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This review may contain spoilers
"She graces my view, occupies my mind, and claims my heart."
There's honestly not enough words to describe how I feel about this drama. I regret not watching this drama sooner! (But, hey, better late than never, right?) Ok, first of all, I want to just say how incredible Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei are together.
Their chemistry was just so enjoyable to watch, and nothing about their scenes together felt forced or awkward. Their acting was incredible in this drama, and I honestly hope that they have another project together in the future.
This drama had me invested from episode one, and I have honestly never watched a historical drama this quickly! Every episode was so entertaining and I absolutely loved seeing the gradual romance between Xiao Jue and He Yan. The entire ensemble of characters in this drama were fantastic (yes, even the villains), and I think that everyone did a phenomenal job with their respective roles.
First off, I of course have to talk about one of my (new) favorite female leads ever: He Yan. She is honestly the definition of a strong female lead. Her past was honestly kind of sad, as her father and step-brother were especially cruel to her. Though her mother wasn't able to care for her as she had wanted, we learn that her mother genuinely loved and cared for her, but couldn't do so openly because of the man she married. He Yan is extremely resilient, and despite how cruelly she was treated by her father and brother, she was able to leave home and find success of her own. And though she had to conceal her identity, He Yan worked extremely hard to get to where she is. I absolutely hated how her father and step-brother treated her, especially when they poisoned and blinded her. I also hated how they tried to kill her in order to silence her. That in itself was so cruel.
Despite the hardships that she endured, He Yan was able to recover and enlist in the military once again, working hard to earn merits of her own right. She is not only extremely resilient, but never allows herself to be looked down upon. She also never loses hope, and keeps going, even when things seem hopeless.
He Yan is bright and cheerful, but is also a fierce fighter and soldier. Despite her being the smallest in her military camp, she showed that she was just as capable of keeping up with her fellow soldiers. Though her relationship with her fellow soldiers doesn't start out great, they all eventually come to respect one another and also become close comrades and friends. I absolutely loved her friendship with them! He Yan proved herself countless times that she is a force to be reckoned with, and that she should not be underestimated. Not only is she a strong fighter, but she is also extremely intelligent and strategic, more so than people give her credit for. She continuously amazed me by how incredibly strong she is! Her strength and drive are honestly so admirable, and honestly kind of inspires me, in some ways. He Yan is also very loyal and an amazing person to have in your corner. She is someone who will go down swinging for those she cares about.
Throughout the drama, we see how women are restricted by societal norms, and the expectations that are thrust upon them. He Yan getting through to the women in Rundu and also in Jiyang where she showed them that women are no less capable than men, and that they shouldn't be afraid to pursue their interests or dreams, no matter how big or small.
She teaches them that they shouldn't allow people to tell them that they can't or shouldn't do something. Instead, they should pursue it to the fullest of their ability. In a way, He Yan kind of becomes a role model to them, which I absolutely loved.
And, despite the fierceness that He Yan possesses, she also has a soft heart, and is emotional, as we see her grieve over the death of her master and also Yan He, one of the generals that helped defend Huayuan after it was invaded by Wutuo. Also, that scene in episode 26 where she thinks that she will never be able to see Xiao Jue again after he disappears into the smoke that is surrounding the battlefield was so incredibly devastating. He is the only person who has truly noticed and cared for her. And the relief in her eyes when she realizes that he's alive?? I SOBBED. also, the hug???? :((((
She is also someone who tries to pretend that she is holding it together, as we see when her master dies and she doesn't break down crying until she is alone in her room. I love that He Yan allows herself to be more vulnerable around those she loves, especially Xiao Jue. I absolutely adore He Yan, and I also love that we actually got to see her fight quite a lot throughout this drama! Her fight scenes never failed to amaze me.
