Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

 liddi:

Hey.... you can't blame the guy for bringing his portable house along. Who knows when he would suddenly feel like taking a nap? Think of it as Xiang Liu's Moving Clam shell as opposed to Howl's Moving Castle! 

Xiang Liu's Moving Clam Shell! (>▽<)

 liddi:

I never thought of it that way. It actually makes sense when you explain it like that - thank you!

The image you shared of Feng Long holding his fireball made me think that his reddish hair might have been inspired by his fire powers, and the fact that his clothes incorporated red and blue (to match his fire and water powers) made it seem more likely. 

 liddi:

I thought so too. Looks like game Xiang Liu is meant to be scrubbing away by the lake during his free time for appearance's sake.

I feel bad for him. Let him be FFB and relax!

The White Lotus Symbolizes Xiang Liu

We know that the osmanthus (木樨花) represents Jing and the phoenix flower (凤凰花) represents Cang Xuan. So which flower represents Xiang Liu? 

The lotus (莲花, 荷花), specifically the white lotus, represents Xiang Liu. The novel uses two different characters for lotus: “荷” and “莲”. The character “荷” is usually used in conjunction with parts of the plant, while the character “莲” can be used to refer the plant itself or be used in conjunction with parts of the plant. Let’s look at some passages associating Xiang Liu with lotus.

The first verse of the lovesickness song that Xiang Liu hears Wen Xiao Liu singing when they first meet mentions lotus. 

君若水上风，妾似风中莲。
If you are the wind on the water, I am a lotus in the wind.

— Vol 1 Ch 2 (Chapter 2)

When Xiang Liu appears at Ma Zi and Chun Tao’s wedding, he is described as being “as clean as a white lotus blossom.”

相柳一袭白衣，站在回春堂门口，长身玉立，纤尘不染，就好像一朵白莲花，还是被雨水洗刷了三天三夜的，干净得让所有人都想回家去洗澡。
Xiang Liu was dressed in white and stood at the door of the Hui Chun Hall. He was tall and graceful, as clean as a white lotus blossom that had been washed by the rain for three days and three nights, so clean as to make everyone want to go home and take a bath.

— Vol 1 Ch 2 (Chapter 2)

When Xiang Liu comes to see Wen Xiao Liu at Dragon Bone Prison to say, “Beneath your feet is the sea (脚下是大海), ” the text mentions Xiang Liu looks like he is standing in white lotus blossoms.

白影在浪花上站定，是一个白衣白发、戴着面具的男子，他立在浪花中，就如站在朵朵白莲中，纤尘不染、风姿卓绝。
A white shadow stood on the waves, a man dressed in white with white hair, wearing a mask. He stood amidst the waves as if standing in white lotus blossoms, untainted by this world, exuding exceptional grace.

— Vol 1 Ch 8 (Chapter 8)

When Xiao Yao spends time with Fang Feng Bei in exchange for archery lessons, there is mention of a lotus fragrance at the flower demon shop. The words used to describe the various fragrances—serene, proud, ethereal—are all words that can also describe Xiang Liu.

花妖开的脂粉店，那些脂粉小夭倒不稀罕，可一滴凝练的花露，能让人身体凝香一个月，清幽的莲香、傲骨的梅香、空灵的兰香……还有各种调制的方法，能调制出这世上独一无二的香气，连小夭这个做惯了男人的人，也不禁陷了进去，试着各种香露，忍不住买了十几种花露。
The flower demon's cosmetics shop didn't interest Xiao Yao much with its cosmetics, but a drop of condensed flower essence could perfume a person's body for a month. The serene lotus fragrance, proud plum fragrance, ethereal orchid fragrance… coupled with various blending techniques, could create scents that were truly unique and unmatched in the world. Even Xiao Yao, who was accustomed to being a man, couldn’t help but fall into the trap. After trying various fragrances, she couldn't resist buying over a dozen flower essences.

— Vol 1 Ch 16 (Chapter 16)

Xiao Yao makes a “Koi Fish Playing with Lotus” poison dish for Fang Feng Bei to apologize for making him pay for her bow to spite Tu Shan Jing. After Bei finishes eating, Xiao Yao tells him that he is her soulmate. 

邶终于把目光从舞伎身上收了回来，看向案上。一幅摊开的卷轴图，潋潋清波中，团团翠叶，露珠晶莹，荷花半谢，莲蓬初结，一对锦鲤在莲下嬉戏，鱼唇微张，好似在等着莲子落下，赶快去抢吃。
Bei finally withdrew his gaze from the dancer and looked at the wooden tray. It was like an unfolded scroll painting, depicting a scene of rippling clear waves, clusters of green leaves, glistening dewdrops, half-faded lotus flowers, and budding lotus pods. A pair of koi fish played joyfully beneath the lotus, their mouths slightly open as if waiting for lotus seeds to fall, eager to snatch them up.

