RuYi's Royal Love [Episodes 15-17] Recap + Review

[@txr200]

I just love how you point out the Empresses cold and narcissistic behavior. Everyone looks at her as this nice, very noble and dignified lady, who comes from a prominent family and holds the highest position, so of course there’s no room for her to be scheming and evil but she actually is. I like that they casted an actress with soft features and a motherly presence, which makes it hard for people to read how actually evil she is. Great reaction once again 🙏🏽

[@dramarecaps4217]

If I could count the number of times she's referred to as "virtuous" in this drama 🙄 and definitely great point about the casting, she doesn't look "villainous" at all which is part of why I'm so creeped out by her.

[@theafidou8469]

@@dramarecaps4217 and the fact that she goes on to ask for the character for virtuous in her posthumus title...

[@C.f.by-Lialia-A.R]

@@theafidou8469 virtue, virtue ,virtue ...

[@MusicGirl881]

I wish Lianxin became Ruyi’s maid because you can see how hurt she was finding out that the Empress knew she was being abused and didn’t care and only saw her as a pawn. With Ruyi you can tell she treats her servants as her family.

[@TheTCMfan]

Same but I think Lianxin knew that wouldn’t be good at the same time i always felt like if the emperor had felt that bad about it he could have let Lianxin work in his palace or somewhere else to let her lay low but nope

[@dramarecaps4217]

That would have been wonderful :/ I think the only reason they couldn't is because that would reflect poorly on the Empress (her maid running away to another palace makes it seem like she's a shit mistress. Which she is...)

[@MusicGirl881]

@@dramarecaps4217 True and thinking about it the Emperor, even though it’s the better option, wouldn’t let it happen since he is more worried about his dynasty reputation and wouldn’t want to be known as the Emperor with a terrible Empress (which she is).

[@kelseyoconnor3951]

RIGHT?! And since this series has some fiction to it, why not right?! 🤷🏻‍♀

[@dramarecaps4217]

I'll upload the next video today because the plot moves forward right away + it's exciting + I have no self control

[@doubdouber1124]

Neither do we!!

[@盧璘壽로인수]

you're forgiven

[@Lisamisamoo]

please have more no self control! *crazy eyes activated*

[@gabig9477]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[@catherinefink9114]

U should finish this analysis series! Finish RUYI!

[@kyriacarica5862]

Langhua is an absolute idiot and psychopath at the same time. It’s actually incredible. I found your legend of Zhenhuan recaps and I straight up marathoned them while working 😄totally subbed. Thanks for saving me all that time and of course, your commentary cracks me up!

[@dramarecaps4217]

Even more incredibly, she doesn't see herself as either 🙈 Anyway I'm glad you liked the ZH videos, if I can help anyone avoid work then I'm doing my job lol

[@MimiUvieghara]

We finally get to see Ruyi's scheming brain. She would have surpassed Zhen Huan if she wanted to. Her schemes are always particularly vicious as well, so it would have been easy to slip into villain hood. * As for the empress. It's a shame that such a woman from her clan and with her standing is so insecure. She was the worst. *Jia finally shows up in your review. The ultimate snake. *Ruyi's stank face Thanks for posting. I love it!

[@NAVEMAN3]

I feel sorry for the empress's son. She basically studied him to death.

[@dramarecaps4217]

Terrible way to go :I stress, stress, stress, dead.

[@dramarecaps4217]

Terrible way to go :I stress, stress, stress, dead.

[@ceyrai]

The Lianxin arc is one of my favorites in terms of resolution. That conversation between Suoxin and Ruyi really summed it up how well things fell into place. As for the Empress, rather than a psycho, I see her as an utter slave for her clan. She’s having a hard time trying to get a handle on her clan ambitions, her personal emotions (including her jealousy for Ruyi) and her general job as the Empress. I'm in no way absolving her of wrongdoing tho, but she's a total pawn of her clan - which acts through Sulian. I don't agree that Sulian is just going along with Empress, she is actively stoking her doubts, twisting open ended orders into cruelty (while Empress conveniently turns a blind eye), plotting with Jia... list goes on and on.

