I had been avoiding this drama for a while. Every time it popped up on the list of dramas, I would skip over it. Initially, the facial expressions of First Wife really turned me off. Third time's the charm. I watched the entire first episode, then the second, and then I was hooked. It's a hefty 43 episodes, but so worth it in the end! The story isn't overly complex and told in sections, so you know who the main focus is at the time. There are a couple of loopholes, but not so the story suffers.

The characters were endearing and hateful (whichever applied). The chemistry between the couples was believable and I really grew to like them. It was hard to watch the First Brother & his wife's story. He did her so wrong and didn't (I believe) make it up to her sufficiently. The villainess in that story arc did not get enough comeuppance for my taste, either. Favorite character? The matriarch for her grace and dignity. Least favorite character(s)? The housekeepers and maids in the mansion. Favorite couple? Sorry - not the ML & FL lead - Second Brother and his wife. They worked hard for that. Girl with the most guts? The Noble Consort, kicking the Emperor to the curb after he treated her so badly and expected her to fall back into his arms. Boom!

The OST - Lu Hu's voice is outstanding and so unique. His duet with Bai Lu 'The Purple Hairpin' was a work of beauty - I listen to it more than I'd like to admit and love it every time.

Overall, I liked how the entire drama told the story of the members of this family. Despite the bickering and competition (which reminds me - Third Brother's wife: what a money-grubber! I wish she had given him a little love), despite the ups and downs, this family loved each other as best as they knew how, and watching their stories unfold was really what held my interest. This one has made it to my list of favorites, and I will definitely be rewatching this at some point.