This review may contain spoilers
A change of heart - absolutely engaging
One of the dramas I have dropped halfway of airing, for the reason that I got bored and actually forgot about it. But then, it made me realize, "Dang, Bai Lu never miss out good dramas, why am I dropping this?" So, I gave it a chance, rewatched it from the beginning and not a single second wasted my time.Imagine driving a car just to go to a restaurant that's only 1km away from you when you could've just walked. Not only did you waste your gas, added air pollution, but also have to take the effort now of reverse parking your vehicle going home. That's basically what Xue Ning did to her previous life as an empress, she did the quick way of grabbing the throne that negatively affected the people around her, and now she's trying to get back to the good points of her life exerting more effort when she could've done it right on the first try. Then, she realized, I could've just done it way easier? I could've just cooked at home, or I could've just ordered take-out. This is one of the best things I love about this drama, a change of heart after uncovering a deep realization of mistakes - and it made Xue Ning's character a jade.
I love how majority of the times, SoKP showed cruelty towards Ning'er, especially because of the people surrounding her like her mother. It's like a payback from the cruelty she did to other people before while taking chance of the throne. But she did not take it by heart negatively, rather accepted the fact that it was a karma from her past doings. It built the angst towards the viewers, but by the end, they showed acceptance, especially with Xue Ning's mother's confession before she travelled away.
The only downside about it is the pacing of romance. To be honest, Ning'er and Xie Wei did not have much chemistry at the start since all I can see is Ning'er being afraid by Xie Wei's dominance, but that is played on purpose and is perfect for the story build up. However, as soon as Zheng Zhe appeared, I rooted more for them than I do for Xie Wei. It just feels like they have more connection than what Ning'er and Xie Wei have. And the romance pace did not show much until the last 10 episodes of the drama, which is very lacking for me.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS:
(I will only include the ones who emotionally impacted me most)
1. Ning'er/Jiang Xue Ning - her character during the first few episodes of the drama shows how little her temperament is and cunning she can be. As a queen, she was ruthless when climbing the ladder, not minding how many stones she trampled just to reach the peak. However, in just a few episode, she was already shown as a round and dynamic character, and change was very much evident. From a selfish person into someone who built their empathy for the people around her. Ning'er has a great character building, from the beginning until the end, showed how someone can adaptably change their life after encountering the burden of guilt. In fact, she was pretty strong and dedicated to actually manage to change her fate and loved ones despite them not knowing what happened before she went back to the past, and I believe that itself shows how much selfless she actually is. It did not only stop there, as she used to be not caring other people's emotions as long as she gains something in the end, but by the time she changed, she even did her best just to help Shen Zhi Yi, which really shows how attached she became regarding their friendship. It takes a brave person to fix their mistakes, but Ning'er was courageous enough to even swallow the risks.
2. Xie Wei - starting off, he was viewed as someone who do not care about other people unless it gives him value, and he is that good of a pretender. Xie Wei is the type of person who always manage to hide the softness inside him through his cold appearance and demeanor. "Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield." - Lao Tzu. And I see Xie Wei playing a role of the rock here, as Ning'er softens him that slowly showed the side how he does care about people. Xie Wei is definitely the 'red flag' type of guy who is willing to burn the world for Ning'er, and it is honestly one of the things I love about him. After all, in a drama full of good guys, we still do want some bad for us, don't we?
3. Zhang Zhe - his character emotionally captivated me. He is too strong of a character that no wonder he only appeared halfway of the show. In fact, I rooted for him first before I did to Xie Wei. I don't blame Ning'er to actually see the different in him, as Zhang Zhe's characteristic is the type that every woman would want to live for - he has a heart of a servant. He loved Ning'er but not selfish enough to take the risk of it, and I don't think anything is wrong with that. Even after devoting himself for the goodness of people, which took something of value from him, he was emotionally well-checked enough to not blame his anger unto others.
4. Xue Shu - the first time knowing her character, it immediately reminded me of the old Ning'er, and made me question, "was this how cruel Ning'er actually used to be?" She is too selfish and cruel to actually push the people who messes with her off the cliff. However, if I put myself in her situation, I would not want to be married with a someone that would possibly harm me when war comes either. And I think as what she did at that time of desperation, I would very much do the same to save myself despite being called 'shameless.' In fact, I would rather be called shameless than lying dead on the ground. The only wrong thing about her was that she takes too much advantage with her position, that even her own action has betrayed her at the end. I see Xue Shu as a misunderstood villain, with the exceptions of the bad deeds she has done to achieve the higher position, but if she was given another chance like Ning'er, I can actually see her do much better. Xue Shu is basically the old Ning'er.