— Vol 2 Ch 2 (Chapter 19)

From these passages, it's clear that the lotus represents Xiang Liu.

Mentions of Lotus

Since the lotus (just like the willow and the moon) symbolizes Xiang Liu, let’s look at some mentions of lotus in the novel and interpret the meaning behind these passages.

After Wen Xiao Liu draws nine eyes on Xiang Liu and records it in his gorilla beast mirror, he basks in the sun with a lotus leaf covering his eyes.

没有病人的时候，小六喜欢拿一片荷叶遮住眼睛，仰面躺在晒草药的草席上，双臂贴着耳朵往上伸展，双脚自然合并，脚尖往下。整个身体笔直得像一条线，想象中好似身体可以无限延展，那种筋骨撑拉的感觉，配上温暖的太阳、荷叶的清香，简直就像骨头饮了酒，小醉微醺的美妙。
When there were no patients, Xiao Liu liked to cover his eyes with a lotus leaf, lie on a straw mat used for drying herbs, face up, with his arms stretched upward, touching his ears, and his feet naturally together, toes pointing downward. His whole body was straight like a line and he imagined he could infinitely extend his body. The feeling of stretching his muscles and bones, accompanied by the warm sun and the fragrance of lotus leaves, was like the bones drinking wine, a delightful light intoxication.

— Vol 1 Ch 4 (Chapter 4)

 It could be one of the first signs that Wen Xiao Liu is starting to be lovesick for Xiang Liu. The description "like the bones drinking wine, a delightful light intoxication" at the end of this passage is similar to with an excerpt about lovesickness from the introduction to the first volume of the book. 

相思是一杯有毒的美酒，入喉甘美，销魂蚀骨，直到入心入肺，便再也无药可解...
Lovesickness is a cup of poisonous fine wine; it is sweet as it enters the throat, melting the soul and eroding the bones, until it enters the heart and lungs, after which there is no longer a cure for it.

— Introduction to Vol 1 (link to full translation by liddi)

When the Royal Mother helps Xiao Yao regain her true appearance, there is mention of a lotus platform. Since the peach blossom symbolizes Xiao Yao and the lotus symbolizes Xiang Liu, the mention of the lotus platform here might be a subtle nod to Xiao Yao and Xiang Liu being soulmates.

翻涌的碧波渐渐地平息，瑶池上浮着一朵和莲台差不多大的桃花，几片翠绿的桃叶托着它，衬得它娇艳欲滴。王母遥遥点了一下，桃花徐徐绽放，一个赤裸身体的少女如婴儿一般蜷缩着身子，昏睡在花蕊中间。乌黑的发丝披垂在身上，衬得肌肤比桃花蕊更娇嫩。
The turbulent emerald waves gradually calmed down. A peach blossom, almost the size of a lotus platform, floated on the Jade Pool. Several emerald peach leaves supported it, enhancing its stunning beauty. The Queen Mother nodded from afar, and the peach blossom slowly bloomed. A naked girl curled up like a baby, lay asleep in the middle of the flower. Her jet-black hair draped over her body, making her skin appear even more delicate than the peach blossom.

— Vol 1 Ch 12 (Chapter 12)

When Jing surprises Xiao Yao with a visit sometime after giving her the purple fish stone necklace, she has him paint poison on handkerchiefs. When Jing asks what she wants drawn, she replies, “Umm…lotus.” The lotus, of course, represents Xiang Liu. Next, Xiao Yao has Jing draw butterflies representing herself. After that, she loses interest and tells him to draw whatever he wants. It’s clear who Xiao Yao has on her mind, even when she’s with Jing.

“嗯……荷花吧。”
“Umm…lotus."

— Vol 1 Ch 16 (Chapter 16)

After Xiao Yao finds out about Fang Feng Yi Ying’s pregnancy and breaks up with Jing, there is a description of Xiao Yao looking at a crystal basin with a lotus in it. This is one clue that the primary cause of Xiao Yao’s depression is not Jing’s betrayal and upcoming marriage. These are only that the reasons that she can disclose to her family and friends for why she is depressed.

水晶盆里，阿念刚才变幻的荷花正在凋零，一片片花瓣飘落，一片片荷叶枯萎，隔着凋敝的残荷看去，小夭端坐在榻上，似乎在看他，又似乎没有看他。不过是一个水晶盆的距离，却像是海角天涯。
In the crystal basin, the lotus that A Nian had transformed just a moment ago was withering, petals falling one by one, lotus leaves wilting. Looking across the withered lotus, Xiao Yao sat upright on the couch, seeming to be looking at him, yet also seeming to be not looking at him. The distance was only a crystal basin, but felt like a world apart.

