A servant who likes to stir up trouble
(This section is about Tu Shanjing, who enjoys causing drama, and contains a lot of personal, subjective analysis. If you don’t agree with the interpretation, feel free to skip it—or just watch it for fun…)
If I use Xiang Liu’s ever-shifting identity to represent “a thousand faces among a thousand people,”
then Tu Shanjing is someone who himself has a thousand faces.
He acts differently when dealing with Xiaoyao versus when facing others...
Xiaoyao sensed something strange about Tu Shanjing
● Let's first take a look at how the Great Wilderness evaluates Tu Shanjing
Mr. Shi (a resident of the Great Wilderness): truly skillful
The King of Gaoxin: Always scheming
The old King of Xuanyuan: A master at using others’ strength to his advantage — a true strategist at the game of chess.
Cang Xuan: good at “playing chess”
Fenglong: exceptionally clever and resourceful
Xiang Liu: not incompetent/ "Xiangliu: He's not without ability"
Tu Shan Hou: never dares to face the enemy head-on.
•So, starting from Qingshui Town, did Xiaoyao really trust Tu Shanjing? Didn’t she notice anything? Was she fooled by him? Let’s see what she said herself…
奸猾 (jiān huá): cunning and deceitful; 奸 (jiān) is a derogatory term in Mandarin, meaning wicked, crafty, or malicious in intent.
In the novel version, Xiaoliu described Tu Shanjing as cunning three times.
She never truly trusted him.
"After spending 37 years under the sea, a marriage snatching, and a breakup — is there still trust between Yao and Jing? Two people who once faked their feelings — have they now exchanged true hearts? Well, that depends on whether you believe it or not~ (Blogger’s note: False feelings can’t earn true ones — only sincerity can be exchanged for sincerity.)
…
▽–The only time she trusted him, she ended up becoming a “runner” (like in Running Man).
Agreed to help
Turned around and ran away
Follow-up:
The hard shell around her heart has already closed
Truly speaks without thinking
◐Tu Shanjing “selectively” avoids A'Nian
·Ye Shiqi avoids
The first time: avoided A'Nian, but didn’t avoid Cang Xuan
The second time: turned into a lively fox
His strange behavior drew Cang Xuan’s attention and led him to investigate his identity
Gaoxin Royal Palace
Secretly observing: the commoner Ye Shiqi still avoids A'Nian
·Tu Shanjing does not avoid her
At the Chishui Autumn Tournament, Tu Shanjing, having restored his identity, appeared together with A'Nian for the first time in a public setting.
A'Nian’s impression: she only knows the Young Master of Qingqiu
＊–What exactly is Tu Shanjing trying to avoid?
After just being tied up once by Cang Xuan, he immediately transformed into a completely different soul fox—truly like a spirit recognizing its master, exactly the same.
Spirit beast vs Conscious spirit (Could it be that he avoided her because he was afraid of the spirit beast Ye Shiqi???)
◐Insert an off-screen “Running Man” moment
Teacher Yang Zi’s Comment 1
Teacher Yang Zi’s Comment 2
▽–Released miasma over the Shennong rebel army camp
Xiaoliu tried to persuade Xiang Liu to surrender but failed, and got badly beaten
Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing each came up with their own way to deal with Xiang Liu.
Xiaoliu thought of using gu (poisonous insects)
Tu Shanjing released miasma into the rebel army camp (miasma is usually produced from decaying plants and organic matter in wetlands)Make plants wither and rot quickly to collect miasma.
Attacked by miasma
＊–Why not think that Cang Xuan (or someone else) sent people to do it?
Because others simply couldn’t find the location of the rebel army camp...
Divine tribe spies and setting up formations didn’t work; no one could find the place.
Only the fox found it (he doesn’t answer when Xiaoliu asks).
⒈ Suspicious persons entering and exiting must be knocked unconscious to avoid exposure.
Knocked unconscious and taken away
⒉ Are there maze formations set up by Xiang Liu in the forests and mountains of the rebel army’s territory?
Mist surrounds the “warning line”
Xiaoliu ran a big circle and returned to the starting point
⒊ Informants who leak secrets by moving away from the camp will be detected and dealt with promptly
"Could it be an informant who infiltrated early on as a new recruit?"
(Then the one releasing the miasma must have known the location first! Who else could it be!)
So Cang Xuan only ordered to buy the medicinal herbs after investigating that Xiang Liu was trying to gather them. (No foreknowledge of the miasma)
Jun Yi also disagrees with buying out the medicinal herbs now, fearing that King Five and King Seven would steal the credit.
…
▽–Summon Jing Ye, return to being Tu Shanjing
Ye Shiqi is not enough to deal with Xiang Liu, so Tu Shanjing takes over again.
Summoning Jing Ye, the next day Huichuntang was immediately reclaimed.
Jing Ye moved into the Yu residence in a high-profile manner, shocking the entire street, and everyone followed.
Close-up of the Tu Shan clan emblem at the entrance of the Yu residence — he can’t not recognize it, right? Yet he’s pretending to cling to someone powerful here.
If he doesn’t know it belongs to the Tu Shan clan, then his eyes must really be blind. (Drama version Jing lied, solid proof #1)
Xiaoliu told him to stop pretending
Six years without revealing a word about his background
……
▽–Deliberately leaked the location of the hidden herbs to Cang Xuan
There is a secret passage for transporting goods.
Usually, when selling supplies to the rebel army, he knows the secret passage to enter and exit Qingshui Town, and also knows the secret passage to escape... so why this time, when preparing medicine for Xiang Liu to enter and exit Qingshui Town, did he not use the secret passage?
"Even using the secret passage, they still got discovered and suspected?"
Since Cang Xuan already found out that the medicine was brought into Qingshui Town, they should just keep monitoring the medicine continuously.
Xiang Liu was ambushed by Cang Xuan (whoever is responsible for transporting the medicine is the one being watched by Cang Xuan, so she was told to ask Tu Shanjing)
…
▽–Deliberately leaked the location of Xiang Liu’s private residence
After being rescued, Xiaoliu was placed at Xiang Liu’s private residence.
Tu Shanjing took people out of the dungeon
Xiang Liu’s private residence
Only Xiang Liu (his private mysterious ghost soldiers) and Tu Shanjing know the location of the private residence. (After Xiaoliu woke up, he stayed inside the house nursing his injuries and didn’t go down the mountain)
XiangLiu: Hesitating and putting on an act, what for? Are you still afraid of being followed?
Just as Tu Shanjing was about to take Xiaoliu away, the location of Xiang Liu’s private residence was suddenly exposed...
Cang Xuan arrived in a furious rage and attacked.
＊–How did Jun Yi manage to track down Xiaoliu?
Cang Xuan surely couldn’t have found it on his own, right? So how was their trail discovered?
⒈Could it be that Xiang Liu (and his private troops) were the ones who exposed it...?
Revealing one’s own hideout isn’t unheard of—just a bit rare...
Xiaoliu is turning the tables and shifting the blame? Wasn't it clearly Xiang Liu who told you to stay hidden?
Weren’t you the one who ran out and got yourself caught? And now you're saying Xiang Liu used you?
The righteous army was already barely surviving after losing their stronghold, struggling just to stay alive—
and Xiang Liu still went out to seek even more trouble?
What, was he afraid the righteous army wasn’t dying fast enough?
The wrath of an emperor... rivers of blood for thousands of miles...
(So Xiang Liu exposed himself because he wanted to kill the crown prince? And in doing so, completely enraged the King of Xuanyuan, causing the emperor to immediately dispatch a large army to wipe out the righteous army?)
⒉Then could it only be that Tu Shanjing was tracked while going back and forth from the private residence, leading to the exposure...?
The Nine-Tailed Fox’s counter-surveillance abilities—then it must have been intentional...
◐Insert the cause of the clash between Xiang Liu and Cang Xuan in Qingshui Town
Cang Xuan, wanting to gain military merit by defeating the righteous army, chose to go after Xiang Liu first.
Xiang Liu merely retaliated.
•Cang Xuan’s first attack on Xiang Liu: to capture him alive
He valued talent and wanted to persuade him to surrender first.
The attempt to capture him alive failed.
