Lost You Forever

Zhang Wan Yi as Chang Xuan is superb

This drama has an unusual romantic plot among all C-costume dramas I have watched.

The story is about Chang Xuan and his journey to find and protect the only love of his life, his cousin sister, Xiao Yao. A promise he made to his paternal aunt, Xiao Yao's mother, before she went to war to fight against Qi Yo/ Chi Chen, Xiao Yao's biological father.

In order to meet his objective, he must win the throne from his ailing paternal grandfather, King of Xiyan.

Chang Xuan's journey to the throne isn't smooth: he has to plot, manipulate, strategise, compromise and sacrifice his own happiness for his only objective ie. Xiao Yao must be protected at all cost. However, he is also faced with romantic competitions from other males for Xiao Yao's hand of marriage such as Tushan Jing, Chi Sui Feng Long and Fang Feng Bei.

Will he succeed in protecting Xiao Yao and be with her and love her forever like they promised to each other when they were little? Viewers are to watch and find it out themselves before reading the novel.

Zhang Wan Yi's portrayal as Chang Xuan is flawlessly effortless. When he yearns for Xiao Yao, his audience feel the same emotion and weep for him. He dominates the stage with his acting when he is present in the room. A talented actor.

I've seen another drama, The Bond (2021) with him as one of the leads. Although his screen times are shorter compared to other leads, his are still the best.

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There was once a girl who lost her way

Anyone can look at my drama list count and know there is a slight obsessive trait towards Asian dramas. I'm an American who cut cable in 2014 and didn't miss a beat because I discovered the storylines from Korean and Chinese dramas offered a solid story line versus the gratuitous sex scenes in American television, which often times made no sense to the plot. As such, there are times of preoccupation with these dramas, and "Lost You Forever" is definitely one that I rewatch daily.

This drama was lucky and shrewd enough to hire the original author as a screenwriter, and it made this story absolutely rich in detail and pacing. Not once did I hit the fast forward button, and many times, a rediscovery of rewind and repeat was used throughout each of the 39 episodes. Because of my obsession, I found the English translation of the original work, read it in three days, and cried through the last ten chapters. Life is full of choices, loss, betrayal, and love, and this novel allowed each of the main characters to display every human trait to the fullest. If given a chance, please read it because the character's silent voice in the drama helped explain some of their decisions.

The actors in the drama are immersed in their characters, and this allowed me to dive into their world without interruption. The multi-faceted Xiao Yao who feared abandonment; the fierce Xiyan Cang Xuan who was schooled to assume power at the cost of his personal happiness; the gentle and cunning Tushan Jing who longs to escape his clan responsibility while clinging to an ever-fading hope of forever with Xiao Yao; and lastly, the beautiful Xiang Liu, who discovers clinging to the emotion of love is a war with indebted duty.

Needless to say, I cannot wait for part 2, but am watching part 1 daily and picking up details I missed during the first go around. This drama is a masterpiece, and I hope this continues in the sequel.

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A great story that has an underlying message, "Sometimes, we don't deserve to have good things."

In the beginning, the story folded out very well. All of the characters have some kind of potential and brought lots of joys to the drama. Each character added a unique emotion to their scenes. Watching it, we can see the efforts put into this drama by Yangzi, WY, TJC, and DW. In the first 10 episodes, Yangzi holds the drama with her stellar acting. We felt all kinds of emotions. As the drama unfolded, Cang Xuan and Deng wei took 11 to 20 episodes on their back with their amazing performances. Epi 21 to 26 Tan Jianci stole our hearts and attention. When the romance between Jing and XY starts, I feel like that drama went downhill from there up until XL appears again to save XY 30 to 32. After that, the drama pretty much went downhill. Only watchable when XL appeared. Some people will understand why while others will not. It's ok. Just my opinion.