And, now, on to Xiao Jue, our male lead. Honestly, where do I even begin with this man? He's someone that has seen a lot of suffering during his time as a commander, and also as a general of the Xiao army. He is determined to avenge his father and the 30,000 soldiers that were sacrificed during the battle at Mingshui. When he and He Yan were classmates, he at first did look down on her because she wasn't a very good student and not very adept at martial arts (at the time), but he started to notice how hardworking and resilient she was, which is why he started to be nice to her. From giving her his thumb ring for archery, giving her loquats when she was trapped in a classroom after failing an exam so she wouldn't get hungry, and also giving her pages that outline the instructions for mastering the Qinglang Technique. He helped her out without making himself known, and that honestly made me love him even more. He doesn't want any recognition for his deeds, just the knowledge that he was able to help her out is enough for him.
When they do reunite, he is initially suspicious of He Yan, as he believes that she is a spy. Xiao Jue continuously tests her during training, and she begins to catch on, making sure that she doesn't fail them. He is not the nicest to her, as he suspects her of being a spy and also He Ru Fei (aka General Fei Hong), the person who was responsible for delaying the reinforcements to Mingshui, causing his father and his soldiers to die on the battlefield. Xiao Jue begins to become very impressed by He Yan's cleverness and ability to stay ahead of her comrades, as well as her determination to become the top soldier in the garrison.
In my opinion, his feelings start to change towards her after figuring out that she is actually a woman. He begins to become a bit softer towards her, and also, the way he looks at her starts to change. (Cheng Lei is an incredible eye actor, and I think that he conveys so much with just his eyes, and I honestly think that's so impressive!)
One thing I noticed is that he rarely raises his voice with her, and that even when he's angry, he always seems to speak in a slightly soft??? tone? (I'm probably just being delusional but I don't remember him raising his voice at her ever so....) And when this man falls, he FALLS HARD. I mean, honestly, he started to fall for her (in my opinion) when they were pretending to be a married couple in Jiyang. The way that he completely ignores Min Er (the daughter of Yan Ling) when she tries to get his attention? Also him saying that he only trusts his wife? YEAH EXACTLY!! and then him buying He Yan a GORGEOUS dress?? ABSOLUTELY!!! I also loved how he called He Yan "wife" and "honey," that made me giggle.
He Yan is truly his first and last love, and his confession was absolutely beautiful!! I love how he has never once tried to restrict He Yan or undermine her in any way. He has always believed in her, and he sees her as an equal in every way. The angst between absolutely crushed me, but I am glad that the misunderstanding was cleared up fairly quickly after he found out that she wasn't responsible for the tragedy that happened at the Mingshui battle.
From there, Xiao Jue is absolutely devoted to He Yan, and will do anything to protect her, even if he knows that she is more than capable of taking care of herself. And when the Emperor refuses to grant their marriage, he declares that he if he can't be with her, he'd rather be single and alone forever. (LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? this man:((
I'm honestly so glad that his older brother convinced him to go to He Yan and not to let her go so easily. And when Xiao Jue said that he couldn't move on nor forget He Yan?? (HE'S SO:((() The love that He Yan and Xiao Jue have for each other is honestly unmatched, and I love that we also got to see them fight side by side! The entire battle scene at Mingshui gave me chills! The aura that these two have is honestly unmatched. A couple who fights battles together, stays together <3 Xiao Jue and He Yan are easily one of my favorite historical cdrama couples <3
(Also, quick side note to say that I absolutely loved Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao's love story! I loved that we got to see their relationship develop as well!! Their wedding ceremony was absolutely hilarious and so fitting for both of their characters! Oh, and I honestly SOBBED when Yan He's wife was giving birth and then it also showed Yan He dying from the poisonous arrow that was shot at him. And when she said that she knew that when she married him, there was always a possibility that he wouldn't come back alive, she just hadn't expected it to be so soon:(()
And the fact that she now has to raise their baby girl on her own?? HEARTBREAKING. and when that butterfly landed on their child's crib?? It was as if Yan He was watching over their child:((( And also, the romance between He Yan's master and Princess Meng Jiu? Their love story was so heartbreaking, as I feel like they never even really got to start their own
And, ok, I do unfortunately have to talk about the villains in this drama. He Ru Fei? Literally one of the most psychotic and arrogant characters I have ever seen. I mean, when all the evidence and proof of him committing the crimes that He Yan was accusing him of were all coming together and it was so CLEAR that he was guilty, he had the audacity and nerve to say that he's innocent. (like give me a break) He's genuinely so delusional to think that he was ever truly General Fei Hong, or that he truly deserved the title.
