JoJe

She knew they rush him to west for treatment
She knew at least he alive arrived at west
She knew treatment has low chance success, indefinite time

But as time pass, she didn't know whether XHY still alive

1. In drama, it might be Xie Yunhuai tried some methods to save him using his own body. In novel, though he is tried in his own body but he is still alright. He sent XHY to west for treatment and soon back to capital, claim his title (as legitimate Xie descendant) in order for SXH has more back up in court.

All this time XHY is in Ale's place in the west to get treatment. West is remote, he is very sick. Treatment is harsh, painful and long time. He couldn't send news. He back by his own after treatment success

2. Xihe know he leave to the west for treatment. She knew the chance of treatment succeed is very small. So, she never knew whether he still alive

3. Just label less. As he said to his son The Emperor cannot have any blemishes. Even the misconceptions in unofficial histories cannot start with the fact that he still alive

4. Old Emperor died. Queen Dowager no. SXH not let her easily die. She use dream incense so Queen Dowager lock in crazy state

5. Yes. Extra story is about the 3 of them. XHY back spend time with SXH, 3 days not looking for son. Son angry, XHY came to his bed chamber. Heart-to-heart talk. Son know his father didn't want claim his rightful status. Son said just flee with mother, live freely, he has strong back up in court. But XHY said he neither doubt son ability nor worry his throne would be unstable. Rather, no one else can give son the protection of a father and mother. Then, son rush to his father embrace and cry

After that three of them travel to grassland alone (Imperial procession travel slowly, no one know they slip away). Ending statement :

“Life’s three fulfillments – holding power, finding love, and family joy – even one was a luxury, yet SXH had achieved them all. On the vast grasslands, father and son chased each other joyfully. In this magnificent land, their golden age would continue, writing new chapters belonging to their family of three.”

Just think this way based on novel

Xie Yunhuai and Di Fang secretly rush him to the west (to Ale's place)
He get treatment there using some kind of worms suck his blood, etc (in short : harsh, painful and long-time)

West is remote, he is very sick. He couldn't send news
While XYH & DF back to capital soon to help SXH

After 8 years, treatment success, he is back

I haven't finish the drama, works delay me. But here what happened in novel. It might be completely different case

At first, XHY didn't tell SXH that there might be a method could save his life because the chance is very small, the method is very harsh and the time is uncertain. XHY pov is by what right he make his wife wait for uncertain him. If one day he could no longer stay by her side, he would rather she gradually forget him, let him go and break free.

As the day XHY prepare to stage his death approaching. SXH pov is she had always thought she could remain calm in life-or-death games, she knew from beginning XHY life gonna be short. But now, she simply couldn’t control her emotions with that SXH feel sharp pain in her abdomen. Luckily with acupuncture everything is alright.

Pain by seeing SXH, XHY finally told SXH that he will leave for treatment with the slimmer hope and uncertainty. He keep it because he worried about giving her false hope, making SXH wait in vain and wasting her life. SXH said she and their child will wait for him

The day of staged death is SXH sister (Shen Yingruo) wedding day. After ceremony finish, assassins attack. Assassins target is Emperor, the mastermind behind was Emperor himself. And the premise was to frame Shen father and son. When the situation in peak danger, XHY block sword to save Emperor. In Emperor's arm he said he wish to name his son Xiao Junsu (the name “Junsu” has special meaning, had XHY suggested it under normal circumstances, the Censorate would accused him of harboring treasonous thoughts. But at this moment, no one could find fault – he was merely trying to protect a widow and orphan)

With that, XHY succeed thwart Emperor's plan to frame Shen family, succeed staged his death and succeed pave the way for SXH & his unborn child. His last word : “Youyou… I only hope… marrying me… brings no regrets.” Which SXH reply “Marrying you this life, no regrets for eternity!”

The one who moved him in secret from palace is Di Fang & Xie Yunhuai. They rush him to west, to Ale's place for treatment.

