It took me a lot longer! ZA hurt SH in every possible way. I love SH's character because he never bought into…
Yeah, I agree. Especially the more often I rewatch, the worse it gets. He hurt him on every level. And yet I am just like Shu He - I can’t hate him. How this drama messes with me and my heart!
It took me less than 2 hours to get a different opinion from ep 6 to 9, its funny how situations change so quickly…
Zi Ang went off the deep end in ep 9.
Although it must be said that warning signs were already there. Like drinking poisoned wine for someone he wasn't even sure reciprocated his feelings (I mean, they flirted heavily, but were still in that "unconfirmed phase"). Or getting drunk to the point of passing out for an arranged marriage, which was obviously for political reasons only. Or gifting a dagger that has been with him for 7 years and he admits has killed 19 people with...
Allegedly all chiefs of the Red Shadow Guard were poisoned to die in their prime, according to DHY. But is he…
Allegedly killed by his brother… From Wikipedia: In folklore, the story known as "shadows by the candle and sounds from an axe" is very popular and suggests that Emperor Taizu was murdered by his brother, who was after the throne.
This is eating me up. How did Zi Ang happen to d*e ?? I did not understand. So when DZA was a Red Shadow guard…
Allegedly all chiefs of the Red Shadow Guard were poisoned to die in their prime, according to DHY. But is he really a reliable source?
I don’t think what we’re told is the truth, since Zi Ang’s uncle looked perfectly healthy to me. IMO at some point DZA was deliberately poisoned by someone. I think it was a targeted attack. By whom - idk. That’s pure speculation on my part, but it’s the way I interpret the situation, it just makes the most sense to me and I will die on that hill.
Here’s what I wrote in my discussion post on DHY: For one, we see the former Chief of the Red Shadow Guards (Zi Ang’s uncle) alive and well in his fifties, clearly past his prime and in good health. That alone undermines this claim.
If every chief truly died young, wouldn’t that be common knowledge within the organization? Who would willingly accept a post that guarantees an early death? Such a pattern would be impossible to hide, and even harder to justify.
Furthermore, the position of Chief is said to be held exclusively by members of the royal family — typically younger sons of the emperor. It makes little sense to deliberately poison imperial blood, especially potential successors. While one might argue that eliminating rivals serves a political purpose, systematically killing royal sons would be far too dangerous and politically short-sighted.
For me, all of them, but I can’t get over their 2nd kiss in ep 6, when Shu He affirms: This is what he wants, too. And in ep 12 their wedding kiss!
Plus I really liked the kiss in ep 8, after they talk about fully getting to know each other. It's so intimate, warm, understated, familiar... you can tell they've been lovers for a while and they have kissed many times before.
As I understand it, the Duans were a military family (which would also fit with the historical counterparts on…
It’s Zi Ang we are talking about, heart over logic 😅 Besides, even if he was adopted, what counts is the emotional attachment, especially in early childhood. Family is family. So no surprise there for me . Just makes it more traumatic that he had all these things happen to him.
Why was the Duan family massacred btw ? I only know that they were wrongfully accused. What's the connection of…
As I understand it, the Duans were a military family (which would also fit with the historical counterparts on whom the characters are based on).
They voluntarily hid Zi Ang, the illegitimate son of the North Ji emperor. It sounded to me as if the mother had some connection (perhaps a friendship) with the Duans? But that's just speculation on my part. Zi Ang is the son of the emperor, therefore of North Ji nationality. As far as we know from Huai Yi, he is the legitimate son of the Duans, thus not blood-related to Zi Ang and originally from South Hui.
Zi Ang became a Red Shadow Guard because someone from the imperial family is always supposed to be the chief of the Red Shadow Guards (which is why Zi Ang doesn't have a tattoo). To protect Huai Yi and his identify, he joined the temple to become a monk, taking on a different last name.
I really do not remember seeing this part. Which episode ?? SH wrote poem for DZA ? When did this happen ??
There are many lies between them, that's true.
In many regards, KTL leaves things up to interpretation, which I personally really admire. One such example is the poem: Why does Zi Ang care so much about a fake poem?
There is no canonically "right" answer, and every viewer can see it through their PoV, which is shaped by their life experience. True beauty in this, I think.
Did we (the audience) manage to "read" the poem with ZiAng. I need to rewatch this part.
Aw, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoy our threads and links. ❤️ There's still more to come, because I'm not done with this masterpiece (aka I need therapy 🤣).
What happened with him is anyone's guess. That is truly a loose plot thread - I imagine that had to be cut due…
Yeah, I agree.
He's probably not alive anymore, however I'd like to know how he found his end.
I really want it to be either by Zi Ang's hands, so Zi Ang can have his (deserved) revenge for the brutal massacre of his family. Or by Shu He's hands as revenge for corrupting his brother (although that's unlikely).