•Cang Xuan’s second attack on Xiang Liu: He tried to capture him while he was running low on antidote for the miasma poison.
When he couldn’t win him over, he decided to eliminate him instead.
(Did Xiaoliu happen to overhear this? And in doing so, missed the clues about her own people?)
The assassination attempt failed.
•Third clash: Tu Shanjing initiated a deal to rescue Xiaoliu.
Successfully rescued her.
Fourth clash: Cang Xuan came to settle the score.
He was nearly killed in the counterattack.
(In summary, it’s always been Cang Xuan causing trouble for Xiang Liu and the righteous army... Xiang Liu was just fighting back.)
…
▽–Cooperating with Cang Xuan to “capture” Xiaoliu
In the drama version, the entire scene of Tu Shanjing taking Xiaoliu and escaping from Qingshui Town was altered (using a secret passage), emphasizing more of his scheming—“using others to kill on his behalf.”
⒈He had Jingye leak the information to Yiying.
Jingye acted even more deliberately...
⒉Yiying then conveniently passed the information to Cang Xuan: “They’re heading to Gaoxin.”
Don’t call this an “unintentional slip” among countless precautions...
•Tu Shanjing knew that Yiying would ask Jingye about his movements.
Of course Jingye would report this kind of situation to Tu Shanjing.
•Couldn’t the Young Master of Qingqiu have prepared a change of clothes to create confusion and mislead others? Instead, he basically handed Xiaoliu over to Yiying on a silver platter.
•In a world like the Great Wilderness, where everything can shift and change at any moment, running for your life while bringing a change of clothes is quite a curious thing. Makes you wonder—were they escaping for their lives, or just going on a clean and tidy vacation... (Clearly, it was meant to leave a trail.)
•Two people who can change their appearance and vanish completely were somehow “coincidentally” caught during this so-called “cooperative escape.”
Looks like neither of them really wanted to disappear completely.
⒊Inside the door: “I am Tu Shanjing” — Outside the door: “I am Ye Shiqi”
Inside the door: “I am Tu Shanjing. Go ahead and run.”
Outside the door: “I am Ye Shiqi. Let’s see how you escape now.”
⒋Capture successful.
"Ye Shiqi" represents "Huichun Hall"
…
▽–The grand “pancake” (bait/promise) of fifteen years in Dragonbone Prison
Jing: “You can think of me as a ‘lotus flower.’”
(The lotus is Xiang Liu — see Directory_1-❹-②)
•The engagement will definitely be canceled.
Marriage
•In fifteen years, I’ll return you a Ye Shiqi.
Clan Leader of Tushan
•Won’t let any other man into her heart.
Deal — blocking Xiang Liu.
…
▽–Yao and Jing shifting the blame onto each other
•Xiaoliu clearly could’ve used the Eternal Youth Flower to disguise herself and escape — so why did she still go to Tu Shanjing for “help”?
A summons from the emperor
Because she needed someone to take the fall, didn’t she? If she ran off on her own, what would happen to the people of Huichun Hall?
In truth, ever since the King of Gaoxin ordered her to be brought back, Xiaoliu had no way to escape...
(Unless she didn’t care about the lives of those at Huichun Hall—in that case, sure, she could’ve just run away.)
Huichuntang's warning to "family and friends"
-----
"Then let's see if Tushan Jing is willing to take the blame for her? …What a joke — there's no way Tushan Jing would let the Tushan clan take the fall for her. That would be practically cooperating with Xiang Xuan's 'arrest'."
Jing: “Hurry up and capture her.”
•Xiaoliu must go see the King of Gaoxin now... Just look at that fox’s smile — he can barely keep it together.
Xiang Liu left — and he couldn’t hold back his smile anymore. Major achievement unlocked!
Note: I'll insert the images tomorrow to help make the whole analysis easier to understand. Apologies if there are any translation mistakes—honestly, Mandarin isn't a language I'm fluent in. It took me about 2 to 3 hours to read and fully grasp this entire analysis because there were so many images included, and I had to go back and forth translating everything to really understand it.
Also, I didn’t post things in the same order as the original blogger—I picked parts randomly because the full thread was just too long, hehe… So please bear with me if the flow seems a bit scattered.
Cr:https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/699826956?utm_psn=1792613331888119810
③ Detailed Explanation of How Xiaoyao Implants Gu
The three different methods of Gu implantation shown in the drama version (with one additional instance where Xiao Yao implants a Gu into Xiangliu) were all meant to show that Xiao Yao had fully mastered the techniques of both the Parent-Child Gu and the Lover’s Gu — despite the Lover’s Gu being extremely difficult to implant...
● Two Gu implantation methods: Parent-Child Gu and Lover’s Gu.
[Xiao Yao used the Lover’s Gu as if it were the Parent-Child Gu…]
Parent-Child Gu: Requires applying the heart’s blood of one person onto a mountain walnut for the male and female Gu insects to feed on, thereby recognizing one master. (Two Gu, one master — hegemonic control)
One master
Lover’s Gu: Requires applying the heart’s blood of two people onto a mountain walnut for the male and female Gu insects to feed on, thereby recognizing a man and a woman as two masters. (One Gu, one master — equality)
One Gu, one master
Two people apply blood
● Xiao Yao’s three Gu implantation methods
1.Xiao Yao used the Parent-Child Gu method on Xiangliu (failed)
Xiao Yao intended to secretly implant the Parent-Child Gu in Xiangliu, without his willing consent.
Parent-Child Gu successfully recognized its master
Summon the female Gu (mother Gu) to enter the body
Control the male Gu (child Gu) to lock onto Xiangliu.
The Parent-Child Gu is easy to implant in ordinary people, but because Xiangliu is a demon king with powerful spiritual energy, the male Gu was afraid to approach him, leading to a failed implantation.
2.Xiao Yao attempted to implant the Parent-Child Gu in Cangxuan, but it mutated into a Lover’s Gu (forcibly implanted)
In the first implantation, the Parent-Child Gu had already recognized its master. The female Gu (mother Gu) resided in Xiao Yao’s body, so she could directly control the male Gu (child Gu) to lock onto the target, Cangxuan.
Control the male Gu (child Gu) to lock onto Cangxuan
The male Gu (child Gu) approaches Cangxuan
After the Parent-Child Gu entered Cangxuan’s body, it mutated into a Lover’s Gu and was forcibly implanted.
Why did the Parent-Child Gu mutate into a Lover’s Gu?
3.Xiao Yao and Xiangliu implanted the Lover’s Gu (successful)
You must welcome its arrival — Xiao Yao implants the Lover’s Gu.
Xiao Yao applies blood
XiangLiu applies blood
You must welcome the Gu insect willingly and with a sincere heart.
A male Gu returning to its old home in the mountain walnut
After the male and female Gu returned to the mountain walnut and re-recognized Xiao Yao and Xiangliu as their new masters, they entered each person's body. The implantation was deemed successful because both parties were in love and willingly accepted it!
❸ Analysis of Gu Implantation in Cangxuan
Parent-Child Gu: Requires applying the heart’s blood of one person onto a mountain walnut for the male and female Gu to feed on, thereby recognizing one person as their master.
Lover’s Gu: Requires applying the heart’s blood of two people onto a mountain walnut for the male and female Gu to feed on, thereby recognizing a man and a woman as two masters.
[The mountain walnut] is the marker to determine whether the Lover’s Gu implantation was successful!
The mountain walnut is the “home” of the Gu insects.
[Does not disappear] = the home still exists → unsuccessful.
[Disappears] = the home is gone, they have found a new one → successful.
The mountain walnut must disappear for it to be considered successful.
[There are two conditions for successful Gu implantation: both parties must be in love and willingly accept it.]
Xiao Yao and Cangxuan had a childhood love and once promised to become husband and wife. However, since they are biological cousins and there were concerns about it being seen as incest, the broadcast version changed it to a sibling-style promise instead. During 300 years of wandering through the Great Wilderness, Xiao Yao continued to long for him.
Promise as husband and wife
When Xiao Yao was being tortured, she and Cangxuan had not yet recognized each other. Xiao Yao initially intended to use the Parent-Child Gu implantation method to control Cangxuan.
