SpicyLime

I know :( I'm just not sure how the drama will play out. I hope they don't drag on the seperation for too long.

Falling in love with LBY takes quite a bit of time, so a good number of episodes should be dedicated to that.

He always loved her but was too late the first time around. At that point he wasn't going to interfere with CSS engagement as long as she was happy. After she is single again he was going to ask ASAP. In the drama that was the earliest day.

In the novel he proposes to her on the same day that her engagement with Lou Yao is called off. Engagement with Lou Yao is cancelled in the morning, LBY proposes in the afternoon.

Yep. My opinion is it should never have happened based on what we got from the leads in the first half. But to each their own.

Let me try.

-Could you explain what she did that made him angry?

During the Empress's birthday banquet CSS is pushed into the water by some of 5th Princess's girls. LBY didn't know about it since he had already called off his spies per her earlier request. Later she gets her own revenge by setting up a trap for the girls. They get covered in crap. 5th Princess shows up in front of the Empress with a dead body. It looks like CSS did it, since the item found on the dead body belonged to CSS. The motive is that CSS was mad at the girl for pushing her in the water.

LBY knew about the dead body and carried out an investigation. Obviously, CSS is not the one responsible. 5th Princess gets severely punished for framing the crime on CSS.

LBY did not know that CSS was pushed in the water until later when 5th Prince accidently told him. He's angry with her because her life was at risk. Although she knew how to swim, what if she didn't? What if the true purpose was to kill her by drowning her. CSS didn't think about these things.

LBY was mad at CSS mainly because he wouldn't treat him with sincerity. That is, she isn't willing to trust him and come to him for help. She tries to take care of everything herself without any consideration of asking him for help. She even tries to hide things from him and lies about it. Since she seems to hate living in the palace and doesn't want to treat him with sincerity he says he will release her from staying at the palace. Only after all of this, does CSS FINALLY wake up and realize how much LBY has done for her, how her life has improved because of him and how she has been running away from her feelings. She decides to own up to her mistakes and decides to love him with all her heart.

-I felt bad that he suggested break up because in the recent episode she clearly told him that she won't listen to him and asked him Is he still willing to marry her?
The drama is different from the novel. I don't think she uses the words you mentioned in the drama. In the novel, it's more in the line of she isn't good enough for him. She doesn't say I won't listen to him. Also, by this point in the novel, CSS clearly has feelings for LBY, but still won't let him fully in. The feeling is, she is giving mixed messages and won't be honest about how she really feels.

-And also Could you explain the regret XY will have?
Do you mean CSS's mom? In the novel there is a scene where CSS and her parents are talking about a case. At this point CSS has been under the Empress's care for at least a year. CSS's mom gives some suggestions regarding the case. CSS hears what she is saying, but already knows she isn't going to listen, or has any plans to ever listen. She doesn't hesistate or feel any regret anymore with regards to her mom. She doesn't respect her as someone that needs to be listened to and just ignores her and immediately leaves. CSS's mom can see the change in her behavior, but she knows she can't do anything about it anymore. She knows that CSS has changed for the better under the care of the Empress. She isn't capable of giving the type of love to CSS that the Empress can. She lost her chance to be a mother for CSS. All she can do is feel sad.

I am a hater of Yuan Shen. IDAF about him at all, even though I know he is helpful sometimes. I originally didn't like Lou Yao because he was weak. But Lou Yao is miles better than Yuan Shen. I also appreciate that Lou Yao is sincere to CSS, even though he is naive about everything. At least Lou Yao is not stubborn and can learn to be a better person. Yuan Shen is and will always be the way he is.

I think she really does love her, but she just doesn't have the ability to provide tender love. Like there are just some people that can't change the way that they are and be empathetic. Like Yang Yang is fine, since she has an obedient temperament. But, CSS is not the same way. She is independent, rowdy and has her own ideas. The mom just can't comprehend why she is disobedient. Mom is just too rigid in her beliefs.

In the novel she is jealous of the relationship that CSS has with the Empress. CSS at this point doesn't even care about listening to her mother anymore. CSS's mom is hurt, but also aware that she can't be the tender and loving person that the Empress is. It's kind of tragic.

The link has been posted in the discussion board.

See below for your convenience.

Be advised there may be "ads."

This is a google translate.

https://www-tianyashuku-com.translate.goog/yq/10696/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

Got you. I figured that was the case. I just wanted to confirm, since I didn't get to that part of the novel yet. I would be disappointed if she actually started to like Yuan Shen. As my understanding is that she has only ever loved LBY. My understanding was that CSS was just lying to herself about her feelings for LBY. She also changed and was no longer her authentic self. She pretended to like the things she hate, and hated the things she likes. She was also just too desperate to try and fulfill the final wish of the Empress. That's why in my head the Empress was content before she passed away, since she knew that CSS was finally going to be with LBY again. It was like she was hanging on waiting until they were together again.

