This is a really good story, especially the love story between the 2 leads. Juisi and Yuru’s love story was one of the best ones I have seen portrayed in a Cdrama. This is definitely proof that kissing scenes and implied sex don’t make a romance. Their relationship is definitely a slow burn, but their partnership, friendship and ultimately love is evident in all they do. I like that they really are a pair working together. They even arrive at the same conclusion from different angles multiple times. She is soft spoken but fierce when necessary, and above all she is brave and smart. He is a spoiled child when the story begins, but one with a good heart. He grows into the best kind of hero. But I especially love his sense of humor and a bit of his childish delight. He keeps this even though he grows up. Watching this is riveting TV.

What bumps this drama down a bit for me is the stuff outside the main romance. The bad guy is more like the kind who stomps around wearing a black cape and laughing evilly. He is “behind” all of the chaos that happens, but our heroes know it and still don’t take him out. It feels like we are told he is bad rather than shown it. He never really seems like a compelling bad guy to me and more like just an obstacle for plot purposes. Much of the palace intrigue is less than logical and the selflessness of our main couple means they have to start over 3 times before they finally get their happy after. It makes the story drag quite a bit in the back half.

Overall, watch it for the romance and the palace intrigue, but it would have been better if about 10 episodes had been cut.