Chasing Dramas

It's the day of Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye's Wedding! Gu Ting Ye arrives at the Sheng manor with the wedding party to fetch his bride. Ming Lan is clothed in an extravagant green wedding dress! This is part 1 of episode 40. There's so much culture and history to discuss so we break down the episode and highlight everything that we see!

Ming Lan was first quite off put by the tactics Gu Ting Ye employed to secure a marriage with her. However, after hearing his heartfelt confession and his guarantee that she will no longer have to hide and suffer as she currently does if she marries him, she accepts.

Gu Ting Ye is determined to marry a daughter of the Sheng Family. Ru Lan finally accepts this marriage and arranges a final meeting with her beloved Wen Yan Jing, only to be spotted by Gu Ting Ye. The Sheng Family has no choice but to push Ming Lan out to marry Gu Ting Ye. Meanwhile Qi Heng does well on the Imperial Exams and has his mother propose marriage to the Sheng Family. Who will prevail?

Several marriages are causing drama in the Sheng family. Ming Lan's planned marriage is halted after being insulted and threatened by He Hong Wen's cousin's family while Ru Lan's love story is put in danger with the random appearance of Gu Ting Ye's marriage proposal. Too many schemes are happening just so Gu Ting Ye can get married!

In celebration of the 2 year anniversary of this podcast, please enjoy this special episode about the movie The Palace (2013). We discuss the plot, cast, and most importantly the history shown in the movie! We see some familiar faces and are brought back to a familiar time in history. Zhao Li Ying (Zanilia Zhao), the actress of Ming Lan in The Story of Ming Lan is the antagonist in this Qing Dynasty movie. While the plot leaves us wanting, the history and costume design are top notch. Let us know your thoughts!

With a new Emperor on the throne, Gu Ting Ye returns home as a favored general for the Emperor. He is able to retrieve his prized spear and declare to his brother and stepmother that he will fight for the title of marquis. Elsewhere, Ming Lan is waiting a marriage proposal from He Hong Wen but a random cousin of his shows up and wants to be his concubine. Ming Lan let's it be known that it is either her or the cousin. She will not share a husband.

Probably the two most confusing episodes in the drama, the story turns to focus on politics where a plot to take the imperial throne is underway. Gu Ting Ye aids an unfavored royal family member to the palace while concubines are taking military family members hostage and a prince instigates a coup. All the while, the fate of the entire Song empire falls on Ming Lan's shoulders.

Mo Lan finally gets her wish in marrying Liang Han but is sent off in a wedding that feels more like a funeral. Mistress Lin is severely punished for her actions by none other than her husband, Sheng Hong and exiled from the city. At long last, Ming Lan saw the downfall of the woman who killed her mother and unborn brother.

Mo Lan's illicit relationship is discovered by her father. Chaos ensues as rumors begin to trickle out to the rest of the Capital. Madame Wang and Sheng Hong cry to the heavens over what to do with this ungrateful daughter. Mistress Lin continues to scheme and push for Mo Lan to marry into the aristocracy. Grandma Sheng becomes absolutely furious at the turn of events. Does Mo Lan get what she wants at the end? Listen to find out!

Mo Lan is increasingly agitated to hear that Ming Lan might marry into nobility while their father only made a match with a poor student for herself. So, she decides, with goading from her mother that this is the only way to secure wealth and status, to let go of all humility and shame and throw herself at Liang Han, the son of a Count. Little do they know, it's all going according to Ming Lan's plan.