Winny

Xiang Liu

If Cang Xuan is the most realistic character, then I feel Xiang Liu is the most fictional among four main leads. His assualting attitudes are what makes this character the most difficult to get into for me. I mean assualting men in real life has little redemption. But I do not find those who love this type of character are odd as much as I do not think I am odd for not liking. Tong Hua, herself loves him. Besides this is a fantasy melodramatic drama. Nevertheless, I come to appreciate this character arc after a while, and because of him that the couple here united in end. He is the guardian angel indeed. I come to apprieciate his imperfection. Both in drama and novel, even when he acted aloof, we still can feel this warmness deep inside him. It was because of him and Xiao Yao relationship that makes me want to read the prequel of Lost You Forever because I think Xiao Yao's parents story reflected theirs but they take on the different route and therefore the story is different. Xiang Liu has most chances with Xiao Yao after her heartbreak with Jing. I think if he has make a move, Xiao Yao will open her heart for him. But his decision makes sense though. I found it very mature for both XL and XY to not get involved. Those who enjoy a bickering and teasing romance will enjoy YaoLiu couple. The chemistry is undeniably so good. I do really love how he came to care about her and will be there for her in her life threatening situation. It was his sacrifices that make him so strikingly lovable and memorable. Because
Xiao Yao once said that she cannot protect herself, she has no one to lean on, and she has no where to go. He made all those things possible for her. Teaching her archery, saving the man who will be her life partner, and giving her map to explore to the sea if she cannot go anywhere on land(after Cang Xuan shamed her though not intended). And he did make them all without letting her know so she did not feel burden after he's gone since he can't be with her. I feel fascinating about the the love bugs couple connection between him and Xiao Yao. But then they mostly feel heart pain from it. So I kind of understand how their relationship was heading.
About his dying in the battle field at the end can be dilemma whether if it is best ending for him. By present days standard, it may not be honorable at all to die in such a way because that his side surely will lose. On the one hand, I feel that in reality it will be very difficult to leave when pride is so valued at the time, especially if your soldiers are willing to fight for it too. In that case, I think it is honorable. (I forgot to mention about XL had fighting wars and killing for so long with his comarades, he maybe afraid he will be haunted forever, if he chose to survive) For me a happy ending in life is not living forever because we all died one day but lived that life to fullest to bring a satisfactory to life end. He had fulfilled both in honoring the man who saved him and the granting wishes of the woman he loves. On the other hand, I wish that he had realized that pride in fighting and war is just stupid thing that make people die, and that he surrenders for peace and the loss not to occur, and travel along the world in peace. If he had chosen that route he may have ended up with Xiao Yao. But then it will be another story and not be "Lost You Forever"!.

