ep 3 spoilers ahead

Li Cheng=Lu Zhen's fiance
Wang Family= the new fiancee's family
Madame Shanyi=a confidant of the empress. she also oversees maids that are selected

1.Li Cheng appears somewhat guilty as he has her seized and brought to her home. He apologizes but explains he has his own issues to handle. (I have a feeling he is going to be a jealous 'I wish I hadn't thrown her away' guy in the future)

2.Lu Zhen gets her first taste of the harsh reality of life (she has been rather protected and sheltered). Her stepmom she learns doesn't just dislike her, she detests her. She destroys her name by insisting that she is illegitimate (she was born a month early)

3.Lu Zhen is tied up, dressed to be a bride, and is sent to the Wang Family. Everyone gossips about how unlucky she is as he has buried 4 wives (!) She manages to escape and has some good luck--she runs into Ah Zhan. He gives her his cloak while she flees, and he stops the pursuers as he is the prince (of course she doesn't know it yet). I guess this is his way of returning a favor.

4.She's hard on luck but she is both resilient and smart. She quickly realizes that she is going to starve if she doesn't do something. She learns that it just so happens (how convenient) that the palace is taking in maids. She can't get in without a fake certificate so she gives a beggar some money to learn who can make one up for her (I somehow wonder if it is that easy...)

5.The man making the certificate tries to rape her. She uses the hair pin her father gave on the night he died to attack him. She thinks she has killed him (she hasn't) but she can't exactly report this. But she gets into the palace and is asked questions (like an interview) and gives a good answer. It seems she is selected. Another girl gives her a nasty look (please don't tell me this is a drama where everyone who is female hates the female lead...). Coincidentally, she is being interviewed by a female minister and Lu Zhen seems to be fascinated/hold her in high regard.

6.Unfortunately, Madame Shangyi discovers her certificate is fake based off of errors in name and the type of paper used. She is unceremoniously tossed out while begging them to hear her out...

7.Ah Zhan is attacked and kills his attackers before passing out. he awakens in a hut, and Lu Zhen is helping him (this makes no sense and seems to be so convenient...) they are 30 miles from the city. she made something out of plants to pull him there, in the process destroying her hands but she acts like it is no big deal (undoubtedly making him like her even more...can i also say that she looks like a kid and he looks way too old for her? but then again, this actress has always had a baby face)

8.The guy who made the certificate and tried to rape her is quite vindictive. He has the police draw up a request that she be arrested and has her listed as a 'whore'/ Meanwhile Ah Zhan's right arm is broken--he says he is now disabled--but so what he will learn to use his left arm! Or kill himself. She lectures him on how dumb he is and insists she has the right to say if he should die because she saved him--he finds this a bit interesting

9.She introduces him as her cousin. Their relationship seems to be developing into that of friends.

10.Soldiers come after them. They flee and the episode ends with a literal cliff hanger--they are standing on the edge of a cliff with no where to go...

-I give it a 7.5 because while the show is very predictable I enjoy the use of these plot devices, I like the female lead, and it is fun to watch. The only thing I don't like is how convenient everything is. It isn't a fantasy so you can't place the blame on fate. It just seems a bit too lucky....

6.

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