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| “Love in Pavilion” Ending Leaves Fans in Tears – A Beautifully Tragic Farewell (iQIYI/Weibo) |
Even if you saw it coming, it still hits like a punch to the heart. If you were holding out hope for a twist of fate, Love in Pavilion made sure to remind everyone that it’s not that kind of story. (Spoilers Ahead!)
Fans of the manhua or donghua already knew the heartbreak waiting at the end – and true to form, the live-action delivered it with a cinematic flair (and a body count) that left no dry eye in sight.
This full-length live-action, unlike the more comedic or romantic tales in the Fox Spirit Matchmaker series, decided to go full epic tragedy. And we mean it.
Every backstory added, every sweet moment between characters, all built up to a finale that was gutting in the most poetic way.
Masked Daoists – From Bright-eyed Heroes to Tragic Legends
One of the most painful parts?
The fate of the Masked Daoists. These young cultivators, once so full of passion and loyalty, got the short end of destiny’s stick.
With more time spent on each character’s personal journey, the drama gave us relationships to root for – only to tear them apart in true heart-wrenching style.
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Yang Yitan (Zhai Xiaowen), under the black fox’s control, ends up mortally wounding Wangquan Zui (Wu Xuanyi), who willingly sacrifices herself to wake him up. After realising the horror of what happened, Yitan destroys his third eye and passes on—but not before saving Wangquan Hongye (Zhang Yunlong) from the brink of despair.
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Qing Muyuan (Meng Ziyi), also manipulated, accidentally strikes down Zhang Zheng (Ding Yuxi). He brings her back to herself with his final breath, and she chooses to follow him in the afterlife soon after.
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Deng Qiyue (Sun Zihang) is lost, unable to return to his daughter.
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Only Li Quzhuo (Zhao Yibo) survives, thanks to his brother Li Zizai (Chen Youwei), who uses a life-swapping talisman to keep him alive. One lives, the other fades. Classic heartbreak move.
Changes from the Source, but the Pain Hits Harder
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Fans of the original donghua might notice the deaths happen differently – and quicker.
The animated version was more brutal, fast-paced, and honestly, kind of shocking. Characters like Wangquan Zui were taken out by others (hello, Baye!), and the action was swift and often gory.
But the live-action slows things down, dives deeper into motivations, bonds, and what’s at stake.
By the time someone falls, you feel it.
Even if the “who kills who” list isn’t exactly the same, the takeaway remains: almost no one gets out unscathed.
The Final Blow – Hongye’s Last Goodbye
Wangquan Hongye, the only one left standing (barely), manages to take out the black fox… but he returns to another heartbreak.
His beloved Dongfang Huaizhu (Liu Shishi) had fought her final battle.
Sabotaged by Jin Renfeng, Huaizhu chose to bring new life into the world even if it meant her own spiritual strength would burn out.
She dies after childbirth in Hongye’s arms, leaving him with nothing but their newborn son.
Once a fierce swordsman, Hongye ends the series as a shattered man, living on only for their child – the future Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Sword and Beloved’s Wangquan Fugui.
Time Travel and Tragedy – Was It Too Much?
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The last plot twist?
The characters actually travelled 20 years into the future… and saw how they’d all die.
Yep, they knew what was coming—and still chose to fight.
That one choice makes the ending even more gut-wrenching. Heroic, sure, but oof… it hurts.
Fans are split.
Some say the series made so many changes anyway, it could’ve changed the ending too.
But others argue it’s the emotional weight of knowing you can’t change fate that makes Love in Pavilion so unforgettable.
Either way, have tissues ready.
This isn’t just a tragic story—it’s a full-on soul-crusher.
A Glimmer of Hope?
Not all is doom and gloom, though.
Dongfang Qinlan (Shen Yue) appears at the very end, safe with her son—who, fans will know, is none other than Dongfang Yuechu from Red-Moon Pact.
It’s a small comfort, but one the fandom clings to like a life raft.
TL;DR: Love in Pavilion delivers one of the most devastating finales in the Fox Spirit Matchmaker universe.
Beautifully acted, emotionally layered, and unapologetically tragic—this one’s for the fans who aren’t afraid of crying over fictional characters for days.
ep 32 #loveinpavilion spoiler trailer
— peach (@tianguangs) May 10, 2025
“i don’t blame you, i really don’t. but a yuan, you must remember, never be controlled by her again. we... will definitely win, right?” pic.twitter.com/9QNIYsnXi8