what is the relationship of the main couple in the novel like? did she really love him or did she just compromise…
I tried reading the first chapters, but then it was said that FL's brother got arrested because he's a ped*phile (in the first life), and after her rebirth she planned to safe him... is that true? is he really guilty of that? and if yes, does she really want to save him from prison?
it's ridiculous that people criticize GJZ or the writers for her crying over Ye Xian's death. they were very close friends and had an mutual understanding, so of course she's very sad that he's dead, but also dying at such a young age...
her husband was giving Ye Xian the moment he deserved, that's why he was fighting to not loose consciousness. He knew that his wife just lost a friend and needs to grieve him, and because he loves her he gave her that room..
it's also in-character for GJZ to grieve like that. her reaction to her mother's death was different but also "extreme". GJZ is just that character who looks "strong" and "undefeatable", but when she cares she cares deeply. It's not a sign of her having hidden romantic feelings for YX, but she just feels the loss very deeply.
I mean, later she's ready to die fo her husband, just so that he can stay alive. There is no question who she loved romantically, but that doesn't mean that she's not allowed to have platonic love for her friends.
confused by the complaints that the couple needed be shown with a child at the end. I'm not saying that they won't have a child in the future, just that this wasn't part of the story and wouldn't have add anything to it.
the focus of the story was their relationship itself and how they support and comfort each other through difficult times. a child is not needed for a marriage to be strong and stable.
i did enjoy watching the deleted scenes, but I also understand why they were cut (except the cave lovescene) and appreciate it.
even though the assassin scene gives some context for another scene, it was weirdly executed and wouldn't have fit the dramas pacing. Same for the scene where he competes with her for the lantern. that scene was too long, and the fact that CYY's face was covered the whole time, didn't really help either.
i loved the ending, so I hope that the special episode is all about the deleted scenes they cut.for example: the scene where they are at a restaurant and ML is fighting a dancing assassin. I would like to know what was going in that scene, and why FL was there.
Chen YanYun is the top character of this drama for me, and imo, the one with the best story and characterization.
It was only at the end, when his mother explained his childhood, that we get a picture of what made him the way he is. From the very first episode we get to see a distant, clever, and most of all a capable man. A politican, who, despite his sometimes ruthless tactis, only fights for the greater good.
As a child, he was a "mature" and a "sensible" boy, his mother recalls. And when his brothers fought with each other, his mother did not make the effort to find out who started the fight, but chose to scold CYY first - a pretty harsh way to treat your own son, imo. He got blamed for things he had no fault in by his own mother, when he was just a little kid. I guess, this unfair treatment is one of the main reasons, why he's so eager to be a upright and honorable man.
He grew up to be the "most accomplished" among his brothers, his mother further notes, but "grew distant" from her at the same time (That's one of the things I liked, because many characters would develope mummy issues or would become obsessed with making their mother proud), and I guess CYY was always smart enough to know, that his mother was not a bad person, just a mother with flaws, and that there's nothing he can do about it. But it's probably that part of her character - her harshness, misjudgement of others and prejudices, that stops him from trusting and forming a bond with her. Sadly, this didn't stop his mother to burdening him with family matters at an already young age, like managing his oldest brothers wedding, or dealing with the horrors his younger brother Yanwen committed. He accomplished so many things, and yet his own mother never had one word of praise for him.
Sadly, we have not much info about his father, but given that CYY handled family affairs already at a young age, I guess it's safe to say that his father died when he was still young.
Overall, despite grewing up into a household with many siblings, he's quite a lonely person. Born into a family, which is never quite pleased with him and only expecting things. There are moments where he has to make some little sacrifices, for the sake of the country, like not hosting a celebration party for CXQ and Yanwen exam test, and instead of understanding, he is met with judgment and annoyance, ending with his mother asking him to leave. And also the moment where he asked his sister to give GJZ an engagement gift from him, his sister refuses out of jealousy and envy, and only gives in when he bribes her with jewelry. How sad that actually was. He has no one in this family, who truly appreciates him and has his back, no matter what.
