I adore all the actors in this drama. From Aunt Qi, Commander Xiao, The twins, Shuyi, the scene stealer Cunning Mo and Doofus Xu, Instructor Du, and even the pivotal moments with Little Dou which act as a catalyst for Xiao Beichen to grow as a person.

Personally, this drama is my first take on both the lead role (most of the actors anyway). Nevertheless, I thought the acting is good and remained faithful to the script. I started reading the original novel written by LingXi just to understand certain prerogatives/actions done by actors in the story. Some scenes don't make sense such as why Aunt Qi suddenly ask Lin Hangjing to write scriptures even if her writings are definitely pretty. While reading the novel, I found that it was for Aunt Qi to use it to pray at the temple. The scene in the drama however looks out of place like a sudden afterwards scene added, though I shrugged it off later on just due to the twist and turns of the political situation in the story.

Although the earlier storyline is full of angst and various misunderstandings that could have been resolved had they both just sat down and talk it out like a normal couple. But I thought it was almost a normal reaction someone could have towards their other half, especially with the pressure of the surroundings from youth movements, the communist party, the central government and warlords. Let's just ask ourselves what could we have done while facing the evil machinations of Zheng Fengqi. Though it also teaches us that relationships could crumble when both party are too proud and stubborn with no backing down. "If only..." doesn't work in real life. Their relationship at the beginning is rocky but improves with time, especially with Xiao Beichen taking the lower road, leaving leeway for both as we can see on their first night as husband and wife, as both leads lower their heads and talk of reconciling when the scandal broke out when they place their trust in each other. Even in the event of Xiao Beichen's lie about her father came to light, Lin Hanjing tried her hardest to cross-check the information but she broke down amidst the painful memory of her father's death and the broken trust between husband and wife.

Do remember Lin Hangjing was only 15 years old when forced to leave the only home she was familiar with in Southern China and came to the cold Northeastern territory. Despite being treated kindly by both of her adopted parents, which teens will completely let go of their reserve and be completely free in a new environment? I felt heartache while reading so many scathing comments on how Lin Hangjing is ungrateful and doesn't deserve to be loved by Xiao Beichen. She only have 1 friend with that she could completely tell the truth about her hardship, dreams and aspirations. How could she ignore that 1 friend when he is in danger (referring to the assassination attempt of Commander Kang)? She has been living a protected life of a young lady. She might be talented, and smart in studying and writings, however, she is not well-versed in how the military game works. She might know the rules but she doesn't have what it takes to play the game. With the stakes and gamble required, she put on a brave front but still has fear in her heart when she is almost at the end of the rope (referring to when she was almost sentenced to death in court).

I love Chen Duling's portrayal of Lin Hangjing and Sheng Hanjun. She shows us the role of a high-class lady gradually transforming from the previously restrictive for women to a progressive semi-modern lady with aspirations for national revolutions. She has the right thinking of wanting to lift up all the women of the era and later on become one of the front-line ladies while playing Sheng Hanjun. It is not due to her having a special role thus she wants to play spy, but due to her wanting to do all she can to help in the revolution. From her earlier life, Lin Hanjing has worked as a writer that critiques the warlords and wrote an expose on the impacts of war, as a supporter of the establishment of the orphanage and finally as a school teacher for young girls of the poorer class. Needless to say in her role as Sheng Hanjun, she played the spy to foil the Japanese plan of winning the harbour construction plan and later on as the first aider during the war between the Ying Army and the Japanese.

I could not help but wrote more on Lin Hanjing character as most of the reviews/comments seem hell-bent on critiquing her as a woman stuck in hard places while living in a turbulent warlord era, a time between the two world wars.

Shawn Dou Xiao acting as both the playful 3rd young master and staunch soldier/guardian of Beixin City reflects the social situation in the warlord era. As the different factions grew restless due to greed for wealth and power, and internal and external conflicts, he remained faithful to the city he swore to protect. I don't have to say much but each scene with him left me at the edge of my seat due to nervousness, laughing so much or crying as I emphatized with how he felt. I cried a river at the last scene between these two leads when Xiao Beichen said:

"I'm just afraid I'd be reluctant to die when I see you".