Kokuto:
Okay, I like this take on it. Though I'd still rather not have her 'see' a montage at all, cause the only answer is XL. The struggle is with herself, not trying to pick between the three.
liddi:
My best guess for these three scenes are as follows:
Leaked script Ep20 (originally S02E28 scene 19) - Cang Xuan giving Xiao Yao the Ruomu flower at the poinciana forest on Zhao Yun Peak at Xuan Yuan mountain, just before her wedding to Jing
Leaked script Ep10 (originally S02E18 scene 13) - Jing and Xiao Yao at Xiao Yue Summit after Hou and Yi Ying's affair is exposed and he is free to be with her at last
Leaked script Ep19 (originally S02E27 scene 17) - Xiang Liu holding Xiao Yao in his arms at Gourd Lake when she collapsed and passed out after giving so much of her blood the last time they met (his chest wound from the arrow is just barely visible)
This snake-in-the-grass montage editing was only for the trailer. If liddi's guesses for the scenes are correct, then all the montage scenes happened after the scene where XL asked XY who she most wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
HeadInTheClouds:
With any luck, she'll achieve some much-needed growth and healing.
I think TH implied in some interviews that she does grow and heal after the end of the novel.
HeadInTheClouds:
If he has to reincarnate, may he and Chubby be free to roam the world together. And may he find someone who is able to love him and choose him wholeheartedly.
People say TH's clues in both the novel and the drama point towards XL's reincarnation + reunion with XY. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :)
HeadInTheClouds:
Can XY take responsibility for her choices and actions instead of acting like some victim? Aren't they selling her as some "Big Female Boss" character?
She isn't a big female boss character. TH set the novel during a time where there weren't that many options for women.
阿念看小夭的样子应该是不想和她回五神山,说道:“你不喜欢住在五神山,神农山又不适合长住,那就只有一条出路了。”
A Nian saw that Xiao Yao wasn’t ready to go back to Five Gods Mountain with her, and said, "Since you don't like living on Five Gods Mountain, and Shen Nong Mountain isn't suitable for you to stay long-term, there's only one way out."
“什么?”
"What?"
“嫁人啊!嫁人是所有女人唯一的出路,当然,除非你打算到玉山去做王母。”阿念叹了口气,“不过,你嫁了人也麻烦,我看丰隆长年留在轵邑,说不定玱玹哥哥还会赏赐他住在神农山,丰隆交游广阔,又是赤水族的族长,做他的夫人也应该八面玲珑、长袖善舞,你却……有些呆笨,不会说话,连怎么打扮都不会。现在都有人在背后笑话你,将来还不知道你要闹出多少笑话,如果你再不讨王后的欢心,你以后的日子可怎么过……唉!”
"Get married! Marriage is the only way out for a woman, unless, of course, you plan to go to Jade Mountain and become the Royal Mother." A Nian sighed, "But even if you get married, there will be troubles. I see Feng Long staying in Zhi Yi for a long time, and Cang Xuan might reward him with a residence on Shen Nong Mountain. Feng Long is very sociable and is the Chi Shui clan leader. His wife should be versatile and socially adept, but you... you're somewhat socially awkward, don't know how to talk, and can't even dress properly. People are already laughing at you behind your back, and who knows how many more embarrassing situations you'll cause in the future. If you don't get on the good side of the Queen, what will your life be like down the road... Alas!"
小夭道:“你别再说了,我本来就够绝望了,你再说下去,我简直觉得活得失败透顶,前路没有一丝希望。”
Xiao Yao said, “Don’t say any more. I'm already feeling desperate enough. If you continue talking, I'll really feel like a complete failure with no hope for the future."
— Vol 2 Ch 13 (Chapter 30)