I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
The war with Gao Xing has to happen and the elimination of the Sheng Nong remnant army has to happen, but idk how much of the actual battles they'll show us on screen.
I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
I don't really remember details from that scene in the drama (it's part of the story that I'm not particularly invested in), but they were at ZX's coronation.
---
Chapter 28:
Cang Lin and Zhuan Xu accompanied the Yellow Emperor to the prayer dais where the two sides were already filled with Xuan Yuan officials, the leaders of the clans and families, with the leaders of the Four Great Clans standing at the forefront.
I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
About summoning fireballs, that seems to be something that most powerful gods and demons can do regardless of the elements that they normally specialize in with their powers. Qi Yo specializes in earth power, but he playfully conjures a fireball for Lie Yang to "battle" with in chapter 10 of Once Promised.
But why Sauvignon Blanc, though? Do we need to get drunk to be able to handle all this pain?
Seems like you and TSJ agree on something ^^
Someone else mentioned that's basically a mistranslation. The Mandarin title of the novel and drama is "Eternally Missing You". Apparently the plant (grape variety?) that is called "sauvignon blanc" in French/English is called "eternally missing you" in Mandarin.
The more I find out about Once Promised, the more obvious it becomes that LYF isn't a tragedy. It's the answer…
"And that is what makes LYF so searingly beautiful and unforgettable." Yes, exactly.
Sound of the Desert had a similar theme of self-sacrifice for Mo Xun in the end, but as much as I felt for Mo Xun it's nothing compared to what I'm feeling for XL. I'm so much more invested in and moved by his story. Completely unforgettable.
书生说 The Scholar Speaks conducted an interesting interview with Lost You Forever author, Tong Hua back in…
The more I find out about Once Promised, the more obvious it becomes that LYF isn't a tragedy. It's the answer to Once Promised (which absolutely is a tragedy) where XY lives as her parents hoped and successfully avoids their tragic fate - getting the happy ending that they wanted for her, that XL wanted for her, and that she wanted for herself.
XY - XY and TSJ both come from families with generations of burdensome obligations, trauma, tragedy and unhappiness, and they manage to escape it. XY found someone who loved her who was willing to give up all wealth, all status, all other obligations and connections and run away with her to live a free and peaceful life and raise a family. She marries him and runs away with him to explore the ocean and the islands that she told XL she wanted to explore. She takes loyal Miao Pu and Left Ear with her. She sees Left Ear as a young version of XL that she enjoys teaching. He will also make sure XY stays safe, and XY has the flower ZX gave her to command his tribe's army if she really needs it. She will be free, safe, in good company, and well loved.
Ah Heng and Qi Yo - Ah Heng and Qi Yo's spirit get to meet their grown up daughter who has found a person she can have a peaceful happy ending with, just as they always hoped. Ah Heng gets to apologize to XY and explain what happened, giving both of them closure. Living in agony for hundreds of years was not in vain. And they (Ah Heng and Qi Yo) were finally together in spirit for those hundreds of years. After meeting XY, they can both finally pass on in peace.
The Grand Emperor - After fighting for thousands of years, bearing the mantle of an Emperor, and living with many regrets, the Grand Emperor also willingly gives up power and hands the throne over to a worthy successor that he personally trained, along with worthy subordinates that he also trained. In doing so, he ensures his second daughter's future safety and position and the closest thing she can get to the happy ending she wants. He also gets to see Ah Heng again and give XY closure. He returns to the simple life of being a blacksmith like when he first met Qing Yang and their brotherhood was pure and strong. He gets to see XY marry the man who will allow her to escape tragedy, be free, and have a happy ending. He gets to be there to say goodbye to her when she leaves.
The Yellow Emperor - After also fighting for thousands of years and bearing the mantle of an Emperor and all the worries that come with it, the Yellow Emperor willingly gives up power and hands the throne over to a worthy successor who will continue his vision. He takes up farming, his health improves, he spends most of his time with his grandchildren, and he helps XY compile legendary medical texts that will greatly benefit the people. He attends XY's wedding and will continue to accompany ZX.
