Probably one of the best historical c-drama's I have seen in a while. Hands down the best drama of 2018! I'm quite picky when it comes to c-drama's. I mean the costumes, the cinematography, the style in which it was presented...I mean wow. I'm easily bored by unnecessary dragging drama's. This one is definitely in my top 5! It has a bit of everything: mind games, emotional struggles, a (sometimes weird but) fascinating love story and the usual drama of harem politics, but executed excellently!

Usually I start scrolling on my mobile phone, when I lose interest during episodes, but this drama had me hooked until the last episode. The strong acting (I love a strong and smart female lead and strong and stubborn male lead), the cleverness with which the palace game was played….sigh…. and I was even impressed by the acting skills of that crazy eunuch! Oh Eunuch...;) you had 'The Shining' written all over you....you dog you....
The villains in my opinion where formidable. Yes.....villains...as in multiple. The amazing thing was that every so-called 'villain' had u humanizing aspect to them, which made me understand were they were coming from. In some cases I rooted for the villain, but when it came to moment of truth I rooted for the leads more.

I also love how the female lead doesn't take bullshit from anyone. She fights for the ones she cares about and eliminates those who did her wrong. I'm easily annoyed by underwhelming female leads who waste my time with their almost saint-like attitude. I'm not vengeful and i believe in forgiveness, but continuously turning the other cheek to keep a female lead a pure and angel-like character, is plain boring. Nobody likes a goody two-shoes. I mean i certainly don't. I like women with integrity, good morals, passion and fighting spirit when the situation asks for it. I just like leads who play dirty, when the other side just doesn't want to back off. That's why i loved Wei Ying Luo and the actress who played her. I don't understand the crap they gave her for being an unexperienced actress. I thought she was perfect!

And Yuan Nie.......What can I say? I'm a sucker for older men of his kind. They just don't make them that way anymore…
I loved him as the emperor. He was a perfect asshole, with a bit of self-indulgence, intelligent but oblivious and lovable at the same time.

In short: Normally the Manchu style of the Qing Dynasty bothers me, but this time it totally didn't! It actually has grown on me in this drama! Don't want to spoil to much, but if you:
- can overlook the peculiar hairstyle;
- love a good historical c-drama's;
- enjoy engaging in palace politics and intrigues;
- are into love games (u know, the cat-and-mouse kind);
- love a-totally-in-denial , a somewhat childish, but somewhat adorable-at-times, unreasonably-stubborn and amazing acting Yuan Nie;
- are in need of a sometimes silly and going-overboard, but strong-and-kick-ass female lead;

than this is the one for you! Just press the button...don't hesitate….go on...you won't regret…go watch it and thank me later! ….You're welcome...;)