Plot Synopsis
"Scent of Time" is an adaptation of thepopular long-form romance novel "Washing Away the Lead" on the Zhihuplatform. It tells the story of Hua Qian, who once made a mistake due to a momentary lapse of judgment. With the helpof Zhong Xi Wu, the devoted master of fragrant medicine, Hua Qian gradually reforms herself and seeks redemption.
Hua Qian (played by Zhou Ye), the daughter of the chief overseer of the fragrant medicine family, had committed wrongdoing in her infatuation with Zhong Ye Lan (played byPeng Chu Yue), who didn't love her back. This ultimately led to the downfall of her own family.
When fate takes a turn, Hua Qian wakes upto find herself back on the night of her wedding to Zhong Ye Lan. After experiencing life and death, Hua Qian has aprofound realization and determines to make amends for herpast mistakes and start anew. This time, she begins to value her family and friends around her.
To avoid repeatingpast mistakes, she no longer clings to her complicated emotions with Zhong Ye Lan but chooses to support the love between Zhong Ye Lan and Mu Yao (played by Zhao Qing). She also devotes herself to helping her misguided family members find their way back to the rightpath. Throughout thisprocess, the mysteries of thepast gradually surface. Hua Qian also discovers Zhong Xi Wu (played by Wang Xing Yue), who has silentlyprotected her all along, and encounters Hua Rong Zhou (played by Zhang Yi Jie), who alwaysprioritizes her safety above all else. Through twists and turns, Hua Qian ultimately achieves redemption for herself and her family and friends.
Episodes Recap
- 1-4
- 5-8
- 9-12
- 13-16
- 17-20
- 21-24
- 25-28
- 29-30
Episode 1 : Hua Qian made up her mind to start over.
Episode 2 : Hua Qian saved Hua Rong Zhou on the roadside.
Episode 3 : Hua Qian took the initiative to plead for Mu Yao's family on her own.
Episode 4 : Mu Yao insisted on staying at Zhong Estate to investigate the truth.
Episode 5 : Hua Qian organized a birthday banquet for Zhong Ye Lan.
Episode 6 : Hua Qian confessed to Zhong Ye Lan in private.
Episode 7 : Hua Qian publicly saved Zhong Ye Lan and almost lost her life.
Episode 8 : Hua Qian proposed a divorce to Zhong Ye Lan.
Episode 9 : Hua Qian persuaded her father to resign.
Episode 10 : Wu Shuo Mo's request for cooperation was rejected.
Episode 11 : Wu Shuo Mo expressed his feelings to Mu Yao.
Episode 12 : Mu Yao became Zhong Ye Lan's concubine.
Episode 13 : Hua Shen was imprisoned while Hua Qian sought the truth.
Episode 14 : Zhong Xi Wu arranged to meet Hua Qian at the Star Tower.
Episode 15 : Zhong Ye Lan refuses to divorce.
Episode 16 : Hua Qian agreed to divorce.
Episode 17 : Hua Shen was fatally stabbed while trying to save Hua Qian.
Episode 18 : Zhong Xi Wu took the initiative to confess his feelings to Hua Qian.
Episode 19 : Hua Qian decided to leave after the separation.
Episode 20 : Hua Qian caught Wu Shuo Mo and Mu Yao.
Episode 21 : Hua Qian acted as a mediator between Qian Zhi and Nan Feng.
Episode 22 : Hua Rong Zhou was publicly accused of murder on the street.
Episode 23 : Hua Qian asked Zhong Xi Wu to save Hua Rong Zhou.
Episode 24 : Hua Qian used evidence to redeem Hua Rong Zhou.
Cast & Role
Wu Shuo Mo
(Li Yun Rui)
Bai Luo
(Peng Xiao Ran)
Hua Qian
(Zhou Ye)
Zhong Xi Wu
(Wang Xing Yue)
Now I really appreciate the little bodyguard. He's the one who unconditionally stands by the side of the female lead, unquestioningly believes in her, and considers her more important than his own life. Doesn't a bodyguard like him deserve recognition?
