SpicyLime

Episode 19 is when they are "official."

They are soldiers so they just follow orders. Some of them were probably new recruits and also have probably never even been to the Capital. So it kind of makes sense that many of them don't know what happened to LBY. They didn't even know he was engaged. They however did notice that LBY would ever so often touch the wire on his wrist with the look of longing.

Legit the Emperor and Empress dote the heck out of LBY. The Empress even confesses that LBY is her favorite. So ofc she is going to do what she can for his happiness. That includes helping him return and giving him the opportunity to be with his one true love, CSS. Immediately after returning, Third Prince and LBY enter the Empress Dowager's chamber. They have a long chat and everyone comes out in tears after it is over.

The exile was really needed for everyone to reconcile their feelings. By the end of it when they met up again it was a happy reunion for everyone. By then everyone had forgotten or moved on from what LBY did, except CSS. She needed to be coaxed a little longer by LBY.

She gets engaged to Yuan Shen in the 5th year. LBY had given up on marrying CSS during his exile. He knew Yuan Shen would be the next person, so along with protecting CSS he protects Yuan Shen's family while exiled, in secret. He had hoped CSS could marry and live a happy life while he was exiled. He planned to just secretly protect her for the rest of his life, alone.

Honestly, I think that 5 episodes is probably enough to do the time skip and reconciliation. That's just my opinion. For one, I don't want to wait that many episodes to see them get back. For two, they are trying to give Yuan Shen a redemption in the drama. I dislike Yuan Shen, so I don't want him to have more screen time.

I'm going to sprinkle in some novel and what I saw in the drama. Firstly, the drama changed things. The Cheng family was never involved. Just wanted to get this out of the way. However, I thought that it was a good way to raise the stakes and not just make it about CSS, but now her family is involved as well.

LBY and CSS have only met a handful of times before they are engaged. They are engaged for about a year before LBY carries out his revenge. Although CSS loves LBY, she does not fully understand him yet. CSS knew something was wrong leading up to the revenge, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was. She suddenly realizes what LBY is up to right before he carries out his revenge. She laments that if she knew him a few years earlier, she would've been able to figure out his plans right away. To me, both CSS and LBY just didn't have enough time to fully understand each other yet. LBY couldn't have known just have far CSS was willing to go for him and CSS couldn't appreciate the true burden that LBY carried.

LBY was the first person who was able to break down the walls surrounding CSS's heart and she let him in. They kept making plans on what they were going to do and swore several times to treat each other with sincerity and not to forsake each other. LBY in the end couldn't keep his promise. When LBY massacres the Ling family, he kills EVERYONE. This includes women and children. CSS tearfully begs for him to stop and that this isn't who he is. She is wrong. Meaning, she doesn't fully understand LBY. She only partially understood LBY and not fully. So, the only thing she could see was anger and hurt from the betrayal and didn't really appreciate LBY's need for revenge. Since being with LBY, she never had any control over him. The only time she felt she had any control was to break off the engagement. So, when she was presented with the choice, she chose to break it off. I think she intentionally did it to hurt LBY. Later when she is very ill, she starts calling out for LBY, telling him to take her with him and not to abandon her. This tells me that she really did want to go with him in his exile.

It's the same for LBY. Although he loved CSS with all his heart, he didn't expect that CSS was willing to go through the same amount of sacrifice that he is willing to do. That's why when he saw CSS's reaction after asking to break off the engagement, he immediately knew he had made a mistake. But it was already too late. Stubborn and impulsive CSS does not look back. Or so she thought. She was just using the anger and betrayal as an excuse not to reflect and really think about LBY as a whole. It wasn't that LBY didn't love CSS or thought that revenge was more important, it's just that the revenge needed to happen no matter what. It was always going to be a lose lose for LBY.

