MareAzurre

Of course, but not a simple reflection. I would be delighted if they were a happy gay couple, However, in China -I have looked seriously into this- there is not a chance for an actor to come out as gay, otherwise he would be blacklisted and never ever get a job. This is the reality of gay men in the industry. So, even if they are together, we will never know. On the other hand, there is no toxic masculinity in China, signs of affection among younger men are not uncommon. It does not suggest a gay relationship. Another consideration is that homosexuality is not persecuted in China, it is accepted, tolerated. There are popular gay cities like the one where they did the fan meeting. The other one is Chengdun. An actor suggesting a gay character is not ban in China, these type of characters have been part of the Chinese mainstream dramas since always, like comedy characters. In the stage, men even kiss -famous Jackie Chan,. The stage does not have the restriction of mainstream broadcast. Another consideration is that BL CPs are a very niche group in China, and their followers are of no impact in comparison to mainstream dramas. So they can get away with a lot. As soon as they become "bigger," they cannot interact anymore. BL CP followers are loyal and prepared to spend money, so it becomes an important source of income for actors and their agencies. We see it in Thailand all the time. In Thailand so open about LGBTQ+ issues, how many BL actors are actually gay/bi? A minority! and if they are, they may not be with the CP, Famous Mew and Tul. What is my "visceral" reaction to XuJin: they are very special men with a very special relationship, what kind?, I wouldn't claim either way. This is their first major drama, their first onscreen kissing. They have taken their roles to heart. They use non-ordinary expressions even for an actor. ZheXu saying "we were lighting fireworks and suddenly I realised I want to have a romantic relationship with Jin Jin" is it a strange phrase to say. MiJin saying that his character "never leave him" in the magazine interview. We know, from before the series was released, that they were contacting each other daily and probably have been in more "dates" than those appearing in vblogs. In one vblog ZheXu said "Jin Jin always sings this song in karaokes" which karaokes? We don't have vblogs about them. They touch each other in ways we have not seen other BL CPs do. The feeding of each other as well is "too familiar". That closeness cannot be fake, but can we really claim they are gay men having a romantic/physical relationship? No we can. So let's enjoy what they have to offer and take it as face value.

Thank you for sharing this. Are they shipping abroad? I understood we need a proxy buyer and only they do bulk orders. If you have ordered, could you please let us know how is done?

Blood Dove is a painful poison - non lethal that the cruel Crown Prince uses to control HY, we have seen this narrative in countless Chinese Dramas. Rhino Horns have been precious since ancestral times -now completely ban the commercialisation, so the only antidote that could neutralised the Blood Dove had to have Rhino Horns.

New vblog! - Getting ready for their recent date in Chongqing
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQY6g87EYzW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Arena magazine interview (printed copy) another great insight into their characters!
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/oPZIy9rUnAfhKxR05nyf2Q

Song sharing - the songs that they shared with us that they listen together must have given all sort of ideas to Lagogos, if you are curious, Google them: 指纹 (Fingerprint) and 想你时风起 ( When the Wind Rises, I Miss You)
If this is paired with the magazine interview, there is a melancholic air like when Jin Jin said, "I don't know how long our love can last, the two of us will try our best to maintain this relationship" (from Google translated) . Translated like this it sounded like romantic love, but I have asked questions to the AI and there is a second interpretation that I think it is what Jin Jin was trying to say. He did not refer to the love between Xu and Jin but to the love between them and their fans, so a more realistic interpretation is:
“I don’t know how long this love and support can last, but we’ll both do our best to maintain it, and hope to stay with everyone for a long time.”
I was with this doubt because I don't know Chinese, but in English "love" is used for all kind of love thought if I refer to a friend I would not use a phrase like this I would say I hope we keep our friendship forever. In Spanish you wouldn't use the frase "nuestro amor" to refer to the affection of friends. So something needed to be clarify here - and also because the Chinese fans would had made a fuss about it and they did not. Languages are so interesting and rich anyway, and cultural meaning and context are necessary to understand properly.

Yes! - that scenes gets better and better with re watching. The chemistry is instant like from the first fraction of the second they are in the same frame.

