Acrobit12

In the novel the third prince arc took place before she was poisoned by Shen Zaiye.

In the novel, she stays in the 3rd prince's harem for a while. They never actually sleep together. FWIW.

In the novel, they make it out alive but don't become a couple, it's left open.

In the novel, yes.

In the novel the 3rd prince falls in love with her, but he doesn't know who she is. She doesn't reciprocate. I don't think it will play out this way in the drama because the 3rd prince is aware of her identity.

I think it's possible if they keep the pregnancy plot for the drama.

Because of the way it is set up in the previews. In the novel, Shen Zaiye, even though he has developed feelings for her, decides to poison her, but at the last minute can't bring himself to do it and plans to give her the antidote. She doesn't need the antidote because her poison counteracts the poison and she uses this as a pretext to run away and go back home. In the novel, the 3td prince arc happens before these events. Her, from the previews it looks like they are going to use the falling out between the main couple as a segway into the 3rd prince ark. In the novel, the 3rd prince didn't know who Jiang Taohua actually was, he thought she was some commoner girl.

All the Mengs are.

Yes, for a while. But it will not play out the same way as in the drama.

Wait, this is the SML from Wonderland of Love? I had to look him up, I didn't recognize him. He looks younger in this show somehow... and yes, he was really annoying in WOL.

So far the drama is different enough from the novel that they can be enjoyed as separate stories, although the jury is still out on how the drama will play out.

I thought the interactions in Ep 9 were a delight to watch.

This was wonderful. I very rarely watch xianxia, but I am so glad I have this drama a chance, absolutely delightful!

Rise of the Phoenixes

This is c-drama. If romance happens before episode 18 or so, everyone will die for sure, so let's not. ;)

Agreed. I sort of don't get how people expect a 30 year-old man to stay a virgin until he meets his one true love. That's just not how things work now or worked then. In some historical c-drama I watched, can't remember the name, the ML, who was all of 22, was being castigated by his mother for not yet being married while other men his age already had school-age children. 😉

Yep, very few men look good in these wedding outfits.

Couple of reasons, at least in the novel:

1. Convenient chess piece vis-a-vis the crown prince.

2. He has his own plans and goals vis-a-vis the 4th prince and that political marriage was not a part of them.

In the novel they do.

I am definitely going to watch that, I loved LYN in TPOB, but I am going to wait until the weekend, I do have a day job :).