Yerisina

That’s very sad to hear. Come join us for all the positive vibes. ☺️

Others might disagree whether it’s the best or not. But for me the depth is what makes it my favorite BL out of all that I‘ve watched.
But pls, more like this! 😍

While Zi Ang never overtly said the three words 'I love you' , he still said I love you in so many ways. In Japanese dramas (I watched far too many) never outright saying 'I love you' is so common. The 'I love you' is 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'

Zi Ang also seems to be someone who let’s his actions speak louder than his words (e.g. initiating their first kiss). Or more like he let’s his actions speak when words don’t get him what he wants.

And if 'Let’s get married' isn’t enough of a confession of love, then I also have to think of episode 9.

Duan Zi Ang: "You love the one who hates you, and you hate the one who loves you!"
Xiao Shu He: "Aren't you both?"
Gah, it’s so heartbreaking, but so revealing for both characters. A line that stuck with me for a while. Maybe because from the trailer I had always thought that these would be two different people (Crown Prince Shu Qian and Duan Zi Ang), and Zi Ang thought so too. (Maybe other viewers were smarter than me.) But no, Shu He disarms and overpowers him with his words - 都是你！you are both. We can see Zi Ang reeling from that answer. Emotionally and physically because of his weakened health.

Xiao Shu He: "I hate you, but I hate myself more. [...] What I hate the most... is that I love you."

This 'I love you' is my favorite. It is so painful, so heartbreaking, I felt that moment with every fiber.

For the 'I love you' before his death I agree with you. I would think he wanted Zi Ang to know his feelings before fulfilling his own desire to be free from this life.


As to why ZZX chose that as his favorite line, I can only guess that it must’ve been impactful for him during filming. The way MiJin whispered that certainly gave me butterflies, lol.

Has anyone else noticed the symbolism in their afterlife clothing?
For Zi Ang, it's simple — his wedding robe. Straightforward, just like him.

Shu He’s outfit, though, is more layered — both literally and emotionally. But in my opinion, just as beautiful, and quietly heartbreaking.

Red robe with the white fur cloak:
It’s the same outfit he wore when his brother died — whom he just met in the afterlife and finally reconciled with — and at the same time it is also when his relationship with Zi Ang fell apart.
It’s what he wore when he was betrothed to Princess Wen Jing, and Zi Ang crashed in like a knight in shining armor.
Cue the sword dance set to the sound of the zither — their unspoken confession.

Without the fur cloak:
It’s what he wore when Zi Ang gave him the dagger — the one that appears again and again throughout the series. A symbol of their love, their pain, their bond. But most importantly, it’s the tool they used to tie their souls together for eternity.
And of course, it’s also what Shu He wore at the wedding. ❤️

Did he say 'my kingdom'? Gotta rewatch that sometime…
Yes, he should have just stayed at the temple and become a monk.

True, people sometimes contradict themselves and I’m just thinking too much. ;)

Haha, I saw the box too, they could have hidden it a little better. Especially since the prince‘s men were supposedly searching for hours already. Whatever 😅

Yeah, I agree about the court and getting back at Shu He, but still...
Why would Huai Yi pin that cruelty on Zi Ang, fully knowing it would drive Shu He even further away?

That makes his declaration “As long as you [Zi Ang] are happy, I am willing to do anything” feel false. If he really cared only about Zi Ang’s happiness (whose time is running out), why would he do that? Because if anyone knows how much Zi Ang wants to reconcile with Shu He and simply be in a loving relationship again, it's Huai Yi.

You’re asking two very good questions. :)

I think the thread either fell out when Crown Prince Shu Qian threw the box into the pond — or it fell out some time after that while submerged in water. (How long was it in there? I am amazed he found the box at all! Realistically, it must have been covered in algae and mud by then.)

Zi Ang wanted to fulfill Shu He‘s wish and have the PoW return home safely. Huai Yi disobeyed Zi Ang‘s orders and had them executed instead, which he never told Zi Ang, but he told Shu He. I just don’t fully get Huai Yi‘s motivations. I do have my theories, but yeah…

Sorry, I felt like my question was off topic 🙈- glad someone else asked the same question.

