Not only will you have to change the men's trajectories but Niaoniao's as well. Quite radically I would think.…
The point of my earlier response (which I obviously didn't communicate well) is that you can't change the ending or offer an alternative ending by tweaking around the edges. Certainly not without annoying large swathes of the audience. To make Yuan Shen an equal romantic male lead you would have to establish his credentials much earlier on. Now, I haven't read the novel so I have no idea what happens to Yuan Shen in the final phase of this story but his backstory, his relationship with his mentor and his general cynicism about marriage has to be re-written or re-considered. In some ways, he is indecisive and fearful about commitment like his mentor Huangfu Yi. This is why he struggles with his feelings and is slow to act on them. In so doing, the other two guys get a head start while he's just indulging in playground tactics. He's not easy to root for at this point. It's like writing an essay with a very specific thesis only to find that conclusion doesn't commit itself one way or another.
That's why I said that there would have to be a radical shift in his dynamics with Niaoniao starting now not 5 episodes before the finale. Because right now from where I'm looking Niaoniao is also falling really hard for Zisheng and considering their history it feels like she would only be engaged to Yuan Shen under duress. Also, with the way the director frames scenes between Niaoniao and Zisheng makes it clear who the endgame is.
This is why I didn't root for A'Yao to be with Niaoniao despite the fact that he was a "nice guy" because there are things within the writing (and the execution) itself that provides the rationale for why they aren't a good match in the long run.
It's many years ago now and there was a K drama that tried to do this very thing -- offer alternative endings -- using a parallel universe type trope. Even that show had difficulties wrapping things up satisfactorily for most people. In fact most of the audience were angry that the show didn't have an definitive outcome. It made the female lead look pretty wishy washy.
I would love it if they gave us options to choose who CSS ends up with and the difference life she would live…
Not only will you have to change the men's trajectories but Niaoniao's as well. Quite radically I would think. Honestly she would have to enter the palace for very different reasons IF at all. Unless you kill off Ling Buyi midway through the story. Yuan Shen's character will have to undergo quite a transformation because he's not that likeable even at this point. He's mostly a figure of ridicule at this point.
The messaging will probably change too.
This is the reason why it is hard to do AU fanfiction well and not veer off from canon.
It would be easier to write another script, have Zhao Lusi and Li Yunrui as leads in another show.
To continue your arguments about Zisheng proposing to Niaoniao, it was a very complicated situation with pressure…
Absolutely. The reality is that the emperor didn't really need anyone's approval to make this marriage happen but Zisheng moved first, took matters into his own hands to ensure that the message that he was willing to marry Niaoniao was loud and clear to everyone within earshot. When he was pressed he articulated clearly his reasons for choosing her above all others. It was his moment to strike while the iron was hot and he took it. Also, in this maneuver he had the opportunity to praise her in front of the mean girls which was meant as a backhanded a slap in their faces that he didn't think that they were worthy to be with him.
To add to the overnight discussion about whether or not Zisheng should have proposed marriage or whether either is "deserving" of the other, I would also point out that one of the reasons why Zisheng made up his mind to raise the marriage issue at the moment he did was because he saw that Niaoniao was not only being bullied by the mean girls in the palace but she was getting hit with insults about her marriageability after being forced to break her engagement with A'Yao. Rather than just maneuvering her into marriage with him, he was also offering her his protection as the emperor's godson with full weight of imperial approval behind him to counter the naysayers. Yes, from her family's point of view it was sudden (but it wasn't as if they didn't know that he liked her anyway; it was abundantly clear) and they were somehow out maneuvered but from his perspective he is offering to end her "streak of bad luck" and put the mean girls in their place. If you look at everything from her perspective, yeah, it does look like he's imposing his will on her. But if you look at things from his point of view from the earliest days, he has always intervened to protect or support her. No one is saying that he doesn't like her and he certainly wouldn't do it for anyone else. However, no one can accuse him of not being consistent from the moment he fell for her. The fact is that she doesn't always understand what he's doing and misinterprets his intentions but he's always a step or two ahead of her (and practically everybody else). Everything he does for her is to protect her even when she doesn't like it.
The other thing to remember about Zisheng too is that he never does anything by halves. He doesn't commit himself to anything unless he's thought about it carefully. He has good brains and uses it. Even when in love.
Unpopular opinion: I sometimes think lby is too good for css and she doesn't deserve him sometimes. I'm glad qiqi…
I am really enjoying this discussion. Although I agree that Shaoshang doesn't always appreciate Zisheng, I am generally uncomfortable with the categories of "deserving" or "undeserving" because we are dealing in the realm of love. Love is about accepting and graciously living with the other's shortcomings.
I think we really sell Zisheng and Niaoniao short when we discuss them in those sorts of terms. Their relationship is rather more complex because Niaoniao has recently come off another engagement and she's still reeling from the shock of being suddenly engaged again. I would cut her some slack in that regard although I don't entirely believe everything that comes out of her mouth about wanting an ordinary life. She doesn't want an ordinary life but an unrestricted life. A girl like her who cannot back down from a fight cannot have an ordinary life.
