unbeliebubble

I just watched the first episode, it starts really well.

This is true that his death penalty was to peaceful. Mass murderer + regidide attempt. unbelievable.

We will never know. ^_^

I hope that ZYC understanding ZYZ will give us a happy ending.

Ok, too bad you spoiled yourself with the novel. But the drama does not follow the novel at all. So you might be surprised.
I post My understanding of each episode.

Yes the marriage with SML comes after the 24th episode because from that episode Mei Lin is in the process to leave Great Yan for Xiyan.
Maybe the marriage was on episode 28 but I am not sure.
Episode 24 is the death of Crown Prince.

Episode 6 - Declaration of war, Master of Shadow Works vs Crown Prince - Mei Lin is the bait.

Prince Yue Qin stands before Zhanyue pavilion.
Will Prince Jing He be home?
He did his best to convince the Emperor that he was the only one who could teach all the Xiyan beauties the customs and etiquette in Yan. The sole purpose was to find a way to stall time, in order to keep Mei Lin from being assigned to a Yan Officer. He must keep her in the court of state ceremonial. This is the only way he could take action and take her to Xiyan without implicating Zi Gu or leave any trace.
He sighs as he remembers the warning of his personal attendant Shu Muo :
« You never discussed politics with the Emperor, yet now, you break that rule to save her. If this draws suspicion, you might never return to Xiyan. Your Highness, if I may speak, Mei Lin is not your fated match. She will always be one of the great Yan. And she has great enemies too. »
Did Shu Muo predicted that their plan would fail? No, he refuses that option. He wants to protect Mei Lin. He has been deceiving everyone in this palace for years now. There is no way he can’t have her.

He knocks. Prince Jing appears unwelcoming. After exposing the situation Prince Jing laughs « Study, You should go through so much, just to save her. »
He replies : « Yes I am here to save her. Since you’ve shown kindness please, see it through too the end. Don’t make it difficult for her. »
Prince Jing smiles : « Difficult… » And calls : « A’mei. Do you want to stay at my mansion, or go with Prince Yue Qin ? You have the choice. »
Mei Lin steps outside Prince Jing’s bedchamber.
Prince Yue Qin immediately loses his composure, would something be happening between those two ? He cannot believe things went this far in such a short period of time. He won’t accept it.
Mei Lin declares : « Your Highness, I’d like to go to the court of state ceremonial. Prince Jing stops his sweet gaze at Mei Lin. »
Prince Yue Qin continues : « Your Highness I am under an Imperial Mandate , please don’t interfere. »
Prince Jing coldly answers : « Very well, since this has come so suddenly, let her freshen up first. I will send her over myself. »
Prince Yue Qin persists : « I will wait here. Please take your time. »
Prince Jing adds : « suit yourself, then. »
As he closes the door Prince Yue Qin feels more and more angst.

Mei Lin exhales as Prince Jing is pushing her against the wall. Her head gets messed up. Prince Jing is strongly restraining her, why does it feel like a caress ?
He abruptly says : « So you want to work with him?
Let me remind you, since you left the imperial prison. whether dead or alive, you are mine. Relying on others will only hasten your death. The more you depend on them, the quick you’ll die.»
Mei Lin replies : « Don’t worry your Highness, I won’t rely on Prince Yue Qin. Zhang Yin plans to flee to Xiyan. And his female accomplice is hiding in the court of state ceremonial. Find her, and we’ll find Zhang Yin. »
Prince Jing is puzzled, Will he be able to work that way. Yes, if he sets the rules of the game.
He then adds : « From now on , follow orders strictly. What I say and do are all confidential. Do not disclose anything to anyone. »
Mei Lin asks joyfully : « You have agreed to collaborate with me? »
Prince Jing continues imperturbable : « One more thing. Don’t keep any secret from me. »

Now comes the time to face his brother the Crown Prince. He must keep hiding behind his subordinates. Confronting him might cause him to panic and make mistakes.
He will ask him to stop pretending the brotherly affection. Now that Zhang Yin is believed to be dead. The Crown Prince feels at ease. He has to unbalance his confidence. And lets him turn on his henchmen. Crown Prince will surely accuse him of being a mass murderer. And he will reply by incriminating him. This might suffice to give Mei Lin and him the time to find that mysterious Xiyan Lady, who is hiding in the Court of State Ceremonial.


