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From violence to poetry through romance : the characters development. + All the episodes.

unbeliebubble
 TaliaToo:

Glad you agree! I will continue to rewatch his scenes so I can write that final post. He will be my "move on" character, ahahaha, because PEARL GIRL BECKONS! And my LuSi takes all precedence!

I am exited to read your post. I have been waiting for pearl girl to air too :)

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unbeliebubble

my review of this drama in case you are interested :  

https://mydramalist.com/profile/unbeliebubble/reviews/400704

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unbeliebubble

Episode 1 - the encounter :
As soon as Mei Lin appears  asleeped and her father saves her, she wears the same outfit she wore in the happy ending sequence.
We also see the Weibei army and Qinzhoun in fire.
Wich means that it is really their story that begins again in the ending of the show.

While exfiltrating her from the fire, her father tells  « Live, You must live well! »
This represent a promise done to her dying father and we know how important are moribund's last wish for the ones they left behind.
This is why Mei Lin kept repeating it. She respected her dying father's last wish. "She must live".

This is role playing time at Jeinbei: MRJH is a lustful playboy and Mei Lin is a lethal "femme fatal".
In this white troubled water pool, after Mei Lin,  (very seductress) told Prince Jing that she just wanted him.
The latter pierced her throat with her own hairpin. The same hairpin she wanted to use to assassinate him. Suddenly a drop of blood  fell in the water.
Like  the virginal blood falls on the « proof of virginity » on the wedding night.
We had there a hint (through this symbol) of the marriage between the two.
MRJH's hint is delicious :  
« Bleeding should be on the wedding night in ZhaoJing »
This  foreshadowing of their wedding amazed me  :)


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TaliaToo
 unbeliebubble:
MRJH's hint is delicious :  
« Bleeding should be on the wedding night in ZhaoJing »
This  foreshadowing of their wedding amazed me  :)

YES! I also thought of that when I rewatched the first episode in my discussion but didn't want to bring it up until (if ever, haha) I write about their final episodes with the cute wedding.

Good to know you saw it too!

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sansoleil83

Nice observation! That wedding had me grinning from ear to ear. 

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TaliaToo
 sansoleil83:
Nice observation! That wedding had me grinning from ear to ear. 

That cute look he gave over the top of the fan--kinda amused, cheeky and full of promise of retaliation LOLOLOL. I loved it.

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unbeliebubble

@ sansoleil83  @ TaliaToo 

Thanks, You also noticed it. 

That wedding scene was very sexy and immensely innocent at the same time. It was cute to see Mei Lin saying boldly "I want you" to Prince Jing. Him answering "very well". If they had the wedding wine that would be perfect.  Better than the "wedding with death",  Luo Mei served CP Murong Xuan Lie.

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unbeliebubble

Episode 2 : Murong Jing He is innocent.

Prince Jing's  fake love story with Mei Lin resumes. He nicknamed her "Little Beggar" and she becomes someone meaningful to him.
As Mei Lin is walking a path toward death, attempting to murder the culprit of the Qingzhou great arson. She collides with the depressed Prince Jing. Who, at this point of time, has lost his purpose and feels as good as dead.
This encounter sparks in him a living thirst for revenge with the clear goal of avenging the 100.000 civilians of Qinzhou as well as rehabilitating his comrades from the Weibei Army.
Mei Lin's relentlessness at kill him amazes him and he starts to admire her.

As the two lie on a subliminal crisom herbal bed staring at each other. Prince Jing has made up his mind. He will make of her his pawn. She will follow him on his quest for revenge because they need each other. They are already a pair.
Mei Lin : « I live to kill you »
MRJH : « You can’t take revenge with just hatred ».

We discover that MRJH's lips is still red from the bitting of Mei Lin in the nupcial pool. He is like tattooed by her, sealed.  
( this man is mine, no tresspassing allowed ^_< ).
Because everyone in Zhaojing was able to see it. It served MRJH’s plan of pretending to be interested in this particular beauty among the 100.

When he plays a game, making every one looking at him  as a lunatic and a blood thirsty murderer. Only Mei Lin knows on the spot that the killer from the night before has been spotted and killed by him. Something feels off.
It's the first time she as an hint that something is weird.

The feeling deepens, as she enters the capital, witnessing the bashing Prince Jing was subjected to. In the middle of a commotion, Mei Lin is stunned by the sound made by a fallen Weibei Army token. Once again, she senses that something is off. Is Murong Jing He the real culprit of Qingzhou mass murder?


As they enter the city of Zhaojing, 6 children sing a disrespectful nursery rhymne. The goal is to diss Prince Jing and resurface the Qingzhou mass murder public outrage.
Suddenly, someone throws a rond piece of bread at Prince Jing’s face. He sarcastically starts to have it.

