I think, the story goes this way is because, since beginning, JTH ultimate purpose is to take Changjue away with…
They managed to make a romance drama, where romance doesn't predominate, I see it that way. But by the end of the final episode, we come to the conclusion that it is indeed a romance. In the final seven episodes, they were true partners in their shared goal (the pursuit of justice), and here we saw their love blossom (although this was with quick scenes to finish building that love in the story).
In the romantic sense, yes, KMLM, there were more interactions between the main couple, until the last minute.
Everything you said about Kill Me Love Me is correct.(This development of love in the midst of adversity, as well as in the palace, is truly wonderful in KMLM). KMLM only failed to build love in one way. At the end, when she was only few days of life (she took Jing He away from her) to spend time in a little shop with her friends. However, that moment was precious and shouldn't be wasted. They should be together. That's all. But after that moment... the feelings of love conveyed were also consistent.
hows the romance in this drama? when do the leads get together? is there any breakup/miscommunication? when do…
The drama has a source, and throughout the book there is this ambiguity between love and distrust. They sleep together, they talk, they scheme (but still without confessing their love). And in the drama it is as she says (I am just a flower among the many flowers of Shen Zai Ye). That is until the episode 5, because we know he got rid of the other flowers. In the book, she begins to confess her love (to herself, recognizing the jealousy she begins to feel. And SZY begins to show his love for the lack he feels of having intimacy with her (this was when she lived in the prince's palace). So, I think the drama manages to show this ambiguity between love (and indifference, distrust). It is a double feeling that they feel (and the drama tries hard to show this). And I think it succeeds. We are always: They love each other. They don't love each other. But, in a certain way in the drama and in the book (the love is more evident on SZY's part). She only showed this feeling in the drama, it wasn't jealousy (but the memory of the intimacy she had with him, the flashes of memory). She feels the pain, because this feeling is revealed to herself now, but she herself has a closed heart more than SZY. To the point that he says, "You are crueler than me." He is speaking in the sense of love.
Niney919 an hour ago @yogurt The novel opens with Taohua getting raped by Shen Zaiye. A recurring theme in the novel is a body double pleasing the women of Shen Zaiye’s harem so the Chancellor can avoid emotional entanglements. A huge part of the plot is rear house (women’s dwelling) politics including falling from grace / dismissal of daughters of influential ministers within the nine ministries (we only saw Meng Zhenzhen story arc which is not in the original novel). I don’t think all of this aligns with Confucian values of the time. I can’t speak as to why the screenwriter changed the story. I have shared a little bit of what has been changed. Vniverse 5 hours ago That cliff and arrow shooting scene was so intense. Devil Shen thought he lost her forever
What fight scene? I don't know the drama you mentioned. The fights were great, and they all look a bit similar.I don't see fights being that different in dramas. What matters is the context of the story and how the actor portrays it. It will always feel fresh.
I don't see any clue. All the dramas use similar themes, repeat clichés. This isn't plagiarism, not at all. So, The Princess Gambit would be plagiarism, but wouldn't the others (in the plural) be plagiarism? If that's the case, then all dramas, without exception, and films are plagiarisms of each other. Nothing is created, everything is transformed, as the saying goes. PS: All these elements of the drama (are in the original book that gave rise to it).246 chapters.
I needed a real kiss at least at the end not a short, blurry one
I completely agree. A sweet and gentle kiss of love from both of them, because throughout the drama, the kisses were almost forced, from her to him. And he to her. And yet another thing I miss. I have to say this. There was no deep conversation about love between the two. (And even the conversation between Jiang Tao Hua and the master, her tears fell naturally, as she and he talked.) Whereas for Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Yi, there was no such moment. There wasn't. In that sense: Kill Me Love Me gains points over "The Princess Gambit," but still, it's not a bad ending.
