Shui Ze Mu Lan

Yeah, I posted my review a few days ago, but I’m posting it again because I keep seeing people repeatedly making unnecessary comments about how much they hate the drama.

I love the drama and check this page often. Meanwhile, you’ve hated it from the start, keep posting the same trash comments, and only watched up to episode 13?? Jeezz

It’s better to set clear expectations so people won’t be disappointed if the drama doesn’t meet their standards. It also saves them from complaining everywhere and wasting their time.

Read carefully before you start watching:

- If you don’t like a strong FL, then don’t watch. The FL is capable and can stand alongside the ML. If a strong, independent FL who refuses to be bound by society’s rules triggers or threatens you, it’s best to skip this one.

- If you like Mary Sue characters, then don’t watch. The FL is capable but not flawless- she still has her moments of vulnerability and powerlessness.

- If you’re not into political intrigue, then don’t watch because the main plot revolves around it.

- If you like instant karma and want to see the FL and ML take out villains immediately or always want them to die, then don’t watch. In this drama, the FL and ML's main goal is to bring the villains to justice, expose their crimes, and make sure their wrongdoings are recorded in history. Whether they die or not in the end isn’t very important for them.

- If you prefer harmonious family dynamics, then don’t watch, as it could trigger past traumas for you.

- If you’re looking for an ideal, wise emperor, then don’t watch. The emperor in this drama is portrayed more realistically, just like actual historical Chinese emperors, none of them were perfect.

- If you’re only watching for lovey-dovey moments or hot kissing scenes, this drama might not be for you, as not every episode focuses on romance.

- If you’re a die-hard fan of the novel and can’t handle changes to the storyline, then don’t watch, as there are significant changes.

- If you hate the FL and ML or find them to look ugly, then don't watch.

It's not worth forcing yourself to watch something you're not into just to leave a low rating or trashy comments on this page.

But if none of the above apply to you, then you’ve found a great drama for 2024!
This is an A-grade project with an S+ result.

It's HE

Dude, for real. Are you seriously still here posting the same comments to a drama you don’t even like? Until this point, I've started to think that you might have a mental issue.

The Emperor won't be able to abdicate without the approval of all the ministers, and the Empress would never allow it to happen. With most of the ministers siding with Prince Qing, they are likely to oppose the idea. The Crown Prince does not yet have a strong enough foundation to take the throne. So, the ministers have a solid reason to reject the proposal.
If the Emperor suggests stepping down before everything is in place, the Empress might take the opportunity to eliminate the Crown Prince silently, and then, since no other prince is available, Prince Qing automatically inherits the throne.

For this plan to proceed, the Emperor must first bring Duke Ding back to the capital to stand as a backer for the Crown Prince. But unfortunately, the backer got eliminated first.

Lol, I just noticed a typo. I meant she's behind him. So, could she fall a little earlier than him? Lol.

Does anyone know where to to buy Blossom's merchandise that ship to US/Canada?

Because I remember seeing his comment earlier where he kept using the word "Gealous." That’s why I remember the same comment repeatedly appearing here. I have no other idea other than his keyboard being unable to type the word J lol

There were no restrictions on time travel and rebirth stories in the past. For example, the 2011 hit drama Bu Bu Jing Xin (Scarlet Heart) used time travel while mixing it with real historical events from the Qing Dynasty. After that drama, many similar plots emerged.
That's when the government started to strictly manage its broadcast content.

The first reason is that they don't want dramas to distort historical events, as they may view this as a threat to the education and understanding of China's history. Since time travel and rebirth stories often aim to alter past events, audiences may struggle to differentiate between real history and fictional setups.

Another reason is related to cultural and ideological control. The government seeks to promote narratives that align with its values. Time travel and rebirth stories often explore themes of individualism, rebellion, or questioning authority, which can conflict with the state's focus on collective values, harmony, and respect for tradition.

Promotion of superstition is also a concern. Some of these stories include supernatural elements that could be seen as encouraging superstition or undermining scientific thinking, which the government prefers to discourage in favor of rationality and progress.

So yeah, a lot of dramas have to use another perspective to tell this kind of story in order to get their distribution license.

Yes and no. I understand he had his own difficulties, so I’m not directly blaming him.

However, instead of nurturing the Crown Prince to become a capable emperor, he chose to sacrifice her life, along with that of his other son, if needed.
And don’t forget that even his best friend ended up losing his life because of the emperor’s poorly thought-out plan.
So Yeah, I’m starting to think he’s probably the biggest root cause of all these events.

Even the actor who played the emperor admitted that his character felt like a pathetic king, far from being a wise ruler. He, at first, didn’t want to portray the role but had already accepted the script.

The Empress has been portrayed as a rare, capable woman for her time. Yet, because women weren’t allowed to outshine men, the emperor feared her. Can’t we feel some sympathy for her as a woman who frequently has no control over the choices in her life? I disagree with the way she sacrificed innocent lives, but I do feel sympathy for her.
She was just a pawn sent to the palace by her family, forced to endure harem conflicts and support the king. But in the end, all she received was an order to sacrifice her life.