Regarding the timing of the revenge. In the novel, LBY finds out where the Ling family will be gathered and takes the opportunity to finally get his revenge. He had already resolved about a month prior to the wedding that he was going to take his revenge. He chose revenge over CSS. Around 10 days before the wedding, LBY starts to put his plan in motion. 3 days before the wedding, he massacres the Ling family. It just unfortunately had to happen before their wedding. Afterwards, it just makes sense to break off the engagement, since life would be difficult for CSS, but she was willing to do it. So, LBY miscalculated.

CSS finds out about LJT and LBY being a thing when he returns to the Capital after his exile. LJT came with him. They are at a banquet together and it's hinted that LJT will get married to LBY. CSS, who is still oblivious to how insidious LJT is, considered her a friend and thought about putting in good words for her to LBY. So yes, CSS really didn't understand her man. After LBY bites her again and lets her know he does not plan to marry and just die alone does she realize she was wrong about LBY. After she leaves LBY's words, he does not plan to marry any one else but her goes through her mind. The next scene is her going to Yuan Shen to request the engagement to be broken off. She finally wants to go back and analyze everything that led of the seperation. She is finally reflecting and begins to really understand LBY and herself. The 5 years has changed her and she forgot who she was. She doesn't hesitate but wants to take her time to make sure she loves LBY. OFC she does. But now it's unconditionally. Now, she is willing to die for him and be with him no matter what happens.

If you have any other specific questions, let me know.

I think she does. The biggest hurdle for CSS is realizing that LBY has always loved her and understanding that if you love someone you need to stand with them through the thick and thin.

In the novel after she makes the realization that she still loves LBY and she does a lot of reflecting. She remembers his words of not marrying anyone else but her. She starts putting herself in his shoes and can sympathize with what LBY needed to do and all his burdens. LBY slowly tells things he did for her without her knowledge and plans to slowly let her know. CSS plans to repay him for the rest of her life.

Before the time skip, even though she knew that LBY was willing to die for her, CSS never thought of dying for someone. After they reconcile she realizes that there is someone else's life more important than her own. That life is LBY's. She's pretty savage and knows what she wants and what LBY needs.

I don't think they can avoid it. Her and another character are antagonists that were doing things behind the scenes out of delusional love. We only find the truth about their schemes towards the end. However a murder that LJT was responsible for was wiped from the drama and they drama is taking some liberties, so who knows.

Worried that they would be seperated and CSS would stop loving him, LBY wants to do a blood oath with CSS, with the promise that they would not forsake each other. CSS swears she won't forsake him if he doesn't forsake her and they bite each other to spill blood.

It should be happy ending.

This string covers a lot of what happens in the novel. Just start from the top and read all the spoiler posts.

https://kisskh.at/687167-xing-han-can-lan#comment-10500703

"So I would assume he lost his general title and became a slave (maybe?). How did he get back, like did he secretly returned to the capital to see css or was he exonerated"

Okay. So, I remember I said I would respond if I got the answer to your question. So here you go.

I believe LBY loses all his titles and merits when he is exiled. He cannot become an official. He is probably relegated to a common foot soldier. The whole situation regarding the Huo and Ling family is explained thanks to CSS and Third Prince. This reveal shocks everyone. The only two people that knew the truth was LBY and his aunt. Even LBY's trusted subordinates did not know his true identity. CSS only guesses the truth of LBY's real identity a few days earlier and confirmed it on the night LBY is carrying out his revenge. On top of the massacre of the Ling family, the Emperor couldn't excuse the fact that he mobilized the military without permission. He needed to be punished severely. The real question is if he would be exiled alone. CSS originally wanted to go with LBY for his exile, but when he is asked if he still wants to marry CSS, he refuses and asks to break off the engagement. He didn't want CSS to suffer with him. Unknown to him, CSS was hiding behind a curtain and heard everything. Immediately upon seeing her, LBY instantly regrets his decision and tries to take back his words, but it is too late. CSS who is heartbroken and probably angry at the betrayal, asks for the engagement to be called off. The Emperor finally agrees. LBY is exiled for a term of 6 years. The only reason he came back on the 5th year was due to some help from the Empress Dowager Xuan. I provided more details below on what happens during his exile.

