Yes, the female lead character here is more pitiful than in the Story of Minglan, its because she did not have anyone to depend on but herself. Compare to Minglan she and her late mother basically need to survive in the family, that's why she is disinterested in marriage and eager to go back to Yuhang and planned to open her own embroidery shop. But because of the situation in her family she cannot be free and adopt 'watch and wait' attitude. Some comments in youtube thinks she has no back bone like Minglan, which is incorrect, so they want to drop the drama. But I think she is actually someone independent and quite modern in thinking.
I think that's why LingYi starts to open up to her when he met her in the garden after his nightmare, and starts to fall for her after the late night convo when she said that she have no one but to depend on herself, its because they are so similar in soul and thinking. He also is quite modern in thinking because he did not believe in superstition but proof. I think both of them will help their character grow later, Shiyi become less guarded towards him and LingYi more supportive especially in allowing Shiyi more independent in pursuing her passion towards embroidery.
I read that this drama is based on a novel. Anyone read the novel already?