She is so natural/laid back. She isn't like the other women in his harem. They make a cute couple. I love his little smile after watching her yawn. She intrigues him.

His little smile afterwards is endearing.

I love his smile. He's amused by her. He's so used to his concubines scheming for favor but Shiyi is different. She's actively trying to avoid being intimate with him. It's only a matter of time before he falls in love with her.

Same. It's a great drama.

It would be hard to live as a single woman in acient times, unless you are a nun.

@@mayurakshimukherjee7948 hard but not impossible. If you can make worthwhile connections and have abilities your good. Also appointing a proxy can also be possible. Ancient women are raised like a prisoner. Their movement and action measured for the sake of others. I mean their whole lives depend on men. "Obey father, obey husband, obey son" no way dude, not me. Also merchant women do exist in ancient times. There are also some records of successful women. So women don't need to be nun to be independent. So if I have to live a hard life anyways, I'd rather it be becoming independent and successful. Rather than living wooing others my whole life for my survival. No wonder there's a lot scheming and crazy women in those times

@@chaisenseishe but sucessful women were also pursued & had to fend of unwanted sexual advances.

@@mayurakshimukherjee7948 that's where hired bodyguards come in. Besides they wouldn't be able to get to that point if they can't protect themselves. Success may be an uphill battle but worth it.

@@chaisensei have we been watching the same shows the men’s lives sucked to. There forced to merry woman for connection there mom bosses them the rest of there lives and there dads die young from working themselves to death or dieing in a war for the leaders to get more power. Sorry but no one had a great life and all are treated like a piece on a chess board. Seem like either side sucks. At least for women then have a chance to be loved and protected by the men. Is there just as high you can be used yes. But it seems to me it’s more people obsessed with power and appearance harm all around. Plus the added burden if you made a huge mistake not only do you die but the entire family line is destroyed from a stupid mistake

Of course she's going to forget how Shiyi married into the Xu family. She helped her daughter with her little scheme so she knows very well that Shiyi status in the Xu family is weak because the GM doesn't trust her. She was expecting Shiyi to be ruthless like her/her daughter.

Yes I agree, his smile look like he has put down guard towards her. Actually in the wedding night when Shiyi avoid his kiss/ reject his favor, he somehow understand that she did not join in Yuannang plan, to be married in Xu family. And now in this scene she’s yawning like a kid - no formality or pretend to be beautiful before him. She’s far different from other wives. He finally found someone sincere beside him (not counting general Fu), someone he can trust in his harem. That’s why he protect her in front of Madam Lou/ her scheme sister. He’s cold outside but very careful. He knows people well, nothing can pass thru his eyes.

@@huonglt206 he still thought that she schemed with her sister...he even mentions it upon their return after visiting her maiden home. He makes a comment and asks her why women never say what they want.... and how they're always scheming. She called him out about degrading her sister since she wasn't there to defend herself...it was at that moment that he started to change his opinion about her. Honestly Lingyi and Shiyi's earlier encounters left an impression on him....he was intrigued by her when he encountered her on the docks and she called him out about what his feelings about her sister. She witnessed him and Lianfang in a compromising position so she thought something was going on between them. Once Yuanniang pulled the stunt she did to neutralize the GM and Lianfang....his opinion of Shiyi changed from his initial impression of her because he thought she was involved with Yuanniang's plan. He defended Shiyi because was his wife...and he was starting to develop feelings for her. He saw her dejected she looked at the dinner table so he decided to defend her. You're right he finally found someone who will treat him with sincerity. He doesn't have to worry about Shiyi scheming to get what she wants because she isn't a materialistic person. He doesn't have to worry about her scheming with concubine Wen to make money because she doesn't care about money. She's honest in her efforts to treat people with respect. The more he gets to know her....the more he starts to understand her character....and sees that she's what he's always wanted.

@@shontelagrone8713 uhmm… I think he protect her not simply because she is his wife, especially when they are in her family. Lianfang also his wife but do you remember episode 11 when Shiyi was kidnaped, Madam Lou scold Lianfang but he did not stand for her, he force her to say sorry to Madam. I think he only protect who he trust. Yes he still mention Yuanang’s plan but i think he did not blame Shiyi for take part in it, he blame her for not open to him. I think he use that event to “teach” Shiyi how to behave him better in the future (he had said to general Fu that he hope for nothing but Shiyi can get on well with him).

@@huonglt206 in the beginning he only protected her because she was his wife...he told her this after the kidnapping. He was starting to develop feelings for her but first impressions are hard to overcome...and it took him a minute to realize that Shiyi wasn't like his late wife or the other women in his little harem. As for Lianfang he was suspicious of her from the moment she asked if she could go with him to pick up Shiyi. Lianfang is selfish by nature and for her to do something so selfless as to care about another individual especially Shiyi... Lingyi knew something was off. Shiyi confirmed his suspicions on the way back. He started to quietly investigate her involvement in what happened with Shiyi. By this time Lingyi started to develop feelings for Shiyi...the GM and the rest of the family didn't expect him to disobey the GM's orders about having her live outside of the family mansion. He wasn't going to let her be wronged by his family...and he wasn't going to let her be banished from the family. Lingyi believed that Shiyi was a part of Yuanniang's plan to stop Lianfang from becoming his wife. He held that against her from the moment they were married. He even made reference to it on their wedding night. He told general Fu that he never wanted another wife but since he's married to Shiyi...he hopes they can get along...it had nothing to do with his feelings for her because at that time he didn't have feelings for her. The night at the gazebo when they were talking was the turning point for Lingyi....because she actually took out the time to talk to him about his troubles...it was the first time anybody cared about his feelings...including his own mother. In the end Shiyi told him that she knew what was bothering him...and he realized in that moment that she actually knows him...this is when he started to look at her differently but in the back of his mind he still thought she was a part of Yuanniang's scheme. As he got to know her a little more...he realized that she isn't like her sister.

@@shontelagrone8713 i agree with you about his suspicion of Lianfang’s attitude when she want to go with him to pick up Shiyi. That attitude is not like hers in everyday life, not normal. You give me another deep view of this scene, well done!! My previous comment may be misunderstanding because I write too short… hehe… “to behave him better” I do not mean that he has feelings to her/ he want same feelings from her. I just mean that: he hope she will get along well with him and the rest of the family, and he can live peacefully in his house. At that time he not yet has any emotion towards her. But i still keep my opinion that he has wiped out the thought she has join in Yuanang’plan. At least he has put off guards, he talk to her in a straight and openly way, he hope she can do the same way in the future, not like Yuannang before. Even he himself said that he protect her because she is his wife/ he promised with Yuanang he will treat her well, i think he will not defend for her if she is not deserved it.