Also, He Yan wasn't the one who stole his identity, it was the other way around. He Yan easily defeating him during their sparring match was so satisfying! (Like it was so clear who was the superior fighter). I also love that He Yan and Xiao Jue didn't kill him because they deemed him unworthy of dirtying their swords?? (I know that's right!) Like, he's not even worth that to them. Also, it's the way that I think that he's genuinely such a "weak" villain in that he had everyone do everything for him, including Chancellor Xu. He only "earned" the title of General Fei Hong because of the lies he created and also because of his father. In the end, he got what he deserved. Chancellor Xu is equally as worse as He Ru Fei. His ambitions were insane, I mean, he even told the EMPEROR of all people that he should abdicate his throne because he's not a "good enough" ruler. Crazy, right? He's genuinely so narcissistic and delusional, and I'm glad that he died in the end. (I mean, he deserved it. He literally caused the deaths of 30,000 soldiers, Xiao Jue's father, and also committed treason. He also ruined Xiao Jue's father's reputation by slandering him as well).
Also, Ping Ting? His daughter? Literally so infuriating. She tries to expose He Yan's identity in court, all because she finds out that Chu Zhao (I'll talk about him in a second) has feelings for He Yan. (LIKE you did all of that for a man??? kind of crazy if you ask me). I hated her character, but honestly, she had kind of had a point when she said that Ying Xiang (Chu Zhao's maid)'s death was his karma. (You KNOW it's bad when a horrible character is right about something). Ying Xiang DID NOT deserve to die like that, and I genuinely felt so bad for her.
Chu Zhao....where do I even start with him? At first, I did feel bad for him because of what he went through as a child, but then again, we also didn't get enough of his backstory. I kind of wish we got more of it, because I think it would've made me understand his character a bit more. He was genuinely one of those characters that I was so confused by, as I couldn't tell what side he was on 99% of the time. His obsession with He Yan? Absolutely insane and so toxic?? It's the way that this man literally sees Xiao Jue and He Yan holding hands and KISSING and he still tries to tear them apart? Like what the heck? I HATED how he tried to convince He Yan that he loved her. (Dude, what you feel her is NOT love, that's obsession). And I hated that he tried to get the Emperor to marry them both, as he claimed that two generals marrying each other would threaten his power, or whatever stupid reason he came up with. In the end, he gets exiled to the borderlands. I honestly didn't even feel bad for him at all. Like he's truly alone, and to be honest, it didn't have to be that way, but he MADE it that way. I also think that he was definitely a morally grey character as well.
There's so much more I could say, but this review is already WAY too long, so I'll just say this one last thing:
If you want to watch this drama, please do! You will not regret it! I miss Xiao Jue and He Yan so much, and it's only been 24 hours since I finished the drama! I am so so glad I decided to watch this! This drama is definitely one of my top favorites of the year!
Oh, and these quotes are just beautiful:
"You're the first one I taught swordsmanship to. You're the first one I tended wounds to. You're the first one I gave candy to. You're the first one I bought clothes for. You're the first woman I tried to comfort. You're also the first one I covered for. Finally, I realize, in my life, the only person I love is you."
"I love the moon, yet the moon doesn't know."
"Now, the moon belongs to you."
"She graces my view, occupies my mind, and claims my heart."
"You say the moon guides you, but you never needed to borrow its light. because you can shine brightly yourself."
"He Yan. I love you. I wonder if you would like to spend the rest of your life with me."
