Is this the same as the novel by the same name? The novel starts out with the FL dying and going back 15 years. So did they ignore all of this and ignore one of the main plots of the story? If so, I'm going to be very disappointed. I have only seen 2 episodes so far, but it is so different from the novel that I don't know what to think. The novel was so good.

I think the drama won’t follow the same plot at all. Even the family dynamics are different. Her father is not the same, the Yininang & the sister! I think they will keep the court scheming plot but change quite a lot of her romantic storyline, after all Sanye is not widowed & doesn’t have kids, they will have to find some way to get married because the difference in statues is too different right now…

Sad to say but they banned rebirth plots in historical China. Sometimes the director will change it in to having a nightmare/dream or reading a book and that's how it can be bypassed. Sometimes it's best just to let it go and think of it as a new to drama all together

@sotreeD

soTreeD:

San Ye is widowed, but it doesn't look like the drama gave him any children. Chen Yuan Qing was supposed to be his son, now changed to just adopted into the family, under his fifth brother's line.

The novel and drama are two very different things, because rebirth is banned, plus I think many people will be put off by her being in love with the ml's son in her first life, only to marry the ml in her second life. lol

Yes we just learned that he is widowed, I don’t think they mentioned it in the first episodes….. or did they ??

they do mention it early on iirc

NOVEL: China ban rebirth theme so it was excluded. It sucks since this story arch is super important and shapes FL's choices and thinking in her second life. Marriage is early and normal for girls around 15-18 and even more normal to marry someone much older.

FL is 15 and ML is 30.

ML family: CXQ is the oldest of 3 kids for. He's the 3rd in the family. He and the 4th brothers are from the same parents. ML has 3 concubines who he doesn't care for and they were arranged by the first wife to serve him.

First life: FL was in love with ML's oldest son (from the first wife who passed) FL was foolish and didn't have a poker face on keeping her feelings/emotions in check that the ML picked up on the fact that FL loves the son and marrying the ML b/c of society dynamics/matching. FL's reputation was not good and ML is marrying for the 2nd time. After realizing FL's feelings for the son, ML stayed away and absent from their marriage. FL and ML have a son. ML died 4 years later and before she died.

Second Life: After witnessing her demise in her first life, she kept her distance from ML's son (CXQ). She wanted to change a lot of outcomes that she knows/remembers from her first life. She found out more of ML's intention and feelings for her in the second life, details she failed to see b/c she was too enamored with ML's son. However, in the second life, FL's sudden distance and 'lost of interest' in ML's son created an obsession/frustration for CXQ. FL went from looney admirer to being his legal mother (in name) after she married ML. Since FL became a different person, one he could actually like, CXQ started to like her, creating a invisible love triangle between the 3 of them.

The novel is a complicated weave of family dynamics (of society, women, men and family in the ming dynasty). People don't marry for love and don't stay married for love. It's a very good read if the age factor doesn't give you an 'ick' feeling.

Luv Peony:

IamIndai:

I just started reading the book, and I must say I stopped and had to continue watching the drama instead because of the differences in the story. Additionally, Gu Lan and her mother are far more scheming in the book than in the series. Also I am always put off by the age difference in historical marriage. Chen Yanyun in the book is 30 and Gu Zhao just turn 16 ish or 15 not sure.

Yup, she is 15 when she married Chen YanYun or Third Master (San Ye). CYY was a widow at 27. CYY had his first son CXQ at 15? It's weird if you look at the numbers like that. The book will always be more entertaining and realistic then the drama adaptation. It is best if you read or watch one only. If you read the book, you may not enjoy the drama.

Yeah I am enjoying the drama will finish that and then read the book afterwards. The book as you mentioned has more depth and you will understand where the characters are coming from.

Luv Peony:

IamIndai:

I just started reading the book, and I must say I stopped and had to continue watching the drama instead because of the differences in the story. Additionally, Gu Lan and her mother are far more scheming in the book than in the series. Also I am always put off by the age difference in historical marriage. Chen Yanyun in the book is 30 and Gu Zhao just turn 16 ish or 15 not sure.

Yup, she is 15 when she married Chen YanYun or Third Master (San Ye). CYY was a widow at 27. CYY had his first son CXQ at 15? It's weird if you look at the numbers like that. The book will always be more entertaining and realistic then the drama adaptation. It is best if you read or watch one only. If you read the book, you may not enjoy the drama.

Can you spoil how it ended for the CXQ-GJZ-CYY in the book? I only managed to read until CXQ married his wife and being completely aloof to her + GJZ taking care of the illegitimate son from the 2nd branch.