Episode 36 (Finale): In the Heat of Battle the Seed Can Bloom⬇️⬇️
Episode 36 (Finale): In the Heat of Battle the Seed Can Bloom
That's how I see this episode. An episode full of battles, of the will to survive. Of sacrifice by all involved. The biggest sacrifices of this episode were Jiang Tao Hua's master and Shen Zai Ye's sacrifice. The Empress being deceived by the plan devised by Shen Zai Ye. The traps one by one being efficient, but still the villain gaining momentum to harm the heroes. In the end, Jiang Tao Hua was saved by the sacrifice of two men (one died on the spot, due to the empress's wickedness). The other, Shen Zai Ye (until the last moment, he sought the cure for Jiang Tao Hua). He, even in the fire, managed to rescue leaves from the antiduct flower, and even a seed (which served for his remaining cure), because the tea from the antiduct flowers (he had taken an incomplete cup), preferring that the full cup be taken by Jiang Tao Hua. In the end, his preventive thought of taking the seed (served also to save his life). He was in a coma for a while, but he woke up (although we were not shown him waking up). But.... This is not implied, no, folks. He woke up and went to meet Jiang Tao Hua who was near the peach tree. Why does this moment seem like a dream? Because it's a special moment (it's like a miracle happening). But the whole episode shows all the time that this miracle was going to happen. That seed blooming in the moon light (in a dark cave), the only place where it can bloom (it even seems like a metaphor), for the main couple and for Shen Zai Ye's life that was struggling to survive (but the fact that he was able to take half of the antiduct), this already showed a great possibility of him surviving. And then there was the seed of the healing flower (and the seed bloomed and there was time for him to drink it a second time, but now the antiduct in the full amount needed). This all showed that he would survive. PS: I liked to see Shen Zai Ye dressed in his black outfit, his exotic braids and fighting with his sword as a heroic warrior. (I always enjoy these moments). And I also appreciated that the master, (it was like an older brother), he was there saving Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Ye as well. At that moment there was a friendship between these two men for the sake of this woman, Jiang Tao Hua. Do you know that this was beautiful to see? Without any rivalry (and we saw that the feelings there of each one were well defined). Ps: yes, I miss that there wasn't a proper kiss. A kiss of love between the two, without being forced. Without her imposing a kiss on SZY or SZY imposing a kiss on JTH and without there being any misunderstanding between them. Couldn't there have at least been a kiss of this kind between them in the drama? (And yet another thing I miss. I have to say this. There was no deep conversation about love between the two. (And even the conversation between Jiang Tao Hua and the master, her tears fell naturally, as she and he talked.) Whereas for Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Ye, there was no such moment. There wasn't. In that sense: Kill Me Love Me gains points over "The Princess Gambit," But in relation to victory over enemies (TPGambit) it was better in that regard. Indeed it's not a bad ending.) And I wish, in the final moment, to have seen the color of his clothes (blue) and hers (pink) which is the cover of the book (him waiting on the stairs, Jiang Tao Hua, who runs to him). They modified it a little, he is the one who comes close to her (looking like a dream) to pick the peach blossom that is on the tree. She smiles in surprise (as if to say: You are alive. And they hug each other). The ending was good, because it was positive. There was a happy ending, yes. Hopes were not unfounded, they flourished. And it was an episode, where the two of them worked together all the time. That was very good. So, despite pros and cons, this ending is an ending with many satisfying elements.
I am on episode 31, and thought he show has been good so far, our FL, however pretty and a good actress she might…
In every drama, scenes are cut due to inspection certificates. I saw her sick in bed, wearing one outfit, and then another, wearing another outfit. But... Shen Zai Ye asked Qingtai to always change her clothes. This was before the other scene.
3 
KMLM only failed to build love in one way. At the end, when she was only few days of life (she took Jing He away from her) to spend time in a little shop with her friends. However, that moment was precious and shouldn't be wasted. They should be together. That's all. But after that moment... the feelings of love conveyed were also consistent.
And in the drama it is as she says (I am just a flower among the many flowers of Shen Zai Ye). That is until the episode 5, because we know he got rid of the other flowers.
In the book, she begins to confess her love (to herself, recognizing the jealousy she begins to feel. And SZY begins to show his love for the lack he feels of having intimacy with her (this was when she lived in the prince's palace).
So, I think the drama manages to show this ambiguity between love (and indifference, distrust). It is a double feeling that they feel (and the drama tries hard to show this). And I think it succeeds. We are always: They love each other. They don't love each other. But, in a certain way in the drama and in the book (the love is more evident on SZY's part). She only showed this feeling in the drama, it wasn't jealousy (but the memory of the intimacy she had with him, the flashes of memory). She feels the pain, because this feeling is revealed to herself now, but she herself has a closed heart more than SZY. To the point that he says, "You are crueler than me." He is speaking in the sense of love.
