Is this closer to the novel?I am trying to understand why this story is so wobbly?
It’s hard to explain in just a few words, but the novel is truly the story and journey of Chu Qiao more importantly, how she grows as a character.
Because of that, you need continuity. A large part of what happens after Ice Lake is that she becomes disillusioned with her beliefs and everything she has done up to that point.
This is largely because of what happens with Yan Xun. Most of these events are shown in Princess Agents.
However, this was poorly showcased in Rebirth, where we are only told about some of it through flashbacks, which was really the only way they could handle it.
I would argue Chu Qiao doesnt change too much from PA to Rebirth. She is still the idealistic, headstrong youth. throughout the two dramas, but in the novel, the change is more noticeable, as she reflects on why things went wrong with Yan Xun at the end of the novel. Rebirth, part of the novel, also focuses a lot on Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue's romance. (Even though it's romance, it also reflects her growth as a character! But it also hinged on the fact you know what went wrong with Yan Xun, which again mostly happen in PA )
As for the story, both Princess Agents and Rebirth follow the events of the novel. However, the first 1–20 or so episodes of Princess Agents didn’t really happen in the novel, though they still work because they serve as an introduction to the world.
For Rebirth, from episode 1, the events kind of follow what happens in the novel as well, but the ending didn’t really happen the way it was shown.
The reason I say “kind of but not really” is because many things were rearranged, added, or removed. Still, the overall sequence of events follows the novel.
If you want to know more about Rebirth and the events in the novel, I wrote a summary that goes into more detail.
So I watched this short https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RjlafFK53es. It really is amazing how FoF OST "Return after a long dream" fits so well for Ji Ling's return in episode 29.
Then it dawned on me when I watched it: JL was in the vortex, and then the 4 demons appeared, and Ji Can came to help him. I thought that was a wholesome moment, and that was it.
But then, thinking more about it cause of the short. I've been the one writing about the time loop and whatnot
But only now do I realize this moment may have been the very moment Ji Can wanted Ji Ling to reach.
“LWY was created by Jiu Ying, and she will die when Jiu Ying dies, and Ji Ling was created to kill Jiu Ying.” - Ji Can
Maybe all the futures Ji Can saw, although JL and LWY's existence is paradoxical, neither will truly give up on the other, and the cycle repeats. And he has been waiting for this moment to bring all the 4 demon and himself to Ji Ling to truly break the cycle.
As we see Ji Ling with LWY at the end, no longer burdened, and no longer filled with loneliness.
That is his real name in the novel, PA didnt have the rights to the novel.Everyone in Rebirth have the correct…
shameless plug, if you want to have a recapped of what happen in the novel during Rebirth. I only focus on what I believe is the core theme of the second half
rewatching and realizing how little I remember.I'm at ep39. Can someone explain to me why Yan Xun needs to "escape"…
Yes, it was very clear in the novel that the emperor want Yan Xun dead, it was heavily imply that the Emperor was willing to kill Chun'er and place the blame on Yan Xun, using that as the reason to kill Yan Xun.
The reason he just doesn't do it outright is that it would stain his reputation as the emperor.
In the Drama he was briefly mention at the end he just became king and rule after Li Ce death.If you want to know…
A lot of the events involving Li Ce that happen in Rebirth and Princess Agents did occur in the novel. Out of all the characters, Li Ce is the closest to his novel counterpart. He truly cares for and loves Chu Qiao throughout his life, and even after he dies, he still arranges a huge wedding dowry for Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue.
Li Ce has three sons: the eldest, Li Xiuyi, who becomes emperor after Li Ce’s death at only six years old; the second, Li Qiao’an, who dies; and his third son, Li Qingrong, whom he has with Zhan Ziming and who appears in the drama.
Li Ce’s death is caused by the scheming of the Zhan siblings, Zhan Ziyu and Zhan Ziming. Zhan Ziming is the one who initially injures him, but it is Zhan Ziyu who allows the Empress back into the palace, where she ultimately kills him. The Empress does this because, a few years earlier, Li Yan rebelled and was suppressed by Li Ce, who then executed him. The Empress takes revenge for her son by killing her other son, which makes their relationship in the drama fairly accurate.
Before Li Ce dies, he speaks with Chu Qiao and she agrees to help him. Afterward, the novel largely plays out similarly to the drama. Chu Qiao helps stabilize the court, takes revenge for Li Ce by killing both of the Zhan siblings, and then helps Li Ce’s eldest son ascend to the throne. She does this by using an edict with a blank title, effectively becoming the Empress Dowager.
Chu Qiao also takes Li Ce’s youngest son with her and raises him. He stays with her until the end of the novel. The novel describes him as looking very similar to Li Ce, and there are multiple moments where, when Chu Qiao looks at him, she is reminded of Li Ce.
There is also an exchange between Chu Qiao and Li Qingrong when Chu Qiao is pregnant with her daughter (they do not yet know the baby’s gender). At the time, Li Qingrong was eight years old.
He makes a remark to Chu Qiao. (Something to note: Chu Qiao’s character by the end of the novel is very different from how she is portrayed in Princess Agents or Rebirth. The novel truly follows her journey from youth to adulthood, which neither drama fully captures.)
"Even though he was still young, his eyes were the same as Li Ce’s. His long eyes were like a fox as he kept them half closed as he looked over at her. He suddenly smiled. “If Aunt managed to give birth to a sister, when she grows up, just marry her to me.”"
and
"The young boy smiled. “Aunt, I want a sister to be my wife. Therefore, you and the King need to try your best.” Seeing how even such a young kid started to tease her, Chu Qiao was rather at a loss. She scolded him lightly though he kept his smiling face."
