Whispers Of Fate is a drama that heavily centers on the Tang Lici and does not have any official female lead. However if we were to argue with who deserves the title of a female lead in this drama, that clearly has to be Zhong Chunji played by Bao Shangen.

"Heroine" is what Zhong Chunji had been referred to throughout the drama. "Heroine" is also what Tang Lici had always believed of her from the moment when he first met her. And by the end of the drama, the narrative clearly established her character as the female lead in this drama, giving her the equal footing in the story as the male protagonist, Tang Lici.

She is actually a very independent personality, far from being a mere appendage to the male lead. She represents human nature in this drama and can also drive Tang Lici with her own actions. Her character and storyline are rich and well-developed, effectively serving as a grounded counterpart to Tang Lici. They both mirror each other, contribute in each other’s growth, are meticulously cared for by mentors, possess great talent, perform good deeds at a personal cost, face injustice and manipulation by enemies, and are the 'chosen sacrifice by their families' in the story.

The key difference lies in their paths: Zhong Chunji loses her original sense of righteousness while pursuing her path, whereas Tang Lici, having weathered many storms, gradually reveals his chivalrous spirit. In their dynamic as foils, Tang Lici is Zhong Chunji's admired figure and spiritual piller, ultimately guiding her back to her original path. Zhong Chunji is the one presenting Tang Lici’s spritual growth —to write about the compassion of turning back to the original path, there must be a corresponding emergence of goodwill (like corresponding to Puzhu and Xi Fangtao, because Puzhu himself cannot be selfless in his compassion, so the redeemed Xi Fangtao cannot be unconditionally influenced). Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji are not a mere accessory in each other’s lives, their individual growth is tied to one another. It is, in fact, a brilliant narrative and entanglement between them.

Zhong Chunji’s initial portrayal is particularly delicate, aiming to highlight her fundamental nature-innocence. When she first appeared, she looked like a heroine, a figure in green flowing robes seeking answers from this world. Tang Lici saw a brave figure, who is completing her master's entrust without concern for personal gain. Having been through hardships and relied on herself through such a young age, the years haven't diminished her gentleness or the light in her eyes; instead, they have made her stronger and more independent. She firmly introduced herself and questioned him, and his answers, thoughtful and cryptically, satisfied her deep curiosity and entrusted her to uncover the truth.

Do you remember when Zhong Chunji switched from her green outfit to a purple one? It was on Tang Lici’s boat, when Tang Lici gave her the wooden carving. It's as if Tang Lici gave a piece of his desire, a fragment of himself, to Zhong Chunji. From that moment on, Zhong Chunji had a connection beyond the Central Plains Sword Association, and conflict arose. The wooden doll was meant to be a parting gift but in that moment, a connection was silently woven. From this moment onwards, her clothes started to become darker and darker and her desires grew as the plot deepened. The screenwriter also did not portray her as a clichéd character, overcoming childhood trauma and growing up into a martial arts heroine with almost no moral flaws. Instead, the screenwriter expanded on her character and gave her a depth and a complete storyline, showcasing the complexity of human nature, telling everyone that some things are just difficult to overcome.

Zhong Chunji did fall for Tang Lici but it wasn’t really a romantic love from her side either. It was a worship that turned into an obsession. Zhong Chunji was emotionally very broken, and Tang Lici represented the warmth in her life. Her background was a hurdle for her. Her heart had never been full; it had always been too humble and too inferior. She yearned to be seen for who she is, not just because of what status she held, none of the people around her (referring to those in the Sword Association) truly respected her, often bringing up her background. But Tang Lici did, he never cared about her background and her status. He had always considered her as his equal, his eyes always brimmed with admiration every time he looked at her and she remained the 'brave heroine' in his heart till the end of his life.

What truly moved her heart was Tang Lici's unwavering faith in her. She saw him protecting and comforting her when she never asked him to. When Tang said that strong people are actually vulnerable, it hit home. Zhong Chunji was sold by her parents, bullied by a group of boys while in exile, and though she had a  caring master, he never defended her when the other hall masters demeaned her, only comforting her privately afterward. Even when captured by Liu Yan, she knew that no one in the world was coming to save her-not even her master, Shao Yanping. But Tang Lici vowed to save her, no matter the cost and he had no regrets. She had to carry everything on her own, but the scars from her childhood always remained, surfacing time and time, leading to self-loathing and self-doubt. Tang Lici's appearance in her life was like a ray of light. Just like Tang Lici, she too had always been a strong-willed person, feeling a heavy sense of responsibility and taking the blame upon herself whenever something went wrong, until Tang Lici told her that this was deeply unfair.