5. Xue Hui - I honestly felt Xue Ning's anger towards her at the beginning. Xue Hui didn't show much remorse towards the death of her original birth mother, despite receiving letters from her. However, same as Xie Wei, she was a great pretender, and actually just hid her feelings. I have a love-hate relationship towards her character, as Ning'er mentioned that she was not the biological daughter, but her getting all the good things in the family is kind of unfair for Ning'er. I expected her to atleast console or defend Ning'er at some point, but she never did. Along the way, it was Ning'er who tried patching their relationship, and not the other way around. But then, Xue Hui actually do plan for Ning'er to just stomp on her as a way of atleast Ning'er to have a 'payback' for all the missing experiences - and I think that's kind of selfish of Xue Hui still. Even though, the intention was good, the effect is clearly not good for Ning'er, and I thought Xue Hui is smart enough to actually think of that, but she is not. If she wanted for Ning'er to have a payback for all the missing experiences, she would've atleast defended her whenever her mother looks down on Ning'er, or atleast try approaching Ning'er first to atleast fix their broken relationship. But at the end, it was Ning'er who tried to put effort on it, which I think is kind of unfair. Xue Hui is told to be smart as the first daughter, but it shows the opposite. She knew the old Ning'er is selfish, yet she just let her take the empress role, knowing that being selfish enough to attain the throne will be the cause of her losing her life in the end.
ACTING ANALYSIS:
1. Bai Lu as Ning'er - No one could ever play the same character with the same impact as Bai Lu did to Ning'er. She basically embraced the character as her own, showing her pure emotions as if she really was the one in situation, especially at the part when she tried to save Zhi Yi. I don't understand how she gets too much criticism for bad acting, 'cause this show is clearly turning the tables for that. Her chemistry with Zhang Ling He was also top notch, but I think it was way better with Xing Yue. Whenever they are together, honestly makes me root for them more.
2. Zhang Ling He as Xie Wei - His glares and angry face is the best ones i've seen among all the chinese actors i've seen so far. He honestly does make me scared of him, whenever he is on screen and makes me feel like the character is already too cruel without even him saying anything yet. I could feel the desperation of keeping Ning'er from his acting (especially the kissing scenes), and I don't think no one can top his solemn facial expressions.
3. Xing Yue as Zhang Zhe- I have already seen multiple of his dramas, and how I wish that he could've used this drama as his stepping stone for actually improving. I think he is playing too safe of giving that same "bored out" expression again and again. However, he did pretty good when the mother scene happened, I seriously did cry watching it, and I thought "I didn't know he can act like this?" which I don't think he does to his other lines. He is definitely above average, but he can do better.
Overall, if you do not mind a very slow-paced romance with lots of political influence, this drama is suitable for you. Story-wise, it has a good build-up, but romantically, it's very slow for me. In terms of acting, you could never ask for more, as they exerted it very well on this one - no disappointment, especially for Bai Lu. Character-wise, if you are into smart female lead who are emotionally mature, this is one of the good dramas you can watch. As per the male counterpart, it's a struggle for me as I have deep love with Zhang Zhe than I do with Xie Wei. Just a head up though, there's not much of martial arts in this drama, but there will be lots of political strategies involved.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Some battles are won with swords. Others with slow-burn side-eye.
When one of my two favorite Chinese actresses, Bai Lu, stars in a historical drama, you bet I’m going to watch it. Throw Zhang Ling He into the mix, and I almost would have given it a 10, but I didn’t. Not to say, this wasn’t an amazing drama, because it is, but it left me wanting more.Let me start with where this drama excels.
The story. The story of Kunning Palace is full of wonders and intricacy that I am kept on my toes with all the political intrigues and calculated machinations by people in Xue Ning’s second life, with the most impressive moves made by her, and of course our main lead Xie Wei. As separate characters, they are formidable in their own right, but together, they are unstoppable. The way they side-step attempts on their life and thwart their potential ruination were exciting to watch.
The arcs. Several fully developed mini-arcs comprise this drama, each contributing to the overall plot. The writer seamlessly intertwined them, and none served as a filler.