It also creates a fascinating contrast to Ye Xian, who may be a disappointment to his father and can never make him happy, but it's only because of his health conditions that stops him from being the son his father always wanted. CYY on the other hand, excels at everything and is a very good man and official, but despite all of that, his mother is still unsatisfied with him. He is literally in a no-win situation.
The only people who truly ever had praise for him, are his mentors and co-workers. He is good at his job as an official, because how could he not, he had take of his household at a young age, had to manage & "clean up" things that must have prepared him for whats to put up with as an politican.
At court he gets attacked for his plans to help his country's people, and at home get gets criticized for making the hard decisions that secures the family's reputation and security. No matter where he is, at home or at the office - he is isolated from anyone else. No one understands him or appreciates him, or making an effort to make his life easier.
There is Chen Yi and JiangYan, people who assist him and who he trusts in return, but at the end those relationships are more like "boss-employee". CYY appreciates and likes them, but both of those relationships lack equality.
Then we have the betrayals he faces:
1. His fourth brother Yanwen, who not only killed their younger brother when they were kids, but also abducted his wife, to get revenge on him
2. CQX, who not only was bothering GJZ, but also betrayed his adopted uncle when he accused him of treason in front of the emperor.
3. Fu Hulian, who was CYY's mentor, but also constantly manipulated him and used CYY as his pawn in his schemes against the country
Despite all of that, CYY's determation to stay an upright and moral official, who serves the realm, never wavers. He's willing to even give up his life for it, for it's safety, and not let his people down.
We started the drama with a fire, lit by the FL, that symbolizes her rebellion against her family and the chains of an unwanted/arranged marriage + her need for independence. And we end the drama with a fire that symbolizes CYY's rebellion against all the people who's selfishness and greed could bring the realm into chaos. It's his morality and determination to stay an upright and honorable memberof the court, that will shape his path as an official, that will serve the greater good.
I'm usally more interested in "morally grey" or flawed characters, so that's why I was surprised that the character who got me hooked and interested in the drama is actually CYY. I already saw people calling his character bland or too perfect, but that's just such a misinterpretation of his story and character. It's easy to root for an angry and pityful character, but to see an ML, who has to endure so much and has to face so many betrayals (from his own family) + to deal with so much pressure and responsibility... this takes an insane amount of mental and emotional strength, that I can't just help myself but have to admire him for.
her husband was giving Ye Xian the moment he deserved, that's why he was fighting to not loose consciousness. He knew that his wife just lost a friend and needs to grieve him, and because he loves her he gave her that room..
it's also in-character for GJZ to grieve like that. her reaction to her mother's death was different but also "extreme". GJZ is just that character who looks "strong" and "undefeatable", but when she cares she cares deeply. It's not a sign of her having hidden romantic feelings for YX, but she just feels the loss very deeply.
I mean, later she's ready to die fo her husband, just so that he can stay alive. There is no question who she loved romantically, but that doesn't mean that she's not allowed to have platonic love for her friends.
https://x.com/i/status/2060228412258828791
https://x.com/i/status/2060228412258828791
https://x.com/i/status/2060228412258828791
I'm not saying that they won't have a child in the future, just that this wasn't part of the story and wouldn't have add anything to it.
the focus of the story was their relationship itself and how they support and comfort each other through difficult times. a child is not needed for a marriage to be strong and stable.
even though the assassin scene gives some context for another scene, it was weirdly executed and wouldn't have fit the dramas pacing.
Same for the scene where he competes with her for the lantern. that scene was too long, and the fact that CYY's face was covered the whole time, didn't really help either.
https://www.tumblr.com/featherontheground/817591415093739520/chen-yanyun-gu-jinzhaos-story-part-1-having?source=share
It was only at the end, when his mother explained his childhood, that we get a picture of what made him the way he is.
From the very first episode we get to see a distant, clever, and most of all a capable man. A politican, who, despite his sometimes ruthless tactis, only fights for the greater good.
