ep 2 spoilers ahead

Family Lu: The female leads family/famous for their skill in pottery and procurement of goods (essentially a wealthy merchant family)

1.After Lu Zhen saves the family she is in charge of procurement of goods. This should be noted as important because women are rarely allowed to assume such an open position of power. I imagine she gets some wriggle room not being a noble/royal family member. Also, she is so dang smart.

2.We learn that the Master (father) has arranged a marriage for her to the Shu Family. Lu Zhen doesn't seem to be very interested in it. Here we learn Lu Zhen is something of an adventurous spirit: she wants to travel and continue working; she has unfulfilled dreams; marriage would undoubtedly hinder this. She's also ambitious, wanting to expand the business. But her happy smile leads me to conclude she is still young and naive. She's also confidant, insisting that despite being a woman, her family's business has grown because of her (I get the sense she is a very spoiled, indulged child because the people who love her can't seem to say no)

3.We learn that the stepmom is likely so proud and ambitious because she is from the royal family (thus she views the daughter of a concubine, ML, as an insult). Her daughter, Xu'er, is utterly uninterested in ambition and trusts her sister. Stepmom's brother (ML's uncle) is a slimy little guy and even looks like one, and he encourages stepmom to move faster in removing Lu Zhen before she gains control of the Lu Family.

4.Lu Zhen gets into a tuffle with her sister, who wants a red necklace she has. She refuses, to the point of arguing with her father. She is grounded. Lu Zhen doesn't care. She sneals out in order to continue business. We later learn that the necklace something women wear when they don't want to have anymore children (so Lu Zhen was trying to help her out). Lu Zhen runs into our male lead, Ah Zhan, in disguise. he asks for her to help him to the city because he doesn't have a pass (don't do it! you will get embroiled in his problems!) He sizes her up well and gives her a sword (made by a master crafstman,our female lead has a good eye) as collateral. She sizes him up too and assesses he is not from the area (accent) and must be important to have a sword. But he must be a good person because he holds this sword (OMG she can be dumber than a sack of rocks...)

5.It seems these beads are a big deal. Master Lu tells his younger daughter to keep it from her mother, but younger daughter doesn't. She calls her mother out for being sneaky (I think she believes that she intended to buy the beads to set up Lu Zhen for something indescent) however the mistress it appears may be using the beads as part of a scheme to steal money from the books....

6.Ah Zhan returns. Much to the empress's unhappiness, he is very much alive. Worse, her son embraces him and says they need to work together.

7.The princess feels somewhat disconcerted by his return because he now sees she is the imperial consort. She tells herself he will understand her actions, and that soon he will be emperor (and they will probs be together in her vision) because the emperor has tuberculosis (this is the kind of illness that ruins your whole family; i bet it is a big secret)

8.Recognizing her power hinges on her son who is ill and uncooperative, she insists that the harem be filled up with the hope of getting a grandson (her) as soon as possible. her position is still very weak since everyone still favors Ah Zhan.

9.Step mom murders her husband and sets up Lu Zhen for the crime. It is a very poorly planned plot and it doesn't work. However, Luz Zhen is young and she realizes she needs some help to cement her position. She secretly visits her betrothed who swears to support her since they are family (engaged).

10.Lu Zhen lingers outside and overhears her betrothed: he is defending his choice to support her to his elders, and it seems her fortune is the primary reason why. But here Lu Zhen learns from the elders that her stepmother plans on marrying her off to an old guy and pocketing everything!

I give this episode a 7 because it was pretty predictable but still entertaining. I don't like how 1-dimensional the villains are.

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