[@galaxylily813]

5:35 I would definitely say that the Empress Dowager was coming around to Ruyi as a responsible and quiet concubine. Like her original idea of Ruyi was that she would be exactly like her aunt, and obviously Ruyi isn’t like that. As for the Empress, I think the Empress Dowager thinks that the Empress is slowly going insane? Because she definitely was ok with her from the start but now as the Empress Dowager sees the Empress in her position, she probably sees that the Empress is quite…obsessive with um…certain things. But take this with a grain of salt as I could be reading into this too much. Also, Liyu is easily one of my favorite characters. Like idk he’s so sweet (mainly to Ruyi and Suoxin but understandable) and yet he’s just so sassy. Can’t wait for the sass. Also there’s a scene in episode 15, (I believe) where while they were waiting for Eunuch Wang to sober up, Ruyi asked Suoxin and Arou to serve tea. It’s VERY CLEAR that Arou is gunning to get into the Emperor’s… ahem quarters as she served him tea in the most sickly artificial sweet voice “here’s your tea.” RIGHT IN FRONT OF RUYI TOO LIKE GURL LOOK IN FRONT OF YOU WITHOUT YOUR ROSE TINTED GLASSES!

[@dramarecaps4217]

Not at all, I think you're right. It's been years at this point and I can't blame the empress Dowager for having been suspicious, there's no way she could have known. Now her eyes are slowly opening to their true characters Team LiYu forever and always ❤️ Nothing makes me cringe harder than a maid trying to "flirt" right in front of their masters. HuanBi had scenes like that as well and they killed me every time 😂

[@raymondofthundura652]

The reason why the seafood in itself is not suspected is probably that in China there is a common belief that seafood is generally good for brain development in fetus. Therefore, they trusted the seafood not because of Chun but because they already assume that eating seafood should be a good thing to do.

[@盧璘壽로인수]

oh so they trusted the seaside iodine way before modern Western medicine did

[@raymondofthundura652]

Though, I learn this from my super traditional grandparents so I assume this is traditional. Also it is very common that ancient people come to believe in facts that are indeed scientifically true, but without knowing the reason why.

[@kayland.5724]

1. Okay so - you know Memoirs of a Geisha? I saw an article (mandarin) about Tong Yao being compared to Zhang Ziyi and I must say I CANT UNSEE IT I NEED TO TELL SOMEONE 2. Anyhoot, lianxin's hate for the empress never subsided. Like when the empress "slipped" on the docks. Lianxin was like: 🧍🏽‍♀️🗿🖐🏽👀 3. I understand Langhua has a lot of pressure from the Fucha clan, the royal clan, her mother, her mother in law, the *empire*, but you can't put your kid through so much so young and then be angry at him for not being able to handle it all. The princes get up reallly early with school, athletics and so on. He just wanted a nap. I wish someone could've told Langhua that 30 min naps are actually beneficial and to let him rest before a glass of water. Not everyone is meant to be the emperor. That's why it's so rigorous 4. Yuyan is so deliciously evil 5. I noticed that no one, no matter what side they're on, like Li Yu. Yeah he's the head eunuch, but even when he was still training no one disrespected him or looked down on him

[@dramarecaps4217]

1: Literally one of my favorite moves and YES I see it! I guess I never made the connection before because in my head, Zhang ZiYi has blue eyes (I've only ever seen her in MOAG lol) 2: And LianXin deserved every moment of that 👏👏 3: Amen. She just could not accept that she had a normal kid, she wanted some kind of perfect android. 4: Next video is literally just 10 minutes of this hehe 5: You mean "dislikes" LiYu right? If so, hard agree

[@SignoraVaccari]

*Empress son is sick* Empress: my status is in danger!!!!

[@dramarecaps4217]

EXACTLY! 😂

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@dramarecaps4217 I mean most of East Asian harems back then shared the same brain cell, both in drama and most probably in real life

[@strwbrr8308]

5:27 😂 ruyi’s reaction, she was like “really bitch?”

[@dramarecaps4217]

Her expressions are amazing this whole series 😂

[@b2kzangelalwayz]

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?! WHILE I YAM DRUNK? ON MY DAVORITE HOLIDAY?! ON MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK?!

[@dramarecaps4217]

My favorite comment 😂 Sober up and we'll chat tomorrow lmao Happy St. Patrick's day!

