This review may contain spoilers
Sisterhood, Strength, and Softness
Whoa, I finally finished it. It was truly an amazing series. However, from beginning to end, some events kept repeating themselves. Still, it was definitely worth watching. It's been a long time since I watched something this high-quality in terms of cinematography. The acting was also top-notch. The script was a bit average, but somehow, when looking at the series as a whole, I didn’t really mind. Despite everything, I think this is a 10/10 show. (And thanks to the writer for not wasting the side couples.)Even though it was a historical drama, I really loved how Mudan kept trying on new outfits — it was such a nice touch. Since flowers were used as a main decorative element throughout the show, it was a complete visual feast. I think the makeup and costumes reflected the era really well. That made watching it even more enjoyable from a visual perspective.
I also really liked how Mudan genuinely understood what women were going through, and even if they were her rivals or enemies, she always offered them a way out. I loved how the girls’ friendships never got ruined by jealousy or pettiness — they stayed close no matter what. I admired how Mudan didn’t give up in the face of misfortunes and kept getting back on her feet again and again.
Even though the romance was a slow burn, the fluffy and cute scenes after they became official were genuinely heartwarming. Watching those little kisses really melted my heart. After all those episodes, I thought to myself, “Yes, this was absolutely worth it.”
Overall, we saw a lot of female characters in the show, and each of them had their own charm. A’Fu was physically strong — fiercely loyal, always stood by her word, and practiced martial arts. Gengchun was highly skilled in medicine and taught herself everything. She worked incredibly hard to chase her dream. Xue Xi, even though she was in love with the same man as the female lead, wasn’t like your typical “second female lead.” When the time came, she stepped back gracefully. And she didn’t let it affect her friendship with the female lead.
Li You Zhen was more like a typical antagonist. She acted as if she was the only one going through hardships. She got caught up in unrequited love — maybe she didn’t even know how to get out of it. She was merciless, but it felt like she was forcing herself to be that way. Toward the final scenes, though, I started to feel some character development from her.
Ling Ge was a fun character to watch. As the emperor’s wife, she had to be careful with her actions, but she was a free-spirited woman who loved horseback riding. I was glad to see her and the emperor reconcile through open conversation in the end.
Also, Sheng Yi... I just feel sorry for her.
In short, all the female characters were well-written, and their individual stories were touched upon. We saw many different types of women, each with unique personalities and ways of thinking. Watching that was truly enjoyable.
It was my first time seeing Miles Wei play a villain — and I almost hated him :D
Jiang Chang Yang, on the other hand, was a total green flag. He was perfect in every way.
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A Visually Stunning Epic of Love, Power, and Resilience
I absolutely loved this drama — it ticks all the boxes for me. The cinematography, especially the aerial views was stunning and consistently drew me deeper into the story. I was completely enamored with the costume designs, which beautifully reflected the distinctions between different classes and professions. I also appreciated how each character had real depth. It wasn’t easy to hate or dismiss the antagonists, and the protagonists never bored me by being overly self-righteous or domineering. The heroes were flawed but grounded when it truly mattered, while the villains felt like tortured reflections of what the heroes could have become, had they made different choices. And I lived for the romance between the leads. Contrary to some opinions, I found it to be richly woven into the main narrative. From the start, their bond was built through flirty gestures and meaningful actions that conveyed mutual interest, growing respect, emotional intimacy, deep friendship, equal partnership, and ultimately, a soulmate connection and lasting love. I’m the kind of viewer who prefers to see love rather than just hear about it, and I adored how their relationship was portrayed through action and emotion. It made every shared scene between them something to look forward to.Beyond that, the drama offers thoughtful social commentary on class and gender bias, centering its narrative around the hardships faced by low-income individuals, while also juxtaposing these struggles with those of the nobility to explore the lives of women across all hierarchies. It’s a story of survival and resilience — of family, friendship, and community — and I loved watching each character grow as they laid down roots and created a support network they could rely on. Woven between all these thematic elements, there’s palace intrigue — and if you know me, you know I need my fair share of conspiracies and royals vying for power! Overall, this was a huge win for me, and I can absolutely see myself watching it again.