Cang Xuan/Zhuang Xu
Unlike the drama, the novel did not start with him and Xiao Yao when they were young. Instead, it was told by the flashback. I was very warmed up to this character because I watched the drama first. I remembered at that time in viewers forums viewers are mainly talking about XY romance with XL and TSJ. I was surprised that when I actually watched it myself, I feel CX has most screentime. CX is probably the most realistic character in the story. He reminds me that it is hard for an emperor to have a normal love life.
I understood why CX/ Zhuang Xu, would became the way he was and fought for the throne. He had been tormenting since childhood after losing his parents. He felt how power is important especially in protecting someone he loves. I did not actually hated him when he misunderstood Wen Xiao Liu and tortured her and even broke her legs after she saved his life two times. But his reasons for doing so are all reasonable at such circumstances. However he actually lost already (to other two male leads) when he did not recognize Wen Xiao Liu was a woman and someone he loved since very young. I think it was because he had been in a harsh circumstances for so long. His vulnarable side is sort of dead. I mean even King of Haoling, kind of guessed WXL might be his long lost daughter just listening to CX told him of what happened. Nevertheless, WXL was able to put a love bug inside his body means he has deep feelings for her.
I think the guy did have chances to win Xiao Yao heart the most (more than siblings love) out of three male leads if he tried to. But he was more into politics and throne which he thought it was so essential. But he did the things that hurt Xiao Yao throughout, even though he acted kindly and has a seemed-good reason in big picture for all his doing. For example, he made the identity of Xiao Yao's real father known whom society understand as bad guy and it would bring bad reputation to Xiao Yao. He did it because he wanted to cut her connection from Haoling(Gao Zing). Even when it is understandable in politics, it is too hardcore in my opinion for Xiao Yao's feeling. And yep he invaded Haoling. Although it is explained King of Haoling was the cause of their parents deaths and did other cruel things before. But he's now changed already anyway. CX invaded to build all three big kingdoms altogether is the reason, but Xiao Yao was still hurt. The last one and probably biggest torment was that he made her lost someone she loved and wanted to settled with. Even if he did it because he thought Jing was a weakling, it still hurt a lot. I find him a bit selfish too of how he was happy she did not actually kill him and sort of wish her sleep in coma because she will not stay with him when awake??
As a character and a being, I still do not think deep down Cang Xuan is a bad person. However, his doings are hardcore for the woman he claimed to love and promised to protect. And if I am in Xiao Yao's shoes, I will leave him too.
Therefore, his ending indeed was the most tormented out of four main characters. I do not think this outcome was mainly by fate, he brought it to himself as well.
Now let me talk about, the women around him. I mean the two empresses by his side. Xin Yue is definetly very calculating. But I came to like Ah Nian later in the story although I was very annoyed by her in early episodes. Maybe if CX could able to open up his heart again, they would not be a bad couple in a spin off story. Actually, this story can go into direction of CX doesn't have to hurt XY that much and make her stayed with him forever, and make her fall for him, or making her his only empress like King of Haoling did. Or maybe chose to fake his death to give up the throne and live quietly with XY..and so on and so. But that would be another drama. I may like those stories at another time. But this is "Lost You Forever". I am grateful that it didn't get into such route here.

Xiao Yao
A cheerful, lively princess. In the novel, we met her first in a man's body, Wen Xiao Liu, a doctor. She is just ordinary creature that is extraordinary. What I mean is she loves and yearn for ordinary life yet she get to entangled with extraordinary one. Actually, she is one_man woman but she actually get to love three men (or potential to romantic love )and was loved by them.
With Cang Xuan/Zhuang Xu, it is devotion and loyalty since childhood.
With Xiang Liu, it is a forbidden one but met each other for support and to be someone special but not to be united as a couple.
With Tushang Jing, soft and comfort romance, but has to endure many obstacles that make the union stronger at the end. Since their wish for life is living ordinary, they are the destined ones.
Her encounter with three men are remarkable. However, she is definitely not the one to go hopeless in love. I mean she won't get herself into unlikely romance that would make her suffer than comfort: definitely not taking the trouble to herself. I think most simple women can relate to her. The way of life she want is offered by only one man, in which she opened her heart. But it has a lot of obstacles on the way. She does have her weaknesses too although she acted fierce. Again her life involved three men or three soulmates. They are all potential to be romantic interest at one point. But she lost two of them at the end in different ways and for different reason. I will discussed more about it in each male lead section.