"The peerless moon is yours now."
"With or without a marriage contract, He Yan, you're my chosen wife."
Their chemistry was just so enjoyable to watch, and nothing about their scenes together felt forced or awkward. Their acting was incredible in this drama, and I honestly hope that they have another project together in the future.
This drama had me invested from episode one, and I have honestly never watched a historical drama this quickly! Every episode was so entertaining and I absolutely loved seeing the gradual romance between Xiao Jue and He Yan. The entire ensemble of characters in this drama were fantastic (yes, even the villains), and I think that everyone did a phenomenal job with their respective roles.
First off, I of course have to talk about one of my (new) favorite female leads ever: He Yan. She is honestly the definition of a strong female lead. Her past was honestly kind of sad, as her father and step-brother were especially cruel to her. Though her mother wasn't able to care for her as she had wanted, we learn that her mother genuinely loved and cared for her, but couldn't do so openly because of the man she married. He Yan is extremely resilient, and despite how cruelly she was treated by her father and brother, she was able to leave home and find success of her own. And though she had to conceal her identity, He Yan worked extremely hard to get to where she is. I absolutely hated how her father and step-brother treated her, especially when they poisoned and blinded her. I also hated how they tried to kill her in order to silence her. That in itself was so cruel.
Despite the hardships that she endured, He Yan was able to recover and enlist in the military once again, working hard to earn merits of her own right. She is not only extremely resilient, but never allows herself to be looked down upon. She also never loses hope, and keeps going, even when things seem hopeless.
He Yan is bright and cheerful, but is also a fierce fighter and soldier. Despite her being the smallest in her military camp, she showed that she was just as capable of keeping up with her fellow soldiers. Though her relationship with her fellow soldiers doesn't start out great, they all eventually come to respect one another and also become close comrades and friends. I absolutely loved her friendship with them! He Yan proved herself countless times that she is a force to be reckoned with, and that she should not be underestimated. Not only is she a strong fighter, but she is also extremely intelligent and strategic, more so than people give her credit for. She continuously amazed me by how incredibly strong she is! Her strength and drive are honestly so admirable, and honestly kind of inspires me, in some ways. He Yan is also very loyal and an amazing person to have in your corner. She is someone who will go down swinging for those she cares about.
Throughout the drama, we see how women are restricted by societal norms, and the expectations that are thrust upon them. He Yan getting through to the women in Rundu and also in Jiyang where she showed them that women are no less capable than men, and that they shouldn't be afraid to pursue their interests or dreams, no matter how big or small.
She teaches them that they shouldn't allow people to tell them that they can't or shouldn't do something. Instead, they should pursue it to the fullest of their ability. In a way, He Yan kind of becomes a role model to them, which I absolutely loved.
And, despite the fierceness that He Yan possesses, she also has a soft heart, and is emotional, as we see her grieve over the death of her master and also Yan He, one of the generals that helped defend Huayuan after it was invaded by Wutuo. Also, that scene in episode 26 where she thinks that she will never be able to see Xiao Jue again after he disappears into the smoke that is surrounding the battlefield was so incredibly devastating. He is the only person who has truly noticed and cared for her. And the relief in her eyes when she realizes that he's alive?? I SOBBED. also, the hug???? :((((
She is also someone who tries to pretend that she is holding it together, as we see when her master dies and she doesn't break down crying until she is alone in her room. I love that He Yan allows herself to be more vulnerable around those she loves, especially Xiao Jue. I absolutely adore He Yan, and I also love that we actually got to see her fight quite a lot throughout this drama! Her fight scenes never failed to amaze me.