ZX - ZX's ending is very bittersweet. He achieved the power to protect that he set out to achieve, united the world, and will rule in a way that will benefit the whole world. He has the Yellow Emperor by his side to support and (occasionally) advise him. He sees Ah Nian one month a year back in Gao Xing where she is safe and looked after as one of his two Empresses. He manages to mostly mend his relationship with XY and she accepts his mother's flower. He realizes he misunderstood TSJ and accepts their marriage.
But! He had XY by his side the longest and had her complete loyalty, and then he loses her. XY leaves him behind and does not say goodbye. Feng Long dies protecting him. He does not love any of the women he's married to and one of his Empresses is unhinged and tried to kill XY twice, but he has to forgive her for it. ZX's ending is the harshest I think, but one of the themes of Once Promised and LYF is that power and the responsibility of ruling comes with a very high price. Perhaps one day he will follow in the Yellow Emperor's and Grand Emperor's footsteps and relinquish power to a worthy successor - and get to return to being a simple wine-maker with fewer worries.
TSJ - The people who hurt TSJ the most (his grandmother, Hou and FFYY) are dead. Jing Ye is married to Doctor Hu Zhen, a good man. TSJ personally raised his nephew, Tu Shan Zhen, to be a good man who will lead the Tu Shan Clan well. He can leave the clan behind without worries and without any further obligations. He finally gets to be with XY the way he wanted: as YSQ, without any constraints keeping them apart, tying XY down, or preventing them from being happy. They marry and run away together. By holding no grudges against his grandmother, Hou, FFYY or ZX, he is free and unburdened when they leave.
XL - I've said it many times before, but XL gets almost everything he wanted. Thanks to him, XY has a place to go (the ocean), a man she can rely on for life who is alive and by her side (TSJ), and a means of protecting herself (her archery). He takes more steps to protect her. Thanks to his prompting, XY takes Left Ear on as her bodyguard, and XL uses up a life to kill their bugs so that XY's heart and life will not be endangered by his death or by the bugs themselves.
XL secretly commissions a legendary bow for XY, gives her a sea-map-jewel and reminds her that she can always return to the sea. He also returns her ice crystal ball (with adjustments and an inscription of his wishes for her), but hides it where she will never see them inside a doll with such an impish expression that it makes XY laugh with joy for the first time after XL's death. XY really likes the doll without understanding why, and takes it with her when she runs away to the ocean. His gifts and sentiments will always be with her, and his blood and abilities will always be part of her.
The fate he most wanted to avoid was not death but rather the opposite: being a last survivor like the donkey-meat-selling old man who was haunted by the memory of his thousands of fallen comrades. That is the reason XL gives for why death on the battlefield is the best ending for a general. Sir Bi confirmed that XL has no desire for glory. And we know that XL does everything he can to make sure that XY is not haunted by his memory (e.g., pushing her away, pushing her towards TSJ, hiding his feelings and most of the sacrifices he made for her, and erasing the memories she saved of him in her mirror).
Then he dies the way he wanted: making a last stand on the battlefield with his comrades after staying true and loyal to them and to Gong Gong until the very end. His enemies (Ru So and ZX) respect him. His body dissolves and cannot be desecrated. He avoids the fate he most wanted to avoid and got the "best" ending he chose and carefully orchestrated for himself.
I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
Hi liddi. No problem. I read Koala's fan translation, which was posted in 2014. There is probably more than one way that the original text (even from the same version) could be translated into English. Definitely appreciate all the effort that goes into the translation process.
I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
I'm not sure if Little Zhu Rong actually went to battle with his parents (who both died for Sheng Nong in battle), but the novel specifies that he surrendered. I'm also not sure about him being the "only" surviving descendant. At the very least, he has his children as well. But he is definitely a surviving descendant of the Sheng Nong royal family. However, he is not the son of either of the last two Flame Emperors who ruled Sheng Nong before it was conquered. The Flame Emperor and Zhu Rong are different people.
