Drama Review: An Ancient Love Song

An Ancient Love Song (古相思曲)

Main Cast & Synopsis

Information provided below may contain errors due to watching it RAW. All episodes can be watched in any of the linked platforms below. *currently slowly watching this one – will update later.

Shen Bu Yan (played by Guo Jia Nan) is a historical fiction blogger and author, and his latest book, “Southern Sheng Chronicles,” revolves around Lu Yuan (Zhang Ya Qin), the forgotten “demon empress” of history. One night, Shen Bu Yan unexpectedly finds himself transported back in time, meeting the demon empress, who strangely seems to recognize him. As he embarks on a journey through time, he unravels the mysteries of the past and becomes entangled with the demon empress, Lu Yuan.

Guo Jia Nan is known for his leading roles in short-form web dramas such as “Meet By Window” and “Here is My Exclusive Indulge.” Recently, he has been expanding his repertoire and taking on more supporting roles in full-length Chinese dramas.

In the drama “An Ancient Love Song,” Guo Jia Nan portrays the character of Shen Bu Yan, a historical fiction author under the pen name of Zhi Shi Qu whos is famous for writing stories and blogging about the nine kingdoms. Upset by the news that he needs to rush and write a sequel to “Southern Sheng Chronicles,” Shen Bu Yan experiences a nosebleed, and coincidentally, his blood drips onto a broken jade pendant he had purchased earlier that day, catapulting him into a time travel journey.

Zhang Ya Qin, known for her roles in “Mr. Fox and Miss Rose” and “Love in Between,” portrays the female lead character. Lu Yuan, the forgotten demon empress of history, becomes intertwined with Shen Bu Yan’s time travel expedition. As Shen Bu Yan delves deeper into his journey, he discovers that there is more to Lu Yuan than what history have recorded.

“An Ancient Love Song” Mini-Episode Recaps

Episode 14

Shen Bu Yan (Guo Jia Nan) dreams of the past where he sees a woman sitting on a balcony. As he walks through the crowd, the woman stands up with tears in her eyes, gently caresses the jade in her hand, and tragically jumps off the ledge. Shen Bu Yan is left in shock as the jade pendant breaks.

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In a voiceover, it updates on the disappearance of “Zhi Shi Qu,” the renowned historical fiction video blogger on the Nine Kingdoms who has been missing for four months. Prior to his disappearance, it appears that he had an argument with his editor.

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Four months ago, Editor-in-chief Lin and Shen Bu Yan were present at the book release event for “Southern Sheng Chronicles.” Shen Bu Yan was upset about the lack of care taken to spell Lu Yuan’s name correctly. After the event, feeling disheartened, Shen Bu Yan wanders over to a nearby wishing tree where an old lady is selling various items. He spots the exact jade pendant he had dreamed about earlier and purchases it from the old lady.

Later that night, Editor-in-chief Lin calls Shen Bu Yan to inform him that a film company was interested to buy the copyright for “Southern Sheng Chronicles” to adapt into a drama. Shen Bu Yan is urged to quickly write the second book in the trilogy, or else he will face fines for breaching the contract. Due to the lack of history on Southern Sheng, Shen Bu Yan doesn’t want to fabricate history to fulfil the contract agreement. Upset at the request, Shen Bu Yan refuses to write the second book and would rather pay the fine. As he hangs his head in frustration, Shen Bu Yan experiences a nosebleed, and coincidentally, his blood drips onto the broken jade pendant lying on his desk.

When Shen Bu Yan opens his eyes, he finds himself transported to the past. As he is chased by guards, he takes refuge in a library room and feels exhilarated by the presence of books. While searching for the daily notes on Southern Sheng to write “Southern Sheng Chronicles 2,” a hand reaches out and grabs the book, startling Shen Bu Yan and causing him to accidentally break a vase. A woman named Yi Hua (Zhu Lin Yu) emerges from the room and asks Shen Bu Yan to follow her to meet someone who has been waiting for him. Suspicious but curious, Shen Bu Yan follows the woman and finds a woman dressed in red.