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Start business first, Revenge later
This drama is mainly focused on slice of life business part, so if you are looking for a lot of romance this drama might not be for you. I thought after she got free from that cursed marriage she would start planning her revenge but no, she starts a business! That's great. But don't expect any revenge for the most part, this drama is about business focused, female empowerment and freedom. I love the style, outfit and hairdo, accuracy to the actual history.Was this review helpful to you?
The leads, Yang Zi and Li Xian (also paired in the 2019 contemporary drama “Go Go Squid!”) play, respectively: a resilient and resourceful merchant’s daughter who’s a talented florist and savvy businesswoman in her own right; and a mysterious but respected government official — titled the “Floral Envoy” — with a playful side and what seems like questionable integrity.
They bond over their disregard for convention and love for flowers, and it’s nice to see a couple who are equally matched in intelligence and confidence progress from allies to friends to the beginnings of something more.
We also get to see Wei Zhe Ming in a surprisingly unlikeable second-lead type of role. It’s interesting to see him play against his usual nice-guy type as a conflicted man who always wants what he can’t have.
All are versatile actors and make this story of overcoming adversity a compelling watch. There are also themes of the value of friendship, women supporting women, and not letting your past or family define you.
The romance aspect is slow in developing, but fits with the progression of the story. The drama as a whole is well-paced, with nothing I wanted to skip. As a plus, the production values are high, the costumes and sets/locations look nice, and the music is better than most. Overall, one of the better historical dramas I’ve seen.
If the story seems a bit incomplete at the end, that’s because it continues in a second season, titled “In the Name of Blossom.”
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It was an okay watch, but lacked on writing
So, I do want to start off by saying I did start skimming through the show after a certain point, but did go through all the episodes. The storyline itself is kind of interesting, the acting is good, the setting of the story is quite interesting as well, however, the writing wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. The story mostly focuses on the female lead but the male lead also does have important stuff going on. I’m not sure if there’s supposed to be a season two, but it felt really incomplete. Characters were mildly developed, could’ve been more developed for sure. Some characters were mentioned here and there eg. fml’s father, it also looked like they were gonna include him at the end to meet with the fml one last time at least, to show how they are doing, but that didn’t happen. Another character was the little brother of the fml’s friend (who originally co-owned the business) did make it to the last episode (maybe shown a total of two times and talked about once or twice). The ml’s story was almost kind of excluded. There wasn’t an ending for what happened to prince ning/ning wang (though in the last episode there was a slight mention of how he will be gone eventually even tho he’s all high and mighty rn.) generally speaking, it was mostly a “short” simple watch, not much going on besides the fml and what she goes through. Still interesting to an extent tho.Was this review helpful to you?
A Drama That Leaves You Wanting More
I’ve finished watching both parts, and I just couldn’t stop myself from sharing my thoughts about this beautiful drama.As someone who strongly believes in women’s empowerment, I truly love dramas that focus on women or have strong women-centric stories—and this one absolutely did not disappoint.
It’s an amazing drama with stunning sets and eye-catching visuals, especially the beautiful flower symbolism throughout. I love how the female lead (FL), despite having no one to support her at the beginning, finds the strength to motivate herself and rise on her own. One of my favorite moments is when she cries alone in a corner, unseen by anyone—but when she faces the world, she stands tall and powerful, showing that nothing can break her.
I admire how she starts from zero, climbs to the top, falls again, yet never loses hope or gives up. Her resilience is truly inspiring. I also appreciate how she understands her ex-husband’s new wife’s concerns, despite being hurt by her many times. Her kindness, empathy, and strength shine through as she supports and motivates her friends as well.
Overall, it’s a truly beautiful drama that focuses on women’s struggles and the strength it takes to overcome them. It’s inspiring, empowering, and deeply moving—and I would definitely love to watch it again.
