SpicyLime

I'll probably wait until the next two episodes come out. I skimmed episode 28, since I was looking for a specific scene that happened in the novel. To my sadness, the scene didn't happen. I know it's an adaptation, but the cut content hurts my soul. The sequence at the end of 27 where she starts to think about LBY, that sequence should happen right before the teaser for episode 33. In the novel, CSS and her family are still pretty set to break off the engagement. It's only until much later when LBY is pretty upset with her, she thinks back and realizes what LBY has done for her and from that point she decides that she needs to treat him better. It's the first time she decides to be sincere with him. We'll see how it goes.

What he does later makes more sense, since he knew the whole time. He goes into rage mode. Even though CSS was pissed off at first, after she had time, she totally understood why he had to do what he did and was going to support him no matter what.

NP. I don't think he knew that LBY was not his real son. At his end it seemed like he was utterly surprised when LBY revealed it. CSS noted that it felt like he was remorseful knowing what actually happened to his real son. In his own way, I guess he loved his real son.

Logically, there is no way he knew about LBY's real identity. He would have killed him for sure. He really must've believed LBY was his real son.

You got it right. His "mom" is really his aunt. He has to call her mother to preserve his fake identity. And yes, he is the last surviving member of the Huo family. After the time skip he takes back his Huo surname. It is kind of an important element later in the story. You can read more if you want to be spoiled.






After the time skip, just like what he promised, he will marry no one else but CSS. Even CSS is surprised that he really meant it. If CSS didn't accept him back, the Huo clan would end with him. With this reveal and LBY begging, CSS finally caves in and decides to be with LBY again. Later on after they marry and CSS is pregnant for the first time, she tells LBY that he will no longer be alone. After he says that he was no longer alone since he had her, they both begin crying.

I was looking at your avatar. Ancient Detective? Neat! Even though I know it's a good series, the thing that tripped me out was some of the music is the same from Joy of Life. I need to find the time to do an avatar. I wouldn't know where to begin with choosing.

My friend. I am on episode 27.

LBY is totally aware that Ling Yi (his uncle) is not his real father. It's Ling Yi that doesn't know LBY is not actually his son. He has to keep his identity as LBY, otherwise Ling Yi would kill him, since Ling Yi was responsible for killing the Huo family (LBY's real family). LBY's cousin was killed instead of LBY, and his aunt pretended that LBY was her son to save him. As far as I know, Ling Yi didn't see his real son very much. This is akin to CSS and her parents, so it's very plausible Ling Yi just never realized his son was swapped out, and basically killed his real son. When the massacre happened, LBY was still very young. Everything that LBY is doing is trying to get evidence and the power to bring down the Ling family for their crimes. He suffered alone in silence for like 10+ years waiting for the moment to get his revenge.

They have a happy ending. In the original ending, they are engaged but are not married by the end. They will be together through anything that happens moving forward. Marraige is far away. There is a kiss in the final scene after they talk about LBY and the wires around his wrist. (it's my opinion that this is the ending we will probably get in the drama.)

In the epilogue chapters written a few years later by the author...

They are married and have kids. In the final chapter we find out they are growing old and have grandchildren. They decide that life is too short and decide to travel, as this was what they originally wanted to do after marraige.

Not until the bitter end when LBY carries out his revenge. LBY and his cousin were similar age and had similar builds. He doesn't see him often. It's sort of the relationship with CSS and her parents. That's why it's believable that he didn't know that LBY was not his real son. CSS describes the uncles end. She felt that he was sad and believed he probably cared about his son. Regardless, the uncle murdered all of LBY's family, so it's hard to feel sorry for him.

Also, on a side note. I keep using the abbreviation of LBY to keep things simple. But after he carries out his revenge he goes back to using his real surname of Huo.

So is his current father fake?
Correct. His current father, Ling Yi is really his uncle. LBY had to keep his identity a secret, or else he would've been killed too. Ling Yi did not realize his real son was killed during the massacre, in the place of LBY.

So his current parents are fake?
Correct.

His real parents die in the massacre?
Yes.

Does he know his mom now is his aunt?
Yes. LBY was around a young boy to preteen at the time. He knows the truth. His aunt also knows the truth and protected LBY. The only way she could protect him was to lie that he was her son. Her real son died in the massacre.

Major plot spoilers below.

Yep. No one knows the truth but his "mother," who is really his aunt, and himself. The Huo family was massacred, and LBY was spared since his aunt claimed that he was her son. Her real son had been killed during the massacre, since he was believed to be the son of the Huo family. LBY has been looking for evidence to bring down the Ling family ever since. This is happening throughout the series. For about 10 years, every single fiber of his body was set on revenge, until he met CSS.

