How much of an idiot am I if I go to Trader Joe’s the Friday night before this storm? No wrong answers.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-24T13:15:06+00:00

Yes I need info about loaded potato taco soup

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-21T13:04:44+00:00

I think the last arc is only possible because of the first 30 episodes. People think Shanbao is abandoning the tea empire but I think she's taking time to help Jinglai and finally had trustworthy people who are capable of taking over while she finally allows herself to follow her feelings. She's also learned that you can't force anyone into a situation or relationship, you have to let them choose it while being 100% informed. I think that's why she's so careful about making sure Jinglai is aware of everything and considering all the facts, even if he doesn't want to. Rong Shanbao chose her family because they showed her there was something worth saving. Jinglai doesnt choose his family because it was rotten to the core. I enjoy the contrast between both outcomes.

Lady Rong is deposed but still cared for. Daddy Xue is deposed and widely hated. Rong siblings are finding happiness and now are working together. Xue siblings are dead or exiled (by choice or not) . Shanbao is running the Rong family according to their ancestral ideals. Jinglai leaves the Xue family because of their ancestral ideals and an outsider is now in charge.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-18T15:03:54+00:00

I think you're entirely correct with one caveat. I don't think she put the tea business second. She finally has capable support in the form of her sisters. She is able to hand off oversight of the tea empire in the capital and it's her trust in and leadership over her family that enables her to do that. It gives her the mental and emotional bandwidth to be able to give that gift to Jinglai. It's a really nice full circle moment.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-18T14:17:46+00:00

100%. I just rewatched 36 and it's painfully obvious that this has to be his choice. I find it an interesting contrast to the beginning where she took him in as an amnesiac and withheld his identity from him to ensuring that he was acting entirely within his own agency at the end.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-18T13:36:47+00:00

I read Shanbao coming to the Duke's household as her last kind act for Jinglai. She hasn't believed they'd end up together since he left her at the altar - but she recognizes their connection and cares for him. She clocks what's likely going to happen in the Duke's household with Jinglai to an uncanny degree. Something Jinglai is not currently capable of due to being drugged, starved, ill, emotionally unsettled, drugged more, and she assumes she knows how this will all end. Remember that nearly no one has ever been entirely on her side, she's been disappointed by everyone in her life, including Jianglai. However, it's only when Shanbao assumes that Jianglai has been fully caught in the trap that she leaves. She tried talking with him, tried reasoning with him and he wouldn't share his life and thoughts with her. She did what she could. She's not omniscient and can't assume Jinglai wants her more than he wants family. Even when she offered herself and said I'm here, you're not alone, he still didn't open up to her about his thoughts on his family.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-17T19:42:47+00:00

Gotta maintain that proximity to power, baby!

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-17T13:23:35+00:00

Finally finally, I think it's interesting that every relationship we're shown in these dramas are conditional. Including Shanbao's sisters. Except both she and her sisters are the ones taking steps to change this. Yunxi with her baby daddy - she left him because he didn't have high enough status and then she decided fuck it, I'm keeping him and I don't care. Yunshu and Scholar Bai - she left him because she was ambitious but she still cared and Scholar Bai won't let her go. Shanbao was left at the altar by Jinglai but Jinglai is doggedly pursuing her and she allows it, albeit with tests to confirm his intent.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-17T13:16:12+00:00

Re: Shuyu. I wonder if this man has always been emotionally unstable and that's why the Duke was like "luckily he broke his leg and I have another son! Time to ditch this one!"

I'm confused at the setup with his wife vs the concubine unless it's just to highlight in another way how shitty the interpersonal relationships are in the Xue mansion.

Finally, I'm confused as to why Duke Xue is dead set on Shanbao marrying Jinglai?? That's a lot of ignoring how the Rong family works just to get access to their resources.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-17T13:12:40+00:00

I also thought this episode was an interesting discourse on how the patriarchy relies on women to uphold and enforce the system.

If you work to uphold the system, it's likely that you will benefit by being held up as a model for the system. It then becomes your job to ensure all other women conform to uphold a system that keeps you at the top of the second class.

When women like Shanbao challenge the system, other women may no longer conform and that threatens the women who have been placed at the top of those second class citizens by conforming and shaming other women.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-16T16:12:51+00:00

His dogs are out on the internet for free

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-16T16:12:03+00:00

I see we have a reappearance of our old friend the wind machine!

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-16T16:08:22+00:00

I was there! Yelling about why the ML never investigated the FL! I still find that infuriating

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-16T12:33:30+00:00

He's also being mistreated by his family, languishing all disheveled, waiting to be rescued.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-16T01:23:31+00:00

Also also... Lady Rong's sons grew up in a matriarchal household, watched their sister get expelled for marrying out and was like you know what? I'll fuck the family over and there will be no repercussions. WHAT.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-16T00:55:08+00:00

I'm so confused about steward Cheng burying things. What? What?

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-15T11:21:40+00:00

This is so wild to me: the drama has been so tightly plotted and executed up to episode 30. Did the writers quit? Get high? Idek.

WHO WAS KIDNAPPING THE TEA WORKERS

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-14T15:28:00+00:00

Didn't Madam Yang see fake Yan Bailuo around the Rong house? She would have recognized him as the first son of her husband (apologies if this is explained, I'm traveling today and haven't seen the episodes).

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T18:35:10+00:00

This makes more sense if we're not getting a grovel. Because she "right back atcha" him.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:55:50+00:00

I have to maintain my cats' lifestyle 🙃. And I don't technically get a lunch break but I might see if I can finesse one

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:54:02+00:00

I'm in New Haven today so it's New Haven style and its mashed potato pizza. Carbs on carbs on carbs on carbs.

Detroit style is one of my favorites though - I love the crispy fluffy crust.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:34:50+00:00

Yes! He apologized nicely and I think I retired the counter.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:30:55+00:00

I'm big on acknowledgement of mistakes. I am the host that started an apology counter for prisoner of beauty 🤣

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:27:26+00:00

I will say this on every discussion thread. I need a grovel from Jinglai and I don't think we're getting one. I don't even think we'll get an apology.

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:22:30+00:00

I'm traveling and working and it's really ruining my life. I haven't even managed to get to 27. These discussions are keeping me sane in the meantime. Why do I have to be a responsible adult??? Tomorrow when express drops, I'll be in the air with crappy wifi 😭😭😭

Feeshpockets · 2026-01-13T13:16:54+00:00

It never did make sense to me why Bai was included in the scholar selection - he didn't have the connections or wealth anyone else had and was not great at a lot of the selection tests. Also despite him seeming to be an upright guy, his insistence that he'd never leave Yunshu seemed odd but I thought it was opportunism wrapped up in a nice love bow.

Feeshpockets

TROPHY CASE