Characters Wise:
In the beginning, Xiao Yao was independent. She didn't need any man in her life to complete her. However, after she became a princess, her character development went from a mature woman to a jealous girl in love. However, that is not the case with all of the male leads. She is very smart FL but when it comes to her love's life, she is clueless and dense.
CX - XY is mature, understanding, supportive
TSJ-XY is sometimes immature and jealous, going back and forth with TSJ's Fiancee issue.
XL-XY is mature, understanding on a deep level, heart-to-heart conversation, deep emotions
Cang Xuan - XY and CX got two of the purest, family loves that have ever been portrayed in Drama Land. They got each other back and will be ready to die for each other. However, throughout this ordeal, CX has to keep his one-sided love to himself due to his goal to protect Xy by becoming the King of Xiyan. Throughout this journey, he has used XY for his political gain but has also protected her along the way. Along the way, he has some character development. He went from being an overprotective brother to an understanding brother. Unfortunately, he will lose XY due to his yearning for XY's loves.
TSJ - TSJ is one of the kindest, purest men but has no backbone which becomes his weakness in the future. He is attentive but sometimes, that attentiveness is overdone. Imagine a guy asking you to go meet him and when you don't, he stays there until you feel bad enough to show up. In addition, locking down XY with a 15-year promise when he hasn't sorted out his Fiancee issues and continues for many more episodes. Also, his chemistry with XY as Shiqi was strong but once he become TSJ, he became weaker, and his chemistry with XY, for me, just kind of appeared boring from Epi 26-28 due to him never sorting out his Fiancee issue. Like come on dude, you have 39 episodes to sort out your life.
Xiang Liu - is my biased but I won't go into detail about why I love him. After episode 32, I cannot watch other people's scenes anymore. I skipped and watch XL's scenes because his scenes always make me cry and smile like an idiot. I get it. Although he has the bad boy aura, he is truly a person who is straightforward, goal-orientated, and knows what he wants-cleaning up XY and Jing's messes for them. Although he did some unforgivable things to the female, he also repaid her back with more than what he did to her: taking the love bug, giving XY his life twice, and saving Jing from death so XY and Jing can have a happy ending. His character development was one of the greatest, most complex characters created since AOL and 1000P.
As you reach Epi 32, you will start to understand why the title is so sad. However, XY and Jing deserved each other. I am glad XL will get the result that he has since the beginning till now. Sometimes, a happy ending is realizing your dreams.


Spoilers:

What pisses me off after I got to epi 32?
Everyone fighting about who deserves XY but did anyone observe whether XY deserve them?
In my opinion, XY is selfish, indecisive, weak, reliant, and not as independent as the beginning XY before she met all of them. Her character development turns for the worse.
She and Jing truly deserved each other. I am glad that they will kill XL after all the shit that he has done and will be doing for both of these two weak characters.
At this point, I am so done with this drama. Xiang Liu and Cangxuan are the only two characters holding this drama together. Without their presence, it is probably just another weak romance story.
I'm glad the author put the title "Lost You Forever" with regret and the possibility of what could have been. The author realized that sometimes, we don't deserve good things. Although some said the title is for CangXuan and XY, but I disagree. The title is for all of the main characters. Although it is a HE for XY and Jing, only a sad title is what they both deserved. Just my opinion.

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Just as compelling the second time around.

Angsty. Beautiful. Addicting.

Lost You Forever have such a special place in my heart. It was one of the first Chinese novels that I read many years ago, and I remember thinking that no adaption could ever capture the richness and intricacy of the world of Dahuang — where humans, deities, and demons clashed and coexisted, their stories spanning hundreds and thousands of years. Then I watched Lost You Forever on screen for the first time in 2023, and not only did it delivered in terms of emotional depth and complexity, but it was like the characters stepped out from the pages of the novel and jumped directly into the drama. The portrayals of the characters were near perfection. I guess it helped to have the author, Tong Hua, herself partake in the creative process of the drama.

This is my second time watching season one, and I can confirm it is just as compelling as the first time.

I'm still so impressed by Yang Zi's depiction of Xiao Yao. She is a little petty, but incredibly loyal, and nothing short of resilient. She might not be the strongest, but she will fight until her very last breath to survive. She is jaded when it comes to life and forming meaningful connections, but after everything she has been through, who can blame her? Deep down, she is lonely and her only longing is for a simple existence surrounded by those who loves her and those she loves back. The rollercoaster ride of emotions she takes us on in this drama is not for the faint of hearts and I've lost count of the amount of times she have made me cry.

Lost You Forever is a timeless classic. It isn't a new drama, this isn't my first time watching it, and there are already an abundance of eloquently written reviews out there, so I will keep this short: I highly recommend this for those who still haven't watched it. It is great for those who are fans of xuanhuan, character-driven stories, and crying over fictional characters. As for those who have already seen it — I recommend you watch it again anyway. This is the kind of drama you can revisit, and still find new things to appreciate and love.

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I have never seen season two, the reviews have been mixed, so I have always been afraid to start. But I think I am ready now, so pray for me as I dive deeper into this world with Xiao Yao, her (boy)friends, and her foes.

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Every single one lost valuable things from their life.

