There are so many good things about this drama. Like every drama, there are some flaws, but this drama is still amazing.

1) The acting :
- The leads were amazing, their acting was top notch and we could feel the emotions.
- I think the acting was awesome from everyone, the side characters and the villains did a really good job. Shen Yu Rong, as much as we hate this guy, the actor was great, the princess too.

2) The leads :
- The chemistry was fire, we could feel it from their first encounter
- One of my favorites leads ever : Strong, intelligent and bad ass. I love them so much
- ML was handsome as hell, I love his character and his charisma. He was a cold character, but never an asshole to FL. I love how he was being proud and watching her when she was being badass. He helped her when needed.
- FL : Beautiful, smart, she deserved the world after what she went through.
- Their relationship : I absolutely loved the evolution of their relationship and the romance. I'm not a fan of slow burn, so I would have liked more scenes of them and maybe them getting together a few eps sooner, but it was done well. And we still knew they already liked each other. All their scenes were so good, the chemistry, the tension, the love. All the little details too and symbolism with some of the scenes. I love how they slowly opened up to each other, trusting each other, helping each other and working together. They are truly soulmate and perfect for each other. I also liked how they can be themself when they are for each other. Also, as much as ML was wiped, he didn't become a stupid guy in love. At some point, I wish we would see more ML, he wasn't that present in the first half, but I get it the story is more centered on FL and we got to see more of him later. We didn't get much kiss and skinship, but the handholding and hugs made me giggle and happy. Their hugs always looks so comforting. They loved each other very much and we could feel like with every looks and moments. The wedding made me smile, I wish it was longer and that we could have really scene the wedding and not just the wedding night. I would have loved to see her family, his grandpa, friends, etc... But anyway, we can't get everything. No misunderstanding, no annoying conflicts between them too. A mature relationship.

3) The friendship :
we saw a few friendship through the drama and I enjoyed it.
- The group of 4 with FL + Ye Shi Jie + Jiang Jing Rui + Liu Xu : I loved their friendship at the academy and that it stayed till the end. They help and supported each other, a true friendship that also brought us laughs.
- ML and the emperor : I really loved this friendship. It was good that they also showed us flashbacks of them as kids to understand more their backgrounds and the foundation of their friendship. Trust, loyalty and working together till the end. The little like handshake made me emotional. They love each other like brothers. The emperor was truly lucky to have him.
- FL and Tong Er : Tong Er was so sweet and kind, she deserved better :( I loved this duo and how they became friends and then like sisters. She gave up her life saving FL, we saw in that scene how much they loved each other and they were like sisters.
- FL and Jiang Li : we didn't see much, but we could still see the care they had for each other, how she helped FL and how FL dedicated herself to avenged her
ML and his 2 sidekicks : I'm sill sad that they both died at the end. I loved this trio, they gave us funny moments, bad ass moments, I loved how they worked together.

4) Family :
- Jiang family : even though it wasn't her real family, FL still found a family in them I would say. Like in the last ep, when she was talking with him when they talked about her not being Jiang Li or when she called him father at the end with teary eyes and told him to dress up not to catch a cold. I feel like she actually considered him as a father figure. And with grandma, I loved their relationship and grandma in general. The cousin was the best. After his first appearance, I thought he was annoying, but he became such a good character. It was great how he was always on her side and defending her. Just like his parents actually, I loved them too. Like during the exorcism episode, the 3 of them stayed on FL's side, tried to help her and save her. They were never bad to her. It was nice the last greeting from FL at the end. The father, he did bad Jiang Li because he was blind by his love for the step mom and a bad father, kinda weak but he had his moments. I loved him in the last episodes, I loved his loyalty to the emperor and how he stepped up to help him. Also, even though he probably knew long ago she wasn't his daughter (we could say it was not to lose face and for the family's reputation), he still helped her and I actually think he cared for her for real. It was hilarious his face after she was saved by ML grandfather, ML getting her out of the horse and them hugging. I watched that scenes multiples times. I almost cried with his reaction in the last ep when he was talking to FL about the real Jiang Li. His reaction was sad, he wronged her, but he truly loved her and he will regret it for the rest of his life. The step sister, she was annoying, but she got some character development, I was glad when she finally stepped up to her mom and now that she's free from her, I think she will probably be a better person. Also from the little comments at the end about her, I have hope.
- Ye family : I loved this family, they were the best. I loved how they were kind and they didn't hesitate to help FL. Their dynamic was funny and we could see they love each other. Ye Shi Jie was a good friend and ''brother''. I liked how he didn't become the obsessed and annoying SML, he loved FL, but he didn't forced her or become over the top or chasing her. He helped her and supported her. He knew he had no chance to, it was good at the end when he said he would be like an older brother. 8 years later, they are working together and their friendship must still be strong.
- ML's family : It was tragic to see his parents fate, I felt that. I loved grandpa and I was really happy when they reconciled and I enjoyed their scenes together, the one with FL too. I giggle so bad when she said to him that she was ML's lover ;) he was good and he accepted her instantly as his granddaughter-in-law, he also knew they were a perfect match ;) it was awesome when he appeared and said he would save her. Adding his character at the end was a good chose for me.
- FL's family : They suffered so much, her brother and father are such good people, I'm glad they got justice and that they were alive. The little reunions were emotional. I loved every little scenes, but I wish we would have seen more. The number of eps is limited, but I would have definitely loved to see at least one scene of ML with them (like the 4 of them) or just him talking with her father. But it was good at the end when he said she chose a good man and he was happy for her. It was also funny that one scene with ML and FL's brother. When the father said she had a good eye for choosing a man, I'm sorry but I laughed, I just kept thinking how she chose Shen Yu rong in the past.