At this point of time,  Mei Lin already suspects that Prince Jing might have been framed.

Once upon a time,  in order to save her. Mei Lin herself was throwing a rond peace of bread ( baozi ?) at a little girl trapped in a burnt house. Then she left her, passing on her father's blessing : « Live well. »

Now, Mei Lin gets  another hint at Prince Jing’s innocence.
The fall of the Weibei army’s token undoubtedly sounds different from the one she stole from the arsonist.

Did Mei Lin decide to save Prince Jing at this very moment ?

She certainly found this token weird. For she feel compelled to bring justice to the innocent.
Mei Lin will save Prince Jing, like she saved the little girl.


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unbeliebubble

"Like, what was even the point?"
Well, I think that, what the writers wanted to say is :

1) About the impact of parenting on the children's life and choices.
MRJH went from the morbid personnality of the "ghost general"  to someone who fought to stay alive ( he was poisoned as well as Mei Lin) and tried to cure his loved one from a lethal threat, from the moment he found the hidden message from the Empress De Jia on her embroided screen. There, he knew that his mother always loved him and trusted him, as the well educated and kind boy she raised.
In this very moment, "The Master of Shadow Works" desapeared as his resentment vanished.
All he had to do left was continue his quest to overturn the Qinzhou case and redeem the reputation of the "Weibei Army" to convince his father of his innocence by forcing him to re-open the case.
His mother's postum message cuddled his heart and he was able to open up his heart to love Mei Lin.

On the contrary Crown Prince Murong Xuan Lie, lost his mother since his birth. Thus the crooked personality he developed despite being raised by the same parent as Prince Jing.

The importance of the parental education is a golden nugget of the show.

2) All misdeed cannont be redeemed, because yes, life is unfair .
Yes, it is unfair that the Momai poison he chose was indeed lethal.
He did his best to neutralize it but once done some actions have consequences, like in real life.
Same as the Crown Prince Murong Xuan Lie's demise. In real life, people with higher mobility are not treated the same way the commoners are.
This criminal against humanity's death was unfair, yes.
And like you said the list of unfair moments  goes on.

3) People can change for the better.
I appreciated watching the leads coming from a world where the were seeking death, to their fight for survivals. While making justice and saving each other every time.
Those dark individuals could find balance in the end and even have a happy ending in their next life.

This is why I like this drama despite its flaws. There is a morals side to "Kill me Love me"
https://mydramalist.com/profile/unbeliebubble/reviews/400704

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unbeliebubble

Episode 3 : Oath of survival - Mei Lin must live.

Mei Lin is desperate she knows she has  only 3 days left to live and the culprit is still at large. She whispers : « I don’t know what to do now ». She remembers that she has to attend the royal banquet that evening. A plan pops up in her mind : she will seek Prince Jing's help.

Later on, as she arrives at the banquet among the first groupe of 25 beauties. Momai poison starts to flare up. As the hairpin penetrates her wrist, a drop of poisonous blood alleviates her pain. Mei Lin has more and more difficulties to play the complying and obedient peace-making beauty. Quick, she must speak to Prince Jing. But will the Crown Prince spoil her plan? He seems decided to give her the "eastern palace jade". While Mei Lin approaches her hand to receive  it, Prince Jing suddenly stands up and walks at her. The banquet attendants are shocked. But they start to yell when Mei Lin suddendly stabbs Prince Jing . Just time for her to whisper to his ear : « You are not the true culprit of Qinzhou Massacre.  I have proof. Save me ».
The couple twirls as if they were dancing a macabre song and Prince Jing falls unconcious.

Mei Lin opens her eyes. She is hanging by the wrists with a rope, a meter above the ground, in a prison cell. It's been hours since the first tortures and harsh interrogation sessions began. She is weak and injured. All her body suffers. She  softly whispers :  « I cannot die ».
It was the legacy of her dying father. His order binds her, she has to survive.

After the torture, as she is linning on the wall of this dark and dirty prison cell.

For the very first time,  Mei Lin notices the undying flowers fighting their way to life.
She crawls painfully at this living beacon of hope.
In case she lie down by them, would she be able to sense their fragrance?  
As she slowly whispers « un- dy- ing ».
Prince Jing, who was watching her with admiration and care, also slowly whispers « un- dy- ing ».

They just vowed to survive that deadly quest. The undying flower represent them.
Mei Lin and Murong Jing He must live. They just made an oath of survival.

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unbeliebubble

Episode 4 : They must team up. Can Prince Jing trust you Mei Lin?

Looking at the Qingzhou knot falling on his Go board, Prince Jing whispers :  « Only a dead man can leave any evidence. » After full consideration, no more hesitations. He has to save Mei Lin. If he doesn't act up quickly, War Minister Zhang Yin will soon take action and the proof will be lost forever.

