Eluvia

^ Shu He's thoughts, posted by Mi Jin/XiaoShu He T_T I wrote most of it in the second post if you can't get to the link

When we first met, it was only through lines and words, and none of it had anything to do with me. I thought the role was carefree, bearing loyalty to home and country yet still gentle - a character of great charm. Until fortune allowed me to truly become you. I realized: your lightness was but a mask of protection. You always seemed a little conflicted and fate gave you nothing but impossible choices.

As a child, you heard your brother say "When I grow older and inherit this land, If you are not there to ease me with your music, How could I bear it?" You believed him. You clung to him daily, practiced the zither diligently- yet in the end, why did he think you would turn against him? You never understood without the title of prince, without your father's favor, all you wanted was simple brotherly harmony.

Later you met Duan Ziang. At first you only sought to use him to balance Minister Gu. But as time passed you were drawn to him. Your brother doubted you, courtiers sought to exploit you and everyone speculated on your true nature. Only Zi Ang believed you had "A childs heart, honest in the dark" You told yourself you were only using him, yet why did you worry for his safety? Why did you abandon years of planning and risk yourself? You knew why - Zi Ang knew too...

When you saw with your own eyes the man you loved pierce your closest kin with a sword, the world became unreal. Every cruel choice fell upon you. Could you trust his words? could you trust yourself? You doubted everything except your own heart, which still loved him and yet could not. So you dared not see him again.

Imprisoned, you hid your heart. But seeing him once more, you faltered. You told yourself hatred was survival, yet why did you cry in the marketplace? Why did your chest ache at his wounds? The life of the people of Nanhui is like a knife cut on your heart, but your heart can't stop geting close to Zi Ang.

In dreams you returned to childhood, to music, wine and fleeting peace. But dreams break, and chains on your feet reminded you: you were a fallen king, you could not forget. Yes, you can't forget that you just wanted to spend your life in an ordinary way. Why does fate make you choose again and again? You hate how your love can be so impossible, but why does fate still bring you to him and take him away.

At last you said "I will use what he cherishes most- to atone to my father, my brother, my people and my love." You had seen too many die before your eyes. You drank the poison unable to bear watching Zi Ang fade away, unable to endure living in shame. It was revenge and punishment upon yourself. As Zi Ang's joy turned to fear, what did you think? of your people? Your father and brother? Perhaps of an apology

"Forgive me, Zi Ang - forgive me. I always hurt you with my sharpest words but one line was true, once more. Let us begin once more. If only- if only from the start, I had hidden myself in that pear-blossom courtyard, away from father, away from brother, away from fate itself."

https://x.com/nevropatia/status/1966137289375150115

Shu He's last thoughts after taking the poison were -

"Forgive me, Zi Ang - forgive me. I always hurt you with my sharpest words but one line was true, once more. Let us begin once more. If only- if only from the start, I had hidden myself in that pear-blossom courtyard, away from father, away from brother, away from fate itself." T_T

Where do you follow them? I don't have insta, is that the only place?

the ending is sad at first but then happy, wish it was longer though.

I wanted it to happen too but dumby Hyo Ying still loves the dead CP apparently *large sigh*

I wish they extended the ending in the afterlife and we saw them in a house in the woods living peacefully. But all we got was 10 secs of them smiling at each other. T_T

They don't

The ending does make sense I just wanted to see more happiness without deceit.

I know this is me trying to change the story, so I am saying I wish it was actual poison! Let me be dramatic. I am mad and sad T_T

https://x.com/macherevenus/status/1965073209042362797 - Li Yixiang who plays Shen Song is also the screenwriter.

Mine also hurts for Zi Ang he literally got given 2 options by Shu He - Watch him die or live being hated and ignored by him for the rest of his life. So fkn unfair, either suffering or suffering.

I'll still call it a happy ending if Zi Ang is dying slowly but they get married and there is no ending death scene.

Then I can envision that they found a miracle cure and ran away together leaving Huai Yi as emperor and they lived until old age as happy husbands in their cottage, THE END.

Even Shen Song could tell he was faltering. That's why Shu He said at the end he couldn't tell if he was lying to Zi Ang or lying to himself.

Is Gu Yuan Shuan gonna get any blame? or maybe they didn't have enough episodes to fit in him getting his comeuppance?

Even if Zi Ang hadn't been in the South the CP still would have rebelled, Gu Yuan Shuan had the CP paranoid and against his father and Shu He long before Zi Ang appeared.

Also from the sounds of it in the novel the South was in shambles and Shu He was going to be murdered by his own people if Zi Ang hadn't taken over? Is that true?

I'm stressed but 2 Episodes left and I want to see a happy wedding! They said it was happy! They said a happy ending! If it's not I will live like the people below in delulu land.

my first watch feels like the time just passes by so quick and then my re-watching takes a few hours going over everything again xD

Why does 30 mins seem like 2 mins when I watch this? :(

We had to wait 2 hours for viki to work -_-

OMG guys its out now, wtf was that wait

Anyone else on viki having issues? :(