ChineseDramaFan

This is how I would have interpreted "... seemed not to include her in conversations during the 3 years ...":

Even though it's not shown, I strongly believe he sought her out and knew exactly where she was, just that, officially he continued with his work, and perhaps she didn't want to go back with him to live in the palace anymore because of her precarious position (she was an assassin). In any case, everyone seemed to know she's fine and they got on with their lives. Since she's still a controversy, no one wanted to remind anybody just in case someone might bring it up again against her - people could still appeal to the decision for her pardon. All Liu Yikang needed to do was to complete his reforms as fast as possible so that he could join her and away from all these politics and controversies.

Look at all the hints given in the episodes, then you'd realize there's no love triangle because their relationship is totally different.

This is a good drama. Do watch it. Many viewers jump to the wrong conclusion because the ending is not blatant; you'd need to look at all the hints to realize it's a brilliant ending.

At that point, no one cares whether she lives or not because she's being pardoned, and no more a fugitive. If you're still in doubt, re-watch the last episode carefully, take in all the hints and use my rationale to explain what you see, then you may come to the same conclusion as I did.

We're neighbors :D

Shoot! No matter how we look at the whole thing, it's still pain, pain, pain :C

Actually there were a lot of hints telling us she didn't die. Every event, gesture, word, scene in the last episode told us so. The writers just didn't want to make it too blatant that it's a HEA ending, but it was.

Shen Lige realizes that her husband is planning to give up everything and run away with her. He arranges for the disappearances of her mother and brother, and her "si xiong" and "si di" so that they won't be killed should she disappear. Then he receives the pardon from the Emperor, so her family can return home even when Shen Lige is gone. Liu Yikang continues with his reforms. Once he's done, he goes to join her at their hideaway place.

Don't let the wine scene fool you. The wine is not poisonous and she hasn't killed herself.

When we see Shen Lige drinking some wine, we straight away think it's poisonous wine. That's a wrong conclusion we jump into. A lot of things cannot be explained had Shen Lige died by killing herself, but with her still alive, then everything falls into place.

First of all, before the wine scene, Liu Yikang has been delegating all the duties to his brother, Shen Lige finds her parents' home empty, her "si xiong" and "si di" are gone. She realizes something is going on: her husband has arranged for all these disappearances, and he's planning to run away with her. She's drinking her wine, thinking through things, and making her decision. She doesn't want him to give up everything for her because so much blood has been spilled and he has been fighting for the reforms all these years. Instead, she decides to leave alone so that the reforms would not be jeopardized, that's before he receives the pardon from the Emperor. Liu Yikang continues with his reforms. Everything is back to normal: her brother gets married and his wife is expecting, Liu Yikang goes to her parents' home for meals etc. Note, there's no mourning or anything to indicate that Shen Lige is dead. By the end of his reforms, he goes to their hideaway and they live together happily ever after. I believe by the end of the drama, it's also the time he was demoted to a normal citizen in actual historical record.

Actually I love the ending. I think it's brilliant. The writers have been playful with us.

I know what you mean: if it's turning bad, we want it real bad, as bad as it can get like stabbing us in the heart and makes us bleed all over, so that it stays in our memory forever, just like Goodbye My Princess.

Yeah, I guess it's all business for them by the time she has a child. We really need to pat each other on the back when we finally finish watching this drama.

Do you think it's going to happen?

Oh no, literally?

Hahaha! He looks different also when he's serious and deadly, totally different from when he's silly and adorable XD

I absolutely agree with you. The current synopsis is misleading. Maybe you need to write to the admin to ask them clarify this. I believe many don't watch the drama therefore not aware of its discrepancy. And they always prefer a source they can trust, unless you can convince them.

Yes, I like this drama over Dating in the Kitchen too. I find this one has more depth, and the jokes are not blatant. One has to catch them between the homophones, hidden gestures etc. I simply love this drama.

Another painful experience for your Sifeng baby here T_T

Exactly! This is my most favorite airing drama at the moment.

What happens to the sudden huge drop in rating?