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It's like a hot cup of hot chocolate on a cold day
The best way I would describe it is warm and fuzzy. I really enjoyed this show, the acting was top tier everyone played their part well. The show has many themes in it, but they are done so well that they don't overwhelm the viewer.There's a smart and strong but not hardened FL, she face so much strife, hardships, abuse, rejection and just plain old unfairness but it doesn't hardened her or lessen her resolve to better herself.
There's a sisterhood that I loved (I'm a sucker for a good sisterhood). There's the friendship between the ML and FL, the development of their relationship is done exceptionally well, I was almost ok with them just remaining friends. The ML's character is written and performed so well, I hope he got an award for this role.
Then there's the palace intrigue, terrible inlaws, an indecisive ex husband (side note, Miles Wei, another amazing actor), it's really a story of resilience, friendship in my opinion.
It's a good show. Watch!!!
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Excellent acting and costuming, meandering story
Costumes and makeup stand out - I haven't seen many other dramas that do period makeup, hairstyles, clothing, and accessories as well as this! I'm not an expert, but everything seems to fit what I've read about Tang dynasty aesthetics and fashion. Some of the wigs look a bit awkward, but nothing noticeable. The background scenes containing dancing, martial arts, wrestling, performers, etc. fill the show with color and interesting sights.The actors all do a great job, but Miles Wei as Liu Chang is a standout. He plays his role with great subtlety and really brings the character to life. Most other "self-centered young master" characters are just boring and formulaic caricatures and they could never invoke so many disparate emotions - pity, fear, admiration, hate, disgust, and more. This is the most complex and interesting villain I've seen in a while. Tu Song Yan, playing Prince Ning, is also excellent. His acting and portrayal of the scheming royal are masterful and convincing.
The cinematography is nothing special, but the attention to detail is obvious. The care paid to the composition and juxtaposition of scenes was noticeable and lends aura to a drama without very many dramatic moments or emotional scenes.
The story is meandering and although many things happen it feels like there's little in terms of progression. It's quite realistic in a way, and it never really gets boring, but there's no "payoff".
The romance is understated and doesn't feel like a focus of the series. Women's rights and position in society, and the relations between nobles, merchants, commoners, and slaves, were brought to the fore many times. It's hard to tell where a storytelling with a commitment to historical accuracy ends and where modern social commentary begins, but these scenes don't feel pedantic or forced and are rather thought-provoking instead.
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Visually beautiful with a good script
Got pulled in because of a friend raving about its visual and efforts in bringing out accurate beauties and customs from the Tang Dynasty. Friend was right.1. The good:
- Visually stunning. The colour templates. The costumes. The set designs and props. The cinematography.
- Mindful and interesting showcases of some of Tang customs, decorations, etc.
- Well-intended and well-executed female empowerment message.
- The comedy. The goofiness of the two leads.
- The acting.
- The flowers.
2. The divisive:
- I think Wu Niang's arc was one of the best in this series. [SPOILERS] For me, her storyline can be a representative to traumatised victims in abusive relationships. She could be saved but decided to burned everything, including herself, to the ground. It's poignant. It's also realistic how victims can be turned into abusers/criminals. I so wanted her to live a good life with Mu Dan. But the vicious cycle didn't spare her. This can serve as a cautionary tale. On the other hand, it could have been a tale of raising above all else. This series decided on the former.
3. The eh...?
- Tang Dynasty was one of the most prosperous eras in Chinese history with open commerce and trading. The series tries to have diversity. But it didn't feel that diverse... just yet.
- I'm all for feminism and female empowerment. But the effort in female cross-dressing in this series is low. [SPOILERS] I can see drawn-on mustaches on cross-dressing female background characters quite blatantly. Like, what's the point?
4. The potentials:
- Since this is the first part. I think it will be interesting to see what the ML actually does in court and the court war in the following season.