The second-to-last Flame Emperor's name was Sheng Nong Shi Nian. He wrote the Sheng Nong Herb Manual. His only son was Prince Yu Wang and his daughters were Princess Yun Sang (friend of Qi Yo and Ah Heng), Princess Nu Wa, and Second Princess Yao Ji who died of illness despite all her father's efforts. She is mentioned briefly in chapter 35 of LYF. The Flame Emperor also has a god-daughter named Mu Jin. She is the fourth princess of Sheng Nong. Yu Wang succeeded his father after his death to become the last Flame Emperor. Qi Yo was Shi Nian's only disciple and promised to help Yu Wang, and became his most trusted and powerful general.
In terms of Zhu Rong and Yu Wang's relationship: "...he was the top warrior of the Shen Nong tribe, Zhu Rong. Although Yu Wang is the Prince of Shen Nong, Zhu Rong’s exceedingly strong spiritual power, coupled with the military power he wielded, resulted in Zhu Rong belittling of the Prince."
I assume Little Zhu Rong's royal lineage is through his father, at least in part because the name suggests to me that the "Flame Emperor" had fire-based powers, and in Once Promised Zhu Rong's powers are fire-based / he is referred to as a fire god. But as far as I am aware (and I haven't read all of Once Promised), neither novel specifies whether Zhu Rong was part of the Sheng Nong royal family or if he married another member of the Sheng Nong tribe who was part of the royal family.
-----
Chapter 11:
Little Zhu Rong was a direct descendant of the Sheng Nong imperial family, born into royalty and his father was the world-renowned big hero Zhu Rong. When Little Zhu Rong surrendered to the Yellow Emperor, he married the only daughter of the Chi Sui clan Chi Sui Xiao Ye. He was greatly utilized by the Yellow Emperor and became one of his top officials. He was given the entire Middle Plains to govern, an area that used to be under the control of the Sheng Nong Kingdom.
Initially people didn’t dare publicly critique the appointment since Little Zhu Rong was royalty, but behind his back people derided him for surrendering since both his parents died for Sheng Nong in the battle with Xuan Yuan. But in the hundred or so years since, his management of the Middle Plains transformed it from a formerly lawless decrepit region into one filled with bustling activity and thriving with life. His rule was just and fair so the people slowly returned to the region and settled there.
Word was Little Zhu Rong never tried to hide his Sheng Nong background and would openly ask the Yellow Emperor for things that would benefit the people of the Middle Plains. He never hid his thoughts before the Yellow Emperor of his intention that the people of the Middle Plains who have suffered through a war could return to a life of prosperous peace. Gradually the people of the Middle Plains no longer were suspicious of Little Zhu Rong and were instead very respectful. Zhu Rong’s death was an imperial courage to his homeland, Little Zhu Rong’s living was a different type of imperial responsibility to his people.
Can someone tell me about chi chen's relationship with XY's mom? And the chapter about it in the book
Their story is mostly told in Once Promised, the prequel to Lost You Forever. The Emperor of Xiyan (Xuan Yuan in the novel) and the King of Haoling (Gao Xing in the novel) are also major characters in Once Promised. Koala included parts of the last three chapters of Once Promised that focus on Qi Yo and Ah Heng in her translation.
Chi Chen is called Qi Yo in the novel, and XY's mother goes by Xuan Yuan Ba (her proper name), Xi Ling Heng (taking her maiden name to hide her royal status so she can wander freely), and Ah Heng (a nickname used by those who are close to her).
I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
Not exactly a conquered king. Maybe a conquered secondary prince. He is a descendant of the Sheng Nong royal family, but his father (Feng Long's grandfather) was a "hero" (who basically commits war crimes while pursuing Qi Yo at the beginning of Once Promised...) of the Sheng Nong Kingdom. Not a Flame Emperor.
Later on, Qi Yo, Gong Gong, and Zhu Rong (Feng Long's grandfather) were the three greatest generals of the Sheng Nong Kingdom.
-----
From chapter 22:
Xiang Liu said “.... Back then, the Flame Emperor was still alive and the Sheng Nong Kingdom hadn’t yet been toppled. My adoptive father, along with Qi Yo and Zhu Rong, were the three greatest generals of the Sheng Nong Kingdom..."
