JoJe

Novel stops not long after he back
After he back, he stay in Eastern Palace. When he visit his son, he doesn't do it openly, after all he has high martial arts, jump silently here and there should be easy. Court only hear gossip that Prince Xin bring a man to Eastern Palace and that man stay! They whisper what kind of man this time not being thrown out Eastern Palace. They never met him in person.

Besides, XHY always is a master in disguise. So I think even when later he need to meet some of them, he just need to disguise himself

Further on extra part of novel
Hope I not talk to much :)
There is part in extra that XHY came to his son bedroom and talk heart to heart with him. After some conversation he knew his father had no intention of claiming his rightful status – he planned to let others continue their speculations while remaining nameless and untitled beside his mother.

Almost the same. The difference is it takes a short while between Gu family fall and her death. Prince Xin knew she will try to commit suicide so he ask maid & guard to watch her close. But no one know when she ask some fragrance ingredients, that is for her make her suicidal fragrance. Then just like that simple she wake on Shen Xihe body with both memory remain. She wake floating in river and she met Xiao Huayong who jump in river for immortal sash. She know he help her when she struggling in river then faint. Next, she wake up beside her maids, just like in drama.

This is what novel writer intended, new Shen Xihe who has both memory make her somehow entirely new person

People around her (maids) in novel also confused of her personality change become more cold and scheming but they thought it is because of linglong betrayal and an almost dead experience

No. His son did.

Further spoilers...
After he back, only their nearest know who he really is. Others (people, court, public) thought he will be Empress Dowager new husband, after all Empress Dowager still very young but had to be widowed and these couple years many minister on court have offer her candidate, every she reject it outright and never pay attention to. But this time, this man can straightly enter Eastern Palace and stay

That's why novel writer choose to call her entirely new person, not Shen Xihe, not Gu Qingzhi (this really writer note in first chapter).

But in everyone eyes she is still Shen Xihe, only more decisive and knew how to schemes. Just like I tell before, people consider her be mature by circumstance. The only one who suspect her was her previous husband.

Yes, you are correct. She will not loose herself. She is in Shen Xihe body with Shen Xihe face. She will remember her family dearly love her and she love them too. When her father and brother meet her, she is still the same close to them, no awkward feeling because the memory addition

The woman whose memory come, yes was married with Prince Xin. *Spoiler* Commit suicide when her family fall because of her husband scheming with Emperor. She died along with their unborn baby

What memory addition do is make her more decisive, more lethal. And maybe since she already went through how her family fall in that woman memory, so this time she will fight, plan and scheme hard for her family safety.

What her closest people (her maids and family) look in her change in personality became more cold and more unapproachable is they think because of one of her maid betrayal nearly cost her life make her more mature

Yes, but no one crazy obsessive type and no one clingy. Even the bad one - the one who had ulterior motives will either be defeated by her or place on correct place by male lead

Besides, no other male lead has that many time with FL. At least novel that way, drama might be differ though

You can think that way, however this memory of other person bring a part to her personality change

Old Shen Xihe, born prematurely weak. Being loved and sheltered so much by her father and brother. Her body weak and restricted by many things make her melancholy as a person (not her family restrict her, but her body couldn't do much). I would say old SXH might not survive capital intrigue

Gu Qingzhi, daughter of minister. Her father hold strong position on court and one of successor current Emperor leading to Gu family fall (palace scheming). GQZ is a very cold lady, has no emotion although she is smart and master in perfumery. She even calculated Gu family will fall to solidate current Emperor power. I don't think she receive many love in family make her that way

New Shen Xihe, aloof, noble, and untouchable. No more melancholy but smart in scheming. Any person provoke her, they will suffer more. She quickly found way to treat her weak body. Join in power struggle to secure her northwest family safety. A family who love her so much and she love deeply

Everyone thought so, kind of fake death
In reality his poison indeed attacking hard, he running out time
He leave for treatment in faraway west, a secluded place
A treatment that no one sure will work but it is his only hope
A harsh method
Only after 8 years, he back to reunite with his family

Hers and Xiao Huayong

She - Shen Xihe - a northwest Princess. Her northwest family strong in military. Having her means have half the world. On her way to capital for arranged marriage (she bound to marry Prince, but which Prince still not determined and she has power to choose), her maid betrayed her and push her to river. She died but reborn with Gu Qingzhi experiences (what writer's means is both SXH and GQZ memory remain, making her someone entirely new)

He - Xiao Huayong - 7th Prince (Crown Prince). He poisoned at age 8 and almost dead. Since then, he lives outside Palace to recuperate and everyone knew Crown Prince’s life gonna be short, he only a sickly & weak Prince. But no one know that sickly demeanor is only his facade. Now, as his coming-of-age ceremony is approaching, he come back to Eastern Palace