Tang Lici's deep sense of responsibility and admiration towards Zhong Chunji came from the fact that she was suppressed, mocked and lost her position as Hall Master because she defended him. For someone else, this wouldn't make much difference, however to Tang Lici, this struck him like a thunder. A sacrifice of this magnitude, written in righteousness and selflessness, for a stranger, ignited a deep respect for her within him. While he blamed himself for her, at the same time, he carried a deep admiration for her for maintaining her virtue and moral integrity no matter what the price she had to pay, holding oneself for humanity, rather than just acting for reputation. This was Zhong Chunji's original heart and this was the Zhong Chunji that Tang Lici had in his eyes.

In Ep21, he expressed his thoughts to her, she said it didn't matter and had no regrets in defending him, but he still discovered the sadness hidden under her eyes and invited her to cheer her up. She is not really a part of the group, but one can tell just by this scene that, though not part of the main group, she is an important character. Her position is always 'central' alongside Tang Lici, in every group scene.

Once again, she was submerged into deep waters, questioning her entire life. It seemed like this life had consumed her everything, and at this moment, all of that erupted, and it was going to drown her more than the deep waters. The sense that everything that she thought she was living for and putting her focus on was totally meaningless. Has the life she has lived was all wrong? If that is wrong then what’s the right way of living? What is right and wrong? How should she live? Does life without the desired outcome have no meaning? This is directed to the scene of Tang Lici having a breakthrough and finally letting go of Fang Zhou, as detailed in my other thread. Whispers Of Fate - what is the meaning of life?

Even though she rationally knew no one was coming, it’s human instinct to still desperately wish for someone to, and Tang Lici arrived in the nick of time to stand as an unbreakable shield before her. He held her fragile, nearly lifeless form in his arms. The camera then moved to the 'butterfly' tattoo on her shoulder and the first person who saw it was Tang Lici. The narrative used the tattoo as a metaphor to give her a new identity, a new meaning of life—through the hands of Tang Lici. The butterfly became an object of Karma between them, implying that their entanglement cannot be so easily severed. Tang Lici would certainly try to fulfill Zhong's desires, including making her a princess. If Zhong Chunji could break free and emerge as a butterfly, Tang Lici could also find his salvation.

Ep25, In the dark room, he saw her in white with a pale face trying to smile gently at him, in that moment, he truly saw her- not just a brave figure. He saw the wounds in her heart, and her struggles and pains. When she asked him who could ever do that, he looked at the wood sculpture of her that he carved with his own hands, he picked it up and assured her that "she could". [The Miss Zhong I once knew, she can definitely do it.] This was his unwavering faith that the 'Zhong Chunji' carved in his mind would definitely be able to. This was his unwavering faith in her that truly moved Zhong Chunji. This encounter between Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji was very poigment. Their final act of holding the 'wooden sculpture' together showed their tacit acceptance of this inexplicable bond, carrying a silent, profound message of companionship in desolation and reliance as they move forward in their own directions. Tang Lici embarked on his journey to the Gumo kingdom while Zhong Chunji embraced her new life.

After becoming the princess, clad in magnificent and fine silk, she returned to Central Plains but her first priority was to remain Shao Yanping’s disciple and to thank Tang Lici. Tang Lici said with a smile that it was his responsibility to restore the royal bloodline. Then he turned and said sincerely, ‘I am truly happy for you’. While everyone else was focused on her identity as a princess, he remembered her as Zhong Chunji from the Jianghu.

Everyone is entangled in the Jianghu, and their own sense of 'righteousness' is bound to change with the times. That's why what Tang Lici said about how remarkable Zhong Chunji was when they first met is so precious and holds so much narrative weight for her in the end; staying true to your original self is incredibly difficult.

Ep29, On the new year eve, Zhong Chunji intercepted Tang Lici, this was the day when Zhong Chunji confessed her love for Tang Lici but this was also the day when Tang Lici decided to give up on his life for Fang Zhou.  

On the surface, it did seem like a confession-rejection scene, but deep down it's a scene of unextinguished connection. He didn’t turn her down, instead he chose her to meet the 'real' Tang Lici, he told her about his origin, about himself and about his life in the Celestial Realm. He wanted her to understand him. This is the Tang Lici we are talking about— who is always so composed and would die than being understood by others, finally letting his guards down and facing her with his real-self, raw and unmasked, yet he gently preserved her dignity. And she was equally brilliant, facing him with bravery. Given Tang Lici calling her 'heroine', Zhong Chunji would definitely light the tinder to see if he was lying. She was so stubborn but Tang Lici was stubborn too. He understood her strong will and she didn’t disappoint him. Tang Lici has indeed given Zhong Chunji a place in his heart but he was not in love with her.  And this was his answer to her. Even though she didn’t understand the meaning behind his actions, it also made her realize how little she knew about the man who has given her so much. Unable to become lovers, they maintained a deeper bond, achieving a companionship that transcends love. This scene was so beautifully written and directed; where the silence speaks louder than words; the ebb and flow of unspoken feelings flickering in the candlelight, what silently fell was both a shattered heart and a fluttering one. Throughout the drama, Zhong Chunji remained the only person who knows about his life in the Celestial Realm.