2 
1 
1 
Because of that, you need continuity. A large part of what happens after Ice Lake is that she becomes disillusioned with her beliefs and everything she has done up to that point.
This is largely because of what happens with Yan Xun. Most of these events are shown in Princess Agents.
However, this was poorly showcased in Rebirth, where we are only told about some of it through flashbacks, which was really the only way they could handle it.
I would argue Chu Qiao doesnt change too much from PA to Rebirth. She is still the idealistic, headstrong youth. throughout the two dramas, but in the novel, the change is more noticeable, as she reflects on why things went wrong with Yan Xun at the end of the novel. Rebirth, part of the novel, also focuses a lot on Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue's romance. (Even though it's romance, it also reflects her growth as a character! But it also hinged on the fact you know what went wrong with Yan Xun, which again mostly happen in PA )
As for the story, both Princess Agents and Rebirth follow the events of the novel. However, the first 1–20 or so episodes of Princess Agents didn’t really happen in the novel, though they still work because they serve as an introduction to the world.
For Rebirth, from episode 1, the events kind of follow what happens in the novel as well, but the ending didn’t really happen the way it was shown.
The reason I say “kind of but not really” is because many things were rearranged, added, or removed. Still, the overall sequence of events follows the novel.
If you want to know more about Rebirth and the events in the novel, I wrote a summary that goes into more detail.
https://mydramalist.com/766289-frozen-awakening/discussions/150608-reexamining-the-final-third-through-the-novel-vs-the-drama-spoilers-with-event-in-the-novel
Then it dawned on me when I watched it: JL was in the vortex, and then the 4 demons appeared, and Ji Can came to help him. I thought that was a wholesome moment, and that was it.
But then, thinking more about it cause of the short. I've been the one writing about the time loop and whatnot
But only now do I realize this moment may have been the very moment Ji Can wanted Ji Ling to reach.
“LWY was created by Jiu Ying, and she will die when Jiu Ying dies, and Ji Ling was created to kill Jiu Ying.” - Ji Can
Maybe all the futures Ji Can saw, although JL and LWY's existence is paradoxical, neither will truly give up on the other, and the cycle repeats. And he has been waiting for this moment to bring all the 4 demon and himself to Ji Ling to truly break the cycle.
As we see Ji Ling with LWY at the end, no longer burdened, and no longer filled with loneliness.
Probably why it felt like a fan fic 🤣😭
they dont exist in the novel
It might be a rare Drama is actually better then the novel
https://mydramalist.com/766289-frozen-awakening/discussions/150608-reexamining-the-final-third-through-the-novel-vs-the-drama-spoilers-with-event-in-the-novel
The reason he just doesn't do it outright is that it would stain his reputation as the emperor.
1. Qin Cultivation
2. Foundation Building
3. Golden Core
4. Nascent Soul
... the rest is widely different between cultivation novel/drama.
What she truly wanted at the end of the novel is not a utopia.
Her characterization after the Ice Lake in the Novel and Rebirth is very different.
In Rebirth, she remains the idealistic, head strong youth she once was in PA... as in the novel, she continues to grow
Li Ce has three sons: the eldest, Li Xiuyi, who becomes emperor after Li Ce’s death at only six years old; the second, Li Qiao’an, who dies; and his third son, Li Qingrong, whom he has with Zhan Ziming and who appears in the drama.
Li Ce’s death is caused by the scheming of the Zhan siblings, Zhan Ziyu and Zhan Ziming. Zhan Ziming is the one who initially injures him, but it is Zhan Ziyu who allows the Empress back into the palace, where she ultimately kills him. The Empress does this because, a few years earlier, Li Yan rebelled and was suppressed by Li Ce, who then executed him. The Empress takes revenge for her son by killing her other son, which makes their relationship in the drama fairly accurate.
Before Li Ce dies, he speaks with Chu Qiao and she agrees to help him. Afterward, the novel largely plays out similarly to the drama. Chu Qiao helps stabilize the court, takes revenge for Li Ce by killing both of the Zhan siblings, and then helps Li Ce’s eldest son ascend to the throne. She does this by using an edict with a blank title, effectively becoming the Empress Dowager.
Chu Qiao also takes Li Ce’s youngest son with her and raises him. He stays with her until the end of the novel. The novel describes him as looking very similar to Li Ce, and there are multiple moments where, when Chu Qiao looks at him, she is reminded of Li Ce.
There is also an exchange between Chu Qiao and Li Qingrong when Chu Qiao is pregnant with her daughter (they do not yet know the baby’s gender). At the time, Li Qingrong was eight years old.
He makes a remark to Chu Qiao. (Something to note: Chu Qiao’s character by the end of the novel is very different from how she is portrayed in Princess Agents or Rebirth. The novel truly follows her journey from youth to adulthood, which neither drama fully captures.)
"Even though he was still young, his eyes were the same as Li Ce’s. His long eyes were like a fox as he kept them half closed as he looked over at her. He suddenly smiled. “If Aunt managed to give birth to a sister, when she grows up, just marry her to me.”"
and
"The young boy smiled. “Aunt, I want a sister to be my wife. Therefore, you and the King need to try your best.” Seeing how even such a young kid started to tease her, Chu Qiao was rather at a loss. She scolded him lightly though he kept his smiling face."
Plot wise is vastly different