In the beginning ( episode 8) ML for completely selfish reasons is actually trying to kill the totally innocent SL who has fall in love with him . Afterwards, viewers should then forget about it and believe that he is a "good guy" and that SL still loves that selfish and murderous jerk. I think it's absolutely ridiculous.
ML's character is boring and actor's bad performance and total lack of charisma makes it even worse - the result is a faceless wax-statue walking around in his silly boots.
SL's is supposed to be intelligent and badass girl and Li Qin delivers that nicely. Later ( apparently to emphasize her love with ML) , her character is changed to be a silly and scared little girl. It seems completely strange and ruins the only interesting character in this drama.
There is no chemistry between main leads and when they have scenes together it feels like being in Madame Tussaud's wax museum and watching a lively and beautiful girl to flirt jokingly with a wax-statue.