I wonder what else she tried before resorting to teaming up with Ye Zun. I mean, I'd like to think that wasn't her first attempt, you know?

Oh, yeah, same here! The way she talks about it, it doesn't seem like it's the first thing she tried. I'd love to know what else she did as well!

But then, does Zhao Yunlan ever refer to himself as Lao Zhao to anyone? If he does, I wouldn't know.

I don't remember any instances, and I agree it would be a bit weird there. "Trying it on", as you say, would make sense for Lao-Chu!

and that Shen Wei probably had another of those artistically agonised self-healing scenes off-screen, and then -- left the robe tattered so he could demonstrate it to Chu Shuzhi without having to put it into words?

Haha, yeah, exactly like that, I assume! :D