Intended to use the Parent-Child Gu implantation method
When the Gu insect found Cangxuan and entered his body, the Parent-Child Gu method unexpectedly mutated into the Lover’s Gu method...
This change is the mutation from the Parent-Child Gu method to the Lover’s Gu method.
[I've finally figured out why Xiangliu said, “Only because Cangxuan wasn’t willing to plant the Gu.” It means that just one condition was missing for success — Cangxuan’s willingness... Even though the implantation method had already changed, it was still lacking one key step: applying blood to establish mastery!]
▽– There was clearly only Xiao Yao’s blood on the mountain walnut, so why did the Parent-Child Gu method mutate into the Lover’s Gu method?
• That’s right, it’s all the fault of the incestuous bloodline — unexpected, huh? Because of the blood relationship between Xiao Yao and Cangxuan, the Gu insect determined that Cangxuan was also a master, and thus entered the Lover’s Gu implantation process...
At the same time, Xiao Yao and Cangxuan were deeply longing for each other, fulfilling the condition of mutual affection.
Xiao Yao and Cangxuan were missing each other at the same time.
Xiao Yao was willing when planting the Gu, but at that time, Cangxuan was completely unaware of the Gu implantation, so the condition of willingness was not met. As a result, the Gu was forcibly implanted, and since the mountain walnut did not disappear, the implantation was unsuccessful.
Even if it was forcibly implanted, it would still lead to endless troubles later on.
Cangxuan, who had the Gu forcibly implanted, not only failed to establish a life-and-heart bond, but also risked being attacked in return by the Gu insect (a backlash caused by emotional discord?), which could even endanger his life. Only Xiao Yao managed to activate part of the Gu’s function — and even that worked in only one direction… (a mutated one-sided Gu).
Since it wasn't truly successful, one opportunity for transfer is given.
After the Gu between Xiao Yao and Xiangliu was successfully implanted, Cangxuan was still completely unaware and left feeling empty and lost. The mutual childhood love between Xiao Yao and Cangxuan was severed at that point. From then on, Cangxuan still felt “romantic love” toward Xiao Yao, while Xiao Yao’s feelings for Cangxuan shifted into “familial affection”…
Cangxuan felt empty and lost.
Cangxuan’s dream: to become husband and wife, stay together for a lifetime, and never be separated. (Did he truly have no awareness at all about his sister and the Gu?)
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/699826956?utm_psn=1792613331888119810
❼ Lover’s Gu – “Mirror of Wind and Moon”
An ancient saying goes: A gentleman judges actions, not intentions.
But Tong Hua says: The Lover’s Gu (and its backlash effect) judges the heart, not the actions!
That’s why Yao and Jing can “bite each other back and forth” (in the style of “substitute love literature”) without triggering a backlash, whereas Xiangliu merely wants to take back his heart and immediately suffers backlash! Impressive, isn’t it?
Once you understand the reading guide to Lost You Forever through the lens of the “Lover’s Gu,” and go back to read the novel, you’ll make a fascinating discovery — it’s as if you’re reading two different novels, two separate stories...
This is why Tong Hua proudly calls it the “peak of her literary artistry” — one storyline, but with double the flavor.
Translate:[At the time, I thought this was the work that showcased my most refined writing skills.
But after many years, looking back at it again,
I still find there are some shortcomings.
This revision cannot make up for all the regrets,
but I’ve done my best to fix everything that can be fixed.]
Lost You Forever has already gone through multiple revisions. If you still can’t understand the Lover’s Gu concept, it’s recommended that you give up on this novel — or maybe take an IQ test (to see who ranks lower… you or Tong Hua).
Translate:[Xiaoyao secretly exclaimed in her heart, “This is bad!”
She could control her facial expressions and movements,
but it was impossible to control her heartbeat.
Sure enough, Xiangliu noticed immediately and looked at her.
Xiaoyao quickly said, “I’m hungry! So hungry my heart feels anxious!”]
Yangzi :[What I'm acting out is one thing, but what she's thinking in her heart is something else]
Teacher Yang Zi has confirmed with solid proof that Xiao Yao is an actress.
Analyzed with a magnifying glass.
[The drama version of Lost You Forever also adopts the approach where actors perform the overt storyline, while props, art direction (cinematography), and the makeup & costume team support the hidden narrative.]
(No comment on whether the actors performed it correctly or not…)
The bright and hidden plotlines represent the distinction between truth and illusion.
(Analysis of Tushan Jing’s bright and hidden lines can be found in Table of Contents Section 6-❷-①⓪)
The blogger does not comment on the actors’ performances.
(Personal interpretation of the emotional storyline’s ending can be found in Table of Contents Section 5-❹)
Translate:
[Forget it—just to make things easier to understand, the blogger will spell it out directly
(Personal interpretation, for reference only—don’t take it too seriously, just enjoy it!)
Bright storyline: [Novel version – “Three People in the Ice Crystal Ball”]
A young woman with emotional voids,
for the sake of her beloved cousin’s great ambitions and to avoid repeating her mother’s tragic fate,
gave up on “the one she loved” from the very beginning
and chose “the right one” (enter substitute romance).
Xiaoyao was constantly torn between emotion and reason.
Xiangliu, out of love, supported her decision and let her go.
He provided the "three essentials":
– a bow and arrow for protection,
– the chubby Ye Shiqi doll for companionship,
– and the vast sea as a place to escape to.
Xiaoyao lost her true love forever and lived the rest of her life in longing.
Yaoliu would never meet again in this lifetime.
Xiangliu’s love, which could never be revealed under the light of day,
was sealed into the big doll...
Such a simple story—was it really that hard to understand?
Hidden storyline (Snake and Fox fable): [Drama version – “Ice Crystal Ball and Mutual Love”]
Yaoliu were in love but couldn’t be together due to their public identities.
Xiaoyao used the Lover’s Gu to bind them with a life-or-death gamble—
only time could reveal someone’s true heart.
In the early arc, to help cangxuan raise money,
Xiaoyao voluntarily entered the fox demon’s cage.
The snake demon (Xiangliu) couldn’t have her, so he wanted to leave—
but then Xiaoyao “stole the snake’s egg,”
and the snake chose to stay.
The snake gave up one of his lives to protect Xiaoyao from the fox demon
(revealing the truth about Merlin Forest).
Later, Xiaoyao executed the “round lantern, missing boat” strategy
(poisoning the fox demon),
openly advancing toward Yaojing,
but secretly sneaking back to Yaoliu.
Xiangliu secretly helped Cangxuan unify the Great Wilderness (Dahuang).
XiangLiu and CangXuan reached a mutual understanding:
preserve Hongjiang, let the rebel army return home—
thus fulfilling the true “three essentials”:
– a healed heart,
– the lover of her dreams: Xiangliu,
– a free and equal Great Wilderness.
In the end, Cangxuan recognized Xiaoyao’s sacrifices,
let Xiangliu live,
and granted his sister’s wish for a reunited and happy family.]
----------------------------------------------
Blogger's Comment:One storyline, yet it tells two completely opposite stories — isn’t it fair to say “Tong Hua is forever the GOAT (YYDS)”? (The technical brilliance is real, but so is how sickening the story can be!)
"Filter" — an instruction manual
Note: This blogger also analyzes Lost You Forever through the drama's “filter.”
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/29105903646?share_code=WUCWcOheZ0iW&utm_psn=1912886332784613275
3. Substitute Literature
After understanding the Lover’s Gu, let’s move on to the main topic. I’ve roughly identified five instances.
(If I missed any, feel free to point them out!)
❶ Tushan Jing
The 37 years under the sea mark the timeline — Tushan Jing was a passive substitute 37 years ago, and an active substitute 37 years later.
(In order to win Xiao Yao, Tushan Jing used various schemes—both overt and covert—starting from Qingshui Town. This is clearly shown in the drama. If you're interested in political and power-play subplots, you can analyze the drama yourself or check out strategy breakdowns on Bilibili/Xiaohongshu.)
Also see: Directory 4-❼-②
Before the time under the sea — I want your love.
After the time under the sea — he realized he could never have her love... but still refused to let go, even if it meant being just a servant.
...
Clinging to the wrong person began a path of no return.
Clung to the wrong person
① Fed poison (unconscious substitution)
Failed to poison Xiangliu
Poisoned the wrong person.
