Bubblepink

you mean 2ML? I think he only love FL.

up to ep 19, not yet.
But I think the red string will be gone in today episodes or tomorrow.

you are welcome

That 3rd guy, I think he is the one that ML's sister like based on the trailer and clips. So, I think and hope he's not going to bring more angst to ML & FL relationship.

Yipii, you already start watching :D
Yes, Shawn Dou really match with this republican era clothing. He looks so handsome in this drama. I think I'm the only one here who didn't mind with FL's bang, mostly the comments here can't stand her bang LOL.

I really hope the drama change the ending to Happy Ending (finger crossed).

I also skipped SML scenes. the more I watched, the more I got annoyed by him. While I haven't skipped SFL scenes, she started to get on my nerves so I might do that too to her scenes.

Nah, I think and hope the drama won't end when FL showed up again as someone else's wife.
I only read through google translate the last few chapters of the novel. It didn't include the part where FL showed up again, maybe it is somewhere earlier than the last few chapters.

If you want to read the raw version of the novel (couldn't find the translated version yet, I think no one has translated it yet) with google translate, I find 2 links :
https://www.256wenku.com/read/6390/
https://www.52shuku.vip/jiakong/3775.html

The novel tag as open ending, but this might change in the drama I hope?
I also like you, I can't quite handle too much angst, but alas I got hooked since the beginning so I just have to endure watching this ongoing, so I tend to watch the preview first before watch that day eps .
So far, the angst was less than I imagine, so it's quite safe so far.
Because you don't mind spoiler, I'm gonna spoil some more (not sure of the accuracy though) :

Based on clips that I encounter at weibo about SFL, I think ML going to realize SFL scheming personality soon.
In the clip, SFL try to shoot FL, and ML angrily shoot back toward where SFL standing. The clip didn't show though whether the SFL getting shot by ML or whether she survive or not.

While SML, I think he might meet his demise in the hand of Warlord Jin Cheng or being shot by ML's army? (couldn't see the SML face, so not sure is it him and/or which one of the event that make him die, or none).

And I think based on FL's hairstyles in the preview / clips / MV etc and from older synopsis (MDL change the previous synopsis), ML thought FL die in fire, but they gonna meet again when FL show up as another guy's wife (synopsis said this guy is the benefactor of ML). But from the interview of the actress who played the FL, she said that FL think of this guy as her brother.

OMG that guy is actually her lover?? But she still want ML for her??

Glad I can help. And yes, if you start watch all the available ep (until ep 19, but I haven't watch ep 18 and 19 yet so what I write here are from ep 1-17), now the drama is kinda in the safe zone in term of the way ML and FL treat each other.

I don't know how much you want to know, I'm afraid I might give you over spoiler so I try my best not to spoil too much, but if you need more elaborate explanations, feel free to ask me again.

In the novel, the SML die before ML & FL get married (based on previous synopsis and some comments here), but in the drama, he still alive and kicking up until the preview of 23.
Before FL & ML married, SML is naive, don't have position or power, delusional, but he didn't scheme.
But, based on preview until ep 23, SML position and power change, so I'm afraid he might do something to ML over jealousy, but will see.

In the novel, SML is FL's 1st love. But in the drama, the actress who played FL did say : SML is just her best friend, while ML is the love of her life. But up until ep 17, other characters in the drama didn't know about FL only consider SML as her best friend only, so her approach toward SML seems like she missing / longing for him, but i hope and I think this matter will clear up soon.

SFL only show up quite recently, not much have shown about her, but she looks like the one who put nice facade but has some / serious scheming behind.

I'm about to watch 18. So, she is really just putting a facade of the real her?
OOT : Hey, I think we met before in Blue Whisper's page?

got tired of the palace's politic and keep guessing whether the ML going to survive the ordeal or not and how to survive?
Also. I thought it's a wuxia drama / war drama, but the more I watched, it turn into a palace drama, I'm usually not to fond of palace drama.

I think her dad up until ep 17 still alive and well.
I hope both dad alive until the end.

Why the drama must gave an important position and power to 2ML? I really hope he won't abuse his power and position over jealousy. But seeing how delusional and petty he act before gaining this power and position, I think most probably he will bring chaos to ML like one of the MDL's synopsis before this.
And I think in the novel, the 2ML suppose to die before ML & FL get married?
Will it be a good thing or not for the drama to make the 2ML still alive until now??

Thoughts about 2ML of the drama vs the novel, after watching the preview up until ep 23

I think so. I think she had something to do with the sudden appearance of the guy with glasses who also happen to like kite.

ep 18 and 19 air today at 22:00 GMT+8

I hope they have a solid relationship before the war break

finally, now 2ML know is just his delusional to think that FL love him
Can't wait to watch this episode.
Thank you for the link.

Yes, I really love the moment FL finally cross that red string that she put herself and looking at ML with a new perspective and try to touch ML's hand (is it his hand or his cheek that she try to touch here? What do you think?), I keep screaming in my heart when watching this scene : Finally LOL
And then after the touch moment, when ML go to school to bring sweets for FL, the way FL smile brightly seeing him, I think that is the 1st time FL really smile brightly from her heart for ML?

Yeah, the way FL holding the kite when thinking about 2ML, any guy (who love FL) will be jealous seeing this.
I think the drama maker kinda confusing themselves in this part? In the novel, 2ML is FL's 1st love, while in drama FL only treat 2ML as her best friend, but the way she act do make people suspicious of her feelings toward 2ML.

But watching ep 19 preview, I think FL finally said to ML what she truly feels toward 2ML? (finger crossed)

thankfully I think it is well received in China, it just got back to number 1 rank last time I checked earlier today.
And if it fall from 1st rank, it sit on 2nd or 3rd rank.
Hopefully the drama maintain it's rank and also get more recognitions from us international viewers.

Yes, too much coincidence.
Also that new dude said he been to europe for a long time.
And when the new dude met 2FL and FL and FL's friend for the first time, the way the new dude look at 2FL and the way 2FL kinda keeps cool, they all so fishy.

Is not shown yet (up until ep 17) that FL fallen for ML.
But, starting from ep 15 after marriage ceremony, FL become more soft toward ML, they are lovey dovey in front of others (so others will believe their fake marriage) but when there are just the 2 of them, their interactions also become sweeter.
ML keeps doing small sweet stuff for FL that keeps building ML's good rapport, ML taking care of FL when she is injured and also when she got ill, FL also now aware when ML secretly helping her and FL also finally know what ML did / had to endure to help her, so when there is another fight between them (ep 17) and ML didn't come home (he sleeps at his office), FL starting to miss him