🌿 Review: Lost You Forever — A Quiet Epic of Love, Loyalty, and Longing.

In the rich and poetic world of Lost You Forever, love doesn’t always save—it wounds, heals, transforms, and sometimes lingers without ever being fulfilled. This drama tells a tale of emotional depth and quiet heartbreak.


🌙 Deng Wei as Tushan Jing — The Gentle Moonlight Amid the Storm

Tushan Jing is not a man of grand gestures or bold declarations, his love is gentle, loyal, and quietly unwavering. Deng Wei brings this character to life with astonishing subtlety. Every glance, every pause, every breath he takes seems to carry a lifetime of devotion. Despite being born into nobility and caught in brutal power games, Tushan Jing’s heart remains soft, his love for Xiao Yao constant. He is the safe harbor she never quite gets to reach.

Deng Wei’s performance doesn’t scream for attention, but it aches—and that’s why it stays with you. He turns stillness into strength, and patience into power. Tushan Jing is the kind of character who makes you believe in love that waits, even when it hurts.

🌸 Yang Zi as Xiao Yao / Wen Xiaoliu — The Wounded Soul Who Learns to Feel Again

Yang Zi masterfully captures the loneliness, resilience, and contradictions of Xiao Yao. As a character who has endured unspeakable pain, she wears emotional armor, hiding vulnerability behind sarcasm and strength. Her journey is not about choosing between men, but learning to trust, to hope, and to find a self that isn’t shaped by survival alone. Yang Zi brings humor, fire, and deep sorrow to Xiao Yao, making her beautifully complex and entirely human.



🐍 Tan Jianci as Xiang Liu — The Tragic Warrior with a Silent Heart

Xiang Liu is both nightmare and protector, a demon with a poet’s soul. Tan Jianci’s performance is mesmerizing—he gives Xiang Liu a quiet passion that burns under his cold facade. His love is never spoken, but it’s felt in every hidden act of kindness, every time he chooses to protect Xiao Yao from the shadows. His duality as both Xiang Liu and Fangfeng Bei only deepens his tragedy. He is the embodiment of love that gives, even when it cannot receive.

🐉 Zhang Wanyi as Cang Xuan — The Prince Torn Between Power and Love

Cang Xuan’s path is one of duty over desire. Zhang Wanyi captures the sorrow of a man who wants to love freely but is bound by politics, ambition, and legacy. His loyalty to Xiao Yao is genuine, yet his inability to prioritize her over the throne costs them both dearly. His character is complex—sometimes frustrating, sometimes admirable—but always real. You feel the weight of the crown pressing down on every decision he makes.

⚔️ Wang Hongyi as Feng Long — The Ambitious Suitor with a Calculated Heart

Feng Long is a character you grow to respect more with time. Initially seeming like a political climber, he reveals a grounded, practical affection for Xiao Yao. He doesn’t romanticize her, but he values her strength and intelligence. While not as emotionally invested as others, his love is stable and forward-looking. Wang Hongyi brings charm and rationality to Feng Long, showing that sometimes, love is also about timing and maturity—even if it’s not the love that wins.

💔 Dai Luwa as Ah Nian — The Princess Who Wants to Be Seen

Ah Nian is often immature, but her desire for love and recognition is deeply relatable. She’s grown up in a world that tells her she must be perfect yet constantly sidelines her. Her jealousy, her pride, her longing to be chosen—it all stems from a very real place of insecurity. Dai Luwa portrays her with just the right balance of brattiness and vulnerability, making Ah Nian more than a foil—she’s a tragic figure in her own right.

🌌 Final Thoughts:

Lost You Forever isn’t a conventional love story—it’s a quiet epic about how we love, why we hurt, and what we’re willing to sacrifice. It’s a masterpiece of slow-burning emotion and quiet devastation.

While every actor delivers a stellar performance, Deng Wei’s Tushan Jing lingers the longest. His portrayal is soft yet unforgettable, proving that love doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, the gentlest hearts carry the deepest scars and sometimes, they love the most completely.

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IM HOOKED UNTIL NOTHING LEFT

Not gonna exaggerating or adding MSG for a review purpose, but this one deserves to be one of the best Cdramas Ive ever watched so far. Been watching a lot of Cdramas throughout my life, only a few managed to catch my heart and soul. This one is one of it.

Wonderful theme, scripting, and acting. Definitely incorporated information into the storyline very well.