[@huangguifei]

The way I tried to remember what scene the episode this was xD

[@sheherezahade]

Lainxin went back to the empress' palace because there's an unspoken understanding between her and Ruyi that she's to be her inside woman there, a sleeping agent to use later. Since Lianxin has heard the actual value she has from the empress in her conversation with Jia, she is now willing to f+++ her up for the first incoming enemy, in this case Ruyi, who she now owes for helping her

[@dramarecaps4217]

That's a good point, I suppose if I were her I would also want to do whatever it takes to bring the empress down

[@emilymiguel8198]

I get so happy when I see your alerts

[@盧璘壽로인수]

1. regarding imperial orders, one has to read between the lines to find the loopholes, because we don't want the trauma of what happened to Zhen Huan's other dower maid to happen again... 2. Gao Xiyue's actress probably had fun "seducing" Wangqin (basically similar to Helena Bonham Carter acting as Emma Watson in the 8th Harry Potter movie) 3. Hailan was actually asking why Ruyi asked to be confined to Yanxigong Palace, and Ruyi said "no worries" (also just discovered, in "Zhen Huan" Yanxigong Palace became An Ling'rong's residence when she became Imperial Concubine) 4. lol what's with the Neutrogena kkk 5.a. you cut out the part where Gao Xiyue was having a fit the next day, haranguing her servants (mostly hitting her eunuch Shuangxi with the handle of a feather duster, with unnatural sound effects might I add) for leaving her alone to be "molested" by Wangqin. The scene then cuts to Langhua conversing with Jin Yuyan next, Langhua saying Qianlong was quite "turned off" from Gao Xiyue from that moment on 5.b. also the part where Ruyi (busy studying _weiqi_ (the actual Chinese name of the more common term "go") strategies) & a cleaning Suoxin were humbly gloating and patting themselves on the back for a job well done of hitting 2 birds with 1 stone: giving Ruyi justice while also freeing Lianxin 6. might I add, after the "family meeting" where Langhua was confiding to Sulian, I observed the background characters where I saw: -Imperial Concubine Chun giving a side glance towards Langhua as she went on her separate way -smiling Ruyi -Jin Yuyan looking annoyed as usual and either complaining or giving orders to either Lixin or Zhensuo (her ethnic Korean dower maid from Joseon) 7. Shuangxi is what eunuchs should actually look like...when they get old. Though their voice should sound like a middle-aged woman...all due to emasculation 8. lol why did you have to bring back Ruyi's gassy problem kkkk 9. forgot to add, in the previous recap, Noble Lady Yi's pregnancy was preceeded by Qianlong recounting how the Imperial Astronomy Bureau said that after checking the stars there would be an "auspicious event" soon

[@dramarecaps4217]

Still a WIP?

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@dramarecaps4217 edited because I forgot lol I'm old

[@dramarecaps4217]

2: I’ll have to try and find some BTS clips! 3: Cool detail on LingRong! 4: WangQin with that beautiful commercial ready water splash 5: I did, but yeah both of those scenes are great, and so telling about their respective characters. 6: Everyone is always in character, love it ♥ 7: Yikes. It might not be historically accurate, but I can’t pretend LiYu would have been as loveable had they gone with the facts. 9: Ah! You know, considering how his astronomy belief becomes such a big point later in the show, I probably should have added that. I’ll add a note and make sure to reference that when astronomy becomes a bigger plot point, thanks for the heads up!

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@dramarecaps4217 3. yeah, in ep. 52 when Yongzheng Emperor collapsed due to An Ling'rong's "sketchy incense", the Empress & Imperial Concubine Qi were more or less complaining that Yongzheng was either in Yangxindian Hall (doing his daytime job) or at Yanxigong Palace (doing his nighttime job), and it just intensified in ep. 53 after Ye Lan'yi literally galloped into the picture (also prior to that I recently discovered Ye Lan'yi was a servant at the (Old) Summer Palace (Yuanming'yuan) prior to becoming a concubine, since when I watched the American-excoriated Netflix version there were no references to her prior life. Also she had a thing for green _qipao_ as well #WinkNudge) 4. lol. Also too bad the subbers (both Chinese & English) of the clips in that episode didn't translate much of Wangqin's lines during that time, other than repeatedly threatening his handlers with đəąťн or the classic power trip "don't you know who I am and who I serve" 7. regarding historically accurate eunuchs, they may actually look "presentable" during their youth (and coupled with brain power & people smarts will be preferred by any powerful person in the Forbidden City), so I'll have to take back what I said regarding the appearances of "Ruyi"'s Liyu, and "Yanxi"'s Xiaoquanzi, Desheng, & Yuanchun'wang: they can be as flower-boy handsome or manly they can be, just not with the voice... 9. I know the astronomy references aren't yet plot-important until much later, so yeah. Also I cannot forget your "explanation" in the "Zhen Huan" recap lol when the Imperial Astronomers (most likely under the Empress's pay) were convincing agaist Zhen Huan's comeback

