@windiaaa

Funny that you mentioned Zu Yu and Qingyang, because when I was reading their diagrams, I instantly thought of XL and XY. Do you happen to know more about their story or at least what happened to zu yu after qingyang died? I see that he was engaged  to someone, but he died on the day he got married. Maybe @H19279 too, please? I am quite curious. 

 blabla100:

@windiaaa

Funny that you mentioned Zu Yu and Qingyang, because when I was reading their diagrams, I instantly thought of XL and XY. Do you happen to know more about their story or at least what happened to zu yu after qingyang died? 

I don't know much about them. This friend's comment might help

大家好,我是來自台灣的《長相思》十年老書粉,關於桐華的人物關係圖,我有話要說。
看到有留言刻意使用標註空心的(瑲玹/阿念)(瑲玹/小夭)的單戀來比喻,試圖誤導大家認為也是標註空心的相柳與小夭不是互相喜歡,實際上並非如此!如果空心表示的是單戀,直接標註”單戀” 就好了,何必要標註是”愛慕”呢?

這張圖總共出現了四個空心 (瑲玹/阿念)(瑲玹/小夭)(相柳/小夭)(青陽/茱萸)
阿念單戀瑲玹,瑲玹單戀小夭,但另外兩對可不是單戀!
(相柳/小夭)這對人物介紹已經寫明了:
小夭「對相柳有情,但誤以為相柳討厭自己」,
相柳「一生摯愛小夭」, 明顯不是單戀!

(青陽/茱萸)是《曾許諾》的人物,茱萸原身是木頭,不懂情愛,愛而不自知, 青陽知道茱萸喜歡他,但他不說破。
《曾許諾》原著有一段如下:「也許大哥是明白的,可明白的大哥卻一直任由朱萸不明白,只因為他肩頭的責任未盡,也許他曾想過有朝一日,等肩頭的責任盡時,再帶著朱萸去天南地北地流浪,就像他們初相遇時一樣。如果沒有那麼一天,他寧可朱萸永遠不明白,永遠不懂得傷心,但他不知道朱萸終於傷心了。」
這段敘述有沒有相柳的既視感呢?


Google translate :

Hello everyone, I am a fan of "Lost You Forever" for ten years from Taiwan. I want to say something about Tong Hua's character relationship chart.
I saw some comments deliberately using the metaphor of unrequited love (Xuanxuan/A Nian) and (Xuanxuan/Xiaoyao) marked with a hole sign, trying to mislead everyone into thinking that Xiang Liu and Xiaoyao, also marked with a hole sign, don't like each other . In fact, this is not the case! If the hollow represents unrequited love, just label it "unrequited love". Why is it necessary to label it "admiration"?

There are a total of four holes in this picture (Xuanxuan/A Nian) (Xuanxuan/Xiaoyao) (Xiangliu/Xiaoyao) (Qingyang/Zhuyu)
A-Nian is in one-sided love with Xuanxuan, and Xuanxuan is in one-sided love with Xiaoyao, but the other two couples are not in one-sided love!
(Xiang Liu/Xiao Yao) The introduction of this character pair has been stated clearly:
Xiaoyao “had feelings for Xiang Liu, but mistakenly thought that Xiang Liu hated her”,
Xiang Liu's "love of his life, Xiao Yao" is definitely not unrequited love!

(Qingyang/Zuyu) is a character in "Once Promised". Zhuyu was originally made of wood and did not understand love. She loves without realizing it.
There is a passage in the original work "Once Promised" as follows:
[Perhaps the eldest brother understands, but the eldest brother who understands always lets Zhu Yu not understand, just because the responsibility on his shoulders has not been fulfilled. Maybe he had thought that one day, when the responsibility on his shoulders would be fulfilled. , he will take Zhu Yu all over the world. He wandered around, just like when they first met. If there was no such day, he would rather Zhu Yu never understand and never know how to be sad, but he didn't know that Zhu Yu was finally sad.
Does this narrative have a sense of déjà vu for Xiang Liu?]


This is a bonus image courtesy of a friend from Taiwan named Kathleen Chou


@windiaaa

Thank you, windiaaa! Do you, by any chance, know in which chapter of once promised does zu yu finds about his death? 

 blabla100:

@windiaaa

Thank you, windiaaa! Do you, by any chance, know in which chapter of once promised does zu yu finds about his death? 