I don't recall it being specifically mentioned in the drama, but based on the novel：The three royal families…
"...it still seems unusual that only Fenglong's father and the rest of the clan leaders were kneeling before the Xiyan king, while the clan leaders of the four great famiies did not. By right, all should be bowing down while petitioning the king. Not sure if it is a production oversight, or deliberate to reflect the position of the four leaders to the viewers."
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Leaders of the Four Great Clans only have to bow at the waist to greet the Emperor. This is how it's put in chapter 36:
Jing was the Tu Shan clan leader and when he saw the Yellow Emperor or the Grand Emperor he only needed to bow at the waist, yet he was giving a full on the floor bow right now to the Grand Emperor.
-----
But everyone fully bows to the Yellow Emperor and to ZX after the Yellow Emperor passes the throne to ZX in chapter 28:
No one announced a bow and by now the Yellow Emperor had removed his crown, but as he passed everyone knelt down and lowered their heads, willingly bowing to this weak old man.
It was the first time all the men standing at the peak of their own power bowed to him not because of his greater power but because they so respected him.
...
Until the Yellow Emperor completely vanished from sight did everyone stand back up. It was dead silent on and below the prayer altar.
No one could believe that there wasn’t a blood bath or interminable wait and suddenly Zhuan Xu assumed the throne just like that? But Zhuan Xu was standing right before them and staring calming down at them. Was this young Emperor really like the Yellow Emperor said? Could he bring so much to lead a kingdom to greater heights and write its own glorious new pages in history?
It wasn’t clear who knelt down first but soon everyone was on their knees and chanting “Felicitations to Your majesty!”
Zhuan Xu waved his hand “Everyone rise.”
-----
The exact wording about the families in chapter 5:
“Below the Three Imperial Families, on the top of the pecking order are the Four Great Clans – the Chi Shui family, the Xi Ling family, the Tu Shan family, and the Gui Fang family. Other than the Four Great Clans, in the Middles Plans are the Six Big Families. And below the Six Big Families are various moderately powerful smaller clans such as the Jin Tian family to the South, the Fang Feng family to the North….. But none of them can compare to the Four Great Clans.”
It's my understanding that there are still quite a few moments to look forward to. AH can provide you with all…
Given the ratio of episodes to remaining chapters, there will definitely be some cuts. I believe some of those cuts will include certain XL scenes in part because of comments from other users about a script for S2 that allegedly leaked. Take stuff like that with a grain of salt of course, but right now I'm erring on the side of believing that one. Based on those comments, XL's scenes are not the only ones that will be cut or significantly changed.
As for the watering down... there are at least three types of things that I expect may be be watered down or not depicted to the extent that I would like: (1) physically intimate moments; (2) particularly harsh / intense moments; and (3) scenes that are difficult or expensive to depict in a drama setting (e.g., long scenes that focus on details with little action, minute details, details that would require a lot of CGI, scenes that seem okay when you read them and the author can include certain types of details but that seem really creepy when depicted on screen, etc.).
Physical Intimacy. Based on comments about the leaked script, I am expecting that one blood-transfusion kiss scene (from chapter 48) is going to be cut. Apart from that, there's the blink-and-you'll-miss-it forehead kiss from chapter 35, but I'm mainly thinking of all the contact they have in chapter 43. If it's not cut, I think that physical intimacy will be heavily watered down based on how the drama translated (or chose not to translate) scenes with physical intimacy between them from the first 28 chapters. Like some of the bites, the times when XL transferred air to WXL while she was conscious and totally fine with it, and the 37 years of healing.
Harsh / Intense Moments. Based on comments about the leaked script, the drama will be making big changes to CX's harshest moments (by turning them into a dream sequence). I would not be at all surprised if the drama also softened or removed XL's harshest moments. In particular, I'm thinking of chapter 46 when XL pushes XY to cut ties with him. One of the harshest things that XL does to XY is connected to something that XL does for TSJ (but really for XY). But apparently in the leaked script XL no longer does that thing for TSJ. So that part of the original scene will either be different or cut.