Shen Bu Yan is able to deduct that she is Lu Yuan (Zhang Ya Qin), the demon empress, and acts cautiously around her. However, he realized something is off about Lu Yuan and she doesn’t seem to be a bad person. When she allows him to leave after celebrating the Shangsi Festival, Lu Yuan was in tears as she stared at his back. On his way, Shen Bu Yan see the fireworks signal and remembers that tonight was the night of the Yuanqi Coup where the demon empress Lu Yuan would harm the virtuous Prime Minister Li (Zhuang Han). He returns to help Prime Minister Li only to find Prime Minister Li using Chu Tong Chang (Xu Wei Luo) to threat Lu Yuan. Changing his mind, he jumps out to help Lu Yuan instead.

Episode 13

A fight breaks out, and Lu Yuan tries to protect Shen Bu Yan. As she becomes distracted, Prime Minister Li aims an arrow at Shen Bu Yan, but Lu Yuan shields him with her body. With the injured Lu Yuan in his arms, Shen Bu Yan returns to the present. He realizes that only 30 minutes have passed since his time travel and that Lu Yuan’s fate has changed because of his interference.

Examining the four broken jade pieces, Shen Bu Yan realizes that when he first bought the pendant, there were five pieces. He attempts to glue them together in hopes of returning to the past, but it proves unsuccessful. While on a call with Editor-in-chief Lin, who advises him to quickly write the second novel while “Southern Sheng Chronicles” is still popular, Shen Bu Yan hesitates, now knowing that Li Yong colluded with the enemy and Lu Yuan is not the demon empress history depicts.

Returning to the wishing tree, Shen Bu Yan seeks out the old lady to inquire about the jade pendant. However, she is nowhere to be found, and he can only reflect on her cautionary words during the purchase: “Jade is spiritual. If a jade is incomplete, it will mess with your mind.” Recalling his blood dripping onto the pendant, he pricks his finger in the heat of the moment, allowing the blood to fall onto the jade. In an instant, Shen Bu Yan is transported back to the past.

In traditional attire, Shen Bu Yan approaches a shopkeeper on the street and asks for the date. Hoping to find Lu Yuan and warn her about the future, he spots her in the crowd and chases after her. However, Yi Hua (Zhu Lin Yu) intervenes, snatching Lu Yuan’s hands away and reprimanding him. Both Lu Yuan and Yi Hua claim not to know him and quickly disappear, leaving Shen Bu Yan to pursue them into Jing Hua House, where he encounters Emperor Yuan Qi (Huang Jing Zhou).

Due to the Emperor’s fondness for Shen Bu Yan, he presents him with his tassel before walking away. Meanwhile, on the streets, Lu Yuan and Yi Hua continue their search for Emperor Yuan Qi. Inside Jing Hua House, Shen Bu Yan is captured under Commander Zhao’s orders to be taken back to Xi Rong. However, Lu Yuan swoops in to fend off the men, and with the assistance of Lu Shi (Quan Yi Lun), they defeat their attackers. Shen Bu Yan steps forward to explain future events to Lu Yuan, only to realize that he has returned ten years before his last time travel. Despite his desire to warn Lu Yuan, she refuses to listen.

The group returns to the palace with Emperor Yuan Qi. Shen Bu Yan manages to enter the palace on foot using the emperor’s tassel and eavesdrops on the conversation between Lu Yuan, Lu Shi, and Prime Minister Li.

Episode 12

In the morning court session, Lu Shi is granted permission to reclaim lost ground, while Lu Yuan discovers Shen Bu Yan lingering in the court and pulls him aside. Shen Bu Yan confronts Lu Yuan, stating that she has already suspected Li Yong, but her impulsive decision to push Lu Shi to Hua Feng Bao will result in his death.

Seeing the determination in Lu Shi’s eyes to lead the attack, Lu Yuan decides to assist her brother instead of urging him to retreat. Lu Yuan, Shen Bu Yan, and Yi Hua follow the troops on horseback. Originally, Lu Shi was destined to die from an arrow attack due to Prime Minister Li’s knowledge of his whereabouts and plans. With Shen Bu Yan’s knowledge, he approaches Lu Shi to help devise a military strategy that would give Lu Shi an advantage, altering the original plan that led to his death. Shen Bu Yan hopes that by aiding Lu Shi in escaping the ambush, Lu Yuan will believe his words about Prime Minister Li, which were spoken in Jing Hua House.