Went to poison the fox
② Woke up at the Yu residence in Qingshui Town (from a netizen)
Turns out King Gaoxin was wrongly blamed — Xiao Liu had already started playing the "substitute love" game on her own back in Qingshui Town... she was ready to let go of herself.
The husband is absent, and the servants are worked to death.
A poem longing for a husband away at war
Xiao Liu misses her husband who is away on duty, imagining him facing hardships and dangers out in the world.
My husband is working so hard to make medicine for me~ (the block-shaped ice crystal with nine heads represents Liuzi/Xiangliu)
The arrangement order of the nine heads.
[Leave Xiao Liu behind]
Xiangliu wanted to take Xiao Liu away, but she cried out in pain, and the spiritual medicine had run out.After using his spiritual power to ease her pain, he left.
My servant... I'm going to start letting go now...
Letting go and imagining my husband who is away at war, so I can temporarily forget the sorrow of longing...
◐ Insert the ice crystal that represents Tushan Jing.
The bar-shaped ice crystal represents Tushan Jing.
◐ What exactly is "Ye Shiqi"?
The real and fake Ye Shiqi.
To be precise, "Ye Shiqi" is a codename for Xiao Yao's imagined "ideal partner"—a persona that fulfills all her needs.
What she needs is not a lover, but a Ye Shiqi (this role is more like that of a servant...).
Anyone who can meet that requirement can become her "Ye Shiqi." Tushan Jing even said he "wanted to be" Ye Shiqi...
◐ The way the name "Ye Shiqi" was created
奴十一……左耳（11画）
Ye Shiqi... Fangfeng Bei (17 strokes), Baozhu (17 strokes); Xiangliu (18 strokes)
In the new version, after the cousin’s name was changed, Cangxuan (玱玹) also has 17 strokes.
③ Group Journey to Guixu
Description of Xiangliu.
"Like the Milky Way cascading down from the Ninth Heaven" — what color is the Milky Way, really???
Popular science / Scientific explanation
Lazy and carefree (a bit unruly)... instantly heart-fluttering, falling in love just by the way he plays with his hair...
④ Classic copy of the forced underwater kiss
The fox truly understands: "There is no me in your eyes."
⑤ Hair Washing and Dyeing (from a netizen)
Xiao Yao truly deserves the title of “traditional Chinese doctor”… she precisely mastered Xiangliu’s hair dye formula.
Xiao Yao reveals the secret behind Bei Bei’s hair scent.
Hibiscus leaves are used as a hair dye and are the tool Bei (Fangfeng Bei) uses to color his hair. Xiao Yao smelled the scent of hibiscus leaves on Bei’s hair… whereas Xiao Liu used soap pods to wash their hair in Qingshui Town.
Washing the fox's hair with soapberry.
After spending time with Fangfeng Bei, Xiao Yao went back and used hibiscus leaves to wash the fox’s hair...
Washing the fox’s hair with hibiscus leaves.
⑥【Longing Upon Meeting】– A courtship song driven by admiration for strength.
The full script of "Longing Upon Meeting" appears during the wedding snatching, breakup, and Xiangliu’s death scenes (in the novel version, it appears during the first performance, but the broadcast version deleted or altered it).
"You are like the wind upon the water."
"You are like the clouds in the sky."
"You are like a tree in the mountains."
"You are like a bird in the sky."
"The fox from Osmanthus Garden understood the meaning, but you don’t match the word 'strong'... you can only be a vine that clings to the strong."
A slight scene adjustmen
As soon as the song "Pian Ai Ren Jian Yan Huo/Love the Fireworks of the World starts playing ~ it's the beginning of the substitution moment ~
Firework
⑦ The Big Bad Wolf and the Little White Rabbit / Feeding Medicine
"(Big Bad Wolf) Do you think I'm just a little white rabbit?"
"This scene is just too eye-burning, better to describe it with words instead... (This medicine-feeding move was learned from how Sea Xiangliu treated her...)"
"Xiangliu fed his heart’s blood using his mouth."
Copy
"Ugh..."
"◐ Insert the song where Xiao Yao wakes up Tu Shanjing (from a netizen)"
"The drama version saved by using 'Xiang Jian Xiang Si'
"⑨ Taking Xiao Yao to various fun outings"
"Exploring hidden spots and uncovering secrets
The fox wants to overwrite all her memories..."
"Recreate the experience of exploring hidden wonders"
①⓪ A letter from Tu Shanjing to Xiao Yao (from a netizen)
In the drama version's extra letter scene — Tu Shanjing's side story — there were two inserted shots of Xiao Yao looking at Fangfeng Bei (implying that the person in Xiao Yao’s heart has always been Xiangliu, and Tu Shanjing willingly chose to be a stand-in to accompany her).
Extra letter scene – Tu Shanjing's version: "Who is in your eyes?"
The image below corresponds to what Xiao Yao truly saw in her eyes.
①① Jingjing resembling Bei (intentional coincidence version)
● Voluntarily cosplaying 37 years after the underwater incident
Cang Xuan OS (inner monologue):
"Having way too much fun cosplaying, huh? Copy-spirit Jing, go change your clothes and get back to work!"
Cosplaying Bei Bei’s outfit
The broadcast version didn’t include the iconic chin-grabbing action… so it failed to show Xiao Yao’s shock.
Why didn’t they film it?
Grabbing the chin
● Just a small coincidence (really just a coincidence, don’t overthink it)
Seven days later
The sea lies beneath one's feet.
“Wangri/Full Moon Day" refers to the 15th day of the lunar month, though sometimes it falls on the 16th or 17th. It usually refers to the 15th day of the lunar calendar and corresponds to the full moon phase.
On the night of the full moon
At midnight, it’s time to heal…
The legend of releasing lanterns, the promise under the full moon.
Legend of the lanterns: Guiding warriors on the battlefield to find their way home (Yao lights the lantern: Xiangliu, come home!)
[Round lantern, missing boat]
The wish: “When the round lantern floats without a boat, the one who left will return.”
Using the moon to represent a person — who is the full moon, and who is the crescent moon?
Full moon = Xiangliu, Crescent moon = Tu Shanjing (Of course, if someone believes that in Xiao Yao's heart, Jing is the full moon, that's fine too — respect and understanding...)
...
◐ “Playing dead” — Xiao Yao & Jing version
Xiao Yao: Lays down for 2 days waiting for you to crawl back on your own
Jing: Lays down for 37 years like Sleeping Beauty, waiting for a kiss to wake up
Waking up or not depends on oneself… If you don’t want to be saved, then just pretend to sleep…?
(You can never wake someone who’s only pretending to sleep — unless they want to wake up themselves…)
Fish elixir + spiritual power = Tu Shanjing’s longest time underwater: one day and two nights.
If we can’t find them in three days, then stop looking.
Everyone searched day and night for three whole days and nights. The sea is vast and dangerous — it’s too hard to keep searching...
A secret that no one knows
Sister Yao, you're a sea demon and you faint just from searching one day in a river...? (Isn’t the sea your paradise? Didn’t think to put in a little more effort?)
I thought when you woke up and went to the seaside, it was because you wanted to go into the sea to keep searching — turns out you just let Jing crawl back on his own... (You were busy planning your wedding and didn’t even bother to go into the sea to help look again?)
The book version made it even clearer: the boats had already searched all the way to the river mouth, yet Sister Yao still refused to go into the sea. After returning to Qingshui Town, she even wanted to go upstream...??? Still hoping to find him in the upper reaches of a small river? Jing was gravely wounded and near death — he would only drift downstream! How on earth did Yao’s mind come up with the idea that he might be upstream??? (All I want to say is: act like you care — now go into the sea and look for him!)
Sea-Yao’s legs were even cramping
▽ Why didn’t Xiao Yao realize that Jing was seriously injured and would’ve drifted downstream to the sea? Why did she insist on going upstream in the river instead? And her legs were cramping in the river?
Seriously injured and drifted downstream into the sea
1.Did Xiao Yao secretly hope Jing wouldn’t be found, and deliberately chose to search in the wrong direction?
2.Or was it due to a sudden crisis — Xiao Yao panicked and lost her reasoning for a moment, searched all day and got exhausted, and forgot that she’s actually a sea demon?