Scenes / Details that are Difficult or Expensive to Show. This is speculation, but some of the things that have been cut in S1 (and in S2 based on the leaked script) were likely cut partly because they would require more expensive CGI. Things like TSJ's crane and Sir Bi. I feel like they might do the same for certain XL-related details, especially stuff from chapter 43 like the whirlpool and the seagull demon. They also cut certain XL/XY scenes in S1 that would have required time to show properly on screen, with very little actually happening (e.g., when the novel describes XL visiting XY occasionally in chapter 2). I feel like there might be similar difficulties with depicting all the time, effort and attention to detail that XL and XY each put into the gifts they exchange, as an example. I'm also worried they won't fully show us the donkey-meat-selling old man (who provides a lot of insight into XL's mindset) or XY's relationship with Left Ear (who acts like a proxy for XL and who XY views as someone who is perhaps like XL when he was young / someone who could become like XL one day). Because those things would require time that they don't have given the episode count.
It's my understanding that there are still quite a few moments to look forward to. AH can provide you with all…
I'm travelling so this is the short version of my answer ^^
S1 told the story from the novel up to chapter 28. Between chapter 29 and chapter 51 (the last chapter), there are quite a few chapters where XL and XY have very little interaction or no interaction at all, and some chapters where there are significant interactions (like chapters 31, 35 and 37) and chapters that are almost entirely dedicated to their interactions, relationship or feelings about each other (like chapters 32, 43, 46, 48, 51 and XL's epilogue).
But I am expecting that a lot of those scenes will be cut or watered down in S2.
Tong Hua tends to write tragedies. But, this one has a happy ending for the FL.
I've seen a few partial translations of the 2013 version. But no complete translations of either version. Maybe someone will be inspired by the drama to finally complete a translation. Hopefully of the 2019 version since Tong Hua felt so strongly that changes needed to be made to the 2013 version.
3 
1 
1 
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Chapter 28:
Cang Lin and Zhuan Xu accompanied the Yellow Emperor to the prayer dais where the two sides were already filled with Xuan Yuan officials, the leaders of the clans and families, with the leaders of the Four Great Clans standing at the forefront.
That happens at the end of the novel. S1 of the drama maps to chapters 1 - 28 of the novel, which has 51 chapters and an epilogue.
Someone else mentioned that's basically a mistranslation. The Mandarin title of the novel and drama is "Eternally Missing You". Apparently the plant (grape variety?) that is called "sauvignon blanc" in French/English is called "eternally missing you" in Mandarin.
Sound of the Desert had a similar theme of self-sacrifice for Mo Xun in the end, but as much as I felt for Mo Xun it's nothing compared to what I'm feeling for XL. I'm so much more invested in and moved by his story. Completely unforgettable.
XY - XY and TSJ both come from families with generations of burdensome obligations, trauma, tragedy and unhappiness, and they manage to escape it. XY found someone who loved her who was willing to give up all wealth, all status, all other obligations and connections and run away with her to live a free and peaceful life and raise a family. She marries him and runs away with him to explore the ocean and the islands that she told XL she wanted to explore. She takes loyal Miao Pu and Left Ear with her. She sees Left Ear as a young version of XL that she enjoys teaching. He will also make sure XY stays safe, and XY has the flower ZX gave her to command his tribe's army if she really needs it. She will be free, safe, in good company, and well loved.
Ah Heng and Qi Yo - Ah Heng and Qi Yo's spirit get to meet their grown up daughter who has found a person she can have a peaceful happy ending with, just as they always hoped. Ah Heng gets to apologize to XY and explain what happened, giving both of them closure. Living in agony for hundreds of years was not in vain. And they (Ah Heng and Qi Yo) were finally together in spirit for those hundreds of years. After meeting XY, they can both finally pass on in peace.
The Grand Emperor - After fighting for thousands of years, bearing the mantle of an Emperor, and living with many regrets, the Grand Emperor also willingly gives up power and hands the throne over to a worthy successor that he personally trained, along with worthy subordinates that he also trained. In doing so, he ensures his second daughter's future safety and position and the closest thing she can get to the happy ending she wants. He also gets to see Ah Heng again and give XY closure. He returns to the simple life of being a blacksmith like when he first met Qing Yang and their brotherhood was pure and strong. He gets to see XY marry the man who will allow her to escape tragedy, be free, and have a happy ending. He gets to be there to say goodbye to her when she leaves.
