Chasing Dramas

Wei Ying Luo is given the opportunity to return to Chang Chun Palace. She is offered the choice of publicly renouncing her love of Fu Heng or suffer a punishment. She chooses the latter. After her ordeal, she is allowed back to serve the Empress and help her regain the ability to walk. The Emperor, meanwhile, is trying to figure out his feelings towards Wei Ying Luo. Fu Heng and Er Qing finally get married. Fu Heng promises to try to be a good husband but the marriage quickly cracks. Consort Chun decides to gain favor from the Emperor and quickly becomes pregnant. 

BREAKING - On November 25th 2022, Kris Wu, once one of the most famous pop stars in China, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and exile on counts of rape and group sexual promiscuity. We discuss in this episode who he is and the events that led up to his arrest and the subsequent aftermath. Listen for the latest updates on this scandal

Trigger warning: In this episode, we do discuss sexual assault as part of this story so please proceed with caution. 

Wang Xiao Fei decided to publicly blast his ex-wife Da S/Barbie Hsu on Weibo complaining about all of the fees he's paying for in her home and he's sick of it, complete with a detailed spreadsheet. His mom entered the fray and so did Da S, her sister, Xiao S, and their mother, plus Wang Xiao Fei's mistress. It's been a multi-day saga with the clear winner being the mattress brand Hastens since Wang Xiao Fei has ordered the Hastens mattress he bought for him and Da S to be burned during one of his public tirades.

In the end of episode 34 and into 35, we get a number of disturbing revelations. 1) Yuan Chun Wang believes himself to be connected to an extremely powerful family, 2) Consort Chun had been nursing an unhealthy love for Fu Heng for the last decade and 3) with the Empress's return to consciousness, she outright forces the Emperor to reconcile for his true affections for Ying Luo.

The Emperor happens upon Ying Luo and Fu Heng working together to tend to the Empress and is furious to see them so close. Soon after, Ying Luo is accused of cursing Noble Consort Gao and is interrogated by the Emperor. In order to save her life, Fu Heng jumps to the conclusion that he must marry Er Qing, breaking Ying Luo's heart. 

Here's our November drama update of the new dramas that have recently aired! This includes Lighter and Princess, Thank you Doctor, and New Life Begins. Several dramas have also recently wrapped filming including new dramas starring Yang Mi, Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin. We also have some new pop culture gossip as the two co-leads (Bai Jing Ting and Song Yi) of the recently wrapped Chang Feng Du were spotted together going to visit Bai Jing Ting's parents. Listen to our latest episode for the latest in drama and pop culture news!

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.