LBY's Exile:

While LBY is exiled he is constantly keeping track of CSS and keeping her safe in secret. He has given up on marrying CSS. He hopes CSS can marry someone else and have a good life. True to his words, he will not marry anyone else, but her. So, he just plans to secretly protect CSS for the rest of his life, alone. We don't get all the details, but the relatively quiet and peaceful life that CSS had during the 5 years was probably due in part to LBY. The wire around his wrist (which represents CSS), as well as the bite mark scar are the only things that gives him any "warmth" at the border. On a side note, LBY is a well renowned general and most of the soldiers did not know he was even exiled. They just assumed he was there to lead and fight. He's pretty busy defending the borders and secretly protecting CSS.

Around the 3rd year of exile, a few important things happen:

The first is that LBY receives an Imperial Edict, which grants him the ability to earn merit again as well as establish a manor to live in. I believe the main reason for the edict was thanks due to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager Xuan was mad at LBY for several years, but after reflecting, she was able to get past it and forgives him. It's very likely that she asked the Emperor to draw up the edict for LBY. The Empress Dowager Xuan still loves LBY very much and probably started to make plans along with the Emperor so that LBY could be more comfortable and possibly return early.

The second thing is that LBY finds out that the Yuan family may be involved with some shady and rebellious dealings. He investigates knowing that Yuan Shen may be CSS's future husband. LBY comes up with a plan to kill a rebel leader and gives the merit to be earned to Yuan Shen's father, so that the merit would cancel out the crimes commited by the Yuan family. He is ultimately successful with his plan, but gets wounded doing it and ends up with some large scars on his arms. CSS finds the scars later and is heartbroken. She wishes she could trade places with him.

Another thing is that once LBY establishes his manor, Luo Jitong (LJT) basically moves in. Although LJT was married, her husband had passed away. We find out later that LJT poisoned her husband thinking that she could be with LBY. LBY does not show any affection to LJT. He basically ignores her, but lets her freely come and go. Later we find out he is using her as his shield. The Third Prince mistakenly believes that since LJT is at LBY's manor, they are going to eventually get married. This is a ploy by LBY. He doesn't plan to marry, but uses LJT so that the Emperor and Third Prince don't force a marraige upon him. Not getting married is unbelievable, since LBY is the last of the Huo bloodline. There is no way that the Emperor was going to sit down quietly otherwise. LBY knew of all the terrible things that LJT has done, but is giving her a pass, since he helped to save A'Fei's life and she makes a good shield. After returning to the Capital and feeling that the debt owed to her had been paid, LBY tells LJT's father of all her guilt. LJT is the first to find out LBY's plan to not get married and out of spite, she tells him that CSS's bite mark scar is about to disappear. LBY gets the last words in by saying that he was afraid to bite too hard, since he didn't want to hurt her. LJT breaks down. Her father forces her to leave the Capital.

Around the 5th year of exile:

The Empress Dowager Xuan asks the Emperor to call LBY to return to the Capital. The Empress Dowager Xuan is sick and wants to see LBY before she passes away. Another reason for the recall is so that now it's her turn to try and play cupid, instead of the Emperor. She wants LBY and CSS to get married. None of this is explictedly said, but it's implied. CSS was just too impulsive (and kind of in denial that she still loves LBY) when she heard the Empress Dowager Xuan's wish of seeing her getting married before passing away and didn't understand that she meant for her to get married to LBY. Right before LBY is due to return, Empress Dowager Xuan keeps talking about LBY, much to the annoyance of CSS. CSS finds out that the Empress Dowager is no longer mad at LBY, has forgiven him and has requested him to return early. All of this shocks CSS. It sounds like CSS never reflected about her feelings regarding LBY for the whole 5 years and now she is panicking over the turn of events. When LBY returns from his exile it's the beginning of the end for CSS's engagement with Yuan Shen. When LBY and CSS first meet again, he recognizes that she still loves him and changes his mind of not marrying and decides to pursue CSS again.