- I'd love for the ex-husband character to have more storylines too. Not just him whining and being hopeless and delusional about his imaginary connection with the FL. I want to see him turn evil and wreck havoc for the leads, the county princess and her asshole father. This series is too calm. It desparately needs proper tensions.
Conclusion: Commendable costume series with potentials for an even better second season.
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One of the best depictions for women
Finally a series with some substance that makes me want to go back and downgrade the scores on other recently viewed series.Foremost, huge kudos for bringing one of the best depictions of an emotionally independent woman I've come across so far. This is a huge gripe of mine as many other series try to convince you of what defines an independent woman, but they send her an abundance of unappreciated support and/or has her continually being rescued by a man. It was refreshing to see representation of a woman who isn't expecting to be saved by others even in dire situations and a man who isn't constantly trying to save her. Although she still had the fortune of him having her back, it was realistically something that was necessary in order for her to reach certain levels of success. I tend to avoid romance-heavy dramas but this was one that instigated forgotten longings. They chose the perfect cast for their respective roles and the chemistry with the lead couple is just great.
I also appreciate how they delved into the mentality of women who has had cultural norms beaten so hard into them that even when fortune smiles upon them, it doesn't heal the deep damage of feeling unworthy. This is also when the female lead develops character growth from realizing that choices which seem obvious to her, caused her to fail to notice that not all women had the same type of mentality or desire.
The plot has too much going on for me to touch on everything in this review but it highlights the many issues one comes across through the different stages of starting a business, maintaining it, and growing it (especially as a woman). The male lead is a very interesting character, particularly with his role in the political scenery. There is a good enough balance of events occurring that the 32 episodes just flew by despite minimal action scenes or over-dramatization.
The score was kicked down a notch because there was just a sprinkle of drag in certain scenes, minor hiccups in plot transitions, and the last few episodes felt rushed. But highly recommended for those who enjoy good dialogue over flashiness. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, and I self-reflected. Crossing fingers on the follow-through with the sequel.
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Great story - can’t wait for the sequel
From the get go I was invested in this drama and pleased to see that Yang Zi and Li Xian work just as well together as they did in Go Go Squid.FL & ML are so good together and the chemistry is excellent even though this is not a typical romance story in the beginning. He quietly watches from a distance and readies himself to step in even as she solves her problems on her own, each success she achieves makes him more and more proud of her as well as fiercely protective. In the beginning she sees him as an irrelevant playboy wastrel but by halfway through the series she begins to realise all is not as it seems and becomes intrigued as to what he is up to. Theirs is a slow build romance that develops naturally as they realise that they are stronger together than apart and start to notice each others strong points rather than perceived flaws.
Miles Wei is brilliant as Lui Chang, the pathetic, down trodden ex husband of the FL. He is bulldozed into marrying the spoilt princess Yu Zhen. Yu Zhen spends most of her time trying to sabotage FL rather than work on the sham of a marriage she has forced upon a man who suddenly realises he should have stuck with bride #1 which leads to several of the problems FL faces. By the end ML, who has a real problem with Yu Zhen’s father, realises he has to deal with the whole family not just the patriarch which makes his mission even more complicated.
Can’t wait for the sequel and would happily watch this again.
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I love women!
What a show … finally finished a Yang Zi drama, and I am glad it’s this one. Wonderful show about female resilience and innovation; I loved the flower business as well as Mu Dan’s endless ideas to expand her business! The cinematography was to die for, and so was the styling. The acting was amazing; I was especially very happy to see Wei Zhe Ming play a more complex character as I am used to his green-flag good guy characters. Yang Zi… when she cries, I cry with her, what an actress. And Li Xian’s eye-acting is just unparalleled to be honest. He brings so much warmth to a single glance, it’s amazing.Here’s a link to my small Sheng Yi character “analysis” : https://www.reddit.com/r/cdramasfans/comments/1m76otq/flourished_peony_sheng_yi/
Now moving on to S2!💖
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