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No, I think the changes to the ML is a good thing for the drama adaptation since novel ML would be absolutely demolished by viewers and no one would be okay with a "happy ending". LJQ currently is already getting some criticisms because people know about the spoilers later.

I think it is more so the drama adaptation for characters like Du Cuique should have been changed along with the changes to the ML. There were already people bringing up that it really didn't make sense for the Lin household to take in Du Cuique right into their inner courts in the drama (with ML being newly single, the potential scandal, etc.) when Du Zheng is still alive. They could have easily placed them somewhere near them, gave them money, and also send them servants to take care of them while checking in on them. They did it in the novel as Du Cuique had no one else at all which later led to her becoming the concubine.

Zhao Xingtang's changes in the drama for example makes sense.

C-viewers are not talking about her even getting with a scholar. They do know what happen to the scholar later on, but they wanted her to be with someone not involved at all in politics/court.

It truly is fate. 😔

LOL, true, got a whole life in front of her dealing with everyone's problems.

I did be okay with the ending being here but alas. 😔

I like the Lin Jinqi in the drama, but I don't know how I totally feel about the drama making him into a "good person" while for the female villains, they are still more of the villain roles (while having some sympathetic moments).

In the novel from what I know (someone correct me if I am wrong), Du Cuique's older brother DIED from saving the ML. With her brother's death, Du Cuique couldn't become a female official anymore using normal means (or truly marry someone as a wife without her brother around).

The ML and Lin family took Du Cuique in as a way to "repay the favor" and she became ML's concubine. She recognized that as she couldn't be a female official anymore but still wanted to advance in life. So, she leveraged the "repay the favor" with the Lin family and became ML's concubine.

Some of the actions she later did in the novel was due to him, the Lin family, her position as a concubine, and her own psychological issues. This drama attempted to still have her pull what she did, but her motives seem more superficial because they changed the ML so much.

Some C-viewers love Lanxiang so much that they don't want her to go back to the Lin household and get married to Jinqi in the future. Can't say I don't understand because I do just want her to be free and live out the rest of her life with her parents too, meet someone nice if she wants, and live peacefully. But there are also people saying that because she is so intelligent, it is not possible for her to live a peaceful life. She is someone who did be noticed for her wits no matter where she goes. 🥲

Once someone reads 红楼梦, they will see references of it in pretty much all the period/historical C-dramas focused on household conflicts. This novel actually helped a lot too on studying gender issues in China.

Yes! As it is one of the Four Great Classic Novels in China, there have been many different translations of it.

There are many different English translations of it too, but the Hawkes and Minford version published by Penguin is deemed as the best one for English readers.

There are a lot of people sharing similar theme dramas about household conflicts/servants' POV but I just want to share that a lot of these dramas on these topics all branched from the classical 18th century novel 红楼梦 (Dream of the Red Chamber).

Even this drama based some of its characters from that novel. Some of the styling/filming choices of this drama is also reminiscent of the 1987 drama adaptation of the novel. I highly recommend people reading the novel 红楼梦 as it is considered a masterpiece of these specific topics. The current C-dramas have explored some of these topics, but none have really been as in depth compared to 红楼梦.

She meant if the Lin family dies, it is LJQ's own fault. That it did be his own fault that his mother and sister died (not that he killed her family). She also tried to blame Lanxiang too.

It was hinted here and there by 1-2 episodes earlier before episode 18. Whenever someone mentioning bathing and hot water, there are some clues to the poisoning.

It is funny you mentioned it because South Korean actress Park Shinhye has the same kind of thumbs and viewers noticed them too. They are brachydactyly type D thumbs. 😅

Nah, Marquis Yuan is a good dude.

It is implied there is someone behind them (probably the Wo). It seems like the intention was to marry in at first but when that failed (and they knew they had no chance left), they might have switched their gears and started working with someone else to destroy the Lin family. More should be revealed as the drama goes on because it is not the end of Du Cuique. There were preview clips before the drama got released of her getting involved with the pirates.

Flashing us with his dimples... a sick man. 🤭

They are very cute. 🤭

Agree, Lanxiang was also fortunate in the beginning part of her life growing up in a loving household and with adults who educated her and guided her to become a good person. Then even with her adoptive parents, they prevented her from spiraling and she wanted to do good for them too in return. Both Zhao Xingting and Du Cuique lacked those.

Lin Jinqi's dimples sure are working overtime when he is with Lanxiang. 😂

Yeah, unfortunately Du Cuique went too far and directly killed people. Zhao Xingtang did indirectly kill people too. The loans she was doing with people pushed them to commit suicide. Plus her sending off the Lin servants to marry certain men who ended up abusing the women too.

Such great and complex villain roles. Can talk about them all day!