Hope this answers your question and provides you with some insight. The revenge arc starts this week and we will probably get a reconciliation next week I hope.

Spoiler post below from the novel regarding what happens to LBY during the thing that everyone by now kind of knows about. I got around to answering an old question someone asked me awhile back, so I thought I'd post it here for anyone interested. If something is off just let other people know (thanks in advance).

So I would assume he lost his general title and became a slave (maybe?). How did he get back, like did he secretly returned to the capital to see css or was he exonerated

Okay. So, I remember I said I would respond if I got the answer to your question. So here you go.

I believe LBY losses all his titles and merit when he is exiled. He is probably relegated to a common foot soldier. The whole situation regarding the Huo and Ling family is explained thanks to CSS and Third Prince. This reveal shocks everyone. The only two people that knew the truth was LBY and his aunt. Even LBY's trusted subordinates did not know his true identity. CSS only guessed the truth of LBY's real identity a few days earlier and confirmed it on the night LBY carried his revenge. On top of the massacre of the Ling family, the Emperor couldn't excuse the fact that he mobilized the military without permission. He needed to be punished severely. The real question is if he would be exiled alone. CSS originally wanted to go with LBY for his exile, but when he is asked if he still wants to marry CSS, he refuses and asks to break off the engagement. He didn't want CSS to suffer with him. Unknown to him, CSS was hiding behind a curtain and heard everything. Immediately upon seeing her, LBY instantly regrets his decision and tries to take back his words, but it is too late. CSS who is heartbroken and probably angry at the betrayal, asks for the engagement to be called off. The Emperor finally agrees. LBY is exiled for a term of 6 years. The only reason he came back on the 5th year was due to some help from the Empress Dowager Xuan. I provided more details below on what happens during his exile.

LBY's Exile:

While LBY is exiled he is constantly keeping track off CSS and keeping her safe. We don't get all the details, but the relatively quiet and peaceful life that CSS had during the 5 years was probably due in part to LBY. The wire around his wrist (which represents CSS), as well as the bite mark scar is the only thing that gives him any "warmth" at the border. On a side note, LBY is a well renowned general and most of the soldiers did not know he was even exiled. They just assumed he was there to lead and fight. He's pretty busy defending the boards and secretly protecting CSS.

Around the 3rd year of exile, a few important things happen:

The first is that LBY receives an Imperial Edict, which grants him the ability to earn merit again as well as establish a manor to live in. I believe the main reason for the edict was thanks due to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager Xuan was mad at LBY for several years, but after reflecting, she was able to get past it and forgives him. It's very likely that she asked the Emperor to draw up the edict for LBY. The Empress Xuan still loves LBY very much and probably started to make plans along with the Emperor so that LBY could be more comfortable and possibly return home early.

The second thing is that LBY finds out that the Yuan family may be involved with some shady and rebellious dealings. He investigates knowing that Yuan Shen may be CSS's future husband. LBY comes up with a plan to kill a rebel leader and gives the merit to be earned to Yuan Shen's father, so that the merit would cancel out the crimes commited by the Yuan family. He is ultimately sucessful with his plan, but gets injured. CSS finds the scars later and is heartbroken. She wishes she could trade places with him.

Another thing is that once LBY establishes his manor, Luo Jitong (LJT) basically moves in. Although LJT was married, her husband had passed away. We find out later that LJT poisoned her husband thinking that she could be with LBY. LBY does not show any affection to LJT. He basically ignores her, but lets her freely come in and out. Later we find out he is using her as his shield. The Third Prince mistakenly believes that since LJT is at LBY's manor, they are going to eventually get married. This is a ploy by LBY. He doesn't plan to marry, but used LJT so that the Emperor and Third Prince don't force a marraige upon him. Not getting married is unbelievable, since LBY is the last of the Huo bloodline. There is no way that the Emperor is going to sit down quietly. LBY knew of all the terrible things that LJT has done, but is giving her a pass since he helped to save A'Fei's life and she makes a good shield. After returning to the Capital and feeling that the debt owed to her had been paid, LBY tells LJT's father of all her guilt. LJT is the first to find out LBY's plan to not get married and out of spite, she tells him that CSS's bite mark scar is about to disappear. LBY gets the last words in by saying that he was afraid to bite too hard, since he didn't want to hurt her. LJT breaks down. Her father forces her to leave the Capital.