The music. Appropriately themed and timed, that I feel the swell of excitement when called for, and the sense of dread when prompted. They carefully chose the sombre melodies that became a backdrop of unrequited love.
The production. The crew excelled in cinematography, and their attention to detail in costume design creates a world that transports us from the present to the past.
The cast. As expected of Bai Lu, she portrays the role of Xue Ning convincingly. Her wit and charm exude on the screen. Zhang Ling He is not one to slack off either. He proved his status as a top actor by nailing his portrayal of the mysterious figure that is Xie Wei. This is the fifth time that I’ve seen both, each time I am impressed with their acting. But who surprised me the most is Wang Xing Yue. This is the second time I’ve seen him, but his performance here grew leaps and bounds compared to when I first saw him in One and Only. Zhou Jun Wei is another one who held his own when cast in a sea of experienced actors. I’ve always seen him support roles and here, he proved himself to be a worthy contender of the Female Lead’s love.
Where I think this drama is lacking.
The romance. I’m not entirely sure whether it’s the lack of chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu that allowed Zhang Zhe to sweep in the middle. Or maybe it’s the way the characters were written, or how the drama (or camera) focused on Zhang Zhe’s character, that I feel there’s more of a connection between Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue. The longing looks that they shoot each other for the most of the drama almost erased Zhang Ling He’s existence. When Yan Lin thought his rival was Xie Wei, I think it was Zhang Zhe that he should be wary of. Granted, if Xue Ning’s second life didn’t occur, she might have ended up with Zhang Zhe. But it’s highly unlikely because we know that the upright person who he was, First-life Zhang Zhe would not have fallen in love with First-life Xue Ning.
Speaking past lives, I’m not happy that the drama interjected a modern re-write of the novel as a segue between the first and second lives. I know some people have attributed this to censorship, but there are other dramas that have done this better.
Aside from these points, I almost loved this near-perfect drama, with its powerful cast and engaging plot. This sweeping saga of second chances and second loves explores the question of whether fate can be changed with strong will, or if it remains the same destiny regardless of attempts to reverse it.
Was this review helpful to you?
The man with a double life, and the woman with a second chance at it.
Admittedly, I was surprised to have missed Kunning Palace in 2023 - having only heard of the show in early December. Usually, period romance is right up my alley, but given a few disappointing dramas still in my recent memory it's been a while since I've watched anything of that genre. On this front, Kunning Palace succeeds.From a period drama, this is exactly what we would expect; the domestic intrigue, the court intrigue, the 'hidden' past of the male lead. And, although nothing is particularly unexpected, the tropes don't necessarily grow wearisome. In particular, the relationships the female lead has with her other love interests are far from the usual "second lead syndrome" or "bothersome and obsessive reject who works to make her final relationship miserable". All of the stereotypically annoying clichés were toned down, which is a credit to the writers.
Yet, I do feel that this drama suffers from pacing and time delegation issues. Although we, as viewers, guess at the emotions of both love interests and see how they develop throughout the story - the realisation for both of the characters feels somewhat rushed. In the end, more time is spent on palace politics and battle scenes than on seeing them together as a couple. Unfortunate, given the emphasis that the drama clearly tries to place upon "love" and "loyalty".
Regardless, the stories outside of the main characters were gripping enough that I rarely skipped over them; particularly with regards to the princess, Xuehui and Fangyin. All of their characters were layered and interesting, and although I found the initial set up of the Jiang family relationship odd and forced; I liked how the tension between the family members resolved itself. It felt naturalistic and feasible.
However, the one cliché I cannot forgive is the set up for the entire 'rebirth' itself. It was superficial and poorly executed; feeling only like a weak attempt at trying to copy Joy of Life or Scarlet Heart (who at least had a purpose behind the usage which was relevant to the plot).
Ultimately, the drama is gripping and enjoyable. There is not really any criticism which can be thrown to the acting or the costume design, and the chemistry (both romantic and non-romantic) between all of the characters is palpable and poignant. It's unfortunate then, that they failed either to extend the drama, or to spend less time on its more superficial elements in order to focus on the relationships and plot that actually mattered.
