I wanted to offer a different point of view from the diehard Xiao Zhan fans who will love him regardless. I found the opening storyline so ridiculous I decided to drop it. I found the character of the FL annoying-sure there have been reckless, daring FL but their bravado is based on achieving justice...but this gal just continuously ignores everyone and the rules because of what she wants. This is the case in point/spoiler: in the first few episodes, she repeatedly is advised that trespassing is not allowed and punishable by death yet she (and the other FL) both just go ahead and trespass for rather lame reasons. And then FL does it again (oh, because her memory was wiped). But she does it again. And of course, because this story makes no sense, she is saved by the ML--who says he'll never meet her again. And again. Sure, he may 'owe' her for being so loyal to him, but her loyalty is bent on reviving him from the dead--which of course, is a major no no--but what does she care? You could chalk it up to young naivete, but it is stretched in every plot point-she confronts the ancient bird and asks for his feathers, she says she wants to retrieve her friend's dress, but when it burns up she forgets that was the point of her trespassing and doesn't followup. And a little thing-she supposedly wears red as she is from the crimson clan but that seems to no longer apply after her first outfit.
That said the rest of the drivers of the story are questionable--she finds a flowerthat is totally different from all the others there-why would it grow by itself amidst all the others? Why does the consort resort to framing the prince resulting in her death when she is so arrogant pluss is pregnant with an heir? (Ok this may be revealed later in the drama). Why does his mentor focus on angry revenge when the purpose of their sect is to protect the world? Why is the Bird so darm annoying and committed to the lead and yet not as powerful as he supposedly should be for being an ancient being?
XZ is totally comfortable in this role no doubt, but the story is full of holes and the FL role is just too annoying.