Lost You Forever (长相思)

In ancient times, humans, gods, and demons coexisted under the rule of three kingdoms: Xiyan, Chenrong, and Haoling. Xiaoyao, a princess of Haoling, has suffered a hundred years of hardship in the wilderness and lost both her identity and her appearance. She settles in Qingshui Town, living as the unremarkable doctor Wen Xiaoliu, who is "nowhere to go, no one to rely on, and no power to protect herself." Through a series of fateful encounters, she becomes entangled with her cousin and childhood friend, the ambitious prince Cang Xuan; the gentle and devoted Tushan Jing; the deadly yet magnetic demon general Xiangliu; and the charismatic noble Chishui Fenglong. Her journey leads her to reclaim her identity, confront the conflicts among the three kingdoms, and navigate the sacrifices and longing that come with love and duty.

The series consists of 39 episodes in Season 1 and 23 episodes in Season 2. The story can be broadly broken down into six main story arcs:

• Act 1: Survival in Qingshui Town (Season 1, Episodes 1-6): Disguised as the male doctor Wen Xiaoliu, Xiaoyao lives a quiet life in Qingshui Town, befriending the mysterious yet loyal Ye Shiqi (Tushan Jing in disguise). Her peaceful existence is disrupted when Cang Xuan arrives, searching for her, and the demon general Xiangliu enters her life, becoming her tormentor and her secret protector in equal measure.
• Act 2: Return to Haoling (Season 1, Episodes 7-19): After Xiangliu's venom nearly kills her, Xiaoyao is brought back to the capital Haoling by her father, the king, and is officially reinstated as a princess. She reunites with her cousin Cang Xuan and the princess A'Nian, and becomes entangled in political power struggles between Haoling and Xiyan, eventually realizing that she will never be free from her royal ties.
• Act 3: Entering Xiyan (Season 1, Episodes 20-27): Haoling and Xiyan reconcile, and Xiaoyao moves to Xiyan to support Cang Xuan in his fight for the throne. The group travels to Xiyan Palace and takes part in a festival and hunting competition, where other suitors like Chishui Fenglong begin to appear, setting the stage for larger political conspiracies.
• Act 4: Cang Xuan's Rise and Heartbreak (Season 1, Episodes 28-39): Cang Xuan ascends to the throne of Xiyan. Xiaoyao makes a promise to her grandmother to never marry him for the sake of the kingdom's stability. As political marriages and betrayals follow, Xiaoyao's relationships with Tushan Jing and Xiangliu both suffer, leaving her more isolated than ever. The season ends with Xiaoyao learning that her mother has been dead for many years.
• Act 5: Betrothals and Broken Vows (Season 2, Episodes 1-12): Cang Xuan is now the Black Emperor of Xiyan. Xiaoyao is betrothed to Chishui Fenglong, but she only sees him as a friend. Through a series of schemes, Xiangliu, disguised as the demon Fangfeng Bei, crashes her wedding and takes the bride away. The engagement is called off, allowing Xiaoyao to pursue her lingering feelings for Tushan Jing. Meanwhile, Tushan Jing must overcome severe family drama, including a conspiracy by his scheming older brother, to clear his name and become worthy of her.
• Act 6: The Final Reckoning and Peace (Season 2, Episodes 13-23): The chaos of war ensues as the Black Emperor plots to conquer the lands and demons. Tushan Jing returns from a presumed death to fight at Xiaoyao's side. Xiangliu eventually sacrifices himself for his principles and her happiness, while Cang Xuan realizes that possessing power means losing the one he loves. The story concludes with Xiaoyao and Tushan Jing finally marrying and retiring to a life of peace, while Xiangliu and Chishui Fenglong's deaths leave a lasting mark on the surviving characters.