NP. The drama was kind of lackluster for the scene. That's why people say novel is always better. You get those little details that they just can't show on screen. I have some of my favorite key romance interactions listed below. This is all before the time skip.

Chapter 75 – LBY admonishes third princess and CSS is moved to tears.
Chapter 83 – CSS resolves to treat LBY better.
Chapter 99 – LBY tells CSS she is free to leave the palace.
Chapter 101 – LBY gets beaten for CSS.
Chapter 116 – CSS talks about having babies.
Chapter 133 – LBY bites CSS.

The two drops of black were her tears. She stepped on them because she didn't want him to know she was crying. She was moved to tears.

No. He is the adoptive son of the Emperor. His "father" who is not his real father is Ling Yi.

He is not the son of the Ling family. He is the son of the Huo family.

Nope. Unless they deviate vastly from the novel. Most of part 2 should be CSS falling in love. Palace life. The revenge plot. Fighting rebels. Them getting back together.

There are a few possibilities for the end.

1. They stick to the original novel ending. They are engaged by not married. Getting married is a far off thing, but until then, they will be together through thick and thin. Ends with a kiss.
(This is probably going to be the ending we'll get)

2. They do a time skip that shows CSS and LBY with their kids. This happens in the epilogue chapters. In the last chapter CSS and LBY grow old, have grandkids, go travelling togther.
(This is the ending I want to see!!!!)

3. Original ending made for the drama.
(I highly doubt this.)


Here you go. I copied this from another post I made.

You can find it below. It's chapter 8-11. Hope you enjoy as much as I did. I got a little emotional.

It's told from the perspective of 4 other characters. The first 2 fill in some details on what happened during the original novel. The last two takes place after the original novel ends.

8 - Soldier - LBY during 3rd year of exile.
9 - Prince - Yuan Shen is released from prison and engagement is broken off.
10 - A Villager - After LBY gets married to CSS.
11 - Yuan Shen - LBY and CSS leave the Capital and travel.

http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1710991&chapterid=8

She takes a more hands off approach later on. She loses motherly privileges later. Much later.

did SS know what LBY do? and if she did know, how?

While CSS was engaged to LBY, he always protected her in secret. They actually have a cold war since CSS gets pissed at him after finding out that he has men that follows her every move. This is how he always turns up to save her when she is in trouble.

He continues to do the same while he is exiled. On his third year 2 major things happen. The first one is a decree arrives that lets him know he can start earning merit again. When he was exiled all his previous merit and title were stripped. He also would not be allowed to have an official position. This is important since he was able to return from exile early due to his merit earned fighting. The second key thing he finds out is that the Yuan family may have some involvement with a rebel group. LBY figures out that Yuan Shen might be the next potential marraige candidate for CSS, so he decides to protect the Yuan family, so that when CSS marries Yuan Shen she will be safe.

It's not until about 2 years later that the shady dealings is found out and the Yuan family is imprisoned. With great foresight, LBY had tracked down and killed the rebel leader along with his group, but gives all the credit to Yuan Shen's father. Even though the Yuan family are guilty for their crimes, the merit credited to them by LBY's own blood, cancel out the crimes and the Yuan family is released. Yuan Shen deduces that it was LBY who killed the leader and not his own father. After confronting LBY and getting advice from him on what to do with his dire family situation he finally decides to give up on CSS. Also keep in mind, CSS is already trying to break off the engagement with Yuan Shen at this point. Yuan Shen is just stubborn. Yuan Shen goes against ever fiber of his body and tells CSS that LBY was the one who killed the leader and tearfully runs away. CSS didn't know about it and is shocked. Later she admits that she wanted to see LBY right away, but hesitated, since she wanted to confirm her feelings again first. (CSS most likely thoughts and feelings. Swoon, OMFG, LBY fucking loves the shit out of me. I need to step up and marry this guy.)

When did CSS know the real identity of LBY?
I think she finds out around the one year mark since they've been engaged. At this time CSS is fully in love with LBY.
they're nuts...
but what about their parents?
didn't they think he's terrifying enough to be with their daughter?
I don't know about the other parents, but that's just how it was back then. As long as a man returns with merit and is favored and can become an official, they are hot.
For CSS's parents it's different. CSS's mom at this point is sort of letting CSS do her thing. Actually her mom has a new appreciation for CSS. She always thought that she was kind of self centered, but of course CSS is not. They start to appreciate her a lot more. As in regards to LBY, everyone in CSS's family knows that CSS only loves LBY. They are trying their best to keep their hands off of each other. So it's a non issue.