[SPOILER] If I got to rewrite one scene in A Dream Within a Dream…

[SPOILER ALERT EPISODE 23]

[SPOILER ALERT EPISODE 23]

[SPOILER ALERT EPISODE 23]

If I got to rewrite one scene in A Dream Within a Dream…

It would be that moment in episode 23 (at 12:30 mark) — you know, when Nan Heng rides in dramatically on his horse at night and finds Song Yimeng standing alone in the street, holding the imperial decree calling off their engagement.

Since this drama is supposed to be a romance — and Nan Heng is presented as someone in love — here’s how I imagined it instead.

Nan Heng (after seeing the imperial decree calling off their engagement):

“I’m happy for you — because you got what you wanted.
Even if calling off the engagement hurts me.”

(pauses, voice calm)

“I know we had a terrible start.
I tried to poison you. I tried to kill you.
That must have been terrifying.
Maybe it still is.
I’m really sorry.
And… honestly, I’m grateful I failed.”

(quietly)

“I also approached you with an agenda.
Used another name. Lied to you.
That was never fair.
You didn’t have the same power I did — and I took advantage of that.”

(deep breath)

“You have every reason not to trust me.
I get it. If I were you, I wouldn’t either.
I don’t expect you to forgive me.
I don’t even expect you to believe me.
But I want to be honest about who I am now.”

(softly, without pressure)

“I hope someday I can redeem myself.
But that’s not something I can ask for.
That’s entirely up to you.”

(pauses)

“If you ever need help — with anything —
you can reach out to Shangguan He or Fu Gui.
You don’t have to talk to me.
I won’t come looking for you unless you want me to.
You don’t owe me anything.”

(sincerely)

“I just want you to be safe.
To find peace.
Even if I’m not part of your story anymore.”

It’s a version of Nan Heng who practices emotional accountability, empathy, and respect for autonomy — all the things the actual scene in A Dream Within a Dream carefully avoids. 

If you’re curious about the deeper dynamics behind this moment, there is a psychological deep dive here:
👉 Romantic Tragedy or Narrative Gaslighting? The ‘Imperial Decree’ Scene

If you could rewrite one scene in A Dream Within a Dream, which one would it be — and why?
Let’s reimagine together.

 Mizuhira-san:

I love this 💓 

It shows his absolute devotion towards his beloved person despite her rejection (whatever reason she has). Although he's confused about why Yi Meng believes in something that has never happened before and events that may or may not happen in the future, this conversation highlights his pure love, in my opinion.

I’m really glad it resonated with you! 💓
The original scene felt deeply unloving to me.
When he reads the imperial edict, he doesn’t respond with sadness or dialogue —
he reacts with rage, violently throwing the decree to the ground.
What follows is intense, but to me, rage isn’t love.

What I was trying to explore with this rewrite was:
▪ Nan Heng calmly taking full responsibility for his past actions,
▪ Respecting Song Yimeng’s boundaries without trying to change her mind, and
▪ Showing love through empathy and emotional safety — not guilt or pressure.

That shift in framing — from coercion to genuine care — was what I wished the drama had done. ❤️

If Nan Heng reacted like this in episode23 I would doubt if he ever loved Song Yimeng. If he just accepted it and even offered help through Shangguan He I would doubt he is calculating something or keeping a close eye on her. If he quietly accepted it at episode 23 , it would make him more dangerous and strategic than emotionally mature.

A Thought on Love, Pain, and Emotional Narratives in Drama

Watching these comments, I notice something important.

Some are defending a worldview where intensity means love — and love equals pain.
They also romanticize the inability to respect boundaries, reframing obsession as love.
It’s not that they don’t see the toxicity.
It’s that they equate it with passion — and fear that without it, nothing remains.

There’s also a mistranslation of emotional regulation. Calmness and restraint get read as manipulation.
Why? Because many viewers have never seen emotionally mature conflict resolution — not in real life, not in media.
So they read self-regulation as coldness or calculation, not strength.

But maybe stories can also show us new ways to relate, heal, and grow — beyond the cycle where love equals pain.

Thanks for reading. 💛