So just as I thought, Yuan Shen IMO is and will always be scum.

Cheers.

If I remember correctly CSS broke it off. But it's complicated.

LBY goes on a killing spree a few days before their wedding. He kills off the Ling family who were responsible for the death of his real family, the Huo family. I think CSS needed to confess the crimes of LBY and cancelled the engagement to save his life. As punishment, LBY is exiled to the frontier to fight and doesn't return until about 5 years later.

Just some insight from the novel.

In the novel he is kind of old fashioned. CSS and LBY are talking about when they first met. For LBY it was at the lantern festival. CSS couldn't see his face clearly since he was blocked by the lanterns. For him, it was basically love at first sight. He hesitated to go up to her, because he needed to consider at that time if he wanted to get married. He never thought that he would. So like the logical step for him if he likes someone is to get married. If you don't want to get married then why waste time. If you like them, you should marry...was basically what he said to CSS. In the same scene, they were making out, but LBY refused to take it to the next step, saying some things should wait for marriage. So yeah, he's awkward, but follows the etiquette.

So like in the novel, we don't get the dramatization in the drama. CSS and Lou Yao break up in the morning. In the afternoon of the same day, LBY proposes marraige and it gets "accepeted." It's more light hearted in the novel. CSS and her parents want to reject, but they fear the Emperor. CSS later goes herself to try and refuse it, but it gets slapped down. They really make the mom look bad in the drama. In the novel they are all on board, like this isn't good.

With Lou Yao, LBY was still okay with it, as long as she is happy. He shouldn't interfere since she is engaged and seems happy. He will continue to protect her regardless. He has a selfless type of love.

Couple of questions for you.

Did you finish the whole novel? I already finished from the post exile to the end and the first 100 chapters. I still have a few chapters before I get to that part. It's really dragging for me, cause I really dislike Yuan Shen's character. Did CSS willingly WANT to marry Yuan Shen? I was under the impression it was more for the sake of the dying Empress. If the Empress was healthy, in your opinion would CSS marry Yuan Shen? What do you think? Thanks in advance!

LBY goes on a killing spree and kills off the Ling family who is responsible for the death of his real family, the Huo family. This is like days before their wedding. As a result, the engagement with CSS is broken off and LBY is exiled to the frontier to fight. In his third year away he gets a decree that he can start earning merit and eventually works his way up. He also finds out that the Yuan family may have some involvement with some shady dealings and takes care of the problem without telling CSS or Yuan Shen. He figured out Yuan Shen might be CSS's next marraige candidate. Around the 5th year of exile, he was able to return to the Capital and steals CSS back from Yuan Shen.

Falling back in love with LBY, CSS wants to call off the engagement first, but Yuan Shen is stubborn. That thing that LBY found out about in this 3rd year of exile comes back to bite Yuan Shen and his family's butt and they get arrested. They are eventually released, but Yuan Shen figures out that it must've been LBY who took care of the problem. He finally decides to give up on the engagement, after seeing what LBY did for the sake of CSS.

I think she stays with the Empress who is her mother figure for that time.

Once LBY returns from his exile she eventually breaks off her engagement with Yuan Shen. The version that Yuan Shen wanted to marry was not what CSS wanted to be. She was pretending. It got to the point where she started to believe her own lies. LBY noticed the change and called her out on it. She eventually realized he was right and she still loves him. CSS only loves LBY and returns to him.

LBY is really the son of the Huo family. The Ling family was responsible for the death of his real clan.

The chemistry with the leads is one of the best I've seen in a C-drama. It's one of the best things in the drama. I wouldn't call it slow burn as there is some type of attraction very early on.

Key episodes for the romance.

Ep14 - FL realizes she has feelings for ML
Ep15 - FL confronts ML about their relationship.
Ep17 - They are official.

Keep reading if you want some potential spoilers.

The problem is there is a misunderstanding due to lack of communication arc that starts at Ep27 and it gets progressively worse until they reconcile in Ep36. The chemistry between the leads is what made it so good, but they are not together for that whole gap.

Don't worry there is a part 2 with like 28 episodes left, and I know people going to be asking for the answer to this question nearly on the daily. By then I suspect a lot of people will know of the novel ending by then and will post it.

I'm enjoying the drama adaptation so far. When I read some of the scenes in the novel I thought they were comical. But in the drama, the same scenes have a much more serious tone. It's such an interesting contrast to me.

I'm impatiently waiting to see what direction the drama goes.

