In almost every show we watch, particularly in dramas, there’s always a character whom we love to hate. Most of the time, it’s the conniving antagonist, other times it’s the spineless side character and in rare occasions, it’s the hero. In Goodbye My Princess 东宫, the male lead is the one drawing ire for being the biggest jerk ever. Warning: This contains spoilers from early episodes.
Chen Xingxu plays Li Chengyin, the 5th prince who is handsome, charming, smart but no knight in shining armor to Xiao Feng, the princess played by Peng Xiaoran.
In an effort to secure his position in court, Li Chengyin assumes another identity to get close to Xiao Feng and gain her trust. They marry, yet their wedding day also marks a tragic day. He becomes directly responsible for the death of Xiao Feng’s family despite being saved by her and owing her his life. The trauma he causes is so great that Xiao Feng willingly jumps into a river of forgetfulness to erase all of their past memories.
For using Xiao Feng, betraying their vows and worse, massacring an entire tribe, Li Chengyin takes the crown as a most hated protagonist. Goodbye My Princess is based on a novel by Fei Wo Si Cun, an author arguably known for her heartbreaking romance stories. Did you get your tissues out yet?
The drama has spawned several memes poking fun at Li Chengyin’s idea of love as the kind of love that’s full of lies, kills an entire family, you get the gist. Most people often wish for a happy ending but in this one, many believe the male lead deserves to live the rest of his life alone or be killed by Xiao Feng. What do you guys think of Li Chengyin as a character? Do you love him or hate him?
Source: 1
Anonymous
I loved and hated him at the same time, one min he's such an adorable, lovable and fun guy when he's with her and the next he planned the whole massacre of her family and betrayed her..oh, I'm just soooo disappointed in him.
Anonymous
I wanted to watch this so bad until I found out that it's not a happy ending. I don't think I can stand seeing him all alone and suffering at the end although you could say he deserves it but still. lol
Anonymous
i know the plot and the ending already so i was hesitant to watch. well guess what i'm on ep 1, anticipating the twist now. have to say i rlly like their outfits and sceneries, it's something different for once. idk how i'll feel about the ending that i already know about lol
Unknown
Seems like most dramas change the endings anyway. Isn't it early enough for him to be redeemed? Curious enough to try it.
Anonymous
According to weibo,even tho the ending has been fixed. Youku had reached out to the director and asked to do film a second version for the fans.
pad-hari
Really!!! That would be great. Hope it's HEA ending with both leads alive ??
Anonymous
I'm rooting for happy ending too. I don't want the ending to be like they meet again & just stare at each other and smile.
Anonymous
Suffice to say, the male lead deserved his fate because he didn't feel remorseful for his actions until the female lead jumped to the River of Oblivion and he disposed of the people in his circle when they're no longer of use to him. And he schemed for the second time! Yeah sure, I guess things would have turned differently if he still had his memories but I'm thinking the novel author is trying to paint the male protagonist is a schemer from his DNA.
Usi
I stay away from stories like that. I’m not that masochistic to read or see stories where the author loves to “harass” the female main character. It is neither a historical story nor a story based on a real report, so what is the reason for it? I don’t mind sad endings but this is way over the top.
Too bad since the trailer was very catchy.
Zhilie
He isnt typically male lead that will do anything sacrifice anything for female lead. He loves her but still want to fullfill his own ambition. Cant be blame though..the reason is he wants to take revenge for his biological mother. I have never seen the drama with so much hate equal with so much love. Eventhough i can guess the ending already but still eagerly waiting for next episodes.
Anonymous
I really hope they stick with the ending and do not film an alternative ending. It looks like they have kind of adjusted it to her fogiving him rather than a vengeful ending. Which sucks cause even though I understand people who want happy endings. I would rather they stick as close to the original novel as possible. I have tissues at the ready for this drama! I like to think kind of drama is a real challenge for the cast and it is quite different to dramas being produced.
Anonymous
I am only on episode 10..and i am hurt at what he did but i believe he really loves her in some strange way…i hope she can forgive him.
LeslyeMisa
Realmente complicado. O amor que ele tem por ela é obsessivo, não foi nada legal. Eu realmente esperava que ele não tivesse feito parte do massacre da família da princesa de forma tão direta como ele fez. Realmente nem ele e nem o mestre merecem o amor dela.
Anonymous
Well just based on the current trailers and clips, the ending is slightly different from the novel in terms of where the tragic ending happens but ends tragically similarly in method to the book. I'm for them filming an extra alternative ending because the chemistry between the leads is amazing, and I always wanted things to have turned out differently in the novel somehow. T_T
Anonymous
Yay! I hope it's true, that'd be the best news I've heard all week.
Anonymous
I'd love a happy ending. By happy I mean she kills him. Very slowly. After making him watch all of his loved ones die.
Reenie
Don't get me wrong what he did was atrocious. But he was lied to before he made that decision. See, i am struggling with hating him. Lol
Unknown
Is it really a bad ending? I am hurting and loving this couple…
alujan01
I read someone that the director will air 2 endings for the fans. Hope its true to calm our hurt heart.
Ana89
Well, I am already at Episode 36 and actually I don't hate him. I mean, what he did to her was not right from her view of point but if you put yourself in his situation, I think a lot of people would have done the same. And I am just referring to the time of Dynasty. Actually it was pretty normal to be married to someone who maybe someday will have war with state u r from or even kill members of ur family. I don't think he is a horrible person. He's taking revenge for his mother and also the Danchi Clan was not in good terms with his empire.
Unknown
Saya sangat suka drama ini, sebelumnya sy paling ga suka nonton drama tentang kerajaan karena membosankan tp drama ini menyeret perasaan saya bahkan tak ada yg terlewatkan ketika saya menontonnya dan saya berharap happy ending.
Unknown
I don't hate the CP, either. Yes, he uses XF to infiltrate the DanChi, and does so with the help of Gu Jian. The DanChi wasn't some peace-loving tribe, either. A lot of what he does is to protect a woman who pulled a knife on him a few times, slapped him around, called him the worst kind of person, and refuses to see anything outside her own perception. CP also lost important memories (like how she got that wolf fang). The one I hate is Gu Jian. He helped with the deception, is supposed to be supporting CP in revenge on the Gao family, yet he gets a pass. He knows exactly what happened, but has been subverting CP's plans to expose the Gao family as well as his relationship with XF. So why is he the "good guy"?
Josie Gardiner
I don't think I can handle this. I'm not watching it.
Unknown
There are 4 bonus episodes on youtube, showing them re-born in modern times and living together happily, and he is an actual tea seller.
Actual reincarnation is the only way these too could have a happy ending,
I agree, you can't forgive someone who betrayed you like that, even if you love them.
Juslovely
I didn't hate him. I was disappointed. But i love this drama so much. I've watched it 4x thos year. He was everything in that drama. I fell in love with him.
mitch
The male lead was awesome in this drama..He did ghastly things but it had to be done..All the "bullying" he did to her when she became his crown princess was for her own good. He truly loved her. Does it get him a pass for the female lead? No, of course not, she loves him too but he killed her family after all! So the ending, though it hurts, was just right. They simply cannot be.