KingC

Chinese dramad rarely end well for me. So, I'm prepared. But, I want some sort if reconciliation for Ji Chu and Qing. They were too sweet to just become a memory.

Her original novel did give Ji Chu romance -- a love triangle plot. How she managed to do that, I have no idea and it makes me believe that she made up stuff just for the sake of it. And not because she understood the character.
Her novel wanted an antagonist to kill off the beloved ML, so she made up Ji Chu and threw in a few words to create a 'background'. Ji Yun existed to be the nice guy getting killed in her novel -- though I have a feeling that he'll probably sacrifice himself after all his mother's schemes in the new version.
But, yes. I love how the focus is on a character whom Qing never cared to think about-- Ji Chu. It changes the entire story. [I highly suspect that there are modern versions of a few characters atleast.]

I keep believing in a sad ending, but I do not want them to separate.

But, there is a chance that it might be an edited video too.

This one.

There is a scene which I saw implying that she vanishes from his memories.

Exactly. Maybe she doesn't get to stay in her fictional world, but atleast she did justice to the story. Sad.

I saw a clip where she dissolves from Ji Chu's world/memories and the final scene of him standing outside the palace like in the end credits. She sort of goes back to her time after fixing the plot and her existence within the story is erased?
The novel ending persists from the clips I've seen. As for the modern timeline. That we'll have to see.

Thank you!
Yes, it's definitely sad. But, the only 'logical' ending - because Qing has to leave whatever happens. The novel may end in tragedy as Qing originally wrote it to be, however insincere she was to the characters.

The modern part might not be do sad though. Maybe somebody else is writing the current version she is stuck in? And Qing literally 'disappeared' from our world at 12:00 AM, Harry Potter style. So, she might be not dreaming, but actually living her life there as she has evidently begun to disappear? It's a CDrama, so pretty sure they are hoing to warp it into some 'deep sleep subconscious' stuff.

The last drama I watched with such a plot was An Ancient Love Song and that ending was an endless cycle of sadness from both sides.

I wouldn't mind both of them dying to be honest. We as viewers feel sad, but the characters are not in pain anymore.
This is the case only IF Qing's original task of having Ji Yun overthrow Ji Chu still stands. Plus, she will have to return to her timeline either way. Which is a sad ending.
But, whatever the ending is, the journey towards it is what matters, atleast for the novel. (Qing's original grandiose tragedy was for pure shock value, atleast this one has far superior substance, characterisation and will outsell her original.)

She looks plain resigned in the trailer. But...
Maybe Wan' er will know her mother's plans and try to foil them from there? But, there are not many episodes remaining. I wonder how her character arc ended in Qing's novel, but a lot of things happening right now where never a part of it.

The Coroner is the only character who is so calm and composed while everyone else is crying, scheming or dying. Have to give it to this drama, they really went full steam ahead with only 8 more episodes left.

Your welcome! :D
Your last sentence is the exact reason why I'm still continuing this.

Also, Ji Yun isn't a total villain. He was an idiot for trying to assasinate the little boy - but he was doing it to protect Ji Chu as his Dad told him that his presence in the Lv mansion would strike up doubt regarding Ji Chu's loyalty. That still makes him stupid, but I pity his character. He is protecting his mother, who is out to break hell loose anyway, behind his back. He risked discovery by saving Qing - straining his relationship with Ji Chu and Qing. He is both in the dark and light. Definitely a well written character.

And I sense heartbreak for all three CPs. I love how well matched everyone are.
* Ji Yun has a supportive Yao, but bigger trouble than her.
*Wan 'er has Gong Ye Qi but there are scenes of people crying in the rain and his family's denise has a direct link to her. I felt bad when he was insulted straight out by the Empress.
*Ji Chu... I guessed that he had murdered Hua Qing Ge as he suspected that she was a spy/assassin sent by someone to kill him/track him. After the Empress reveal, I knew for real that it must've been the reason. And why would they marry him off to an obscure royal relative whom no one has seen with no perceivable talent except qi qong/martial arts?
Unfortunately, the plot fodder Hua Qing Ge got replaced by the real Hua Qing Ge, who valued her life and took flight; surprising Ji Chu.

