in the drama, it's waaaay too obvious to SH that JL is XFF. there's no guessing or surprise.
in blossoms was a horrible example b/c the ML didn't and couldn't act like the original coroner. that one is different b/c the 2 both wanted to live. one was forced, the other was the enforcer. one eventually died. the other stuck in that body forever.
whereas here, JL and XFF desire for living is different. When JL was still at the monastary, she committed suicide when she heard her 3rd sister is going to marry ZYB. She jumped into the lake with a broken heart/despair completely giving up the will to live. XFF died unjustly and hell bent on wanting revenge that she can't go like that. due to one not willing to live and the other having a strong will for life...the swap happen. the real JL died that day in mind and body. XFF died in body but her strong will may have tip the balance and allow her soul to migrate into JL's body. the novel break it down in that way.
Will Ruo Yao and the other sister of Jiang Li ever turn good or they will stay evil?
in the novel: JRY ran away from home after her mother's demise. JRY cannot defend herself or stand her ground after her mother's death. Due to her spoiled ways and impatient nature, she put herself at a disadvantage to the point where her grandmother no longer dotes on her. She was saved by Li Qian (the younger Li brother) and was brought to the Li Manor. LQ hid his courtyard in the meantime. JRY wonder off once and came upon the princess (who at the time is engaged to Li Jian, older brother) and her maid talking. JRY know of the princess secret. The princess had JRY taken back to her princess residential manor and held capture. While at the jail/torture chamber, the princess ordered the guard to take out one of JRY eyes for starters. She was held there until JL orchestrated for the torture chamber to be exposed to court/public. It's illegal to have your own torture chamber/jail at a residential housing, even if you are the princess. It was set up by SH that the city magistrate guard 'discover' her and ID her as the runaway daughter of the prime minister. after the days spent in the torture chamber, JYY gone insane. When she was recovered, she has no reaction to her surroundings and is disassociated with everyone and everything around her. She is pretty much dependent on the Jiang family to take care of her for the rest of her days. Jiang Yuen Bo is the only one who spends time and care for her out of guilt and remorse. Jiang Yuen Bo do love this daughter since she grew up under his guidance.
The 4th sister, Jiang Yu Er took advantage of a situation and slept with Zhou Yin Bong. JYE ruin her reputation as an ungrateful homewrecker and due to the situation and and her societal status, ZYB's parents allowed her to be married to ZYB as a concubine. Both JYE and ZYB claimed alcohol was the culprit. ZYB originally was waiting for JL instead but JL instigate and sent JYE in her place to meet ZYB.
Shen Ruo Yu's sister came upon their tryst (it's at the palace and all the official court lady, etc witness what happen) and took advantage of the situation and accused ZYB of being a drunk and molested her. the sister always has a crush on ZYb; it's love at first sight for her...but due to her family background and SRY being a low official, she is not door to door to match with ZYB for marriage. B/c of SRY is the princess' favorite, ZYB's parents dare not offend the princess and agreed to ZYB marrying SRY's sister as the legal/first wife. This pretty much ousted JRY any chances of marrying ZYB. Due to ZYB's behavior, he no longer have a chance at politics/holding an official post due to what happen. He spends his day in brothels and drinking nightly, gotten fat and pretty much lost his charms, if any.
As for JYE, she was always nasty and rude to JL. JL set JYE up so that she could never lift her head up to people around her. JL ruin her reputation and put her in a position where she will never be able to get what she wants. JYE secretly admire ZYB and didn't mind being married to him as a concubine. She and SYR's sister fight daily for ZYB's attention. JYE's life at the Zhou manor is worst then her days when she was at the Jiang family. She's treated as a nobody that even the maids don't pay attention to her. Her family eventually got booted from the Jiang family. JYE's mom was silence/murdered by the princess and the dad ran off. JYE eventually was handed a divorce letter and kicked out of the Zhou manor.
This is JL's payback to both her sisters. JL cutting off any changes JRY gets to marry ZYB b/c their engagement was stolen from the real JL. When XFF took over JL's body and place, she promised JL that she will do anything to take back what is hers or ruin what others stole from JL. That is XFF vow for the second chance at life in JL's place.
But we don’t know if she actually said any of that out loud all we know is she said out loud why did you betray…
his character is more of an outsider. everything happening around him is like watching a theatre play unfolding, which is why he always reference 'would i be entice by this part of the play? would this play brings me surprises?' and to JL, what role are you playing now? even so, he sets up everything to unfold according to where he wants it. he's a mastermind in the novel and do not do things on the surface...he likes to remain 'neutral' while pulling the strings.
But we don’t know if she actually said any of that out loud all we know is she said out loud why did you betray…
SH listens with his ears when it comes to music. for this part in the novel, it's all about the music b/c he's an avid fan of the arts. i find it weird that the drama version have SH staring at SYR with expectation that he burst into tears or fear. it takes away SH's coolness and sharpness.
in the drama, it's waaaay too obvious to SH that JL is XFF. there's no guessing or surprise.
it makes more sense in the novel w/ XFF becoming JL. XFF being under the radar largely b/c she's no longer XFF but a new face/family. Easier for XFF to hide in between the layers of complexity to get to her revenge goal without attracting too much attention. JL is basically the black sheep and no one sees her as a threat.
Darn... What you said about the arrow being shot improperly, that would have been nice to see it happen. But it…
Su Heng was the only one who pointed out to his assistances that JL is disappointed that she missed (pertaining to the princess arrow) when she actually hit the red eye on the target. His sarcasm and mockery is pretty funny in the novel. He's such a character!