— Vol 2 Ch 8 (Chapter 25)

Before Feng Long’s assassination, Xiao Yao’s heart was pained when she saw Jing’s old residence in Qing Shui Town. There is mention of a “moonlight lotus white” colored ice crystal wind chime. Moon, lotus, white, and ice crystals can all be associated with Xiang Liu. This may be a subtle hint that Xiao Yao may not have been thinking of Jing when she felt the sharp pain in her chest.

炎炎夏日时，廊下会挂着一排风铃，是用终年积雪的极北之地的冰晶所做，赤红色、竹青色、紫靛蓝色、月下荷白色……配合着冰晶的色彩，雕刻成各种花朵的形状。微风吹过，带起冰晶上的寒气，四散开来，让整个庭院都凉爽如春。庭院中开满各种鲜花，有茉莉、素馨、建兰、麝香藤、朱槿、玉桂、红蕉、闍婆、薝卜……
小夭走进圆月形的拱门，看见各种鲜花缤纷绽放，一如当年。一瞬间，小夭几乎觉得，会有一位如金如锡、如圭如璧的清润君子从花丛中站起，含笑凝视着她。
可是，没有！
阳光依旧明媚灿烂，鲜花依旧缤纷烂漫，那个曾无数次凝视着她的人却不见了。小夭心口发疼，眼前发黑，就要跌倒，玱玹忙回身，揽住她：“小夭！”
During the scorching summer days, there would be a row of wind chimes hanging in the corridor, made from ice crystals collected year-round from the far north where snow never melts. They were in hues of crimson, bamboo green, indigo purple, and moonlight lotus white, each carved into various flower shapes to match the colors of the ice crystals. When a breeze blew, it carried the chill from the ice crystals, dispersing it and making the entire courtyard cool like spring. The courtyard was adorned with various blooming flowers such as jasmine, carnation, orchid, musk vine, hibiscus, cassia, banana flowers, dahlia, and ixora...
Xiao Yao walked into the round moon-shaped archway and saw various flowers blooming vividly, just like in the past. For a moment, Xiao Yao almost felt as if a gentleman with a golden and silver aura, as refined as jade and precious as jade disks, would stand up from among the flowers, smiling and gazing at her, but no one did.
The sunlight remained bright and radiant, and the flowers were still colorful and abundant, but the person who had gazed at her countless times was nowhere to be found. Xiao Yao felt a sharp pain in her chest, her vision darkening, and she almost fell. Cang Xuan quickly turned around and embraced her, saying, “Xiao Yao!”

— Vol 3 Ch 13 (Chapter 46)

There is mention of a lotus cup at the scene where Xiao Yao poisoned Cang Xuan and committed suicide. This could hint that she considered Xiang Liu before committing suicide, and hoped that he would come save her and take her away.

又是一个月圆之夜，小夭提着个白玉莲花盏，一边哼唱着那些古老的歌谣，一边沿着山径慢慢地走着，侍卫们看她是去凤凰林，也未阻拦，只是暗中跟着。
It was another full moon night, Xiao Yao carried a white jade lotus cup, humming old folk songs as she walked slowly along the mountain path. The guards, seeing her heading towards the Phoenix Forest, did not stop her but followed her discreetly.
…
小夭漫步在凤凰林内，不停地有落花飘下，小夭随手接住，把花放到莲花盏内，不一会儿就装了满满一盏凤凰花。
Xiao Yao strolled through the Phoenix Forest, where petals kept falling. She caught them in her hand and placed them in the lotus cup. Before long, the bowl was filled with phoenix flowers.
…
虽然很久没用，但因为有玱玹的灵力在，秋千架并没被藤蔓攀爬，依旧干净整洁。小夭跳坐到秋千架上，双脚悬空，一踢一晃。她一边悠闲地欣赏着凤凰花，一边时不时从莲花盏内拿一朵花放进嘴里吸吮花蜜。
Although it had been unused for a long time, because of Cang Xuan’s spiritual power, the swing frame remained clean and tidy without vines climbing on it. Xiao Yao jumped up and sat on the swing, her feet dangling and swinging gently. She leisurely admired the phoenix flowers while occasionally taking a flower from the lotus cup and sucking on its nectar.
…
小夭把白玉莲花盏递到玱玹面前：“我不知道我究竟是在恨你，还是在恨自己，大概一起在恨吧！毕竟我一直都认定，不管你做了什么，我都会帮你去承担，你犯了错，我也有一半。”
Xiao Yao handed the white jade lotus cup to Cang Xuan and said, “I don't know if I hate you or I hate myself, probably both! After all, I've always believed that no matter what you do, I'll help bear the burden with you. If you make a mistake, I’ll share half the fault.”

