Story: Great story that kept me on my toes. There were twists and turns and moments that genuinely surprised me. Almost everything wraps up in the end in a satisfying way. However, I did have issue with a certain a character death because it felt unnecessary.

Characters: All the leads are wonderful in this story. In particular, I want to point out the amazing acting of Jing Chao (Fu Chou). He brought such nuance and depth to this character that even though I didn't ship him with Rong Le, I was so enthralled with his performance that he became my favorite character. Surprisingly, I didn't get second lead syndrome either as his character has done plenty of things that makes it understandable for why RL doesn't fall for him. FC is a grey character--he is kind but because of his upbringing he is forced to do some terrible things. Ultimately, I couldn't help but pity him because he was a victim in the end.

The main lead, Prince Li (Aarif Rahman) also did a good job. However, I wasn't as interested in his character compared to FC since he seemed a bit too perfect. He was the typical male lead so there wasn't anything unique that stood out to me. That being said I shipped him and Rong Le since the beginning and so I was glad that I could root for them to be together.

Rong Le: She starts off the show being naive and innocent and grows into a capable, strong women. I admire that even after everything she has been though--betrayal, heartbreak, and lies-she still maintains her kindness.

Rong Qi: I don't have much to say about him. I pity him but because we didn't get his story until the end I wasn't as invested in his character.

Production: this show had beautiful production value 10/10--some of the scenes are gorgeous

OST: loved the OST especially since the main leads contributed to it. I love FC theme as it is both a beautiful song and the lyrics perfectly sums up his character.


UPDATE!!
I'm re-watching this drama for the 3rd time and I feel that we don't talk enough about how healthy the relationship between Rong Le and Wu You is. Putting aside the misunderstanding in the beginning, once they do get together they stay together. They don't let anyone/anything pull them apart. They both respect, listen to and trust one and other. I know people complain about the chemistry- I felt the same after I first watched the show, but I think this couple doesn't need to be making out all the time for us to understand the deep love they have. They are both truly good people and I love being able to root for them! I just finished a drama that tried to portray an abusive/toxic relationship as romantic, so that could be why I'm more appreciative towards the healthy relationship portrayed here.

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If you can get past the editing then its fine

First thing you need to know is that this drama was meant to be way longer but they cut it down to 36 episodes. That's why some of the scenes feel abrupt and the plot moves really quickly. If you can get over that then this is a good story that is both unique and interesting. While there is a love story this is really Mo Wan's story. I love seeing her play the game of politics and the game of the harem.

I think the writers shouldn't have done the soul switching stuff between Moxin and Mowan and instead have this be a story about a younger sister avenging her older sister. Because the soul-switching along with the memory loss leaves us with the question of who is the person in Mowans body.

Acting/Cast: No disrespect to Chen Zhe Yuan (the ML) but I just don't buy that he is this powerful "god of war" when he looks like a kid. I think they should have casted an older looking actor that could really sell it. I think of someone like Benson Wang who played General Pei in "Goodbye My Princess."
The ML in my view is kind off a weak point in this story. As I said this is Mowan's story and he's just in it. He doesn't really do much until the end. The emperor has more screen time then him. I also didn't feel much chemistry between him and the FL.

The FL (Li Mo Zhi) grew on me- although I do admit that she does look a bit old for a character who is suppose to be like 20. I also hated those bangs she had in the beginning- glad she got rid of them.
I will say that I really liked this character and I admired how dedicated she was to getting her revenge- even going so far as to sleep with the emperor. I know a lot of people didn't like that but I personally thought it was realistic and made the drama stand out to me.

The emperor (Johnny Zhang) was great as the insecure and jealous emperor. I have to admit that I may be biased towards him because he is voiced by Bian Jiang, who has such a soothing voice.

Also the actress who played Yao Su Luan (Natalie Zhang) was a stand out performer.

OST: I like the ending theme

Overall: I wish the show wasn't cut and we could get the full story but alas.