The next day, A’Dai is found dead from poisoning in her bedchamber. Overwhelmed by grief and wrath, Mei Lin decides to burn her own wrist. That way, she would redirect all suspicion toward herself and no more innocent will die.
By doing so Mei Lin sets herself as a bait. A bait Prince Jing authorizes by saying : « You’ve been the Wenhua pavilion. You are indeed the perfect bait ».

Episode 6 - Declaration of war, Master of Shadow Works vs Crown Prince - Mei Lin is the bait.

They should have let it that way. Because they created a Xiyan arc after episode 24 and this ark wasn't necessary. It downgraded the quality of the drama.

It is not hollywood yes. But it is still a team work.
So the same issues are to be tackled. Multiple writers => 1 story.
So the same process of harmonisation applies here.
I speak about the writing process not the whole show.

As I said, YQ was supposed to give her the antidote. So she accepted the marriage proposal that he planned long before. In the purpose of bringing her with him to Xiyan. And make her fall in love with him there. But he lied to her, promising that once he would cure her, she would be free to go.
To make her accept the help of YQ, MRJH revealed that he was the master of shadow works, and lied to her saying that he never loved her.
And he previously colluded with YQ to set up the operation.
Because it was his only way to cure her and at that point of time, he wasn't sure to survive, as he was about to make Crown Prince fall.

Ok, good that you watched it.
Yes FL knew he was married. You are right about that. But calling her a homewrecker is not accurate in my opinion. Why?
Because, that trashy husband was "messing around" for long before he met FL. FL did not want to build any relationship with him, this is why she refused to be his girlfriend and then dumped him.
She did not want to interfere in his married life.

Yes, FL made a mistake, getting involved with that person. But dumped him as soon as reality slapped her in the face. And she never looked back. It was that trashy husband who kept pestering her.
This is why FL is redeemable. I will not speak about her past trauma.
But the show clearly explains how manipulative and cunning the husband is. Given the personality of the husband, I suspect he manipulated her before and we saw him after when he was lying to her about meeting the wife, who was supposedly agreeing to the "girlfriend position".
I suspect he lied to FL saying that he had an "open relationship" with his wife. This is why he then lied about his wife agreeing to meet FL .
To me FL is the victim. The culprit will always be the one who had to keep his marriage vowes.

I met some guy like him as I was working. Second time I saw him, he told me he wanted me to be with him and I noticed his wedding band. And I told him to respect his marriage. He then told me that his wife was ok with him having a mistress and he offered me to meet her. He even had the nerve to give me an appointment at a restaurant to meet her. Unbelievable.
Naturally I refused and never work there anymore.

But imagine if someone believes the "open relationship" story.
That someone could easily find herself or himself in FL's position. Would that person be a homewrecker?

Yes, it does. She marries him to return the favor of saving her.

Yes. Princess Yong'an is shaddy. All of the characters seem to have interest in this matter. They are all grey characters and they want to fufill their goals.
I don't want to spoil you. But your hunch is good. She is not innocent.

Yes, she asked the bodyguard to impersonate Huo Qing Yun, but at the court of Yunpei we knew that it was the real Huo Qing Yun who came back. After he tried to kiss Bei Shuang.

@resa
This is not about the number of writers. Because normally there is more. I don't know why, but don't blame it on the number of writers.

"But whereas a typical network show might have had 10 to 12 writers or more, streaming services tend to hire between six and eight.."https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/05/29/writers-strike-myth-facts/

@fancy.
https://mydramalist.com/680797-chun-hua-yan#comment-19418702

Totally second that :)

Thanks, it is a pleasure so far. I will see how it becomes once I reach episode 25.

Obviously they were not fated.
This why I think that the drama will end in a similar situation.
FL and ML with baby and together.
Because nobody can stop people who love each other.