I don't know.maybe someone else knows. @H19279??

 blabla100:

@windiaaa

Thank you, windiaaa! Do you, by any chance, know in which chapter of once promised does zu yu finds about his death? 

Zhu Yu found out about Qing Yang's death in Vol 2 Ch17  (2011 edition)  / Vol 2 Ch14  (2019 revised edition). The title of the chapter is 山河破碎风飘絮 "Mountains and Rivers Shattered. Snowflakes carried by the Wind".

Today,I also asked @Kathleen Chou, are the xy and xl posters printed together with the 2nd book? and she said Yes,this poster was included in the second book.长相思02  - Lost You Forever Vol 2. "诉衷情 Love Confessed"

Edit: Liddi,all your guesses are correct, thank you.

 liddi:

Zhu Yu found out about Qing Yang's death in Vol 2 Ch17  (2011 edition)  / Vol 2 Ch14  (2019 revised edition). The title of the chapter is 山河破碎风飘絮 "Mountains and Rivers Shattered. Snowflakes carried by the Wind".

Thank you liddi.^^

I really want to read it too

omgad! @windiaaa041293 I remember when you posted this in FB...and that crazy Yaojing Troll who obviously didn't effing read the book, kept using cut and paste crap from Yangzi interviews and screenshots to discredit us. I was convinced then, and more than ever now,  that she was actually not really a fan of the book or drama, just a crazy Yangzi or Deng Wei fan trying to defend thier official couple shenningans. 

@liddi When I was translating 有情, I had also concluded that it could also be translated as be "in love". What would have been an more accurate way to say in love then? In Hmong, 有情 could be translated as ”muaj kev hlub (have love)” or "muaj siab rau (have liver [heart] towards)" ... either way, it points towards of having strong emotions for another person. 

The infamous YaoJing Troll seriously was saying having feelings for someone could be for a friend or family...which in English, it could be interpreted that way....but I just couldn't see it this way because culturally, Hmong don't use words like love to show love towards lovers, friends and family...we use acts of service, gift giving or food. Traditionally, love between lovers tends to expressed in sublte ways and indirectly too. It is very modern to use words of affirmation to demonstrate love...as YaoJing is mostly based of from. 

So in cultural context, does 有情 used similarly like in western context to cover a basis like friends and family? In the Hmong translation, it could never be used in the context of friends or family. 

 blabla100:
Do you, by any chance, know in which chapter of once promised does zu yu finds about his death? 

 windiaaa041293:
I really want to read it too

The following is the excerpt from the chapter in Once Promised when Zhu Yu finds out about Qing Yang's death:

A Heng said, "There's something I've never told you. Actually, you can never become my sister-in-law. My eldest brother died in the first Battle of Ban Quan."

Yun Sang stared at A Heng in disbelief, and A Heng breathed a sigh of relief. "I finally told you this secret that has been weighing on my heart."

After a while, Yun Sang accepted this fact. "Does Imperial Mother know?"

"She does. Before she passed away, Imperial Mother specifically instructed me to choose the right time to tell you. Imperial Mother said you would always be her daughter, and she and the Shen Nong king both hope for your happiness."

Yun Sang gazed at the pairs of flying moths silently.

A Heng continued, "My eldest brother is gone, and you can never become the future queen of Xuan Yuan, and interfere with the Xuan Yuan politics. So, don't endure the humiliation and burden anymore to stay in Xuan Yuan anymore. Just leave. While you still can, escape as far away as possible!"

Tears slowly fell from Yun Sang's eyes. "You don't understand. Some things are destined from the moment we were born. No matter where we escape to, we cannot escape our own bloodline."
:
Yun Sang took out a piece of silk handkerchief, smeared the coloured powder on the moth's body on her finger and wrote, "If he causes trouble, then..." Yun Sang's hand trembled uncontrollably, and she could not continue writing for a while, while A Heng stared at her in confusion. After a while, Yun Sang forcefully wrote, "then kill him!" The word "kill" was especially messily written.

Yun Sang handed the silk handkerchief to A Heng. "With just eight words, do you think it can possibly be sent? It does not reveal anything about Xuan Yuan, and is merely a matter concerning our Shen Nong tribe. There is a general who has some connections with me. I'm afraid Chi Chen might be suspicious of me and would not order the kill."