[@hikariwhite7587]

Love the heart edits going around

[@dramarecaps4217]

❤️❤️

[@annamariathomas4116]

I'm a bit late to this but still in defense of the Empress . Langhua not only as a the Empress but as a member of the Fucha clan she has immense pressure on her to have an heir and raise him to be crown prince for the glory of not only her clan but the Aisin-Gioro (Imperial) clan . The clan pressure on her specifically is shown later on when she's pregnant with Yongcong , when Yongcong gets ill and dies , when after said death she has to persevere through shame and pain as Empress and mother of the nation and especially when her clan adds pressure her on to marry off Jingse into the Korchin tribe . As an Empress/ the only official wife of the Emperor her children are especially her sons (Yonglian and Yongcong) are looked at as the (technically they are) legitimate heirs of the Emperor and held to a ridiculously high standards as they are deemed to be the perfect successors of their father so failure to raise such perfection or preserve the legitimate heir(s) is a stain on an Empress' reign/regime. So her worrying about her future prospects with Yonglian isn't far fetched and probably historically was a fear of many an Empress as they are deemed a paragon of virtue and womanhood/wifehood to all women at that time . TL;DR- The Empress isn't a psychopath and I feel for her surprisingly

[@dramarecaps4217]

All really great points, I definitely see where you're coming from. I do pity her, with all the factors involved she never got the opportunity to develop anything close to a normal relationship with her son.

[@moonstarstories1298]

One thing I never understood about this show was why Ruyi and Hailan let Concubine Yi eat all of that seafood even after Mei did. Like, I understand why Mei ate them because Chun ate them and she was fine, but since Mei also ate them and she ended up having a stillbirth, these two cases should cancel out! Idk, it's a pretty minor nitpick but for people as careful as Hailan and Ruyi, it just makes more sense to double-check the seafood/order something else just in case. P.S I'm so excited for the next episode. Arou is truly terrible and I can't wait for you to talk about it!

[@theafidou8469]

Just a note though... As of now, no one in the palace suspects the seafood to be the reason behind Mei's stillbirth... As always, we have multiple perspectives and background knowledge, these characters don't.... Edit: Also, it was not just the seafood but the coal as well so yaa...

[@TheTCMfan]

They didn’t know it was bad everyone blamed what happened to Mei as bad luck.. and also Jia brought it up to Yi as a good thing in of front Chun like didn’t u tell Mei seafood was good?

[@TeroTheShortOne]

@@theafidou8469 There's also the fact that the seafood was a cover for the actual issue. Even if Yi was eating something else, they would have found a way to mess with the pregnancy.

[@LittleClarinetPlayer]

Also, Hui has a legitimate reason for wanting him dead. In Yanxi Palace there was a woman who was r@ped for protecting someone if I remember and she was still found guilty of something. More or less told to kill herself cause of the shame. Hui would be shamed to death if it went to far and it’s so messed up in this time the attitude was that. She is fighting for her life too, albeit she set herself up in that situation in the first place.