This is also my first time to participate on Wangyi's performance here as I am not familiar with his projects before, he really BELONGED to Zhuan Xu's portrayal . The rest of the casts also played their part brilliantly and so far, I am invested and there is no turning back. Yangzi as a beautiful lady Xiaoyao, and man in disguise Xiaoliu, Dengwei as a sweet sly fox Tu Shan Jing, Tan Jian Ci as a seductive 9 heads demon and last but not least our baby Hongyi as a clueless - no - woman-beside as Feng Long. I wanted to raise my praise for every casts here, but it would be too long but they are all giving brilliant acting.

I have read the novels before during the Covid, the plot is interesting and stay true to novel. My review does not contain spoiler as I knew probably all the watchers have already read it and understand how it went until the end.

For people who is questioning whether to watch it or otherwise, please dont stop yourself from watching this MASTERPIECE . you gonna miss a lot

thank you

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Not the ending I hope for, but worth watching

Am I the only one who find this whole part about 4 very good potential guys chasing after one girl a bit too cliche? It's like Boys Over Flowers / F4, but in ancient drama. Don't get me wrong, I love how the characters played out but I guess I'm not a huge fan of the romance plot. Every guy seems to be pining for one girl, it does seem like the entire world only has one potential girl worth chasing after.

If I strip away all the romance, each character is multi-dimensional and I love how the actors / actresses play out their characters.

1. The character whom you should hate but couldn't because he makes you feel more sad than angry - Xiang Liu
2. You also have this character who is playboy (with reason), powerless but extremely capable and the most loyal to one - Chang Xuan
3. A character who has everything but also has nothing - Tushan Jing
4. This girl who has gone through the worst things possible in life from being abandoned, abused, surviving alone and heartbroken - Xiao Yao

Who am I rooting for with Xiao Yao? To be honest, I really would love Chang Xuan together with Xiao Yao. The chemistry between the two characters is honestly off the charts. Chang Xuan is so firm on protecting Xiao Yao, that nothing could get in the way. Without hesitation, he would sacrifice anything to keep Xiao Yao from harm.

Of course, the one person who could match Chang Xuan is Xiang Liu. I feel bad for him. The whole time, he seems to always be alone. Other than Xiao Yao, I don't think I see him having a genuine good time with anyone else.

I always thought Tushan Jing is quite acceptable. Until when Xiao Yao was "assassinated". Dude went into coma the whole time because of his unwillingness to live without Xiao Yao. Dude, that guy just went to sleep while Chang Xuan went around taking revenge for Xiao Yao and Xiang Liu sacrificing his life to save Xiao Yao's. When CX and XL were out doing whatever they could to keep Xiao Yao alive, this guy given up. How this guy is the perfect match, baffles me.

All in all, the plot turned out to be pretty good - the politics, the fight scenes, the story behind every character, the different clans and kingdoms - I love them all. Just the romance - not my cup of tea.

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The bottom line that you shouldn't compromise

First of all, I am used to be a kdrama avid fan, please mind my limited knowledge about cdrama in writing this review.

The writer has succeeded in torturing me through this whole drama, but I found the storyline brilliant alas, sometimes annoying.
All the actors/actresses really did a great job in portraying their characters. kudos to all the casts.
I am grateful that I found DengWei in TTOETM that lead me to this drama, which helped me found other incredible and talented actors/actresses, particularly Zhang Wan Yi. Mannnn, ZWY is not a joke. He is even more intense than Wu Lei in LLTG (sorry to Wu Lei's fans). He delivered the role fantastically. I hope he will get a big award for this role. He really deserves it. His intense gaze and rich facial expressions really got me down. I understand CX pain and obsession, and so many times made me wanted to hug him, particularly during his wedding. The way he gazed at XY said it all, but XY never really understood his hidden desire.

YangZi, I know she is an experienced actress, but this is my first time watching her works too. Hat's off to her acting. I could tell that She really worked hard. But, her role in this drama sometimes annoying, particularly when it's related to my baby Jing. But, toward the end I could understand her actions and decisions. Even though sometimes she looked like swinging over to FFB of XL for unnecessary reasons, she is just a realistic girl with a clear bottom line that she doesn't want to compromise. I like how she is always there for CX even though she has to risk her safety and comfort. She is a loyal one.

XL, no offense to XL this is just my personal preference. I just couldn't tolerate this kind of characters, abusive. Hence, whatever kindness, gentleness and sacrifices he shows after that, it just got blurred in my eyes. I appreciate his sacrifices for XY, yet till the end he chose to be on the different side of CX, which another bottom line XY couldn't compromise. He did have his own story and reasons, and I understand that, but shipping him to XY with those things is just a big no for me.

