CHARACTER OVERVIEW : MENG XUANLANG

Have you read the book? Is there any tidbit in the book that is not present in the series about this character? Use Post A Comment to share that tidbit!

Name 

Meng Xuanlang (孟玄朗)

 A bit on his name

If my mandarin is really terrible, I would have read it as Wan Shuen Long aka Seasick in cantonese. Anyway his is my favourite name. Sounds nice and makes sense.

Real Person

Xu Haiqiao (徐海乔)

Who is he

2nd son of the Emperor of Shu who became the Emperor after the father decided to just skip the useless brother to the 2nd son who probably didn't have much training in becoming an Emperor anyway just because he is less ambitious

(Un)official title

The obligatory love sick puppy of HQG who happens to be the most powerful man in the world of men, he is Aragorn minus his Arwen

Physical Traits

Young, handsome, big nostrils used to show shock and more shock and not much else for now

Mental Traits

Absolutely devoted to HQG but isn't so devoted to neglect his duties. He knows his place in the world men and oh god I sound like a Tolkien novel.

Likes

HQG and HQG and HQG

Dislikes

Everything else, including  being an Emperor

Love Connection

Possibly Qingshui (轻水) since HQG is not available, Mantian is busy being angry all the time, Zixuan is into BZH and Tang Bao is booked for Shiyi and no indication of him ever marrying anyone. His life is as lonely as BZH except he has a bigger duty; BZH has the glamorous job of protecting all realms by standing over the edge of the rock or sitting down on his huge uncomfortable chair or meditating or playing piano on top of some mountain whilst our Xuanlang has to deal with real problems every single day, including a brother who wants him dead. Where got time for love?

Ambition

Marry HQG, In the alternative, do his duty as Emperor whilst thinking of HQG.

Rarer than a hero having a salaried job in wuxia realms

Actually being trained as an emperor, books and all. He got the job by being pushed into it by a dying father.

Bestest Thing Ever Done

Standing up for HQG and probably the only guy who doesn't use her, or lie to her or have some hidden agenda and dare to confess his love. I think his love is the purest because it was not motivated by anything but by his liking the girl who befriended him when everybody laughed at his ineptness at being a wannabe xian.

Worst Thing Ever Done

So far, at episode 12, giving his traitor of a brother a powerful position, I think controlling the army. He naively thinks his big brother will willingly bow to him when come on! Anyone with half a brain will guess a former crown prince stripped off his title will stay low for long? No way! By the way if you thought how come Shu and Meng so familiar, it's the same one as QSHF. Does give the series a timeline, like BC?

Stupidest Scripted Moment

You know what, I bet he will become a wise emperor. So he won't have that moment?

Usual Quote

"HQG I love you!!!!" and never notices HQG like going *puh-leaseeee no!!*

Burning questions

Why don't HQG just fall for him and then marry him and then be far away from BZH and no calamity ever ever happen?

Because that would be so happy isn't it? Because every love story needs a tragedy, a love sick puppy moaning his lost chances to protect his beloved who doesn't want his protection at all. And it won't be this sort of book or series anyway.

Will he fall for Qingshui?

Probably not? Because every man in love with HQG has to be miserable. Kinda goes with her reputation as the star of misfortune for those who cares for her. If not, that is so NOT her style.

What has his story got to do with BZH and all that stories?

Every good story needs a human perspective, and some palace turmoil. Maybe the connection is not there yet but will be there soon. Moreover this novel is like Percy Jackson series which has element of human being caught up in the battle of the demons and the demi gods and the gods, LOTR which is represented by Aragorn, True Blood with its human occupants and of course the stupid Twilight represented by errrr..... that 2 or 3 human being who isn't a vampire, changeling and that sort.

Is HQG ever in love with him?

Let's get this straight shall we? Only BZH has her heart, whether BZH in disguise, BZH sulky, BZH angry, BZH bathing.. ONLY BZH. Everybody else is just friend zone.

What was he doing at Mt Tai Bai in episode 16 (uncut ver)?

Elizabeth explains ...

MXL (or XYL in the novel) was actually quite powerful in novel due to his own ability, but also because the sword he carried was one of the 16 Sacred Instruments, the Xuan Yuan Sword. And he did beat his opponent in the novel.

This version sucks because he is nothing more than a lovesick puppy. And he doesn't even get to pull out the sword of his scabbard and then BZH shows up and steals the thunder.

Anyway, XYL's character was supposed to show up at Mt. Tai Bai because that was supposed to be his grand introduction into the story as an adult. He only appeared as a foul-mouthed kid in the beginning and that was it. Then he recognised HQG from their early friendship and gifts her the Xuan Yuan sword, which allows her to collect all 16 instruments more easily later in the story.

What will happen to him?

Grow old and be bitter for not being able to save his HQG and then die?

What should happen to him?

Marry HQG and give her the empress title and live happily ever after whilst BZH is safely tuck away at his floating Avatar rocks and be miserable but safe, rather than miserable and hurting. Either way he's gonna be miserable anyway.

Is TV version same as Book version?

I seriously have no idea. This poor guy doesn't get much love, and I wonder why?

Update thanks to Elizabeth who says of this character no one ever bothered with;

MXL is called Xuan Yuan Lang. He is so cute in the novel. He is not a Chang Liu disciple and meets HQG very early on. He is a sweet but cocky and foul-mouthed boy but grows up to be regal looking and smart man. I really don't know why he likes HQG so much in the novel. They don't spend that much time together. 

Interesting on the name change. And I wonder how then they meet if not at Chang Liu? Would seem the adaptation has cut many things out and tightened the story.