“Throughout my life, I've never let anyone down, but Eleven”

The above line kind of summarise the feelings this drama holds. Zhousheng Chen and Shiyi, it's a story about them and their love for each other. It's a story about their restrained love. The moment it begins, it's easy to guess what you are in for. You are here to witness a breathtakingly heartaching story told in a very cinematic manner. Both the protagonist never needed those grand words to convey what they felt for each other, the love between them is pure and beautiful.

ACTING
Allen Ren and Bai Lu have impressed me through their acting, it's so evident throughout the drama how much good of actors they both are, those subtle feelings, changes portrayed by them through their body is enough to adore them at heights. Their eyes have acted much more, words truly were not needed. ZSC is a character who's selfless, the essence of his character is that. He's a hero who has always been plagued by rumours, a hero who needed to be restrained in displaying his emotions, inner thoughts. Allen as ZSC is perfect and eternal. Shiyi, a crown Princess before even birth has to be caged but luckily she was sent to Nanchen Mansion as great changes took place in her life including ZSC. She was devoted to Nanchen Mansion and him, she was the family of them. I realised Bai Lu has an ability to make the whole world cry with her. Have I cried enough already with ZSC and Shiyi? No I haven't, I still tear up seeing them. I never thought I'll see ZSC crying so much either. Their scenes are heartbreaking, their lives were heartbreaking. If only they were free...
The supporting cast is no less either, I've come to adore them as well especially people around ZSC. No matter how much I hate a character but it's undeniable that they have acted great, majority of them have.

SOUNDTRACK
If you have heard even one of the OSTs, you'll know what my heart feels right now. Zhang Bichen, Allen, Zheng Yunlong, Jin Long...they are just a few names who have sung those tracks. There's isn't a single ost which doesn't move you. Such beautiful OSTs conveying the emotions going on within the scene feels so good making the already emotional scenes more emotional. Your heart just bleeds more and more. I was surprised by Allen's voice, I never knew this drama will give me full package Allen. I admire him so much now. The lyrics holds such an immense power. The bgm score is finest too. Can you appreciate these enough? Nope. The music has made this already top notch drama, an epic.

The drama feels grand, epic, magnificent, mesmerizing and in short beautiful. A cinematic portrayal. Everyone deserves a praise. ZSC and Shiyi have become eternal for me. There are speculations, suggestions and many alternatives that people would like to put forward as an ending but if you have watched the show or in midst of it, you'll know that no one had a choice and this was the most perfect ending ever. You cannot expect ZSC or Shiyi to do things which will mess up with the core of their character, the essence of their character lies in who they were, are and will be. It's all same, their core values remains unshaken. That's the most attractive thing about their character. Ending has to be in line with the plot, not with the fantasies you have in your head. The show for me is very realistic, that's how the era and palace politics works and to weave such a gorgeous tale within it is commendable. No matter how much I've cried throughout the show, I do not regret watching it. I'm grateful instead that this was the drama I was anticipating like crazy. I'll never bargain this drama experience for something else. One unique experience this is. The adaptation has been done very well as well, every little thing added is just gold.
I only have heart and teary eyes for this drama. This is one unmissable experience. I'm glad my Shiyi and ZSC will come greet us in sequel, we all have endured so much, eventually it's all happiness.

TOP TIER DRAMA OF MY LIFE