She is aloof, noble and untouchable
He is sharp and strong behind a sickly, filial and benevolent facade

This gonna be a power struggle theme and a bit heavy in romance (a slow burn one)
No complicated misunderstanding, no crazy obsessive love rivals, no melodramatic plot. A quiet straightforward story telling building very well to climax end

The later
Based on novel she wake up in another person body having both memory, making her entirely new person

He fell first and he fell harder
She is aloof until he melt her with his sincerity

Should I say gray leading to ally 🤔
Based on novel he has his own love interest, a dancer (of course not gonna be approved since he is a Prince). By circumstance be our couple rival. They caught but our couple give some mercy leading to their fake death and leave to live in hiding but free. Almost near the end be our couple helper. After all, it's debt of gratitude to let them free

Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai

https://mydramanovel.com/dong-feng-xin/
or
https://www.readthedrama.com/novels/blossoms-of-power

Almost halfway of novel. Just after SXH receive imperial degree for their marriage

Here how she found out is because of agarwood scents, an expensive materials even for noble

More detail :
SXH meet many different persons with the agarwood scents, all hold important position. She knew all was same person in disguise because of the same agarwood scents. She once suspects this person was XHY but fail to confirm it. The real XHY always had medicine scent in his body.

That night, as they had join in hand, SXH casually reveal her sensitive smells. Just learn this fact, XHY got panic, cough a mouthfuls blood and faint. Back home, SXH look at XHY's hairpin sword gift. Knowing that now her master in good relationship with XHY, SXH's maid ask her if she want to look at XHY's others gift. XHY give SXH many gifts while pursuing her, many she only keep it without see.

One of the gift she just open now, her coming age ceremony gift, was wooden bracelet, carved from agarwood. The same scent

Because of medicine smells in his body, XHY always bath in agarwood for disguise. A light smells no one could know. But, SXH could know. That's why he panic when he learn it and no time for him to take back his agarwood gift

I put this under spoiler because in case you want to be prepare, but if you don't just don't read

Novel like this and I believe drama will follow. He is really poisoned and sick. But this not prevent him to learn martial arts and be one of the best. Everyone knew he poisoned and gonna be short live so he continue to act that way.

By the end, he really almost die because of that poison. He left for treatment and back 8 years later. HE

How far do you mean by reverse harem? If it is single FL surrounded by multiple male love interest then YES, this drama gonna be like that. But further, if reverse harem also mean that FL will date/ marry some of them or even for example marry someone for power while date another who she love... This drama NOT gonna be like that. Once FL choose one of them she will stay true to him. Even when she not love him at beginning - only think for mutual benefit - she take no look to others

Thank you! This is getting very interesting. Could feel the hype now

This trailer with actors explaining character really gives preview for overall drama.
With my very very minimal understanding of Mandarin, it should be about this

Director : Fragrance is a state of mind, match with SXH behavior who always think a step ahead
MZY on SXH : At beginning, SXH look for an obedient person who won't get in her way
HY on XHY : XHY is a person who looks very sickly but in reality is a wolf in sheep clothing
XHY : My body indeed not the best candidate but if Princess believe, I am the one who will never hurt you
HY on XHY : SXH standout make XHY feel interested
XHY : Let you and I join forces to find the real murderer
SXH : Okay, I agree
MZY on SXH : Later SXH found that XHY also a calculating person
SXH : You play a weak Crown Prince at court, but gather power behind
MZY on SXH : Both very calculating then what should I do if he plot against me
(XHY save SXH)
SXH : The one who save me is you?
Director : She is processing from cold to hot, slowly influenced by him
SXH : I won't marry anyone else but you
MZY on SXH : Later, she found out that maybe powerful alliance could be a good way
HY on XHY : After he met SXH, he gradually gain a lot vitality and attachment to this world
MZY on SXH : Then, she found out that after every time they work together, she start has feeling on him (break her cold heart)
SXH : Give Your Highness color bracelet, wishing for Your Highness safety
HY on XHY : I think if I've already fall for someone, will slowly entered her heart
Director : SXH gradually process her yearn for love
MZY on SXH : Later, she really accept him and then love him
HY on XHY : SXH is XHY life long's wish
MZY on SXH : SXH always know that this man very love her, she remember every detail
SXH : Thank you, you planning for me. Today I'm very happy
HY on XHY : They are like soulmates
MZY on SXH : A beautiful love is more than icing on cake but facing dire straits together

Now I can be pretty sure that drama will follow the novel. Some changes might happened but the outline will follow

Yeah, when I watch the trailer, I also found their voice suits so I'm thinking maybe they dubbed themselves.. Thank you