There is people who doubt XHY death and want to open the coffin. But with SXH, Tian Yuan and also help from Prince Xin, no one could come near the coffin until funeral day. (Prince Xin in novel really not an obsessive third wheel but a cool headed supporter)

Then, battle in palace with Emperor and plot twist that Empress Dowager was the mastermind behind all (I won't tell detail in this part). In short, Emperor personally passed the throne to Crown Prince Xiao Junsu before His death and SXH be Empress Dowager

Did the FL always know that he is alive? She knew he alive when he leave palace at staged death day and knew he alive arrived in west but she never knew whether he still alive by the day pass

What happened in west? West is a very remote place. Not long after they arrive, XHY let Xie Yunhuai & Di Fang back capital to help SXH. So, XHY completely alone in west with only SXH cat friend him. With the harsh treatment method (he basically very sick) and by how remote the place is, XHY couldn't send letter

Only after 8 years, he finally back. Standing there in Eastern Palace to reunite with his beloved family

So soon, I thought drama will push it bit later. I don't know how I will feel when ml disappears in 2-3 last episodes
Though i read novel and he is mia that long and though i know it will HE, but

Just saw new stills
https://x.com/KOLLYLOVEGULF/status/2080502820906934465/photo/2
Why need big bed when they could fit perfectly in half side after that thread bel

True. And he even didn't care about his short life before meeting FL, let alone think about a child. 3 years, 1 years or tomorrow didn't mean much to him. Only after meet FL he fear death.

The child as an heir only matter to solidify FL position on court, especially if he die. So, if there is someone who need it, it's FL. But I'm VERY glad that our couple not think that way, want an heir only to strengthen their position. They want a child come naturally from their mutual love, although they know ML running out of time

Maybe author or scriptwriter waiting for consent from mutual love?
Actually this could be another debate, which one you choose between novel and drama

In novel. They done the deed after their marriage, next day or not long after he take her to meet her family on their first night. But in her mind, she do it not out of love, more to as a wife duty. Though at least at this point she view ML as someone she care and someone important, so it is not a force since she agree. It is only love is not there yet from her side.

While in drama, scriptwriter choose to push it much later, make many viewers frustrated. In my opinion is for waiting consent from mutual love. As much as he want it and as much as they need it (an heir) because he running out of time, but he won't cross the line. He respect her slow in love nature. So, while he still pushing here and there but he will wait that consent from mutual love before do the deed.

I wish part below not spoiler because we see it already in teaser & intro
However the goal (an heir), in novel that would happened much later with some efforts. I think ML and FL not as fast & effective as second couple 😂. While in drama since we already near the end an heir should come not long after they do it

Agree. This is what I've been waiting for. Because of FL walls very solid and very high so a tiny change on FL could feels sweet. Even when FL only let him cross a tiny boundary like you said or she already not bothered by ML shameless move and let him have his way, this already have some satisfying impact. Our & ML frustration will paid off very very well

I found it quite funny
And he call his daughter here Youyou, while there Yaoyao
One word slip then...

Novel not that spicy but more to meaningful words
But that only my opinion

When I said, Chill, be a bit more patient. That actually what I said to myself too 😂😂

Yup, you're right
Storyline wise they follow the novel so mutual love come late. And you're very right after happy episode there will be she love him but he running out time, then he mia for recovery

Story detail wise, drama indeed make it feel push and pull, repeated. One think that I don't know why scriptwriter choose so, make me a bit frustrated too. Because in novel, though mutual love come later but in my opinion there is still some progression in their relationship plus some politics and third couple. I mean simple word like 'growing old with you', 'share fortune and misfortune', 'not showing jealousy doesn't mean I don't care' from FL mouth better than no feeling, no romance repeated

Then again, drama choose give more screentime to Prince Xin with his delulu when they should work more on main couple

Chill, be a bit more patient 😆
In novel mutual love only start coming at final third. So maybe in drama episode 25+

From clip, teaser, Reuters or whatever it is, at least I saw
- kiss initiated by her
- a quite hot kiss scene
- bath + kiss scene
- bed kiss (bite) scene
Maybe more

And I'm still waiting from novel she is the one who said to him 'let's have a child'

