Now that Li Jianting has raised the question, I need to know who is really Fengquan.

A few options (in my opinion) are : another Li bastard ; a Biansha Scorpion ; a Shen bastard (after all, that’s possible), a Pan bastard (his description in the books say "Pan Rugui’s “grand-godson”. Pretending your son is actually your grand-godson is easy)

I cannot wait for the answer. I’m so pre-ordering a physical copy of the last volume.

I’m also probably gonna go back on the early volumes, see if I can guess from that (I need to remind myself of Mu Ru’s background. Because I only remember that she was "difficult" to train as a courtesan cause she was unwilling -> I think her family committed some mistake and she ended up as a sex slave or something ?

Part one in case you missed the madness. 

Fei Sheng to Huo Lingyun:

Yan Heru: 

The Empress Dowager getting angry at anyone who suggests trying to get Hua Xiangyi to help scheme while Hua Xiangyi’s like: 

Yan Heru to Shen Zechuan regarding the Venerable Master:

Shen Zechuan’s response:

Fengquan to Ling Ting (also me to Ling Ting):

Ling Ting when they murdering Han Cheng and he insults her:

Hua Xiangyi and Qi Zhuyin when they visit Qudu:

Ji Gang when he walks in on Xiao Chiye leaving Lanzhou’s bedchamber:

Meanwhile Fei Sheng: 

Shen Zechuan to Ji Gang:

Shen Zechuan: ... and ... I really want to marry him ...

I'm LOVING it. Excellently plotted and decently paced for such a wieldy plotline and for so many characters.

I love Li Jianting and she deserves none of what is sure to happen to her. But the unfairness of it all is kind of one of QJJ's main themes, so I see why it's going this way... it's just tragic and unfair, because both she and Shen Zechuan are people I'm rooting for. It's not right that she's being blamed for things like the Empress Dowager dying, but like... I guess it's true that if she is to claim the right to rule on the basis of blood and bear that responsibility because of her ancestors, then she kind of does also take on the responsibilities of her ancestors that are not so cool.

Speaking of Li Jianting and those around her, I was right about Fengquan being Qiao Tianya's childhood friend! I really wasn't sure about that, but I'm excited for their reunion while dreading it because I don't think QJJ is kind enough of a narrative to give them peace. I hope for it, but am not optimistic. (In that case, Huo Lingyun's story is really important, because you can't have the 3 sexual abuse victims all end tragically without sending a yikes message; I'm not worried about Huo Lingyun, so fortunately this is avoided.) I also want a final answer for why Mu Ru killed Li Jianheng.