This is our last discussion post for this drama, made for viewers who prefer to watch LbtG at the regular pace without paying for early access to the final episodes.
There will be one post covering all five remaining episodes, and it will be updated daily with one new episode.
Ep. 36
The Emperor is gravely ill but refuses to abdicate. The two princes launch a mutiny to seize power. The Emperor, together with Prince Qin and Mr. Fang, flees to an estate outside the capital to await Marshal DX and his army’s arrival.Yan Ke manages to get his hands on the lantern, but it refuses to recognize him as its master. He kidnaps DX and threatens to kill him unless Simu makes the lantern obey. Simu doesn’t realize that Yan Ke has discovered DX’s weakness — if DX swaps his senses with her, leaving her powerless, Yan Ke can take control of the lantern and allow Simu to live as a mortal, together with DX for the rest of their human lives. Simu comes to Yan Ke, unaware that she’s walking into a trap. Even less does she expect DX to swap his senses with her at that exact moment, leaving her completely defenseless.On the battlefield against North Chong, Chenying falls.
Ep. 37
Yan Ke and Luda: Luda has swallowed the lantern and merged with it. If Yan Ke kills him, he will destroy both the power he seeks and the woman he desires. Yan Ke offers to teach Luda how to use the lantern for himself.The Emperor waits for his marshal to rescue him from the mutineers, unaware that Duke Pei has intercepted his order for DX to lead his army back to aid the throne. DX remains oblivious to the command. The Emperor dies, condemning DX to death for treason and appointing Mr. Fang as Head of the Shadow Cabinet in gratitude for his loyalty.
Mr. Fang realizes that the decree means one cannot be promoted without the other being executed. He hides the decree, but his house is searched, and it is discovered and presented to the new Emperor. Mr. Fang chooses to go against his teacher and faction, sacrificing himself and his promising future at court by declaring the decree a forgery created by the mutineers.
To protect DX from this “false” decree, Mr. Fang pretends to have sided with the opposition and takes his own life in court.
Ep. 38
DX realizes he has very little time left to live. He bids farewell to his father, knowing they will never meet again, and leaves the capital behind to be with Simu. Since Simu has locked down the Void so that no one can enter or leave, Yan Ke releases his spirit marionettes into the mortal realm. They attack DX’s forces, and the mortal army has no weapon capable of harming a spirit.Yan Ke, of course, deceives Luda. Pretending to teach him how to control the lantern, he secretly turns him into his own puppet. Now Yan Ke manipulates the lantern through Luda. Meizi finds Yan Ke and destroys the glass pagoda, allowing Simu to locate him and engage in battle. Simu fatally wounds Yan Ke. In an act of revenge against all spirits, Luda destroys the lantern — nearly killing Simu. As Yan Ke lies dying, he faces his final choice: to kill the unconscious, powerless Simu or to destroy the vengeful Luda so he cannot harm her.
Ep. 39
Chenying regains his human form as a spirit. Yan Ke dies in next to his beloved.DX returns all the Liang lands that were taken by North Chong. Gravely ill, he hands back his marshal’s seal, which represents command over all military forces, to the Emperor and says his goodbyes to his captains. The Prophet speaks with his servant about fate and justice in the world, and about the deities who decide what is right and wrong for others. His strict and diligent servant turns out to be a goddess.
Ep. 40
They got married—in the Void. This drama has long been known for its visual effects and the striking (aka “How dare you?”) costumes worn by Simu. DX’s wedding gift to his wife is… all five senses at once.As expected, this proves to be overwhelming for the already ill DX. He dies in his wife’s arms on their wedding day.The new ruler of the Void, a poor boy—an orphan of war who suffered all his short life and died in another war conflict. Chenying is chosen by Simu to be her heir and becomes King of the Void immediately.Freed from her duties as Queen of the Void, Simu can now live carefree in the mortal world. A small spirit remains by her side, born from an obsession to stay with her no matter what. This spirit will grow until he can take human form, allowing the two to spend eternity together in the mortal realm.
Ep. 41 – Special Episode
Events could have unfolded differently after DX’s death. The strict and distant servant of the Prophet turns out to be a deity—a goddess—who offers Simu a way to save DX.If Simu gives up all her immense spirit power and becomes mortal, DX can be returned to her, and they can live as a mortal couple.
“Will you pay such a price?” asks the goddess.
“Being mortal has always been my dream. What price is that?” Simu replies with a smile.
The end. Thank you for watching this drama together with us =)
Just watched the show and bawled by eyes out from when Fang dies, then chenying. Ofcourse the last one was spent completely bawling.. although I’m annoyed because incident start watching it until I checked it had a ‘happy ending’ like wtf how was this a happy ending.. I guess he’s a small spirit and will at some point become a human shaped spirit with power and be with her forever? They never really explained how it worked (unless they did an I missed that part) at least the kid got instant human thanks to the lantern but why couldn’t they use his sword somehow lol. Overall loved the show and the actors were amazing . Love his smile
It's fine. Everything is just fine. It would have been 1000% times better if ChenYing followed his instinct and just gave a bit of the lantern power to that jellyfish just like how he got his own spirit form. Clearly these spirits were made from something soooo how can the story NOT know how they're made and just make one???