A Heng readily agreed, "Okay, I'll call Zhu Yu and have her quietly deliver it to Chi Chen."

Before she could speak, Zhu Yu walked out from the forest, staring straight at A Heng. Staggering, swaying with each step, she seemed like she might fall at any moment.

A Heng was secretly dismayed. She had thought that with Yun Sang's moths standing guard, anyone who was eavesdropping would be detected, but she had forgotten that in accordance to her eldest brother's orders, Zhu Yu set up a protective plant and tree formation to protect the Imperial Mother on Zhao Yun Peak hundreds of years ago.

"Who is the eldest brother that you are talking about? If His Highness Qing Yang knew you were calling others as eldest brother, he would be angry. Once he returns from Gui Xu, Your Highness will be in trouble."

A Heng's throat constricted, unable to speak, so Yun Sang tried to speak for her. A Heng raised her hand, indicating she wanted to tell Zhu Yu herself. She looked at Zhu Yu and slowly said, "My eldest brother, Qing Yang, is already dead."

Zhu Yu looked stunned. After some time, she then seemed to be talking to herself, "His Highness Qing Yang is dead? But he asked me to guard Zhao Yun Palace and wait for him to return. I'm still waiting for him. How could he not come back? No, you're lying!" As Zhu Yu murmured, she began to tremble, and her entire body slid down. A Heng and Yun Sang supported her from both sides. "Zhu Yu, Zhu Yu..."

"What is wrong with me? Why can't I muster any strength, I can't even stand up." Zhu Yu pressed her chest. "Why does it feel like there's a knife moving in my chest? Am I injured? But I have not fought with anyone..."

A Heng placed her hand on Zhu Yu's wrist, her heart pounding as she stared blankly at Zhu Yu.

Yun Sang saw that Zhu Yu's whole body was shaking with pain yet A Heng remained silent for some time, so she anxiously urged, "What's wrong with Zhu Yu? Is she ill?"

"She is neither ill nor injured. She is just..." A Heng's voice suddenly choked up, her eyes filled with sadness and pity.

"Just what?" Yun Sang asked urgently.

"Just... heartbroken, her heart is in pain."

"Heartbroken? Heart in pain? I... I'm just a piece of rotten wood with a rotten core. How could I be heartbroken or in pain? Both Shao Hao and His Highness Qing Yang said I couldn't understand what heartache feels like. Out of curiosity, I begged His Highness to use magic to let me experience heartache once, but he said he could not do it. He even said that it was good not to be able to feel heartache, as I would never be heartbroken in my life... Both of you are mistaken!" Zhu Yu pushed aside Yun Sang and A Heng, struggled to stand up, then took the handkerchief written by Yun Sang. "Do you want to secretly give this to Chi Chen? I'll go now." As she spoke, she staggered away.

"Zhu Yu, Eldest Brother can never come back anymore. You are free now. If you want to leave Zhao Yun Peak..."

"Shh!" Zhu Yu suddenly whirled around, her index finger on her lips, indicating to A Heng not to speak anymore. "I do not believe what you said. His Highness Qing Yang will come back! Your Highness, although you are his younger sister, you don't understand His Highness. Do you know how furious he was when Yun Ze died? Do you know his sadness when you got married? Do you know how he blamed himself when Her Majesty fell ill from anger?"

A Heng was speechless, and Zhu Yu became angrier as she spoke. "You don't know anything! You don't understand His Highness Qing Yang at all, so how dare you say he will not come back? For thousands of years, he and I have accompanied each other every day. When I was a piece of rotten wood, I hid in his arms and was with him as he traveled the world. After cultivating into a human form, I have been serving him. I know everything he does, his likes and dislikes. At any time, His Highness Qing Yang will fulfil what he says. He has never broken his word. It has only been others who let him down, but he has never let others down. He told me to wait for him to return, so he will definitely return." After Zhu Yu finished speaking, she turned her head angrily and walked off.

"Zhu Yu!" A Heng cried out in sorrow.

"What?" Zhu Yu turned back angrily, her face pale, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, clearly still in pain.

