living life as peacefully as I can

"Let me lean on you for a while."

It is actually rather unusual to have a scheming concubine-wife struggle that is so explicitly sympathetic to the scheming concubine. It's not that Miss Wu is saintly but that the narrative gets she is trying to survive and do the best for herself in a situation where she has the least societal power out of the three of them in this marriage.

But also! I love this narrative getting that what a successful marriage (I include concubine relationships not just legal marriage) can be is different according to what people in it want and need and how it works best when expectations align with reality. Yes, Zhao Ling and Tingyun have a successful marriage - they are in love, on the same page in meaningful ways etc etc. But if you think about it, Miss Wu is also having a successful "marriage." Because she knows what she can and cannot get in this relationship and she's working towards an achievable goal. She does not want or need Tar Pit's love. She is basically treating it as a job with a fickle boss she can wrangle which is exactly what this is. She wants a comfortable place with enough food and some control and status. She cares zero about Tar Pit's heart or what type of man he is personally or politically except outside of what he can provide. Look at how smart she is to treat Tar Pit as a benefactor, a little deity, and to tie him and Tingyun together in conversation. She exhibits no jealousy because he gives no fucks he's into Tingyun. I don't think she'd give a fuck as to whom he loves or sleeps with as long as it does affect her position negatively. Parodoxically, Tar Pit will be happier with her than Yake or Tingyun if he somehow got her because he cannot process or deal with a real actual woman - and Miss Wu is willing and able to continue a delusion tailored to him.

they really complement each other in everything.

WOMEN in The Road To Splendor

Zhao Ling: First of all, didn't ask. And second of all,

Both of them are so close to romantic bliss but keep missing it because of communication and insecurity issues on his part. And I don't blame him. What happened in ep 17, tar pit, his friend dying, the deep cutting realization of how powerless he was, the class difference, feeling of being inadequate, torture, and then five years of war and political fighting away from the people who love him— all of it did a number on him. We can say he's being "stupid" now but it is true that if he had power back then, then things would've went differently. And that's what he's fixated on. Get power, Tingyun and his brothers will stay happy and protected. Lose power, Tingyun and his brothers fall into despair and death and at mercy of others. He cannot find the balance. He cannot find the calm. Tingyun wants the mundane stuff, but to him, he cannot do the mundane stuff, he cannot find the peace till he's powerful enough, high enough. And he won't ever be high enough, but he also cannot see that yet. He is ambitious, clever, reliable, miserable, and chaotic.

In one of his letters during their separation, he wrote that Tingyun is his anchor. And he was correct. It's not just a romantic, sweet nothing line. She really is his emotional support. And maybe he does not realize that because of the noise in his head right now. He is insecure in need of security. But not only the security that will come from a higher position, but also the security that she loves him for who he is and that he doesn't need to prove himself to her. She loves Zhao Ling, the person. It doesn't matter whether he is a smuggler or a soldier or a court official. She only wants a stable life with him where she knows he isn't in any danger.

The relative merits of methods of decapitation and the obligatory pondering on how hot the characters are while taking such actions really just gives me such warm fuzzy feeling! As far as my thoughts on the matter go, Duan Xu could make me find serial killing hot 🤷🏻‍♀️ Zhao Ling is such a cutie, he needs wrapped in blankets and given cuddles, however, he can also pull of hot and dangerous when it comes down to it, just maybe not with quite so much pizzaz🤩

But also five years apart is a LOT! That’s longer than they have known each other prior to the separation even.

I do like watching them finally start finding a way back to each other.

Like this is a damaged man!

And her letters are really a lifeline.

The equality of this relationship and their dialogue in letters aaaaaa because his is as good as hers.

AAAAAA

With such a beautiful view, the little troubles at home, past suffering, and unhappiness, all seem to drift away like clouds.

I'm fine. I'm just glad you came back safely.