On the morning of the attack, Lu Yuan is missing. Li Hua enters Shen Bu Yan’s tent to inquire about Lu Yuan and discovers Shen Bu Yan holding a letter from her. It turns out that Lu Yuan and Yi Hua knew who Shen Bu Yan was all along and had only pretended not to know him. Lu Yuan reveals in the letter that their meeting was not by chance and that Shen Bu Yan has always been a part of her life. The reason she listened to him at Jing Hua House was to determine when they would meet again.

On the battlefield, prepared to face the ambush head-on, Lu Yuan removes her mask. She says, “If fate can be reversed, you shouldn’t be the one wearing this mask. If someone has to die, I hope it will be me. Because you are as important to me as Lu Shi, the most important person in my life.”

Episode 11

Lu Yuan holds her ground firmly during the ambush, but the enemy gains an advantage due to the absence of fog and their higher vantage point. When Shen Bu Yan reaches the ambush location, he is horrified to see lifeless bodies strewn about and discovers Lu Yuan’s mask discarded on the ground. Filled with despair and anger, Shen Bu Yan believes he has led Lu Yuan to her demise, only to realize that they have emerged victorious. It was Shen Bu Yan’s quick thinking the previous night, creating fog bombs, that turned the tide in their favor. The team returns triumphant from the battle.

Lu Yuan, Lu Shi, and Li Hua decide to take Shen Bu Yan to visit their home. Inside, they notice suspicious movements coming from one of the rooms. Upon opening it, they find Uncle Guo and the descendant of the King of Bei’an. Uncle Guo reveals that Prime Minister Li is despicable and assassinated the King of Bei’an. This news deeply unsettles Lu Shi, as he struggles to believe that his adoptive father could be capable of such evil. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Li devises a plan to eliminate Lu Yuan and kill Lu Shi.

To protect the descendant of the former King of Bei’an, Lu Yuan gives him the name Chu Tong Chang and decides to adopt him. After making the promise to Uncle Guo, Lu Yuan is then summoned by Vice General Yang to return to Hua Feng Bao and resolve a refugee settlement issue. Lu Yuan and Shen Bu Yan leave the house. As Uncle Guo ventures out to find milk for Chu Tong Chang, he is suddenly attacked.

Episode 10

While conversing with Shen Bu Yan, Lu Yuan realizes that something is amiss. If they had really changed their fate, Lu Yuan would not have memories of Shen Bu Yuan’s other time travels from her past.

Back at the house, Lu Shi is being attacked by a group. Being poisoned and outnumbered, he ensures that Yi Hua and Chu Tong Chang will not be found. Lu Yuan and Shen Bu Yan run back to find Lu Shi guarding the door with his last breath.

Not having time to grieve, Lu Yuan and Shen Bu Yan come up with a plan to prevent Prime Minister Li from taking control of the army. To ensure that the imperial court does not fall, Lu Yuan decides to succumb to fate and declare her position as the empress.

Episode 9

To prevent the enemy from recapturing Huo Feng Fort, the remaining Tiger and Leopard Camp comes up with a plan to scare away the enemies. Upon reaching the city gates, Prime Minister Li captures Lu Yuan under the cause that she is abusing the phoenix card without an official imperial edict. Lu Yuan and Yi Hua calmly leave with Prime Minister Li and Lu Shi’s body in tow. Upon reaching the gates, Prime Minister Li is approached with an imperial edict where he is forced to release Lu Yuan.

In the court hall, Emperor Yuan Qi lifts the curtain for the first time in five years and reprimands Li Yong in front of the court officials. Feeling that something is amiss, Prime Minister Li tries to test Emperor Yuan Qi, who seems to have regained his sanity. Prime Minister Li uses this moment to slander Lu Yuan and reveals Emperor Yuan Qi’s mental status. Yi Hua, bent on revenge, tries to attack Prime Minister Li, but Shen Bu Yan interferes and gets stabbed, ending his second time travel. He awakens in the present to find that the past did not change for Lu Yuan.

Episode 8

Shen Bu Yan is determined to change Lu Yuan’s fate and not allow her name to be tarnished in history.

