LayarHijau.com – The romantic costume drama Love in Pavilion, starring Liu Shishi and Zhang Yunlong, has officially ended. The drama, which has been a highlight for two consecutive years, also featured popular stars such as Ding Yuxi, Meng Ziyi, Zhang Ruonan, and Hou Minghao. Its emotional finale brought tears to netizens, especially due to the tragic love story that ended in heartbreak.
In the final episode, the female lead Dongfang Huaizhu (Liu Shishi) finally marries and has a child with her lover Wang Quan Hongye (Zhang Yunlong). However, due to severe injuries sustained during a battle and her exhausted spiritual powers, Huaizhu dies in her husband's arms shortly after giving birth. Before her last breath, she tearfully asks Hongye to continue living for their son, Wang Quan Fugui. This heart-wrenching scene shattered the hearts of viewers.
What made the story even more tragic was the fact that, out of the eight members of the "Masked Group," six perished in a fierce battle against the main villain Black Fox. Even the character played by Ding Yuxi met a tragic end, being stabbed by Meng Ziyi’s character, who had turned evil.
Off-screen, Liu Shishi, Zhang Yunlong, Wu Xuanyi, and Zhai Xiaowen hosted a live broadcast to watch the final episode with fans. Before the show, Zhang Yunlong jokingly said, "I'll have a couple of drinks if I feel sad later." However, while watching the episode, all four of them ended up crying alongside the viewers. Their moment of lowering their heads and wiping away tears quickly went viral on social media, with netizens joking, "Were you supposed to watch with them or cry with them?"
In behind-the-scenes footage, Zhang Yunlong revealed that when filming Huaizhu's death scene, he suddenly recalled a line: "I don't want to change the world anymore. I admit I was wrong. Please bring Huaizhu back to me, okay?" This line immediately moved Liu Shishi to tears during the interview. Zhang could only comfort her gently, showing how deeply attached they were to their characters.
However, good news came from the production team, who released a special episode as a sweet ending for fans, writes Upmedia. In this special episode, Huaizhu and Hongye are reunited in a bamboo forest. Huaizhu is holding a paper umbrella and a green bamboo weapon, while Hongye carries his sword. They sit together and drink tea, and Hongye gently plucks a bamboo leaf from Huaizhu’s head before embracing her from behind. The scene closes with a symbol of their two magical weapons stacked together, representing their eternal love.
This extra episode made many viewers cry once again — this time not out of sadness, but because of the emotional and happy reunion. After the painful farewell in the final episode, this peaceful and loving reunion was a long-awaited comfort.
Love in Pavilion has successfully delivered a drama not only filled with action and intrigue but also with sincere love, sacrifice, and a heartwarming conclusion. No wonder this drama has become one of the most memorable shows in recent years.