Olive4213:
If I'd started my cdrama experience with "The Story of Yanxi Palace", it would have set me up to be disappointed in cdramas from then on. It was that good. I re-watch select episodes from the series very commonly, when I'm bored or tired and just want something wonderful to watch.
I'm not biased against cdramas--I just think that most of them are not very good. (They're getting better, but a good cdrama like "Nirvana in Fire" or "Yanxi Palace" is the exception, not the rule.) Still, watching the ridiculous nonsense of a low budget Chinese romantic comedy can be a good break.
I preferred Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace to Yanxi. Much more detailed, costumes are luxurious as the drama was high budget, the actors did a brilliant job, the schemes in the palace was much more intricate, the plot much more deep. I loved Yanxi as well but I felt that something was missing, a bit of substance and consistency of the characters, was a much lighter drama. If I would have to recommend to someone that wants "serious" historical dramas, Ruyi is the one to go for.