The reason "The Legend of Chun Yuan" has been repeatedly mentioned by audiences for over a decade, with its popularity lingering, is not only due to its excellent production and plot.
In fact, there is a more important reason.
That is, this drama is too much like "Dream of the Red Chamber."
This similarity lies not in the plot, but in its creative techniques.
"Dream of the Red Chamber" employs a highly unique creative method, using subtle clues and foreshadowing to weave intricate plots that are interconnected.
Building upon this foundation, it extensively utilizes techniques such as homophones, body-swapping, merging, character deconstruction, and reflection, thereby concealing the downfall of a family within the guise of truth and falsehood, as exemplified by "Zhen Shiyin" (true events hidden) and "Jia Yucun" (false words preserved).
"The Legend of Zhen Huan" has borrowed this technique, hiding numerous clues within the narrative, speaking truthfully in reverse, reversing truth in speech, employing homophones, and setting various foreshadowing flags.
For instance, the character Huan Bi, the least favored in the entire drama, has a name that carries multiple meanings.
Firstly, "huan" means to wash, and "bi" is green. "Huan Bi" thus means to wash away green, to wash away verdant matters. When the Emperor discovers the portrait on the fruit bat, suspecting Zhen Huan of an affair with the fruit bat, Huan Bi steps forward to claim the portrait as her own, thereby washing away the soon-to-be-exposed "green matter."
Secondly, "Huan Bi" sounds like "huan bi" (换婢), meaning to exchange a maid. She is Zhen Yuan Dao's illegitimate daughter, yet possesses the status of a young lady but the fate of a maid. "Huan bi" signifies changing one's identity to become a servant.
Thirdly, Huan Bi marries the fruit bat and changes her name to Yu Yin. Zhen Huan's original name is Zhen Yu Huan. Finding the character "Yu" (jade) vulgar, she omits it, leaving "Yu Yin" (jade hidden). Huan Bi is the jade that Zhen Huan hides, marrying the fruit bat in Zhen Huan's stead, a cyclical replacement of fate.
Besides Huan Bi's name, many other instances fully utilize homophones.
For example, Concubine Jing, surnamed Feng, her given name is Ruo Zhao. "Ruo Zhao" means "as clear as day," implying she is aware of all gossip. Affairs are "as clear as day" to her, thus she becomes the chief inspector of illicit affairs in the harem.
Hua Fei's maid, Song Zhi, "Song Zhi" sounds like "song zhi" (送之), meaning prepared to be given to the Emperor's women.
Another example is the Empress's formerly rotten pet, the feline Song Zi. "Song Zi" sounds like "song zi" (送子), meaning the cat caused the miscarriage of Noble Lady Fu Cha's child.
And then there is her confidante, Jian Qiu. This name is truly exceptional.
Autumn is the season of harvest, and women who carry a child for ten months hope to harvest a prince.
However, the Empress, this "miscarriage captain," wields scissors, cutting away their hopes one by one, leaving them with no harvest and causing the Emperor's lineage to dwindle.
By cutting away autumn from the four seasons, only summer, winter, and spring remain. Therefore, Jian Qiu is a great bane to the fates of Xia, Dong, and Chun. Encountering her means encountering great misfortune.
In the drama, when Jian Qiu goes to deliver the Empress's gifted items to Xia Dong Chun, Xia Dong Chun boldly declares, "Even the finest fabric bestowed by the 'Fertilizer Empress' is not as good as that from Her Majesty the Empress."
This remark, spoken in Jian Qiu's presence, was overheard by Hua Fei's confidante eunuch, Zhou Ning Hai. Consequently, Zhou Ning Hai met his end with the "one-foot-red" punishment.
It is precisely because "The Legend of Chun Yuan" inherits the "subtle clues, foreshadowing of a thousand miles" writing technique from "Dream of the Red Chamber," hiding countless profound meanings within character dialogues, that it has attracted successive waves of audiences to explore its depths, thus maintaining its popularity for over a decade.
For such a classic, legendary drama, even playing a supporting role, not just the protagonist, could ensure one's place in the audience's memory for over ten years.
Jiang Ling was also deeply fond of this drama in her past life, regretting that she never had the chance to act in it.
Now that the system has arranged for this drama to be presented, she naturally will not miss the opportunity.