Sssnoopyyy

I agree there was a lot of potential with such a great cast and amazing novel. They had some unfortunate luck with going through the chopping board and writing/editing, on top of that, scandal with the actor :(

CL has another drama with Wang Chu Ran (looks like a romcom) and looks like they have spicy chemistry (based on the bts). BUT I loved CL and ZY so much, hard to move on to another pairing

I feel you, I came into this drama knowing that things would be lost due to changes and the whole scandal with the actor. But still wanted to watch since it was a long anticipated series and I loved the book. I continued mainly because of the main leads - hope they can collaborate in another series (where the plot and characters can be fleshed out a bit better).

There was not enough time to go over the necessary details and they condensed so much of the plot/characters’ side stories

Someone posted about this in the discussion forum above on why this was banned

Which actors do you think should be casted? I heard rumours….about Reba and Zhang Ling He lol

Hahaha Those two were older and that was more of a joke, even their sons were baffled hearing that knowing they were older. I wonder if that will get adapted too. Hopefully there will be more eps to develop the story if they do. Did you like that novel more?

I came because of the novel and the main leads and stayed because of the main leads and the action scenes. I don’t know how I’d feel if it weren't for Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei lol

Yes it was more to do with not having concubines, he was furious ppl would pressure him to, because he never had many thoughts on children. If he were to like a child it is because the child is from HY.

But i dont remember them mentioning possibility of more lol but anyway thats not important.

Besides my complaints on CZ’s and HRF’s character for being so one dimensional, I do miss the way XJ was written in the novel. He was not this cheesy but more sarcastic and teasing lol (they do capture some of this in the drama but seems like they wanted to make him more outwardly romantic and expressive). I also miss the way Yan He was always trying to pick a fight with XJ. Wasn’t used to seeing them all nice and friendly

Besides editing, they also condensed a lot of the events/characters and didn’t have the time to build up character and plot development so feels even more choppy

Li Ming De. They just used AI to replace his face

They hinted they may have more? I don’t recall that from reading the novel recently, it was only Xiao Yao they had. Which excerpt from the novel mentioned that? Think they were happy with their life by then. Even before XY was born XJ was content if they never had kids

Yeah it was sad. He and his wife had a couple of extra chapters dedicated to their love story. Much more fleshed out in the novel. They have a son who is like him - full of pride.

I did prefer the way he would always bicker and pick a fight with XJ in the novel tho. Not all nice and buddy buddy like here

Yeah I have no idea why they wrote CZ’s character like that. The calculating side of him made things interesting in the novel. Sure he had feelings for HY but was never delusional about it and focused on his goals. One of my biggest gripes about the show because his character had so much potential to add to the political intrigue. But he looked like a puppy following around HY with the same concerned expression 99% of the time

Warning, rant alert

The okay's:
Ep 29 and 30's romantic scenes were SUGAR overload and the confrontation/duel between HY and HRF was satisfying. Since Shen Mu Xue doesn't exist in the drama (the girl who was in love with XJ and exposed HY at the palace), they had Xu Ping Ting take on this role instead - whichwas a decent switch. I appreciate how they at least included the iconic lines from the novel - XJ's swoon worthy one liner. Zhou Ye has again impressed me with her fight scenes, she is just so cool -fangirl-

The what the heck's:
But what is up with the lead characters confronting their enemy in ep 30? Lol HY and XJ spent almost half the episode confronting HRF and Xu Jing Fu (respectively) which honestly feels like a waste of time and breath. Kinda out of character because they would never waste their time, and instead, would use that to go and look for evidence to bring the enemies down. XJ would never bother talking to Xu Jing Fu (NOT in his character). Also surprised they tweaked the story to have the leads ask CZ to work together (the novel XJ would NEVER LOL). I am still wondering how CZ's character will end up because he is WAY off the tracks from how he was written in the novel - calculating and focused on his goals. And the previews show a crazy delulu guy obsessed over HY...yikes. But I guess I shouldn't judge too early....just disappointed because CZ had a lot of potential.
And HRF is getting on my nerves, why is he made out to be a one-dimensional bad guy who only throws tantrums? He is way smarter than this.

I can't believe this drama is ending tomorrow , I am NOT ready

LMAO he was too good in that role. Every time I see him I am waiting for some kinda sassy response

besides Xu Jing Fu, I feel like CZ (supposed to be a morally grey character) and HRF only had one expression in the entire drama. ONe looks like a lost puppy, the other has temper tantrums.

Omgosh wouldn’t it be wonderful if they filmed this after the rumor of abolishing the 40 episode rule in Cdramaland? I would totally watch this in seasons, then I could have the real Lin Shuang He hahaaha

Yeah finally out! Actually that was one of the climaxes of the story, and the timing of the reveal matches well with when it happened in the novel. Everything built up to get to that point :)

Oh man I loved this audiobook - they also have it on Bilibili. The chosen voice actors were well casted and I listened to it (aftwr reading the novel translations) while waiting for the drama haha

Yeah the novel gave good backstories for every character which explains their motivations. And because of how things played out he resented HY more since he didn’t choose that lifestyle initially (and was threatened by her always being better and loved by others)