It’s possible she never intended to rebel if the emperor hadn’t wanted her dead. She could have simply become the Empress Dowager after the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

I always try to be respectful, but like anyone else, my patience isn’t endless. It’s just human nature.

Like I’ve said before, if you don’t like something, don’t force yourself to stick with it. It's not that you will be get killed if you don't continue on watching this.
You’ve had two weeks to move on, but instead, you’re still following the drama and leaving the same comments. (I’ve been following this page frequently, so I’ve seen your comments from earlier time) If it’s not your thing, why keep watching? Wouldn’t it be better for your peace of mind to let it go?

But I will try to explain a bit more.

1. there’s no SML here. At the beginning, there was Wu Shan, but he knew she wasn’t into him. Then there’s JY, her childhood friend. We probably can tell from the hints that he's in love with her. But he never try to be the third party in the name of romance here.
And the ML wasn’t actually jealous of him (even though there were hints early on).

2. From the story POV, the ML just feel FL doesn't love him the way he did (that's also barely for comedic purposes too). But it's a pretty normal setup tho.
If you ever heard the saying about "Men fall fast, but women fall hard". Why we have to see it in a negative way?
But deep down in his heart he knows her feeling. He is the husband she choose herself when she can actually choose someone else. If he were insecure, he would’ve gone straight to the emperor to ask for granted marriage, like SH did.

3. We can also see that, over time, she became comfortable enough to consummate their marriage, and it happened at just the right moment. She wanted it. Not because of the wedding ceremony part or pressure from her husband.

4. Yes, the ML is indeed just reach his adulthood, so his approach to love can feel a bit immature like a teenager. But honestly, I don’t remember him being jealous of the FL’s interactions with other men, except for the crown prince, which was clearly meant to be funny. A little jealousy is normal - it’s part of being human and showing love. And let’s be real, his jealousy wasn’t even serious.

Fictional characters are written to feel relatable, and a bit of jealousy or possessiveness just adds depth to their story. Even in real life, people grow through phases.
For example, when my husband was in his early twenties, he’d get jealous over small things too. Now that we’re in our 30s, it’s no longer an issue. It’s just part of growing up.

5. As for the dynamics between JY, DZ, and SM- it’s not about romance. JY wants DZ to leave SM because he’s worried about her safety, since she could bedragged into the political intrigue by SM. Where SM feels the same way about JY. If politics weren’t involved, they’d probably all get along just fine.

6. He’s a cold and ruthless general because that’s the life he’s lived so far - he’s never been in love with anyone before. So, it’s not accurate to say that falling in love completely changed him. The story simply hadn’t shown that side of him before.
Even in his previous life, he was a pretty compassionate person. It’s just that in this life, he fell in love earlier, allowing us to see his softer side sooner. Everyone has different sides to their personality.
So that doesn't mean if the story introduces him as a cold and ruthless general, he has to stay that way after marriage to avoid looking submissive or falling in love foolishly. You know, he probably learned that from his uncle way before meeting the FL.

7. And about the ML being a supporting character - it’s both yes and no. The story is told from the FL’s perspective, so naturally, he feels like a supporting role. But later in her life, he slowly became someone important. Sometimes she relies on him too.
It’s like real life: you’re the main character of your story, and others play supporting roles. Vice versa.

8. Lastly, we’ve seen too many stories of toxic and abusive husbands. Why can’t we have more stories about sweet, caring partners? The ML respects the FL as an equal, he understands the hardships women faced in that era, and tries to make her feel secure in their relationship. That’s not submissive, it’s love and respect.
She never did anything disrespectful to him, and he also never did anything that embarrassed him as a husband.

If you find the ML too submissive, other dramas where husbands wash their wives’ feet or help them with shoes might irritate you even more.

It’s sad that you have so negative feelings about the ML’s little moments of jealousy (that you claim it's happened because the FL didn't cater enough for his feelings) but forget that women in that era weren’t even allowed to feel jealous of their husbands despite everything the man did. The culture has been accepted for a very long time, even to this day.

I don’t mind that you don’t like this drama - everyone has their own preferences, and I’m sure no one is forcing you to enjoy it. We’re just sharing our perspectives because it seems like you’re looking for it.

What’s odd, though, is that you clearly dislike it but continue to spam the same comments and argue with people who do love the drama. Honestly, we don’t need constant reminders about how much you don’t like it. Instead we hope you can move on and find a drama that suits your taste.

Let's pray for him so he can return to his original time. He’s probably a soul coming from the 5th century who got lost in the modern world.

The actual story in the novel is about rebirth, not reincarnation. However, because rebirth and time travel plot is prohibited by the Chinese government, they changed it to a dream. The dream is about her previous life (ep 1). So, after she wakes up in her childhood, which is the focus of the drama, it’s no longer a dream anymore.

@Drama watcher Dude, the FL has a 23-year-old body but an almost 40-year-old soul, while the ML is only in his twenties. You want the ML to act more mature than her just to fit your idea of equality? Wow, that makes so much sense.

Despite the fact that she could’ve ended up a widow who had to mourn for at least three years, wearing plain clothes all the time, doing all the filial duties expected of women in that era, and bearing a stigma of ke fu (unlucky women) that makes them unable to remarry, she still chooses to stay with him and doesn’t agree to separate.
While a man can easily marry a new wife and bring her into the home without facing any negative stigma.

