Wow, is all I can say. From the very beginning, the drama has caught my attention. I started this drama because of Wang Xing Yue, but I stayed for the ENTIRE cast.

Let me start off with the most memorable actors and actresses in this drama. EVERYONE did an AMAZING job! The casting was perfect.

Wang Xing Yue
Where do I even start. I fell in love with him in First Love with Tian Xi Wei and I have watched his other historical dramas, but I didn't think it was up to par to what he can do as an actor, but this one, it just blew me away. He did a fantastic job as Xiao Heng. He is so young, but he surely can act and portrayed a very compelling character. Xiao Heng was a complex person with a sad background, but he stood by the emperor and fought for Great Yan. I loved his relationship with the emperor as well. He is loyal to the emperor, Great Yan, his people, and Xue Fang Fei. I was happy that he was able to resolved his sadness and let go of his pain.

Xue Fang Fei/Jiang Li
I have never seen any of Wu Jin Yan's dramas before but she did an amazing job playing two characters. As Xue Fang Fei, she was killed by her own husband who she had trusted. As Xue Fang Fei she was naive and innocent. She portrayed Xue Fang Fei fairly well, even though we didn't see much of her as Xue Fang Fei. I loved how strong she was to stand up when she was at the lowest point of her life. As Jiang Li, she stood up for the injustice and used her noble status for the greater good. As Jiang Li, she learned how to be strong and vicious, but not to be too greedy. When she first became Jiang Li, she was still naive, but as she spent more time with Xiao Heng, she learned how to stand and scheme against others. I loved her as Jiang Li. She did an amazing job in clearing the real Jiang Li's name and give her the justice that she deserved. She had lost a lot along the way, but I feel that what she lost, made her stronger.

Real Jiang Li
Yang Chao Yue did an amazing job playing the real Jiang Li. Her scenes were little, but I feel that she put her all into the character. The real Jiang Li has a very sad life and I was glad that through Xue Fang Fei, she was able to move on peacefully.

Wen Ji and Lu Ji
The two actors that portrayed them did such an amazing job that I am looking forward to seeing them in more dramas. Wen Ji brought comedic relief at the right time and Lu Ji was the trusted partner who was serious. I hated how they both ended up dying because we needed the three musketeers together. There's no Xiao Heng without Lu Ji and Wen Ji.

Shen Yu Rong
The actor that played Shen Yu Rong, I have no words for him. He portrayed Shen Yu Rong so well. He was tormented by Xue Fang Fei and it showed how conflicted he is when he first saw Xue Fang Fei/Jiang Li. As the show progressed, we saw his greediness and how it destroyed him. Yes, the princess was the cause of his demise, but he made those choices. He was just pure evil. He turned his back not only on Xue Fang Fei but on Princess Wanning too. His obsession with protecting his mother and sister and climbing the ranks caused him to lose everything at the end. I did not feel bad for him one bit. He got what he deserved. He was a coward to the bitter end. Taking his life was the easy way out.

Princess Wanning
Li Meng (I just learned her name) portrayed this character so well. Princess Wanning was a psychopath that was created the moment she was sent to Dai Country. Her past was so sad that I felt sorry for her, but it does not excuse what she did. She killed so many people along the way to help her brother with the uprising. I have to say though, I adored Li Meng. I am looking forward to more of her as the female lead. She was just a pawn that was used not only by her father, but her brother and her most beloved as well. She has only loved Shen Yu Rong even when he betrayed her. She was willing to die for him.

Ji Shu Ran
Joe Chen. What can I say about her? She's a veteran. I have loved her from the very beginning and she just made me fall in love with her all over again. Portraying Ji Shu Ran was something I would have never guessed that the sweet Joe Chen would ever do I hated Ji Shu Ran to the core. Joe Chen playing the evil stepmother was something new and it gave me a new appreciation for her. I feel that Ji Shu Ran deserves more than what happened to her, but I am satisfied that she can no longer hurt Jiang Li and Jiang Ruyao.

Of course, every single person in this drama did an AMAZING job. But the ones that I mentioned, I have found new appreciation for them all.

As for the plot, it's the same when it comes to historical dramas. Political issues, revenge, and overthrowing the current emperor. So, it's not something different. However, I did enjoy the storyline.

I have this an 8.5 rating because of the last couple episodes. Not going to lie, I feel like they rushed the entire ending. They should have spent more than the last 5 episodes on building up the uprising. All of the rebel died so easily. They should have added more episodes or taken out some other plots.

The ending did not live up the beginning and that was the biggest reason why I rate it how I did. Don't get me wrong, those who deserved to die did die, but I felt that by killing off Wen Ji, Lu Ji, and Tong'er was not necessary. I feel that both Xiao Heng and Xue Fang Fei/Jiang Li needed them by their side. When those three are by their side, they are better.