unbeliebubble

The concept of "what if" makes sense if not for the "undying flowers"
https://mydramalist.com/680797-chun-hua-yan#comment-19339044

You are welcome.
I would have accepted the" what if" alternate story, if were not the concept of "undying flower".
Because, indeed, it would have made sense that in the brink of death, someone dreams or thinks about what would have happened if the story was different.

But I re-watched the episode 3 and here is my take on it.
https://mydramalist.com/680797-chun-hua-yan#comment-19332680

After watching it again, I am more convinced that the writer wanted to tell us that Murong Jing He and Mei Lin are represented by "undying flowers". They spoke a lot about it in the show.
And if you remember, when MRJH and ML arrived in the village. They were in a coma but Mei Lin couldn't let go of Prince Jing's hand.
So the doctor let them unconcious, "attached" to one another.
Once they woke up, she realized that she was holding his hand. She openned her hand. And we saw that there was an "undying flower" in their hands.

So, it tells me the "undying flower" represents them and thanks to it, they did not die.
Consequently, I understand the "alternate life" sequence as their next life. And not a "what if" sequence.
Because the writer wants to tell us that they will not die. Like the undying flower is resillient and immortal.

Thanks. Yes I would have like them to keep emphasizing the analogy between he main couple and the undying flower/ immortality.
I don't know why they only had 32 episodes. It's a pity.
We have no independent side story and some concepts were lightly treated.

Indeed, you are right. I just spoke about what I thought when I saw that Zigu was dying. As the drama was airing. But now that we can look back, of course YQ's attitude was key to avoid war. They sign a non agression agreement for 100 years. That was much needed.

Yes exactly. The flower embroided on the handkerchief look like the flower Mei Lin embroided fro Shu Muo's funeral.
I was disturbed by the Emperor's romance and I had the hunch that Zigu would not survive. Because, as I see it her romance was weird and I believed that the relation between Great Yan and State of Xiyan had to be severed to avoid battle for the trone.

I agree. I don't understand why.

I will tell you if he says it.

They survived like the undying flower survives. This concept is explained on episode 3 - Here is my take on this episode.

https://mydramalist.com/680797-chun-hua-yan#comment-19332680

There is a fake intercourse in the open.

Yes, I understood that. She had to ask what would love look like to someone. She was indeed completely clueless and gullible in that aspect. Poor girl. *sigh*
I didn't like how the romanticized her relationship with the old man. But luckily we did not see any kiss. What a relieve o_O

Yes, indeed. They let the audience choose what ending they liked the most.
And the audience had to interprete the ending.
It was not easy to recognize at first glance.
You are right.
There are 2 concepts regarding the undying flower and they fell to emphazise that.
I will have to rewatch the episode 28 to see if MRJH tell to Mei Lin's fake corpse : "I didn't know this could kill you".
Pretty much like in the book.

Episode 3 : Oath of survival - Mei Lin must live.

Mei Lin is desperate she knows she has only 3 days left to live and the culprit is still at large. She whispers : « I don’t know what to do now ». She remembers that she has to attend the royal banquet that evening. A plan pops up in her mind : she will seek Prince Jing's help.

Later on, as she arrives at the banquet among the first groupe of 25 beauties. Momai poison starts to flare up. As the hairpin penetrates her wrist, a drop of poisonous blood alleviates her pain. Mei Lin has more and more difficulties to play the complying and obedient peace-making beauty. Quick, she must speak to Prince Jing. But will the Crown Prince spoil her plan? He seems decided to give her the "eastern palace jade". While Mei Lin approaches her hand to receive it, Prince Jing suddenly stands up and walks at her. The banquet attendants are shocked. But they start to yell when Mei Lin suddendly stabbs Prince Jing . Just time for her to whisper to his ear : « You are not the true culprit of Qinzhou Massacre.  I have proof. Save me ».
The couple twirls as if they were dancing a macabre song and Prince Jing falls unconcious.

Mei Lin opens her eyes. She is hanging by the wrists with a rope, a meter above the ground, in a prison cell. It's been hours since the first tortures and harsh interrogation sessions began. She is weak and injured. All her body suffers. She softly whispers : « I cannot die ».
It was the legacy of her dying father. His order binds her, she has to survive.

After the torture, as she is linning on the wall of this dark and dirty prison cell.

For the very first time, Mei Lin notices the undying flowers fighting their way to life.
She crawls painfully at this living beacon of hope.
In case she lie down by them, would she be able to sense their fragrance?
As she slowly whispers « un- dy- ing ».
Prince Jing, who was watching her with admiration and care, also slowly whispers « un- dy- ing ».

They just vowed to survive that deadly quest. The undying flower represent them.
Mei Lin and Murong Jing He must live. They just made an oath of survival.

Episode 3 : Oath of survival - Mei Lin must live.

Yes totally. As we re-watch is there is a lot of cute moment and meaningful promises I rediscovered.
For example : I noticed that Zigu was very well put when she arrive in great Yan. She had a big crown and a lot of jewellery. But as soon as she married the emperor she lost all her elegance. And didn't even ware a crown. She was a little pitiful after the marriage.

The writers know wuxia / xianxia fans like sad endings so they provided one for them.
But the true ending is a happy ending when they survive. Why do I say that?
Because, the symbol representing them is the "undying flower". They spoke about next life all along during the drama.
It was to announce the survival and the new encounter in the next life.

Taking in account all those elements. I could not call this ending messy on because everything was announced before with clues.

Excerpt from my review on that subject :

https://mydramalist.com/profile/unbeliebubble/reviews/400704

- The forshadowing of the happy ending during the all show :
I believe in an happy ending. The undying flower is a very important element of the plot. It is showcased in the opening credit several times. More than a symbol of resilience and strength. The leads talk about their next life all the time. More than that, MRJH and ML almost died several times during the show. This was done to prepare the viewers to see their next life via reincarnation. Now that we know that. It is not difficult to see that the last scenes of the drama, tell the viewers that they were reborn and meet again in a different time and space.

Thank you. I will continue re-watching it as well. I am finishing my take on the third episode. I just re-watched it. It was very interesting and beautiful.
Happy that my opinion helps you.
I know there is a lot of bashing, but I like the show. What can I do? ^^

(^_^)

Who said Mei Lin died during the first snow? We did not see her die. We know the dragon flower blooms in the snow. And they were alive during the first snow.It think they sent someone to harvest it and cure themself.
And 20 years later Mei Lin had already died. But we don't know when.
The happy ending is in their next life.

In the book they cure themself and live happily ever after.

(^_^) yes ML could have not fall into it in the first place.
It is an ancient hollywood cliché to let a lead disappear because of quicksand.

I do too. <3