I wonder if a different release date and/or plan might have increased viewership. Unfortunately, I think it was somewhat overshadowed by other dramas. I also hope that word of mouth will gradually bring more recognition.

TLDR: high child mortality before modern medicine

The story is of "Kill to Love" based on a fanficiton of real people (aka RPF). Xiao Shu He counterpart is Li Yu (before 961 known as Li Cong Jia (李從嘉)), the last ruler of the Southern Tang, that was a small state in southern China.

Li Cong Jia was the sixth eldest son (Sixth prince), just like Xiao Shu He. Usually, being the Sixth prince would mean that he was unlikely to ever succeed the throne. However, many of Li Cong Jia‘s brothers died very young (so it makes sense that we never see any of them mentioned in the drama). When Li Cong Jia was 14, the second eldest brother died. This meant that all of a sudden Li Cong Jia was closer in line to succession to the throne, namely right behind his uncle Li Jong Sui, who is not a person in the drama, and Li Hong Ji, the eldest brother — who Crown Prince Shu Qian, Xiao Shu He's brother is based on.


See also: https://kisskh.at/788946-shan-he-yong-ji#comment-23318760

Haha, the nails - so true. And no one seems to know: why…? Is it for playing the zither? I know they had a low budget, but still!
Also the artificial flowers - especially since they were so prominent in many scenes. It was as if I could smell the plastic through my screen.

Yes, I agree with your points.
North Ji would have wanted to avenge the assasination of their Crown Prince one way or another.

My opinion:
It was a mix of love and hate, just as Shu He said multiple times. He still loved and cared for Zi Ang deeply—after all, he married him and even performed the ritual meant to bind their souls together for eternity. And yet, there were too many obstacles between them in this life: Zi Ang killed his brother and forced him into the role of emperor (a burden Shu He was never suited for), he kidnapped and held him captive, and realistically there was never a future for them in the countryside. Zi Ang was the emperor of one nation and in poor health, Shu He the fallen ruler of another—even if Zi Ang abdicated, the world and fate would not allow it.
Besides, the moment Zi Ang died, Shu He would either be executed on the spot or have to kill himself somehow.

So Shu He sought a way out of the misery his life had become, and at the same time he wanted Zi Ang to feel some of the pain he himself had endured. That was his revenge. And once that “box was ticked,” he could finally let go of the hatred and embrace the love he had carried all along. It was like winning one final game of Go: they were even at last.

(Xiao Shu He, ep 6, right before their second kiss: "Don't let me lose again.")

What matters is in the end Shu He waited in the afterlife out of love. Because with death, he was finally able to let go of his hatred.

Me neither…

I came for romance, but this story has just so much to offer! I never thought I’d be that invested with the political intrigue s as well. 😅

I always interpreted that Shu He entered the court because of the "favor" Prime Minister Gu asked of him in exchange for his help to find Huai Yi. In ep 3 Shu He was adamantly opposed, and in ep 4 suddenly willing to do so. Of course, getting revenge for his mother was also part of his reasons. But the timing is just a little too convenient.

Yes

I mostly agree, yet I do think Shu He wanted "revenge".

However not for the fact that his brother died before his eyes (or at least that was only low on the list of things that might have contributed).
I think he wanted revenge for being betrayed, forced to take the throne he never wanted —fully knowing he was not qualified for the task — held captive, humiliated as leader, treated like a pet (lower than a human being in his eyes) and being denied the dignified death he had asked for on multiple occasions. The fact that Zi Ang‘s health was rapidly deteriorating aided in his decision. If Zi Ang died before him, he would have been executed or committed suicide, whichever came faster.

I hope you take my reply as what out is intended — my passion for this series and a love do deep dive into characters‘ minds, their actions and possible motivations for them.

Imho it would be the GoT of BL