pear

I enjoyed the romance in this drama until about episode 22.
Once all the main characters discovered that the female lead is a woman, it remained enjoyable but lost some of its spark. After that, the drama focused primarily on the political plot, which, for me, was the less entertaining part.

Some of the fight scenes were executed very well.
The final episode felt somewhat rushed.

Do not expect much realism in this story.
The female lead does not appear athletic enough to wield a sword, let alone fight effectively with one.
If anyone in the past had spoken about women's rights in the way the FL did, they would have been laughed at or imprisoned for spreading blasphemy and contradicting the teachings of Confucianism.
But this drama is a fantasy, so just ignore it 😉

Sloppy writing.
They focused too much on showing females are equal to male...that it started looking artifical and weird (idk how to word that properly). I have watched other dramas do this efficiently. (Almost all of Bai Lu's drama)
Its about a general...and war tactics etc. So naturally i was hoping for good plays. Till 27 ep...I only see flawed tactics and it made an impression that whoever wrote this just wanted to get things done. No layering.

People watching this drama and always fighting over who does xiaoyao truly love ? I was also one of them I realized I never actually care about xiaoyao feeling or life at all . She is the victim of her parents decision and the victim of the war between people who seeking the power. She doesn’t choose it but she’s the one who bears all the consequences . She’s truly living a very miserable life. She is a princess of both countries but she ends up lost in a world and no one could find and save her in time . She was huant and hurt by the people who once hurt by her parents which is not her fault . she is a princess but she can’t live a glorious life . Living and believing she is abandoned by everyone she loves . She’s only has herself . She’s so miserable yet all I cared about that time was who does she truly love ? I even hated xiaoyao. Is it that important? Love is only part of her life but freedoms , stability, safety and having control over her own life are also part of her life . Now, I sum up my understanding . Xiaoyao doe need love but she also needs stability and a peaceful life and stay away from the war and the conflict between any country. She just wants to live a very simple life . She is happy to be wen xiaoliu forever if there is nothing happens and push her to change back to her original form . That time love is not even in the conversation . She loves and hate some people in different stages of her life . it means xiaoyao changes as she experiences different things . At the end she loves and chooses Tu shanjing. Finally, she’s truly happy . This is her happy ending and it’s simply not because she ends up with jing but it’s xiaoyao finally gets to live a life that belong to xiaoyao . For audiences you might be sad or happy despite the character you’re emphasizes with and that has nothing to do with xiaoyao. In the end, Xiaoyao choosing the person and life that allow her to feel genuinely safe and happy matters more than whether the audience’s favorite character “won.” xiaoyao is the definition of the strong female lead in my opinion who has every reason to consume by revenge, politics and family obligations instead she chooses to have a peaceful life where she can choose for herself .

I miss them both so much. The chemistry between them was incredible, and both characters were so charming.

Sheng Yi is such a frustrating character but she’s also one of the most realistic portrayal of women in that time. But fr, she’s testing my patience.

Just started this and excellent use of lighting right at the beginning. None of those they only have one candle but the room is brighter than my future, haha. Love the ambient glow and use of colors.

I loved seeing the main leads together again after so long since Go Go Squid. I was pretty young when I first watched it, and it was one of my earliest dramas, so I remember adoring this couple back then. Watching them now feels so nostalgic, especially since their chemistry is still as strong as ever. They’re incredible actors who feel like completely different characters in this drama. The focus on women’s empowerment is inspiring, though also heartbreaking at times, especially when portraying their early struggles. It’s a sobering reminder that these challenges still exist for women today, making it even harder to imagine what women in the past endured. It’s such an enjoyable eye candy drama, and I’m contemplating whether to watch season 2 xD.

NOW THIS IS A MASTERPIECE I will rewatch

nothing can top this ever

Happy 3rd Anniversary to this masterpiece!! 🎉🥳🫶

Bai lu is wonderful in this! what a brilliant actor, love her!

I really hate when shows tell you over and over again how smart a person is only for them to REPEATEDLY be the stupidest most unobservant person in the entire show. looking at you Shen Zhi Li...looking at you.

She has been groomed. He has treated her differently from the first time we have seen them. Giving her different gift to other students. How long has she been her teacher and they used an older actress but really I think she is in her teens? The family put her in that position, and didn’t pull her out when they should have. You should read more on grooming as this is exactly the power dynamics it happens. She is a victim and unfortunately society always blames the woman.

Grooming didn’t start modern day it’s always been there. Him as her elder should not have approached her and given her special treatment. The wife weirded and people saw the attention but ignored it. It’s like when pastors abuse or groom children no one really steps in because they are respected. She didn’t like him out of nowhere it was his actions that lead to this, he groomed her. He is a trusted person and her family ignored it as long as it was beneficial until they wanted to marry her off to the emperor. They failed her, she is a victim.

I honestly don’t know how they managed to fail another novel adaptation so badly. I remember reading the novel last year, it was genuinely great, with solid political intrigue, beautiful romance, and just the right amount of angst. The drama failed in every aspect.

I don’t even want to get into the acting, casting choices, or makeup. I do think they could have done better, but the biggest disappointment is the plot. How do you take such a good novel and turn it into this? All the amazing romantic tension from the book is completely nonexistent in the drama. It’s sad and disappointing.