I'm glad you are not afraid to say it. CSS is a very flawed character. She is smart and capable, but carefree, lazy and hates etiquette. I sympathize with her though. It's a result of not being brought up with proper love and care at a young age. She was abandoned and only had herself to rely on. So of course she always looks out for herself. She wants to control her own destiny. CSS's mom is just incapable of providing the love and affection that she wants/needs.

LBY is going to force her out of her comfort zone. She hates it at first, but eventually learns to appreciate what he did for her. It's all about the growth. We get hints of it, like with agreeing to break up with Lou Yao for the better. The old CSS would have been stubborn and not broken up. As for CSS's mom...She is going to lose the chance to be a real mom to CSS.

In the original novel, they do not get married by the end, but they are together and inseparable.

However, a few years after the original publication of the novel, the author wrote some extra chapters that serves as an epilogue.

LBY has an official post somewhere outside of the Capital and is along with his new wife, CSS (I estimate that it might be at least a year or so after the original novel ending, before they finally tie the knot. In the original novel CSS said getting married would be far away). In a flashback scene we are in the eyes of the Crown Prince. We find out LBY proposes marraige right after the engagement with Yuan Shen is broken off (the exact same thing that happened with Luo Yao). The edict for CSS's and LBY's marriage should be annouced soon. CSS arrives in front of the Crown Prince and apologizes for some misdeeds. She succeeds in flattering him, so she can avoid a scolding. The Crown Prince is content knowing how happy she is and tells CSS to leave and prepare for her marraige. As she happily leaves, the Crown Prince decides for the first time to stoop to CSS's level and throws something at her. She is shocked and angrily stomps away. The Crown Prince makes plans to marry his future son to CSS's future daughter.

At their new home, CSS eventually gets pregnant and remarks to a happy and tearing LBY that he won't be alone anymore. LBY who is embracing CSS responds by saying, since he has her, he is no longer alone. They are both crying at this point. They have a few more children and are doing a fantasic job of taking care and teaching the locals, but eventually return to the Capital, after getting news that the Emperor has just passed away. Back at the Capital they start to grow old together and I believe they even have grandchildren now. After settling in the new Emperor and realizing that time is precious and short, they decide to go travelling together and enjoy the many different views, as was their original intention after marraige (their intentions were in the original novel).

It's a really sweet HEA.

I hope they include these extra chapters in the drama. PLEASE! C-Drama endings never cease to disappoint me. But at least I know this is the true ending.

Exactly. The thing is with LBY, CSS doesn't understand him at first. Just like all the other girls she idolizes him, even fears him. She was initially content with just putting him on a pedestal and admiring him from the distance. He's someone that she never had hopes of marrying. With Yuan Shen, it's different. She knows his character immediately. She describes both Yuan Shen and Lou Yao as an open book, easy to read. With LBY, once she finally understands him, she loves him, flaws and all. Just like LBY loves all of her.

With the other girls, in contrast to their current or previous relationships, LBY is far better. A good amount of the men in the novel are trash. LBY always covers for them and protects them, but it's not out of love. It's more out of kindless and obligation. The other girls knows of LBY's capabilities and it's really desireable to them. They all want to covet him, even the ones that are already married or engaged. Even though he is cold, he still helps and protects them, so they can't help but have delusions of love for him. But when they start to bully CSS he doesn't stand for it, and starts cutting all their delusions down.

LBY likes CSS since she is the only one that is genuine and doesn't seek fame/fortune/power like the other girls. Yuan Shen just covets CSS, but doesn't take CSS's needs or feelings into consideration. Yuan Shen puts her down and only helps her with the agenda of getting her to lovehim. Yuan Shen wants to control her. LBY is the opposite, he does everything with CSS in consideration. Even though he can be overbearing, he still gives her the freedom to do what she wants in the end. The only thing LBY wants from CSS is her sincerity, which takes a really long time for him to finally get. Even if he never got it, he'll continue to help CSS with no strings attached.

In chapter 99 of the novel CSS describes her thoughts on LBY to the Empress. It's probably as close as we get to why girls like him so much.

Google translate, but good enough.

"At first, I thought Master Ling was the kind of ancient virtuous gentleman mentioned in the sage's book, with great benevolence, righteousness, generosity and righteousness. The superior can assist the king, achieve prosperity in the world, and the inferior can relieve the people from hanging and hoe. The strong help the weak.”

"He is not only suspicious and thoughtful, but also irritable. He is obviously gentle and polite in front of others, even an unknown old man in the countryside, he can treat him with courtesy and answer patiently."

"But he pretended to be very good, and no one noticed this. So everyone praised him for being gentle, upright and polite, with the style of an ancient gentleman."

"In the past, I liked Master Ling, and I only regarded him as the bright moon hanging high in the sky, the cangxue far away on the mountain, those sages in the book who made people look up to the mountains. But now, I know that he is a person who is full of sorrows and joys. "