Xiao Yao can stay in the water forever
3.Did Xiao Yao not want people around her to discover the secret about her body, but still needed to appear anxious about finding Jing — so she had to start acting?
• [Acting moment showtime 7️⃣] — Trick Miao Pu
Xiao Yao wanted to go into the sea alone to “look for Jing” (this scene follows Xiangliu saving her from the giant whirlpool), and even had to pretend in front of Miao Pu that she needed to hold a fish elixir to stay underwater for a long time.
Although Miao Pu was a secret guard assigned by her cousin, he was already the closest person around Xiao Yao — yet she still wouldn’t reveal her secret to him.
Then who was the one truly taking action, busy searching the sea to find someone for you…? (True feelings are revealed in times of hardship...)
Liuzi and Dog Chang
The Tu Shan clan has stopped searching.
● “Rebirth” after death — “Jing” and “Liu” become indistinguishable
• Mount Yu
The broadcast version had edits in both dialogue and plot, but the stand-in costume was accurate.
• Farewell
Filial act — on the surface, it’s a loving mother-son bond between Yao and Jing.
Filial son act
...
◐ "Ye Shiqi" of Mount Yu (personal interpretation — feel free to skip this part if you don’t agree)
[No mistaking identities allowed]
"Don't recognize the wrong person."
Great Void "Illusion Realm"
When the false is taken as true, the true also becomes false.
(Xiangliu once transformed into Ye Shiqi, see Directory_Chapter Six - ❷-①⓪)
▽ This question has confused quite a few people — some say it was Xiangliu who transformed into Ye Shiqi, while others believe it was Tu Shanjing who "came back from the dead" and recovered rapidly...
A dramatic transformation from a “dead man” to lively and energetic
1️⃣ Xiangliu transformed into Ye Shiqi
(Yao and Xiangliu’s “heart-based recognition” — see Directory_Chapter Three - ❻)
Translate: @TV drama "Lost You Forever"
#LostYouForever2 When we reunited, it was my heartbeat that recognized him before I did
You #XiaoYao and Tu Shanjing finally reunited #LostYouForever
Translate : "Filter"
"I like you."
"Sorry, I need to correct myself. I don’t think it’s just liking — I’ve fallen in love with you."
Even if everything on the outside changes, my heartbeat will still recognize you before I do.
(Of course, if you believe that Yao and Jing’s heartbeats are in sync, that’s fine too — respect and understanding… In any case, Tong Hua has made it this obvious, so just interpret it however you like.)
Up to you to interpret (think whatever you want — with respect and blessings)
-----
Show the action of pulling Xiao Yao into his arms without a moment’s hesitation (to see what the script was trying to convey… the broadcast version edited out parts of the plot and actions).
A response that follows the heart
Jing: Learned something new again.
Translate : "Filter"AkuMau:
There's another drama with so much LYF content. lol
Have you seen anything about XL's last quest to get XY to admit who was in her heart? Of course, there's the hypnotizing scene after the wedding robbery, which we've discussed quite a bit here. But I think the drama added more scenes where XL seemed to be seeking this admission or asking XY this question. Like the casino scene. Like him returning to the Donkey Meat Seller and reassuring him that he knew who was in XY's heart.
In the Chang Xiang Si setting, [Gu = Heart = Liu], Xiao Yao recognizes people by heart, so the answer is...
1. [After Mount Yu (Yushan)]
(This is purely my personal interpretation: the Ye Shiqi who was at Mount Yu was Xiangliu, and the one who later returned to the battlefield and died was also Xiangliu. The Ye Shiqi who appeared after leaving Mount Yu was a fake Jing...)
“Jing” knows that Xiangliu “saved” him.
Suddenly remembered — Yi Ying married the puppet version of Tu Shanjing (added in the drama version). Could this be another symbolic parallel? So, does that mean Xiao Yao also married a puppet (the fake Jing)? (Tong Hua is truly clever; every change carries a hidden meaning.)
Yi Ying married the puppet (fake Jing) version of Tu Shanjing.
Puppet: “It’s me, it’s me, it’s all me?” (But actually, it’s the fake Jing.)
Why? (Why does teasing Xiao Yao not feel flirty or suggestive at all, just bland and awkward?)
2. Using Ye Shiqi from Yushan as a metaphor for the future return of “Liu Shiqi” (Guifang Bei) and his reunion with Xiao Yao.
Actually, both interpretations make sense, but since the script specifically describes Xiao Yao's heart sensing something, I personally lean toward interpretation 1️⃣.
……
◐ How did Tu Shanjing survive the massive whirlpool?
In the world of Chang Xiang Si, massive whirlpools are extremely destructive natural phenomena. Across the novel and drama, there are a total of four depictions of such whirlpools.
1️⃣ The nine-headed demon encountered a massive whirlpool while escaping the slave camp at sea and was rescued by the top expert, Hong Jiang.
Rescued.
2️⃣ During the 37 years under the sea, Yao and Liu encountered a massive whirlpool once, and Xiangliu avoided it.
Avoided.
3️⃣ Xiao Yao encountered a massive whirlpool and was rescued by the top expert, Xiangliu.
Rescued, Xiangliu was injured.
4️⃣ Tu Shanjing was severely injured and near death when he encountered a massive whirlpool at sea — and escaped it by himself...? (Added in the drama version)
• In the novel version, Jing said he was rescued by a merman couple (no mention of a massive whirlpool)
• In the drama version, according to Jing, not only did the sea beasts not eat him, but he also managed to escape the massive whirlpool by himself...? (Tong Hua’s inner voice: “I specifically added a massive whirlpool — let’s see if you all still believe it, haha.”)
Escaped the massive whirlpool by himself?
▽–So how exactly did Tu Shanjing survive the massive whirlpool?
- Jing is the chosen one, incredibly lucky, took a divine pill — so he really could escape the whirlpool on his own!
- Jing actually died at sea, and Xiangliu made up the massive whirlpool story as a hidden message for her. (So when Xiao Yao heard about the whirlpool, she immediately knew it was Xiangliu’s way of telling her that Tu Shanjing had truly died…)
▽–Why didn’t the countless sea beasts in the ocean eat Jing?
Why didn’t the countless sea beasts eat him? (The audience is repeatedly given hints — why didn’t they eat him?)
- Jing is the chosen one, incredibly lucky — despite being in the sea for so long, he somehow never ran into the countless sea beasts; and even if he did, they didn’t eat him and just waited for someone to pick him up…
- The countless sea beasts wanted to eat this divine-race "nourishing delicacy," but for some reason, they couldn’t?
• Other possible reasons
• What could that reason be? Maybe he was poisonous, and the sea beasts couldn’t eat him? Where did the poison come from? (suggested by netizens)
Want to take a bite.
(Xiao Yao inner voice: “Sorry, you can’t eat him.”)
Xiao Yao’s hidden thread: using blood as bait, she poisoned the nine-tailed fox... (it's both a tonic and a poison)
◐ A trade of tonic and last wishes
(This part is a follow-up speculation after the “poisoning” of the nine-tailed fox, meant to complement the inserted link. There’s no solid evidence — feel free to skip it, don’t take it as fact ❌)
Cycle of cause and effect.
(Tu Shan clan’s ten-thousand-year spirit guide, see Table of Contents_Chapter Five-❺-④)
For reference only
1️⃣ The deal between the nine-headed demon and Fangfeng Bei
A willing trade: to take care of his mother
2️⃣ The deal between the nine-headed demon and Tu Shanjing
A willing trade: to protect the Tu Shan clan
(The drama version timeline was altered — this refers to the possible “deal content” hinted at in the novel version)
Lost two lives and was seriously injured — needs major healing and nourishment.
……
▽–After leaving Mount Yu, Xiangliu died in battle. So who exactly was the Ye Shiqi who married Xiao Yao and retired with her? (Use your own imagination — whichever version you choose to believe is your truth… The drama’s timeline for the wedding and the battle is messy, so it’s best to read the novel carefully~)
- Tu Shanjing, the chosen one, returned — it was truly him!
- Xiangliu actually didn’t die on the battlefield (he was saved), and disguised himself as Tu Shanjing to run away with Xiao Yao.