5) The plot :
- I think the plot was well written. The plot was engaging.
- Not going to lie, at some point I fast-forwards a little some scenes when it was just talking, I don't think I missed anything important.
- I feel like maybe it dragged a bit too long the revenge against the step mom for Jiang Li.
- The last few episodes were keeping me on the edge of my seat. When I binge watched like the last 4 eps, I was stressing and totally attentive.
- The fighting scenes were well done
- The final battle : I think it was good, it happened a bit fast, but I loved it. The strategies to save the emperor, the fighting scenes, FL speech, everyone doing their parts. Princess coming to help. I was satisfied when ML finally killed the Chen guy.
- I loved that ML recognized her at the very beginning
- I think it's a good change from the novel the fact that she didn't had Jiang Li's face.
- It was good that we could see both of the leads getting their revenge.
- Everything happened fast at the end and feel like it could have had more eps for this plot, but probably because of the regulation of max 40 eps, the plot had to happened more fast.
- I respected the consort at the end. She really cared about the emperor, I was proud of her courage and sacrificed. She didn't hesitated to stay at the banquet and to killed herself for the emperor.
- Revenge : I would say I'm satisfied. The Li family and Shen family got what they deserved. The step mom, okay. Chen guy, the death he deserved. The princess, she was bad, selfish and did many bad things. I think her ending was good, I even felt a bit bad for her, she loved Shen Yu Rong so much, but it brought her to her dismissed. I feel her, she was assaulted and suffered a lot, but that's no excuse for what she did. But I would say, I feel like it was interesting when they showed that she killed their father. Shen Yu rong, I think his death was too easy and ''peaceful'', but anyway at least he's dead.
- The maids were annoying, but it added some comedy and they weren't there long.
- The princess from the other country annoyed me for most of her screentime, but she was useful at the end. She was pretty childish, like girl he doesn't like you, move on and be mature about the situation.

6) Beautiful cinematography

7) Beautiful costume and makeup
- I think it was really pretty the pearls

8) Beautiful ost, I love it so much

9) Ending :
- I was pissed at first when I learned about the ending scene without having watched it, but It wasn't bad after all. After some thinking, we still had some moment in ep 40, the wedding and some scenes of them happy before him going to war. So I accepted it. I would have loved to see them hug, don't know why they didn't give us that, but we know they reunited and that he is still alive. I love how he said he would come back when flowers blooms and he did. Cdramas writers love these ending, the leads reunited for a few secs or just looking at each other from afar. Don't know why, it's such shitty endings ahah. Also it's Youku, I wasn't really hopeful, even if with Blossom in Adversity I did they did pretty good to give a satisfying ending that wasn't too short.
- The extra 5 min after marriage, that was cute. Their daughter is adorable
- I think it was pretty good the closure at the end. ML with his grandfather. FL with the Jiang family and her talk with the father. It was cute to see that they got together after all, the cousin and their friend.
- They could have not done the other battle at the end, not have ML leave and just show us happy moment. All of that seems a bit rushed also. But after some thinking again, it makes sense... Like of course after the Chen guy is gone (he was guarding with the army for years the border) the enemies would attack, I think plot wise it make sense. But again, since the plot had to end at ep 40, the rushness was inevitable

So, to conclude, I recommend this drama. It's a good watch, with awesome characters and story that get you hook.