vlees

I’m rewatching season 1 and there is the exact moment when we can hear CX’s thoughts when he’s looking at XY and A’Nian being happy and playful.

Episode 36, 43:40
„If one day, the rumor becomes true that Xiaoyao is Chi Chen’s daughter, then besides me, I’m afraid no one else in the world can protect her.”

Putting aside great ambitions, current scenario sounds like his dreams coming true 🥲 He wants to make XY fully dependent on him.

TGCF [*]
ZLH would absolutely nail the role of Hua Cheng :(

I said it was my bad allergies, haha

Yes! I have also mentioned here before another categories of love, but more on XY’s perspective:

Cang Xuan - family love. They grew up together, they share traumas and happy childhood moments. She will stay on his side unconditionally, never expecting anything in return. She’s not afraid of loving him because she doesn’t see him romantically.

Tushan Jing/Ye Shiqi - complementary love based on feelings of safety and trust. They’re very different but they also share similar experiences and want the same type of life. What she loves about him the most are the traits she doesn’t have well developed herself (he doesn’t fear to love and trust). Unconditional by choice. With him they can live a happy and simple life, cherishing simple moments, yet it’s not boring for someone like her who was longing for it her whole life.

Xiang Liu - passionate, soulmate kind of love. They’re like a mirrors for each other, very similar in many ways. This kind of love gives you a lot of character development as you’re learning about yourself. It’s the most passionate, full of fireworks and beautiful moments but it lacks stability. The similarities which brought them together may be the reason why that kind of love may not stand the test of time. I feel like XL is kind of love which is crucial and never forgotten, giving you the biggest life lesson and most beautiful memories.

Feng Long - just a bestie material, at most. They were getting along quite well but only business wise.

I think that since he was imprisoned by his brother making people don’t recognize him anymore back then and XY being the only one really caring about him, he stopped caring about the society and what those people think about him. The only opinion really important for him is the from the only person who made him feel respected and cared for him when he was „nobody” as Shiqi.

That’s the best summary of TSJ’s character I’ve read in this comment section. And I’m here constantly in the last days 😅

You get his character very well, loved to read your analysis ❤️

In those discussions about male leads there is so little about XY who also has her flaws and such a complex and layered personality. I love to see her having character development when it comes to her relationship with TSJ. On the other hand, her relationship with CX is going all over the place, she started acting like a teenage girl when with him and I guess it only fuels his obsession.

I absolutely love their bickering. He’s one of the very few people who can would not let her push him around 😂They would make such a nice couple, bickering and complaining but at the same time you can feel they respect each other and would make such a great duo. Ah well, unfortunately she’s fixed at her gege.

Well said!

I kinda envy people who will watch DY first, they have no spoilers about the main characters and their fate.

I am also rooting for He Yu as YDZ. I loved him in The Legend of ShenLi, hoping to see his other side in Dashing Youth!

They were the happiest when they were helping a mortals, common people. The fact XY's passion is drug & poison making. Those are the ways she can save and protect people who are important for her, with her own skills and hands.
That was a life without money, power, plotting. Without maids, fancy parties and formalities.

And that's the beautiful part about them and their relationship.

Making medicines all day, sharing an ordinary days filled with simple tasks, that's where they both found peace and comfort. They didn't find it boring at all. They were celebrating life as it was. Their lives were turbulent enough before to find beauty in this simplicity.

Biggest shipper next to Jing's maid

I love all of the main characters of this drama as all of them are complex, layered and it gives me a lot of mental stimulation.
I must say XL is my #1 favorite because his character development is the most interesting. I would lie if I would say that it's not also TJC's fault ;)

If I would have to choose, I would just ship them as a trio ;)

I love CX's character but I think I don't see him as a good partner material. He's too obsessed and too bound by his responsibilities as a ruler.

FL is okay, I guess? Pretty much marginalized as character, so not that much screen time to analyze or see more depth in him.

I found a soft spot for a two-headed-dog friend of Jing's. He brings some light in these dark times ;)

I agree, I recall it was mentioned that he refused to leave the formation because if he would, she would burn to ashes as she couldn't leave it, even not alive anymore. He did the best thing he could think of at this moment, which was preserving her body from being completely gone.

He chose his path and he will do everything to make it work. I think it's also kind of a mutual understanding between XL and TSJ. It's not something they were forced to do or a real transaction. They're helping each other (again, in a twisted way) knowing they both want XY to live well.

I don't even understand what's wrong with people wanting a simple life. Is not having so-called aspirations supposed to be something to be ashamed of?

TSJ already lived a life of a "golden child". He had it all that many people dream of and at the end of the day that was the reason his own brother was envious to the level of making him almost dead. His whole family was driven by aspirations and they all were just toxic, hurting each other repeatedly. Nobody noticed him as him, only as this perfect TSJ, future leader of Tushan clan.

He may be a "puppy slave" when it comes to XY, but with his good nature he finally found in his life someone who he can be fully himself with. He doesn't care what others think of him. He only cares what she thinks. After years of living to be perfectly viewed by everyone else, I think he deserves it. He wants to be a puppy, she likes him being puppy and what is wrong with it really? He does exactly what they agreed on. He trusts and gives first so XY can also open herself. Also, when needed he can show his protective side.

XY has feelings for TSJ exactly because of his good nature. He's doing everything to not hurt anyone. What you call an act of stupidity because he refused to kill his own brother is also something that XY respects about him. And it's not even about compassion - TSJ just refused to continue this cycle of violence and hatred. Unlike TSH, he didn't forget that they are brothers. He gave him a pass hoping that after venting his frustration and anger, TSH will let the past go. It was not long time ago when he realized what's really going on.

In the episodes 7&8 it was clearly stated why he didn't fight: he thought he didn't stand a chance anymore. I would not blame him for letting her go, if it only would make her happy. How comes something people praise XL about is at the same time something TSJ is being hated for?

[Trigger warning for content below: Sui**de]

I do not support the romanticization of sui**de in the media but at the same time I try to understand the reason behind his decision at that moment. He was deeply disturbed. If not for her, he would be dead long time ago. She literally gave him a reason to live by finally seeing and cherishing the real him.

Additionally, as I recall, she was already dead and what he did, he literally preserved her from being burnt to dust with his own body. All three of them saved her. If any of them would not show on time, she would not survive. We don't know how much of his power he had to use to preserve her from becoming ashes.

And he didn't die back then, he lost his will to live (meaning, he was deeply depressed what made him slowly dying for years).

Thank you, that's what I'm also thinking. TSJ is the most misunderstood character of this drama. The mutual respect between XL and TSJ, even if they're rivals (in a twisted way, but still) is also something people forget about when judging TSJ.

XL is not stupid, he would never root for a man who would make XY unhappy. He also wanted to stop this wedding and TSJ gave him a good opportunity to do it without showing his real feelings for XY. He just did in in his own way, as it would be expected of nine-headed-demon.

Yeah, I also have a soft spot for a two-headed-dog guy

This is going to be a very long weekend...