WindBlows

You're very welcome! Yes, it's a bit odd but maybe they did not have time for a new composition.

I think it's this one https://open.spotify.com/track/0NmBFAhl06tPo4oZzgNPFM?si=se1IHGMgTc6hBhRyAeHmHg&nd=1

I love Galaxy of Star Sighs by Huang Ling, SS theme. It's on constant repeat for me. Recently I was also very impressed by the ost for YS.

A bit odd yes, but it seemed to me in ep. 15 that YS became aware that his true love rival is LBY not LY. LBY was very attentive to SS, unusual behaviour for him toward a lady, offering his carriage since she just recovered from a cold. This suggested to the people present that the two were close enough for LBY to know such recent information about SS.

Never mind the true state of SS and LBY's relationship. He wanted to get a message across, LY was oblivious but YS got it. YS then questioned LY how SS and LBY knew each other, drew some sarcastic conclusions and the dinner intensified his worries about competing with LBY who was very decisive.

True, but you could tell from the posture alone that it was not LY

Thank you for taking the time to read it 😊

Don't worry, I just read your previous post and it was all in good fun 😂 If we stretch it a bit, in an alternate version of the drama, I would have loved to see HBY act like that! Anything to snap him out of the noble idiocy phase.🤣

I love the Empress for many reasons, but I think she was born with a melancholic disposition, made worse by disappointing life experiences. Especially after the dethronement, she had her own issues to deal with and needed CSS to constantly lift her spirits. So our FL's healing and preparing for a reconciliation with HBY was low on the priority list.

To my mind, your question has two possible interpretations, so I want to offer two responses. If I were to imagine myself as CSS or be in a similar situation, I don't think HBY could do or say anything to change my mind and lead to forgiveness in the immediate future. I have low tolerance for noble idiocy to begin with and HBY adopting such an attitude would probably make me believe that he had been overwhelmed by his revenge and desperation, and there was simply no room for me in his life at present.

I would also be very weary of developing a saviour complex. Of course we can and should support loved ones who are struggling, be there to show they are not alone, but they need to do the heavy lifting and ultimately decide and then act towards getting themselves out of painful situations. We cannot do it for them. With HBY, my mental and emotional health would be the priority.

On the other hand, same question answered through CSS perspective - the way I have seen her in part 1 of the drama and some fragments of part 2. CSS was very hurt, but let's not forget that HBY was also in great emotional turmoil after the revenge had been completed. He had already made poor word choices and showed a resigned attitude. What could he tell her? That he suddenly changed his mind? Rather unconvincing...

I think both HBY and CSS needed time apart to process what happened. He needed to find new meaning in life, goals, aspirations, because he intended to die once his life mission was finalized. Fate had other plans though. Not only did HBY survive, he also had to face the consequences for the massacre, tiger tally and hurting CSS. He needed time to heal and reevaluate his priorities.

CSS also needed time to grieve and heal, hopefully at home surrounded by her family. 3rd Aunt's presence would have certainly helped her a lot. The palace was not the best place for such a process. However, 5 years apart feels like too much time to stay in limbo or this unclear state. Two years would have been enough.

It would have certainly been fun to watch! But I don't see drama LBY doing something like this to CSS. It's more in line with how he was portrayed in the novel.

I truly appreciate this detailed explanation of your thoughts on CSS in the novel versus dramaland. I loved both CSS versions for different reasons, but there was always something bothering me about her character in the drama and I couldn't pinpoint the problem. When you talked about her inconsistencies since the beginning of part 2, I had an aha moment. Problem identified! Thank you!

I think the drama creators drove themselves into a corner with how they envisioned CSS post-revenge arc. She was simultaneously miserable yet stubborn, understanding of HBY yet unwilling to trust/forgive him. I assume they also did not want CSS engagement with YS to actually happen, as if it were to somehow question her feelings for HBY. It only created more issues that were not resolved satisfactorily.

Honestly, I would like a director's cut, but I would love even more a proper English translation of the novel. Fingers crossed both happen so that everyone is happy!

I find it funny that the deleted parts 2 and 3 are taken almost word for word from the novel. Why then rewrite SS into a despondent shell and HBY into a noble idiot after those 5 years apart? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

And I heard ZLS's argument in the livestream about how they decided HBY doesn't regret his revenge in the drama, hence no ''don't be cruel'' scene. But novel HBY did not regret the revenge either... so where is the logic in such a decision?

Lol - I am totally hung up on them not including that powerful scene in the drama.

Many thanks for this!

I know what you mean. For some reason, they cut a lot of scenes mostly in the final episodes. As if there was no clear plan about it, just a last minute decision. Moreover, reducing the palace bullying would have freed up episode time and avoided a repetitive plot.

It has been a lovely journey to follow your musings. May we all find great dramas to watch!

It's obvious Li Yun Rui put a lot of thought into his YS character. I also found interesting his feeling that Zhao Lusi is CSS, even behind the scenes. I wonder if she was that immersed into her character or they are simply very similar in their personalities.

All true, but SS has always been emotional and self-sacrificing when it comes to the Empress.

I had not thought about this angle, tying their atonement back to the Empress. It makes a lot of sense since SS was very disappointed by Buyi's duplicitous attitude towards CP and Empress before the massacre. Then she cried expressing remorse to the Empress for defending his actions in the imperial court... Thank you for the insight!

To answer your point about SS being mocked after HBY's exile, I think it first had to do with her audacity to be engaged to someone high above her rank.

A lot of nobles resented SS for entering a marriage contract with LBY, considering the Cheng family has 'peasant origins' and only recently remarked itself due to military achievements. It was a great opportunity for the nobles to ridicule SS and say that HBY only used her as a cover for his revenge.

I think SpicyLime first pointed it out to me that many characters changed drastically after the 5-year break. And it's true.

SS became a shell of her old self, HBY lost his determination and only looked resigned, Yuanyi turned mother of the year showering SS openly with affection, even the Grandmother had a dramatic change of heart...

I cannot understand why the drama creators felt the need to deviate so much from the novel. Why complicate things, when the drama already drew so much inspiration and content from the book in part 1 and half of part 2? It's just something I need to make peace with and let go...

I couldn't reply properly earlier on, but I loved all your posts! Direct, yet also funny, they made me smile often and echo my thoughts exactly.

I could have overlooked all the plot holes and inconsistencies, had they shown the re-biting scene from the novel, toned down but with most of the dialogue between SS and HBY. You'll definitely enjoy it, if you have not read it yet!

When I rewatch the drama, I'll probably stop at HBY's exile and switch to the book, to be convinced by their reconciliation and happy about the ending. Hopefully, a proper English translation of the novel will be available soon.

You've described very well the relationship background between Yuanyi and Qingcong, as I remember it from the novel. I think the former husband lost his financial wealth, which rendered the whole family destitute. I assume he disappeared to escape responsibility.