And, now, on to Xiao Jue, our male lead. Honestly, where do I even begin with this man? He's someone that has seen a lot of suffering during his time as a commander, and also as a general of the Xiao army. He is determined to avenge his father and the 30,000 soldiers that were sacrificed during the battle at Mingshui. When he and He Yan were classmates, he at first did look down on her because she wasn't a very good student and not very adept at martial arts (at the time), but he started to notice how hardworking and resilient she was, which is why he started to be nice to her. From giving her his thumb ring for archery, giving her loquats when she was trapped in a classroom after failing an exam so she wouldn't get hungry, and also giving her pages that outline the instructions for mastering the Qinglang Technique. He helped her out without making himself known, and that honestly made me love him even more. He doesn't want any recognition for his deeds, just the knowledge that he was able to help her out is enough for him.
When they do reunite, he is initially suspicious of He Yan, as he believes that she is a spy. Xiao Jue continuously tests her during training, and she begins to catch on, making sure that she doesn't fail them. He is not the nicest to her, as he suspects her of being a spy and also He Ru Fei (aka General Fei Hong), the person who was responsible for delaying the reinforcements to Mingshui, causing his father and his soldiers to die on the battlefield. Xiao Jue begins to become very impressed by He Yan's cleverness and ability to stay ahead of her comrades, as well as her determination to become the top soldier in the garrison.
In my opinion, his feelings start to change towards her after figuring out that she is actually a woman. He begins to become a bit softer towards her, and also, the way he looks at her starts to change. (Cheng Lei is an incredible eye actor, and I think that he conveys so much with just his eyes, and I honestly think that's so impressive!)
One thing I noticed is that he rarely raises his voice with her, and that even when he's angry, he always seems to speak in a slightly soft??? tone? (I'm probably just being delusional but I don't remember him raising his voice at her ever so....) And when this man falls, he FALLS HARD. I mean, honestly, he started to fall for her (in my opinion) when they were pretending to be a married couple in Jiyang. The way that he completely ignores Min Er (the daughter of Yan Ling) when she tries to get his attention? Also him saying that he only trusts his wife? YEAH EXACTLY!! and then him buying He Yan a GORGEOUS dress?? ABSOLUTELY!!! I also loved how he called He Yan "wife" and "honey," that made me giggle.
He Yan is truly his first and last love, and his confession was absolutely beautiful!! I love how he has never once tried to restrict He Yan or undermine her in any way. He has always believed in her, and he sees her as an equal in every way. The angst between absolutely crushed me, but I am glad that the misunderstanding was cleared up fairly quickly after he found out that she wasn't responsible for the tragedy that happened at the Mingshui battle.
From there, Xiao Jue is absolutely devoted to He Yan, and will do anything to protect her, even if he knows that she is more than capable of taking care of herself. And when the Emperor refuses to grant their marriage, he declares that he if he can't be with her, he'd rather be single and alone forever. (LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? this man:((
I'm honestly so glad that his older brother convinced him to go to He Yan and not to let her go so easily. And when Xiao Jue said that he couldn't move on nor forget He Yan?? (HE'S SO:((() The love that He Yan and Xiao Jue have for each other is honestly unmatched, and I love that we also got to see them fight side by side! The entire battle scene at Mingshui gave me chills! The aura that these two have is honestly unmatched. A couple who fights battles together, stays together <3 Xiao Jue and He Yan are easily one of my favorite historical cdrama couples <3
(Also, quick side note to say that I absolutely loved Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao's love story! I loved that we got to see their relationship develop as well!! Their wedding ceremony was absolutely hilarious and so fitting for both of their characters! Oh, and I honestly SOBBED when Yan He's wife was giving birth and then it also showed Yan He dying from the poisonous arrow that was shot at him. And when she said that she knew that when she married him, there was always a possibility that he wouldn't come back alive, she just hadn't expected it to be so soon:(()
And the fact that she now has to raise their baby girl on her own?? HEARTBREAKING. and when that butterfly landed on their child's crib?? It was as if Yan He was watching over their child:((( And also, the romance between He Yan's master and Princess Meng Jiu? Their love story was so heartbreaking, as I feel like they never even really got to start their own
And, ok, I do unfortunately have to talk about the villains in this drama. He Ru Fei? Literally one of the most psychotic and arrogant characters I have ever seen. I mean, when all the evidence and proof of him committing the crimes that He Yan was accusing him of were all coming together and it was so CLEAR that he was guilty, he had the audacity and nerve to say that he's innocent. (like give me a break) He's genuinely so delusional to think that he was ever truly General Fei Hong, or that he truly deserved the title.