The powerful Eternal Youth Flower.
3. The Ye Shiqi from Mount Yu (Xiangliu) gave Xiao Yao a nine-tailed fox puppet (that could transform into Tu Shanjing) for her to use to escape.
A puppet made by Jing (fox tail) / A puppet made by Liu (ox horn) (from netizens)
3*1. Ruomu puppet (a moment of Xiangxuan’s voluntary letting go)
4. Others (Just imagine — what if the Guifang clan’s “two-headed serpent” actually had two bodies…)
Since there isn’t enough evidence, this blogger can only choose option 3! (Option 2 is also quite plausible, but the timeline is hard to explain clearly — it's very messy…)
【The following part is completely baseless nonsense ❌】
▽–So after reanalyzing everything, how exactly did Liu survive?
First of all, Liu’s “six-headed demon body” was blown apart and pierced through — it could no longer be used. But with the (Eternal Youth Flower) preserving his spiritual consciousness and demon core:
His demon body had already been pierced this badly.
You protect the righteous army, and I’ll protect you.
1️⃣ After Liu died in battle, the “Jing” by Xiao Yao’s side was a puppet.
• If he had been taken back to Guifang to repair his demon body, it would have required time — an uncertain and unpredictable “rebirth” over hundreds of years.
2️⃣ Based on the deliberate visual clues left in the drama version, it’s almost certain that the “Jing” beside Xiao Yao is actually Liu.
The world laughs at Yao for being too wild,but Sister Yao laughs at you for not seeing through it all...
Close-up shot: the thumb "gently strokes" Yao's paw sideways.
In such a short time, how did he recover his body from that wasp's nest state?
Then there are only two possibilities: ❌
- Liu originally had a dual form — divine and demon — with ten heads; the demon body (nine heads) died, and “Jing” is the divine body? (from netizens)
Nine Lives is just a title (Is the "nine lives" fake? A hidden clue in the name?)
One body with two forms?
1*1. One body with ten heads.
Brainstorming section, for reference only
2. Liu, like Ying Long, went through the “bone-burning agony” — did the snake demon transform into a dragon?
Yinglong trained for a thousand years, endured the “bone-burning agony,” transformed from a snake demon into a dragon, and ascended as a divine dragon.
The nine-headed serpent experienced the “bone-burning agony” of the demon body on the battlefield, transformed from a snake demon into a dragon, and—just like Yinglong—regained a divine form and ascended as a divine dragon.
[Snake Demon Transforms into Dragon]
Expanded (from the internet)
[In the Chang Xiang Si setting, the process of a snake demon transforming into a dragon is simplified — with a thousand years of cultivation, a snake demon can directly become an Yinglong (divine dragon).]
• Timeline of the nine-headed serpent's life:
Hatched from an egg — transformed into human form (unknown) — slave death arena (unknown) — Far North (over 100 years) — Fangfeng Bei (over 400 years) — met Xiao Yao (over 100 years)
Unknown years + over 700 years — that’s close to a thousand years of cultivation, so with the right opportunity, he could directly transform into a dragon.
It was mentioned that he is a “thousand-year-old snake demon”
…
(The blogger didn’t expect there to be a third possibility…)
3. The Guifang clan is actually octopus-based (confirmed by Tong Hua) ✅
From the internet.
The blogger’s imagination is running wild — please bear with it!
The squid sprays ink.
Truth and lies — all for the sake of survival.
＊–So how exactly can the X-Lives curse and the Lover’s Gu be broken?
The Lover’s Gu takes both life and heart.
• If X = 1 + N, the Lover’s Gu can be broken.
(1 = main brain, N = regenerable tentacle sub-brains)
• If X = 1 and heart = 1, the Lover’s Gu cannot be broken;
• If heart = 3, the Lover’s Gu can be broken.
Depends on how the heart is set.
①② “Reversal” is actually “illusion” (from netizens)
[This novel can't be read only at surface level… what appears on the surface is false…]
The content in the image is just my nonsense, don’t take it seriously ❌ Just enjoy it for fun.
The overt and hidden storylines in Chang Xiang Si are completely opposite. For example:
- In the overt storyline, Xiaotian (aka Xiaoliu) is jealous because of Jing; in the hidden storyline, she’s jealous because of Xiangliu.
- In the overt storyline, Xiaotian coughs up blood because of Jing; in the hidden one, it’s because of Xiangliu.
- In the overt storyline, Tian and Liu fall out; in the hidden one, Tian and Liu protect each other.
More examples:
- In the overt storyline, Xiangliu wants to forget each other and live freely in the world; in the hidden storyline, he wants to stay together and share life deeply.
- In the overt storyline, Tian and Liu vow never to meet again; in the hidden one, they love and stay together.
- In the overt storyline, Xiaotian makes medicine to save Jing; in the hidden one, she makes medicine to poison Jing.
- In the overt storyline, Jing lives and Liu dies; in the hidden one, Jing dies and Liu lives.
You have to read the two stories in reverse to fully understand them.
Compared to the novel, the drama version uniquely and directly presents (the “reversal” as Xiao Yao’s stand-in narrative — expressing her feelings through “Jing,” using “Jing” to represent “Liu”...)
● A love letter in reverse
The reversed meaning of the character “Xiang” is the most obvious to notice.
Looking up at the snow falling all over the sky — and once again, she got substituted (and thoroughly enjoyed it~)
● Reversed clan emblem
Sister Yao, don’t be too funny… The clan emblem was made reversed on purpose?
Original novel text :
黄帝突然不满的说:“中原风俗最讨厌,守丧有何意义?若心里真存了亡者,世人不让守,也自会惦念一辈子。若心里无亡者,就算守了一年、三年又如何?还不是人前哀戚,人后作乐?在这些事情上,西北的氏族要比你们看得通透,亡夫去,只要小寡妇乐意,就是坟头土未干,都可以再洞房花烛,所以部落里多的是早上喝丧酒,晚上喝喜酒的事。”
小天一口酸梅汤笑喷了出来:“外爷,你可真是越活越回去了!人说老小孩老小孩,如今我算是信了!”
The Yellow Emperor suddenly spoke in dissatisfaction:
“The customs of the Central Plains are the most annoying. What’s the point of mourning? If someone truly holds the deceased in their heart, even if society forbids them from mourning, they will still remember that person for a lifetime. But if there’s no one in their heart, what’s the use of mourning for a year or even three? Isn’t it just grief in front of others, and joy behind their backs?”
“When it comes to matters like this, the tribes in the Northwest see things far more clearly than you do. If a young widow is willing, even if the grave soil hasn’t dried yet, she can still marry again. That’s why it’s common in the tribes for people to drink mourning wine in the morning, and wedding wine in the evening.”
Xiaoyao burst out laughing and spat out her sour plum drink:
“Grandpa, you really are becoming more and more childish as you age! They say old people become like children again—now I finally believe it!”
------------
【If someone truly holds the deceased in their heart, even if society forbids them from mourning, they will still remember that person for a lifetime."】
— This line corresponds to what happens after Xiang Liu's death: the "young widow" is not allowed to publicly mourn her late husband and marries someone else right away (as shown in the modified drama version), but deep in her heart, she remembers Xiang Liu for the rest of her life.
【"If there is no one in the heart, then even mourning for one year or three years—what does it matter? It’s just putting on an act of sorrow in front of others, while enjoying life behind their backs."】
— This line refers to the moment when Tu Shanjing ‘dies’, and Xiao Yao acts devastated in public, pretending to grieve deeply, even wanting to die with him. But in private, once she encounters the great whirlpool and sees Xiang Liu, she immediately clings to him, desperately trying to get close and intimate.
● Reversed blade
……
◐ A discussion about “can’t bear to let me go” (personal interpretation, don’t take it as fact ❌)
“Jing” can’t bear to let me go.
“Jing” knows that you are the most important person.
Mother is different from “Jing” — she couldn’t have both, but “Jing” would find a way to have both.
How can there be a way in this world to have the best of both?
[Righteous duty vs. personal happiness]
Xiao Yao: My mother gave up our family for the greater good — I can understand it, but I don’t want to forgive it.
Xiao Yao: You gave up our family for the greater good — I will never forgive you.