A Heng was silent for a while, then shook her head gently. "Nothing. Take good care of Cang Xuan. When Eldest Brother returns, he will reward you."

Zhu Yu smiled brightly. "Yes, I know!" Nodding vigorously, she floated away.

Yun Sang stared at her retreating figure. "What a foolish girl. It turns out she has feelings for Qing Yang... Not only did we not discern it, she does not even understand it herself. Do you think she understands her feelings for your eldest brother now?"

"Now that Eldest Brother is gone, it no longer matters whether she understands or not." Although A Heng said it did not matter, her tears flowed down her face. Perhaps Eldest Brother did understand. But Eldest Brother who understood always kept Zhu Yu ignorant, just because he had unfinished responsibilities. Perhaps he once thought that one day, when the responsibilities on his shoulders were fulfilled, he would take Zhu Yu to wander the world, just like when they first met. If that day never came, he would rather Zhu Yu never understood, never knew what sadness was. But he did not know that Zhu Yu was finally sad after all.

"Will Zhu Yu really keep on waiting? Them wood demons live longer than even the deities."

"I don't know. I only know that she is very obedient to Eldest Brother. Years ago when she was outside Yu Abyss, she almost got swallowed by the abyss, but since Eldest Brother told her to wait, she continued to wait without moving even a step."

Tens of thousands of years of waiting, treating the ground as a prison, freezing the long stretch of time in the moment when they parted, forever in the time just before that person left, smiling, laughing, earnestly admonishing. It seemed foolish, but was this not a kind of wisdom? Yun Sang sighed softly and silently walked towards the mulberry forest. The flying moths fluttered around her like a blooming flower, gradually disappearing into the lush mulberry forest.

-- Once Promised, Vol 2 Ch14  (2019 revised edition), 山河破碎风飘絮 Mountains and Rivers Shattered. Snowflakes carried by the Wind

 plor20:
@liddi When I was translating 有情, I had also concluded that it could also be translated as be "in love". What would have been an more accurate way to say in love then? In Hmong, 有情 could be translated as ”muaj kev hlub (have love)” or "muaj siab rau (have liver [heart] towards)" ... either way, it points towards of having strong emotions for another person. 

有情 literally means "has feelings", or more specifically can mean "has [romantic] feelings" / "has love". 

In Chinese, the term itself is not solely used to represent romantic love. 

If used in the phrase 有情有义, the 情 actually refers to sympathy for the weak, friendship for friends, love for the beloved, affection for relatives, compassion for others. refers to loyalty, trustworthiness, morality and justice. So when someone is described as 有情有义, it means that the person is kind, values feelings, loyal and upright.

Nonetheless, the noun 有情 (literally "people with feelings") always refers to lovers.

In the case of Xiao Yao's character description, 有情 should mean "has love" within context. Nonetheless, I kept the translation as "has feelings" because the term "has feelings" itself basically refers to romantic feelings too. 

 windiaaa041293:
Edit: I ask permission to post this diagram in a thread I created.^^

Just saw this - sure. Thank you for asking.

@liddi

Thank you so much, liddi! Eldest brother seems very similar to XL. 

"Eldest Brother who understood always kept Zhu Yu ignorant, just because he had unfinished responsibilities. Perhaps he once thought that one day, when the responsibilities on his shoulders were fulfilled, he would take Zhu Yu to wander the world, just like when they first met. If that day never came, he would rather Zhu Yu never understood, never knew what sadness was. But he did not know that Zhu Yu was finally sad after all."

@liddi

Thank you for your clarification. It's been mind boggling for me when I encounter people who read the translated version of LYF with no requards or interest in putting those words in cultural context. Obviously, you only know what you've been taught, so I can't even be mad about it....you don't know what you don't know, right?

Maybe someone has already discussed this, but I finished reading "Once Promised" only yesterday and noticed many parallels between Chi You and XL. After Xiao Yao met her mom, how did her relationship with XL change? 

 Meow:

Maybe someone has already discussed this, but I finished reading "Once Promised" only yesterday and noticed many parallels between Chi You and XL. After Xiao Yao met her mom, how did her relationship with XL change? 

Her relationship with XL didn't change, only her anger and resentment towards her parents was subsided. I guess she learned to let go of that part of her trauma, but still fails to grow and be the woman she ought to be.