Xiang83

Please consider putting your comment under a spoiler, since many people have not read the novel or have not yet started watching this drama.

Clicking on the only link provided for my comment brings one to the main page and to the main thread I was replying to, on the comment page. Scrolling down will bring you to the thread started by Bunny_Spicy. My comment is the one highlighted in blue under spoilers.

Bunny_Spicy says: [ Why are all demons so beautiful? Since I’m on episode 12, do you think it kind of feels like a BL? ]

If you really want to delude yourself, stop at the end of episode 13. All subsequent episodes carry a hint of otherwise, no matter how positive.

Why don't you ask Ai Mi? Or her fans? Or read some articles on C-net?

https://kisskh.at/790870-que-gu#comment-22958918

ETA: So as to keep the comment section easy to scroll, this summary about Ai Mi is under a Spoiler Tag. If the sight of her breathing in this drama offends you, feel free not to read.->

There are two articles published in July less than 30 days ago, pertaining to Ai Mi that I didn't touch upon wrt to her background and what viewers in China are aware about, regarding Ai Mi.

Ai Mi has been in this industry in China for more than 10 years, played many roles, and turned 17 on 13 July 2025. Shooting started on 15 July 2025. From being a child actor until her recent previous roles, and has been noted at times to outshine the likes of who she is acting with (one example is Wu Jin Yan in "The Double" where Ai Mi took the role of her maid), viewers in China (at least a majority of those who are aware of this subject) are supportive of Ai Mi.

This director has other works which are not yet listed on this site, such as "The Other Side Of Romance", a 1994 movie touching upon the subject of AIDS and a specific storyline.

What strikes me as particularly odd is the fact that I've stuck up a discussion post pertaining to the plot not focused primarily on romance, a unique script and praiseworthy director (where most of the supporting cast is good and resources are very good), but somehow that is all ignored by those claiming to be safeguarding Ai Mi... To fault Ai Mi's parents, director, etc This role and this script is supposed to be unique and Ai Mi should be excited, given what this Director and the main screenwriter previously pulled off for their achievements.

Is Ai Mi clueless about what she is doing, or is she aware of what she wants for her career pathway? She and Huangyang Tian Tian are competitors.

Huangyang Tian Tian nearly got herself cancelled for foolishly showing off and sharing on social media (such as weibo) an imitation pair of earrings pegged by netizens as exorbitant British luxury jeweller earrings from Graff, which she then attributed as belonging to her mother. It would be impossible for her or her parents to afford. Her parents (especially her ex-civil servant father) came under investigation from the authorities, after netizens alleged her father had committed embezzlement and corruption. How bad was this near-cancellation?

This bad: [ 但黄杨钿甜深陷「天价耳环事件」争议，一下子从众星捧月的待爆05花，成了人人喊打的过街老鼠，只要见她露面，就坚决抵制，路人缘彻底消耗。 ]

Turns out the earrings were 100-yuan knock-offs which the mother received as a gift from a friend, instead of costing 2.3 million yuan. China's National Gemstone Testing Center confirmed the earrings were made of glass, copper alloy and iron alloy. Because Huangyang Tian Tian became a sudden primary liability to the drama, a replacement had to be urgently found.

For her recent birthday, Ai Mi posted 469 pictures and 9 videos for her fans. The young lady has been savvy about how to promote herself and her career changes, and knows what she wants. "Key To The Phoenix Heart" is not her first drama as a female lead, but her first as a female lead in a historical drama. There is another drama she wrapped up earlier, as the female lead heroine.

The first drama Ai Mi took as female lead is adopted from a novel is listed on this website as "城墙之上" (Above The Wall"), whereby Ai Mi is Lin Shuang Sheng. The synopsis for this mystery-suspense-crime series is as follows:

[ In the late 1990s, the Pinghai National Cotton Factory went bankrupt, and delayed resettlement fees sparked corruption rumors about director Xiao Geng Shi. When worker Jiao Tong Sheng, who had been gathering evidence, drowned under suspicious circumstances, police officer Luo Shi Xiang began investigating. Jiao’s daughter, Lin Shuang Sheng, also sought the truth behind her father's death.

