#jzx

Where instead of both families pushing for the marriage alliance to go through, one of them recognised the strain it was having on the actual relationship at its core, and broke it off.

Where, instead of marrying with the full knowledge that it was all just politics and strategy and unwilling obedience, they had the chance to properly court each other, to maybe even fall in love.

After all, we get several hints that the two DO love one another, deep down, whatever they show on the surface - Zidian unfurls for Jiang Fengmian, recognising him as a safe place for Ziyuan’s children, Fengmian goes all the way to Qishan to repair one of Madam Yu’s bracelets. Like a lotus, their relationship seems shallow and barely afloat, but the tangled roots extend way, way, down.

Maybe that’s why Jiang Fengmian chose to break off the engagement between Yanli and Zixuan in the first place. Maybe he was trying to be for them the person who never was for him.

If you have the time, watch Ueno’s interview in JDM Insider Vol. 2, where he talks about the struggles of starting a company from nothing. I revisit it often whenever I need a bit of motivation. One of the things that stuck with me was his advice on self learning: “Things that get asked get forgotten. Things you took the time to learn, you hold onto forever.”