Watch it though. I only have so many criticisms because it was so nearly perfect.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Amazing Plot
I seriously loved this Plot!! The politics are written so well and i didnt thought one episode was boring. the slow burn for this was also perfect, early romance wouldnt fit in. I will say ml is quite the red flag, which i dont mind but short before they became together it felt like they suddendly wrote him even more aggresive. the forced kiss was kind of dissapointing, esp bc in earlier episodes he seems quite different. he was always a bit rough, but i wouldve never thought he'd force himself onto FL.thats why im giving it an 8.5, esp bc the SA wasnt even adressed. but if we ignore that part i wouldve easily given it an 9.5!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Can't Stop Watching but Slightly Let Down by Ending
Amazing story set in ancient chinese palace intrigue. Everyone (and i mean everyone) can act and acted well.All was top notch but just slightly disappointed by the contrived endings for some plot and characters. As mentioned by the top reviewers, there was one death totally unnecessary and did not do anything to the plot. Maybe was there was a short and cheap emotional roller-coaster farming.
Also did not like the way the ML and FL behaved in condensing their loves toward the end; it was crass and somehow still revert back to misunderstanding and mistrust. That was totally stupid.
I would have given 9.5 instead of 9.0 if not for these.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
You will cry and laugh
This drama is about the FL, who went back in time to redo all her wrongs in her first life. The FL has three main guys in her life. One is her best friend, the other one is her first love, and the last one is her one true love.This drama is also a kind of harem, in the sense that there is harem drama with the queen dowager. Anyways, the FL tries to redo all her wrongs and finds out the truth to save the people in her life.
I enjoyed this drama, and really like the ML. Love the ost, and cinematography in this drama.
I would watch it again :). 8.5/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
Power, Control, and the Cost of Playing the Game Twice
Story of Kunning Palace is a character-driven political drama that understands one thing very well: power is never clean, and neither are the people who pursue it.What makes this story compelling is its second-chance structure—not as a fantasy reset, but as a strategic re-entry into a world the female lead already understands. Jiang Xuening isn’t trying to become “better” in a moral sense; she’s trying to be smarter. That distinction matters.
Bai Lu carries the role with controlled intensity, but the real standout is the dynamic tension between characters—especially where trust, manipulation, and long-term strategy intersect. Relationships in this drama are not built on simple affection; they are negotiated, tested, and often weaponized.
Zhang Linghe delivers a restrained performance that works within the tone of the show, though at times the emotional expression feels more contained than the narrative tension demands.
The pacing is generally strong, with consistent forward movement, though some political threads could have been tightened for clarity.
Where the drama succeeds is in its refusal to simplify. There are no easy victories here—only calculated ones.
It’s not emotionally devastating, but it is intellectually satisfying.
Was this review helpful to you?
Red Flags Never Looked This Good
If you're looking for a male lead who is obsessively in love and terrifyingly devoted to the female lead, pick this up immediately. This drama features the kind of man who makes the term “red flag” feel insufficient. Calling the male lead manipulative and cunning barely scratches the surface. At some point, I genuinely started believing the phrase “red flag” was invented because of him. (ദ്ദി˙ᗜ˙)This show is psychologically disruptive in the best way possible. Half the time, I found myself dissecting every sinister plot twist and hidden motive while simultaneously waiting for the two leads to finally realize they were emotionally orbiting each other. The story follows Jiang Xuening, a deeply flawed and ambitious woman who manipulates her way into becoming Empress, only to be cornered into sui•cide during a rebellion. After being reborn into her younger self, she becomes determined to rewrite her tragic fate, avoid the deadly court politics that destroyed her life, and redeem the sins of her past.
What truly carried this drama for me was the complexity of its characters. Every major character feels layered, dangerous, and emotionally damaged in some way. The cast delivered visceral performances, especially the two leads whose chemistry thrives more on psychological tension than outright romance. The cinematography and visual atmosphere are also stunning. Almost every episode feels like a slow-boiling descent into paranoia, manipulation, and emotional repression.
The storyline itself can feel dragging at times. The slow-burn pacing occasionally works against the suspense, making some twists predictable. In fact, there was one major reveal I had already guessed as early as Episode 6. Thankfully, the pacing becomes significantly tighter and more gripping near the climax, especially once the emotional payoff between the leads finally starts surfacing.
Still, I would hesitate to call this a full romance drama. Despite the happy ending, the relationship between the leads revolves more around manipulation, calculation, obsession, jealousy, and political maneuvering than actual romantic intimacy. Compared to Ling Buyi from Love Like the Galaxy, who would destroy enemies and sacrifice himself for the woman he loves, or Xie Zheng from Pursuit of Jade, who would openly defy imperial authority for his beloved, the male lead of Story of Kunning Palace operates differently.
