CrimsonQuill

Yes, but if the mountain was supposedly sealed off, how did the marriage decree even reach her in the first place? That's the part I'm struggling to understand.

Maybe I've missed something, but the whole situation still feels a bit unclear to me. I suppose we'll get the answers as the story progresses.

Now that you mention the bite mark, that would actually make a lot of sense.
What I'm still trying to work out is the timeline. Was her escape from the mountain after everyone had already died, or was what happened on Lishan Mountain kept secret all these years while she remained there alone?
I'm also still confused about how exactly she left the mountain and ended up reuniting with the Ye family. I feel as though there are still some missing pieces in the story, and I'm not sure whether they're being deliberately hidden from us or if I've missed something.

These are just my own theories, of course. It's obvious that someone is helping her, and that she seems to have some sort of connection to the Ye family's steward/helper. However, because the drama is so different from the novel, today's episode really made me wonder.
Seeing all those unsent letters, the maid always appearing perfectly dressed in the same outfit, seemingly appearing and disappearing at will, and Ye Li constantly talking about Lishan Mountain gave me the feeling that something isn't quite right. My current theory is that the monkey attack is connected to the maid's death and possibly even to the deaths of everyone on Lishan Mountain.
That said, I could be completely wrong, it's just speculation on my part at this stage.

The drama is so different from the novel, but I’m enjoying it just as much. In today’s episode, when Ye Li slipped the letter into the coffer alongside all the others she’s written, it made me wonder whether everyone might actually be dead, including the maid she talks to and the people from Lishan Mountain. At the very least, it gives me the impression that she’s living in a reality separate from the real world, where she needs to speak to imaginary people because she’s led such a lonely life.

I was actually talking about this with another viewer recently. The age gap within the story is honestly really hard to digest, and it’s one of the main things making it difficult for me to enjoy the drama.
The second ML has so much more chemistry with the FL, and they feel much closer in age, while the ML genuinely gives “older relative” vibes 🤢 It ends up feeling more creepy than romantic to me.

I didn’t mention her voice because I know some people are sensitive about criticizing that kind of thing. I’m not sure if this drama is dubbed or not, but for me her voice is tolerable up to a certain point. In The Rise of Ning, though, I had to drop it not only because I found her voice unbearable to listen to after a while, but also because the romantic/incest-like dynamic with the ML, who had basically grown up as her brother (even if they weren’t actually related by blood), felt really disgusting to me. Like you, I’ll keep watching a little longer to see if it gets better, but if it doesn’t, I’ll probably end up dropping it too.

I’m honestly feeling the same way. I still can’t decide whether I like this drama or not either. For me, the main issue is the fictional age gap within the story and the very childish behavior of the FL, because it makes it hard for me to connect with the ML or really root for their relationship.
Truthfully, I feel uncomfortable with the FL’s character because how old is she even supposed to be in the story? I can only see her as a child rather than a romantic lead. Even though the actors are the same age in real life, the ML still comes across as much older, more like an older relative than a love interest. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m watching a little girl being groomed by an older man. Meanwhile, the second ML feels much closer to the FL in both personality and energy within the story, so their interactions feel far more natural to me.
And honestly, today’s whip scene didn’t help either; it felt unnecessary and mostly there to make the ML look better.

6 episodes in and this isn’t improving. I’m sorry, but the role absolutely overwhelms the FL. Between the babyish voice, her understandably slight, adolescent build (I believe she was around 16–17 during filming, which does make some of her scenes rather uncomfortable to watch), and the general sense of confusion and haste in the storytelling, it all feels quite difficult to take seriously. At times, she genuinely looks like a tiny smurf trying to fight her way through everything, and it’s as surreal as it sounds.
The whole thing comes across like a curious concoction, characters tossed into a blender and served at full speed, leaving you wondering what exactly you’re meant to focus on. Even the intro and ending theme feel oddly dated, as though they’ve been dug out of a dusty 90s archive and put straight back on air without a second thought.
The ML doesn’t quite feel like an ML simply because he barely has enough screen time to establish himself, while the 2ML rather steals the spotlight. The female general, meanwhile, outshines the rest of the women with ease, and several supporting characters seem to have far more personality and substance than the leads themselves. And I must return to the point that perplexes me most: the decision to cast someone so young, lacking the necessary presence and experience for such a role, and, regrettably, delivering a performance that isn’t poor but rather average at best, as the FL in a sequel of this scale feels, frankly, quite baffling.
The story simply isn’t gripping, and much as I like LYR, I must admit that, despite his solid acting, I don’t quite see him in this particular role. Honestly… it’s just one big, glorious mess.

I must admit, I’m rather at a loss for words regarding the casting choice for the FL. Knowing that the actress was underage during filming makes it quite difficult for me to fully enjoy the drama, especially combined with her very youthful voice and a certain lack of presence for such a demanding role.
One can’t help but feel that actresses such as Zhou Ye, or even more seasoned actresses, might have brought a different depth to the character. As it stands, I do struggle to understand the decision.
That said, I shall reserve my final judgement until the very end... if I make it that far.