I have added them to one of my previous post about social media accounts in Discussions.

I will do. Thank you for the suggestion.

I have made a post about this now. Please have a look.

A more comprehensive cast list - so difficult to find information:
Main / principal cast
Zhang Zhe Xu (张哲旭 / Zhang Zhe Xu) — Duan Ziang.
Mi Jin (弭金 / Mi Jin) — Xiao Shuhe.
Wang Ding (王鼎 / Wang Ding) — Huo Ying.
Cheng Fang (程方 / Cheng Fang) — Xiao Shuqian.
Yang Shu Wei (杨书伟 / Yang Shuwei) — Duan Huaiyi.
Li Yi Xiang (李一想 / Li Yixiang) — Shen Song.
Supporting / additional credited roles (from cast lists, trailers and listings)
Da Tao (大涛?) / Luo Gu Yuan — credited in some full-credits listings.
Shu Wei Yang — appears credited as Duan Huai Yi (supporting episodes).
Young / flashback actors credited in listings: Yichen Chen (young Duan Ziang), Keyu Wang (young Xiao Shuhe).
Wei Long Xu — credited as Emperor of Ji Bei (appears in episode credits).
with the Chinese characters you can find them easily in Weibo, Douyin and RedNote and then use the translator.

Don't pay any attention to the MDL cast list, it is incomplete. This site is not good. I will try to get you a link with more names.

Yes, I think so, but only his mother was killed. The brother we don't know anything about them.

The attire in itself did not give him the right, it was more representing his father acknowledgement of this son as the robe was so special/expensive.

Great reasoning Yerisina!

Thank you for the historical reference!

100% acrylic!! 😂

"Such is my parting sorrow---
A taste that tastes so odd, so strange that my heart, never ever before did know."
These beautiful verses are from a poem by Li Yu the historical king that inspired the character of ShuHe. Thank you to @Yerisina for finding them.
As we discussed before, this series is inspired by historical events, see Discussions above.
Li Yu words and the fact that Taizu of Song, the emperor of the North when defeated the South Kingdom took Li Yu with him and treat him with warm hospitality until Taizu death, have provoked the imaginary of authors that suggested they had a romantic entanglement. The truth is that there are no historical evidence to suggest that was the case. It is the beauty of Li Yu words, written in captivity, as the ones quoted above, that has triggered that fantasy in people. What do you think? Does these words also provoke in you the same thoughts?

I don't know the official narrative, maybe @Yerisna knows, but that attire represent his Royal lineage and because his father the Emperor gave it to him he was fully acknowledging his full right to participate in court affairs. Let's remember he is the 6th in line to succeed the throne. So he was not really relevant. For lack of money we did not see the other brothers in the series, and in the novel not all of them "have a voice". ShuHe in the series said that their brothers died (we do not know how many of them) defending the Southern Kingdom.

ShuHe wishes to help ZiAng gave him the last push of motivation to join the court. ShuHe was always torn about this issue because on one hand he wanted to vindicate his mother, who died at the hands of the court instigators and, on the other one, he wanted to live a free life. When ZiAng appeared he decided to make a deal with the despicable Prime Minster to get him to find ZiAng brother and also protect ZiAng (that Primer Minister was sure he was from Jibei and an assassin). It was all intertwined. ShuHe is a complex character and it was not just one reason in his decisions. This is why he come across as very contradictory person. About why ShuHe ignore ZiAng red flag signs? he wanted to trust him to make him his lover, just like women do all the time when they fall blindly in love with narcissists. It is very much real, I think.

New vblog - we have ZheXu (plus Jin Jin) disco party here. Also ZheXu give JinJin his Gucci earing (and a rose in the party?)
https://weibo.com/u/6168484981?layerid=5226781947725854
https://x.com/yunton37496913/status/1983114952719430114

Video/bts with Arena magazine:
https://weibo.com/6523231129/QbfMXzPfI

It does, but I guess is because they did not have money to hire assistants responsible for checking the nails, hair, noses of the actors like in other Chinese dramas. The acrylic cover their nails and is one problem sorted.