One of the best Chinese TV drama series I have ever watched, and I have watched already hundreds in my lifetime. This is my 2nd time watching multiple episodes drama (my first was "Empress Ki", a long 50++ episodes Korean period drama series). Even though there is 73 episodes, I was never bored. Instead, I kept wanting to watch the next episodes all the time. I did not even fast forward any scenes because I wanted to understand the whole story. That is how wonderful this TV drama is.
Overall, it is very interesting, complex, intriguing, heart-warming but can also be heart-wrenching, slow burning but ended up giving long-lasting warmth and good-feeling; this drama series is full of subtle and thrilling actions, lots of angst and affections - where the battles are not just out in the fields or Palace but also in the hearts, minds and homes of every characters. This drama may not be for everyone, but I totally love it. I even re-watched several episodes whenever I don't have other interesting dramas to watch.