JoJe

True. And he even didn't care about his short life before meeting FL, let alone think about a child. 3 years, 1 years or tomorrow didn't mean much to him. Only after meet FL he fear death.

The child as an heir only matter to solidify FL position on court, especially if he die. So, if there is someone who need it, it's FL. But I'm VERY glad that our couple not think that way, want an heir only to strengthen their position. They want a child come naturally from their mutual love, although they know ML running out of time

Maybe author or scriptwriter waiting for consent from mutual love?
Actually this could be another debate, which one you choose between novel and drama

In novel. They done the deed after their marriage, next day or not long after he take her to meet her family on their first night. But in her mind, she do it not out of love, more to as a wife duty. Though at least at this point she view ML as someone she care and someone important, so it is not a force since she agree. It is only love is not there yet from her side.

While in drama, scriptwriter choose to push it much later, make many viewers frustrated. In my opinion is for waiting consent from mutual love. As much as he want it and as much as they need it (an heir) because he running out of time, but he won't cross the line. He respect her slow in love nature. So, while he still pushing here and there but he will wait that consent from mutual love before do the deed.

I wish part below not spoiler because we see it already in teaser & intro
However the goal (an heir), in novel that would happened much later with some efforts. I think ML and FL not as fast & effective as second couple 😂. While in drama since we already near the end an heir should come not long after they do it

Agree. This is what I've been waiting for. Because of FL walls very solid and very high so a tiny change on FL could feels sweet. Even when FL only let him cross a tiny boundary like you said or she already not bothered by ML shameless move and let him have his way, this already have some satisfying impact. Our & ML frustration will paid off very very well

I found it quite funny
And he call his daughter here Youyou, while there Yaoyao
One word slip then...

Novel not that spicy but more to meaningful words
But that only my opinion

When I said, Chill, be a bit more patient. That actually what I said to myself too 😂😂

Yup, you're right
Storyline wise they follow the novel so mutual love come late. And you're very right after happy episode there will be she love him but he running out time, then he mia for recovery

Story detail wise, drama indeed make it feel push and pull, repeated. One think that I don't know why scriptwriter choose so, make me a bit frustrated too. Because in novel, though mutual love come later but in my opinion there is still some progression in their relationship plus some politics and third couple. I mean simple word like 'growing old with you', 'share fortune and misfortune', 'not showing jealousy doesn't mean I don't care' from FL mouth better than no feeling, no romance repeated

Then again, drama choose give more screentime to Prince Xin with his delulu when they should work more on main couple

Chill, be a bit more patient 😆
In novel mutual love only start coming at final third. So maybe in drama episode 25+

From clip, teaser, Reuters or whatever it is, at least I saw
- kiss initiated by her
- a quite hot kiss scene
- bath + kiss scene
- bed kiss (bite) scene
Maybe more

And I'm still waiting from novel she is the one who said to him 'let's have a child'

Yup, and she actually speak it up clear, not keep in her mind only

😂😂😂
At the time she love him back, it will bit her about he running out of time

Yeah, me too feel that way. They should work more to show her unique character. They can have 40 eps rather than 36. She not cold then full stop. The gradual changes in her perspective of love because of his never ending dovoted shameless love is something good to see, too

Background
As Gu Qingzhi, her coldness come from this. GQZ grew up see her mother love her father deeply but her father only respects her mother and couldn’t give the same single-minded devotion. When GQZ 9 years old, at her mother deathbed, she told her that one can do anything except let their heart fall for a man, only by utterly detached can women live freely and happily. And just like that her mother die from melancholy because of emotional attachment

As old Shen Xihe her coldness come from this. SXH born prematurely very weak. She often sick, she cannot often go out because she would catch cold, simple cold could turn worse. She doesn’t make friend and socialize because a bit argues or betrayal from friend could make her heart hurt and simple emotional turmoil could cost her life. She used to be alone, detach from emotional up and down

So, as new SXH, beside some life experience, she also inherits those two types of history

