Chasing Dramas

Zhen Huan, having found her footing back in the Imperial Harem, has started to retaliate against her enemies. She quickly confines Qi Pin, the woman who's father framed her own father for crimes that exiled him, and her former friend An Ling Rong. Both of these ladies were part of the Empress's group who is public enemy number 1. Meanwhile, the Emperor finally visits Zhen Huan's best friend, Shen Mei Zhuang. The two have an awkward dinner where the Empress Dowager even sends them some alcohol to help them along but he decides to leave. She is saddened by her current state, gets drunk and her servants call for the Imperial Doctor Wen Shi Chu to provide her some medicine. After he arrives, one thing leads to another and... the emperor once again wears a green hat.

[Spoilers!] We really wanted to enjoy this movie but unfortunately, this fell short of our expectations. Listen to our full recap of the movie with our thoughts and explanations of various easter eggs, nods or inaccuracies to Chinese culture and history. Our review of the film starts at around the 33min mark. Overall, we give this film a 5/10. Including a CGI dragon called Mushu voiced by Eddie Murphy may have saved some of this film.

[No Spoilers!] The new Mulan is out! In this spoiler free discussion of the movie, we provide an overview of the film, an introduction to the main actors and describe the historical background of Mulan. Listen to this episode to learn about the centuries old ballad that inspired this movie, the enemy that threatens the Mulan's home and the dynasty this story is set in. We further discuss make up and costumes seen in this film. Part 2 will be our full review of this film!

Zhen Huan is back at the palace and already fending off attacks to her life and her unborn child. She, being older and wiser now, is ready to face these challenges and starts gathering intel in the palace. She see there is conflict between two concubines, one of whom's father framed her own father several years ago and caused her family to be exiled. She does not provide any mercy before starting her retaliation, albeit in a cunning way, against those who have wronged her.

Zhen Huan finally returns to the Imperial Harem after three years. She is back with a vengeance! Look at that makeup, the hair, the clothes! How will the other ladies in the Imperial Harem react to her return? Some are happy but the majority are not. All we can say is Zhen Huan is BACK

In an effort to protect her grandkids, the Empress Dowager decides to allow Zhen Huan, now pregnant, to return to the palace. The Emperor, now with his mother's permission, is resolute in bringing Zhen Huan back. So much so that he gives Zhen Huan a new identity to make her path as smooth as possible, much to the surprise of the Empress. But as Zhen Huan is preparing to return to the palace, she receives a shocking surprise.

Zhen Huan "reveals" her pregnancy to the Emperor who is ecstatic at the news. Zhen Huan plots to return to the palace as a concubine but word reaches the Empress. She plots to prevent Zhen Huan's return to the Imperial Harem with the help of an Imperial Astronomer. Zhen huan needs to find another path to return. The Empress turns her attention towards the Emperor's remaining sons.

The Empress continues to wield her power in the Imperial Harem by manipulating a Consort into harming a new concubine. While the Empress Dowager sees through these horrible acts, there is no one in the Imperial Harem powerful enough to counter the Empress. Meanwhile, Zhen Huan, pregnant with the 17th prince's child, hears devastating news. She has to decide how to proceed given her precarious situation and the need to provide medical attention to her exiled father. Her only route is to seek attention from none other than the Emperor.

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The main character Zhen Huan is blissfully enjoying quality time with the 17th prince. He, wanting to cement their relationship, decides that the two sign a marriage contract. The two do so before he heads off on a trip assigned to him by the emperor. Elsewhere in the palace, the emperor fell ill due to stress from work but also because in his subconscious, he missed Zhen Huan. When he wakes up, he takes a liking a horse tamer maid named Ye Lan Yi and makes her into a concubine. Many of the women in the imperial harem are jealous but they need not have been. Ye Lan Yi does not like the emperor and did not wish to become a concubine at all.