lol...so very true. He couldn't leave fast enough. She still didn't understand why he left her high/dry.

That was the problem with all of the concubines I think, they were more focused on trying to one up each other none of them really bothered trying to get to know him as a person or as a man. I know some males only treat their concubines as stress relief and sex toys but he doesn't want that. He wants someone he can trust and someone he can set aside his title with which is what Shiyi gives to him

@@n.jboltz599 I agree...and you're right they were too focused on themselves...they never once bothered to get to know him. They even had the audacity to blame Shiyi when he started to change...and to open his heart. They tried to blame her for doing the one thing they failed to do. It was unbelievable but in the end they still didn't understand the reason behind his rejection. I think concubine Wen came close to understanding why he chose Shiyi. She gave him everything just by opening her heart to him.

@@shontelagrone8713 In this scene he was clearly trying to engage with them as people not as bed warmers, but they were too self absorbed. I do think as time went on he should have released them from being concubines if it wouldn't do them damage. Rather than having them spend their lives alone in beautiful cages. He clearly no longer wanted to lie with them and became devoted to Shiyi. I am curious as to why his mother had so much power in the household?

@@n.jboltz599 Well if he hadn't heard them bargaining during the mourning time for his late wife...I think he would've treated them differently...it was in this moment that he totally gave up trying at this point. If his mother hadn't forced him to visit them during this time...he would've spent his entire life avoiding them. He was done trying to make it work...Plus it wasn't the life he wanted...he was forced to marry his concubines. You're right these women were too self absorbed...that's why he didn't stay long. If his mother wasn't obsessed with the Xu family's reputation and status....he would've gotten rid of his concubines a long time ago. He told his mother that this wasn't what he wanted...The GM had too much power...simply because she was the matriarch. Once Lingyi started to change.. her hold over the Xu family started to weaken. This was all thanks to Shiyi's influence....The GM knew she was starting to lose control when Lingyi started openly defying her.

Plus they share the same values. They're not blinded by status/fame or money. She doesn't waste her time scheming like the rest of his concubines/she's selfless. His entire harem didn't understand that concept/they didn't understand him.

@@shontelagrone8713 The question is not only in experience, but what conclusions are drawn from this experience. Someone with such an experience as Lingyi/Shiyi would spend his life on obtaining benefits, and they spend it on something else. The experience forced them to grow up very early. The adults around them turned out to be much weaker/infantile at the moment of making a responsible decision. Sadly, Shiyi got to know the cruel truth of life much earlier than her husband. True, on the other hand, this ensured her intellectual/spiritual conformity to her husband. Their personal qualities provided the right conclusions from the experience: money, power can be lost in the blink of an eye, and the people who surround you/care for you deserve all kinds of protection and support. This is how they behave: they protect/help people for whom they have taken responsibility/love. Shiyi was more fortunate than Lingyi because the people she cared for/protected appreciated what she did. Surprisingly, almost all the concubines look down on Shiyi. They don't understand that their years with Lingyi are worthless because they haven't been able to find out anything about him. They rely on traditional upbringing/behavior and are absolutely unable to draw conclusions from what is happening/go beyond the usual. Concubines are just a parade of vanity/narrowness. I feel sorry for Qin most of all, she is the only one who is able to sincerely enough take care of Lingyi (at least about life and health). But unfortunately, her origin/upbringing, personal qualities do not allow her to grow and develop in the right direction. She would be much happier with a simpler person. GM wanted the best, but it turned out as always. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." She organized a magnificent hell for both her son and Qin. Now I noticed the melody that sounds when he leaves Qin. I do not have an ear for music, but it seems to me that this is an instrumental version of "Be Together". We can say that its quiet sound hints that everything he is looking for can be found next to his wife.

@@Irynash11 well said....out of all the concubines I only felt bad for Qin. She really wasn't given a choice when it came to marrying Lingyi. She suffered the biggest loss when she had a miscarriage at the hands of the GM. I understood why she wanted revenge....I just didn't agree with her methods. She went after all the innocent men and women of the Xu family...She should've just directed her attacks on the GM since she was the one that cost her everything. Plus she refused to let go of the pain...and she continued to allow her loss to consume her. She was never able to move on.

Concubine Wen came from a family of merchant's. I imagine they were taught to flaunt their wealth.

Shiyi learned how to survive without her family's help. Her father was a useless, cowardly and pathetic little man. He allowed his wife to kick his own daughter out of the house/forced them to live in destitute. He wasn't a great example so I understand why she struggled with trusting her husband. Lingyi/Shiyi shared the same values because of their similar experiences. They were made for each other.

古人 會 納妾 那麼多 沒有相處怎麼知道 到底合不合最主要的是 顯示 身份, 地位!

古人子女易夭折，所以要多妻妾，繁衍後代，壯大族群！

His mother forced him to take all those concubines...he didn't want a one of them.

有些是政治婚姻 不只要一個溫柔的太太，而是要一個懂他的

The Sword and the Brocade

Yes, all concubine is the legacy of the first wife. If Wen and Qin are more the efforts of his mother, then Lianfang is the merit of his wife. Thus, she got rid of the contender for the position of his wife and made room for her younger sister.

He had the concubines before the official wife.

He had a child with his late wife and Concubine Wen. Concubine Qin was pregnant, but she had a miscarriage and couldn't conceive anymore.

He started avoiding them because of all the scheming they were doing in order to gain his favor or to enrich their maiden families. During the mourning period for his late wife he found his concubines bartering for favors instead of honoring his wife. Lingyi never wanted concubines. It was his mother that insisted on them. He was living a life that he didn't want because of his duty to the Xu family. Concubine Wen was too busy scheming to enrich her family's wealth by using his name/status. She was shallow/put too much importance on money. Plus she never once tried to get to know him as a person. Concubine Qin had a hard time connecting with him. She was his mother's maid in the beginning before she became his concubine. She wasn't very education so she had a difficult time communicating with him. Unfortunately after her miscarriage she withdrew further into her shell/never fully recovered. Lianfang was NEVER more than just another mouth to feed. He didn't want to marry her. His mother forced him into it after his late wife set her up to prevent her from becoming his legal wife. He told her to leave the capital/to marry someone else so she could be the legal wife but she refused. He was upfront with her the day he married her. He told her that he could only provide her with a comfortable life but nothing more. He NEVER slept with her...although she tried.

I hate shows where the ML has a haram or still visits his harem after he has the FL, so I’ve been avoiding this show even though it looks good. Once he falls in love with the FL, does this male Lead still have relationships with his concubines? I want to watch this but I’m afraid I’ll start and then get mad, lol.

@@eldaily1173 you're missing out on a great show. It's not what you're expecting. Yes, he has a harem but it wasn't by choice. Most of the women in his harem was forced on him by his mother/late wife. I don't want to give to much away just in case you don't like spoilers...lol but it's a great show. I can say that he's very different from what you expect. I will however answer your question...he doesn't have a relationship with either of his concubines....before or after he marries his second main wife. I hope that helps...If you don't mind spoilers and want any more details don't hesitate to ask...this is one of my favorite Seven Tan (Shiyi) dramas. I've been a fan of the female lead for yrs now. I really enjoy her work.