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PG takes the route of the enemy-to-lover trope. However, there are nuances that set them apart from typical enemies: they are enemies with deadly intentions in the beginning. This is my breakdown of how this route works.

They start from:
(1) lethal enemies who want to kill each other - around episode 1-4, to
(2) comrades united by a common target (the map) and shared idealism (to protect common people), and acknowledging each other's good side - the gambling house, the village, the hunting ground episodes, to
(3) lovers still clouded by lingering distrust - first encounter with Wuyin in the Lan boutique, Wuxia assassination plan, to
(4) once again strangers after an angsty separation - the capture and interrogation, the cliff-amnesia episodes, to
(5) a team helping each other for a shared cause - to reveal the mystery behind Empress Lv and Wuyin and solve the case of Wuhen's murder, and to finally,
(6) united husband and wife cooperated and devoted to each other (to save the country, to protect each other, and their loved ones).

Some viewers cannot stand numbers (3) and (4) because they want to jump right to the unity-romance (5) (6). But if we hold on, we will get all the reasons behind SZY's love for JTH: the understanding, the pity and empathy, and redemption. These reasons make SZY's ultimate sacrifice to help JTH so heartfelt.

The part where we see "the rejection of romance" happens in (4). The amnesia is the surface (what we see as the rejection act). But if we closely look at how the amnesia is manifested, it is selective. She can remember many things (including Qingtai, Wuyin), except those related to SZY and their relationship. So, we can conclude it is an amnesia induced by some emotional hurt or suppressed trauma (caused by SZY). This dynamic indirectly tells us about JTH's love, her emotional injury, and how this should be healed. Of course, naturally, it shouldn't be through drastic action, like "She is my wife! I want to take her home!" and grabbing her hand.

We got a prolonged period of JTH in Wuyin's hands. I don't see it as an act of surrender, but intentional staying. Looking at Qingtai's whereabouts, finding the secret wedding chamber, finding more mysteries (such as Empress Lv-Wuyin's relationship, cases around the imperial exam), and getting a steady supply of antidote. This sequence of events is the political and mystery parts, not the romance, where (5) happens.

I agree with you that there is a gap between conceptual coherence and execution quality. But that is another matter. The storyline itself is legit.

Romance is the third now. But, I swear I am not mistaken, at first, there was no romance at all in the drama info. They have changed it.

"Finally, someone who suits me" is in terms of intelligence/ cunning, not personal compatibility as a romantic partner (they are already husband and wife, so finding love is not the main issue). Look closely at the context surrounding the event in that episode when SZY said so. This acknowledgement is the foundation of a supposed partnership in SZY's eyes.

As I perceived, the romantic feeling began to bloom after SZY divorced other women. However, this divorce is not only for romance, but also for political reasons.

You may see PG as a love story like in the book, but for me, this drama format has different nuances that do not primarily contain a love story. Our perspectives are valid. So far, we enjoy it.

He is deposed and locked in a prison.

Some people said this drama should end sooner around 20s or 30s. You are the first one asking it to be 40.

When ATWIL was out, some people were not pleased with certain aspects of that drama. Did you not rant about ML when he fell from the cliff and "died" and going around with fake identity?

To know the purpose, you should listen to the dialogue. It is very clear.

Some people said it was rushed! Which one is true?

Do you want to know about him?

What do you mean by terrible ending? I bet you don't watch it properly.

For me, it is good to have no love triangle. It is fresh, not like most romance dramas.

There is a short foreshadowing in an episode. There is a scene where QMC watches the prince in a military camp from afar with sympathetic eyes. Since that, I know he is a good man.

Yes. I agree. The editing should have been better.

I beg to differ from most of you. I watch this drama primarily to see how they write the villains. Princess's Gambit gave me more satisfaction than other popular dramas. In The Double, Princess Wan Ning is just murdered, Shen Yu Rong commits suicide, and the evil mother goes mad. Even in Blossom, the Empress is just demoted and exiled, the prince is imprisoned, and the evil uncle of FL dies "righteously" to protect his patron. Those are not fair ends.

In PG, we get a full spectrum of villain types: an impulsive short-headed prince (Wugou), a calculative yet loyal one (Huaijin), an evil and corrupt father (Meng family head), a kind-hearted but turned cold and pragmatic daughter (Meng Zhenzhen), a smart and elegant but unhinged prince (Wuyin), and a powerful, cold blood, and vengeful queen (Empress Lv). What makes them compelling is that we generally understand how they became villains. Some were driven by greed, power, and corrupted personalities, while others turned dark out of a desire to protect the people/ family they love.

It is also a good thing to see how they end up working together as their interests intersect. Their alliance feels inevitable. We know what they want, how they are thinking and feeling, and how they are scheming. Also, how all of them met their demise is so satisfying. Wugou is the victim of his stupidity (after repeated reminders by Huaijin), Huaijin is the victim of blind loyalty to a wrong master, the Meng family head is forced to kill himself in prison, like what he did to Huaijin, and Wuyin is dead out of love he craves. Meng Zhenzhen got a pardon due to her last merit, and it resonates with her genuine care for fellow women and children in her family. And, Empress Lv is died in agony.

For me, the villains’ stories form a complete circle, delivering clear moral consequences. There’s a satisfaction in seeing them punished in the very ways they once wronged others. They reap what they sowed.

The last one. We also got a taste of a "pseudo" villain, the treacherous chancellor with gray morality, capable of ruthless actions. He’s far from the conventional, always-righteous hero. Raised in a scholarly household, trained in martial arts, and having a career in politics (as Qi's emperor political pawn), his personality transformed as he grappled with the realities of his world. What a complex and layered main character.

Yes

Yes

Yes and yes

No

In that city, the residents still support the royal family. The military commandant of that city play in two feet, which later renew his loyalty to the prince and princess.

It is because she always want to know what kind of relationship Empress Lv and Wuyin have. And, it cannot be known by hiding. So, she approached them. If you found her without plan, it means her action is spontaneous and driven by emotion. Maybe it is indeed a dumb move. But at least, we know the process behind such move.

In the previous scenes, we saw Wuyin's disappointment to Empress Lv's cold treatment to him. JTH gave him some words that resonate as true for him despite he was in denial. Later, he realized the truth himself that Empress Lv doesn't love him.

Of course, everything in a story is a plot. What matters is whether the plot push story development or not.

Better you watch and interpret every "romantic" scenes yourself after you get the nature of ML and FL relationship in the beginning, mid, and end. Without that context, you will be disappointed.