#cui shijiu

[marlo-noni]

Just saying, Ciu Shijiu "Langjun" looks pretty hot in nanzhuang! Love me a hot lady villain!

[hyog-blog]

The Story of Pearl Girl (ep.21)

Girlpower and jewelry-making, yes, bring it on! I'm really enjoying the direction the show has taken right now. While Yan Zijin's revenge plot is definitely important (well, for him at least), our girl Duan Wu is trying to make a name for herself in the world of pretty ladies, fights for power, and gorgeous jewelry.

Now her name is Su Muzhe and she's using her outstanding mind to win over the women of influence and stand out from the crowd of jewelry traders, including Yan Zijing, who unwillingly spoiled her deal with the most popular singer/pipa player in Yangzhou.

Well, our girl doesn't despair and continues with yet another plan, trying to win over a different beauty, quite successfully, I must admit. Su Muzhe's feisty persona is still there, but she's become much more refined and elegant, knowing when to control her temper and when to show some of it. The way she ignored Yan Zijing at the meeting was truly graceful (and I can only imagine how much mental power it cost her). I'm not against him in any way, just curious to see where this road will take the both of them.

I'm also sensing some backstabbing games, looking at the group of pretty singers, who make a name for themselves by joining forces with famous jewelry houses. I'm intrigued to see what happens next! I hope they'll show more of it.

Making jewelry pieces right on the spot. Quite impressive! At this point, I don't care if it's realistic or not, just enjoying the ride:)

The order is ready and the maid of an influential beauty approves. Naturally, the lady herself likes it, too, taking Su Muzhe to a meeting with a bunch of young and beautiful singers.

As always, where there are many gorgeous women, there is gossip and a fight for power. Everyone is using each other either to get some benefits or to overthrow someone else.

Su Muzhe is trying to sell her jewelry and a set of nails adorned with pearls to the most popular (at the moment) pipa player, who is considered the first beauty in the city.

Suddenly, Yan Zijin appears. Su Muzhe pretends to pay him no attention. He can't help himself and glances at her from time to time while mercilessly shutting down her deal.

I'm really loving all the sets, though! They are very detailed and carefully made. Just visually very pleasing. Su Muzhe is trying to persuade another woman to play along and take part in the festival, where she can showcase her beauty and Su Muzhe's jewelry. I liked their interaction and want more stories about girls empowering other girls :3

Compared to many other cdramas, the Story of Pearl Girl is quite fast-paced. You actually get a good amount of events per one episode (and you really notice these things when watching only 1-2 episodes per day :D). It's not dragged at all!

Also, we got to see Cui Shijiu in a female attire. Which, yes, is kind of sad because she does it to sell herself to a guy to get some money/power/influence. She's lost everything, the Cui house is down, and she thinks it's the only thing left for her to do. But I have to say she looks stunning as a girl!

[seekerofpatterns]

If I was ever to gender swap the casting of Word of Honor, Chloe Xie would be my Wen Kexing. I'm watching her in The Story of Pearl Girl, and she has the best unhinged murder expressions I've ever seen from a female actor in a c-drama. Cui Shi Jiu is so much fun to watch. I hope she gets a good ending, even though she's an utter sociopath.

[heerims-blog]

this was foul on so many levels like one of the few reasons i didn't give up on the second half of the drama was these two, i kinda jinxed them but hopefully this is the last straw for cui shijiu in going against the zheng family

not even going to talk about the fact that he literally used the last burst of energy left in his body to run himself completely through the spear to free her from the ropes so that she could escape

also the "was your love for me real?" would have cracked me up if i wasn't crying because BROTHER she's cradling your dying body in her arms while sitting in the flaming ruins of a house that could kill her and THAT is your last question for her?

[heerims-blog]

every time shijiu-lang is referred to as shijiu-niang an angel dies like idgaf they are very deliberately doing it so that it hurts and anyone who does that deserves to die

[dramatictrajectory]

Definitely prefer a brainy antagonist, but going from public fistfight + stupid choices (e.g.: inept hired assasin) to scheming enough to take over a city is more like a character leap than character arc...