As Luo closed in, Xiao Geng Shi retaliated against Lin and tried to manipulate Luo. Pretending to cooperate, Luo gathered evidence from within. Though Lin briefly withdrew, she ultimately helped expose Xiao. With their combined efforts, Xiao was brought to justice, and the workers finally received their rightful compensation. ]

Trailer for this drama is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg3I6_4ABNo

~*~*~*~*~

Quoting from the first of two articles:

[ 虽说这是艾米首部女主剧，但艾米出道10几年了，演了一大堆角色刷脸，从女主童年演到女主丫鬟，十三四岁时就一直被观众夸赞颜值，期待她长大。

...

尤其她演了不少丫鬟角色，《长风渡》演宋轶丫鬟，《墨雨云间》演吴谨言丫鬟，《为有暗香来》演周也丫鬟，所以被称“丫鬟专业户”，存在感很强，每次都要艳压女主。

...

尽管未成年，但她早就演感情戏了，像《且试天下》和王弘毅有感情戏，《云之羽》和《大梦归离》和左叶二搭情侣，对手演员基本是00年前后的小生。

...

艾米这些年刷足存在感，平常也经常在微博发美照营业，前几天生日竟然发了469张图9条视频，从青春校园风到文艺复古风，风格百变，完全是一场大型的换装小游戏！网友直呼看不完，粉丝都觉得过年了，每一套都美到心巴上，喷泉式物料释出方式真的是独一份，真的太用心了！对粉丝满满当当的爱。7月13日发照片，7月15日就新剧开机，艾米真是很好的做了宣传了。作为第1部女主剧，自然十分重视，搭档比自己大11岁的侯明昊，侯明昊和艾米在《大梦归离》也有过合作。]

https://www.163.com/dy/article/K4JMRPCP0552RGJF.html

And from this other article:

[ 网友热议不断消息一经发布，立即吸引了大批粉丝的关注。许多网友纷纷留言表示支持，并对这部作品寄予厚望。有人认为：“终于等到艾米当女主了！”还有评论指出，“侯明昊和艾米的组合看起来非常有新鲜感，希望剧集能够带来惊喜。”当然也有部分声音表达了对新作质量的担忧，毕竟新人演员挑大梁总是面临着不小的挑战。

随着国产剧市场的竞争日益激烈，年轻演员如何通过优质作品证明自己成为了关键。艾米这次勇敢地迎接挑战，尝试不同类型的角色，不仅是个人成长道路上的一大步，也可能为她的职业生涯打开新局面。]

https://www.sohu.com/a/914248925_121976701

No one can beat Yang Yang or Ju Jingyi for one expression. That said, the main lead had me skipping his scenes in this drama (as it is with all his previous dramas) but not in Fangs of Fortune. He actually did much better in that drama, which gives me hope of possibly enjoying his acting in a script that I had been eyeing for quite a while. Without a good or great director and screenwriter(s), a decent or great cast cannot make up for a mediocre or crap story.

Sent you a DM.

Duo Ge definitely has some better pictures, including from his weibo announcement on 1 June about having his own studio. I'm terrible at photoshop edits. Maybe you can use that picture and do so instead (I can send to you if you want, provided this site allows it)?

The current photo change is not mine.

While you're busy, don't forget to have fun!

Here is Kenshi Yonezu with the upbeat nostalgic "Sayonara, Mata Itsuka !" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wb2PAx6aEs

Or the most honest meditation ever (good luck doing this with a straight face): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92i5m3tV5XY

This is a drama which easily polarises viewers, especially if one cottons on to certain problems within the first four episodes. Aesthetics and music hit the mark. Fight scenes could benefit from more urgency at times. GJM's biggest problems boil down to not properly fleshing out the fundamental themes of karma and debt that he was paying homage to via two Tsui Hark movies, plus his refusal to put a stopper on self-indulgences for one sub-plot which nearly derails this entire drama (wrt Zhao Yuanzhou, which made it difficult to watch Zhao Yuanzhou without feeling disgusted alongside pity, for at least twenty episodes). I gave my views below in-detail, while wondering how people missed the problems with GJM's portrayal of Zhao Yuanzhou:

https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-22919316

To keep the comment section easy to scroll, this is under a Spoiler Tag:

I managed to enjoy myself growing up and watching so many different types of movies and dramas in multiple languages as a kid and teenager, and all of them did not depend on any PDA to be memorable. "Mind Your Language"(UK) and "Perfect Strangers"(USA) were introduced to me in the 90s.