Niney919 an hour ago
@yogurt The novel opens with Taohua getting raped by Shen Zaiye. A recurring theme in the novel is a body double pleasing the women of Shen Zaiye’s harem so the Chancellor can avoid emotional entanglements. A huge part of the plot is rear house (women’s dwelling) politics including falling from grace / dismissal of daughters of influential ministers within the nine ministries (we only saw Meng Zhenzhen story arc which is not in the original novel). I don’t think all of this aligns with Confucian values of the time. I can’t speak as to why the screenwriter changed the story. I have shared a little bit of what has been changed.
Vniverse 5 hours ago
That cliff and arrow shooting scene was so intense. Devil Shen thought he lost her forever
PS: All these elements of the drama (are in the original book that gave rise to it).246 chapters.
And yet another thing I miss. I have to say this. There was no deep conversation about love between the two. (And even the conversation between Jiang Tao Hua and the master, her tears fell naturally, as she and he talked.) Whereas for Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Yi, there was no such moment. There wasn't. In that sense: Kill Me Love Me gains points over "The Princess Gambit," but still, it's not a bad ending.
That's how I see this episode. An episode full of battles, of the will to survive. Of sacrifice by all involved. The biggest sacrifices of this episode were Jiang Tao Hua's master and Shen Zai Ye's sacrifice.
The Empress being deceived by the plan devised by Shen Zai Ye. The traps one by one being efficient, but still the villain gaining momentum to harm the heroes. In the end, Jiang Tao Hua was saved by the sacrifice of two men (one died on the spot, due to the empress's wickedness). The other, Shen Zai Ye (until the last moment, he sought the cure for Jiang Tao Hua). He, even in the fire, managed to rescue leaves from the antiduct flower, and even a seed (which served for his remaining cure), because the tea from the antiduct flowers (he had taken an incomplete cup), preferring that the full cup be taken by Jiang Tao Hua. In the end, his preventive thought of taking the seed (served also to save his life). He was in a coma for a while, but he woke up (although we were not shown him waking up). But.... This is not implied, no, folks. He woke up and went to meet Jiang Tao Hua who was near the peach tree. Why does this moment seem like a dream? Because it's a special moment (it's like a miracle happening). But the whole episode shows all the time that this miracle was going to happen. That seed blooming in the moon light (in a dark cave), the only place where it can bloom (it even seems like a metaphor), for the main couple and for Shen Zai Ye's life that was struggling to survive (but the fact that he was able to take half of the antiduct), this already showed a great possibility of him surviving. And then there was the seed of the healing flower (and the seed bloomed and there was time for him to drink it a second time, but now the antiduct in the full amount needed). This all showed that he would survive.
PS: I liked to see Shen Zai Ye dressed in his black outfit, his exotic braids and fighting with his sword as a heroic warrior. (I always enjoy these moments). And I also appreciated that the master, (it was like an older brother), he was there saving Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Ye as well. At that moment there was a friendship between these two men for the sake of this woman, Jiang Tao Hua. Do you know that this was beautiful to see? Without any rivalry (and we saw that the feelings there of each one were well defined).
Ps: yes, I miss that there wasn't a proper kiss. A kiss of love between the two, without being forced. Without her imposing a kiss on SZY or SZY imposing a kiss on JTH and without there being any misunderstanding between them. Couldn't there have at least been a kiss of this kind between them in the drama?
(And yet another thing I miss. I have to say this. There was no deep conversation about love between the two. (And even the conversation between Jiang Tao Hua and the master, her tears fell naturally, as she and he talked.) Whereas for Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Ye, there was no such moment. There wasn't. In that sense: Kill Me Love Me gains points over "The Princess Gambit," But in relation to victory over enemies (TPGambit) it was better in that regard. Indeed it's not a bad ending.)
And I wish, in the final moment, to have seen the color of his clothes (blue) and hers (pink) which is the cover of the book (him waiting on the stairs, Jiang Tao Hua, who runs to him). They modified it a little, he is the one who comes close to her (looking like a dream) to pick the peach blossom that is on the tree. She smiles in surprise (as if to say: You are alive. And they hug each other). The ending was good, because it was positive. There was a happy ending, yes. Hopes were not unfounded, they flourished. And it was an episode, where the two of them worked together all the time. That was very good.
So, despite pros and cons, this ending is an ending with many satisfying elements.