Probably the editing is taking very long. And maybe unwanted scenes or plots.
Originally it was around 90 episodes. They trimmed 20 episodes, but the plot is overly embellished. NRTA rejected the drama, due to extraneous embellishments.
Why was this delayed? Was there some kind of scandal?
It can't pass NRTA. Too much embellishment and distortion of history. It is based on real history. I was looking forward to it after watching Zhang Ruo Yun in Novoland Castle in the Sky, seven years ago.
LOL You think the producer would hire a team consisting of director, editor, writer to go through the filmed footage, and retool the drama, down to 40 episodes, to pass the censorship committee. They could even hire film university students.