The Yellow Emperor - After also fighting for thousands of years and bearing the mantle of an Emperor and all the worries that come with it, the Yellow Emperor willingly gives up power and hands the throne over to a worthy successor who will continue his vision. He takes up farming, his health improves, he spends most of his time with his grandchildren, and he helps XY compile legendary medical texts that will greatly benefit the people. He attends XY's wedding and will continue to accompany ZX.
ZX - ZX's ending is very bittersweet. He achieved the power to protect that he set out to achieve, united the world, and will rule in a way that will benefit the whole world. He has the Yellow Emperor by his side to support and (occasionally) advise him. He sees Ah Nian one month a year back in Gao Xing where she is safe and looked after as one of his two Empresses. He manages to mostly mend his relationship with XY and she accepts his mother's flower. He realizes he misunderstood TSJ and accepts their marriage.
But! He had XY by his side the longest and had her complete loyalty, and then he loses her. XY leaves him behind and does not say goodbye. Feng Long dies protecting him. He does not love any of the women he's married to and one of his Empresses is unhinged and tried to kill XY twice, but he has to forgive her for it. ZX's ending is the harshest I think, but one of the themes of Once Promised and LYF is that power and the responsibility of ruling comes with a very high price. Perhaps one day he will follow in the Yellow Emperor's and Grand Emperor's footsteps and relinquish power to a worthy successor - and get to return to being a simple wine-maker with fewer worries.
TSJ - The people who hurt TSJ the most (his grandmother, Hou and FFYY) are dead. Jing Ye is married to Doctor Hu Zhen, a good man. TSJ personally raised his nephew, Tu Shan Zhen, to be a good man who will lead the Tu Shan Clan well. He can leave the clan behind without worries and without any further obligations. He finally gets to be with XY the way he wanted: as YSQ, without any constraints keeping them apart, tying XY down, or preventing them from being happy. They marry and run away together. By holding no grudges against his grandmother, Hou, FFYY or ZX, he is free and unburdened when they leave.
XL - I've said it many times before, but XL gets almost everything he wanted. Thanks to him, XY has a place to go (the ocean), a man she can rely on for life who is alive and by her side (TSJ), and a means of protecting herself (her archery). He takes more steps to protect her. Thanks to his prompting, XY takes Left Ear on as her bodyguard, and XL uses up a life to kill their bugs so that XY's heart and life will not be endangered by his death or by the bugs themselves.
XL secretly commissions a legendary bow for XY, gives her a sea-map-jewel and reminds her that she can always return to the sea. He also returns her ice crystal ball (with adjustments and an inscription of his wishes for her), but hides it where she will never see them inside a doll with such an impish expression that it makes XY laugh with joy for the first time after XL's death. XY really likes the doll without understanding why, and takes it with her when she runs away to the ocean. His gifts and sentiments will always be with her, and his blood and abilities will always be part of her.
The fate he most wanted to avoid was not death but rather the opposite: being a last survivor like the donkey-meat-selling old man who was haunted by the memory of his thousands of fallen comrades. That is the reason XL gives for why death on the battlefield is the best ending for a general. Sir Bi confirmed that XL has no desire for glory. And we know that XL does everything he can to make sure that XY is not haunted by his memory (e.g., pushing her away, pushing her towards TSJ, hiding his feelings and most of the sacrifices he made for her, and erasing the memories she saved of him in her mirror).
Then he dies the way he wanted: making a last stand on the battlefield with his comrades after staying true and loyal to them and to Gong Gong until the very end. His enemies (Ru So and ZX) respect him. His body dissolves and cannot be desecrated. He avoids the fate he most wanted to avoid and got the "best" ending he chose and carefully orchestrated for himself.
The second-to-last Flame Emperor's name was Sheng Nong Shi Nian. He wrote the Sheng Nong Herb Manual. His only son was Prince Yu Wang and his daughters were Princess Yun Sang (friend of Qi Yo and Ah Heng), Princess Nu Wa, and Second Princess Yao Ji who died of illness despite all her father's efforts. She is mentioned briefly in chapter 35 of LYF. The Flame Emperor also has a god-daughter named Mu Jin. She is the fourth princess of Sheng Nong. Yu Wang succeeded his father after his death to become the last Flame Emperor. Qi Yo was Shi Nian's only disciple and promised to help Yu Wang, and became his most trusted and powerful general.