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Manwol is the GOAT

Story: An interesting premise that started strong, lacked in the middle, and ended strong.
(+) the romance is endearing and mature. I know a lot of people had second lead syndrome but I personally enjoyed Manwol and Chan Sung romance. They bicker and tease but there is so much affection and understanding.
(+) finding out Manwol's backstory was interesting
(+) The second couple was cute
(+/-)beautiful CGI- it was really good in the beginning but wasn't as prominent/good later in the show
(-)Because the episodes are over an hour long I easily got bored of the week to week ghost stories. I think it would've worked better if the show was 20-30 minutes.
(+/-)bittersweet ending

Acting/Cast: IU owns this role! Not only is she amazing as the 1300 year old CEO but her scenes in the past- specifically her crying scenes got me.
Jin Goo was also great but his character was not as strong or developed compared to Manwol. He was interesting in the beginning but as the show went on his character was more of a support system to Manwol.
The rest of the cast was great but I'm disappointed that all their side stories were rushed at the end. I would have rather learned about their past than random ghost stories.

Music: Hands down one of the best OST of any drama! It features well known artists such as Gummy, Punch, Chungha, Taeyeon, Ben and even our wonderful IU.

Overall: This drama holds a special place in my heart. Though I can acknowledge the flaws I still looked forward to it every week. My advise would be to not binge it as it might get boring because the episodes are long.

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Low budget but still a lot of fun!

Story: This is a investigative drama where each episode there is a new case while there is an overarching plot that brings it all together. Truthfully, I wasn't that invested in the cases more so as I was invested in the romance.

This show has one of the best love triangles I've seen in a historical drama. Mainly because both male leads actually have a chance with the FL. In many dramas the 2nd ML will like the FL but she usually never considers him. But in this drama the FL actually falls in love with the 2nd ML but due to circumstances chooses not to be with him and eventually move on to the ML.

In a lot of dramas a love triangle is mainly used as a plot device to move the main leads together, but here the love triangle is used to develop the FL character. She starts this show being a rebellious and naïve girl who learns that not everyone is who they appear to be and maturely exits out of a relationship.

Acting/Cast: The acting I thought was fine but the dubbing wasn't great. I especially noticed it for the FL. There would be parts where you could see the voice and the acting not match up. It wasn't a deal breaker for me but I wish it was done better.

Overall: A great story with fantastic character development for the FL. Although it is a low-budget drama it was still very enjoyable!

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Just an average drama

I started this drama due to all the hype from fellow drama watchers and because the ratings were high in South Korea. While I enjoyed the drama, I thought it was pretty average.

Story: The story isn't anything new with the FL disguising as a man to survive in court. In my view, this trope is overdone and a bit boring but whatever. The court politics I found to be stale and repetitive. Maybe because I have seen many historical dramas, particularly Chinese ones, I'm use to it. I kept waiting for that "A ha!" moment where I understand the hype but I never got that. I'm glad that this had a happy ending though.

Acting: KYJ killed it here. I can't believe she was only 17 when she filmed this drama.

Music: Some pretty memorable songs such as "because I miss you"

Rewatch: Again this drama was average and nothing stood out to me so I won't rewatch it.

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Started off well but seriously drags in the middle

Story: I started this drama due to the high praise from fellow drama watchers and for the first 15 episodes I was so engaged in the story line. The drama was face-paced with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. In fact, it seemed that the story was moving too quickly, but then we hit ep 15 and the show starts to drag. It became a typical drama with politics and scheming that felt unnecessary. I wasn't invested in the story line as I was waiting for when the truth would be revealed, so all the other drama felt like filler. What made the drama unique was Danchi, but after ep 15 we never go back and as someone who loved that part of the story it was disappointing. The pacing was inconsistent with the beginning being fast and then coming to a screeching halt in the middle. However, the ending of the show was phenomenal. It was tragic but it was the natural conclusion to the story.

Acting: Despite my issues with the pacing, the acting was amazing from Oliver Chen and Peng Xiao Ran. Not only did they have great chemistry but they both had their moments where they shined.

Music: Loved the OST- all the songs mean so much to me as they hold such sad memories.

Rewatch: I won't rewatch it because my heart can't handle the ending. But also due to how much it drags in the middle.

