JoJe

He fell first and he fell harder
She is aloof until he melt her with his sincerity

Should I say gray leading to ally 🤔
Based on novel he has his own love interest, a dancer (of course not gonna be approved since he is a Prince). By circumstance be our couple rival. They caught but our couple give some mercy leading to their fake death and leave to live in hiding but free. Almost near the end be our couple helper. After all, it's debt of gratitude to let them free

Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai

https://mydramanovel.com/dong-feng-xin/
or
https://www.readthedrama.com/novels/blossoms-of-power

Almost halfway of novel. Just after SXH receive imperial degree for their marriage

Here how she found out is because of agarwood scents, an expensive materials even for noble

More detail :
SXH meet many different persons with the agarwood scents, all hold important position. She knew all was same person in disguise because of the same agarwood scents. She once suspects this person was XHY but fail to confirm it. The real XHY always had medicine scent in his body.

That night, as they had join in hand, SXH casually reveal her sensitive smells. Just learn this fact, XHY got panic, cough a mouthfuls blood and faint. Back home, SXH look at XHY's hairpin sword gift. Knowing that now her master in good relationship with XHY, SXH's maid ask her if she want to look at XHY's others gift. XHY give SXH many gifts while pursuing her, many she only keep it without see.

One of the gift she just open now, her coming age ceremony gift, was wooden bracelet, carved from agarwood. The same scent

Because of medicine smells in his body, XHY always bath in agarwood for disguise. A light smells no one could know. But, SXH could know. That's why he panic when he learn it and no time for him to take back his agarwood gift

I put this under spoiler because in case you want to be prepare, but if you don't just don't read

Novel like this and I believe drama will follow. He is really poisoned and sick. But this not prevent him to learn martial arts and be one of the best. Everyone knew he poisoned and gonna be short live so he continue to act that way.

By the end, he really almost die because of that poison. He left for treatment and back 8 years later. HE

How far do you mean by reverse harem? If it is single FL surrounded by multiple male love interest then YES, this drama gonna be like that. But further, if reverse harem also mean that FL will date/ marry some of them or even for example marry someone for power while date another who she love... This drama NOT gonna be like that. Once FL choose one of them she will stay true to him. Even when she not love him at beginning - only think for mutual benefit - she take no look to others

Thank you! This is getting very interesting. Could feel the hype now

This trailer with actors explaining character really gives preview for overall drama.
With my very very minimal understanding of Mandarin, it should be about this

Director : Fragrance is a state of mind, match with SXH behavior who always think a step ahead
MZY on SXH : At beginning, SXH look for an obedient person who won't get in her way
HY on XHY : XHY is a person who looks very sickly but in reality is a wolf in sheep clothing
XHY : My body indeed not the best candidate but if Princess believe, I am the one who will never hurt you
HY on XHY : SXH standout make XHY feel interested
XHY : Let you and I join forces to find the real murderer
SXH : Okay, I agree
MZY on SXH : Later SXH found that XHY also a calculating person
SXH : You play a weak Crown Prince at court, but gather power behind
MZY on SXH : Both very calculating then what should I do if he plot against me
(XHY save SXH)
SXH : The one who save me is you?
Director : She is processing from cold to hot, slowly influenced by him
SXH : I won't marry anyone else but you
MZY on SXH : Later, she found out that maybe powerful alliance could be a good way
HY on XHY : After he met SXH, he gradually gain a lot vitality and attachment to this world
MZY on SXH : Then, she found out that after every time they work together, she start has feeling on him (break her cold heart)
SXH : Give Your Highness color bracelet, wishing for Your Highness safety
HY on XHY : I think if I've already fall for someone, will slowly entered her heart
Director : SXH gradually process her yearn for love
MZY on SXH : Later, she really accept him and then love him
HY on XHY : SXH is XHY life long's wish
MZY on SXH : SXH always know that this man very love her, she remember every detail
SXH : Thank you, you planning for me. Today I'm very happy
HY on XHY : They are like soulmates
MZY on SXH : A beautiful love is more than icing on cake but facing dire straits together

Now I can be pretty sure that drama will follow the novel. Some changes might happened but the outline will follow

Yeah, when I watch the trailer, I also found their voice suits so I'm thinking maybe they dubbed themselves.. Thank you

I see, thank you!

