My latest obsessions

It’s funny, but in a sad way. Sad, in that the first thing that Tingyun is conscious of when her life is threatened is not her physical safety, but her chastity.

And Zhao Ling? He’s just… I’ve got no words for this dork. Who the hell breaks into a woman’s bedroom to threaten her for money, then lowers his knife, awkwardly looks away when he realizes she’s not formally dressed, burns his own hand as to not draw attention to the fact that he’s there, and then tells her that he doesn’t want to harm her or ruin her reputation? But then he still demands money from her?And actually has the audacity to be indignant when she stakes her reputation on him not hurting her? 🤦🏼‍♀️

Yeah, because you literally just told her you wouldn’t 🤦🏼‍♀️

I've realized that it's not just mutual benefits they get when they're together, but also mutual dangers. Sure, most of troubles come because of pests like Madam Zuo, her trash brother, and their boot lickers all over town, plus that Concubine Lu (she gives me Manniang vibes from Story of Minglan) and her untalented bitter brother (are all the siblings in this drama evil?) and it all is, in a way, ultimately connected to Tingyun. However, Zhao Ling's interactions in the military are also a part of why things go bad, and he's not at fault for people's bitterness (just like how she's not at fault), but both of their actions affect both of them. And it is because they are engaged, they are a team and all, but in stories with relationships built on mutuallly benefits, there comes a point when the character is like "hmmm maybe it's better I just work on my self-interests and leave the other one behind to burn" but Tingyun and Zhao Ling are not such people. And I love thatttttttt. They work hard together, they suffer together, they reap the benefits together, and they will kick everybody's ass together. Two people being a team and standing by each other hits so hard, man.

It's pretty telling that it's after this scene, which 110% makes her hot under the collar, that she brings up marriage again. She might talk about all the pragmatic reasons for it (but so many of them sound like care for him even so - like making his meals and his career easier) but the underpinning is desire, even if she does not consciously realize it.

She advised him to hand over all of Jiuweijiao's business to the Crown Prince so he ceases being a target of everyone in the salt trade and so the Crown Prince doesn't hold Jiuweijiao's identity over his head. He advises her on how to deal with the military wives when she's lost on what to do since her plan only made the wives more hostile.

And that is why despite the status/background/money, he's the best match she's come across.

Honestly, I adore her so much!

He's so not sitting as a proper gentleman btw. Love that little touch.

She toasts!!

He's vvvv smitten tbh.

And the face she makes at the alcohol ahahah

I love this so much! I love THEM so much!

"I still feel so far from you" is giving me Minglan x Gu Tingye flashbacks lol The perfect wife but there's a wall built around her because of her experiences, and the husband HATES the wall (as he should). If this drama gives me arguments between these two like Minglan and GTY's over this thing, then I'll be so so so happy.

AWWWWWWW The romantic feelings are on the rise. Their time in Ganlin is bringing them closer to each other. I also love she has been the one to propose getting married both times. And I get Zhao Ling's "so you want to get married for benefits", but she has been thinking for both of them. Usually in stories with "getting married for reasons" the FL thinks only for herself in the beginning, which is fine and good. But I love how Tingyun considers both of them when she makes plans. She is serious about being a team. Whatever she plans, she is not the only one getting a benefit. To me, that weighs more than the character just saying "I love you". Sometimes the character claims they are in love and yet they make plans that benefit only themself and majorly screw over the one they love. But not Tingyun.

This is a call back to the scene when her mother says to her that Zhao Ling isn't a worthy match for her because of his background. Back then, she answered that she won't marry him, but after experiencing what she did and that conversation with Madam Yan, she's had the revelation that it doesn't matter if your husband is rich, if he's stupid and not reliable then he will most probably screw you over in the future. Much better to marry the guy who's trustworthy and upright even if he's poor.

I mean, this is a huge huge sign of trust and a compliment!

And her proposal of marriage is the most period appropriate thing take/hope for a good marriage (if gender reversed in that she's the one saying it) and really is setting up pragmatic marriage to lovers and I love it!!!

She's being honest with him, which is huge! And choosing him and in that world with its laws and mores, that is not just the most important decision in a woman's life, but her biggest trust and the stakes are insane (one of the reason I hate recent ahistorical girlboss nonsense is it removes any stakes for FL but also that huge imbalance in power and stakes and consequences is the one thing that makes ML falling first/chasing hard/being super devoted/etc etc that they go for work - you have to have the person with so much more power to be the one so much more invested to make it even out. When recent idol historicals remove the power/stakes but leave the insane pursuit and devotion, it feels unbalanced and stupid.)

Loved this lil moment. He's staring at her being all happy and overcome, cause he got a confession out of that jerk guy and she looks up and catches him looking at her all softly and right away he's all: look away, look away!