It is from 2011, before pretty boys and kissing scenes that are so popular today. Actors are more mature and very excellent. It is about harem intrigues, with a very interesting conclusion. It makes you think about relations among people and how experiences change them. And how some people can get away with doing terrible things, but others are judged very strictly. Life is not fair. Good and weak people can make you suffer just like bad people or even more. On the end you almost like (some) villains and dislike ‘good ones’. In my opinion this series is much underrated.


SPOILER ALERT: The most I disliked the Emperor. He is weak and unjust. He is willing to forgive despicable things to horrible people, time and time again. She, ‘his love’ was not so lucky They were constantly threatening her life, murdered a woman whom she considered her mother, murdered her father, endangering her son, but ah, Emperor is either a filial son or so very lusty, she must accept his forgiving them, again and again. For her, there are different standards. Still, it is difficult to watch her on the end. She has changed so much, because he was not able to protect her and then resented her for doing his job the way it should’ve been done. I feel sorry for his brother (manipulated by his own mother) and on the end, also for the first Empress (also manipulated by her own mother AND father). END OF SPOILERS.

I like: actors (all of them), message, the fact, that the story really makes you think, and realistic ending.
I dislike: nothing particular, maybe story is repetitive a little to much

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Glad I didn't miss it

It is in fashion lately, that Chinese dramas cause polarization. I almost didn’t watch this drama, because I’m not a fan of School dramas and also not a particular fan of Zao Lusi and I don’t know other actors. And I’ve heard that viewers are not satisfied.

I was very pleasantly surprised.

First half is very light and hilarious, our ML and FL who have great chemistry, dance happily from ‘I really don’t like you, you are annoying’ to ‘ I love you so much, I can’t live without you’. Both actors did a great job in portraying their characters, I appreciate them very much. Romance is lovely, side character are great, almost everything is fun and optimistic, as youth is. But, we could see dark clouds gathering.

Second part I see as a strike of reality. Our heroes leave school and enter life. Suddenly your mate is a different person now, life is not what you’ve imagined. This is the part many viewers don’t like. Here we can see the rise of a main villain. The character of main villain is, at least in my opinion, written very good and performed brilliantly. He is full of unreasonable hate, because his family was caught and punished for being greedy and dishonorable. So he becomes even more greedy and dishonorable, but also much more careful (except for his weakness), he is hiding behind his charm and wittiness. It is quite a shock how he handles with his weakness.

The story was a little illogical form time to time, but this is practically a standard, so it didn’t bother me.

If you expect only light fun and romance and comedy, this drama probably won’t be for you. Otherwise I highly recommend it. I give it 10, because I really enjoy the contrast between first and second part and the villain plot.

I also really liked opening song, it reminded me of Chinese opera in a very good way, other song didn't catch my ear.

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