XiangLiu: The greater good and my family — I want them both! I won’t give up either. If there’s a way in this world to have both, I’ll find it!
The world can’t find a way to have both, but Nine-Lives Xiangliu can — “cunning and capable of devising what others cannot...”
What others can't accomplish, he can.
……
(That's all for now — there’s still more fun to discover in the novel. Also, every “full moon” is a reference to Xiangliu.)
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/699826956?utm_psn=1792613331888119810
Kokuto:
There's another drama with so much LYF content. lol
Have you seen anything about XL's last quest to get XY to admit who was in her heart? Of course, there's the hypnotizing scene after the wedding robbery, which we've discussed quite a bit here. But I think the drama added more scenes where XL seemed to be seeking this admission or asking XY this question. Like the casino scene. Like him returning to the Donkey Meat Seller and reassuring him that he knew who was in XY's heart.
"So far, I haven’t found it. Maybe later — if I do, I’ll share it here."
❷ Fangfeng Bei (version before his identity was revealed)
This one really doesn’t need any explanation, right?
【In my eyes, there’s only you】 — as a contrast to the one above: “there’s no one in their eyes (not even you)~”
In my eyes, there's only you.
Xiao Yao confesses her love to Bei Bei.
The novel version’s depiction of comforting her about her background, and how “there’s only you in my eyes.”
❸ Tu Shan Hou
During her date with Brother Hou, she felt his masculine charm and couldn’t help but compare him with Fangfeng Bei...
A live-action version of "Fish Frolicking Among Lotus Leaves"
She even got to experience a live-action version of "Fish Frolicking Among Lotus Leaves," though the “breath-sharing” part didn’t quite succeed.
Trying to get into the mood / Trying to feel the vibe.
❻ Cang Xuan (heartbeat-listening version)
In her dazed state, even her cousin Cang Xuan was subconsciously replaced in her mind...
Xinyue tried to assassinate her twice. The first time, they encountered a massive whirlpool — Xiangliu went to save her, but Xiao Yao didn’t want him to leave, and they ended up experiencing the “rising and falling tides” together.
The second time she was in danger, Xiangliu didn’t go — instead, he sent her cousin. But Xiao Yao insisted on listening to the heartbeat, and then ended up thinking of “Jing”?
(Yao–Liu and the massive whirlpool — see Table of Contents_Chapter One-❶, link inserted)
Then let’s sort out this “heartbeat listening” game — who exactly was she really playing it with?
———
● The “heartbeat recognition” game between Yaoliu
① Planting the Lover’s Gu
② Our hearts beat together.
③ The massacre in the plum forest — guided by the pull of the heartbeat.
…
◐ Heartbroken and despairing spiritual power
Xiao Yao lost all five senses, completely disconnected from the outside world. The only perception she had left came from the Lover’s Gu…
The heartbroken and despairing Xiangliu.
Cang Xuan saw the glowing light of the Lover’s Gu and immediately realized that Xiao Yao still had a chance to survive. He ordered others to channel spiritual power into her to preserve her body...
Xiangliu used the Lover’s Gu to channel spiritual power and guide her heartbeat, while the others channeled spiritual power to protect her body.
------
④ Healing under the sea — heartbeats became old friends.
⑤ At cousin’s wedding — used heartache to distract herself.
⑥ Revisiting the ocean floor — the seashell love nest.
⑦ Sharing pain through synchronized heartbeats.
⑧ Comforting her about her origins (or background).
……
◐ Insert a special eight-petaled snowflake (from a netizen)
Ordinary and common snowflakes have six petals.
In the novel version, it was a kiss on the lips (soft and gentle),but in the drama version, it was changed to a snowflake ❄️.
How did the idea of an eight-petaled snowflake come about? (Eight mouths? One bite from each mouth?! Or maybe it's actually the arrangement of nine mouths!)
⑨ Suicide and then saving her life
So when listening to the heartbeat, which “Jing” was she really thinking of?
———
◐ A buy-one-get-one-free deal for cousin — adding in a bit of that inherited “stand-in literature” (substitute romance trope).
Passed down from master to disciple / A master’s legacy.
Inherited through learning / Learning what has been passed down through generations.
Live and learn.
Imagery (metaphors, similes, analogies)
❶ Chishui Fenglong (scene imagery)
This belongs to the “Tong Hua’s forced persecution” version…
At Yao Feng’s grand wedding, the original work shows her holding the [Twin-Headed Red Lotus] (two red flowers).
White lotus — Liu,Red lotus — Yao.
The drama changed the [two red flowers] to [one white, one red], corresponding to the actual wedding couple’s clothing colors...
❷ Merman couple, ice crystal ball (drama version’s structural changes)
① The shell resonance of the merman couple
Tong Hua uses the merman couple as a subtle metaphor for Yao and Liu’s true [marital relationship] and some “little pleasures” that happened during their last night inside the shell.
Shell resonance
The little pleasures of the merman couple (in the drama version, changed to Xiao Yao watching alone in secret)
In the novel version, Xiao Yao and Liu secretly watched hand in hand—and they got caught.
Chang Xiang Si plagiarized the “little pleasures” of the bedroom scene promised by Zeng Xun Nuo (Left: Zeng Xun Nuo, Right: Chang Xiang Si)
Love and passion, soul-stirring and bone-melting (Above: Zeng Xun Nuo, Below: Chang Xiang Si)
● A key explanation of how the Lover’s Gu (情人蛊) works in saving someone: ⚠️⚠️⚠️
The Lover’s Gu heals through love. So, in the novel version, Xiangliu would treat Xiao Yao each month by kissing and embracing her, allowing the female Gu to sense love.
In the drama version, Xiangliu wanted to preserve his chastity, so he instead spent 37 years drawing blood from his own heart as a substitute.
Then Cang Xuan sent word that Tu Shanjing was on the verge of death. (After 37 years, Cang Xuan was still unable to get any money, so he desperately needed Tu Shanjing to help fabricate some accounts and raise funds...)
Conveniently, Tu Shanjing also happened to be dying, so Cang Xuan quickly sent a message to Xiangliu, hoping he would hurry and heal Xiao Yao and send her back.
Cang Xuan really couldn’t fake the accounts himself and had run out of money — he needed Jing to come up with some funds.
Jing “just so happened” to be on the verge of dying too, so Cang Xuan sent a message to check on Xiao Yao’s condition.
Xiangliu has a special method — if Xiao Yao makes up her mind now, there’s a way for her to recover immediately.
Of course, he could have just ignored whether Tu Shanjing lived or died and kept drawing blood to save Xiao Yao for a few more decades. (But both Xiao Yao and Cang Xuan were deeply concerned about Jing’s survival — and the drama made this very clear.)
He knew that the most direct way to awaken Xiao Yao was by letting her feel the strongest love, so he used the Lover’s Gu’s heart-connection function to ask for her consent — it was not a decision he made on his own!!!
He used the “heart-connection” function to ask, and received her consent.
●【If you can’t accept the Lover’s Gu saving someone through that method, then go criticize Tong Hua’s values — or ask her to change the setting!】
Obviously, she’s not going to change it, because it’s deeply tied to the story’s structural framework, core themes, and both its overt and hidden endings — all of which were clearly shown in the drama! (That “chastity” was never meant to be preserved in the first place...)
The three healing scenes filmed all showed the shell opening, revealing the vast blue sea.
Normally, the big shell is always in an open state, but on the final night, it was completely closed.
Close-up of the big shell closing.
Normally, after drawing blood for healing, he looks like this — pale and weakened.
After the “healing” on the final night, he looked like this — rosy and full of color.
His complexion was rosy, and he looked completely refreshed.
Xiao Yao’s future life path must have Xiangliu’s approval (after their time under the sea, Xiangliu takes full responsibility for her…)
If you don’t have his consent, then don’t get married.
Turning your lifesaver into someone heartless and ungrateful — that’s way too harsh.
She believes that Xiangliu slept with her, then came to crash the wedding but didn’t want her afterward — making him a heartless, cold-blooded demon. (But the truth is: he slept with her to save the fox, and she gave her consent; the wedding crash happened because she gave him the ice crystal orb...) Anyway, she just lashes out at Xiangliu whenever she gets the chance...