Around the 5th year of exile:

The Empress Dowager Xuan asks the Emperor to call LBY to return to the Capital. The Empress Dowager Xuan is sick and wants to see LBY before she passes away. Another reason for the recall is so that now it's her turn to try and play cupid, instead of the Emperor. She wants LBY and CSS to get married. None of this is explictedly said, but it's implied. CSS was just too impulsive (and kind of in denial that she still loves LBY) when she heard the Empress Dowager Xuan's wish of getting married before passing away and didn't understand that she meant to get married to LBY. Right before LBY is due to return, Empress Dowager Xuan keeps talking about LBY to the annoyance of CSS. CSS finds out that the Empress Dowager is no longer mad at LBY, has forgiven him and has requested him to return early. All of this shocks CSS. It sounds like CSS never reflected about her feelings regarding LBY for the whole 5 years and now she is panicking over the turn of events. When LBY returns from his exile it's the beginning of the end for CSS's engagement with Yuan Shen. When LBY and CSS meet, he recognizes that she still loves him and changes his mind of not marrying and decides to pursue CSS again.

Hope this answers your question and provides you with some insight. The revenge arc starts this week and we will probably get a reconciliation next week I hope.

Her mom's character is similar to my own. So I kind of understand her. That also makes CSS story relate able. There are just some people that you do not feel that way about and it gets difficult since they want more. I've been on both ends. CSS and her mom will always clash because they refuse to believe the other one is right. I still think that Yuan Shen is a character who is probably good, but extremely selfish. Deep down he knows CSS is not the right one for him but he refuses to believe thst someone can treat CSS better than he can, which is far from reality.

It follows the typical C-drama pacing. Starts off strong and then starts to drag and get a little bit annoying towards the end. Still worth a watch though. The chemistry between the leads is pretty good. The writing towards the end is a little lazy and sloppy. Happy Ending.

I sometimes pause, walk away, come back and play a couple more seconds, pause and have to walk away again. T_T it takes me the whole day to watch a scene.

Lol volunteered. I like how you termed it. The thing is he knew from the beginning how CSS really was. He confessed it to LBY. He just didn't tell her. He knew that if he told her that little bit of information of what she said when she was dreaming, he would never stand a chance. He then finally convinces her that they have a similar personality, which is a lie. CSS was too desperate to think it through. That's how I think he is manipulative. Although, CSS did make the choice though, Yuan Shen didn't reveal the truth of what he heard when she was in a coma 5 years ago. Fifth Prince refused CSS since he knows she belongs to LBY. But Yuan Shen doesn't care about what CSS wants. He cares about what he wants. Hence why he still proposed knowing that CSS only has LBY in her heart. I joke that Fifth Prince is less selfish than Yuan Shen. Sure the things he does for CSS could be considered selfless, but he didn't really consider what CSS really wanted, which is to be with LBY.

The more I think about it, the more I see that Yuan Shen didn't understand CSS, or she never opened to him. He had 5 years to try and when LBY returned he knew more about her than Yuan Shen did for 5 years. Although those 5 years were probably not intimate as being a fiance, so I'll give him that.

You are right. A lot of people are talking about how LBY needs to beg for forgiveness etc. My truth is CSS doesn't need LBY to do anything different. He has continued to love her and protect her as he has always done. It's CSS that needs to come to terms with her feelings. I think once she realized LBY is still the same o same o and she appreciates the reason for being forsaken, she decides he is worth it and not marrying him would be her biggest regret.

We will see. I'm looking forward to it too. I appreciate you trading thoughts with me.