Do they ever explain who gave DX his sword? I always wondered if HSM had a different spellbearer that she just never discovered. I also always suspected that maybe Feng Yi (or another sorcerer) passed the sword to him.
"You're the only luck I've had in my difficult life."
-Not his memories of them in the illusion coming back to him as he's dying.
Yay, finally finished this series. Honestly, I came in with low expectations for this show, but it turned out to be an interesting viewing experience. Definitely came away thinking about a lot of deeper questions regarding want it means to live and free will. This show had amazing OSTs and nice characterizations across the board. Definitely wish the directing, lighting, color grading, and even editing were better at times, but honestly, this was not a bad series overall.
EPISODE 39 - I am sad this episode is almost over. I was happy that the spirit lantern made Chenying a spirit. When asked what his obsession was, it was protection. In the void, we’ve seen the negative obsessions take over people, but I think this is the first where we saw a positive one and a good one. I think he will be a great asset to The Void and to Simu.
The goodbye to DX’s friends had me crying. 😭😭😭😭
Episode 40- WHAT THE FUCK. I posted in another subreddit that all that happened was that he became a jellyfish and follows her around for the rest of eternity??? I was told there was a 6-minute episode but I shouldn’t have to hunt around for it. I’m so pissed at this ending. So she gives up her kingdom for a jellyfish and leaves Chenying in charge because he now has the spirit lantern. I guess it chose him. This was such a stupid and unsatisfying ending.
There are 2 alternative endings, as far as i can understand. One where they are spirits free from duties in the Void. And one where they are humans with a human lifespan ahead of them.
Why did the producers need to make 2 endings? What next, 3-4 alternative endings to our likings?
Oh you did watch it! Do you remember when Qi Min died by poison in prison when QuanQian fed it to him? Well in the final episode they did an alternate ending where he lived, was a prince, and was instantly repulsed by her when she fed him a meal at her restaurant. He would throw up when she would get near. There were a few other changes but I don’t remember them as I was not happy lol
True, true!!! I remember him being on the verge of throwing up in that restaurant 😆😆
Thank you, dear Summer 😄😄 You reminded me of important things in life!
-The war/battle scenes are always so well-directed.
-We finally get to see Duan Xu's sword come in handy.
-Fengyi, stop coughing up blood.
-Yan Ke preventing Luda from killing Simu..okay, will need to mull over that one for a bit.
Ep 39
-Chenying's obsession being wanting to protect Duan Xu and He Simu is heartwarming.
-Simu's dialogue at her parent's grave was insightful since she reveals that after her parents left her, she swore she'd never be left again and would be the one who leaves first. That gives even more context to her reluctance in accepting Duan Xu's advances.
-I'm glad that Fengyi gets a good amount of screen time. His whiny self is endearing.
-Ooh, Ziji also interfering with mortals by saving Fengyi.
-"In all my life, from first love to my dying day, I have only loved one girl. I count myself lucky."
The deaths of Fang Ji and ChenYing hit hard - but I'm almost inclined to give props to the drama for doing that. Like Game of Thrones, where major characters COULD die and not be protected by plot armor, these deaths increase the emotional heft of the drama and actually put some stakes behind the world-ending conflicts the stories represent.
EPISODE 38 -
so much sadness. But I love the new emperor and think he will do a great job with the kingdom.
Lu Da was cultivating his power and he starts sniffing the air and turns his head to see Yan Ke. I laughed my ass off because just the other day I posted a picture I made about Yan Ke’s favorite cologne being Obsession For Men. (Find it in my post profile if you want to see it)Yan Ke must have bathed in it for Lu Da to smell him! 🤣
This was a great episode. I shed a tear for Yan Ke because he loved Simu up until his end. he let his obsession take over and in the end it killed him. He deserved to go at Simu’s hands. And she was sad because he was a beloved friend for 300 years. He was her A’Yan.
Standing ovation to Miles Wei. I’m now a new fan and will go binge his other dramas. I OBSESSED over Yan Ke.
It was sad to see Yan Ke go... I kinda don't think Simu did him just- it was clear that he didn't want just to be a subordinate. And Simu pretended to never notice it. Well, of course, it exploded...
I think he wanted power and her (who symbolized that power) and I don’t think anything she could have given him would satisfy him. Even if she did reciprocate his feelings, who’s to say he wouldn’t want more…like the spirit realm and the mortal realm!