I also kind of disagree with those who say that Zisheng should never have proposed to Niaoniao just because he is a man with a revenge agenda. I think we give the two of them far too little credit and underestimate Niaoniao entirely. I am fairly certain Zisheng would never have proposed marriage to Niaoniao if he didn't believe that she was someone who was made of sterner stuff -- someone who could share his burdens eventually. In fact he would never have fallen for her if she was some generic decorative palace barbie doll like Yuchang. I give him a lot of credit for that thing between his ears because if he thought she had no feelings for him at all, he would have backed off completely. The incident at the hunting lodge in Episode 12 undoubtedly solidified in his mind that Cheng Shaoshang is special and gutsy, a cut above the rest. With all her skills she held fort as long as she could and faced the enemy head on. She helped with the most horrific battle inflicted injuries and was determined to witness the execution of the rebels firsthand. As himself said, she is extraordinary which is why he was attracted to her in the first place. For the longest time he showed no interest in anyone and rejected marriage arrangements so he has given this entire issue plenty of thought. If there's something that Niaoniao has plenty of, it's pluck.
At the end of the day, Zisheng is also a man who craves real love and the warmth of family which he hasn't consistently enjoyed in his short life. It's so clear to me from the last few episodes that he's a man who has a lot of love to give. Even as one of his biggest fans, I am surprised at how completely devoted he is to her.
Oooh... naughty Zisheng doing naughty things in the bedroom. I guess he has to live up to his reputation of being the guy who has to be on top of everything.
K-Drama 
4 
That's why I said that there would have to be a radical shift in his dynamics with Niaoniao starting now not 5 episodes before the finale. Because right now from where I'm looking Niaoniao is also falling really hard for Zisheng and considering their history it feels like she would only be engaged to Yuan Shen under duress. Also, with the way the director frames scenes between Niaoniao and Zisheng makes it clear who the endgame is.
This is why I didn't root for A'Yao to be with Niaoniao despite the fact that he was a "nice guy" because there are things within the writing (and the execution) itself that provides the rationale for why they aren't a good match in the long run.
It's many years ago now and there was a K drama that tried to do this very thing -- offer alternative endings -- using a parallel universe type trope. Even that show had difficulties wrapping things up satisfactorily for most people. In fact most of the audience were angry that the show didn't have an definitive outcome. It made the female lead look pretty wishy washy.
The messaging will probably change too.
This is the reason why it is hard to do AU fanfiction well and not veer off from canon.
It would be easier to write another script, have Zhao Lusi and Li Yunrui as leads in another show.
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/love-like-the-galaxy-2022-episodes-d2e
Thanks for reading.
The other thing to remember about Zisheng too is that he never does anything by halves. He doesn't commit himself to anything unless he's thought about it carefully. He has good brains and uses it. Even when in love.
I think we really sell Zisheng and Niaoniao short when we discuss them in those sorts of terms. Their relationship is rather more complex because Niaoniao has recently come off another engagement and she's still reeling from the shock of being suddenly engaged again. I would cut her some slack in that regard although I don't entirely believe everything that comes out of her mouth about wanting an ordinary life. She doesn't want an ordinary life but an unrestricted life. A girl like her who cannot back down from a fight cannot have an ordinary life.
I also kind of disagree with those who say that Zisheng should never have proposed to Niaoniao just because he is a man with a revenge agenda. I think we give the two of them far too little credit and underestimate Niaoniao entirely. I am fairly certain Zisheng would never have proposed marriage to Niaoniao if he didn't believe that she was someone who was made of sterner stuff -- someone who could share his burdens eventually. In fact he would never have fallen for her if she was some generic decorative palace barbie doll like Yuchang. I give him a lot of credit for that thing between his ears because if he thought she had no feelings for him at all, he would have backed off completely. The incident at the hunting lodge in Episode 12 undoubtedly solidified in his mind that Cheng Shaoshang is special and gutsy, a cut above the rest. With all her skills she held fort as long as she could and faced the enemy head on. She helped with the most horrific battle inflicted injuries and was determined to witness the execution of the rebels firsthand. As himself said, she is extraordinary which is why he was attracted to her in the first place. For the longest time he showed no interest in anyone and rejected marriage arrangements so he has given this entire issue plenty of thought. If there's something that Niaoniao has plenty of, it's pluck.
At the end of the day, Zisheng is also a man who craves real love and the warmth of family which he hasn't consistently enjoyed in his short life. It's so clear to me from the last few episodes that he's a man who has a lot of love to give. Even as one of his biggest fans, I am surprised at how completely devoted he is to her.
I guess he has to live up to his reputation of being the guy who has to be on top of everything.
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/love-like-the-galaxy-2022-episodes-07a
Thanks for reading.