– 21 years-old Lu Yuan | Five years before Shen Bu Yuan’s second time travel | First year of Yuan Qi –

Lu Yuan works in Jing Hua House, a location where she gathers information to help Prime Minister Li collect details of evildoers. During a military search for Li Yong at Jing Hua House, Lu Yuan helps hide Li Yong using the paper windmill that Emperor Yuan Qi gifted her. Lu Yuan leaves the room to get herbs for Li Yong, and he is attacked by a man in a mask. Lu Yuan helps defend Li Yong, and the mask falls off, revealing Shen Bu Yuan.

Lu Yuan is in tears as she sees Shen Bu Yuan and confronts him about leaving her for three years without a trace. The two celebrate Shangsi Festival together, where Lu Yuan reveals all the food and activities she wants to do with the one she loves. Shen Bu Yuan belatedly realizes that the things Lu Yuan listed were the exact food and activities they did together on the night of the Yuanqi Coup (Episode 14).

When confronting Shen Bu Yuan about why he wants to kill Prime Minister Li, Shen Bu Yuan decides not to tell Lu Yuan the truth about the time travel. Misunderstanding Shen Bu Yuan, who wants to kill Prime Minister Li, who is a good person in her eyes, she decides to draw a line in their relationship.

Shen Bu Yuan realizes that if he chooses not to tell Lu Yuan, all he needs to do is not allow her to enter the palace.

Episode 7

Shen Bu Yuan tries to coax Lu Yuan into forgiving him and convinces Lu Yuan to go back to Nanmeng Lake on an outing. Shen Bu Yuan promises to celebrate Shangsi Festival with Lu Yuan every year.

During their time at Nanmeng Lake, Yi Hua, Lu Yuan, and Shen Bu Yuan spend their time blissfully as they enjoy the simple life away from Jiang Du. However, at Jing Hua House, Prime Minister Li is getting impatient in the politics in court and is confronted by a Bei Le person. At this point in time, Prime Minister Li has yet to collude with Bei Le.

Shen Bu Yuan peeks at Lu Yuan’s wish and the message from Jing Hua House through the messenger pigeon. Although he wants what’s best for Lu Yuan, he understands what Lu Yuan wants in life and, in return, decides to help her persuade Emperor Yuan Qi to stop the expedition in the north. In exchange, Lu Yuan has to stay with him at Nanmeng Lake.

Episode 6

Episode 5

Episode 4

Episode 3

Episode 2

Episode 1

Questions and Answers: Plot of “An Ancient Love Song”

heavy spoilers ahead

Why does the episode list start at episode 14?

“An Ancient Love Song” begins with episode 14, as the drama follows the time travel theme and the chronological timeline of Shen Bu Yan and Lu Yuan’s story. In the present, Shen Bu Yan encounters Lu Yuan in episode 14, marking the beginning of his journey of time travel into the past. The last time he travels back is the first time Lu Yuan meets him.

How does Shen Bu Yan return to the past?

So far, Shen Bu Yan has been able to travel back in time thanks to the broken jade he purchased from the mysterious elderly lady near the wishing tree. On the first night of his time travel, Shen Bu Yan experienced a nosebleed, coincidentally causing his blood to fall onto the jade pendant and transporting him to the past.

Upon his return to the present, Shen Bu Yan discovers that when he initially acquired the broken jade pendant, it was divided into five pieces. However, following his time travel, the pendant now consists of only four pieces. In an attempt to journey back to the past once more, Shen Bu Yan pricks his finger, allowing the blood to drip onto the pendant.

Is there a second male lead or female lead? Is there another couple in “An Ancient Love Song”?

There are currently no second male or female lead in “An Ancient Love Song.”

Yi Hua and Lu Shi is the second couple in “An Ancient Love Song.” Yi Hua is Lu Yuan’s maid and Lu Shi is Lu Yuan’s brother.

How old is Lu Yuan during each time she meets Shen Bu Yuan?

• Episode 14: Shen Bu Yuan’s first meeting with Lu Yuan, she is 36 years-old during the 15th year of Yuan Qi.
• Episode 13: The second time Shen Bu Yuan time travelled, Lu Yuan is 26 years-old during the 5th year of Yuan Qi.
• Episode 8: During Shen Bu Yuan’s third attempt to change Lu Yuan’s fate, she was 21 years-old during the first year of Yuan Qi.

How does “An Ancient Love Song” end? Does “An Ancient Love Song” have a happy or sad ending?

to be determined after release of episode 1

Review: An Ancient Love Song

Rating TBA

Coming soon…