One of the rare dramas where it solely focus on a female's strength and power -- the type of drama where the female lead is mostly got away from troubles or death situations by her own will power and capabilities.

Zhao Liying did amazing in this role. Her zero regards to all the males around her was astounding as you can see from early one that her family has always been the priority for her and nothing else matters. I personally think Lin Gengxin is under used here considering his character could do so much more than what being given by the script. And Shawn Dou as Yun Xun is a treat to the eyes! From his dazzling smiles and personality to his broken and damaged self after the tragedy was a great transition and he did it believably.

I personally think Yan Xun is stupid despite how intelligent he is as an individual. The one he needs to take revenge on is the Wei Emperor and not the people. But his war affects the people more rather than the Emperor. He should have just kill the Emperor (and his whole family if he needs to see more blood :() and his revenge is over SMH. But his war killed more innocent people than the King did to his family back then. So overall, his revenge is just dumb and unnecessary.

Despite all the positive reviews that the drama got, as someone who is a bit picky, I found that many of the plots were never being explored to its full potential. The great premise was there, but the writer obviously lacked the capabilities to expand the script to be even greater. This mostly masked by the great portrayal of the characters but there are many instances on they just glared through the matter with no justification and explanation. The great offender would be the Kung Fu of Ice that Xing-er possessed which were never explored. To the mention of Leader of the Afterlife Camp which seemed to have no problem when Yuwen Yue destroying his agency and took away his spies (lol) to the Moustache Man who doesn’t seemed to have purpose but just love to create trouble and influencing the politic in Wei, Yan & Liang states. Not to mention the useless Liang spies that despite their great potential and capabilities -- never actually achieve anything despite being the real mastermind of the conflict between Yan & Wei. But despite that I'm was adamant to give the drama 6.5/10 for being entertaining but in the end, it deserved 7/10 because of the great ending and how heartbroken it made me feels.

THE ENDING

I think the great thing about the last episode is that how we finally understand the inner thoughts of Xing-er's mind and the position of Yuwen You & Yan Xun in her heart. Her character was consistent throughout the drama that she never put love an emphasis in her heart no matter how many guys were interested in her. Family has always been her priority and later the people of Yan.

And Yan Xun is exactly like that to her -- someone she cares deeply and share dreams with like a family -- the reason why she lives -- a broken child that she needs to protect. That’s why no matter what, she always chose him over Yuwen Yu over and over again. And Yan Xun finally get it at the end that despite the fact that she always chose him, someone else has her heart.

So on why the dying scene of Yuwen Yue was so heart wrenching is the fact is that when Xing'er finally understand her heart, it was already too late. It was already too late when she apologised and promised not to leave him ever again -- everything is just too late at that time. Then when she said to him to 'Hold on' and he nodded slowly, it was even more heart breaking -- as we all know, and he knew it as well that he's not gonna make it but he did anyway for her. But that whole dying scene was really amazing though. I lose count how many times I watch it. Definitely the best dying scene in my book -- the acting was A++ since Yuwen Yue literally looks like he was dying at that time. ;_;

What I find very interesting is that mostly Yuwen Yue's great love are done just for the fact that he loves Xing-er. He knew Xing-er will never reciprocate his feelings but it was just enough if he can see her and knew that she is alive and safe. That’s why, he never told her the countless of times he saves her without she her knowledge because his love was selfless where he didn’t expect anything in return. He could hold her back and ask her to stay, but to him, what makes her happier is much more important rather than her staying by his side. That is why his love, despite being great is very sad as well. And the fact that he only knew that she actually loves him too as well at that time just make everything just even sadder.