My only hope is that we have all characters with working brains; no one has made any super dumb moves, except for that slip up by CP.
I know things aren't looking well for Qing - she is set up by the Empress to follow her orders. But, she is from modern times and her deadline here. She mentions that the wedding indicated that her departure was soon. [There is a heartbreak symbol in EP29-30.] Her insight isn't very good - possibly because she doesn't know the BTS of her own characters. Including her favorite ones.
It's 9/10 for the first 26 episodes. I'll give this drama the benefit of doubt and continue on.
I know the ending is in no way going to be satisfying, unless it turns out to be something twisted like how someone, possibly the modern version of one of the characters, is improvising her novel by writing a better fanfiction version if it.
But, I'll not be forgetting this drama anytime soon, regardless of the ending.

Hua Qing Ge's readers were right about their criticism. One of them wrote how 'it made no sense - the first half was full of plot holes' to which she answers 'did anyone of you ever read my novel when it made sense?'.
She made up plotlines without putting heart into it [to increase the word count] and now she herself wonders who is writing the story as it has strayed too far from what she knows - which is only superficial.
But, I applaud the writers for managing to not lose the plot threads of multiple characters up 'until now'. Even big shot dramas tend to dawdle and drag out scenes of selected characters.

And the characters: Everyone bas their own reasons. Except maybe one.
FL is still wary of everything and Ji Chu definitely has not lost bearings of what is happening around him - even after their relationship update. It's kind of jarring to see all the bright sunny stuff and in the next moment, dude's giving ominous orders and visiting dark dungeons.

You're welcome!

I think her giving him the Token was both a good and bad decision. It's good because Ji Yun (from what I've figured out about his nature) will never give it to his mother, the Empress. And in that way, Qing thought they'll stop trying to kill the little boy. Also, I believe she doesn't know it's significance - just that it was important.
Bad? Because the Empress wants it now. And we can never judge from trailers. Dramas have a knack for skipping out stuff either from the middle or the end of the episode to deceive viewers. Well, she might pull a 'Familar Stranger' and suprise us.

The author sort of dreams up the story in Kunning Palace (changed for cersorship) and still gave an inkling of a happy ending.
Here, Hua Qing Ge dreams the story all over again, so it might end with her probably waking up. But, it's implied that she reveals who she is to the characters and has a deadline for her stay in the past. Or will we get an ending where she writes a hit novel out of everything she experienced and gives justice to everyone? I'm going to keep my hopes low -- unless the writers pull a 'Life on Mars' or 'I Don't Want to Be Friends With You".

That was the opening ceremony. Most scenes are not shot in chronological order, and it seems that EP2 was Song Yi Ren's final scene.
But... that does not take away the fear of an unsatisfactory ending.

Maybe they'll have to pull out something like what they did for the Story of Kunning Palace. The trailer had an interesting dialogue pertaining to the FL and about her story's ending. Though I don't remember who said it.

Only 16 episodes left. So far, I appreciate the writers' efforts. Usually, dramas lose the plotline towards the end and tend to drag. This one however surprised me by pulling out a new mystery/murder to keep me hooked.
Another thing I like about DP is how the royal siblings still have deep understanding and respect for the other, even if they are no longer close.
I applaud Hua Qing Ge for coming to her senses really early in the story.
Even side characters such as Wan'er, The Duke and Gong Ye Qi are interesting to watch. Though, I sense danger for everyone in the coming episodes. Its pretty much confirmed for the third couple as Qing herself admits that she had made them suffer.
I sort of lost interest in Ji Yun. He is the perfect do-gooder who won't break rules , but I'll wait to see if he surprises me.