② Novel version of the Ice Crystal Orb
In Xiao Yao’s ice crystal orb, the female merman has already moved into the shell house, calling for her male merman to come home…
The female merman is calling her male partner to come home.
But the male merman can no longer return, so he sent a man to accompany the female merman instead...
(Note: the man is not the same kind as the merman couple...)
The female merman and the man took over the male merman’s shell home.
This corresponds to the explicit ending in the novel version, where Xiao Yao and Tu Shanjing (carrying the Zuo Ear Miao Pu) retire to live on Xiangliu’s island home.
③ Drama version of the Ice Crystal Orb
In the drama, the structure of the Ice Crystal Orb was changed. Compared to the novel version, where the male merman was cold and distant and the female merman was pursuing him alone, the drama restructured it to show a merman couple who mutually run toward each other.
(This new structure essentially reveals the hidden ending between Xiao Yao and Xiangliu that was subtly embedded in the novel. Tong Hua basically exposed the true core of Lost You Forever.)
Mermen might look even better without clothes...
The black-haired male merman corresponds to the black-haired Fangfeng Bei, who is wearing Xiangliu’s clothes.
Bei’s hair, Liu’s clothes (the free and unrestrained nine-headed serpent)
“I’ll give you someone to rely on for the rest of your life.”
【Explicit Xiao Yao–Jing storyline】: Giving you Tu Shanjing to pose as Ye Shiqi. (But the fox is disabled and short-lived — how can that be long-term...? Even if Xiao Yao bled for him every day, his broken body is beyond repair and wouldn’t last long!)
【Hidden Xiao Yao–Xiangliu storyline】: Fulfilling Xiangliu’s responsibility — returning “the one Xiao Yao most wanted to spend her life with”… himself! (The next identity is ready to be activated! Including all 81 ghost clan forms, any one of them can now begin!)
Ready — to walk side by side together.
The snowman family of three at Baozhu’s doorstep
The structure of the ice crystal orb that Xiangliu returned in the drama likely represents the true hidden ending of Xiao Yao and Xiangliu.
Change in the ice crystal orb (under the sea, there are only mermen).
The hidden ending still shows the merman couple continuously running toward each other in both directions — that part remains unchanged — but now there’s an additional merman watching from the corner.
▽– Who is this newly added merman?
- A servant watching from the side? The fox learned to swim? Mutated? ❌
- Look at the size difference between this new merman and the merman couple — is it their son, a little merman? Is the little merman looking for his mother? Did the "man" get kicked out, and the little merman took his place?!
Little merman.
3. Is the newly added merman actually another identity of the Nine-Headed Demon?
❸ Chi Chen and the toys (symbolic imagery)
● Chi Chen made toy dolls, a wooden horse, a small drum, and more for his unborn child…
Chi Chen made toys for his own child.
The drama version added many more toys.
Doll.
The little clothes made by A Heng.
All kinds of little toys.
Making a wooden horse
● Xiangliu went to pay respects to Chi Chen and A Heng, and saw those toys.
Meeting the parents.
In the broadcast version, Xiao Yao and Xiangliu directly touched the cradle together — clearly hinting at a child.
Her parents entrusted Xiao Yao into his hands.
In the portrait of A Heng during her pregnancy, Xiao Yao’s belly is drawn even larger.
Who is he? Obviously, the real son-in-law.
● A second “emergency treatment” took place on Mount Yu.
Second time.
The merman couple would prepare things for the little merman.
● Then maybe follow Chi Chen’s example and make a big-bellied smiling doll — with an ice crystal orb (the crystallization of love) inside its belly.
XiangLiu: Not letting me enter your dream? Flicks your forehead!
The big-bellied smiling doll = Xiao Yao (Xiao Yao with a big belly carrying the orb)
Xiao Yao OS: (My family can’t hold it in anymore) I laughed! That “big-bellied smiling doll” looks just like me — someone’s really a master craftsman!
Of course Xiao Yao figured it out — that’s why she laughed.
Liùzi: Just teasing my wife a little — that night, your dudou (belly wrap)... guess what? Did I see it or not? (In the drama version, was the pattern peonies?)
Why did the folded corner of the blanket change direction?
(Liùzi OS: That’s right — I’ve already seen all of my wife’s dudou~)
◐ Inserted question: Does Xiao Yao know it was Xiangliu who saved her on Mount Yu?
This depends on personal interpretation — no need to over-explain, just look at the original text.
While others were saying it was the Queen Mother who saved her and removed the Gu poison… Xiao Yao didn’t even respond. She just kept thinking about how Xiangliu wanted her to also gain more lives…
Ordinary lies are weak and powerless in front of someone like Xiao Yao, who’s an expert at lying herself.
In the drama version, after the Gu was removed, Sister Yao slipped into an abandoned-wife mindset again and started scolding Xiangliu.
The human heart is worth less than grass.
◐ Inserted question: Can Xiao Yao open the big-bellied smiling doll?
Critical point.
The critical point given in the original text is “Xiangliu at 40–50% of his spiritual power.” Without going to Mount Yu to restore her power, Xiao Yao wouldn’t be able to open it on her own.
Among the other top-level experts in the Great Wilderness, any one of them should be able to open it (by using more than 40–50% of Xiangliu’s power). If one person can’t reach that threshold, several combined can.
…
◐ Clearwater Spirit Stone (added in the drama version)
Special Note: In Episodes 1, 2, and 3 of the drama, the scenes in Qingshui Town alternate between two timelines (reincarnation: Möbius loop).
The Clearwater Spirit Stone records events of the Great Wilderness (a chronicle of time).
In the drama version, the explanation of the Clearwater Spirit Stone was added to serve as the perspective of the common people of the Great Wilderness, a chronicle of time, and a hint for timeline transitions…
Dual timeline hint (the severed nine-tailed fox tail and the jade pendant serve as the dividing line between timelines).
Reincarnation / Cycle / Rotation (depending on context)
Nine-headed taboo topic
Close-up of the tattoo on the left forearm
What a coincidence! There are now two children playing with a drum and a wooden horse at Xiao Liu’s doorstep.
▽– What does the tattoo on the beggar symbolize?
1.It might be the emblem of the Lirong tribe?
2. It might be the emblem of the Bone Order (Guling)?
3. Others... (Regardless of what the tattoo specifically represents, the symbol is clearly a hint that the beggar exists across two timelines.)
· Future timeline?
After being seriously injured and falling unconscious, did Liuzi crawl back?
·What if timeline? / Alternate “what if” scenario?
Could it be a parallel universe "what if" timeline?
(Xiao Yao's inner monologue: If you had escaped from the death arena, and I was the one who saved you, would you have become the "left ear" — a man with no responsibility, no morals, and no sense of duty???)
...
◐How many things are actually inside the belly of the Big-Bellied Laughing Doll?
It's really hard to say... In the novel version, Liuzi carved the doll wearing a pomegranate-patterned bellyband, and pomegranates symbolize fertility and many children. The word "many" clearly implies it's not just one. (As for the exact number, maybe you’ll have to look for clues in the drama...)
Pomegranate symbolizes fertility and many children
◐Where did the snake baby go? (Wild, irresponsible speculation ❌ — please ignore)
The little snowman (snake baby) always appears together with the wooden horse in the same frame, so is there really some mysterious connection between the snowman and the wooden horse?
◐Rabbit Spirit (added in the drama version)
The drama version intentionally added the important character of the Rabbit Spirit in Qingshui Town. Many commentators believe that this newly added Rabbit Spirit is also a symbolic reflection of Xiao Yao.
Theory of Male and Female Monsters.
Xiao Liu from Huichuntang and the giant rabbit statue.
Participants in the Ma Tao and Chuan Sang wedding.
The rabbit spirit gave birth to 7 baby rabbits in one litter, so does that mean Xiao Yao...?
Having two kids in three years, giving birth to seven at once
[This part is completely made-up content, please ignore! ❌]
Having two kids in three years (a pair of boy and girl twins), giving birth to seven in one go (4 boys and 3 girls)
(Who says Tong Hua never writes a single wasted word? The camera even gave a dramatic close-up of the children — I couldn’t help but let my imagination run wild…)
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