Anyone know whether Meng Ziyi and He Yu are dubbed or not? At least dubbed by themselves?

Rest assure, even when FL doesn't know love, she is a straightforward person. Once she choose ML, FL stay true and take no look at other male lead. She said even if ML die she wouldn't remarry

In my opinion angsty

Yes, I would say ML only loves FL and finally vice versa. Why finally because about half of novel FL doesn't know what is love and how to love. It just her character, her head only has mutual benefit, no mutual affection

Many other male lead love and or take interest to FL but FL not paying attention at all. The only one just her doctor who she consider as friend

Some minor female love and or take interest to ML but they only could suffer

You beat me to reply. I just see it 😁✌

She is aim for power but not in negative way of thinking. She want the world, she want power is for her family safety. Because once she lost this power struggle against Emperor/imperial family then her family in northwest (who hold military power) will be destroyed.

This is based on novel, I don't know how drama will differ. Beware Spoiler!
Novel writer intention for FL character is an aloof, no emotion, indifferent person. She doesn't know what is love & how to feel or basically as her way of thinking is very rational so she doesn't believe in love. She only think about mutual benefit. Also novel writer intention is ML will spend first third pursuing marriage, the middle third pursuing her heart, final third achieving mutual love. So, this will be slowww burn type of relationship.

As for love triangle kind of things...
- First of course our ML, Crown (7th) Prince Xiao Huayong who with his true sincerity finally could melt FL's stone heart
- Next : 5th Prince Xiao Changqing who was her husband in her previous life as Gu Qingzhe. She never look at him even when they are husband and wife. As much as 5th Prince love her deeply, she choose death when Gu family fall
- Next : 9th Prince Xiao Changying who FL save his life at their first meeting. Love at first sight on 9th Prince side, but FL never think of him as a good candidate for her husband
- Next : Xie Yunhuai who is FL doctor who work hard to safe her weak body to be healthy. He slowly fall for FL but choose not to express his feeling and content enough to be her friend. FL acknowledge him as her kinder spirit friend make Xiao Huayong jealous
- Next : 12th Prince Xiao Changgeng who is more like FL admirer since FL save him when he bullied by other Princess

But, with all 2nd, 3rd, 4th,.. ml who take interest in FL, no one is crazy obsessives type. All know their place and like it or not be our couple ally. The only one who finally FL give her heart and love is ML Xiao Huayong

Yeah, that kind of black magic or something. Though it is the root of everything happened but I too feel a bit like, what the hell after all the power struggle, all effort and scheming, all 800 chapters then it is start because of soul control magic 😂

He leave to faraway place to get treatment. Not an easy one, he even couldn't 100% sure treatment will succeed. But 8 years later, he comeback, alive and healthy. Rest assure, novel is HE

Hang on... For me, the plot twist happened towards the end. The real mastermind. But even before that, something will happened to ml and make his poison worse. At this point, I feel for the first time, our ml & fl suffer badly because of enemy. However, it also show two things. First, fl acknowledge ml and love him truly. Like ml really occupy fl hearts. Second, their counterattack. Though it is not as smooth and as easy because like I said plot twist happened near the end, but at the final end she is the winner. She got power, love and family joy

I could feel you. At first I also hope to see the mighty Qilin, grandeur war, prosperous Li City. I even imagine about how everyone, especially high general all over different countries see Ye Li, the only woman could stand on war, could win against them and could command her husband army.

But yeah I make peace with it already by thinking drama is kind of original script that nothing to do (in terms of plot) with novel. Collect good things from drama, for example more main lead focus. Cute & warm interaction between YL&MXY, YL and her sis in law & nephew, etc.