YS/TSJ, many people might see his character a bit boring, but for me this is just my type. So, no matter what people said about him, I just don't care. DW is perfect for the role. He portrait YS/TSJ really well, his vulnerability, indecisiveness, gentleness, kindness and loyalty. I feel bad for him with having such a family, a jerk brother, a schemer fiancée, and a snake grandma. I am still hoping that he will end up with XY.

FL, he is a good brother, a loyal friend, and a fun buddy. I just hope that XY doesn't need to marry him since CX is already got the throne.

ShinYue, I didn't like her at the beginning, but I think she is my role model when it comes to choosing life partner😆 I understand why she made that kind of decisions. She deserves the best too. She did a lot for CX. She did her best, but she could let go when things doesn't go as she hopes, a bottom line she couldn't compromise.

Finally, one of my favorite quotes from the drama,
"LIFE IS HARD FOR EVERYONE"
Yep, let's just enjoy the drama, no need to bash other people because they have different opinions than yours.
See in other dramas😁

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Nothing to enjoy

After reading some comments here, I decided to watch this drama, and also because Yang Zi that I loved in several other dramas. Some comments said that maybe you had to pass some episodes before enjoying this drama. But as I saw more episode it was still boring. Just for starts, the 1st episode could have been told in 10 minutes, but they keep on showing the same situation to make sure we understand they will miss each other ! The the following episodes introduce new people, but dialogs and situations are so dull that all the magic they put cannot even make interesting any of the characters . The male leads have no expressions, it seems they are just told to put a nice or sad face and say the lines .... Anyway I found it boring all the way and I had to speed many episodes to get to the end. Sorry bu I cannot agree with the majority.

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I am in Love with this drama

This drama really is the best cdrama I have seen besides the Untamed (nothing will top that haha). Everything about it is just so good. You have really pretty people on screen. The costumes are fantastic.

The build-up, the slow burn, everything just runs very smoothly. Nothing drags on. We already have some very iconic scenes in the drama and we aren’t even halfway done yet.

Casting/Characters: This is Yang Zi’s best role so far. I am so happy that she chose this role. With Xiaoluo/xiaoyao we finally get to see Yang Zi act to her full potential. In Ashes of Love and Immortal Samsara her roles start off with being some sort of diety, I think like a pea or fish or something, and she starts off pretty annoying. Her voice is all high-pitched and chipper, and acting wise, she acts very young, I am sure she is portaying a very young character, but whatever, what I am trying to say is that she played these very stereotypical, annoying female lead protagonists. The one that you see in just about every fantasy xianxia drama these days. Nothing new, and nothing spectacular. But here, she is a women in hiding as a man. She clearly went through some very traumatic events, and although we don’t know exactly why, this brings lots of depth to her character, and we see her react to certain situations in a specific way because of her past traumas. She gets put through the wringer time and time again and my gosh, can this women act. She is just so good. I love all of the MLs. I had never watched any show with them in it before and they all steal the show in their own way. They are all very different from each other and are not too tropey. Every character is likable, I like every ML so far. You have one who is perfect, one who is flawed, but has his reasons, the evil brooding bad boy, and the good2shoes royal family one. I just love it.

Story: The story seems to be pretty unique. It is centered around the FL and it is basically about her living in the world around her and meeting characters who change her world and how she reacts to that. That is what I will say so I don't spoil the show.

(spoilers) Episode 16 or 17 her past cousin finally finds out who she is. I love how we didn’t have to wait for the whole show for him to find out, and the way he finds out is perfect. It is different from what I would have expected. It is unpredictable, and I think what I like most about this show is how unpredictable it is. These days with dramas, since they are popped out just about every other week, the stories become bland and very predictable. And then when he finds out the whole section of the episode where he is going over every event they had been through and how poorly he treated her and her saving him and finally realizing, like yes, it had been a little obvious… its just so good. He goes to her and helps to heal her leg which he broke, the acting of this man, mmmmmmm it is perfect. Go watch the scene, he goes to the room, so blank and heals her leg, and the first thing he says is very soft, he asks if her legs hurt and looks at her in a way which you cannot deny, he found pout and that is when her reaction changes too, from brushing it off to knowing that he found out and oooo its good. Then when she finally admits to being his sister, when she thinks her mom came back. OMG is it good? It is too good, the voice acting, the performance, it is so heart-wrenching I just :((((((((. (end of spoilers)

Music: The music is so pretty in this show. They don't play music throughout the whole show which is very appreciated. The music helps to tell the story and set the mood, it really adds to the scene. The first ending song is my favorite. I seriously cried after the first episode when it started playing.