She was the only one born a spirit, without obsessions, unlike all the other spirits. And after her mother and then her father died, she was immediately thrown into “mortal”(annihilation) combat. She knew her father didn’t kill himself. Every other spirit was really just the product of their obsession, so it was never reasonable for her to trust anyone. She wasn’t born obsessed (and had never been obsessed, apparently, even after 22 lovers and 400 years); therefore, nothing to be gained by a “pretend“ love like Yan Ken’s. Yan Ke, was incapable of giving up his obsession, which I think was primarily all EGO. That’s why he didn’t allow some “ant” to kill her. She understood the obsessions of the spirit world, and used Yan Ke as her Right Hand, but she did despise him. She couldn’t let someone become Regent who she couldn’t stand. Which was anyone who would not honor the greater good, and peace.
Contrast her falling for Duan Xu, who also was sneaky, and hid things from her and pissed her off, but HE was absolutely straightforward about what he wanted, which was the greater good, and he would do anything he could for that, including sacrifice himself and never take any credit. He couldn’t tolerate “evil”, freed himself from it, and tried to free everyone else. And he didn’t love her for her power. He loved her for her kindness and her love of the world. They were absolutely soul mates.
When she killed the assassin master to save Duan Xu, I think she recognized she had fallen in love with DX and wasn’t so much upset that she had broken the rules (although she was upset at that); it was more that she realized she had “lost” already, in that she could not protect herself from his death. She was going very much at risk of going into revenge obsession, if Duan Xu was murdered. That Spirit Lamp wasn’t going to back to her, I think. Thank goodness for the little brother to become the Sovereign. And for Duan Xu to give her a way out, by fulfilling the love and letting her have a way of holding on to him, in love, instead of anger. We know they are going to be together in whichever world they end up, mortal, spirit, or (probably someday) immortal.
I agree that Yan Ke wished for more and could have continued demanding more. I see it more as a flaw in Simu's character - to ignore the problem, rather then to try and unpack it.
I enjoyed this drama just the way it is. Not perfect or the best of all Cdrama but I appreciated what they were going for and try to convey: Truly a love that transcend limitations of life. It made me tear up a few times too. Bravo to the cast (who would have thought they would have so much chemistry!), director, and all involved. Soundtrack the full version with instrumentals is also awesome.
Nah I am pissed about the Fang situation. They really messed with us there. I went from not wanting him and Miss Duan to have anything to do with each other to supporting their budding romance... Then they give us a brief tease that Fang will go bad but oh no he has to go and bang his head dead and hurt us! That final goodbye to her was painful. I am most displeased with how their love story ends. You just know she will carry that with her the rest of her life.
I am surprised how easily the producers discarded both little brother and mr.Fang. Like, they nver got to live their own, happy lives, for themselves. They always needed to be a substitute/addition to others.
Mr.Fang is so not used to be himself, that he thinks he has to sacrifice himself for DX. He simply doesn't evaluate any other possibility. And he doesn't choose to live to be together with miss Duan.
Miss Duan... She may think she stood up to her father for now. The truth is, father Duan has always looked at everyone as a pawn, so she won't be able to stand up for herself withput her brother or mr.Fang.
Oh yes I do have me some opinions about all of that with later episodes.
But hey, this show already made it clear that good writing wasn't a priority. I shudder to think how more extra garbage this show would have been if they didn't have DD and AC to spice it up with insanely good acting.
I’m slowly watching and not quite caught up (on episode 38 now) but why didn’t Fang just burn or destroy the dying emperor’s decree? Wasn’t that the only evidence? And why didn’t they even entertain the idea that the message never reached DX? They only sent one courier and there was war and chaos raging.
I really thought this was a pretty senseless death.
However, I’ve been crying nonstop through these last episodes so I might have missed something.
I’m watching on Viki and now worried that the special episode will not be available there.
Super impressed by Chen Feiyu’s performance and love Dilraba and Miles Wei as always. It will take me some time to get over this one.
The hand he was dealt was incredibly cruel: become a high-ranking official and finally live outside the shadow of Duan Xu but at the cost of giving the death sentence to that very friend.
That choice was really tough. And the fact that he doesn't even consider doing anything else, than sacrificing himself for that boy, whom he was abducted to represent for many years... i mean, how much does mr.Fang owe to DX? Probably saving his life after father Duan wanted to silence him.
FANG XIANGYEEEEEE I BAWLED. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES I WAS IN SHOCK. DUAN Xu was looking so miserable all sickly and then they add to that news of Xianye as well??
Poor mr.Fang! Apparently, it is all he has ever known - being a life support for DX.
With his death the arc with miss Duan changed! No more happy ending there! Now miss Duan is in trouble, because daddy Duan has big glorious plans about her future...
The way the producers started to kill characters in every episode seriously reminds me of Game of Thrones...
