On Sunday at 8 p.m., the last of this season's three A-grade dramas—Hudu TV's big-budget production 'Lone Doctor', with an investment of over 40 million—officially aired.
But the response was... underwhelming.
Not that it was bad, but it didn't live up to the expectations many viewers had set.
SakuraNet, ZhongxiaNet, and HongsongNet—the three subsidiaries independently held by the Big Three TV stations—along with the co-invested RaccoonNet, formed the four major online streaming platforms in the Xia Nation.
Most young viewers followed dramas on both television and streaming platforms.
Over time, these four sites became hotbeds for real-time commentary and drama fan discourse.
After 'Lone Doctor' finished airing its first episode, as expected, viewers from all over gathered on the forums of the four platforms to discuss the new season's offerings.
"Say no more. 'Lone Doctor' was totally mid. The only highlight was Best Actress Ma Yijia's appearance. Without her, this show would've been trash."
"Same with Sakura TV's 'The Gilded Ones'. So boring. In this day and age, we're still doing cliché plotlines like that? I'm sick of it."
"Zhongxia TV's so-called thriller 'The Painted One' made me laugh more than scream. First time watching a 'scary' show and wishing I were the protagonist, lol."
"So bland. Just like last season, these A-grade shows might hit 4% ratings, at best. Dreaming of a breakout hit? Keep dreaming."
"But that one show that aired Saturday night—'Night Sakura'—actually had some charm. You could tell the screenwriter had real skill. Plot's predictable, but at least it doesn't insult your intelligence."
"Ugh, stop right there. 'Night Sakura' has the same writer as 'Pure Breeze'. Kiyota Sanji. Get ready for heartbreak by the end."
"Wait, really? Same writer as 'Pure Breeze'?"
"No way. I wasted an hour last night watching 'Night Sakura'!"
"Well, hey. Just because his last one sucked doesn't mean this one will, right?"
"Yeah, right. Writers like that don't change. If they've lost the plot once, they'll do it again."
"I didn't expect it, but this season might actually be worse than the last. We're about to enter a drama drought again."
"Man, last season only 'Rurouni Kenshin' was good. What a shame it was only four episodes and only aired online."
"Exactly. If 'Rurouni Kenshin' had aired in a prime-time TV slot? Imagine the numbers."
"If you liked 'Rurouni Kenshin', why not check out 'An Ancient Love Song'? Same writer."
"'An Ancient Love Song'? What the heck is that? Never heard of it."
"It's Su Yan's new work—the writer behind 'Rurouni Kenshin'. But apparently, the higher-ups didn't believe in it. They shoved it into Sakura TV's Sunday midnight slot. Actually, it's almost 11 now. In less than an hour, Episode 2 will air."
"???"
"Is it any good?"
"It's good. I'm picky with shows, but last week when I watched this, I was locked in from start to finish. Sure, the setting hasn't fully been explained yet, so it's confusing. But it's interesting and confusing."
"Let me give you the pitch: a modern guy time-travels to ancient times and falls for the future empress. How's that for a hook?"
"?!"
"What kind of wild concept is that?"
"Wait, really? That's the plot? Then how come it only got a 1.38% premiere rating? That's so low. Can a show with ratings that bad even be good?"
"Midnight slot, remember? Last season's show at the same time had only 0.96% for its premiere. At least 'An Ancient Love Song' beat its predecessor."
"Bro... Su Yan's new drama? Sakura TV execs really fumbled the bag. No promotion at all? I haven't even seen Episode 1—can I just start with Episode 2?"
"Totally. Episode 2 airs in an hour, and tomorrow night, Episode 1 will be on SakuraNet. It only costs a yuan to watch—no big deal."
As midnight approached, and with it the broadcast of 'An Ancient Love Song' Episode 2, Su Yan's fans started to stir.
Meanwhile, Cao Huan was already dead tired.
As a working adult with a healthy routine, he was used to early nights and early mornings.
But tonight, he was holding out.
Waiting.
Finally, at exactly midnight, the screen on Sakura TV flickered.
Cao Huan's eyes lit up—it was here.
The 'An Ancient Love Song' opening theme played.
Soon, the episode's title appeared:
Episode 13: Have I Entered a Time Loop?
Cao Huan narrowed his eyes in thought.
Episode 1 had been labeled "Episode 14."
And now, Episode 2 was marked as "Episode 13."
So his theory had been correct—the episodes were titled in reverse order.
Which meant the show had 14 episodes total.
And the final episode would be titled "Episode 1."
The plot picked up right where it left off:
Lu Yuan, leading the city's defenders, was clashing with Prime Minister Li Yong's rebel forces at the eastern gate.
In the thick of battle, Lu Yuan charged in and out of enemy lines with a gleaming longsword, dressed in a flowing red robe.
Cao Huan was stunned.
Was this really that frail, Tomoe-like woman?
Though the action choreography wasn't as graceful as Su Yan's in 'Rurouni Kenshin', it was clear that real effort had gone into this.
To Cao Huan, Lu Yuan—and her brother Lu Shi—seemed like characters inspired by Empress Wei Zifu and her nephew, General Huo Qubing.
Strong, heroic figures—rare among women and youth alike.
This battle showed just how powerful Lu Yuan was.
Which, by extension, made it believable when her younger brother Lu Shi would later rise as the Xia Nation's most idolized general.
Su Yan had taken inspiration from real history—the terrifyingly young and capable General Huo Qubing—making even these wild fictional achievements feel grounded.
Of course, the action was just a garnish. The plot was what mattered.
As Lu Yuan fought to protect Shen Buyan amidst the chaos, Li Yong stood watching from afar.
Seeing Shen Buyan under Lu Yuan's protection triggered something in him.