Arriving at the prison, he finds Mei Lin fighting for her survival, as a corrupted prison guard is trying to assassinate her. The latter is quickly taken care of by his bodyguard, despite the interference of Wang Qang, the Crown Prince's sidekick. Time to have a serious discussion with Mei Lin. Like he always does, he is going to play tough and heartless. He has been playing the Ghost General for years. Making her give up. He might have a chance.

First grant her a wish before putting her to death. She dodges it, saying  : « I only have one wish in my life. I want to personally slay the true culprit of Qingzhou massacre. » Ok, let's take another chance. Maybe the fact that she's been tortured by him 10 years ago can put enough pressure on her to make her surrender. But again she replies : « You were torturing your self. You would rather bear the crime of a massacre, even if it means being despised by the whole world, than explain the the ones who set the Qingzou fire were not the real WeiBei army. The true Weibei army, even when face with an onslaught from the people, would turn their blades toward themselves. On the day I entered the city I saw it.»

Prince Jing is stunned, how could she perform the assassination attempt knowing all this? The death threat of the Momai poison must be the reason behind her actions. Indeed, it is. She also tells him that she stole a fake WeiBei army's token from the arsonist and promises to give it to him as soon as she is out of prison. Prince Jing must take the bait.  It's been 10 years of preparation for this very day. At last, A proof of the mass murder resurfaces. He owes it to 100.000 dead civilians and the 30.000 of Weibei army.  But that woman is a difficult safe to crack. Can he trust her. As he leaves, she suddenly utters :

« You and I are both living for the dead. If the wronged souls cannot rest in peace. We dare not die. »

She won. He will take the gamble. Save her life and get the token. He will play the perfect womanizer. Imperial father will certainly subject her to flogging instead of death penalty.  Anyway, he has the whole city as witness of his lustful  intentions toward the beauty. Mission accomplished, he can leave now.


Prince Yue Qin and Shu Muo decided to set up Mei Lin's prison escape. This would be done through the Dangguo cake box they use the day before. But this time they will temper with it by adding "fake death poison".

As soon as they arrive at the prison door, they see Prince Jing getting into his carriage. Prince Yue Qin gets paralized. Is he again too late. The words he told Princess Zigu on the day she arrived in Zhaoning are spinning in his head  : « I am afraid in this life I will be fated to miss her ».

All of a sudden Shu Muo declares : « Master, we are a step late, it seems the fake death poison is useless now. »


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TaliaToo
 unbeliebubble:
« I only have one wish in my life. I want to personally slay the true culprit of Qingzhou massacre. »

Yeah. And the writers did not fulfil this promise in the later episodes.

As a writer, this kind of dropped ball is what frustrates me and makes me gnash my teeth. And oh, besides the change of tone from these first five episodes. I have written dark anti-hero characters before, even sort of fake ones, and had at least stayed true to the tone of the story :). I have also always use any smoking gun I put in the beginning of my stories :).

But your analyses have been great. Carry on!

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unbeliebubble

True. They did not let Mei Lin slay CP. And it was her oath. I wasn't happy that the writers didn't let her fulfill her wish. I would have liked to watch that scene. Prince Jing took revenge on her behalf but this is not the same. And then she found herself married to GreenTeaPrince in Xiyan. At this point of time, she had lost the purpose she fought so much for.  

Yes they changed the tone of the story several times, once after episode 5 and after that again and again.The actor might have suffered mentally speaking to have to play so much personnality changes.  

Thank you TaliaToo. Coming from you, I really appreciate :)

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sansoleil83

@unbeliebubble

I’m enjoying the details you are drawing out from the episodes. Please keep going.

@TaliaToo

The pay off to Mei Lin’s revenge arc is critical,  otherwise it just feels empty - makes all the conversations she and MJH had at the start seem hollow. Instead they decided to divert the CP revenge plot line to focus on CP and Loumei’s arc. I’m going to go out on a limb and make an excuse for the writers/directors and blame it on the Producer and TV Exec s - maybe they demanded the story to go a particular way, maybe some supporting actors contractually had to have a lot more screen time? Yeah,  I’m frustrated and probably talking rubbish now LOL. 

The tone change during episodes 7-9 is very obvious. Watching KMLM does feel like we are watching four - five different drama series. 

But I am rewatching some scenes and there are some amazing individual segments. When KMLM is good it is so good. It’s just that the lows are also very low too. 

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TaliaToo
 sansoleil83:
But I am rewatching some scenes and there are some amazing individual segments. When KMLM is good it is so good. It’s just that the lows are also very low too.

Totally agree! I wanted it to keep the dark tone that I signed on to from Episodes 1-5. There were many following scenes later that were well-done and, I think, probably written by Writer #1 because I could sense his/her style. Those are worth rewatching for me.

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