But (haha, plot twist) - he becomes Huai Yi's trusted advisor. 🤣 Jk! Although, given his personality, it would be a possibility. The bad penny always turns up again...
Ultimately, after Shuhe rose to the throne, what did the Prime Minister of South Hui (Gu Yuan Shan) achieve after…
What happened with him is anyone's guess. That is truly a loose plot thread - I imagine that had to be cut due to budget. (I mean, if you look at it, ep 1-8 was filled with policital intrigue, and then 9 -12 it was gone. And I really liked that part of the story... 😢 (never expected to, but still did). 🤣
"Gu Xiang is not simply a minister; he is the hand that pushes others forward while staying safely in the dark. His strategy is always the same: he never takes the blade himself, but he places it in someone else’s hand. When he advised the Nan Hui Crown Prince to kill the Ji Bei heir, the plot succeeded, but Gu Xiang avoided the bloodstains. When chaos broke out, he quietly withdrew from court — neither guilty nor innocent, but always untouchable.
Why, then, does he insist that Shuhe enter politics? The answer lies in balance. The Crown Prince already commands power and the military. Without another force to oppose him, he would dominate the court. By pushing Shuhe forward, Gu Xiang creates a counterweight — not to protect Shuhe, but to protect himself. With two princes in play, Gu Xiang can move between them, ensuring that whichever side wins, he remains indispensable.
This is the essence of Gu Xiang’s method: • Divide and control — turn brotherly affection into rivalry, so no alliance can threaten him. • Conceal his hand — let others commit the act, while he claims the wisdom of counsel. • Build factions — surround himself with loyalists, not to serve the state, but to secure his own survival.
Gu Xiang is less a loyal tutor than a survivor of palace intrigue. He embodies what Chinese history often calls a 权臣 (quánchén, “power minister”): a figure who does not seek the throne, but bends the throne’s heirs to his advantage. His greatest weapon is not armies or assassins, but the simple truth that fear and suspicion grow fastest between brothers.
In Kill to Love, Gu Xiang is the shadow that ensures tragedy. Without him, Shuhe and the Crown Prince might still have been brothers. Without him, the court might not bleed so deeply. His presence reminds us that betrayal does not always come from the obvious enemy, but from the one who whispers in your ear."
I really do not remember seeing this part. Which episode ?? SH wrote poem for DZA ? When did this happen ??
In ep 2 Zi Ang finds the poem. In ep 9 (in the dungeon) there's the architect, who changed the layout of the 6th Prince's mansion, because the cabinet in which the poem was hidden was bad feng shui (Shu He had it added on purpose, that's why it wasn't organically a part of the layout and the architect caught it being out of place. Poor man locked it, which cost him his life...)
Did we (the audience) manage to "read" the poem with ZiAng. I need to rewatch this part.
@oddsare was so kind to write it down (Zi Ang reads it in ep 2)
"The most devastating moment comes not from battle, but from a piece of paper. While spying in the Sixth Prince’s study, Duan Zi’ang uncovers a hidden poem
Translation: Ballad of the Old Sword I recall my dearest friend, Duan. The bamboo bow still carries the warmth of your fingertips. We crushed the spring grass on wild paths together. But suddenly, the rivers and mists of the world scattered us apart. Where the tender thread once wrapped my hand — I dare not touch again."
Although it must be said that warning signs were already there. Like drinking poisoned wine for someone he wasn't even sure reciprocated his feelings (I mean, they flirted heavily, but were still in that "unconfirmed phase").
Or getting drunk to the point of passing out for an arranged marriage, which was obviously for political reasons only.
Or gifting a dagger that has been with him for 7 years and he admits has killed 19 people with...
From Wikipedia:
In folklore, the story known as "shadows by the candle and sounds from an axe" is very popular and suggests that Emperor Taizu was murdered by his brother, who was after the throne.
I don’t think what we’re told is the truth, since Zi Ang’s uncle looked perfectly healthy to me. IMO at some point DZA was deliberately poisoned by someone. I think it was a targeted attack. By whom - idk. That’s pure speculation on my part, but it’s the way I interpret the situation, it just makes the most sense to me and I will die on that hill.
Here’s what I wrote in my discussion post on DHY:
For one, we see the former Chief of the Red Shadow Guards (Zi Ang’s uncle) alive and well in his fifties, clearly past his prime and in good health. That alone undermines this claim.
If every chief truly died young, wouldn’t that be common knowledge within the organization? Who would willingly accept a post that guarantees an early death? Such a pattern would be impossible to hide, and even harder to justify.
Furthermore, the position of Chief is said to be held exclusively by members of the royal family — typically younger sons of the emperor. It makes little sense to deliberately poison imperial blood, especially potential successors. While one might argue that eliminating rivals serves a political purpose, systematically killing royal sons would be far too dangerous and politically short-sighted.
