I think the show deserves a higher rating on MDL, but I can understand why it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Despite being a period drama, there was a modern feel to it, which I enjoyed, and it was the perfect show to binge watch.

What I liked the most:
* Slapstick humour and use of comedic cartoon effects: Instead of being annoying, the visual effects managed to hit the right notes during the comedic moments and added to the hilarity.

* Cheesiness and fluff.: This show was definitely fluffy, but I was looking specifically for a show that was all about the romance and less about the melodrama. The simple, light-hearted plot was perfect for a binge session.

* Endearing romance between the leads: the "hate to love" romance between Tan Lingyin and Tang Tianyuan was adorable. The chemistry between Zhang Hao Wei and Zhang Ruonan was palpable, so much so that even little innocent kisses between them were enough to make me smile. There was just so much sweetness in their interactions.

Zhang Hao Wei stood out as the very handsome, intelligent, savvy magistrate who was the perfect counterpart to the female lead who was more rash and reckless. Typically the rational and calm one, Tang Tianyuan was also very consistent in his love for Tan Lingyin. He may tease her a lot, but it was obvious that he cared for her and constantly supported and encouraged her. He never gave up on their relationship, even during the rough patches. Zhang Hao Wei's acting was good, and he emoted well. You can see his love or pride whenever Tan Lingyin showcased her smarts.

Zhang Ruonan portrayed the mischievous, plucky, and cute Tan Lingyin perfectly. I liked that she was a strong female lead who was determined to be recognized and respected despite the social expectations of women at that time. Tang Tianyuan, as Lingyin 's childhood idol and inspiration, was a nice touch to the story.

* It was not all about love: The show did focus on the romance between the main and secondary (Zheng Shaofeng and Zhou Ruyi) couples, but there were mini-arcs about the supporting cast that drew me in. Unlike many c-dramas, which lose steam and get draggy towards the end, I was still engaged as the show drew to a close. Also, I appreciated the consistent portrayal of the female lead, who did not give everything up for love. Tan Lingyin remained steadfast in her desire to achieve her own goals, and Tang Tianyuan went up a level of swoon-worthiness when he promised to to respect her wish and come back to her.

* Awesome supporting characters: It was a good-looking cast for sure, and there were a few characters that added the extra oomph to the show. The bromance between Tang Tianyuan and Zheng Shaofeng was used effectively to highlight the different approaches the two men took to pursue the women they loved. Other characters I liked: Qing Chen - Tan Lingyin’s adopted brother whose character tempered her rashness; Duan Feng - the dashing bandit whom I would have shipped with the female lead in a heartbeat if Tang Tianyuan was not such a charismatic male lead; and Zhu Dacong which I thought was going to be the annoying second lead but ended up being one of my favourite characters because of his earnestness, his love, and respect for Tan Lingyin.

* Great OST – there were only 3 main songs that I believe were highlighted in the show but I liked all of them. Fortunately I was able to find them on YouTube music. The songs were memorable and the show used them effectively during the poignant scenes between the main and secondary couples.

My main gripes would be that
* The plotline about the ‘gold case’ was not that exciting, and the villains were rather one-dimensional.
* The second couple had more steamy kisses than our main leads. I noticed that lately in most dramas (be it Chinese, Thai or Korean), the main couples were always more restrained compared to the secondary couples.

Overall, I enjoyed the show and would recommend it to anyone who just wants to unwind or binge-watch over a weekend.