When last we left the warlord and the beauty, they successfully murdered Wei Shao’s uncle. He’s not a problem anymore.
And Liang gives Tao his heart
In the form of a tiny gold weapon. She plays dumb, and he drops it in her lap so that she can have it when she misses him. But why would she miss him? She’s smiling as she walks off, and he laughs when she’s gone. Cuties.
Later, Wei Shao sees Tao has the tiny gold sword, but Man Man blocks him from asking any questions. But he doesn’t have any issue with the romance. Tao will become a Wei when they marry. Man Man looks … I’m not sure.
As promised, he takes her to the market and she buys all the things his generals suggested. He calls her tastes shallow, which kills the mood.
She goes back and tells Tao not to talk to Wei men anymore. She’s even dismissive of the little golden weapon, but Tao knows it means something to Liang, because Wei Shao gave it to him.
So Wei Shao knows how to give gifts, just not to Man Man
But when he returns from the market, he’s picked out a hairpin for her. This gives Man Man hope.
The next day, Wei Shao interrogates Liang about his feelings for Tao. Basically, she’s his everything. Wei Shao says something about heroes falling for beauty, and Liang being “the same”. What do you mean, “the same” Wei Shao?
Man Man is finally ready to go, looking stunning and wearing her new hairpin. Wei Shao notices, but says nothing.
The mayor of Panyi tries to make up for ruining the mood the other night by helping Man Man get Wei Shao on a silly errand. She has a romantic route that probably doesn’t involve an outhouse. It’s never easy to get Wei Shao to do anything, but eventually he agrees.
Meanwhile, Bi Zhi hurts himself getting sour plums for Fan. She’d rather he be safe than eat sour plums. In fact, she’d rather they run away again and live a life as commoners.
But he’s become a commander to keep them safe, as well as earn her family’s approval. Fan can’t fight his sincerity and agrees to help him.
Man Man nearly has to eat that nasty bread again
Liang spoils a romantic moment, and Tao somehow trusts him to fix the situation. Wisely, he has the other generals help, and they make it seem like Man Man is in danger. She’s not. And Wei Shao isn’t worried. Until they screw up and she’s abandoned in the forest.
Wei Shao races off, finds her with strangers, dramatically pulls her onto the horse, and orders his generals to murder these people. But these people are just sick refugees that Man Man wants to help.
Since they weren’t killing his wife, he promises them safety if they become a part of Wei. Man Man is pleased with Wei Shao, and Wei Shao is pleased that Man Man is pleased with him.
Back in Yan, Man Man’s uncle has the brilliant idea to find more concubines for Wei Shao to strengthen their position. He also gets interested in a new concubine for himself. Man Man’s aunt and brother are done, and leave.
Wei Shao invites Man Man to stargazing
No points for originality. They camp romantically under an overcast, starless night.
After some rough conversational starts, he admits that when she was abducted, he was afraid she’d die suddenly like his grandfather, father, and brother. He admires her more than he has ever admired another woman.
They both entered the marriage thinking it wouldn’t mean anything, and were afraid of having feelings. Seeing the refugees has made Wei Shao understand how innocent people can suffer during conflicts. Wei Shao fears the current peace will not last long.
Man Man takes his hand, stunning him! Then she stuns him further, vowing to be his loyal subject, never to leave him, and to support him in bringing peace and water to the land. Helping the people is so romantic.
Back to the Wei household
Man Man worries about Wei Shao in front of everyone, and when she steps away, Wei Yan teases Wei Shao about it. Wei Shao is Wei Shao, and says she’s just a bit clever. Not realizing she’s standing right there.
And here’s Wei Shao’s mom. Didn’t miss her. When some sour fruit makes her cry, Wei Shao thinks she’s still upset about everything that happened earlier. He takes all kinds of blame on himself for feeling she was more attached to the dead (his father and brother) than him.
Mother says she accepts Man Man, but he shouldn’t let her have her way. Then Wei Shao realizes how sour the fruit was, and that’s why his mother was crying.
So, this was all Man Man’s plan to force them to talk about Feelings. Wei Shao tells Man Man he appreciates all she does for him, and he was sincere when he complimented her for being clever. Man Man says she knows he says the opposite of what he feels.
Wei Shao bath time!
He contemplates Man Man, has flashbacks, and music plays while he stares at her robe. It’s not kinky but… And then thinks about his dead relatives blaming him, and wonders if he can really live happily with Man Man. Definitely not kinky.
Winter! Somewhere, winter wheat is growing!
Wei Shao talks to his general about deploying canals so that no one goes without water. He and Man Man are planning a deer hunt to gather the clans and work towards peace.
Wei Shao has dinner with Wei Yan, who is envious of Man Man’s care for her husband. After Wei Yan spouts random stuff about marriage, Wei Shao asks if he can fall for Man Man. Wei Yan says he can’t, because she is a Qiao.
This might be a setup, because when Wei Yan reminds him of Man Man’s duplicitous actions, Wei Shao defends her. Wei Yan points out that Wei Shao has already fallen for her, but he also cares for his family. That makes things hard.
Later, Wei Yan babbles at his Man Man imitation maid while dramatically painting the Goddess of Mount Yu as a sexy faceless woman. He claims there is no goddess in his heart, so how would he know what she looks like?
Time for Wei Shao to make things difficult again
He’s awkward around Man Man, and says he has to spend the night at the office. He gets weird when she helps him change. When she touches the jade pendant that is somehow connected to Yu Lou and his brother, he quickly moves it to his special treasures box.
At the office, his generals and advisor want to know why they are there. He doesn’t need to spend the night at the office. He’s avoiding Man Man.
Man Man knows this, and doesn’t think Wei Shao taking time to work through his feelings is a bad thing.
As usual, Grandma also knows what’s going on. Man Man visits her, looking for something to do. Grandma wants help setting up some part of that deer hunt, but Man Man wants to work on poetry and art to inspire people about canals.
Grandma hopes this busy work will keep Wei Shao from avoiding Man Man.
Meanwhile, Wei Shao tells himself he loves living in his dark, empty office
Wei Shao is annoying, but some things just take time
Considering we started the drama with him ready to murder Man Man, sight unseen, with an arrow, he’s making amazing progress. I appreciate that it’s not easy for him to accept these new, warmer feelings when his entire life has been about violence and revenge.
I think Man Man gets it, too. Though she deserves an award for her patience. Just because I understand him doesn’t mean I love his behavior. Poor Man Man has had very little say in her own life, and I’m not sure he understands.
Should I be nicer to Wei Shao’s mom because she’s never had any say in her own life? Eh. I never love it when children have to apologize to their unreasonable parents. But at least with Wei Shao’s Mom, she’s never been truly evil, just truly dumb. I find her character arc more believable than some.
Poor Fan. I think it shows her privileged upbringing in the way she romanticizes being a commoner as an easier, safer life. Bi Zhi, having actually been a commoner, knows this. As annoying as all the lip service about the people, canals, and water can get here, it’s not untrue. People’s lives are better when there is less fighting and more access to water.
I feel like we’re shifting into a new part of the story. Wei Yan is no longer causing problems, Uncle Dian is dead, that one other cousin is dead, Yu Lou has some kind of plan, so it’s time for some new villainy to occur!
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