SpicyLime

The way I that I saw it in the novel was that, for the 5 years that HBY was in exile, CSS remained angry. She never took the time to reflect on about herself or HBY's actions. She just stayed angry with him. CSS wasn't the only person angry. The Emperor and Empress Xuan were also upset with how he handled things. They were upset for years. So, she kind of justified her anger using them. So, it came as a shock when she finds out that they have already forgiven him ages ago. She tried to put him out of his mind, until his return was imminent.

When his return was imminent she started to take steps so that she could avoid him (i.e. get married to Yuan Shen). She thought she had another year to get ready, but he returned early and kind of blind-sided her. HBY realizing CSS still loves him, changes his mind of giving up on her and decides to pursue her again. He continues to coax her and she slowly falters. The breaking point was when she finally imagined how HBY's life would've been if his family was still been alive. That's when she finally understood his pain and sorrow and the life he had lost as well as his need for revenge.

Yeah. I think you are right. In the novel, they didn't become equally in love until the final arc where CSS for the first time believes that somebody (HBY) else's life is more important than her own. This was such a powerful statement for CSS to finally make. It finally shows how much she loves him.

Well put. Just to answer your question really quick. Yes, it was mainly CSS who helped to clear up HBY's name. HBY never got a chance to thank her, since the engagement was broken off and he got exiled. The thing is that the whole reconciliation in the novel happened with low stakes. I guess the whole fact that CSS was engaged to Yuan Shen is kind of an important stake. But, there is nothing to force CSS into making a decision. HBY just keeps wooing her for like a year. She doesn't forgive him right away. She has a lot of time to reflect on HBY and his sincerity. She has time to figure out that she is stubborn and still in love with HBY and what love is. Unlike in the drama, where we get like a 5 minute scene where she admits that her mom was right that she is stubborn. So now, everything is just forgiven and she won't be stubborn anymore. Like, what? That's all we get. We are to assume she just changes overnight? Nope. Afterwards she is still stubborn and doesn't forgive HBY right away. They need to have another life and death with the bunker until she forgives him.

Yeah, CSS almost dies because of LJT in the novel, but she gets out of it on her own using her own wit. Then, HBY meets CSS in a tent in the aftermath. CSS didn't need saving. So there is no rush and CSS finally confesses that, you know what, I thought about everything over the last year and you are really the one for me. Then they have a whole conversation where they talk about what happened over the 5 years and how she fully understands now. Like again, we get a <5 minute scene in the drama to recap what happened between them in the 5 years. Then HBY fills in that he knows of the things that CSS has done in the 5 years, since he has always been keeping track of her, which makes her happy. Then, there is the scene where they find LJT is dead and HBY tells her not to go in or she will have nightmares, but she is like I won't have nightmares since you are here to protect me. Again, no stakes, they are just investigating together. Like we didn't get any of that.

Also, CSS in the novel admits that she has everything. She has money, she has guards, she has prestige. So the only thing she wants to strive for is happiness, by being with someone that she loves. She tossed away anything that was useless (i.e. Yuan Shen) and thought about what she really wanted (i.e. who she wants to be with/HBY). They did my girl dirty IMO.

The reconciliation was the weakest arc in the drama.

Love your points. What they needed to do in the drama was to make the reconciliation, no stakes. They put it high stakes, so it didn't seem like it was as genuine. CSS only finally forgives HBY after she believes he is dead/dying. HBY already put all his cards on the table and they went seperate ways afterwards.

So, my question to you is, what if CSS was the one to initiate the reconciliation for once, after she realizies she still loves HBY and needs to forgive him? Think that would play better for you? This is kind of what happens in the novel btw.

I agree with your points. The weird part was when she was like ride or die all right before the exile. Then she does a 180, even though she said she understood his actions. Like if you understood his actions, but still did the 180, that's just kind of contradictory. So, she knew the stuff he did was out of love and protection, but she was mad for forsaking her. Like, how is her and her family being implicated better than being forsaking. HBY did the logical thing and she did the illogical thing since "feelings." It's a little bit of a selfish. If i'm to understand what she wanted before the break up was to become a criminal with HBY and basically let her family get into trouble.

I'm genuinely curious. What did her in for you?

I felt they could've written her better too.

Ahh got you. I missed that detail. Thanks. YY next best girl.

Wait. Was it ever confirmed that YY didn't get married? 5 years is a long time. I'm actually not sure. But yeah.

Nah. I wouldn't want YY to end up with him, since she is a an innocent naive person. She deserves someone who loves her wholeheartedly. YS could never be that person.

He does get married. But, it's never mentioned who. If I had to guess it would be someone his parents picked for him. I doubt he would be able to pick or find someone to meet his high standards. Even at the end he couldn't forget CSS. But at least he didn't end up completely like his master. Alone and bitter.

