JoJe

It is Empress Dowager. She was the mastermind behind many accident lead Emperor & Princes mutually destroyed each other, waiting to reap the benefits.

Hmm.. I wrote happy ending summary spoilers for them in one of character spoiler reply. You might want to check it

I will quote this from novel. Maybe could help understand male lead point of view. You know drama generally limited in expressing character point of view

This happened when XHY pick snow lotus in mountain. Difficult position, very cold weather.
"Yet he refused to give up, for it was then he realized he loved her – loved her enough to stake his life."

Also, not long after snow lotus
"XHY realize his feelings for SXH had progressed from surprise and amazement to curiosity and interest, then to admiration and praise, and finally to fascination and infatuation."

No, soon they will get together again (though still in join force mood)

You know from teaser he said "In the end you can only choose me"

This is from novel
After that they not meet in quite some time.
In short, there is one time XHY faint, SXH come and found out he is faking it to trap enemy
Then he force to sleep on her lap. She want to push him, but he is so quick fallen sound asleep. SXH knew they were both people born into such complex environments, people as cautious as them couldn’t trust anyone so completely, not even their closest confidants. Yet XHY trusted her with his life. She knew that if she triggered the mechanism on her wrist now, she could easily end his life. “In the end, you’re different from others.”

Then their relationship improve good

Drama might not detailing it, but this is the case in novel
Yes ML obsessed with her but he still attend the court, especially after his coming of age ceremony. Of course occasionally when he is sick, he not attend the court. Every time he need to go out capital, he need to fake serious his sickness - cough blood - faint - stay in bed. Emperor & Empress Dowager will check him at least on first day ML sick. Then, ML is very mastery in art of disguise, so it is easy to find his body double (pretend to be bedrest sick of him). He has subordinate in imperial doctor. This is the key, so every pulse read, every medical report, all write base on ML approval. Only later, maybe at half point, Emperor will start to suspect him

Yess, I also wish the same for them in drama. I mean, just follow the novel, don't make unnecessary plot twist 😄

She will, she will slowly warm up. But we just need to be extra patient. This gonna be slow burn. In novel, only at final third female lead will reciprocate male lead feelings
Pay off will be satisfying

Yeah, even drama already tone down a bit of her cold hearted, right?. At least I'm feeling that way. Novel Shen Xihe is way more cold, including to Bu Shulin and other around her.

We're need to be extra patient with this one 😂
I believe drama will follow novel which novel writer already note this at the end chapter 1 (maybe want us to be prepare)

"The female protagonist’s character is aloof. The male protagonist spends the first third pursuing marriage, the middle third pursuing her heart, final third achieving mutual love."

So, even after marriage that happened around chapter 500/800, he still need to pursuing her heart. But I need to say, that final third will be satisfying

If you want spoiler. Like whole spoiler about Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai from novel, you may take a look at this. Beware though 😊 and drama might differ too, we don't know yet. They are such a funny and lovely secondary couple that give bright color to this drama

https://mydramalist.com/769787-dong-feng-xin/discussions/139978-spoilers-characters-intro-based-on-novel?page=2#:~:text=Based%20on%20novel%2C%20simply,of%20Bu%20Shulin%20twins)

Yeah, true
As much as I love novel and drama, need to say drama editing feels jumping. Classic problem when so much chapters need to squeeze to below 40 episodes

Drama might not flesh Shen Xihe background much or maybe keep it for later but novel tell like this. Anyone worry for spoiler just don't read though I don't think this is spoiler

Shen Xihe born prematurely weak, like really weak. Her father and brother shelter her very much afraid of any mishap. If she got sick, it could suddenly turn worse. She couldn't got stress, her body couldn't take it. She don't befriend with many or socialize like others usually do because she cannot be heartbroken. If her heart beat too fast, it will be a problem. So even her family worry if she fall in love someday. Drama not show how weak is she but the novel told us that even after she gain GQZ life experience her body just that weak. She cannot catch cold, couldn't run too fast. Even when she counter Lady Xiao, other noble lady, other Princess, she will get tired and catch out breath.

So, merge soul might be some magic happened. Both don't know it will fall to them. While GQZ had already finish with what she need to do, SXH still have a lot. It is not old SXH not strong and smart enough to defend her family but her body not allow her and how she raised with such careful not make her be such decisive and scheming like GQZ. Now, that she had to survive in capital, the dangerous capital, GQZ resource help making new SXH better in lead in this game of power

He will. From novel, though we don't get show the process of he got cured but 8 years later he back to reunite with his family.

