Xiang83

For those who want to know more about this drama series, I have created a discussion thread titled "More details about Key to The Phoenix Heart, pertaining to the leads and Mohist Mechanism". Contents from two mandarin articles published on 15 July and 17 July have been summarised, I have added details pertaining to Mo Tzu and Mohist Mechanism. and I have also shared watchable links for the dramas described as masterpieces in the articles.

"The Prince of Han Dynasty" and "The Empress of China" were the examples raised to showcase this Director's suitable abilities when considering the demands for "Key To The Phoenix Heart".

The first season of "The Prince of Han Dynasty" is a 2001 drama of 41 episodes, can be watched here as per the official channel
: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_ANktcyCR0

"The Empress of China" is a 2014 drama of 82 episodes, can be watched here as per the official channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUDdmehiCmU&list=PLpWatZNpdyOKUZXyo8xWWsWzX71tIi93a&index=1

Ai Mi being excited for this role is very understandable, when one considers the creative team such as the director and screenwriter involved. Neo Hou should also be excited about his character, and both leads should be watching two specific works of the director given his experience in specific historical dramas and ability to command solid acting performances from a cast.

I summarised two Mandarin articles from c-net about this drama and stuck it up as the first discussion topic, since nobody here seems to have any ideas about what is actually going on in Cnet about this drama series such as Mohism Mechanism, much less the focus and plot. The two drama series being feted of the director for this drama are from 2001 and 2014, if you want an idea of his style and focus. I've also stuck up links for those dramas in that same discussion thread, so people can watch for themselves.

Director was going for a specific actress until she got herself into a gigantic scandal and considering the exacting demands of this role, it is for the best that she was replaced by another actress with experiences as a child actor and likely has several legal clauses in place to ensure there is no inappropriate romance (which matches what this director is capable of, whereby viewers not used to C-dramas of the 90s and early 2000s might call his ideas of delivering emotional relationships as "censored" when generally exposed to too much PDA in later dramas). Expectations differ between viewers, but I belong to the category that doesn't like lip-locking or skinship in historical C-Dramas unless it is necessary in the script... such as chaste kisses of affection. Coroner's Diary for now is one example where I find the romance realistic and doable.

I will be disappointed if this director and screenwriter cannot pull off what they are capable of. The pressure on the leads is going to be tremendous in terms of delivery as per Cnet, in which we are not referring to romance. YMMV.

I am curious as to how elaborate the sets will get, when it comes to mechanisms and warfare. Don't suppose there's any footage for that yet, because it is early days?

Ps. I shared two links to the two drama series which this Director is being heralded for, when it comes to his suitability for directing "Key To The Phoenix Heart".

I have written a short summary for you, and put it up as the first discussion of this drama. Understanding the philosophy of Mo Tzu and Mohist Mechanism is likely crucial to really enjoying this drama, so I added some extra information.

#千燕莞语 is the go-to hashtag for this couple on weibo.

FMVs for their chemistry results in the cutest/mushiest results with apt music.

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5190937552094495 - Using Ep 22

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5190972385528884 - Using Harpers Bazaar shoot mixed with promos plus some scenes from some episodes.

I uploaded 12 pictures today from various weibo users, because weibo is handy on snaps. There is also at least one FMV on weibo claiming a certain ending for one of the characters but for now, I'll reserve judgment because it seems off.

xiaohongshu is not my thing. Between douyin and xiaohongshu, it really depends on the user. I like bilibili for FMVs and guzheng-related pieces, because the quality of guzheng clips there are better than other platforms.

Drama-wise for C-dramas of any country, I reckon I've watched my fill from the late 80s to early 2000s, so I can easily go one year without completing any drama XD This year, 朝雪录 is possibly the first drama I will finish.

If you want to interact with people on any platform, an account is always helpful. Key thing is to enjoy whatever you do.

6 clips here, courtesy of weibo user o凯希不酷:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5189864232324953

The main couple is old school cuteness, and someone on weibo decided to compile all the short clips of them sharing a kiss over 20 episodes.

『燕离Ⅹ岳凝 』= From buddies to... Er, not yet...

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5186183866351973

Yan Li's expressions are priceless, when he realises-

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5189005497075539#&video

For those who are into Yan Li and Yue Ning, Weibo has several FMV clips of the two utilising various scenarios including what has not yet been shown in 20 episodes.

I value being an Iqiyi VIP member more than my usage of douyin and weibo XD

For example, I shared the entire OST from another bilibili.com user here and added a few timestamps:

https://kisskh.at/752181-chao-xue-lu#comment-22698968

I read some Mandarin articles about this new drama series. Would you want to know more about the details of the plot and characters, besides the synopsis? I can summarise using at least two articles.

If you want to use Douyin, you don't have to have a Chinese ID or Chinese mobile number unless you want to create a Douyin account. You just have to use their simple verification methods that you are not a bot.

The spoiler comment above contains translations plus some Mandarin of what they are saying. If you want the entire OST of 29 songs, I shared it here from another user on bilibili.com plus I added a few timestamps, such as the song for when Bai Feng makes a certain blunder in Ep 15.

https://kisskh.at/752181-chao-xue-lu#comment-22698968

I'm sure I'm not the only one who understands Mandarin watching this series and using kisskh.