And in ep 12 their wedding kiss!
Plus I really liked the kiss in ep 8, after they talk about fully getting to know each other. It's so intimate, warm, understated, familiar... you can tell they've been lovers for a while and they have kissed many times before.
Besides, even if he was adopted, what counts is the emotional attachment, especially in early childhood. Family is family. So no surprise there for me . Just makes it more traumatic that he had all these things happen to him.
They voluntarily hid Zi Ang, the illegitimate son of the North Ji emperor. It sounded to me as if the mother had some connection (perhaps a friendship) with the Duans? But that's just speculation on my part.
Zi Ang is the son of the emperor, therefore of North Ji nationality. As far as we know from Huai Yi, he is the legitimate son of the Duans, thus not blood-related to Zi Ang and originally from South Hui.
Zi Ang became a Red Shadow Guard because someone from the imperial family is always supposed to be the chief of the Red Shadow Guards (which is why Zi Ang doesn't have a tattoo).
To protect Huai Yi and his identify, he joined the temple to become a monk, taking on a different last name.
In many regards, KTL leaves things up to interpretation, which I personally really admire.
One such example is the poem: Why does Zi Ang care so much about a fake poem?
There is no canonically "right" answer, and every viewer can see it through their PoV, which is shaped by their life experience. True beauty in this, I think.
There's still more to come, because I'm not done with this masterpiece (aka I need therapy 🤣).
He's probably not alive anymore, however I'd like to know how he found his end.
I really want it to be either by Zi Ang's hands, so Zi Ang can have his (deserved) revenge for the brutal massacre of his family.
Or by Shu He's hands as revenge for corrupting his brother (although that's unlikely).
But (haha, plot twist) - he becomes Huai Yi's trusted advisor. 🤣 Jk! Although, given his personality, it would be a possibility. The bad penny always turns up again...
(never expected to, but still did). 🤣
What Minister Gu's intention was is never truly addressed. @oddsare wrote in her post:
https://kisskh.at/788946-shan-he-yong-ji#comment-23302780
"Gu Xiang is not simply a minister; he is the hand that pushes others forward while staying safely in the dark. His strategy is always the same: he never takes the blade himself, but he places it in someone else’s hand. When he advised the Nan Hui Crown Prince to kill the Ji Bei heir, the plot succeeded, but Gu Xiang avoided the bloodstains. When chaos broke out, he quietly withdrew from court — neither guilty nor innocent, but always untouchable.
Why, then, does he insist that Shuhe enter politics? The answer lies in balance. The Crown Prince already commands power and the military. Without another force to oppose him, he would dominate the court. By pushing Shuhe forward, Gu Xiang creates a counterweight — not to protect Shuhe, but to protect himself. With two princes in play, Gu Xiang can move between them, ensuring that whichever side wins, he remains indispensable.
This is the essence of Gu Xiang’s method:
• Divide and control — turn brotherly affection into rivalry, so no alliance can threaten him.
• Conceal his hand — let others commit the act, while he claims the wisdom of counsel.
• Build factions — surround himself with loyalists, not to serve the state, but to secure his own survival.
Gu Xiang is less a loyal tutor than a survivor of palace intrigue. He embodies what Chinese history often calls a 权臣 (quánchén, “power minister”): a figure who does not seek the throne, but bends the throne’s heirs to his advantage. His greatest weapon is not armies or assassins, but the simple truth that fear and suspicion grow fastest between brothers.
In Kill to Love, Gu Xiang is the shadow that ensures tragedy. Without him, Shuhe and the Crown Prince might still have been brothers. Without him, the court might not bleed so deeply. His presence reminds us that betrayal does not always come from the obvious enemy, but from the one who whispers in your ear."
"The most devastating moment comes not from battle, but from a piece of paper. While spying in the Sixth Prince’s study, Duan Zi’ang uncovers a hidden poem
《故剑吟》 (Gu Jian Yin, “Ballad of the Old Sword”):
故剑吟
忆昔时挚友段
竹弓犹带指尖温
踏碎青聪野径春
忽散江湖烟雨后
绕指柔处不敢逢
Pinyin:
Gù jiàn yín
Yì xī shí zhì yǒu Duàn
Zhú gōng yóu dài zhǐ jiān wēn
Tà suì qīng cōng yě jìng chūn
Hū sàn jiāng hú yān yǔ hòu
Rào zhǐ róu chù bù gǎn féng
Translation:
Ballad of the Old Sword
I recall my dearest friend, Duan.
The bamboo bow still carries the warmth of your fingertips.
We crushed the spring grass on wild paths together.
But suddenly, the rivers and mists of the world scattered us apart.
Where the tender thread once wrapped my hand — I dare not touch again."