This was a very entertaining show as Liu Shi Shi does not disappoint. She's definitely a big name in the Chinese cinema industry and her acting was phenomenal in this work. Liu Yuning was also very good despite what other viewers might have said about him. Although I have to stress about how the show ended and how it could have ended.

Ren Ruyi is a former top assassin of her old organization, the Scarlet Guards of the State of An. She soon teams up with dashing Liudao Hall leader Ning Yuanzhou and his homeboys of the State of Wu to get revenge for her former benefactor, the Empress of An. Sounds enticing doesn't it? The first half of the show was filled with twists and turns, plotting and scheming among political organizations and assassinations. Unfortunately, the drama falls short of expectations. So many major characters don't make it till the end, leaving so many viewers rather confused as to why they lost their lives. Ruyi's disciple, Li Tongguang, played by the very handsome Chang Huasan, was done wrong by the screenwriter. He starts out as the talented military leader who manages to take down the Wu Emperor and his army despite being so young. We later realize that he is just a petulant child with stalkerish tendencies towards his former master, and he continues his behavior into the very end. Not to mention, his military prowess suddenly disappears into thin air and he is responsible for the State of An's shameful defeat in the early stages of the war. They did my homeboy wrong, and for no reason. Towards the end, the State of Wu also tumbled and their crippled prince tries to kill his siblings to take over the throne. The drama was also filled with some inconsistencies with many people switching alliances. Initially, princess Yangying is betrayed by her older brother Danyang, but he later becomes emperor and is supported by the entire main cast. As if his betrayal wasn't obvious earlier. They also killed off the rest of Ning Yuanzhou's brothers, which was uncalled for. But alas, I guess the fate of these detective like agents in historical time periods is pretty predictable.

Nonetheless, I find this show to be very enjoyable because of its theme. Ruyi is glorified as the most feared assassin throughout the world and even in the end she still goes out with a bang. Literally. No joke. The theme of the imperial court and its clandestine organizations is petty neat and I like the idea of covert operations in ancient times, as well the comical moments of the brothers of Liudao Hall. It was overall a great show and I hope to watch more like this one.