I adored this drama! When i read the novel it was quite underwhelming, so naturally i loved the drama more. The story in both the novel and drama is a bit weak, but lets talk about the drama. I want to do the drama justice by telling what was great about it.

1. The actors. Phenomenal performances from the entire cast. Zhao Lusi really owned her role! Yang Yang was also quite good. However i really think Zhao Lusi took the cake on this one. She was very immersed in her character and it was almost like bai fengxi in the drama was the bai fengxi from the novel coming alive! Kudos for the great show of talent in the two leads.

2. I loved the chemistry between the two leads and i did enjoy each of their stories. A lot of people complained about there being too much palace plot on the male lead side, but i quite enjoyed it. It was annoying but it gave Feng Lanxi depth and even a bit of pity bc of all the struggles he had to deal with his selfish, power hungry, uncaring family. I wish they emphasized more on the female lead back story but they put her on the chopping block.

3. I loved all the side characters. There wasnt anyone overly annoying and obsessed. Usually you have this 3 way love triangle trope, or obsessed girl who pines, and schemes, or kills for the one they obsess over, but here; There is no misunderstanding or giving a cold shoulder to each other for long periods of time before they start realizing they were stupid. Even the 2nd female lead was cool and you almost wanted her to get the main lead as well. It was so chill and non stressful, I couldnt wait until each episode came out.

Now, i gave the story a low score and mediocre in some other regards but it was simply the chemistry and acting that just made it all up for me.

My qualms: they chopped this drama in what should have been 50 epidodes to 40. They really did butcher the story and lots of things did not line up or make sense b/c like my title says, the episodes were chopped!!! They crunched everything and made me feel like it was rushed rushed rushed. The beginning-mid was slow then all of a sudden you get operation warp speed! Literally almost everything in the last 10 episodes did not align so there ARE many plot holes.

Nonetheless i very much so enjoyed the drama and would watch it again. Probably again and again and again. Lol There were too many good parts and acting that supercedes the negative.

If you are expecting the drama to be remotely like the novel, dont. You will be disappointed. Just watch this with an open mind and prepare for some things not to make sense bc it was chopped, chopped, chopped! ?