2003 movie "Azumi" starring Ueto Aya was very enjoyable. Strong secondary cast with their own unforgettable stories, for a simple plot coupled with action since the focus was a bunch of young assassins set in 19th century Japan.

2003 movie "Zatoichi" by Beat Takeshi is awesome. A great introduction to samurai movies by combining comedy and tradition, if one isn't ready for the intensity of Kurosawa Akira's movies.

2001 movie "Yamakasi : Les Samouraïs des temps modernes" is a modern day Robin Hood movie about seven men with memorable individual characteristics trying to save the life of a young boy using their parkour skills.

2008 movie "Tropic Thunder" is a timeless gem of parody and comedy which will never grace the likes of Hollywood again.

2009 drama series "Love Shuffle" - Brilliant cast, wit and plot. Primarily about psychology, humour, individuals and suspense in uncovering a certain mystery about one of their "partners" while overcoming personal challenges, due to eight people agreeing to swap "partners" (not in the sense you are thinking). The romance is driven by the plot and characters' development. You want a modern Japanese rom-com laced with humour and wit and heart, this is what I'd recommend. The elevator scene is unforgettable. Note that some bits of humour may escape one due to the timeframe, such as the reference to “Uso da to itte yo, Joe!” and "Yay panda!"

For something more recent, I would recommend the 2023 Belgium movie "Here" by Bas Devos, about a Romanian construction worker having an unexpected encounter with a Chinese-Belgian bryologist after he set out to say goodbye to his friends with a pot of home-cooked borscht soup. Together, through looking at moss and forgotten nooks of the city they live in, two strangers form an unlikely friendship possibly leading to something else. But as to whether it does, the film ends on the note that it does: Intriguing and memorably sweet. You'll never look at a city and moss in the same way again.

There's a lot of good or excellent movies and dramas out there. But I acknowledge I am not into romance. Also because if there is romance, I expect it to be good or brilliant, meaning it actually requires a standard of effort from screenwriters and directors to either contribute to the plot or the characters, and help connect the audience to both. Otherwise I will gladly skip.

Feel free to add your own gems. If people want to only keep going on about the age gap (which isn't that big) and/or Ai Mi as a minor but avoid addressing those of us who can point out ignorance and self-entitlement rife in those assumptions, it is safe to assume they are just here to bash and not genuinely interested in anything else.

For a guy who looks amazing in historical costume dramas, the man does not hold still for the equivalent of modern shots. I uploaded something from his official douyin account posted last month, so let's see if that is approved. Although now I think about it, there is a photo on weibo that looks rather good.

Considering how much carrying HMH is doing for this drama, at least it gives him incentive to stay in shape XD

And your new avatar is nice!

Maybe if you find different links from different sites, you could maybe list them as 1a (weibo), 1b (douyin) and 1c (tiktok) so people know it is the same clip only different option?

In the comment just below this comment of yours, I have found certain clips for Khaana on douyin, since weibo is not accessible.

Khaana since you cannot open weibo, I will use douyin for the better clips of the compilation.

P2 is this - https://so.douyin.com/video/detail?aweme_id=7530810481196780860

P4 is this - https://so.douyin.com/video/detail?aweme_id=7530927625742322986

P5 is roughly 25 seconds long, then joined to P3 in this same upload- https://so.douyin.com/video/detail?aweme_id=7530894551478160667

P9 is this - https://so.douyin.com/video/detail?aweme_id=7530700511529192744

I edited my long comment to post part of a translation of a song as per how it would be perceived from a single POV, along with footage from episode 32 from a fan's POV. This was noticed by a fair number of mandarin speakers (not just me) when we listened to the song, before episode 32 was released.