I think it's better than the original work, and I really like this kind of ending. In life, there are no do-overs, and everyone has to take responsibility for their actions. No matter how challenging the circumstances, we have to gather the courage to face them on our own.
The ending is beautiful and inspirational.
Although this ending is probably what the screenwriters and directors intended, as it's the most realistic, fitting, and satisfying conclusion, I still can't bear it. It's been a while since I watched a drama that I found so worth watching.
I even want to rewatch it.
I am actually very satisfied with this ending, not because I favor any particular CP (couple pairing), but because in this world, there are no second chances. Perhaps in films and TV shows, we can find solace, but it's all wishful thinking.
When we return to reality, we only become more reluctant to face it. This series is really good. Although the presentation may be naive, it boldly tells everyone that reality is tough and bitter, yet beauty still exists.
To be honest, as a fan of the book, I found Hua Rong Zhou to be quite elusive. Love that relies on salvation is difficult to resonate with in reality. If the author could have devoted more words to enrich their relationship, it might have made up for it.
However, the drama adaptation transformed this somewhat monotonous love into a form of self-redemption, which truly warms the heart. There have been times when I fantasized about having someone who would treat me wholeheartedly, and now I have found that person—it's myself.
Yes, in the end, the person who should love you the most is yourself. All the choices, whether good or bad, lead to outcomes that you have to bear on your own.
At the same time, everyone is capable of making mistakes, and paying the price to correct those mistakes is a form of responsibility. It is always precious to find your way back when you realize you have gone astray.
But life is already so difficult, I just want to have some reward for my efforts, at least in the virtual realm, instead of all my efforts being just a dream...
I also think the protagonist is good. After all, he has seen the good and the bad of the female lead, and he still likes her. The ending must be a happy one. The novel may not have a happy ending, but when adapted into a TV drama, it should have a good ending.
What did the patriarch actually do for the female lead? He acted so affectionate, initially suspecting the female lead, but later they went to the Star Pavilion together and only gave her a divorce letter.
When the female lead got shot and her brother got killed during the kidnapping, he couldn't help at all. He even stubbornly arrested the little attendant for the sake of the female lead, but the little attendant always listened to the female lead.
Whatever the female lead asked, he would do it wholeheartedly. The patriarch is completely deluding himself. The female lead doesn't need his affection at all.
He's even a burden...
This is the reality. Nowadays, Chinese TV dramas are quite good. At least they don't blindly portray the male or female leads as flawless. This is true human nature—having dark sides and imperfections.
It's vivid and realistic, which makes it enjoyable to watch.
The ending is good, the clan leader will definitely end up with Hua Qian. Hua Qian heard the clan leader's confession in her dream, which is what she desired, so she was willing to wake up from the dream.
They love each other, and they will stay together.
To be honest, the portrayal of the male lead is lacking. There's very little depiction of his personality and background. And out of nowhere, he falls in love with the female lead. I wouldn't have even known that he loved the female lead in his past life if she hadn't mentioned it.
Yes, the plot feels incomplete. There were too few romantic scenes before marriage, so it's no wonder people didn't like it. The later scenes were also scarce, but I enjoyed it.
Haha, I especially liked the part with the ointment. The screen time they had together was too little.
Is Zhongxiwu sick? Since when did he inexplicably start liking someone? He claims to have done things for her, but he hasn't done anything. It's all just for his own sake. He's an inexplicably wicked bodyguard, planting people around the female lead.
The Hua family hasn't received any favors from him, and he has always been causing trouble. Moreover, from the beginning, she didn't like him. He's truly a subordinate man.
Although Hua Father and Hua Brother are not perfect people, they both love Hua Qian deeply. It brings tears to my eyes. This drama has a great retro feel, with a tight storyline and unique music that sparks the imagination.
