I wanted to watch something on iQiYi because I had paid for the subscription and then, I found this drama.

Having just watched "Ordinary Greatness" before this drama, I thought it would not be too bad to watch another show starring Zhang Ruo Yun. While I am not his fan, I recognise that he is an excellent actor. I am mighty glad that I decided to go ahead with this drama.

What I Liked Quite a Bit:
- The acting was good -- very solid acting.
- The plot while fixated on the issue of Silk Road Tax / $3530, moved along quite fast. I found myself wanting to know how this issue, which had been unearthed after being buried for so long, would eventually be resolved. While I knew that Shuai Jia Mo would be fine as the ML, it was interesting to see how he faced the various challenges and powerful figures who tried so hard to ensure that he kept mum and that secrets which were buried, stayed forever buried.
- Shuai Jia Mo's BFF, Feng Bao Yu, as well as his BFF's sister, turned out to be such loveable gems who recognised SJM for who he was and just let him be.
- The characters were shown to be complex which I liked. I liked seeing how the magistrate of Tongyang County did Math with SJM and recognised that while SJM was most probably right, he had other considerations to take note of and that he would still refute what SJM claimed. I liked seeing how complex and human the characters were such as the assistant magistrate of Wancheng County who, layer by layer, showed that he knew the truth and that eventually, he decided to let the truth be told.
- I liked how tactful and calm the Grand Coordinator of Fengxing was as he peeled off layer by corrupt layer to reveal the truth of the matter. (Something to learn from. There is no need to be all mean and fierce and shouty to get one's way or to get to the truth of the matter.)
- The lawyer turned out to be a fairly good fellow and I liked the budding romance between him and Feng Bi Yu.
- Blessedly happy ending in that the baddies were punished and justice prevailed. It was also very pleasant to see that SJM was finally able to get some closure of sorts and that the past no longer tortured him. It seemed that he had helped his father to solve the case of $3530 and everything fell into fall in the last episode and he could finally move on.

What I Didn't Like That Much:
- Magistrate Mao was so very shouty. He kept on yelling and bellowing.
- Ma Wen Cai was such an ass. He was super hateful. He was so corrupt and heinous.
- Fan Yuan was manipulative and malicious. He wanted to harm the innocent just to keep himself safe. He was so corrupt and so hateful.
- Erm, the elderly men looked pretty much similar. (There were so many men, especially, older men, in this drama and so few ladies.)

Overall, while this show was very singular in its pursuit, it entertained me for 14 whole episodes!!

I'd say that this drama knew that it could not be stretched for too long and it wrapped up once the case was solved and closed.

I'd highly recommend this show as an "intelligent drama" (if this makes sense). <3

:o)