Zhao Yuanzhou was never in love with Zhuo Yichen for the entire FoF. IQiyi's atrocious subtitles can be blamed for many people thinking Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen are a pair. Canon-wise, Zhao Yuanzhou was in love with Wen Xiao and vice versa. Where GJM screwed up was to create enough footage to imply that Zhao Yuanzhou and Li Lun also had a relationship encompassing friends and family and more than that. I simply addressed all of it.

Khaana, please put full-stops between your sentences. By the way, can you open douyin? Or you cannot open weibo and douyin?

Such as:

Okay! I know. I'm new! When I'm excited I do so many errors in writing. Please guide me in writing comments. Sorry, next time I'll be careful. Don't be sad.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather's situation. I am glad he has you. This drama is worth watching for all the noteworthy points as per your observations, but until which episode will depend on the viewer (as per what I listed in my comment to complete the review involving spoilers).

The acting was a bit uneven from the actors for Zhuo Yi Chen and Bai Jiu as you pointed out. Tian Jiarui did a good job overall considering his character was expected to go from one emotional extreme to the other while remaining stoic.

As to the cutting and pasting that you observed very astutely, this boils down to the number of original writers for the original script, number of screenwriters, number of directors, and final edits.

For the original script, four writers including GJM was involved. For the directors, three directors including GJM were involved. Six people were involved in the screenwriting, but I don't know the influence distribution for the various components including screenwriting.

With all this in mind, that's a key reason for why I praised the interpretation of characters by cast members such as Neo Hou, Chen Duling, Yan An and Xu Zhen Xuan. Since GJM gets the final say, I can fault him for his indulgences.

And elsewhere, a fair number of viewers observed what I observed but couldn't be as precise due to a language barrier. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of non-mandarin speakers who only wanted me to confirm if their guesses were true, so I provided the necessary in translations and context since IQiyi subtitles are so misleading for dialogue (especially between Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yi Chen).

There's a discussion post of certain details posted more than 10 days ago above.

I can also see why your comments rub people the wrong way. And then of course, you seem to be quite unaware of certain details (such as the Director whose first movies as lead director was not romantic but serious), so let me help you by C-and-Ping one of my comments to another poster:

[ Your point about the age gap between actors and actresses is appreciated.

That said, there are several people complaining about Ai Mi being a minor in this drama, while projecting their beliefs about what they see as necessary romance in a drama onto this drama and conflating their beliefs as necessary to portray a non-platonic relationship while ignoring everything else vital about this project... Such as the director, the script, Ai Mi's widely varied body of hard work ever since she started acting as a child to get to this role, or the fact that it is possible to have a good or excellent drama without overt romantic gestures. Given the first choice was Huangyang Tian Tian followed by Ai Mi, Ai Mi and Huangyuan Tian Tian cement the fact that the FL has to look a certain young age, which the likes of Li Landi or Ju Jingyi cannot carry off.

I am glad this director is in charge because he gives me the best hopes for a historical C-drama that I am used to: Conveying the impact of strong bonds in different types of relationships, without kissing, skinship or groping. This also means tradition plus inventiveness is required, to portray two individuals holding zero trust into becoming a strong true bond between husband and wife.

The Empress of China at 82 episodes of 45 minutes each was at least 55 episodes of a main plot, subplots and mostly-commendable acting without PDA. I don't know about the people slamming this drama because their primary complaint is Ai Mi as a minor, but there was a time in C-dramas (modern and historical) when a good or excellent drama didn't involve all the overt Western PDA gestures that I and others prefer to be kept out of C-dramas (unless it is comedy or serves a vital plot point).

I also know that happens to be the preference among certain older generations who don't want this in C-dramas. How does face-mashing/skinship/groping empower the script or enhance the story or deepen connections between viewers and the characters? Great fanservice for some fans, huge turn-off to other viewers. That is why a good solid story, a reliable experienced director, and a capable screenwriter are as primarily vital as the cast.

I'll hope this director doesn't disappoint me. So far, he's zooming in on the small details that I expect.

The historical drama "Su Ji" was directed by him and finished in July 2021 starring Li Landi and Zhu Zheng Ting, but not yet released. It provides an insight into his work, which I summarised in a comment here:

https://kisskh.at/790870-que-gu#comment-22893982 ]

Put your comment under a spoiler, even though it is not confirmed.