About her relationship with Xiao Huayong
- Xie Yunhuai know SXH first in novel. So, first time XYH treat XHY illness is because of SXH ask him to. As much as she said she choose him because of his short life, she then also pays attention to his health and wish him well
- When SXH said she don’t know what is love, she passionless only want mutual benefit. She also explains “Wouldn’t mutual respect be good? When we marry, I’ll respect you as my husband, you’ll respect me as your wife. We can be like close family – you won’t betray me; I won’t leave you. We’ll treat each other well and grow old together.” This show she picturing grow old with him, she wish in process that poison finally not cost his life
- One time, SXH deliberately go outside capital to find a kind of flower call winter jasmine although danger lurking. This flower blooms once a year and bloom only such short moment before wither. In short, SXH wake all night in wilderness only to watch the flower bloom at right moment. This flower could nourish lungs which XHY lungs being one area most severely damaged by poison
- At lantern festival when XHY give jade hairpin. She said she will be a good Crown Princess but still no romantic feelings. Novel explain further that SXH heart stirred slightly and inside she said she would never forget XHY’s joy at that moment like a spring breeze causing flowers to bloom across the city
- One time, SXH & XHY went outing, their enemy start to make a move. Despite XHY’s careful preparation, there was 3 tigers almost kill XHY & SXH. Both get some small injury, make XHY feels guilty. To him SXH said “I told you, when I chose you, I would share both fortune and misfortune with you.”
- One day, Emperor start to suspect XHY and want to test him. In short, XHY got kidnapped, tied in the bridge, below is fast flowing river. Then XHY was shot by an arrow. SXH get angry and shot back, kill the archer then said “Don’t hurt him. That arrow just now was payback. If he suffers even the slightest injury from you or your men again, I will desecrate your corpse inch by inch; if he falls from here, I will have your bones ground to dust, denying you peace even in death.”
- Then, there is Tibet Princess come to seek marriage alliance. She eyes XHY. SXH show no interest. In her point of view, she trusts XHY more, why debate. XHY quite disappointed by her indifferent attitude. But then SXH explain “Your Highness, I am a woman who doesn’t understand romance. I don’t know how to be passionate about someone, I only know how to be sincere. Some of the jealousy you want to see – I might never show you in this lifetime. If I care for you, I’ll trust you even if the whole world doubts you. Therefore, not showing jealousy doesn’t mean I don’t care about Your Highness.”

All of that happen before their marriage. At same point with drama. Yes, she is cold and cruel. Her word is sharp. But, it’s not that she is completely heartless. She shows sincerity. She realize that XHY is someone important in her heart and do care for him.

May I defend a bit of FL based on novel. This is my personal opinion only; drama indeed do some injustice in picturing her character. I found in novel that FL is way colder and more ruthless but I still could relate to her way of thinking. Only open spoiler below if you want to know novel

A partner who share same level of intelligence?
At this point drama indeed make it way more unbalance

Forget about the exact chapter they did it but BSL told SXH in chapter 682

I love it that in drama CJB know BSL is woman earlier. Maybe because BL won't pass censorship. Novel delay it until very much later, even when they accidentally got intimate after drunk, he still not 100% sure and she try hard to hide the fact by proving otherwise

They alive. Good ending for them too

In the eye of everyone, he is a dead man. He said this to his son "The Emperor cannot have any blemishes. Even the misconceptions in unofficial histories cannot start with your mother and me.”

Actually, Female lead not Empress but Empress Dowager

I read the novel.
Unfortunately, he did not become Emperor. However, here still give different story than usual trope you said 😊

His poison really cost him much near the end that he had to staged his fake death in order to leave for treatment faraway from capital

However, his son did and FL become Empress Dowager. His son be Emperor at age 6 months, so basically it is FL who rule the empire.

Only after 8 years later ML back to reunite

There is ML point of view in extra that I love : who didn't want to roam the world with his beloved. But for now he won't. He and FL will protect and accompany their son. Even when their son said just leave, he have series of good people on court (Prince Xin, CJB, XYH, etc). But, ML still said no, because every children need their parents and their son is the most important for ML&FL

Don't worry, novel has happy ending. He'll back after treat his poison
And there are some clip from filming show happy family