[@dramarecaps4217]

Oh yeah absolutely. I can totally understand why she's upset, anyone would be. I don't remember that in YanXi palace! It's been so long, can't wait till I start that drama

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@dramarecaps4217 I'm not sure tho if @LittleClarinetPlayer was referring to Wei Ying'luo's elder sister Wei Yingning/A'man; or the palace maid Fuk'anggan was protecting in the sequel "Princess Adventures" (she was being confined at Anletang (not sure if it was an actual place in the Forbidden City or one of the many _hutong_ of Beijing) and Fuk'anggan was requesting Qianlong to marry her)

[@LittleClarinetPlayer]

@@dramarecaps4217 There were sadly like 3 instances of this but I’m thinking of the emperors bio mom in Yanxi

[@Lisamisamoo]

I freaking love your love for Hailan! Such cute moments

[@TheTCMfan]

I don’t think she would have besides being dumb she had no sympathy cause when her head maid Moxin first mentioned it to her she said what’s the use when he isn’t her biological son? It wasn’t till Moxin mentioned how the dowager fostered the emperor did she perk up but after hearing about Ruyi helping him did she act like Yonghuang was already hers and Ruyi stole her idea..

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@TheTCMfan I mentioned this to Drama Recaps before, but Gao Xiyue is basically acting like "Zhen Huan"'s Consort Hua specifically after temporarily having Princess Wen'yi (Cao Qinmao's daughter)

[@dramarecaps4217]

I guess treating 1st prince well is relative. Like I don't think she would hurt him or not feed him, but there's so much more that goes into being a parent that I don't think she would do. To me, Hui is the kind of person who would get a really cute puppy (because it's cute) and then take it back to the store when she learns she has to clean up its poop. So she might like to play with 1st prince but would she stay up and comfort him if he had a nightmare? Take care of him if he was sick? Talk through his wants and fears with him? I guess we'll never know since she never got the chance, but I never thought she seemed like the type.

[@Lisamisamoo]

@@dramarecaps4217 Yeah that is totally true, whether she would teach him to be an ethically moral human being like ruyi would, most likely not.

[@Lisamisamoo]

@@TheTCMfan oh so true, yeah that would do it. so sad that children in these times were used as chess pieces :'(

[@hpmoody]

I gotta say not sure if the actresses and actors voices were dubbed but the actress who portrays RuYi has a cute husky voice.

[@dramarecaps4217]

That's her voice! I love it too

[@ruyii_1]

I literally click faster then sonic could

[@sonjulliette]

Lian Xin's plan to get rid of eunuch wang was cool, gross but cool ( I don't care about that bastard's death he deserves it...hurting Lian Xin because of his unexistent balls and for punishing best boy Li Yu). Consort Hui in my opinion is 10% badass and 90% bitch (I don't like her at all but I respect her when she is cunning), the First prince is so cool but I really like that after meeting my queen Ruyi and best girl Hailan he began to change for good (my boy has 2 strong and beautiful moms). After this episodes (because since you are making recaps I'm watching this for the 3rd time lol) I really started to notice consort(?) Jia's secret movements even more, she gets more sus eventually... and about 2nd prince?...the empress killed slowly his own son with stress... anyway I'm enjoying your recaps ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

[@dramarecaps4217]

Totally agree about Want, LiYu, and Hui 😁 1st prince, HL, and RuYi should have just been a family on their own lol, things would have turned out better The next video is allll about Jia! She's super sneaky!

[@TheTCMfan]

Yes! Yes and Yes!! Spot on review as usual.. Ruyi took out all of the them in one strike.. then the empress 🤦‍♀️ I feel bout the empress like u feel about Huanbi.. lol what got me about her is when she hears about Yonglian having a fever she’s in bed but does she rush over? Next scene full on earrings hair done etc this is the heir the key to your future and he’s sick but u have time worry about your appearance? Then she whines about his future bein bleak… 🙄 I love how u mentioned Yi and Jia.. Yi and Hailan both started at the bottom, but I think Yi wasn’t raped by the emperor since she was a maid of the empress so that’s why she’s ok with how the other women bullied Hailan at the beginning.. I think she saw herself as better than her.. then Jia apparently no one can tell those smiles r fake.. Now with the head maids the only ones that told the truth regardless imo besides Ruyi peeps were Fujia, Kexin and Yuhu the rest just lied to spare folks or plot.. and Yonghuang he’s the sweetest child Hui please get a clue he don’t like u

[@dramarecaps4217]

Hehe @the HuanBi comment. Totally fair, some people just rub you the wrong way! Interesting point about noble lady Yi, they have similar backgrounds but not really the same so I can see how she thought of herself as better than her. Especially with the Empress' backing. Ah yes YuHu is soooo good about being upfront with the emperor and not trying to coddle him. She's top notch

[@Backtoalonica]

The thing about this drama is that is 1000000% frustrating. It’s like as a viewer you can tell all the troubles that are about to come but Ruyi is like 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 so she can’t see a thing. In that way I love Empress Dowager

[@vytran5865]

Thank you so muchhh. It's been super boring without any content to consume. Thanks sooo much

[@devchekhov7512]

And the plot thickens like dough in the oven!