Yup, and she actually speak it up clear, not keep in her mind only

😂😂😂
At the time she love him back, it will bit her about he running out of time

Yeah, me too feel that way. They should work more to show her unique character. They can have 40 eps rather than 36. She not cold then full stop. The gradual changes in her perspective of love because of his never ending dovoted shameless love is something good to see, too

Background
As Gu Qingzhi, her coldness come from this. GQZ grew up see her mother love her father deeply but her father only respects her mother and couldn’t give the same single-minded devotion. When GQZ 9 years old, at her mother deathbed, she told her that one can do anything except let their heart fall for a man, only by utterly detached can women live freely and happily. And just like that her mother die from melancholy because of emotional attachment

As old Shen Xihe her coldness come from this. SXH born prematurely very weak. She often sick, she cannot often go out because she would catch cold, simple cold could turn worse. She doesn’t make friend and socialize because a bit argues or betrayal from friend could make her heart hurt and simple emotional turmoil could cost her life. She used to be alone, detach from emotional up and down

So, as new SXH, beside some life experience, she also inherits those two types of history

About her relationship with Xiao Huayong
- Xie Yunhuai know SXH first in novel. So, first time XYH treat XHY illness is because of SXH ask him to. As much as she said she choose him because of his short life, she then also pays attention to his health and wish him well
- When SXH said she don’t know what is love, she passionless only want mutual benefit. She also explains “Wouldn’t mutual respect be good? When we marry, I’ll respect you as my husband, you’ll respect me as your wife. We can be like close family – you won’t betray me; I won’t leave you. We’ll treat each other well and grow old together.” This show she picturing grow old with him, she wish in process that poison finally not cost his life
- One time, SXH deliberately go outside capital to find a kind of flower call winter jasmine although danger lurking. This flower blooms once a year and bloom only such short moment before wither. In short, SXH wake all night in wilderness only to watch the flower bloom at right moment. This flower could nourish lungs which XHY lungs being one area most severely damaged by poison
- At lantern festival when XHY give jade hairpin. She said she will be a good Crown Princess but still no romantic feelings. Novel explain further that SXH heart stirred slightly and inside she said she would never forget XHY’s joy at that moment like a spring breeze causing flowers to bloom across the city
- One time, SXH & XHY went outing, their enemy start to make a move. Despite XHY’s careful preparation, there was 3 tigers almost kill XHY & SXH. Both get some small injury, make XHY feels guilty. To him SXH said “I told you, when I chose you, I would share both fortune and misfortune with you.”
- One day, Emperor start to suspect XHY and want to test him. In short, XHY got kidnapped, tied in the bridge, below is fast flowing river. Then XHY was shot by an arrow. SXH get angry and shot back, kill the archer then said “Don’t hurt him. That arrow just now was payback. If he suffers even the slightest injury from you or your men again, I will desecrate your corpse inch by inch; if he falls from here, I will have your bones ground to dust, denying you peace even in death.”
- Then, there is Tibet Princess come to seek marriage alliance. She eyes XHY. SXH show no interest. In her point of view, she trusts XHY more, why debate. XHY quite disappointed by her indifferent attitude. But then SXH explain “Your Highness, I am a woman who doesn’t understand romance. I don’t know how to be passionate about someone, I only know how to be sincere. Some of the jealousy you want to see – I might never show you in this lifetime. If I care for you, I’ll trust you even if the whole world doubts you. Therefore, not showing jealousy doesn’t mean I don’t care about Your Highness.”

All of that happen before their marriage. At same point with drama. Yes, she is cold and cruel. Her word is sharp. But, it’s not that she is completely heartless. She shows sincerity. She realize that XHY is someone important in her heart and do care for him.

May I defend a bit of FL based on novel. This is my personal opinion only; drama indeed do some injustice in picturing her character. I found in novel that FL is way colder and more ruthless but I still could relate to her way of thinking. Only open spoiler below if you want to know novel

A partner who share same level of intelligence?
At this point drama indeed make it way more unbalance