Gong Xin Wen Shang

Transmigration done right

I'd like to start by saying I super duper loved Zhang Chi and Yue Yuting's chemistry in , that I was so delighted to see that they had actually worked together before that drama! Lo and behold, we get to see them in a costume drama and in very different characters.

As someone who never gets tired of the transmigration plots, it was refreshing to witness a drama that didn't care so much about the original plot in a good way. I'm saying this because many other dramas fail to deliver the transmigration trope by neglecting the importance of the original plot (what happens to it, do we still follow, etc), but this drama justified that it is worth not being given focus. Since Sheng Qing was originally written as a side character, it would be predictable that she thinks she doesn't hold much power in the story. She mentioned the female lead entering the palace years later, and that she should be clinging onto her for survival. But since two years is quite a long time, SQ must do something to live— and that is, to keep low. She was among the lowest concubines to the Emperor—she wasn't summoned for "night duties" as often as the other concubines—indicating that she posed no threat to the higher ones. Later on, this won't be as effective as she would be subjected to constant bullying by the other consorts. SQ, as prideful and wise as she is, doesn't accept such a fate, and in turn, makes her move to the Emperor Xuanyuan Ling. But right from the start, we could see the Emperor's mysterious gaze over SQ, and I would like to assume that SQ was no side character in this new plot version, and the transmigration part is literally just the aspect of SQ being transmigrated to the novel.

What I love about this version? The love between SQ and XL remains a mystery until the very end. While XL was an Emperor with a well-living Empress and multiple concubines, SQ was a low-level consort making ways to survive. They are bound to meet and make love given their roles, but given the complexity of their situations, there isn't really enough space for love to bloom. At the start, we see XL being restrained from showing affection towards SQ, reminding himself (like any other emperor) that his relationships with his concubines are solely for sustaining the royal lineage. He was also seen to not favor any woman, even the empress, and was focused on state affairs. But even the strongest tree can have a weak branch, and SQ tugged XL's heartstrings in her favor. It is not like XL wasn't used to being respected by the harem and his people, but SQ pampered him in the most balanced way—flirting with him enough to keep him hooked, then pulling away to keep distance. SQ played the hard-to-get game the best because we all know how desire is always fueled by mystery; in their first encounters, SQ made sure she would be memorable to the emperor, but in a way that he would be left wanting to know her more. This is where we see SQ's main intentions of getting closer to the emperor, and of course, it's for survival. Can't blame my girl for doing so; she will be targeted whether she lies low or not, so choosing the high-profile route would be just as sweet. While there are occasional references to the original novel as SQ remembers it, most of the story's trajectory is well-directed by SQ. Absolute cinema if you would ask me. SQ was a really strong and wise FML, and I love seeing a woman knowing her strengths well just to survive.

But going back to the topic of love, I really liked how their love didn't exactly unfold. SQ's confession was for an ulterior motive, and we were only sure of XL's blossoming affection through his internal dialogues. This highlights exactly how realistically complicated their positions in society are. But towards the end, I'd like to assume that there already exists a love-centered relationship between them, especially with how worried the Emperor was when SQ was giving birth. Mind you, we didn't see him being this worried over multiple childbirths (only during child deaths... IM SORRY) and we often see him being happy only with the heirs they have produced. But when the child was brought to him, his first instinct was to know if SQ was well, and he came rushing to her! Good lord, that's such a cute scene.

As always, Yue Yuting and Zhang Chi nailed their roles on this one. Visual chemistry is given, and their acting prowess is emphasized a lot in a costume drama.

Favorite part: When XL assumes that SQ has fallen hard for him. I would laugh at him during these scenes.

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