In the novel, it's Ji Heng. Don't know why the drama change it to Su Heng. His story/family background: his mother was raped/murdered in the palace only to be disposed in front of their doorstep. Her death remain a mystery and tormant to SH’s father. His father went mad in pursuit of justice and the truth. SH’s grandfather tried to sweep it under the rug, as to not ruffle any feathers since she was last seen/on the premises of the royal palace and also b/c of the way sshe died (she was not clothed properly/rape). SH father did not care and went out on all means to investigate. SH’s father was ambushed and heavily poisoned/injured in pursuit of the truth. Due to the poison, SH seeked out the poison doctor (her background is an abandon princess on the run from a tribe in the northern area. Her expertise is practice in poison). SH saves her and offer protection from her uncle’s family (who stole the throne and murdered her family) in exchange she cure/help the father. However, the father in a coma/poison state for a year before he succumbed to poison. SH’s father discovered a scandal at the same time and the murderer had no choice but to silence him despite their deep ties. As SH grew older, he started to investigate and found out the truth. He started to plot to bring the murderer within his power to extract his revenge.
SH’s father and mother were childhood sweetheart. However, due to the change in the mother’s family (didn’t say much in the novel except that the family committed a crime, the men were exiled, the women were to be on the records as a courtesan), the Su elder general (SH’s grandfather) and the family’s elderly branch objected to their marriage. Besides fallen to being a courtesan, she was not the legitimate daughter, but the concubine’s daughter. SH’s father did not care, went against the family and bought out the mother’s courtesan contract and married her. SH’s mother is beautiful and clever in her own way. Her given name means red leaf (hung ye), which is why SH always adorn red, a reminder of his mother’s death and his vow to avenge her.
in the novel: yes, the older brother fancies young boys. he takes in orphans under the disguise of saving them from the hunger/streets. once taken to his private study room, he poison them and turn them into mutes. the older brother was arranged to marry the princess royale to help secure the Li family support to work for the prince royale (excluded in drama). The princess royale at one point thought she was pregnant with Shen's kid (phantom pregnancy caused by Jiang Li's scheming) and wanted to marry Shen but she was forced by her brother (not the king) to marry the older Li brother. So both side finds out each other's secrets and out of despair and petty, air out their dirty laundry in court when it was time to do the retrial for Xue Fang Fei's death. it was a very satisfying read on the demise of the Li fraction and the downfall of the princess royale and Shen YuRong.
whereas here, JL and XFF desire for living is different. When JL was still at the monastary, she committed suicide when she heard her 3rd sister is going to marry ZYB. She jumped into the lake with a broken heart/despair completely giving up the will to live. XFF died unjustly and hell bent on wanting revenge that she can't go like that. due to one not willing to live and the other having a strong will for life...the swap happen. the real JL died that day in mind and body. XFF died in body but her strong will may have tip the balance and allow her soul to migrate into JL's body. the novel break it down in that way.
The 4th sister, Jiang Yu Er took advantage of a situation and slept with Zhou Yin Bong. JYE ruin her reputation as an ungrateful homewrecker and due to the situation and and her societal status, ZYB's parents allowed her to be married to ZYB as a concubine. Both JYE and ZYB claimed alcohol was the culprit. ZYB originally was waiting for JL instead but JL instigate and sent JYE in her place to meet ZYB.
Shen Ruo Yu's sister came upon their tryst (it's at the palace and all the official court lady, etc witness what happen) and took advantage of the situation and accused ZYB of being a drunk and molested her. the sister always has a crush on ZYb; it's love at first sight for her...but due to her family background and SRY being a low official, she is not door to door to match with ZYB for marriage. B/c of SRY is the princess' favorite, ZYB's parents dare not offend the princess and agreed to ZYB marrying SRY's sister as the legal/first wife.
This pretty much ousted JRY any chances of marrying ZYB. Due to ZYB's behavior, he no longer have a chance at politics/holding an official post due to what happen. He spends his day in brothels and drinking nightly, gotten fat and pretty much lost his charms, if any.
As for JYE, she was always nasty and rude to JL. JL set JYE up so that she could never lift her head up to people around her. JL ruin her reputation and put her in a position where she will never be able to get what she wants. JYE secretly admire ZYB and didn't mind being married to him as a concubine. She and SYR's sister fight daily for ZYB's attention. JYE's life at the Zhou manor is worst then her days when she was at the Jiang family. She's treated as a nobody that even the maids don't pay attention to her. Her family eventually got booted from the Jiang family. JYE's mom was silence/murdered by the princess and the dad ran off. JYE eventually was handed a divorce letter and kicked out of the Zhou manor.
This is JL's payback to both her sisters. JL cutting off any changes JRY gets to marry ZYB b/c their engagement was stolen from the real JL. When XFF took over JL's body and place, she promised JL that she will do anything to take back what is hers or ruin what others stole from JL. That is XFF vow for the second chance at life in JL's place.
SH’s father discovered a scandal at the same time and the murderer had no choice but to silence him despite their deep ties. As SH grew older, he started to investigate and found out the truth. He started to plot to bring the murderer within his power to extract his revenge.
SH’s father and mother were childhood sweetheart. However, due to the change in the mother’s family (didn’t say much in the novel except that the family committed a crime, the men were exiled, the women were to be on the records as a courtesan), the Su elder general (SH’s grandfather) and the family’s elderly branch objected to their marriage. Besides fallen to being a courtesan, she was not the legitimate daughter, but the concubine’s daughter. SH’s father did not care, went against the family and bought out the mother’s courtesan contract and married her. SH’s mother is beautiful and clever in her own way. Her given name means red leaf (hung ye), which is why SH always adorn red, a reminder of his mother’s death and his vow to avenge her.
Older brother is a pedophile that fancies young boys. This will for sure be excluded in the drama lol.