Enjoyable drama that could have been better with better pacing

I was drawn to this drama because of its cast - Tiffany, Shawn, and Charamaine are some of my favourite actors.

The good:
- Unique historical period and culture showcased. I have rarely seen a drama from the perspective of Liao Dynasty rulers so it was a very unique story.
- Costumes!!! I'm not sure how historically accurate they are, but the costumes in this drama are outstanding!! The headpieces worn are amazing.
- Visually stunning drama with a lot of colour and beautiful landscapes.
- Shawn really surprised me with his acting in this drama (ep. 17 especially), Charamaine is fantastic as usual. I think Tiffany's performance was solid but at certain times she could have been more expressive.
- I actually really liked the conflict between the sisters and Yanyan's lack of assertiveness towards them. She was too forgiving perhaps, but I think that made her character more appealing to me. I would have not empathized with her at all if she was ruthless towards them later in life. I think her character dealt well with balancing the good of the country and trying to keep her family together even as her sisters tried to kill her. She's a very strong woman in spite of her flaws.
- Han De Rang and Yanyan's story was so sweet. This drama focuses less on the romance between them than the very deep respect and support they have for each other. Even when they were forcibly separated or people tried to pit them against each other, they still cared for and supported each other. They are truly lifelong partners and very dedicated to each other. The chemistry is less noticeable as their relationship is more about unwavering trust and loyalty. It's a very refreshing portrayal.
- King Taiping is a great antagonist. I wouldn't even call him that because he's a very fleshed-out character and his relationship with Hunian is very complex - you root for them and yet you think Hunian deserves better too
- Good action scenes that were really the highlight of the drama (ep. 33, 35), but there should have been some more.

The not so good:
- The pacing for this drama was off. I felt that the ending was rushed and Hunian's story was not fleshed out. We needed more to understand the change in her beliefs/motivations. It should have been 50 episodes. Also, some episodes in 20s/30s were really a bore and could have been cut. I fast-forwarded through some episodes that felt like filler episodes.
- Xiyin and Wuguli are so unbearable, a bit too one-dimensional.
- Slightly predictable? You don't get a bunch of twists and turns; though since it's meant to be a historical drama, I think that is reasonable since they have to stick to the history, and the plots were quite predictable. Since it's based on Yanyan's life, I think it is fair that the drama did not have that many twists and turns.
- Main OST is underwhelming, but there are some beautiful instrumental in the drama.

Note: I think the target demographic is slightly older as it focuses on politics/duties/family as opposed to love. I think one should keep that in mind. Personally, I do not like idol dramas and gravitate towards other types of dramas, so this one was one that I enjoyed.

Overall: I think this drama is worth a watch. I enjoyed learning about Yanyan's life, her relationship with Han De Rang, her family, and her commitment to being a capable leader. It's a visually stunning drama that focuses on balancing duty, love, and family. It could be improved by resolving some of the pacing issues.

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