Blossoms of Power really said love doesn't change a man completely, and I wholeheartedly support this message. Crown prince in love is just as manipulative and cunning as without it. He suddenly didn't become righteous because that would look better on paper. I see a lot of times characters' personalities go away (if they had any in the first place) when they fall in love. To appeal to mass sensibilities, everyone's love kind of looks the same.
But what I appreciated about BoP was that it shows how a cunning person like Hua Yong loves. You can't say love hasn't affected him. He's a lot more sincere and honest towards Xihe than anyone else. It has also changed his priorities. But he's a man of action. He still pretended to be sick, wheedled at her to give him attention and gifts, sought to impress her family and promoted her grandfather as her support in court.
It contrasts with straightforward, innocent love of ninth prince or forceful, guilt-ridden love of fifth prince. Even with Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai, Shulin is outwardly boisterous, but she represses her love like her identity, and Jinbai is quiet yet relentless in his love. Xihe hasn't loved anyone yet, but she cares deeply, and I know when she does fall in love, it would be just as deep and decisive as her.
