PeachBlossomGoddess

History is written by the victors! Large chunks of China's early history was actually officially recorded only more than a century later by The Great Historian Sima Qian. There were many historical figures he disliked including the First Emperor's mother so his accounts of them were more like wild history. Funnily since it is still official history, many dramas are allowed to depict her as wild and promiscuous!😅 As for this emperor's consort, he met her when he was already an old man so I doubt it will be in this drama. But she was noble consort Yang, one of the Four Ancient Beauties of China. The Legend of the Demon Cat is a very interesting movie about her.

This drama is a period costume drama with a historical setting but it does not claim to be historically accurate. Most dramas fall into this category bc if they claim or try to depict real historical figures or events, they can be banned/censored/edited for "distorting history". That's why they avoid using real names for the emperor and royal family and don't really name the era. But the emperor should be Xuanzong/Li Longji. China is very fussy about this bc Chinese history is so long that most people are not educated on the whole thing anymore. Its just impossible. The govt doesn't want them to learn "wrong history" from watching dramas or reading books. So they are quite strict about being clear about the classification and avoiding using real names if they are going to be fictionalized in a way that deviates from history.

Yeah society doesn't protect her at all. Imagine he hasn't freed her bc she is safer as his slave than as a free woman bc the people gunning for her are almost above the law.

He should be modeled on Li Chengqi, who was Li Longji's older brother and next in line to the throne. However, in history there was no rivalry between them, bc he ceded the throne to his brother, famously telling his father than in times of peace you can pass the throne to the next in line heir but in times of turmoil like this you must pass the throne to your most capable heir.

I think its going to be a non-issue bc he has no family to impose restrictions on her. His aunt is unconventional and in any case is a maternal aunt who doesn't really exert authority over him. She can live whatever life he agrees to. The only issue is whether he can take her as more than a concubine bc of her current slave status.

I was thinking he must drown himself in perfume!

Ultimately she didn't want to be saved and didn't believe she was worthy of a good life. Such a tragic character.

Yes indeed it was very common for maternal cousins to marry up until 1980s believe it or not. The Chinese only disallowed marriage between cousins of the same surname (paternal cousins) since ancient times. The practice of marrying maternal cousins was only stopped when it was scientifically proven to be inadvisable in modern times. There are tons of famous 1960s/1970s Taiwanese love stories about marrying cousins.

Me bad - I didn't mean FP but The Fated General. ZRY is suing his dad, the director.

Yeah it doesn't help that the director and lead actor are in a lawsuit.

Dramas that claim to be historically accurate are not allowed to "distort history". But given China's long history, there is a lot of "wild history" or controversial events. So dramas that are billed as historically accurate or based on historical events tend to take a long time to pass censorship bc the censors may disagree with how they interpreted history and send them back for multiple revisions and cuts. The Fated General for example is based on a real historical figure, a true blue hero who died under mysterious circumstances. That will probably never get pass censorship.

Well its not officially against the rules. Its one of those many unspoken no nos so there is leeway and inconsistency in application.

Doubt it, true to history is a very hard standard, most dramas avoid it these days. I think maybe it was just bc it was a protest of injustice and not overthrowing the regime.

I actually can't believe that made it pass censorship.

I will bear in mind tyvm.

I didn't watch TM and actually haven't watched Li Xian since Sword Dynasty, which I dropped. His acting has improved heaps in FP. I think you will enjoy it.

I did think he was a real villain for awhile.😅 I had a hard time shipping the main couple. I find she somehow looks too mature for him.

I don't think you missed anything. Their relationship just was not well written.

Hey there! Happy New Year Catalyst 1999!!!
Sorry I missed your message. MDL is glitching on comment notifications for some of my older reviews. This drama put me off Dilraba and Gongjun - killed two birds with one stone!!! Thankfully 2025 has started out quite promisingly so far! Try Flourished Peony, its very good!

Yes - it is more towards dark comedy kind of humor.