In my opinion, yes, you really should watch Princess Agents first. I know some people say it’s not necessary, but Rebirth opens with what is essentially a brief recap of the original story. Even then, I personally found certain parts a bit confusing, as it feels quite condensed and assumes you’re already familiar with the characters and their past.
So while you might follow the plot without it, you’d likely miss a lot of the depth and context that make the story more meaningful.

Oh please, this isn’t a royal garden party where we all sip tea and politely clap. If a drama can’t survive a few honest opinions, that says more about the drama than the comments.

For the person (@CostumeHEA) who replied to my comment and then blocked me because they couldn’t handle being challenged:
What’s unacceptable is staying silent and pretending this kind of casting is normal. It isn’t, and it deserves to be called out.
Pairing a barely-legal actress, who was a minor during filming, with a 29-year-old man (BTW, I love Li Yun Rui) in a romance-tagged drama is deeply questionable. With so many adult actresses available, this choice deserves criticism.
This is a public forum. I’ll watch and say what I want. If you comment, at least have the backbone to stand by it instead of blocking when you run out of arguments.
I’ll watch the drama and form my full opinion. If there’s no romance, fine, I’ll say so. If there is, I won’t pretend it’s okay.

She is 18 years old, and this started filming when she was underage.

I love the lead actor, he’s amazing, but this casting choice? I just don’t get it. There are so many talented actresses who could have done the role, yet they went with someone who still feels like a kid next to him. The age gap and power dynamic here are just… yikes. It’s repulsive to think she was a minor, 16–17 years old, during filming. This creates a strong sense of rejection, especially considering what’s happening in the world right now around this issue. I’m not sure I can even watch it without feeling uncomfortable.

It’s not about treating actors like they’re children. People are questioning the casting choices, not policing individuals. When an actress is 16–17 during filming and paired romantically with a 29-year-old, it’s completely valid to question it, especially in terms of power dynamics and what kind of relationships are being normalised on screen.
Even if it’s fictional, the visual and emotional framing doesn’t disappear. For many viewers, it triggers a very instinctive rejection, because it feels less like romance and more like something exploitative being dressed up as normal.
That’s why people are talking about the age. It’s not an overreaction, it’s a reasonable concern.

I agree. Casting someone who was barely an adult (or even a minor during filming) in a romantic role with a much older actor is genuinely uncomfortable to watch. For me, it creates a strange conflict. I can be interested in the story, but at the same time there’s a level of unease that even feels a bit repulsive.

I realized while watching this that this particular satirical style just doesn’t really align with my personal taste. I tend to prefer stories with more emotional depth and narrative seriousness, or themes like transmigration within the same timeline or historical setting (with a few exceptions, of course).
I think my biggest disappointment here (apart from my personal issues with the FL), however, stems from the fact that I had just finished watching a truly beautiful drama starring the same ML. Coming from such a strong performance and emotionally rich story, this one felt comparatively bland and less impactful.
Ultimately, I believe it comes down to individual expectations and preferences. While this drama didn’t resonate with me in the way I had hoped, I can still appreciate that others might find it entertaining for exactly the reasons it didn’t work for me.

Thank you so much @xKawan , I really appreciate your comment. I must apologise though, for the sudden noise now booming beneath you in CAPITAL LETTERS! It’s one of those moments when you realise some people think debate is a spectator sport, and that a few exclamation marks can somehow prove a point.

I do not need to feel “special” to speak plainly or think critically. I comment because I watch, I notice, and I care about clarity , not comfort or applause. If my words unsettle you, that is your problem, not mine. This forum is for observation, not policing feelings, and I have no intention of diluting perspective for the sake of someone else’s fragility.

I’ve already spent more time on this than it’s worth; now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a garden to deal with , some plants to water, some weeds to fight, and absolutely no interest in arguing about it further.

Let me be perfectly clear: I do not require a “chill girl” lecture, nor does anyone have the authority to declare that my perspective is out of place simply because I choose to analyse a drama rather than treat it as untouchable fun. Spring Fever may be light, comical, or exaggerated — I get that — but that does not place it beyond observation or critique. Enjoyment and critical thinking are not mutually exclusive.

If you prefer to joke about plot holes and focus solely on Se-Jin, that is entirely your prerogative. I am equally entitled to comment on performances, character writing, and narrative choices. This is a public forum: differing approaches coexist by design, and no one has the right to gatekeep whose opinion counts.

I routinely scroll past comments I find absurd, overpraised, or entirely out of touch with my standards — and I have every right to do so. Likewise, my right to analyse, dissect, and occasionally mock what I see in a drama is no less legitimate than someone else’s decision to “just have fun.” Each of us brings our own lens to what we watch; mine happens to be analytical, precise, and unsentimental.

So, you do you. I’ll do the same.
And if my commentary does not suit your taste, the simplest, most elegant solution is also the one I employ with any opinion I find unconvincing: scroll past.

After all, a forum is not a playground for approval — it is a stage for thought, and thought does not bow to comfort.