Minomi

No wonder the author was unsatisfied with their work. They really think its okay to turn the manipulative pedo abuser villain into good person in this version and then overshadow the real main characters(Qi Zheng, Gao Ran, Fan Yun). This is giving me Disney's Pocahontas where Pocahontas relationship with Smith was romanticized. Really deserve that the drama didn't became popular. Serves them right. Next time. Do write an original story instead of profiting in someone's work. I love the actors though.

Then that just mean you don't care about small creators and only support those who profit from it since you are not aware of their bad records. Understandable. So many people are like you in cdrama spaces anyway. Remain blind and live in your fantasy world.

You're the one missing the point. Plagiarizing is bad. You'll be surprised how many cdramas profit from small creator. Sure, they changed the names and some scenes but they really don't respect the original if they shoot without the rights. Yes, it can air but do you really trust them because we're talking about IQIYI(the one notorious for approving of AI for making cdramas without their actors permission) and a japanese author is not that powerful in China. Do you not know there's a het cdrama that plagiarize a danmei and got shred by Chinese community? (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms aka Eternal Love plagiarized from Peach Blossom Debt by Da Feng Gua Guo danmei novel) Its the same case. They might say oh its different now, a standalone show but it can't erased that they promote it as Saiunkoku cdrama back then. Like they might change the story from gay to het but there are still resemblance no matter how much they say this is an original story. By the way, I love the cast here(actors) but the production itself the people behind them I can't deny they are questionable. Its hard to defend them with those bad records. A good example is "The Comic Bang" based from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun. That cdrama respect the original despite the changes and even open up in their interview about the inspiration that they can't copy a scene from anime hence the japanese mangaka recommend the cdrama. Its not really hard thing to do if the team actually care about the creator. What the rosy clouds did is there's a rule that the original anime content can't be copy yet they still did it.

I think you're misunderstanding. Its because they DON'T have the rights before they even shoot this thing yet they sell it as adaption by Sai Yukino novel(refer to first poster) before. Without the rights, this really looks like plagiarism. Which is very rude to the author or animation. Rude in general to thriving chinese saiunkoku fanbase. I watched it just fine even if its different from the original. Its basically like NETFLIX Aang the last avatar where it has news that the original creator and netflix team can't work with each other so fans can't accept it. One Piece LA also have some changes but still has the original creator's support so people support it. So its not only the changes the problem here. Don't act like its the original work fans is the problem here. Its the production team behind this(not actors) is the problem.

He will if the story will follow the book version but from what the leaks show me the character will be toned down. He was describe as "monster" in the book.

***SPOILERS***
The book version of him is a 29 years old who fell in love with a teenager so a pedo. He's also a hedonist, and manipulator. He ruined so many lives from behind the scene. Unlike the drama, he's an extreme beauty with feminine look and will not put a moustache. The guy even shave his leg hair. In the book, he might look like a rival to ML but the thing is ML respect the heroine agency so much so ml don't really fought against him and not see him as love rival. I'm pretty sure the cdrama will change that and make them face each other tho. His book version also don't like ceremony. He just like the heroine in his own twisted way and don't give a damn about marriage blessings. So their almost marriage didn't happened in the book.

From what I heard, it's a copyright issue like The Comic Bang. It's originally JP IP(Saiunkoku Monogatari). There's rumor that Kadokawa probably never gave them the license. I hope they can fix it like The Comic Bang to Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun.

Rikou? That's Li Kouyuu. He's the temporary emperor's tutor from civil affairs department in first arc, later he guide the ml in writing and talking with politicians to make the law he make pass. Being a prime minister to ml happened in the after story after ml's original prime minister died. He's also an adopted son of heroine's uncle. His bad sense of direction is caused by his current adoptive parents. You see, he was a child slave being sell out but a loving couple adopted him. His first adoptive parents died in accident. Later, he was caught by bad guys again and became almost a human sacrifice for mountain god. Luckily, heroine's uncle passed by and saved him. He was then adopted again but afraid he's a walking misfortune he tried to leave the residence. Uncle's wife keep changing the arrangements of furniture so he will never be able to leave and so that's why he has bad sense of direction.

I have the same sentiment. I like the FL but ML is not cut for the role. I love Gong Jun's Wen Kexing but his Dongfang Yuechu is very much lacking.

I agree in the part the main pairing didn't seem to changed as time pass by. I believe they based it from what they see in the anime because their love story is still unfinished/ongoing in original material so they probably don't have enough material for their story. Hence, we didn't get a chance yet to see them peeling the layers of the characters. Resulting the characters feeling flat.

But I disagree with changing actress because the issue is the ML. In the anime, FL is supposed to be old and intimidating leader of Tushan. As for ML, Gong Jun is too youth looking and don't fit Yuechu's character. Sure, Yuechu is younger in the story but once he hit puberty he looked like he has the same age as the FL. You see in the original material, Yuechu has this tanned masculine disheveled look like a wuxia hero. They should at least gave him a costume that showcase his specs. Not cover it. His adult version is not supposed to be youthful or too beautiful. They should have get older actor for Yuechu. As anime fan, I didn't finished it because I don't vibe with Gong Jun's portrayal of Dongfang Yuechu even if I love him as WOH Wen Kexing. The actress for the girls are looking great though.

The Love in Pavilion arc aka ZhuYe arc is decent. That's the part where the animation greatly improved. Its ep 90-101. Only has 12 episodes.