I really like the acting on this after rewatching it for the second time after the first which was almost 4 years ago, dang. But thankfully Croton uploaded most episodes on youtube and 1080p because, back then, I watched it at 360p and I can understand why I did not fully realize that the production was lit.
First of all, the intro reminds me of the Kdrama "Empress Ki".
Second, I had to read about the characters in wikipedia especially the supporting characters because I knew they were not properly introduced, most of them, in the drama, and the dialogue centers more on Ning Yi and Feng Zi Wei's plots. I mean, first, we see Ning Yi looking like a monk in penintentiary but is actually imprisoned by his emperor dad. We learn throughout the next episodes that he is planning to go back to the palace, pretend like he's changed for the better, act sickly, and basically plot schemes while getting entangled with this woman he met on the streets who was being chased by a murderous brother. He helps the woman with the help of a mentor/professor he's close with. The woman is Feng Zhi Wei disguised as Zhi Wei, the typical trope like Mulan. My exact thoughts were: "They're gonna end up together." And then Nan Yi showed up. Change Ning to Nan and then add Yi. Handsome, Loyal, has attachment issues but grows, you see that with the ending at episode 70. With regards to Zhi Wei, I thought she was mentally and emotionally smart so the ending really strucked me, I thought she was going to show us how she've grown but the writers wrote that off instead, dang! I don't understand her story arc. With Ning Yi, he's complicated much like his parents. I believe his mentor is a healthy father figure to him if he weren't his biological father's advisor. Ning Yi managed to detain his emperor dad- now former emperor- as Ning Yi became the emperor- and avenge his mom, his younger self, his love, his 3rd brother.. I get his arc. By choosing revenge instead of loving yourself, you grow to hate yourself and lose people. Once again, the palace is a place of torment even for the head of the palace. "Scarlet Heart" vibes. They want to become commoners, and basically have equal rights. They can't when they are expected to embody imbalance (subordinate and dominate) in the palace not by themselves but by the people that surround them all the time. I mean, at first, I find the ending fitting for such a story but as I grow older, I understand the characters and their real life inspirations. I learn more of how the writing is made. The typical tropes and story arcs. How a story can be life changing, or not. For the conclusion of this story, I remember the quote, "It's the journey, not the destination." I will remember the good scenes from here and on. I find most of them comedic. I find Chen Kun's interpretation of Ning Yi endearing as he acts like how Attorney Woo Young Woo acts when amused, their expressions are strikingly similar. I like how he has a support system that also actively protects his woman for him and they all call her his cat to protect her identity. I like his bestfriend bodyguard, he seems nice, should've gave this character a love interest trope but this is a dark story (with little to no bloodshead onscreen, chinese media regulations, I have not formed a solid opinion on yet).
I know Empress Ki have a historical inspiration and I was also hoping for this one but I can't really find one on this "internet" part of the world or I have yet to.
Now that I see more clearly the costumes and aesthetics, I want more, just improve the story please. The aesthetics looks a bit similar to the animated ones and it flashes in my head everytime, like the hair buns, the women hair buns, the hemlines, the colors, even the emperors face. The new character here is the consort, I've never seen her in animation. I like how the emperor doesn't have a crown on his head too, most of the time, the younger emperor has this eunuch-like headdress but the older emperor doesn't need one, it seems. I like how the men wear down their hair, no pins, especially Ning Yi. Some of Zhi Wei's hair style were very interesting. I see why China is the fabric capital in ancient history. I like Zhi Wei's "under" dress and her almost tarmor like outer dress in Episode 70. I know it's sad but can we commemorate her journey. She's the phoenix in my opinion. From the fallen Dacheng princess to the first female Royal Inspector/Minister to being a Empress candidate but protecting her people, she has an A curve. I think the actress who portrayed her ( Ni Ni) still deserves an award for her great performance. I recently watched a "uglified" scene in YouTube and that's where I decided to rewatch this. I somehow admire the supporting characters' stories and how they somehow mystified our main characters, especially Zhi Wei, of their backgrounds that I have to remind myself to not focus too much on the supporting characters' background. It was hard. That's why I give this drama 6.5 stars.