Huo Junhua's physical and mental health were deteriorating throughout the story. She is surrounded by doctors and a few loved ones, who are doing their best to comfort her. CSS spends a a lot of time caring for and accompanying Huo Junhua as her final days approach. In her death bed Huo Junhua starts calling out to people who are not there. She starts spouting her regrets and finally in front of LBY, she calls out for her son telling him that "he can't forget." (It sounds like the message was passed from the afterlife from LBY's dead relatives) Those are her chilling last words. (It's a final reminder from her for LBY to get revenge for his entire family. They can't rest in peace and frankly neither can he.)

CSS goes out into the rain to comfort LBY, who is uncharacteristically dazed and lifeless. The bite mark scene happens soon after.

Extra: In the final chapter of the novel, CSS tells LBY that his family would be proud of him and reaffirms her love for him. LBY tears up. He has finally gotten closure and is putting his past behind him, while also moving forward with CSS. Sweet.

Also, the second time LBY bites her, CSS is extra pissed. She claws at LBY's face and neck but later gets worried that she could be punished for it, since the Emperor is mother hen and won't stand for LBY getting "bullied." Even though, LBY started it. LOL.

The following is all my interpration, so don't take it as fact. I used the word spite, since I couldn't think of a better word at the time. What would you call it? Maybe downgrade spite to anger? That'd probably fit better. I honestly think she was irrational at that time and didn't consider the consequences of her actions. She had always been impulsive and didn't think things through. I concluded the whole time that LBY was in exile she didn't try to reflect or think about LBY. The proof is when she wants to break off the engagement with Yuan Shen and says she wants to start back at the beginning and take her time to think things through. After Yuan Shen tells her the truth about who killed Gongsun, she wants to go to LBY right away, but hesistates to consider her feelings. So, she has actually matured.

It is debatable if Yuan Shen loved CSS for who she was. It's evident that CSS was just putting on a show and was acting. Maybe Yuan Shen would've gotten to know the real CSS, but I don't think so. I think she would have hid it for her whole life. Only LBY knows who she really is and CSS confirms it when she confesses to LBY that there are much better girls out there that he can marry, but he is the only one who likes her for who she really is. So, she knows he is aware of her flaws and true personality. Yuan Shen is surprised several times after LBY explains how CSS really is. Yuan Shen was just fooling himself into believing what he wanted. I don't doubt he loved CSS, but it's an idealized version of her. There was an argument going on that Yuan Shen only fell in love with the best version of CSS. She became a virtuous and refined lady while LBY was in exile. Even if LBY didn't come back after the 5 years, I think CSS would still go to LBY, regardless of if she was married to Yuan Shen or not. The only reason why I think LBY continued to pursue CSS was he realized immediately that CSS still loves him. That's why she tried so hard to avoid him. CSS was well established by the then, so she didn't need to be married (other than to fulfill the Empress Dowager's last wish). CSS was looking for love and she only loved LBY. As for Lou Yao, I agree he liked CSS for who she was, but CSS was acting more like a mother figure to him, than an actual lover.

There are a lot of people that like Yuan Shen, but I do not. I think he is manipulative and took advantage of the situation to get betrothed to CSS. CSS never loved him, but like you said she would have been the dutiful wife. The part that makes it worse for me was that he knew since the beginning and still continued his one sided pursuit anyways. I don't like these archetypes. My belief is CSS was using Yuan Shen to avoid LBY. She never would have been truly happy, it would just be a show. That's why in the end she chooses to be with LBY.

My interpretation was she was upset with LBY over the betrayal, which caused her to be spiteful and she acted impulsively. CSS said she never had any control over LBY, except for cancelling the engagement. She cancelled the engagement out of spite to hurt him, just as she was hurt. She gets pretty ill after he is exiled and is in a coma and her true feelings are presented. In her coma, she calls out for LBY and asks him to take her with him and not to abandon her.