As a child, he was a "mature" and a "sensible" boy, his mother recalls. And when his brothers fought with each other, his mother did not make the effort to find out who started the fight, but chose to scold CYY first - a pretty harsh way to treat your own son, imo. He got blamed for things he had no fault in by his own mother, when he was just a little kid. I guess, this unfair treatment is one of the main reasons, why he's so eager to be a upright and honorable man.
He grew up to be the "most accomplished" among his brothers, his mother further notes, but "grew distant" from her at the same time (That's one of the things I liked, because many characters would develope mummy issues or would become obsessed with making their mother proud), and I guess CYY was always smart enough to know, that his mother was not a bad person, just a mother with flaws, and that there's nothing he can do about it. But it's probably that part of her character - her harshness, misjudgement of others and prejudices, that stops him from trusting and forming a bond with her. Sadly, this didn't stop his mother to burdening him with family matters at an already young age, like managing his oldest brothers wedding, or dealing with the horrors his younger brother Yanwen committed. He accomplished so many things, and yet his own mother never had one word of praise for him.
Sadly, we have not much info about his father, but given that CYY handled family affairs already at a young age, I guess it's safe to say that his father died when he was still young.
Overall, despite grewing up into a household with many siblings, he's quite a lonely person. Born into a family, which is never quite pleased with him and only expecting things. There are moments where he has to make some little sacrifices, for the sake of the country, like not hosting a celebration party for CXQ and Yanwen exam test, and instead of understanding, he is met with judgment and annoyance, ending with his mother asking him to leave. And also the moment where he asked his sister to give GJZ an engagement gift from him, his sister refuses out of jealousy and envy, and only gives in when he bribes her with jewelry. How sad that actually was. He has no one in this family, who truly appreciates him and has his back, no matter what.
It also creates a fascinating contrast to Ye Xian, who may be a disappointment to his father and can never make him happy, but it's only because of his health conditions that stops him from being the son his father always wanted. CYY on the other hand, excels at everything and is a very good man and official, but despite all of that, his mother is still unsatisfied with him. He is literally in a no-win situation.
The only people who truly ever had praise for him, are his mentors and co-workers. He is good at his job as an official, because how could he not, he had take of his household at a young age, had to manage & "clean up" things that must have prepared him for whats to put up with as an politican.
At court he gets attacked for his plans to help his country's people, and at home get gets criticized for making the hard decisions that secures the family's reputation and security. No matter where he is, at home or at the office - he is isolated from anyone else. No one understands him or appreciates him, or making an effort to make his life easier.
There is Chen Yi and JiangYan, people who assist him and who he trusts in return, but at the end those relationships are more like "boss-employee". CYY appreciates and likes them, but both of those relationships lack equality.
Then we have the betrayals he faces:
1. His fourth brother Yanwen, who not only killed their younger brother when they were kids, but also abducted his wife, to get revenge on him
2. CQX, who not only was bothering GJZ, but also betrayed his adopted uncle when he accused him of treason in front of the emperor.
3. Fu Hulian, who was CYY's mentor, but also constantly manipulated him and used CYY as his pawn in his schemes against the country
Despite all of that, CYY's determation to stay an upright and moral official, who serves the realm, never wavers. He's willing to even give up his life for it, for it's safety, and not let his people down.
We started the drama with a fire, lit by the FL, that symbolizes her rebellion against her family and the chains of an unwanted/arranged marriage + her need for independence. And we end the drama with a fire that symbolizes CYY's rebellion against all the people who's selfishness and greed could bring the realm into chaos. It's his morality and determination to stay an upright and honorable memberof the court, that will shape his path as an official, that will serve the greater good.
I'm usally more interested in "morally grey" or flawed characters, so that's why I was surprised that the character who got me hooked and interested in the drama is actually CYY. I already saw people calling his character bland or too perfect, but that's just such a misinterpretation of his story and character. It's easy to root for an angry and pityful character, but to see an ML, who has to endure so much and has to face so many betrayals (from his own family) + to deal with so much pressure and responsibility... this takes an insane amount of mental and emotional strength, that I can't just help myself but have to admire him for.