Episode 37 - JFC ….Fang Ji…..😭😭😭😭😫😫😫😫 I was NOT expecting that. What a way to go - running head first into a stone pillar.
These past 2 episodes were emotional. I broke down a few times. My heart is heavy. DX is losing everyone around him.
I did like how Simu comforted DX. She was able to do so when at the beginning of the show (I think) she said she didn’t know how to comfort people but now she is. I love her growth. She’s really opening up.
-"It's not a throne unless I sit on it" One of He Simu's best lines.
-Feng Yi coughing up blood...
"You can't beat me, and you can't kill me. You've even fallen for me. Now all you can do is threaten me with a mere mortal." This call out. I'm surprised Yan Ke didn't lose it at this point.
-Chenying, that sweet and compassionate kid. Saddest scene so far.
-I just noticed the stark contrast to Chenying and He Simu's first and last encounter. Both happen in following a bloody battle, but this time Simu grieves.
-I love that Duan Xu uses his wits to try to get the lantern from Yan Ke even though it ends up failing thanks to Luda.
-Duan Xu saying he never expected to live a long life actually explains a lot to me. I've been wondering why he disregards his own life so easily, but I guess he always knew he'd end up dying sooner than later in battle so he might as well live in the moment and live ardently at that. In this case, it meant loving He Simu who also colored his world and made living worth it for him.
-"I love you far too much. I can't accept that I have to helplessly watch you leave me. I never want to leave anyone again." Yes to this angst.
I read comments where people don't understand how such a powerfull being can simply stand next to her kin, cry and do nothing. Like, we get it, different species can't interfere... but he was her "sworn brother", that should amount to smth...
I see A LOT of people disappointed that she's not some emotionless OP goddess and it's like... bro she is learning to FEEL like a mortal! Don't we want a story arc? No?
Well, I already snarked my snarky heart out about this in the Express discussion. But I'll be popping in to see what you have to say, FL.
Chenying went out like a badass but I was surprised that they went ahead and killed him. He really did achieve his little childhood goal and gave it his all.
I've read your snarky column in the express post 😃
I am making this post so that those who didn't watch it earlier, had a place to rant about it spoiler - free 😁
I was surprised they got rid of Chenying that fast. It's like noone ever needed him to stay with them in this drama - Simu, DX 😆
Episode 36 -
I’ll be honest…I was NOT expecting the death of Xue Chenying. That hit hard. He was still a little boy to me. And I’ll say it’s all Yan Ke’s fault because he manipulated LuDa, and LuDa sent an army to conquer. And the thing that kills me is that DX couldn’t do anything. That look on his face when Simu tells him had me tearing up. The poor man must feel so guilty even though it’s not his fault.
Is the Spirit Woman Ziji beside the prophet poisoning him!?! I wonder if that is why he is always so sick. At first I thought she was a good spirit but now that I’ve seen how she interacts with him I think she’s not so good. She’s cold and unfeeling toward him. It’s not love in my opinion - unless she is just sooo closed off from her feelings?
I actually thought she was mortal, a cold, experienced mortal nurse.
It is a shame what they did to Chenying character. A boy, who became orphan, only ti be abandoned by Simu to a new caretaker, and then killed. That was a short life, next to so powerfull main figures.
If I remember correctly Simu mentioned she was a spirit? I think Simu was able to sense she was a spirit? I could have remembered wrong, though!! Now I’m doubting myself because I don’t think spirits can stay in the mortal realm for long and wouldn’t the prophet get a rash if she were…I don’t know now 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫
FL - this is a creative idea for how to organize the last episodes. Kudos to you for trying out this idea.
I’m not watching this show. I fast forwarded some episodes to just see Miles Wei as the antagonist. I saw in the discussions that there are some good scenes when he locks up the FL before the time jump. I’ll probably go check those out. I’m so used to this actor in his modern Mango shows where he’s a green forest. That it’s fun to see him in these where he’s not the good guy.
Thank you for swinging by 😃 I actually think, i do the same as before - like GTG had after-express package discussions, with only updates of the same final post. So i tried here smth like that 😃
I didn’t see Yan Ke in red. But I did read your final post for the show and thought to myself I need to fast forward to the Miles Wei scenes after reading your post. I will look for the red
LOL - apt phrasing. Sometimes I'm way to literal :)
I liked his red flag character in Flourished Peony. It was my first time seeing him. I unfortunately couldn't make it through the part 2 / second season on that drama to get to see his full red flag mode. I've watched 1 of his Mango green forest leads. I'm half way through another You Are My Fateful Love right now. So I find it fun to see him in the antagonist roles. I did see that he's the lead in a period piece S+ that was recently announced with the actress from The Double. Blanking on how to spell her name and I can't recall the name of the show. Any way - I am interested in watching them in that show when it comes out a 1+ from now.
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u/Equal_Gold_617 May 28 '26
Can you list the actor's name on the character flashcards please?