In terms of Zhu Rong and Yu Wang's relationship: "...he was the top warrior of the Shen Nong tribe, Zhu Rong. Although Yu Wang is the Prince of Shen Nong, Zhu Rong’s exceedingly strong spiritual power, coupled with the military power he wielded, resulted in Zhu Rong belittling of the Prince."
I assume Little Zhu Rong's royal lineage is through his father, at least in part because the name suggests to me that the "Flame Emperor" had fire-based powers, and in Once Promised Zhu Rong's powers are fire-based / he is referred to as a fire god. But as far as I am aware (and I haven't read all of Once Promised), neither novel specifies whether Zhu Rong was part of the Sheng Nong royal family or if he married another member of the Sheng Nong tribe who was part of the royal family.
-----
Chapter 11:
Little Zhu Rong was a direct descendant of the Sheng Nong imperial family, born into royalty and his father was the world-renowned big hero Zhu Rong. When Little Zhu Rong surrendered to the Yellow Emperor, he married the only daughter of the Chi Sui clan Chi Sui Xiao Ye. He was greatly utilized by the Yellow Emperor and became one of his top officials. He was given the entire Middle Plains to govern, an area that used to be under the control of the Sheng Nong Kingdom.
Initially people didn’t dare publicly critique the appointment since Little Zhu Rong was royalty, but behind his back people derided him for surrendering since both his parents died for Sheng Nong in the battle with Xuan Yuan. But in the hundred or so years since, his management of the Middle Plains transformed it from a formerly lawless decrepit region into one filled with bustling activity and thriving with life. His rule was just and fair so the people slowly returned to the region and settled there.
Word was Little Zhu Rong never tried to hide his Sheng Nong background and would openly ask the Yellow Emperor for things that would benefit the people of the Middle Plains. He never hid his thoughts before the Yellow Emperor of his intention that the people of the Middle Plains who have suffered through a war could return to a life of prosperous peace. Gradually the people of the Middle Plains no longer were suspicious of Little Zhu Rong and were instead very respectful. Zhu Rong’s death was an imperial courage to his homeland, Little Zhu Rong’s living was a different type of imperial responsibility to his people.
Chi Chen is called Qi Yo in the novel, and XY's mother goes by Xuan Yuan Ba (her proper name), Xi Ling Heng (taking her maiden name to hide her royal status so she can wander freely), and Ah Heng (a nickname used by those who are close to her).
Chapter 17 of OP is included after chapter 15 of LYF: https://koalasplayground.com/2014/03/15/lost-you-forever-chapter-15-thinking-of-the-past-is-easily-sorrowful/
Parts of chapter 18 and chapter 19 of OP are included after chapter 36 of LYF: https://koalasplayground.com/2014/09/26/lost-you-forever-chapter-36-flowers-bloom-flowers-wilt-farewell-to-a-loved-one/
Later on, Qi Yo, Gong Gong, and Zhu Rong (Feng Long's grandfather) were the three greatest generals of the Sheng Nong Kingdom.
-----
From chapter 22:
Xiang Liu said “.... Back then, the Flame Emperor was still alive and the Sheng Nong Kingdom hadn’t yet been toppled. My adoptive father, along with Qi Yo and Zhu Rong, were the three greatest generals of the Sheng Nong Kingdom..."
-----
Leaders of the Four Great Clans only have to bow at the waist to greet the Emperor. This is how it's put in chapter 36:
Jing was the Tu Shan clan leader and when he saw the Yellow Emperor or the Grand Emperor he only needed to bow at the waist, yet he was giving a full on the floor bow right now to the Grand Emperor.
-----
But everyone fully bows to the Yellow Emperor and to ZX after the Yellow Emperor passes the throne to ZX in chapter 28:
No one announced a bow and by now the Yellow Emperor had removed his crown, but as he passed everyone knelt down and lowered their heads, willingly bowing to this weak old man.