[@sawk1875]

Its ok I can’t stop talking about how much I love Hailan either.

[@martinemariemc]

I am sooooo glad I found your channel! I love your commentary cos its sooo much like myself and what I would say I love it ! Are you only doing historical dramas or do you also do the Chinese fantasy shows. Did you do a commentary on Yanxi Palace also? I would love to know what you think. And which show do you like more? I like them both and they are both great shows and both have fantastic casts. I must say I absolutely ADORE Empress Fuca from Yanxi Palace. I like Wallace Hou as The Emperor in Ruyi but I just adore the emperor in Yanxi Palace a tad more. He is more playful and yes he does shitty things but they don't seem so bad in Yanxi Palace. And yes Yanxi Palace has our second favorite guard after my dear Ling Yunchu, that's right Fuca Fuheng aka Xu Kai ! If you watch and critique other shows also might I suggest - Ancient Love Poetry, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms and it's sequel, Eternal Love of dreams.. I LOVE Bai Qian Qian and Ye Hua in Ten Miles and Emperor Dong Hua oh my goodness.😊

[@LittleClarinetPlayer]

Hui got her own damn self in trouble. If she weren’t there to gloat then she would have never got groped by Wang. Also, ew! Was Wang lusting after Hui too? Ew ew ew. Poor Lianxin! I imagine she had Wang grope a high ranking imperial woman because if it were just her I feel the emperor would have looked the other way. His own head eunuch doing this is also a bad reflection of the emperor’s judgement. I feel that’s why he was so lenient with the punishment originally. He straight up killed a maid for lying and just wanted to a break a leg for groping his woman? Double-standard much? Lianxin knows how to repay a favor to Ruyi and the empress better watch out. A Lannister always pays their debts. If the empress really gave a damn about Lianxin she would have arranged a good marriage for her suffering and take care of her siblings. God. Lmfao, keep that paycheck! I love how the empress dowager is not pulling any punches. Man the empress is so winning mom of the year /s. Do you see Ruyi’s parenting style versus the empress? Both the first prince and second prince were told they have to learn the emperors poetry. Ruyi says that it’s because his dad loves this stuff and it will benefit him, but don’t show off. The empress is more “cause I told you so” and the kid obviously won’t care cause of that explanation. Noble Lady Yi ain’t no saint. Ngl I’m surprised no one is accusing Hailan of anything because she has motive for revenge. Eating fish itself isn’t bad and is good for most people. There more going on besides that. Hmmm

[@dramarecaps4217]

These 👏are👏some👏great👏points! I saw your other comment and was thinking “how was it Hui’s fault she got groped?”, but you’re so right! She didn’t need to be there! And I think WangQin was certainly perving on her, or he wouldn’t have been so easily seduced. “His own head eunuch doing this is also a bad reflection of the emperor’s judgement.” And another great point on why the emperor was so lenient! I thought it was just because he’s known him for a long time, but that makes a lot more sense! Also, LianXin deserves all the revenge she gets. 100000% “Ruyi says that it’s because his dad loves this stuff and it will benefit him, but don’t show off. The empress is more “cause I told you so”” And wow I didn’t notice that either! The Empress is just not a good parent, and it’s wild because they keep saying adopted mothers can’t love a child the way biological mothers do, but that’s such bullshit. The way the Empress treats her son, you would think she got him for sale at the supermarket or something, RuYi would never do that to the 1st prince What a plot twist that would have been, if HaiLan was the mastermind behind everything. She certainly had enough access to Yi! “Eating fish itself isn’t bad and is good for most people. There more going on besides that. Hmmm” *wiggles eyebrows suggestively*

[@sawk1875]

IM FINALLY IN EARLY!