LanLan

Yeah besides the romantic aspect, I really liked the extra details from the book. YL's story was consistent without much changes. In the past life, ZZ killed himself after finding out JXN made the deal with XW to spare his life. He also had a do-over like JXN, and their break up scene was a lot different in the book. His mother never died in the second life. JXN came over to their house and his mother treated her to dumplings. It was revealed then that JXN and ZZ both have memories of their past lives' events. Knowing that her actions caused everything that happened including his mother's death, they both couldn't carry on a relationship with that on their conscience.

The drama also took book details and exchanged them between XW and ZZ's characters. Like there was none of the celebration dinner or date in the snow with ZZ on her birthday. XW found out her birth date and cooked her a bowl of longevity noodles(equivalent to a birthday cake) and had his servant delivered it to her without telling her it was from him. She ended up thinking it was from the princess and didn't find out until later that it was from him. And after the break up scene in the drama, when XW hugged and comforted her, that whole line about her finding someone more suitable was actually the break up speech between her and ZZ in the book. So ZZ was the one who actually told her to find someone more suitable if not better. Also, in the "kill me" scene, XW didn't force her to stab him. She did it all on her own. The speech was pretty much the same and he gave her the knife, but she basically got so fed up that she stabbed him, then went off to drink with the princess and YFY like nothing happened. So she was also pretty crazy herself 😂

Below are links to the machine translated novel version and the fan translation. I'm not sure how far the fan translation got since this scene is much later near the end like in the drama. If it's machine translated then it would be hard to understand what was implied. Basically, they had to keep up this lovers act for a few nights, not just once. Every time, her noises would make him horny so he ended up making out with her. Then it was implied that he went as far as shoving his 🍆 into her mouth but stopped himself when he noticed her eyes started tearing up. The drama cut out and toned down quite a few spicy scenes lol.

Novel's Link: https://www.mtlnovel.com/kunning/ or https://www.novelhall.com/a-ladys-tranquility-17087/ or https://www.scribblehub.com/series/585008/story-of-kunning-palace/

Fan translation in progress of updating: https://ladykelpitranslations.com/2024/01/06/the-story-of-kunning-palace-chapter-one/

I read the Vietnamese translated version so not sure how the English one is. I think the fan translation is still in progress. It was good to get more details about certain events(particularly ZZ's arc), but overall, I like the drama's characterization of the main leads better. I read it before watching the drama and didn't feel the chemistry even though things were a lot spicier. I even got a bit of icky vibes from XW when it came to the romance in the novel. But in the drama, I love everything about him, even his murderous hobo tendencies, which doesn't exist in the novel.

I did like that he was more dangerous in the novel though. He was perfectly in control of himself when he turned stabby, was very good at martial arts, and was the one who xxxx in the end. (Not sure if you've finished yet, so I don't want to include any spoilers). Oh and he also very bluntly opposed JXN's father when he didn't approve of them. When papa Jiang was schooling him about being too old for his daughter, he clapped back about how she was mistreated growing up and that if papa Jiang couldn't raise her well then he will raise her for him 😂

If you read the novel's version of that scene, her fake noises made him so horny that he started doing stuff to her 🫢

I think it's definitely worth watching for the visuals and fight scenes. My advice is when you get to the final episode, stop yourself from watching the last 5 minutes, at the 42:28 minute mark to be specific, and the story can end satisfactorily there. Watching any further will turn it into a frustrating/sad open ending.

I'm amused following your progress as a ZZ fan and slowly converting into a "XWaholic" 😂

If you noticed, in the flashback 4 years ago when they were on their way to the capital and XW introduced himself to JXN, his voice was a higher pitch because the character was supposed to be younger and ZLH was meticulous about that detail. MJTY was a live audio recording and I think it still sounds pretty nice, especially when he does the soft whispery love voice lol.

It's the first time I've seen it directly in the front row though so it gives me some hope. DYX's drama is in the second spot and there's rumors that it's air dropping soon. So hopefully FSM will be coming after that.

Yes, it finished on the 7th.

Wrap up video is finally here! I'm so happy with the color grading, it's similar to TBoY like I wished. I hope they will keep this version in the final edit. Looking forward to final trailer's release.
http://xhslink.com/42H8BB

It's on the top spot of iqiyi's coming soon section currently. I hope that means it will be premiering asap.

I'd have to respectfully disagree that ZLH looks in other dramas don't compare to ones styled by YXY. It's fine that you have a preference to her and even though I said her designs feel repetitive, I do find it in a higher class than other xianxias.

However, the other historical dramas ZLH has starred in or will be starring in all have their own beauty as well. QJM's dramas have a rich and decadent vibe to his garments with the gold threads, beadings and velvety fabrics. It was especially fitting with the upper-crust family depicted in MJTY. In SOKP it was more subtle and simplistic for the subdued elegance of Xie Wei, an aristocrat who was hiding in plain sight. The Grand Princess is his most richly wardrobed character to date, with at least 40 outfits in total. They are a completely different feel from the previous dramas in design and fabric textures, but no less elaborate and eye-catching and very much appropriate for the dynasty it's set in. I will agree that his wig there is a bit questionable, but at least his pretty face will pick up the burden lol.

Wrap up videos from fancam.
http://xhslink.com/KQ2gfB
http://xhslink.com/hOqhfB

iQIY sold them LBFAD though, but Netflix probably negotiated hard for it since they love WHD on their platform.

I've always thought she was very good since ALTCFL. A natural beauty and natural acting.

Filming will start wrapping on Feb 6. This is the first time I've chased a drama starting from its "embryonic" stage 😄 Can't wait until it airs.

I doubt they will film anything other than different ways of kissing so it should be fine with censorship. I'm just glad they're even attempting to show that those moments exist from the novel. I had expected them to just cut them out completely. I'm really curious about how they'll interpret the bath scene 😂

Makes sense for them to leave those until the end to film now that the actors are well acquainted and more comfortable around each other. There were many risque scenes in the novel given that they have a healthy loving husband and wife relationship, so I'm glad the drama is trying to capture that aspect. I was worried when this was first announced with this writer, but based on all the reuters and reports from fans at the site, it seems they've been following pretty closely to the novel.

Idk… I feel like the majority who love SOKP love it for its completely satisfying and happy ending. Leading them blindly into watching AJTL seems a bit “unethical” 😄

Just binged this in 2 days and what an unexpected surprise. My first highly rated drama of 2024. I liked it so much that I need to revise the Viet AI subs so I can let my mom watch it, too. Anxin’s mama wins mother of the year. As infuriating as Ruohua’s mom was, her character development into a better mother was believable and well done.