We don't know with drama, but I saw Reuters, that they are filming together with child actor

Yeah, at least Shen Xihe know family love as her father and brother loves her so much. Gu Qingzhi grew with her mother before her death told her don't love. It's the only way women will gain freedom

About ex husband, at some point he will demand truth from her very much. After all she show a memory that he knew only GQZ have it. But she insisted that he has no evidence that she is GQZ. Then he choose to stop. He will always has good relationship with his brother, including advice him to stop when SXH had choose Crown Prince. At the end, forced or not, both of them will be our couple ally

Yes, it will HE

She knew. She knew that she gain GQZ life experience. She knew Prince Xin is GQZ former husband. But it is more like a merger souls than a switch

Marriage of equal status, a Prince and a minister legitimate daughter

If someone still confuse with rebirth or reborn or soul transmigration on 1st episode, please make peace with it. Feel a bit illogical but don't spoil your watching journey ahead 😊 Novel has 850 chapters and finish this rebirth issue on chapter 4, so ahead still long to enjoy!

This is what novel writer note and some quotes, wish could help somehow
Writer notes : "The female protagonist is reborn – can be seen as Gu Qingzhi reborn as Shen Xihe, or Shen Xihe gaining Gu Qingzhi’s experiences through a cheat, growing up anew. The reborn protagonist is neither Gu Qingzhi nor Shen Xihe, but someone entirely new!"

I quote this from novel chapter 3&4
In novel, after her suicide, Gu Qingzhi first wake up floating in river just as Shen Xihe died because her maid push her to river

"Pushing aside her scattered thoughts, Gu Qingzhi closed her eyes. Some chaotic images rushed into her mind, causing her head to spin and ache. After a while, she reopened her eyes, her expression extremely complex. The kind of bizarre occurrence that only happened in supernatural novels had befallen her. She was no longer Gu Qingzhi, but living in the body of someone who had just died."

After this she not only has all Gu Qingzhi memory but she knew this body she living now is Shen Xihe, northwest Princess with all SXH memory too

"She closed her eyes, hoping Shen Xihe herself would return. She had no attachments left in this world and didn’t aspire to live another life."

This show how as Gu Qingzhi, she already close her life, no regrets as she knew with her suicide, Fan family who frame Gu family will not stay longer too. She had done her duty to repay their nurturing grace.

Next is her encounter with Xiao Huayong and immortal sash. Then leading to she faint and when she woke up again she already at bed with Zhenzhu. After woke up she order couple of things for Linglong betrayal just like in drama (with Gu Qingzhi decisive style). This is what her maids see her

"The previous Princess had been intelligent but sensitive, and though born in the rugged Northwest with its fierce customs, she had remained like a delicate peony untouched by wind and sand—noble yet aloof. Since leaving the Northwest, the Princess had become quiet and reserved. After Linglong’s betrayal, her every word and action became composed and wise, as if she had matured overnight, shedding that delicate beauty to become a flower empress looking down upon all others."

Next is she received some news from King's informant in capital
"As expected, the Fan family had been charged with framing an honorable minister. Minister Gu was framed by the Fan family. Though the entire Gu family has already been executed, His Majesty is willing to clear their name."

"Shen Xihe closed her eyes, enjoying the dappled morning light falling through the branches, warm light enveloping her, her skin glowing with an enchanting radiance. Gu Qingzhi, you can rest in peace now. From this day forward, Gu Qingzhi exists no more—only Shen Xihe remains."

That's all... So just like new Shen Xihe had already make peace with it, we should too 😊
Ahead still many excitement and good things

It is true, from 5 years to 3 years to less than a year. His poison progress rapidly by many reason. The poison not hinder him to learn martial arts, but if he push himself too much then yeah the poison could flare and cut his time. But rest assure, it is happy end

Yes, Prince Xin love her very much. It's only his way to love her is wrong. He only want to get a bit attention of his wife but choose to take concubines. She still steady, not care. Then he become Emperor pawn to execute Gu family for a promise Emperor would spare her life. He thought at least she could show hate. But she still calm and quietly choose death. That is his biggest regrets making him after that tragedy choose to stand opposite the Emperor for whatever circumstances

And yes, normally novel would differ. My latest experience it differ until I couldn't link anything between novel and drama 😂 But this one , at least until now, drama follow novel outline. Only some minor changes