episode 18 spoilers ahead

spoilers ahead

1.Chou Nu is prepare to fight with her pitch fork. Qu Yuan fights with a sword. Lord Cheng watches creepily from the trees. The 'ghost' appears and flies through the air and claws these guys apart before chasing them off. The ghost knows Mo Chou. It is Lan Niang (I CALLED IT)

2.They go to the cave, and learn that the family of Lan Niang has been surviving in the wilderness, apart from the village, with the first 'ghost', a man who could not live in Quan County. This old man saved her and her family. They choose to live away from the nobles because of the cost to rent land from nobles, and then you must give them almost all of your food. Chou Mou defends Qu Yuan,who is trying to change things. Ultimately, they return, and Qu Yuan feels like he has been taken down a notch--he thought he was taking care of everyone but people must survive this way.

3.Again, his attendant warns him to be wary since again he was attacked but Qu Yuan won't stop! He is going to report directly to the emperor--to the point of dragging him out of the bed of his consort. He arrives with a 'ghost' to prove to the king they exist--he brings in the old man from the mountain, (OMG he even scares the emperor!). He explains he is a 60 year old man appearing like this/ He is very direct with the king and accuses him of not knowing the pain of his people. He explains essentially the situation with the old man.

4.Meanwhile, the queen dowager receives a report on the current situation. The reporter explains it is bad for the nobles, the state of chu does not belong to commoners. She reasons that it may be good for the state if the lives of the commoners are improved (most of this untranslated) but she accuses him of pretending to act poor in front of her. However, Qu Yuan is destabilizing the balance with the nobles. At last, the queen dowager is going to start plotting...

5.When Qu Yuan mentions that some people have even fled Chu because of the conditions, that seems to capture the emperor's attention. (I wish this was translated).

6.The emperor counters that the land belongs to the nobles. Qu Yuan reminds him that he once said all the people in Chu are his people. How can he only care about nobles? The site of the old man eating like a dog is enough to arouse his disgust. The emperor accuses him of forcing him but he states it his conscience. He agrees to whatever it is that he suggested (I wish this argument was translated)

7.Essentially the emperor is worried that the nobles will revolt. That is a pretty big concern, especially since this is, you know, the warring states period....

8.Elsewhere, Xia'er continues to mourn and miss Cang Yun while Cai Wei tells her to get over it...


9.The emperor visits with the Queen Mother and argues with her over the future of their state. He blames the nobles, but she points out these families work for him. (valid point).

10.Xia'er believes she has found Cang Yun (how the heck is she able to get around so easily? her parents are so liberal!) Meanwhile, Qu Yuan returns back and he admits to some success. The Mo family helps the Niang family get back to 'normal' with fresh clothes and hair cuts. Even their old house is fixed up. Lord Jing and his guys are mad about this newest edict.

11.Cang Yun appears! He is being beat for gambling and paying them back. Qu Yuan pays the debt. He recognizes him, but the man denies it and walks off. (Qu Yuan is partly responsible for this. Cang Yun worked real hard to improve his life). Finally he admits it. Reports that Xia'er misses him. Cang Yun is extremely scathing in his criticism of him, essentially stating their differences and that he has all the power while he has none. YES! he takes some responsibility!

Comments; Okay fine so we needed the awful last episode to build more plot, okay, but they could have done it better.

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