Update: I have watched around 20ish episodes now and the story only keeps getting better. You know a cdrama is good when you are questioning if all the 50ish episodes will tell the whole story or not. We see Xiaoyao as herself in her true form and how she adapts to the new world around her. I like how the drama doesn't change her character entirely, she still acts how she used too and has trouble living in the palace. The MLs are all starting to compete for her and it is a treat to watch. I love all of the MLs, I would not be mad if any of them got with her; they are all so swoonworthy. I used to have a favorite, but not anymore haha.

Last update: I love how many plot twists this show has. Seriously, the plot twists are very unpredictable and I really enjoy them; they make the show very entertaining. My pick for her for which ML she should be with kept changing. I love it! Can't wait for season 2!

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Love/Hate with this drama

Finally able to sort out my thought about this drama.

This drama is one of those "What could have been" with a better screenwriter (I know Tong Hua is in charge) and more experienced director.

What I love:
Qingshui Town. Amongst all the scenes throughout the 39 episodes, those in Qingshui Town were the best ones. Real and the character interactions were good although pacing here was quite slow.

Not gonna touch on the CP but scenes between XL/XY & XY/CX were aesthetically amazing.

What I hate:
When WXL became Xiao Yao.
Her growth graph suddenly plummet and it stayed constant till the end had me baffled. What Tong Hua wanted me to understand here? She stated her 3 things in earlier show, but later on, she looked like a love brain kid. Vague and fragmented.

How can she love normally when her childhood experiences affected her psychologically?

CX arc
This supposed to be the main arc, apart from the emotional arc from other male leads. This storyline should be tight and interesting enough to pull the emotions but the overall arc is just weak. Having watched shows like NiF, i'm expecting something from this but it's just disappointing.

Downplay of characters
In short, i just wish the writer retain most of them because this is my main source of frustration amongst all the points above.

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The plot lost between the simping, stalking and the sea of angst.

This drama makes me confused. Logically, I don’t even think it’s that good. Sure, some characters are interesting, some have great arcs, but the overall plot was barely developed and it’s mostly the female lead bouncing between the three and half male leads (I’m sorry Feng Long, but I forgot you were even a legit option and actually part of the main cast).

That said, it’s ridiculously addicting and entertaining. I saw all the flaws, but I could not stop watching. I feel like it’s one of the dramas with well written characters and basic, underdeveloped plot. Xiao Yao had barely anything going on for her in terms of the story, but just her personality and her interactions with other characters were enough for me to adore her. Xiyan Cang Xuan's fight for the throne seemed more like a first draft than a proper strategy, and yet I love him and the internal struggle, suppressed emotions and the conflicts he had to face were amazing. Xiang Liu had some of the best character developments in the whole show, slow, well paced, realistic. He did not become an angel, the core of the character never changed, but with each and every scene we’ve got to see all the layers of personalities he had.

While I disliked Tushan Jing a lot, even his character was written in a proper way, I just don’t vibe with him. That said, the struggle between his own desires and the newly found responsibilities was well presented.

Another aspect deserving some appreciation was the variety of female characters. More straightforward and tomboyish Xiao Yao, who is truly daring and loyal. Nian who went from annoying brat, to sweet sister (whom I also adored by the end of the show - biggest surprise for me), Fangfeng Yi Ying with her cunning nature and desperate actions, calculative, but also honest Chenrong Xin Yue. Truth to be told, I appreciated all the female characters, and at times I wished the drama would focus on them more.

What’s more to love? The visuals. Not me taking over 1000 screenshots. The costumes were beautiful, the scenery breathtaking, set designs amazing. Visually speaking, there was nothing to hate and a lot to love.

The acting was great. The only performance I struggle to judge is Deng Wei as Tushan Jing - I disliked the character so much, I am not going to act like a clown and pretend like I can be objective here. That said, the whole cast MASTERED the suppressed angst - everyone delivered in that area and these scenes were truly the highlight of the whole drama for me.

Overall, extremely enjoyable watch, even if by the end I felt like there was barely any plot. I wanted to see more detail in Xiyan Cang Xuan journey. I also wished to see more of Nian, since she became one of my favorite characters. I disliked how unbalanced all the relationships were, as someone who prefers partnership, the simping and pinning, and sacrificing at times was too much - rolling eyes was inevitable.

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