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a well-balanced drama

Story: This show has a good balance of romance, angst, and comedy. The romance is well developed and I love how devoted the ML is to the FL. The angst doesn't drag on like other dramas, but instead it serves its purpose and then its is resolved. The show contains fun comedy and endearing characters. There are plenty of side couples and it has a happy ending.

Also I don't know what was the budget of the show but they put in a lot of detail. For example, the wedding is the most extravagant and beautiful that I've seen in a Cdrama. In most dramas we just see the bowing but here we see the whole ceremony.
The drama isn't oversaturated with light nor is there excessive skin smoothing. It was just very nice to look at! One can see that the production team put a lot of work into it.

Acting/Cast: I wasn't familiar with the leads but I thought they did a wonderful job and had great chemistry.

Music: I enjoy the OST- especially the ending theme.

Overall: This is one of the best rom-coms of the year and I would highly recommend

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Wonderful drama that is worth your time

Story:
(+) Though it is 70 episodes it didn't drag. Sure, there were some slow parts but almost all dramas have slow/boring moments. I'm glad I stuck with it because of the satisfying ending.
(+) FL who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She isn't the typical sweet FL who wouldn't hurt a fly. She is out for revenge and is willing to fight back
(+) FL having a great character arc.
(+) Wholesome relationship between the FL and the empress.
(+) Some good plot twists
(-) The time skips were confusing but not unbearable

Acting: I've been watching a lot of idol dramas which don't always have the best acting. I've forgotten what real good acting looks like and all the actors are wonderful. In particular the best performances are from Nie Yuan (the emperor) and Qin Lan (the empress). Two amazing actors playing two fantastic characters.

Overall: I initially put off this drama because I didn't like the aesthetic of the Qing Dynasty. However after a few episodes I got use to it and ended up even liking it. So if that is what is putting you off I encourage you to still give it a chance because this is one of the best cdrama out there!

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A Hidden Gem

Story: There is only one criminal case that the characters are solving and each episode brings them closer to doing so. I enjoyed the case because it was easy to follow and not that complicated. But the romance was at the forefront of the story which I was fine with since that was what interested me.

Romance: This c-drama has one of my favorite romances! It's not insta-love but it is not a slow burn either. The pair have natural chemistry that made it easy to transition from a fake relationship to a real one. Moreover, I loved the development of the romance, though they bicker it is clear that there's attraction and respect towards one and other. In some other dramas the main characters will bicker so much that I don't see how they develop feelings for one and other. But it's not the case here as there are plenty of moments in each episode that build towards it.

I also adore this male lead. He is reserved but not afraid to show/tell how he feels. In addition to being handsome he is quite romantic and flirty! I also appreciated how he respected the female lead and always encouraged her the be the best person that she could be.

The second couple was a delight to watch and although there romance was heavier I enjoyed the chemistry between them.

The supporting cast was so fun! I particularly enjoyed the one guard who would freak out when the main couple would show some PDA.

OST: I love the ending theme. I've been listening to it non-stop since I've watch the show.

Overall: This show just made me happy and feel warm inside. I will definitely re-watch it whenever I'm in the mood for something sweet!

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Make sure to watch the special

Story: The first 20 episodes were really good. It had a good progression with the romance and had a unique, light hearted story. However, after ep 20 the plot veered off and it became an angsty mess with a horrible ending. It wasn't even good angst- it was annoying and it dragged. Luckily a special was released with a happy ending. But even then it seemed a bit rushed and I wasn't completely satisfied.

Spoilers: In the synopsis is says "After learning about the suspicious events surrounding the death of Xue Yao's older brother, the two join hands to investigate the case." Unfortunately, this doesn't really happen and there are a lot of misunderstandings between the couple.

Acting/Cast: I wasn't familiar with any of the actors but I thought they did well in their roles. In particular the FL(Hu Yi Xuan) was great-she isn't the most beautiful actress but when she smiles she makes the whole screen light up. The ML(Zheng Ye Cheng) is honestly a pretty good actor and I'm going to keep an eye open for his other shows.

Music: Love the OST

Re watch: With all the criticisms I have I will say that the romance in this show is well developed and the leads have great chemistry. Luckily the drama is fully available so you can skip all the annoying angst.