Also, He Yan wasn't the one who stole his identity, it was the other way around. He Yan easily defeating him during their sparring match was so satisfying! (Like it was so clear who was the superior fighter). I also love that He Yan and Xiao Jue didn't kill him because they deemed him unworthy of dirtying their swords?? (I know that's right!) Like, he's not even worth that to them. Also, it's the way that I think that he's genuinely such a "weak" villain in that he had everyone do everything for him, including Chancellor Xu. He only "earned" the title of General Fei Hong because of the lies he created and also because of his father. In the end, he got what he deserved. Chancellor Xu is equally as worse as He Ru Fei. His ambitions were insane, I mean, he even told the EMPEROR of all people that he should abdicate his throne because he's not a "good enough" ruler. Crazy, right? He's genuinely so narcissistic and delusional, and I'm glad that he died in the end. (I mean, he deserved it. He literally caused the deaths of 30,000 soldiers, Xiao Jue's father, and also committed treason. He also ruined Xiao Jue's father's reputation by slandering him as well).
Also, Ping Ting? His daughter? Literally so infuriating. She tries to expose He Yan's identity in court, all because she finds out that Chu Zhao (I'll talk about him in a second) has feelings for He Yan. (LIKE you did all of that for a man??? kind of crazy if you ask me). I hated her character, but honestly, she had kind of had a point when she said that Ying Xiang (Chu Zhao's maid)'s death was his karma. (You KNOW it's bad when a horrible character is right about something). Ying Xiang DID NOT deserve to die like that, and I genuinely felt so bad for her.
Chu Zhao....where do I even start with him? At first, I did feel bad for him because of what he went through as a child, but then again, we also didn't get enough of his backstory. I kind of wish we got more of it, because I think it would've made me understand his character a bit more. He was genuinely one of those characters that I was so confused by, as I couldn't tell what side he was on 99% of the time. His obsession with He Yan? Absolutely insane and so toxic?? It's the way that this man literally sees Xiao Jue and He Yan holding hands and KISSING and he still tries to tear them apart? Like what the heck? I HATED how he tried to convince He Yan that he loved her. (Dude, what you feel her is NOT love, that's obsession). And I hated that he tried to get the Emperor to marry them both, as he claimed that two generals marrying each other would threaten his power, or whatever stupid reason he came up with. In the end, he gets exiled to the borderlands. I honestly didn't even feel bad for him at all. Like he's truly alone, and to be honest, it didn't have to be that way, but he MADE it that way. I also think that he was definitely a morally grey character as well.
There's so much more I could say, but this review is already WAY too long, so I'll just say this one last thing:
If you want to watch this drama, please do! You will not regret it! I miss Xiao Jue and He Yan so much, and it's only been 24 hours since I finished the drama! I am so so glad I decided to watch this! This drama is definitely one of my top favorites of the year!
Oh, and these quotes are just beautiful:
"You're the first one I taught swordsmanship to. You're the first one I tended wounds to. You're the first one I gave candy to. You're the first one I bought clothes for. You're the first woman I tried to comfort. You're also the first one I covered for. Finally, I realize, in my life, the only person I love is you."
"I love the moon, yet the moon doesn't know."
"Now, the moon belongs to you."
"She graces my view, occupies my mind, and claims my heart."
"You say the moon guides you, but you never needed to borrow its light. because you can shine brightly yourself."
"He Yan. I love you. I wonder if you would like to spend the rest of your life with me."
"The peerless moon is yours now."
"With or without a marriage contract, He Yan, you're my chosen wife."
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