed with him in this scene and I would be too. You’re the leader of this country now, and this is your job! All he’s prioritized is Mei Niang, putting her ahead before so many other people.
And now the first deaths of today: Consort Xiao and ex-Empress Wang.
They were to commit suicide through poison – it was a sad scene where they realized it was their end, and they’ve lost. They both acknowledge how being the Emperor’s woman in the palace was so laughable – everyone has their desires but the desires consume them and lead to their demise. Women in the palace are disposable – and with that they both drink the poisonous wine and die. I must say, they both look so much better with less make-up and with their hair down. I think they look much prettier than their glamorous done-up ancient look.
Meanwhile Zhang Sun Wu Ji tries to warn the Emperor of Li Ke, since Zhang Sun Wu Ji also knows that the 5000 soldiers have not left yet. Upon realizing the that the Emperor has known all along that the 5000 soldier’s existence and whereabouts, Zhang Sun Wu Ji finally realizes that the 5000 soldiers are targeting him, himself. He quickly pleads for the Emperor’s allowance of him to retire and return to his hometown.
Mei Niang hears of this event at night. The situation is ghastly similar to how Li Shi Min overthrown his brother. She insists to meet with Zhang Sun Wu Ji with the Emperor to plan out a trap.
Mei Niang directs Li Yi Fu to tell Fang Yi Ai that Mei Niang already knows about the coup, and was going to place soldiers near this certain area (a cave, I think, but I could be wrong) and that Fang Yi Ai should take Princess GaoYang far far away from this treason to protect her.They knew Fang Yi Ai would tell her. The purpose of this knowledge was so that Princess GaoYang would split up her soldiers to attack.
Even though the coup was to happen during the anniversary of the death of the deceased Emperor, Li Zhi, the current Emperor, decides to go anyways, even though it’s dangerous.
Screenshots from the morning of:
The production of this drama is definitely one of the best. The set is so gorgeously decorated, and their outfits are so extravagant and elegant. Bing Bing has new hairstyles all the time.
The coup was happening. Outside the temple where they were honouring the anniversary of the death of the deceased Emperor Li Shi Min, soldiers gathered around to attack. This coup was entirely lead by Princess GaoYang – she locked Li Ke up and used his soldiers.
Meanwhile, Mei Niang captured General Li Ji’s family so that he would be threatened to help fight for the Emperor in the coup. With General Li Ji’s soldiers, Princess GaoYang was outnumbered.
Fang Yi Ai is screaming in sadness while Princess GaoYang leaves him on a horse.
Sew sad.
Suddenly it’s one year later. I feel like it’s a way for them to add a moustache onto Li Zhi LOL. He had to have facial hair to prove that he was getting older, but he couldn’t just sprout one over night, and it would be so ugly to have a semi-moustache for a bit, so I guess this was the best avenue.
Princess GaoYang denies all wrongdoing and blames it all on Li Ke – what a b*tch, especially when she was the one that planned the whole coup and locked Li Ke up. The Emperor lets her live, because she’s the only sibling he has left.
Meanwhile, Fang Yi Ai, Li Ke, and everyone involved are sentenced to death. They’re sentenced after one year, because they had a whole investigation. Fang Yi Ai was so sad because even during his decapitation, GaoYang didn’t even come to see him one last time.
But, Mei Niang stops GaoYang in the woods. GaoYang was there to get Bian Ji’s ashes.
She confronts her about the death of her two children.
GaoYang tries to justify it by saying that she was in love – and only that if she was Emperor and with power, she could protect the people she loves.
Mei Niang ironically says that she’s crazy, because no woman has ever been an Emperor (foreshadowing to the max).
She kills GaoYang in the end, and tells GaoYang that Bian Ji’s ashes will be returned to the temple, and she will be buried next to Fang Yi Ai – which was very cruel for GaoYang, because she wanted to be buried next to Bian Ji.
Holy crap look at this set:
Why didn’t they use it more? It’s so gorgeous!!!
Mei Niang is getting ready to become Empress and my gosh, her outfit is so extravagant and glamorous. Her and Li Zhi has this very cute couple moment where he adds two dots on her face.