I'm from the States. I used my VPN to test UK and it still worked. However, I noticed that I'm having issues and getting the error message of video not found 无法获取视频信息 when I try to use Firefox. But, everything is fine with I use Brave or IE (Edge). It's strange. The issue fixes for me when I relogin. The only last thing I can suggest is for you to make sure your browser is up to date, disable, uninstall any adblocks you may have and try again. Lastly, to try another browser to see if it's just an issue with your Chrome. You could try using Brace, Internet Explorer, or Firefox. Hope you are able to figure out the problem.

Are you in a region where wetv is banned? What I meant was, you shouldn't need to use a VPN and that sometimes using it may cause an issue. Are you using Chrome/Brave? Try to delete all your cookies, exit and try logging back in.

I think you finished watching the series right? Otherwise I don't want to say more and spoil it for you.

Just following the drama. If we go back to what QiQi says to CSS. If you don't like someone, no matter how much time you are with them, you won't like them. If you like someone, then naturally you will like them. The ball was always in CSS's court, not Yuan Shen's. It doesn't matter what moves he made, since CSS from the beginning never saw him that way.

Yuan Shen spent 5 years of his life to try and chase CSS. She never even considered him during that time or before that. Going by how she almost rejected LBY initially, I don't think she would've agreed to marry Yuan Shen, even if he made the "right moves." CSS would always just see him as a friend. No matter how sincere he is and how much she loves her, relationship is a two way street. You don't like someone just because they love you. It become more like an unhealthy obsession at that point.

He had already lost since the beginning and should've moved on instead of hoping for more.

Going by the novel. Although I felt a little sympathy to him in the epilogue, his sad story is a product of his own actions. He couldn't love and understand CSS as HBY could. He also didn't want to let go. He had his master as a template of what not to be, but he continued to do the same things. It's worse for me in the novel since he knew from the beginning that CSS only loves HBY. Only a fool would keep trying to pursue someone that has someone else in their heart. It will always end in pain.

I logged out and back in. Issue went away after that. Are you on a VPN? Some times that will effect it as well. It was strange since it will work one one browser sometimes and not on another.

Definately take care of yourself as well and thanks for sharing your story.

On a tangent. That's why I don't like Yuan She n. I speak from personal experience and totally understand how he feels about CSS. But at a certain point you have to realize it wasn't meant to be and move on.

Timr and distance away really does mature people. Not always, but in most cases it does.

I had couple of friends that were groomed and couldn't escape from their toxic relationship. No matter how many times I told them what was happening they couldn't hear me. It was only until certain circumstances happened and they had a break from each other that they can finally reflect and think about the situation. They ended up ending the relationship.

I think that's why people like LLTG so much. There are so many parellel and lessons we someone can relate to.

I feel the same way. I like to see internally what is happening to the character. Their thoughts and reasons for their actions.

This is my take away. It might change over time. But this is what is coming to my mind at the moment for the difference between OTP in the novel and drama.

In the drama, HBY is the one at fault. He needed to be remorseful and repentent for what he did. HBY getse all the blame. After enough time, CSS finally believing that he has repented and regretted his actions enough, CSS forgives him.

In the novel, HBY has some of the blame, but ultimately he needed to do what he needed to do. He had the burden of getting justice for his entire family. They can't rest in peace until Ling Yi and his family is dead. An eye for an eye type deal. CSS didn't understand his burdens at first. But, after a lot of self reflection, she understands that he needed to do it. She puts herself in his shoes and imagines living with his burdens. (If I put myself in his shoes, I would've probably done the same thing as HBY.) She understands that he has always loved her and that the abandonment wasn't about her. By then, the only thing CSS wants is to be with the person she loves the most. That person is HBY. So she forgives him and I think actually apologetic, since she didn't understand his actions at first.

It's kind of complicated because the novel does not play out this way. The first episode is a mix of several different bits.

Absolutely. I'm glad you enjoyed the insight.

BTW. The rebite happens on chapter 163 of the novel if you wanted to read the whole thing yourself.

So a little bit more detail for you.

How the rebite happens. After HBY leaves LJT who is devasted on the floor, he looks for a chance to see CSS. I believe there is another royal banquet, so HBY takes this chance to acost CSS. (FYI, LBY acosts CSS several times after the time skip. I don't think she ever said no once. I think if she actually said no, he wouldn't force her.) CSS leads him to a private area for the tryst. HBY forcefully grabs and rebites CSS. She is furious. She starts hitting and clawing at his face and neck. At this point, CSS had grown out her finger nails, there is blood and skin and dirt under them by the time she is done. (After the scene the Empress tells her to cut them, which she obliges. After speaking with the Empress Xuan, she is also worried of getting punished by the Emperor, since he is still very protective of HBY. I think HBY made up an excuse of his wounds to protect CSS.) By the time HBY finishes, they are both very disheveled. Right after, HBY takes out some ointment to apply on CSS. As he is applying the ointment for her, he tells her he does not plan to marry anyone.

Then I think you know the rest.

Also, if you want to get some more insight, you can go to this post, which I made way back then when I first started to read the novel, back in Part 1.

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

Yeah I went off in a tangent. I meant to say I don't know if even CSS could handle LBY pre time skip in real life. Post time skip HBY, she definitely could.