LayarHijau.com — Zhang Wanyi has experienced a surge in popularity following the success of the drama Lost You Forever, in which he starred alongside Yang Zi, Tan Jianci, Deng Wei, and Wang Hongyi. He has also appeared in various popular dramas, including Are You The One and The Rise of Ning.
His latest costume drama, Si Jin, has concluded early for VIP users on the Tencent and WeTV platforms. In this drama, the characters played by Zhang Wanyi and Jing Tian manage to resolve misunderstandings from their past lives. After accidentally killing Jing Tian's character in a previous life, Zhang Wanyi sacrifices his life and memories for her rebirth.
The explanation below contains spoilers.
At the beginning of the drama, the character Jiang Si, portrayed by Jing Tian, is suddenly shot in the heart by the seventh prince, Yu Jin, played by Zhang Wanyi. She does not understand why her lover killed her and dies filled with hatred, but she receives a chance to be reborn. Jiang Si ultimately returns to Nanwu and leads her community toward prosperity.
The elders of Nanwu recognize her contributions and give her a secret book. Upon opening the book, she learns the truth about her rebirth; Yu Jin accidentally killed Jiang Si in a previous life.
The two characters then resolve their misunderstandings and reunite in the palace with a passionate kiss, creating a sweet and romantic moment.
At the end of the story, Princess Rongyang, portrayed by Huang Yi, becomes completely evil after the death of her beloved daughter, Cui Mingyue, played by Xu Hao. She not only forces her brother, the emperor, to abdicate in order to elevate herself as empress but eventually loses her sanity.
To compel her brother, the king, to surrender the imperial seal, she does not hesitate to kill a noble child for a stick of incense. When she attempts to end her brother’s life, her lover, General Cui, chooses to remain loyal to the king and patriotically ends his own life. They were a happy couple in their youth, but gradually drift apart as Princess Rongyang’s ambitions continue to grow.
In the end, General Cui chooses to cooperate with Yu Jin to save the king, which also ends his years of entanglement with Princess Rongyang. Meanwhile, the emperor eventually hands over the throne to Yu Jin, who, alongside Jiang Si, becomes the king and queen, ruling the world together.
The ending of Si Jin has received positive reviews from viewers in China, according to upmedia. Compared to the beginning of its airing, where Zhang Wanyi and Jing Tian were criticized for lacking chemistry, they have now successfully showcased a unique chemistry in the finale.
The screenwriter crafted the plot carefully, connecting the backstory from several earlier episodes and depicting Princess Rongyang's actions in killing the prince, making Yu Jin’s ascent to the throne more logical.
The villainous character in the story, such as Princess Rongyang, not only commits evil acts but also reveals a softer side. Due to her dissatisfaction and ambition, she loses control over family and romantic relationships, ultimately leading to her tragic death at the hands of her lover, which evokes sympathy from the audience.