— Vol 3 Ch 14 (Chapter 47)

Tong Hua has woven mentions of lotus in the narrative to subtly hint Xiang Liu is never far from Xiao Yao's mind.

 solarlunareclipse:

Thanks for the links! The posts contained some good information on the symbolism behind the various flowers. I'm slowly working my way through the previous posts in this forum and hadn't gotten to those yet.

Thanks for sharing about the lotus @solarlunaeclipse. It's awesome that we all picked up on the same thing. We probably have some differences in the way we approach/look at it and that will add to the topic :-).

This thread is so long with so much content, it's nice to revisit things from newer posters. I know I missed a lot of details/discussions when they were happening. Re-reading the older posts is illuminating. 

Haven't got the time to read through your posts yet. Will do so later.

 H19279:

Long time ago, HeadInTheClouds and I posted analysis about flower and white lotus as XL almost at the same time. 

Maybe you haven't read it. If you are interested, here are the links

https://mydramalist.com/discussions/lost-you-forever/110123-xl-and-xy-story-and-romance-warning-spoilers?pid=2881387&page=384#p2881387

https://mydramalist.com/discussions/lost-you-forever/110123-xl-and-xy-story-and-romance-warning-spoilers?pid=2881401&page=384#p2881401

Thanks for locating these @H19279. I'm trying to locate some of my "analysis". This helps.

 Wanning94:

so MAYBE they were offered, still a rumors, which only LYF production knows, if it was ever true. Glad, Xu Kai declined it, cause I really liking him with YangZi in Best Choice Ever.

I asked in the comment section of Best Choice ever about thr rummor that Xu Kai declined Jing, one of the reply/comment saying that the rumor is not true. 

Anyway, if the rumor is correct, I am also glad that he did so. If he had only 1 opportunity to work in Yang Zi, being smart, capable Yao Zhi Ming is much better than the incapable Jing. Maybe he will not get as much attention and success as DW, YZM is way better image

@solarlunareclipse

"So does the withered lotus represent her sadness for the end of her relationship with FFB or for the end of her relationship with Jing? I'd like to think it represents her sadness for XL/FFB." 

I am with you, thank you for the whole analysis, it was honestly a pleasure to read it. 

@H19279

"XY had chosen Jing, used him to replace or subpress her desire for XL."

That's what I thought too, but thinking back, I now believe that up until the wedding robbery, XY's choice was XL, it was only after that that she started to really work things out with Jing. Jing chose her, but why would she bring marrying her enemy to her granpa, if not for her thinking of XL as a choice? For all we know, up till then XY didn't know what type of bugs the lovers bugs are and XL never hinted or promised her anything of this sort, so I personally read that conversation she had with the yellow emperor as expressing her feelings, Jing chose her, she chose XL, but as later mentioned Jing doesn't have the ability and XL doesn't have the will. These 2 discussions, the one with yellow emperor and the one she had with Feng Long are definetely related. 

 H19279:

I asked in the comment section of Best Choice ever about thr rummor that Xu Kai declined Jing, one of the reply/comment saying that the rumor is not true. 

Anyway, if the rumor is correct, I am also glad that he did so. If he had only 1 opportunity to work in Yang Zi, being smart, capable Yao Zhi Ming is much better than the incapable Jing. Maybe he will not get as much attention and success as DW, YZM is way better image

Exactly. I agreed. Thankyou for sharing info. More importantly YangZi, Tan Jianci and Wanyi effectively nailed their role as XY/ WXL, XL/FFB and CX respectively by their beautiful performances. ❤️

 blabla100:

Probably far fetched and I am not even sure how accurate koala's translation is on this detail, but she was also wearing a yellow dress in that particular scene.

Yes, she was wearing a pale yellow outfit in that scene:

小夭面色苍白，身子瘦削，但因为穿了温暖的嫩黄色，又晕了一点胭脂，并不觉得她没精神，反而像是迎着寒风而开的迎春花，在料峭春寒中摇曳生姿，脆弱却坚强的美。
Xiao Yao's face was pale and her body thin, but since she was dressed in warm light yellow and wore a touch of rouge, she did not appear listless. Instead, she looked like a winter jasmine, blooming in the face of cold wind, swaying in the chill of early spring, her beauty fragile yet resilient.

-- Vol2 Ch8  (Chapter 25)

and yes, the flower that Fangfeng Bei shot was yellow.