The perspectives are also different, where good people are no longer perfect, and bad people are not entirely evil anymore.
As for this drama, it started off really strong but then went downhill. In the beginning, it was truly captivating, and I binge-watched 18 episodes in one go. However, later on, it was just two episodes per update.
After Hua Qian divorced the old master and got together with the patriarch, their relationship storyline continued, which I found quite engaging. But then they started introducing various subplots involving supporting characters, which felt random and distracting.
Is this the ending? Isn't it good for them to retire and live in seclusion? The little guard jumped off the cliff for the female lead, and he even repeatedly used his body to shield her from harm.
Isn't that good enough? Why won't they give him a happy ending, and even change him into a fictional character?
I think the ending is quite realistic, and I'm satisfied with it because in the real world, we do make mistakes, but there's no possibility of starting over. Despite Hua Qian's numerous wrongdoings, the head of the family still loves her unconditionally, and that's something to be envied.
A man who would protect the person trying to kill you for the sake of power, who would eliminate any other man who approaches you, even if he's your lifesaver; a person who would harm your family to keep you by his side.
Can you truly love someone who claims to love you but behaves in this way? Is this kind of love even considered love?
I've been feeling frustrated while watching, but I couldn't quite put it into words. But listening to your words, I finally understand. That's exactly it, your analysis is spot on. It seems like it all boils down to men's desire for control and possession, with everyone else being merely sacrificial pawns, including Zhong Ye Lan and Mu Yao.
It's terrifying to be with a man like that.
The status and position of the head of the household determine that his love must be restrained and calculated, so it cannot be as simple as the love of a guard. But I admire the head of the household for his unwavering and resolute love amidst numerous choices.
But using love as an excuse to keep the female lead by his side is not acceptable. If the female lead wants to pursue freedom, the male lead should learn to let go instead of sending people to monitor her.
It's truly terrifying that someone the female lead has always trusted turns out to be the male lead's informant.
I just don't love the head of the family, so no matter what he does, it's not enough. If I silently protect him, does that mean I have to give up completely? But when I take the initiative, I am criticized. It's so difficult. But I still like being with the head of the family and Hua Qian.
The main guard didn't choose the right person; this person is not the type I like. If you don't like it, please don't attack me. It's just my personal opinion.
I think this drama has been adapted very well! I came across a theory that when Hua Qian died in her previous life, the patriarch tried to save her but arrived too late. By the time he got there, Hua Qian was already severely injured, so the patriarch used a magical spice to treat her.
That's why Hua Qian always smells a strange fragrance! This current life is actually just a dream of Hua Qian's. In the first episode, when Hua Qian passed out and traveled through time, there was a voice saying, "I'll give you another chance, listen carefully to that voice." To me, it sounded like the patriarch's voice.
Also, in the first episode, after Hua Qian coughed up blood, two people rushed into the courtyard. I believe it was the patriarch coming to save Hua Qian.
Definitely! That fragrance is the exact remedy that Wu Shao wanted at the beginning, the one for treating Soul Departure Syndrome. The female lead is suffering from Soul Departure Syndrome, and the scent she smelled was from that specific remedy.
She had never encountered it before, so she didn't recognize it.
The maid is really funny. If it weren't for Qian Rongzhou protecting her, Qian Gege wouldn't have died. And she even says that Qian doesn't care at all. Although it's part of the plot, the maid's words are really unnecessary.
Of course, she would pay attention to Rongzhou since she likes him herself.
I speculate that after Hua Qian wakes up, she realizes it was all a dream. She initially breaks down but then discovers that her parents are not actually dead, and Zhong Xi Wu saved them.
Alternatively, her parents may have truly passed away, and through this dream, she has resolved many regrets and understood the meaning of living. She decides to live well in place of her family.
At the same time, she is moved by Zhong Xi Wu. Hua Qian's name is on the list of newcomers, and this time she chooses to take that step forward towards Zhong Xi Wu and willingly enter the Zhong family's residence.