cfy

Flawed but entertaining

There is potential in the story but somehow the interpretation, or execution, falls short. Whether it is the action parts, the romance parts or the subterfuge, the script is very stilted. The story progresses predictably. The sets feels more gaudy than grand. The setting is ancient China but the story line wouldn't be amiss for 2026. There is the usual court intrigues and maneuvering but these seem more corporate than imperial.

There is much emotional overlays but the results are just superficiality. Everyone cries but the sadness is not evident. Its more melodramatic than drama. There's love and romance scripted but there's no emotional connect. Kissing just meant a meeting of lips. There is much on brotherhood bonds but the interactions feels more like acquaintances.

In the end, it seems all about the sins of the elders being suffered by the children.

This is probably the most emotionless, passionless and stilted drama to date. The script also gets more incredulous, especially the miraculous rejuvenation. The miracles of healing is somewhat incredulous. Even by C Drama standards.

The MLs that is more plasticized than the FL. Tyrant emperor? More like plastic bully. the mothers were more tyrannical than the children. The robes also seem more revealing for males than females.

Li Qin as FYH was the most memorable act. Her graceful demeanor, lithely movements and unruffled calm carried her role better than the cry baby MLs.

There is much action and lots of twists, small and big, but overall the story line was somewhat detached and not as engaging. However there is enough to be entertained.

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A Historical Account presented mastefully in an engaging drama.

The initial 5 episodes were chaotic and confusing, needing to be revisited time and again.

There is the bigger story of a period when China was going through a chaotic period of 5 dynasties in rapid succession in the North and 10 kingdoms in the South. The fall of the Tang Dynasty, plunged the era and especially the Central Plains of the North with a dominant power with the ruling Emperor seated in Kaifeng, into a turbulent period of wars and power struggles between opposing states and military regimes. The Tang dynasty was ended by Zhu Wen, a rebel warlord who founded the Later Liang dynasty. He was in turn overthrown and replaced by Li Cunxu, son of his main military rival, Li Keyong, foundiing the Later Tang dynasty, the second dynasty after Tang. Li was in turn usurped by a trusted general, Shi Jintang, son of another Comander in Li Keyong's army, with the help of the Khitans, setting up the Later Jin Dynasty, the 3rd Dynasty after Tang.

This CDrama starts with the compromised Emperor Shi, beholden to the Khitans being the Central Plains dominant power.

Within this background was the Kingdom of Wuyue, a small but extremely prosperous Kingdom, who lived by the mantra of "serving the central plains". They were a vassal state within the Central Plains paying homage and tributes to the Central Plains Emperor. The King at the start of the series was Qian YuanGuang, who has 2 adopted sons, the 1st and 2nd Princes. This is the story of the 9th Prince, Qian HongChu.

Wuyue borders with the Southern Tang and they are both adversaries, often in armed conflicts. Within this corner of the world, there operates a strong independent sea borne merchant fleet headed by a strong willed woman, the Lady Yu who was once the wife of King YuanGuang. She left the King after he married another as part of a power alliance.. She is the biological mother of the 3rd Prince, Qian HongZuo, and also the mother of Sun Taizhen, her only daughter and another younger son ChengZuo. Lady Yu and her brother, Yu Wenxiu, runs the HuangLong Society fleet out of HuangLong Island.

Within this mix of royals, there is a powerful ensemble of nobles, generals and merchants, each with their own interests. A prominent merchant from Wuyue, Cheng Zhaoyue is plotting with Li YuanQing, a Commander of an elite Southern Tang military unit.

QHC, who seems to have a predilection to get into spots is captured aboard a HuangLong Society ship and brought to HuangLong Island, where he was attended to by STZ.

*will be updated*

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Watch this for Yang Zi and Peonies

The biggest reason to watch this drama is Yang Zi. There are more than enough twists and turns in the plot to keep going to the next episode. There's also much confusion as to the relationship between Prince Ning, the Emperor and San Lang. The other members of the cast are good at best with the more outstanding character being Zhu Fu.

Overall the storyline is simplistic, incredulous but entertaining nonetheless. There's enough to ensure that one continues watching Season 2, In the Name of Blossom.

Other than Yang Zi, the peonies are incredibly beautiful.

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