Living his last day, he chose Zhong Chunji to understand him, and he chose Shui Duopo with the responsibility of carrying out his will to revive Fang Zhou.

Through Wang Yu Yuedan, we knew Tang Lici hates showing his vulnerability to others. Yet, sensing Zhong Chunji's presence, Tang Lici didn't stop keening for Fang Zhou. He allowed her to see his vulnerability, to see him at his lowest. She looked at him in such a miserable state, with her eyes turned red with tears in her eyes. Seeing him suffering so much, she felt distressed and thought she was doing this his good. Liu Yan told her that once the gu needle is inserted, Tang Lici would be crippled. Even if Tang Lici doesn't love her, she could still love him as much as possible until he falls for her. This attempt of her for controlling the protagonist is morally reprehensible but she is not a saint; nor must she act in a certain way.
Human nature is inherently complex . She is a flesh-and-blood human, tormented by inner demons, not knowing how to deal with herself, and unsure of how to balance the good and evil in her heart, causing her to fall into internal conflict, but this nature wasn't so awful, it was just that her growth was exceptionally twisted.

Everyone likes the bright moon but nobody likes seeing the moon covered in mud. Zhong Chunji, went from the spirited figure to be tormented by her inner demons, causing her own downfall. But this 'fall from grace' is not something to be disappointed about. It’s necessary to be shattered first to be rebuilt.

On the contrary, without her attempt to cripple the protagonist, Tang Lici wouldn't have the spiritual breakthrough, that led him to let go of his obsession. Fang Zhou's heart crystal saving tang lici was his way of telling him not to blame himself and letting him go was the right choice.

"Whispers of Fate" might be too realistic in its character and plot development: doing good deeds also comes at a cost, and wrong deeds can sometimes lead to unexpected good outcomes. It is far more positive and uplifting than so-called "feel-good" dramas where good is rewarded and evil is punished.

This led to the reconciliation in the sea of flowers under the moonlight. Tang Lici was still there for her, his understanding of her showed his deep understanding of human psychology. The exchange between Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji in Ep37 is probably one of the most philosophical parts, and perfectly embroidered the relationship between them of ' mutual growth'. This part is so brilliantly executed and also the overall look of Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji are in perfect alignment with their current state of mind.

The audience could no longer understand Zhong Chunji, but Tang Lici understands her.
“I understand that you meant well, though I didn’t need this goodness, but I understand you, I even know that while you seem to have hurt me, you have hurt yourself too.”

At this moment, she was truly seen.  Shao Yanping was a very insightful person, good at handling the Sword Association, but when facing his disciple's inner conflict, he gave Zhong Chunji a pair of iron chopsticks.

Throwing the iron chopsticks with force was both a way to vent anger and not damage things, a good way to relieve stress. But ultimately, it was about making Zhong Chunji to endure. This kind of endurance was an unseen one. When it accumulated, it naturally led to grievances that couldn't be resolved in her heart, blurring her past and future. This grievance would keep a person in a low position, and the feeling of unworthiness would grow heavier, making one desperate to stand out and achieve great merits through any means.

Everything is a combination of causes and effects, a single thought triggering an inner demon. The scene also connected to the exchange between Tang Lici and the Abbott in Ep1, [The wind blows the tiles on the roof.] People become obsessed because of the beauty of flowers. Blame the flower? Blame the person? It's meaningless. The past is gone. Right and wrong, it doesn’t matter. They all get buried with the passing of time and leave quietly with no trace. His words were addressed to her, but also to himself.

The beauty of this flower lies in the fact that it refers to both Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji, and also to the idea that all beings are not truly themselves. The ‘poisonous flower’ is both, Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji. At first, Tang Lici says the flower is fleeting, but Zhong Chunji says that even a brief bloom is better than no bloom, thus urging the flower to bloom. When the flower blooms, poisonous insects fly out. Tang Lici said that no matter how beautiful, if the flower’s heart is poisonous, poisonous insects will also fly out.

She thought he was here to lecture her, but he understood her need to be truly seen. He is the only person in the script who has ever truly understood this 'need' of her, which is why she became so attached.  This attachment stemmed from a deep sense of insecurity, leading to delusions of wanting to keep him by her side forever, believing that this would grant her eternal "security." This is the same attachment Tang Lici had with Fang Zhou. And Tang Lici understands this attachment.