Yan Li is dramatic also because he tends to wear a mask to mislead others while Yan Chi is very down-to-earth in his behaviour. Yan Li's answer addressing multiple angles is because Yan Li realises he has made a very significant blunder and insult, due to Yan Chi displaying personal anger and reminding Yan Li of Yan Li's dearness and position as a comparison before illustrating Shen Wan's importance to him.

Yan Li quickly assuages Yan Chi's anger by acknowledging his fault of carelessly speaking without consideration, while acknowledging Shen Wan's status and importance to Yan Chi as if she is married already to Yan Chi (七嫂 is the term he uses for Shen Wan) in how he addresses Shen Wan and how Shen Wan is to be treated by him. Also offering to be taken as a steed from Shen Wan's POV is his way of making amends by lowering his status below Shen Wan in terms of importance while also offering himself in any act of service even if he becomes something for Shen Wan to ride. I did not use riding a horse because that is literal. A steed is a horse that is being ridden or available for riding, and would be more accurate for the context of Yan Li assuaging Yan Chi's anger while addressing a major blunder and insult.

Once you throw in any Chinese idioms or other types of sayings, things can get very tricky for translation. It can be very bombastic, exaggerated or poetic, but then it cannot be literal unless it is very straightforward. I did a partial translation of a spoiler clip from douyin for Yan Li and Yue Ning coming to an agreement to protect their personal freedoms, including the idioms they each used at the end.

When using idioms, as an example:

"一举两得" can be translated as killing two birds with one stone, but that's not how it would be understood in Mandarin. One action for two benefits is the literal meaning.

"一石二鸟" is one stone hitting two birds, equivalent to killing two birds with one stone ie two outcomes with one move. This idiom is focused on the method, so understanding the apt scenario for usage of a metaphor is crucial. They are similar idioms, which were amongst many idioms I had to grow up memorising. "Killing two birds with one stone" is not something I remember learning in Mandarin, only in English.

If I want to adopt the English saying in Mandarin, I would use 一石二鸟之計 - The plan of using one stone to kill two birds is methodical and calculated.

It's not just a matter of translation, but understanding the culture is just as necessary and the language being translated into, before translating. Otherwise the translation is completely off. It's not an issue with me until I get someone arguing with me about what they think is canon based on not understanding anything but subtitles. I also believe translators are not paid enough, so the results are what it is.

That said, just enjoy the silly translations. A Mandarin drama series is more accurate for sounding normal in Mandarin and not catering to an international audience.

They will be a good foil to the main couple. They are capable (except in autopsies) and when they get serious, will be a force to be reckoned with.

I translated a spoiler video clip from douyin for Yan Li and Yue Ning in a new comment because that couple is hilarious. Can't wait for them to actually fall in love.

Both Yan Li and Yue Ning are drinking and due to being partially drunk, get very frank. Both of them see being married as a restriction on their personal freedoms. Rough translations:

Yue Ning: If I was a man I'd already be out there on the battlefield killing enemies, 不比在内宅 (inner chamber's of a rich man's household) 逍遥自在 啊! - (Yue Ning is complaining about being stuck in the inner chambers being vastly inferior to the freedom of being male and being able to go to war)

Yan Li: 肯与我仪亲的 (Of those willing to marry me) 都是贪图爵位的功利之徒 (he refers to all those pursuing him for marriage as title-seeking favour-seeking opportunists inferior to himself). He then praises himself.

Yue Ning in her partially-intoxicated state touches his chin with her fingers and acknowledges his good looks being rare among men and not being easy for him. She then tells him he is afraid of being used and constricted in marriage wiles, while she is afraid of being confined to the inner chambers- "So we might as well get married!" Isn't this perfect? As long as you don't interfere with my heroics, I definitely won't interfere with your dalliances!

Yan Li agrees, the two feel as if their woes are solved, and what could be better than finding a buddy understanding you and curing your biggest issues for you and with you? Their interactions are funny as heck and so adorable, especially when they seal an agreement with a toast.

Yan Li: 一言为定! (That's settled then. Using this idiom means Yan Li is honouring this as a promise)

Yue Ning: 骑马难追! (What is said cannot be retracted. She's not literally referring to galloping horses being hard to catch.)

For Episode 15, three females had to feature in a very interesting sequence of scenes about possibly losing their lives. How was it shot? Li Landi, Chen Yujie and Wang Junbi had a literal blast shooting that, ropes and water and wind notwithstanding from this BTS:

https://www.douyin.com/user/MS4wLjABAAAAqSFPgyr7WPC2WbenMxOsB1yXCVV5qrlI1nmMnGrC1DQKjLR6JHgSltMA9k3eq0Iw?modal_id=7528618668872224040

I just shared a new clip from the official douyin channel of this series, about how Yan Li and Yue Ning come to an understanding. It's a major spoiler for them. Not in any of the IQiyi episodes yet.