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Enchanting drama with a beautiful love story

**A bit of background info: This was the first Chinese historical drama that I watched. Though it has it flaws it still holds a special place in my heart.

Story: The premise is about a princess from a sort of tribal kingdom who marries a prince from a more traditional kingdom. The FL is outspoken and not like the traditional women of the time while the ML is the typical stoic, uptight man. They clash a lot in the beginning but eventually grow to love and appreciate each other. They balance each other and both learn from the other. This show has one of the best depictions of marriage that I've seen in a historical drama. The couple fights, makes up, lean on each other and even discuss intimacy.

The discussion of intimacy between the friends and the main couple makes this drama unique. They talk about it and the show acknowledges when they have intimacy.

Also I do have to mention the amount of kisses in this drama went well beyond my expectations.

I also enjoyed the 2nd ML-- though he did some bad things I could sympathize with the pain and anger he felt. However, I did not get 2nd lead syndrome.

Acting: I was surprised when I found out that this was the FL first drama. I thought she was great! Also the dubbing is really good-- I don't know if the actors used their real voices but it matched well.

OST: This show has such an amazing soundtrack! The main leads also sang that the theme song. I still go back and listen to the soundtrack because all the songs are beautiful.

Rewatch: I rewatched this show twice and I still go back and rewatch the cute scenes.

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Not bad but not that exciting either

Story: The is a chill drama with a slow-burn romance. There was nothing wrong with the story, it just wasn't exciting. The gist is that the FL marries into the ML household in order to investigate her mothers untimely death. The ML has a harem of women but he isn't in love with any of them. He feels more of a duty towards them. This may turn off some viewers but I personally didn't mind it since this was common in that time period.

I dropped this drama mainly because there was nothing compelling me to keep watching. The romance while I think well developed was really slow. The scheming within the household was pretty standard and the mystery surrounding the mother was slowly revealed.

Acting: I thought the acting was fine--nothing exceptional. Although it was pointed out that the FL dubbed her own voice which I appreciate.

OST: Some memorable songs such as "Want to be Together" (要一起) By Zhou Shen (周深)

Rewatch: I may come back to this and finish it but it is low on my priority list.

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The FL is too bland and boring

Story: Basic storyline about a young man leaving his home to go on an adventure. He makes friends along the way, falls in love, and learns the truth about his identity. It's not bad but as I said basic. However, it doesn't mean you shouldn't watch it.

Acting: Okay here we go: The FL is boring and bland. All the other characters are so full of life that whenever we get to a scene with the FL I'm tempted to skip it. Now the acting isn't necessarily bad- it not great, but the character is just so quiet and somber. I also don't buy the love story between the ML and FL. The ML had way more chemistry with the 2nd FL.
Also not a huge fan of the main lead. No disrespect to Luhan but I just personally don't find him attractive.
Also Joseph Zeng's character is overdubbed. Too distracting!

Music: I liked both the opening and ending theme

Overall: It's not a bad drama it just wasn't for me

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Just a dumb show

I started this drama because I was craving a rom-com with a love triangle, and while it is one, it's poorly done.

Story: Now I know in historical Cdramas you have to suspend reality a bit with all the flying, lack of injuries etc but this show has too many moments that are ridiculous. At one point the ML and FL fall off a cliff and yet they are perfectly fine. Or another time the ML was injured and she treated his wound on his clothes rather than remove it and then put the medicine. It's moments like this that makes me not take the drama seriously. Yet, it seems like the drama did want you to take it seriously with all the politics and dramatic music in the background. Also, the FL sister tries to disguise herself as the FL to marry the prince and we are just suppose to assume that no one will figure it out. Like c'mon this could so easily be exposed and then it puts the family at risk.

Acting: I came into the show knowing that the FL is supposed to be around 15 so I was prepared to tolerate her behavior. However, maybe to the acting, it just came across flat and cringy. The ML was okay but the 2nd ML seemed to be the most experienced.

Music: Now the music on the other hand is great. I love the opening and ending theme. I started this drama because I came across the opening theme and fell in love with it.

Rewatch value: Since I dropped the series I won't be rewatching it. Instead I'm going to continue with "Oh! My Sweet Liar!" A much better rom-com in my opinion

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