With a cold glare, he pulled a hidden crossbow from his sleeve.
Clearly, he knew who Shen Buyan was—and hated him.
He fired a silent, deadly shot.
Shen Buyan didn't even have time to react.
But Lu Yuan did.
She threw herself in front of him, pushing him back—and took the bolt straight through her back.
She collapsed into Shen Buyan's arms, barely breathing.
The defenders fell into disarray.
Li Yong took the chance to escape through the eastern gate with top-secret military intelligence and city defense maps in hand.
"...Huh?" Cao Huan stared at the screen, dumbfounded.
Wasn't Lu Yuan the female lead?
She couldn't die, right?
"Shen Buyan..." she whispered weakly from his arms.
Though Shen Buyan had never once told her his full name, she called it out anyway.
"Shen Buyan, don't be afraid."
She looked into his eyes—complex emotions swirling in her gaze—but smiled softly.
"Don't be afraid. You'll see me again."
The emotional score surged behind her words.
Gu Qingyuan's performance was breathtaking.
Cao Huan felt his nose sting.
See her again? What did that mean?
Did she think she wouldn't die?
Shen Buyan looked down at her bloodied figure.
This woman, who had risked her life for him—even though they'd only just met.
Rage boiled inside him.
Because now he knew the truth of Yuanqi Year 15.
Lu Yuan was no demon queen.
Li Yong was no righteous minister.
History had slandered this woman for a thousand years.
Suddenly, Shen Buyan jolted awake.
He was back in the modern world.
On his desk, five pieces of shattered jade.
Two had fused into one after being stained with his blood—now forming one large and three small shards.
Cao Huan was floored.
"Wait... what?!"
So that's how this works?
Lu Yuan just died like that?
The female lead sacrificed herself, and the male lead just suddenly popped back to the present?
Su Yan, what are you doing?
This was not the scene where she was supposed to die!
The plot should've been about saving her!
Naturally, Shen Buyan couldn't accept it either.
He glanced at the books on his desk.
The records had changed.
Now they stated that Lu Yuan had died in the Yuanqi Rebellion of Year 15.
His first time-travel had caused her death.
Cao Huan clenched his fists.
Unacceptable.
Shen Buyan, too, realized the link between the jade, the blood, and the time travel.
Desperate, he let a drop of blood fall on the fused jade.
Once again, everything went white.
"Third month, Shangsi Festival. Spring waters flow, fine wine flows."
The Sheng dynasty's capital bustled with life, the streets filled with festival-goers celebrating Shangsi.
Shen Buyan stood there—wearing the same ancient robes Lu Yuan had prepared for him during his first trip.
The capital glowed under thousands of lanterns.
He had returned.
Back to the ancient Sheng dynasty.
Back to the capital.
Back... to the night of the Shangsi Festival.
He had come to change the fate of the woman who had died for him.
To tell Lu Yuan everything.
Tell her that Li Yong would flee through the eastern gate.
Tell her that she would die there.
He would change her fate.
And then—he spotted her in the crowd.
That graceful figure, weaving through people, beautiful and poised, with a determined glint in her eyes.
Cao Huan's heart clenched.
Damn. No hesitation at all.
But something felt off.
If this was still the same night—only an hour before her death—then Lu Yuan should be waiting for him at the palace.
Waiting for their dinner, their three questions and answers.
Why was she out here?
And why was her outfit and makeup completely different from the first time?
Shen Buyan ran toward her, shouting her name.
Lu Yuan turned, as if recognizing the call.
Their eyes met across the crowd.
A fire-breather, glowing lanterns, and people all around them—two pairs of eyes, locking onto each other.
The scene was breathtaking.
Cao Huan's heart skipped a beat.
He felt like he might fall for Lu Yuan.
She was too beautiful.
Shen Buyan grabbed her hand.
"Your Majesty," he said urgently.
But then Yi Hua rushed over and pulled him away, calling him a creep.
After driving Shen Buyan off, Yi Hua led Lu Yuan back into the crowd.
Lu Yuan and Yi Hua... neither of them recognized him.
They were strangers again.
Separated, Shen Buyan was swept by the crowd into a place called Mirror Flower Tower.
There, he helped a mentally ill man, who gratefully handed him a token.
Then assassins appeared.
Seeing the token, they immediately tried to kill Shen Buyan.
Cao Huan was getting confused again.
Why was everything so different this time?
If he had returned to the night of Lu Yuan's death, shouldn't everything be the same?
Why was the plot changing?
At that moment, Lu Yuan burst in to rescue him from the assassins.
Then her brother, General Lu Shi, arrived.
And Shen Buyan realized—something was wrong.
In historical records, Lu Shi had died in the Yuanqi Year 5.
If this were Year 15, he should have been long gone.
Then it hit him.
This wasn't the Shangsi Festival of Lu Yuan's 36th year—when she died.
This was ten years earlier.
She was only 26.
She hadn't become the empress yet.
Her brother hadn't died yet.
A heavy, tragic feeling filled Cao Huan's chest.
No wonder.
The Lu Yuan from the first time knew Shen Buyan.
Because the 26-year-old Lu Yuan had met him... now.
Which meant—
How could Shen Buyan save the 36-year-old Lu Yuan?
He would never return to that night again.
Her death... was already sealed.
And when Lu Yuan had said:
"You'll see me again."
She hadn't meant she'd survive her wounds and see him again.
She meant... he'd see her in the past.
That first time—their walk through the festival, the three questions...
That had been the last night of Lu Yuan's life.
But for Shen Buyan...
This was the second time he'd see her.
When Cao Huan finally understood, his eyes welled with tears.
The 36-year-old Lu Yuan had known it all.
And still, with a smile, she'd said—
"We'll meet again!"