He is less: “I’ll burn the palace down for you.”
And more: “I already set the palace on fire emotionally years ago, and you were unknowingly at the center of it.” 💀
Overall, the emotional engagement during the first half felt slow and almost agonizing at times. But once the romantic payoff finally begins around Episode 30, it becomes compelling enough to keep me fully invested until the very end.
▶️ May 22-26, 2026
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Everyone Needed Therapy, Including Me.
I had this drama on my watchlist since 2023, but I wasn’t really drawn to it because the male lead seemed like a red flag based on the synopsis.After watching Pursuit of Jade this year, I wanted to explore more Zhang Ling He dramas, so I came back to it.
It wasn’t bad, but it was a very stressful watch. From episode one, I already felt tense. The female lead, who has already experienced death in her previous life, constantly panics in front of Xie Wei. I kept wondering what exactly she was afraid of—he already killed her in her past life, so why is she still so overwhelmed, to the point that it makes the whole viewing experience stressful?
Even with knowledge from her past life, she remains stuck in constant struggle and never really manages to handle things on her own. It became quite hard to watch. She wasn’t very likable from the beginning, and she rarely takes independent action as a “reincarnated” character, relying heavily on the male lead and second male lead, who are not supposed to be reincarnated.
The male lead is also a red flag for me. He clearly has psychological issues and violent outbursts that don’t feel normal or easy to accept.
The female lead’s mother is also toxic and adds to the overall stress throughout the story. In general, nothing felt particularly enjoyable to watch, and I ended up skipping a lot of scenes just to get through it.
I rate The Story of Kunning Palace 8/10 mainly for its production quality and storyline, but definitely not 8.7. And I don’t think I would watch it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Disappointingly Average
This drama's problems begin in the marketing itself. I will be candid, I'm not really a fan of the story within a story format. Especially for romances, because that always feels so unfulfilling at the end. But nowhere in the description of the drama on MDL or IQIYI did it announce it was that, so I went in thinking it was a regular historical thriller. Despite tending to dislike that plot, I decided to watch on because I love tension and everything I'd seen had promised me that in spades. However, I think this drama only partially delivered. The past life scenes between Ning and Xie Wei were so tense and just what I was looking for however it wasn't the same with the current timeline. Obviously, they did have chemistry and tension but for me, it just wasn't doing it. Like when you compare the two timelines, past her is not nearly as frightened of him so they have this intensity that just doesn't happen in the current timeline. It is basically a one-sided obsession for the majority of the current timeline, and I don't even understand how she fell for him. Another thing, what was with the mental health rep? I don't understand why they included the mental illness at all, he could have hated the snow and been cruel without bringing in a disorder that is already stigmatized to use as an excuse for his violence.I do want to say I did enjoy this drama, it was beautifully shot, the soundtrack was epic, and the acting was great. This was my first Bai Lu drama, but I've been in the cdrama sphere for about a year so I'm familiar with her name, and I was really impressed. I will definitely check out another one when I have the opportunity. The male lead did great as well, as did all the supporting actors.
Overall, I would recommend this drama, 8.5/10
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
very agnozing slow burn with rushed? ending
This is my first cdrama & i must say i enjoyed it alot!the first 30 episodes were full of intriguing schemes, and palace drama that was really entertaining, my favorite character in the first 30 episodes was definity XieWie, he is smart, calculating, 10 steps ahead of everyone, always with a backup plan. I enjoyed watching him scheme to have this revenge. But then the next 8 episodes were just so rushed and quesitonnable, with the toxic love he was exhibiting for JXN, their forceful encounters and the sudden declaration of love from the fl? it was so random. speaking of the fl, I really loved her premise of rewritting her own destiny from the past. My only problem with her characterization is the absense of supposed "bad" behaviour. She keeps on saying she lead a dark life in her past life, but in this life she seems to be a morally good person, so it is confusing, I would've loved her to have a hard time making morally good choices to show that she really isn't a good person. All in all, i did enjoy this show mainly for the political schemes of the first 30 episodes, the well written characters, the subtle romance of the first half. I wished they expanded more on the romance with the fl & ml before ep 30, it was such a sloww slow burn.
Was this review helpful to you?
