This is a gripping story told at a good pace. The twists and turns of the plot and the action have a good flow. One can see that great attention was paid to the period costumes and sets, the palaces are beautiful and the houses are genuine rather than computer generated.
It is not just a love story, it's mostly a political story which encompasses vicious struggle for power, misplaced loyalties and fatalistic acceptances, but there it has humour too.
Handsome Ning Yi is an almost neurotic prince with lofty ideals and clever scheming with the collusion of the superb Head of Qingming Academy, Xin Zi Yan. One particular highlight is his return from Minhai to the capital as he rushes to and enters the palace to save the woman he loves, Zhi Wei. She's an interesting character, strong and independent, at times irritating, ugly when impersonating a man and yet beautiful when she is herself. The tormented Gu Yan is a quiet but powerful character and Zhi Wei's bodyguard, Gu Nan Yi, is very huggable. The not so likeable Emperor character is excellently played by Ni Da Hong.
I have not read the book, but I understand this ending is not the same as in the book. In my humble opinion the chosen ending is hurried and it feels like a let down.