It was the first time all the men standing at the peak of their own power bowed to him not because of his greater power but because they so respected him.
...
Until the Yellow Emperor completely vanished from sight did everyone stand back up. It was dead silent on and below the prayer altar.
No one could believe that there wasn’t a blood bath or interminable wait and suddenly Zhuan Xu assumed the throne just like that? But Zhuan Xu was standing right before them and staring calming down at them. Was this young Emperor really like the Yellow Emperor said? Could he bring so much to lead a kingdom to greater heights and write its own glorious new pages in history?
It wasn’t clear who knelt down first but soon everyone was on their knees and chanting “Felicitations to Your majesty!”
Zhuan Xu waved his hand “Everyone rise.”
-----
The exact wording about the families in chapter 5:
“Below the Three Imperial Families, on the top of the pecking order are the Four Great Clans – the Chi Shui family, the Xi Ling family, the Tu Shan family, and the Gui Fang family. Other than the Four Great Clans, in the Middles Plans are the Six Big Families. And below the Six Big Families are various moderately powerful smaller clans such as the Jin Tian family to the South, the Fang Feng family to the North….. But none of them can compare to the Four Great Clans.”
As for the watering down... there are at least three types of things that I expect may be be watered down or not depicted to the extent that I would like: (1) physically intimate moments; (2) particularly harsh / intense moments; and (3) scenes that are difficult or expensive to depict in a drama setting (e.g., long scenes that focus on details with little action, minute details, details that would require a lot of CGI, scenes that seem okay when you read them and the author can include certain types of details but that seem really creepy when depicted on screen, etc.).
Physical Intimacy. Based on comments about the leaked script, I am expecting that one blood-transfusion kiss scene (from chapter 48) is going to be cut. Apart from that, there's the blink-and-you'll-miss-it forehead kiss from chapter 35, but I'm mainly thinking of all the contact they have in chapter 43. If it's not cut, I think that physical intimacy will be heavily watered down based on how the drama translated (or chose not to translate) scenes with physical intimacy between them from the first 28 chapters. Like some of the bites, the times when XL transferred air to WXL while she was conscious and totally fine with it, and the 37 years of healing.
Harsh / Intense Moments. Based on comments about the leaked script, the drama will be making big changes to CX's harshest moments (by turning them into a dream sequence). I would not be at all surprised if the drama also softened or removed XL's harshest moments. In particular, I'm thinking of chapter 46 when XL pushes XY to cut ties with him. One of the harshest things that XL does to XY is connected to something that XL does for TSJ (but really for XY). But apparently in the leaked script XL no longer does that thing for TSJ. So that part of the original scene will either be different or cut.
Scenes / Details that are Difficult or Expensive to Show. This is speculation, but some of the things that have been cut in S1 (and in S2 based on the leaked script) were likely cut partly because they would require more expensive CGI. Things like TSJ's crane and Sir Bi. I feel like they might do the same for certain XL-related details, especially stuff from chapter 43 like the whirlpool and the seagull demon. They also cut certain XL/XY scenes in S1 that would have required time to show properly on screen, with very little actually happening (e.g., when the novel describes XL visiting XY occasionally in chapter 2). I feel like there might be similar difficulties with depicting all the time, effort and attention to detail that XL and XY each put into the gifts they exchange, as an example. I'm also worried they won't fully show us the donkey-meat-selling old man (who provides a lot of insight into XL's mindset) or XY's relationship with Left Ear (who acts like a proxy for XL and who XY views as someone who is perhaps like XL when he was young / someone who could become like XL one day). Because those things would require time that they don't have given the episode count.
S1 told the story from the novel up to chapter 28. Between chapter 29 and chapter 51 (the last chapter), there are quite a few chapters where XL and XY have very little interaction or no interaction at all, and some chapters where there are significant interactions (like chapters 31, 35 and 37) and chapters that are almost entirely dedicated to their interactions, relationship or feelings about each other (like chapters 32, 43, 46, 48, 51 and XL's epilogue).
But I am expecting that a lot of those scenes will be cut or watered down in S2.
Edit: Updated to add details.