I just sometimes wish Lihua's hairpin had served a greater purpose in the story. How could a hairpin (symbol of favour) to the poison taster of a consort by a rival not be important??
Out of the three hairpins Maomao gets during the garden party, it's the only one that isn’t plot relevant. Lihaku's hairpin? She uses to call a favour and visit back home. Jinshi's hairpin? She gives it away to Shisui and it saves her life.
Even though I know the hairpin is mainly supposed to symbolise being in someone's good graces yet I can't help but think receiving a hairpin from any man has slightly romantical implications. (Lihaku did worry that Maomao had assumed his hairpins meant he wanted her when she had called upon him.)
So it would have been interesting for me as a viewer to see how Lihua would be used in this way, plus I just like the hairpins thing a lot. I've tried to read up hairpin etiquette/culture in Chinese history and been disappointed with how few and far resources are in english. Also, everything I did find was for a couple and not between ladies so I wonder if that part was one of the creative liberties Natsu Hyuga took or something I just can't find.