So cute. Screenshots from the whole event:
Such beautiful scenery. I really hate this one part though: he hesitated before taking her hand – and that was because he didn’t want to force her. He didn’t want to trap her. I thought, come on! You guys have been married and have several children together. What are you hesitant about? He’s still so unsure about their relationship after all these years?
Episode 86 Trailer
Some time has passed and it looks like Zhong Er has grown up. He hates Mei Niang because he’s convinced that he was the one that killed his real mother, and Empress Wang (well she is), and he hates the fact that now she’s Empress Wu. He sets off to assassinate Li Zhi, his father.
In the trailer, it looks like Mei Niang has caught him – and she’s asking him to drink the poisoned cup himself. Looks like a juicy episode!!!
Thanks for the recaps! Really appreciate it. Poor Li Ke. Wonder why they didn’t show him in the end before his death. Would of been so sad. It’s not as if he is minor character. But yeah it’s so rushed. Too much boring parts that were insignificant in the beginning of the drama. Remember the part when mei niang pregnant with baby li hong? It’s stated that wang has made many attempts on mei niang to make her lose her baby, however none of it was played out like it did during li shi mins harem.
In the dressing room when emperor walks in to help her draw dots. He has a look in his eyes like he is searching for the guilt on her face (as in end of episode he already suspect WMN of killing his sister. Do you notice how she looks away from his searching eyes? I thought that may be the case for him hesitating at first to hold her hand? I think he knows she has changed but still loves her no matter what.
LikeLike
I agree, why they don’t show Li Ke’s death….
He is the main character since beginning…
I wish I can see uncut version (if they produce)
LikeLike
88 is out now! On maplestage. Zhong er that brat!
LikeLike
PS: I heard this series either finish on 90 or 92.
LikeLike
I love this series but I wanna sleep….
Lack of sleep for a while T_T
LikeLike
Hahaha! I know what you mean. This drama actually helps me wake up early to catch it!
LikeLike
your comments with the recap got my cracking up with laughter (like ‘holy crap look at this set’) HAHAHA. enjoyed reading it even though i’ve watched the episodes. i am unimpressed with li zhi as an emperor, but in history, he really was considered one of the most ineffective ones… so maybe arif got his facts right. lol
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂 I’m so glad someone shares my humour heh. But I know right?! He seems so insecure and so easily swayed. I’m really sick of him at this point even though I was fanning over him initially
LikeLike
In the drama he is just infatuated with mei niang and just listens to her opinion and let her make the decisions. That’s what makes him weak. I still like him though and will be upset to see him die, think we are gonna have one full episode without him which isn’t too bad (as for me I’m only watching this series because he is in it!) from one of the screen caps out there you can see mei niang cradling him (supposingly dead on his bed)
LikeLike
I think he is weak because all along he is being swayed by other people… He never had his own thoughts. When he’s young, he was affected by his brother and dad. He is only Emperor now because of Mei Niang, and even inside the courts he is still swayed by the elite chancellors. Mei Niang is still doing his work behind the scenes… sigh
LikeLike
Hi does anyone know why he drew dots on Mei Niang’s face? What do the dots mean? What is the purpose?
LikeLike
even today, marks near the mouth is considered a beauty mark. for ex, Marilyn Monroe. Some people even draw it on.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi there!The dots is considered as a way to make up for those senior woman and it also means ”fake dimples”!
LikeLike
I’m just watching this now….
I wanted to mention, the scene when they set up Mei Niang’s coronation, with the huge tree, if you notice, the base of the tree, is surrounded by petals, and then by a circular thing. Its a huge hole. That’s actually the pool/tub in the rest of the movie.
Also the scene when Mei Niang and Li Zhi are officially together with the weird touching, and the camera crew goes around in circles, is probably the pool covered up so they can stand in it.
I have also noticed, in the whole series, no one ever had a on-screen-kiss. Just face touching.
LikeLike
I’m on 83, where did gong gong go? He dissapeared during the time jump, and they skipped the excuation scene! So sad innocent Ke was killed off, though his plotline was dead anyway, why doesn’t he have a wife?
LikeLike