Afterwards she is just stubborn and decides that she is going to "hate" LBY instead of being honest with herself and own up to the fact that she still loves him. The whole 5 years, she never stopped to reflect about how she really felt. She just kept holding on to the "anger". She only started to reflect after LBY returns. In fact, everyone else had already forgiven LBY. It was just her that was in denial. CSS is always late when it comes to figuring out her own feelings. But, once she figures it out she is all in and does what she thinks is right without hesitation.

When she finally starts to reflect and think, she understands LBY has always loved her and he had to do what he had to do. She understands his pain and suffering and the need for revenge. She understands his regrets. It wasn't about her. She also understands that no one else can love her better than he can and he likes her for who she is. She finds that she still loves him and he is the only one that she wants to marry. So, she is able to forgive him, accept all of him and they reconcile.

Sure. I don't remember exactly so I will be paraphrasing.

After LBY's aunt passes away, LBY is pretty messed up. He doesn't say anything, but he probably knows that after he carries out his revenge, they are most likely going to be seperated. LBY and CSS start to have a conversation about how seperation can affect the heart. CSS says that it is something that is easy to change, but also hard to change.

LBY wants to do a blood oath, promising that they will not forsake each other. They talk about a folklore/story about these immortals/gods or something that bites off arms. LBY suggest they "devour" each other's arm like the story. They bite each other (Keep in mind the wedding is right around the corner. About 10 days away). In the end LBY could not keep his promise. CSS stays in the Capital, while LBY is exiled. The scar is a constant reminder for LBY of his love for CSS during his exile.

5 years later the scar on CSS is about to disappear. LBY mentions that it is probably due to the fact that he didn't bite hard, since he didn't want to hurt her too badly. (Lol. Twisted love, but I'm for it with this CP) Ever since they've been seperated, CSS had been trying to remove it. Once LBY finds out, he bites her again. Right after the second bite, LBY confesses that he plans not to get married and will just be alone for the rest of his life. He cries and begs CSS to not be so cruel to him. CSS can't keep up her air of indifference and begins to break down crying. Right after, she tries to break off the engagement with Yuan Shen and starts to finally reflect on how she feels about LBY. She didn't reflect the whole time he was in exile. Spoiler: she finds she still loves him and doesn't want to marry anyone else but him.

Do you mean Yuan Shen? He is the last chapter of the epilogue. What happens to OTP is told from his perspective. He got married to an unnamed person and has grandkids of his own. He continues to send gifts to CSS throughout his life. He is best friends with CSS and LBY. One day CSS visits him but he says he is too busy. I feel like he is avoiding her since he still loves her. CSS is clear that she still plans to visit him as they are good friends. It's funny since, avoiding LBY would've been what CSS would've done if she actually married Yuan Shen. It's obvious that CSS wants to keep things close but platonic, but Yuan Shen is struggling, since his feelings are deeper.

Finally one day he decides to visit CSS but finds out that LBY and CSS left a few months earlier to go travelling. It's implied that they probably will never see each other again. Yuan Shen begins to recite a poem that is about CSS, his one and only love that he can never forget and lost. He begins to cry. So he kind of ended up with the same fate as his master of not being with the one he wants. I pity him but not really. He made his choices and so did CSS. They were not meant to be no matter how much he wished and hoped. CSS really only saw him as a friend and continues to treat him as one, but he desires more.

Just to give you some more info on why CSS and LBY leave the Capital to travel. The promise to go travelling was something that was mentioned in the original novel. In the third chapter of the epilogue, CSS and LBY are teaching villagers at LBY's Official Post and one of the villagers is named A'Xie. A'Xie becomes a Chief of his tribe. LBY and CSS gets word that the Emperor has passed away, so LBY returns to the Capital with his family to advise the new Emperor (probably Third Prince). While in the Capital for several years OTP find out that A'Xie tragically passed away fighting a rival tribe. That's when OTP realize that life is too short and LBY resigns from his official position and the two decide to go travelling together while they still can. CSS and LBY really lived a full happy life.