PeachBlossomGoddess

I hear this one is much more romance focused it is not so much a wuxia. The novel was quite popular even though it got very mediocre reviews. It is a FL centric role in the novel but as usual for the drama it was written to give the ML more role. My friend who read it warned that unless they changed it a lot the FL is frustrating.

I keep wondering whether he was supposed to come back for the final fight. Like this Tang Ze dude suddenly pops up out of nowhere to take his place as the Black Tortoise in the final battle. It seems like they could have brought him back sooner to join that final fight. I wonder if the actor had a scheduling conflict.

Yeah just not clear whether its going to be platonic she is just going back to her martial brother or whether she will finally return his feelings.

I have

It was actually more cruel to his poor mother than it was to him.

Wow I really like this Chen Shuting character. She is one tough cookie.

No worries actually @LamBanh found it, I just summarised. Enjoy!

This is the special episode. Its not subbed so I summarised the gist of it up to the point Tang Lian shows up (which is subbed on @IcedMatcha's links).

See links posted by @IcedMatcha below.

There isn't that much more to it than what was in the post below. They basically return to Snowfall Villa. Xiao Se walks in on his waiters making fun of him. They tell him business has improved and he orders scallion noodles for everyone and beef noodles for himself. They banter about how stingy Yongan wang is and he complains that he doesn't draw a salary from the government. They discuss where they are off to next and Lei Wujie jokes about planning to steal another martial arts master's talented disciple after defeating the master. Tang Lian walks in and the rest is translated below.

Yeah that was the best but saddest romance in the whole drama.

He absorbed the poison needle from Li Hanyi's body into his own. He was already badly injured when he used his energy to save her and lied to the Scholarly Sword Deity; he was actually too weak destroy the needle he just absorbed it instead. It was very sad.

The two scrolls was absolutely brilliantly written. The emperor put both Chong'er and Chuhe to a final test. Chuhe didn't need a scroll, he was already chosen by the sword (Heaven's will) in front of the entire kingdom. He could have changed his mind at any time and destroyed the one with Chong'er's name on it. If challenged the second scroll would have proven his claim. That is why he felt free to try out the throne to make sure in his own mind. When Chong'er sent him the second scroll, it is to tell Chuhe that he was their father's first choice and to show he trusts him and Chuhe reciprocated by destroying it in public so that the Langya Mutiny can never replay in their time.

It is very similar to SSS in the high fantasy wuxia aspect as well as the clever ML with conflicted feelings about his legacy. But as you point out both those dramas are "loud" or dominant ML stories where most of the friendships are less equal and often in passing. The bromance here is much more of a shared journey and cause, much more like NIF.

They are making the prequel, which is about the previous generation. It is Baili Dongjun and Ye Dingzhi's story. We already know the ending but not the journey.

I think they are 2nd (Bai/Chong), 6th (Yongan/Chuhe), 7th (Chi/Yu) and 9th. The 1st prince died. There could be others but more likely the rest are girls.

I have to second the Nirvana in Fire recommendation - it is the best bromance out there by a long mile and the political part of plot is quite similar to this. Sword Snow Stride also has similarities but like Joy of Life it is very lead male centric.

This is how it becomes a dissertation. 😂

Hope you enjoy it - you should avoid spoilers all the hidden secrets are the best part.

Yes, the drama is very good but there are flaws and you bring up some of them. There are almost too many side characters but there are really only about 10 really important ones. After awhile they sort themselves out and the character chart is very helpful.

I think Li Hongyi knew he was going to be dubbed and didn't put energy into speaking his lines. It is something that annoys native speakers more than those who are reading subs. In the beginning he also wasn't in character but he got really good as the show progresses. And the acting of his love interest by the newbie actress is just not good but its such a minor role its just a small annoyance.