I started this drama with 0 expectations on recommendation. I was hooked from episode 1. The first 5 episodes of this drama were so funny they had me laughing out loud so much that I had to keep rewinding because I would miss the next scenes. When Li Wei first met Yin Zheng and thought he was dying soon and prepping all the gifts for him was just comedic gold. Also, this couple pairing is perfect. LW is very independent, sweet and a total foodie. YZ is a genius striving to gain recognition and power in the palace but he is also humble about it, determined to make something of himself based on his own hardwork and honesty. What these two have in common is that kindness is second nature to them and they will always put helping others, especially each other, before helping themselves. They slowly start to depend on each other and become inseparable by the end. Watching these two strong characters fall in love was like watching a piece of artwork come together. YZ definitely fell first but when LW falls she actually explains why to her best friend. She loves doing the simple things with him like eating, reading, daily life etc...it was soooo sweet. They also give you enough romantic treats, such as a kiss by ep8, to make the slow burn worth paying attention to.

Acting:....This is my first time watching Tian Xiwei and I found her acting surprisingly good. She plays cute & silly but not too whiney. And her emotional scenes were heart wrenching when she cried. She's also undeniably and strikingly pretty so I found it ridiculous when they called her plain in the beginning... I don't think Bai Jingting's full talent was on display here but he made the character of YZ come to life and made him more loveable than any other actor could. He also has a nice voice and isn't bad to look at so that helps. Honestly, I find it more impressive sometimes when the two leads don't seem to like each other off camera, but are still able to create strong and convincing chemistry on screen. When watching the BTS you can tell they are comfortable and friendly with each other but they keep their interactions professional. There doesn't seem to be any BTS attraction or extra playfulness going on between them like you can observe with a lot of other BTS from other dramas.

Side characters:....This show is considered in the "feel-good, lighthearted, disney-ish" categories. There are no real love rivals for either the FL or ML, which is refreshing. Also there are many, many supporting characters of which none are really more important than the others but all still pretty loveable. All of LW's girls are awesome, especially Shan Guan Jing, Dong Hai Tang and Yuan Ying. Yes, Yuan Ying does come in as a potential issue for the main CP but they squash that immediately. As for the men the 3rd & 5th lord are both ridiculous people but sooo hilarious. In the end their sincerity and care towards their brother and their wives does make you love them. But my absolute favorite has to be Su Shen. He's not just YZ's butler but he's also like his parent and his number#1 fan. But this man is the definition of funny without trying to be. In some scenes he doesn't even need to be talking and I found myself laughing at his expressions and antics.

Main plot:...YZ's fight to climb the political ladder and LW's fight for women's rights are the main focuses of this story. Their goals often intertwine and bring them closer in the end. Both of these plots were both interesting enough but I could really care less about the women opening a restaurant together or YZ creating new currency. That got a bit draggy. But other than that I still do support the themes and there was justice for everyone in the end. The main villain is the 2nd lord and YZ's older brother. He is sexist, greedy and has no conscience. He's also really dumb and gets outsmarted by YZ, his own wife and his concubine constantly. He gets what he deserves in the end, which you could easily predict given his stupidity and predictability. As far as villains go, he's not the greatest or most memorable but it works for a light-hearted drama like this.

Overall, this drama is worth rewatching because it just makes you happy inside, which is more credit to the actors/actresses than the story but who cares. Also the visuals are stunning from the costumes, setting and the food looks delicious. SPOILER>>>there is a VERY happy ending and that made me VERY happy.