The overall plot review...
This is the ancient times where wars were happening in the three kingdom of gods, deities and human.
And the run away princess, Xiao Yao who was disguised as a guy in order to avoid those who want to harm her.
She lived as a doctor guy and embracing the life of being normal. After some politcal and fantasy stuffs, mostly is about a woman life had to tangled with three men who loved her and whom she loved. This story is very melodrama but in a very realistic feel, and also very romantic. Because it has three male leads and not only one. I have been seeing the comments asking who is the male lead. People want to know who will end up with the Xiao Yao. While I know that having three male leads can be frustrating, the story is worthy to give time into and characters are very interesting and can reflect into our real life. By chance I hope people enjoy this story and drama. It's quite a refreshing one. I have to admit that all three male leads are all potential and could be created a love story each with the female lead. They are all very vital to the story and to female lead life , although may not ending up with her in the end in this story. There is something to think about life and love and relationships and of course historical stuffs that happened in the past. The novel has 51 chapters and an epilouge, and it is long but I felt it was so page turning and I finished within few days.
I don't think the ending is a tragedy at all. It is not a feel good ending because characters did lost something. And because of the intense moments, readers can be drained energy when done reading.
I used to see people would say happy ending as goody or shallow, or tragedy as a more realistic. Or in another way people take happy ending as good and tragedy as bad. For me this one ends very neutral. Not tragedy, not goody, not open ending. The characters do gain something and lost something. I find it one of the most realistic feel ending ever. For more details I will be telling along with my takes on the main characters down here with spoilers.

I have finally finished the novel and wrote the review. Lol i wrote it so long. But I still want to share here. In spoiler.

but i do understand the feeling though we all have ideal for ml in some way. So yep.. I am not sure having 3 potential mls is good now. guess it can be frustrating.😅

I also think Lost You Forever is not tragedy 😅 definetly not feel good...but more of neutral.I finished it not so long ago...I am writing review ..not done yet..

hehehe It surprises me a little how some people cannot feel the bond that YX and Jing had. But then I guess it's something they weren't wishing to see.

I have no problem with Deng Wei's TSJ..because I came to like the character as much as the other three leads..😅..maybe I wasn't serious about acting much..but yep I haven't really addicted any drama this much for a long time. .i will be surely checking
more Chinese Costume dramas.🥂💞

Totally yes💞🦊

This is one of not many comments/review that makes sense to me (I do not like people praising one character too much and then bad mouth about another). But I love reading reviews. Your points somehow reflect to my own feelings too. If you don't mind reading, I may suggest you to read the novel. (Koala Playground has translated into english). Since I think it will be a time before S2 come. But if you can wait is fine though. :)

Yes..you seem dislike TSJ (or this type) and Deng Wei's performance too. That's ok.. Not every likes same actor or his style. I don't know how you evaluate it. When watching a drama, I need to like the actor and his performance there, and the plot and other things.
In Edit: Just in case, if you might think me bias. This is the first time I encountered all three male leads. I have only seen Yan Zi before (Ashes of Love). And costume costume drama is not something I watched often.(There's not even ten in total). I came to watched it because it reminds Kdrama Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

Hmmmm....well. .to me drama&novel has exactly same Jing..no matter the representation method is different. It was also implied TSJ is naive in front of XY but can look different with others. About puppy eyes, I think you may be meaning innocence aura they kept in drama throughout. I'm sure it is purposely done by production (the way they do makeup). As
for TSJ with his family, I may agree that there is less scenes ? But i don't have problem with it somehow it is enough to get the
situation. And yep I do
find DW's TSJ reserved calmed charm still while acting as clan young master. He doesn't look naive all the time. I won't
say im the
right one but
that's exactly how I feel.

I am not sure about this because I can't see your perspective. But I was't charmed by YSQ in novel at first because of how quiet he was. But in drama, maybe I was charmed by Deng Wei.❤️ but i also feel more alive somehow. About complexity I am not sure. Because after im done with both S1 and Novel, they were very very same same.

This fanart is totally 🥰🥰🥰🔥❤️🤧💞

Actually Jing in drama and novel are same same.. but I was warm up to Jing in drama quicker than one novel although I watched drama first.. 😅

I don't think it the matters are on how the dramas portray . It is highly based on the viewers' perpectives. There are people who appreciate this character without having to read novel at all. So yep the point is it's better to not bash the characters which is not your type because you might miss the reason how this character serve the plot.

this scene....😭💔

yep I enjoy it throughout too..💞

Very nice review. ..yep I agree that it's HE too but in Tong Hua style❤️ I'm still on chapter 34 in detail reading. ..I may write review after done too