A symbolism :

The breaking of the plum blossom flower twigs by Lin Qi to take to his grandfather vs Lan Xiang collecting the fallen petals from the same tree carefully in a handkerchief and giving to Xiao Lan?

This contrasting scene contains deep literary symbolism that highlights the fundamental differences in character, destiny, and perspective between Lin Qi and Lanxiang.

In Chinese culture and drama, the plum blossom represents resilience, purity, and enduring through harsh winters.

The way these two characters interact with the exact same tree reveals everything about their roles in the story:

1. Lin Qi Breaking the Twigs: Power and Duty

Lin Qi’s action is direct, practical, and forceful.

The Weight of Patriarchal Duty: By physically breaking the twigs to bring to his grandfather, Lin Qi represents the heavy burden of family legacy.

He is a pragmatic strategist who manipulates his surroundings to achieve his goals.

The Living Continuity: Taking a full twig implies transplanting or passing down the strength of the lineage. He treats the plum blossom as a token of respect and duty for the family patriarch, showcasing his focus on the grander macro-level responsibilities of the Lin household.

2. Lanxiang Collecting Fallen Petals:

Empathy and Ephemerality

Lanxiang’s action is gentle, careful, and deeply protective.

Valuing the Fragile and Overlooked:

While Lin Qi focuses on the strong, upright branches, Lanxiang focuses on what has already fallen and been cast aside.

This mirrors her own status as a maid—someone at the bottom of the social hierarchy who understands what it feels like to be vulnerable.

By gathering the petals in a handkerchief, she treats the fragile with utmost dignity.

The "Burial of Flowers" (Xun Hua): This is a classic trope in Chinese literature (most famously seen in Dream of the Red Chamber).

It symbolizes a profound sensitivity to transience, tragedy, and beauty.

Lanxiang recognizes that even though the petals have fallen, they still hold value and purity.

3. Giving the Petals to Xiao Lan: Sisterhood and Protection

By passing the handkerchief of carefully preserved petals to Xiao Lan, Lanxiang passes down a quiet, nurturing affection.

Unlike Lin Qi’s gift—which is a formal token of duty to an authority figure (the grandfather)—Lanxiang’s gift is an act of pure, unselfish emotional warmth between peers.

It shows her desire to preserve innocence and beauty for those she cares about, even in a harsh environment.

THEREFORE through the Contrasting of this single tree, the drama illustrates a classic character duality:

Lin Qi operates in the world of breaking and reshaping to protect his family's honor, while Lanxiang operates in the world of gathering and healing to protect the fragile souls around her.