Despite she could’ve miscarried and suffered from lingering health issues like in her previous life, she still chooses to stay with him, kneeling outside the palace.

What more equality of love do you want?

First of all, her character was shaped by decades of life experiences, including an arranged marriage without love, where she was, in the end, betrayed by her husband in her previous life. Then, she again witnessed the tragic marriage of her parents.
After all that series of trauma, you expect her to come back from rebirth and instantly so into making love process?

You’re sick.

Secondly, as an adaptation of the novel, they still need to follow the storyline, where due to her trauma, the FL constantly fears intimacy with the ML and delays the consummation of their marriage.

And I don't know where you got the idea that she changed his character. He’s been like that from the start. What she wants to change is his fate, and of course, to do that, she has to remind him of his impulsive actions, which might lead him to the previous path.

As I said, if you think their relationship isn’t equal enough or if you think she doesn’t love her husband just because she’s not ready to consummate their marriage on the first night, then maybe you should just leave.

Move on and find another drama that perhaps suits you better. Or maybe just watch p*rn if you're so into making love process.

Or, if you don’t like a strong FL that makes the ML seem less strong, maybe a drama with an LGBT tag would be a good choice. It’ll either be a strong ML and strong ML, or strong ML and weak ML or weak ML and weak ML. That way, you won’t be irritated by a strong FL anymore.

It’s so funny that you hate it but still follow until the end just to spam these random comments.

Oh, and one more thing - it's JEALOUS. Seriously, it's always been spelled JEALOUS from the start, not GEALOUS. No one ever changed it to start with a G.

If you have so much free time to spam these comments, why not use that time to fix your keyboard or take on another job to earn some extra money for a better one that types the word JEALOUS correctly?

Lol I'm with you. I still can’t get over the badass semi-white-haired Song Mo. I thought he looked pretty standard in LLTG, but somehow, his aura is so different here.

I’ve only finished watching 3 historical C-dramas that I didn’t drop, and Blossom is one of them.

I think what they’re trying to describe is an asthma attack triggered by pollen allergies. But back then, people probably didn’t have a name for it, so they just called it asthma lol.

Yeah, he should’ve fallen faster than her, but maybe because she was on her back, she fell a bit quicker than him, making it seem like she was falling faster.
After that, SM catches up due to gravity. Meanwhile, DZ stays there after she gets the book, probably to give us a hint that she’s now in control of her life and won’t fall into the abyss again.

I really don’t see how the FL is playing with the ML’s feelings - she’s so caring and clearly loves him. Even if she teases him a bit, that’s totally normal in a healthy relationship.

But for an insecure boy, that kind of thing can turn into a big deal. They seem to need constant ego boosts to feel okay.
Honestly, such people seem to have wasted the progress of the modern world. Or perhaps they’re coming from ancient times, which is why their mindset is still stuck in the past, constantly feeling triggered and threatened by a mere fictional character like the FL.

I don’t understand why people are ranting about the capable FL. The message is pretty clear: women in the past suffered immense tragedies because of the oppressive social structures forced upon them.
And this drama even starts with that, where the women were treated as pawns, sacrificing their marriages and even their lives for their families.

Have you even watched the part where the empress has to fight for her life because the emperor, threatened by her capabilities, wanted her buried alive with him?
This isn’t just a fictional plot. It reflects real historical events. Many women in the palace faced the horrific fate of being buried alive with men they didn’t even love. They were forced into the palace as pawns for their families, fighting to survive, only to meet tragic ends.

Do you realize that, in the past, women could be divorced simply for being unable to bear children? They weren’t allowed to feel jealousy and had to welcome their husband’s mistresses and illegitimate children as their own. Jealousy and infertility were considered among the "seven sins" that justified divorce.

And now, people are upset because the FL is trying to break free from these cultural chains and live happily on her own? Calling this feminist propaganda? Jeez.

Yes, we love to see a capable FL who can stand side by side with their ML rather than a weak one who depends entirely on her man, only to be replaced by someone else later.

But then, just because she’s capable, she’s suddenly not becoming a good wife for the ML? I honestly don’t understand the logic here.
And people are blaming the FL over a bit of jealousy from the ML? Dude, that's even a setup for comedic purposes.
Oh, but you expected the FL would have to cater to everything for the man and not do anything that might upset him because of his own insecurities?

Let me remind you again, in the past, women weren’t even allowed to feel jealous of their husbands. Jealousy was seen as a sign of not being virtuous and not being a good wife and having to bear social stigma as a han fu. Her husband is justified in divorcing her, and she not even being able to remarry anymore.

It's enough for such a life to be recorded in history. Most people here no longer want to watch this kind of foolish setup for the FL.

So, please stop trashing the comments here. I've seen such comments repeatedly appear since the very beginning.
If you don't like this kind of relationship, no one will force you to watch. Just move on and find a drama that suits you.
Or maybe reading real historical stories about how women were repeatedly oppressed by patriarchal structures will be more satisfying for you.
There's no need to keep watching just to post trash.