Tang Lici’s obsession with Fang Zhou stems from the fact that Fang Zhou is the one who greatly reinforced Tang Lici’s beliefs and affirmed his self-worth. For Zhong Chunji, Tang Lici is that person. At her lowest, Tang Lici unhesitatingly extended a helping hand, like a ray of light in the dark night.

As per Fang Zhou's philosophy, the most effective way to save people is to save their souls and their character. Placing Zhong Chunji and Fang Zhou in Tang Lici’s life illustrates Tang Lici as both, who had experienced 'soulful growth' and inspired the 'soulful growth' of Zhong Chunji. Tang Lici’s soul and character was saved by Fang Zhou, who then saved the soul and character of Zhong Chunji.

In Ep24, when she was submerged into waters, the words she let out before closing her eyes were, “I want to be the master of my own life” and just then Tang Lici came to her rescue, thus the beginning of her obsession with Tang Lici. It again coincides with Tang Lici fleeing from the Celestial Realm to live as himself, to break this predestined chess game, and crossing paths with Fang Zhou, later indulging in obsession to resurrect him.
What they both love is a burning passion for life, to be free from the shackles of fate. They both were acutely aware of the emptiness, and a hidden darkness within themselves. Just as Hua Wuyan said, monsters cherish being redeemed even more. They both clung onto the people who played a redemptive role in their lives.

Later, he said, "This flower blooms on its own, and some people find it beautiful and like it, which breeds resentment. Is it the flower’s fault? Is it people’s fault?" (Here, the flower refers to himself.) But actually, this seemingly "poisonous" flower is also beautiful, and someone will always appreciate it. Why cling to the past? As long as it blooms beautifully, someone will like it. (Here, the flower refers to Zhong Chunji).

The development of the relationship between Tang Lici and Zhong Chunji feels so natural and impressive, it started from admiration to companionship and now evolved into a relationship of mutual growth and understanding. The relationship between them wasn’t deeply portrayed, but it’s still there. Zhong Chunji finally realized that what she wanted wasn't Tang Lici, but a sense of being cherished and truly seen. When all causes return to oneself, and it is one's own choice, then whether the outcome is good or bad, it becomes one's own strength, the calmness to accept everything that happens. Tang Lici did not form any martial ties with her but he was always there for her as her best support, as the guiding light that accompanies her on the path she walks.

In this story, she is not a tool serving Tang Lici, but instead Tang Lici is that part of her life who completed her and made her self-fulfilled. He put genuine efforts and care into her, though this flower pricked him, but he bore no resentment and never gave up on her.
This later reflected in Tang Lici’s writing a letter to the imperial court to forgive her, going against on his words- as teased by Xue Xianzi. Zhong Chunji’s ultimate redemption succeeded Tang Lici to uphold Fang Zhou’s beliefs and presented his profound understanding of human nature.

Her master's tragic death was the price she paid for being a princess. Revealing her false identity was the beginning of her atonement, and using her power to reorganize the Sword Association was another action of her reformation. Zhong understood her mistakes and the need to finally let it go, realizing that the dead cannot be resurrected and no one is to blame. The people who matter now are more important.

When she was alone in the room, she finally took off her own mask and reflect upon herself. Her love and obsession towards Tang Lici brought her to the highest level of eccentricity, but she always, always, always respected and cherished her master so dearly. It was precisely because she loved her master so much that she was in such pain when she lost him, making people feel the magnitude of the price.  Even though she took the wrong path, Master Shao couldn't bring himself to say a harsh word to her, blaming only himself for not teaching her well and feeling that she must have been wronged for her to act like this. Tracing each word his master had written gently with her fingertips; each touch filled with grief and regrets, she couldn’t hide nor conceal.

His master's death propelled her to carry on the justice and chivalry his master had upheld his entire life. Tang Lici, who had believed in her, and admired her, led her to return to her original aspirations, hold fast to her Dao heart and fulfill everyone’s expectations. Emerging as the butterfly and ultimately becoming a heroine capable of embodying the ideals of protecting peace and safety for the world and its people.

On the other hand, Tang Lici deeply loved the world and was trying to save it, but the world was not passively willing to be saved  until the very end; the martial world is also saving itself in parallel as Tang Lici traversing time and space, overturning his fate and rewriting the world. Upholding Fang Zhou’s beliefs and carrying his mother’s unconditional love in his heart, to use all his strength within the scope of what can be changed, and to accept serenely what cannot be changed. Ultimately finding his salvation and was at peace with it.