When last we left the warlord and the beauty, Man Man’s mourning was about to end. You know what that means.
But first, Liu Yan asks Yu Lou to marry him
Oh, I bet Yu Lou manipulated this whole situation. I think Liu Yan knows, too, but he’s getting a lynx for her anyway.
Then she says to quit it with the act, it’s time for them to focus on destroying other people for their own gain! She offers her troops to help him crush Wei.
Everyone is excited Man Man is done with mourning
Mostly because she gets new dresses and freedom. But Wei Shao’s mom pressures her to have sex with her son and make babies. Sexy.
Wei Shao shows stunning sensitivity in bringing up feelings with her, specifically how hard the year has been. She admits that she hasn’t talked about her grandfather because it would upset Wei Shao. But she sobs because she misses him.
Wei Shao tells her that she can talk to him about anything and hugs her. Man Man performs the memorial rites.
Now the sex stuff gets awkward!
We go from Man Man’s sadness to Wei Shao, happy at work, eagerly anticipating his real wedding night. Man Man is told to read a scroll about sex, because her maid is worried that Wei Shao is inexperienced and will be bad at it. Sexy.
Wei Shao leaves work early to be with Man Man. They’re cute and awkward. Man Man is grateful that Wei Shao has been patient even after being forced into marriage. He felt he could do nothing else when they mistrusted each other so much.
She wants to know how he feels now, and he says he loves her deeply and having her in his life is the greatest fortune he could ask for. Wei Shao is earning points, for now.
Kissing!
Right then, Liang knocks on the door because Yan is under siege
Liu Yan found the secret path that Man Man had built ages ago to protect Bi Zhi and Fan, and used it to attack Yan.
Wei Shao is very, very upset. It’s proof that even after everything that happens, she didn’t trust him. He didn’t expect that between the two of them, she would be the one who would stay colder.
Though she knows she’s in the wrong, she questions whether he’s let go of his hatred or if he’s only acting out of his feelings for her. If he grows tired of her one day, he might still wipe out her clan.
He says if she says something like that, he WILL wipe out her clan. They’re attacking each other, nothing is resolved, and she cries as he walks away.
Grandma is playing Go again
Angst writer likes water and Go. This time, Grandma will school Wei Shao.
Wei Shao explains that the Wei city of Panyi and Man Man’s hometown are both under attack. Despite what he said to Man Man, he’s still struggling with defending the Qiao. Especially since they are low on troops with all the canal building.
But Grandma points out that if he doesn’t, how are they different from Lord Qiao, who broke his promises back then? Grandma was prepared for Wei Shao to have to make this decision, and wants him to repay hatred with kindness.
Man Man is also prepared for whatever choice Wei Shao makes
But when she learns Wei Shao will defend her hometown, she cries harder.
Tao goes to see Liang, and he promises he won’t be hurt. She puts a charm on his shield. They are so cute. She wants him to come back and ask her to marry her.
Wei Shao proves he can still be The Coldest, because when Man Man brings boots she sewed for him, he asks if she’s satisfied now that all his soldiers are fighting for Yan.
Wei Shao has to defend Panyi too, so his forces will be stretched thin. Victory is not guaranteed. Man Man promises to go to Boya and ask for reinforcements to help.
As an echo of earlier times, Wei Shao will not talk or look at Man Man before he leaves.
Wei Yan is having a blast with Uncle Bian
This is not even a little true. Uncle Bian won’t help Wei. Wei Yan does not consider himself Uncle Bian’s son. No one is happy.
As he does, Wei Yan gets drunk at a tavern, only to get into a fight with the Bian troops. But Wei Yan is actually good at fighting, and not only fights them off but also saves one from dying under a heavy statue.
Now they love Wei Yan, and Uncle Bian is impressed. But Wei Yan is not interested in becoming the Governor of Bian. He tries to confront Uncle Bian about his mother, but is sent to guard the border.
Uncle Bian thinks this’ll make a man out of him. Yuck.
Man Man arrives at Fan’s to get the troops she promised
Fan is pregnant, and Bi Zhi is off at the border.
Fan doesn’t want to send Bi Zhi into battle and offers prayers instead. She’s unwilling to push her husband to die for the Qiao the way Man Man does. This makes Man Man feel horrible, like she’s selfishly putting Wei Shao in danger for herself.
Bi Zhi returns, and Man Man doesn’t say anything about why she’s there. Seeing Fan and his love, she wants them to be nothing but happy and will not bother them further. She pats Fan’s belly and leaves.
She makes it all the way to the gate before collapsing
The guilt over Wei Shao fighting for Qiao overwhelms her. But Man Man, being Man Man, will still take her pitiful number of troops to Panyi. Even if it costs her her life, she will not leave Wei Shao alone to die.
Then, some small children murdering ants give her an idea. Water, ants, and cousins, that’s this show in 3 words.
Man Man has many memories of her grandfather talking about water and how to use it to your advantage. She can draw from this to reroute some water and drown Liu Yan’s troops.
Man Man vows not to betray Wei Shao the way her grandfather did 15 years ago.
And it’s time for fighting!
In the mountains, Man Man explains to the troops what to do with the river, and even helps because there are so few of them. They blow up the dam in time, sending the water crashing down.
Things are not going great for Wei Shao’s small army, but he continues to believe Man Man will do what she said. Liang and Ci are also fighting! Somewhere! I can’t keep track, and it doesn’t matter!!
Fan is at home, living with the choice she made, which means crying.
Liu Yan’s reinforcements reach the river, Man Man is on the other side like some kind of siren to lure them.
Wei Shao is fighting too!
We don’t see the river take out the reinforcements, but Liu Yan learns they’ve been defeated. He’s forced to retreat.
Wei Shao is pleased with the victory, fussy about his wife
He doesn’t realize what she did at the river yet, and complains that he hasn’t received a letter. But a lantern boat in the river alerts him that she’s actually here, not at home.
Wei Shao is going to get her when Liang and Ci arrive. When they thank him, Wei Shao tells Ci to thank his sister.
Wei Shao remembers the lantern boats during New Year’s, and Man Man saying that sincerity brings miracles. He refuses to admit he’s worrying to his Advisor, who is still trying to help him with feelings.
Ci and Liang talk up Man Man, while Wei Shao still complains that she only cares about Yan.
It’s nice that Man Man’s grandfather indirectly helped them
And we got to see Man Man put her strategic brain to good use again.
We’re fully back in the angst, though it all feels rushed and awkwardly mixed in with the failed sex. I do like the angst.
I suspect part of the reason it feels rushed is that they just don’t have the budget to do real, ongoing battle scenes. Considering that, I think these fighting scenes are well done.
I’m on the fence about how I feel about Wei Shao giving Man Man the cold shoulder. Yes, she screwed up, and because of that, his troops will die. However, between the two of them, she’s done so much work to communicate. By giving her the silent treatment, he’s cutting off that line of communication. I don’t like it. And I think Man Man feels plenty bad for what she’s done.
I’m surprised Bi Zhi has no idea what’s going on or that Man Man wanted his help.
There are only 6 episodes left. That doesn’t feel like enough episodes. But let’s keep going!
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