Very rarely do I finish a drama and immediately feel a longing and yearning for it, as if a dear friend has departed. I have just finished watching this drama and I am filled to the brim with this feeling. Words cannot explain how this drama conquered my heart and colored it with so many emotions. This is one of those dramas that live up to the hype and go above and beyond. There are plenty of other reviews here on MDL that word it better than I ever could, and I hope they manage to convince you to give this one a try. Don't be daunted by the 54 episodes, the political tag, or the numerous characters. I guarantee you that in just three or four episodes, you will be able to follow the characters and the story easily. I used the help of a recap blog to memorize character names and faces, as well as a character map I found on Google Images. That little effort is worth it, because this drama is an experience you must undergo. It is truly phenomenal. I enjoyed every minute of this drama. I fell in love with Su Ge-Ge and Fei Liu's friendship, with General Meng's cute facial expressions, with Nihuang's grace and undying love, with Jinyang's sense of justice, and even Gao Zhan's wise, caring presence. I want to watch this all over again!