The Princess Royal

Not Loveless, Just Bad at Love

Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan were married at eighteen for reasons that had nothing to do with love and everything to do with survival and ambition. She leaned on his powerful family to shield herself from danger, while he relied on her royal status to build his future. Somewhere along the way, she lost herself in indulgence and he drifted toward someone else. After twenty years of a marriage that seemed hollow on the surface, manipulation and misunderstandings pushed them into becoming each other’s greatest enemy, ending in a tragic death where both believed the other was the culprit. Fate, however, presses rewind. They wake up again at eighteen, back at the starting line. This time, Pei Wen Xuan seeks Li Rong out with a bold plan to marry her again, already thinking about how it might end in divorce.

At its core, this drama sells itself as a second chance romance wrapped in political intrigue, but what it actually delivers is something a bit more ironic. It’s less about falling in love again and more about fixing a relationship that was never truly broken to begin with. The whole “loveless marriage” angle feels like a scam because the deeper you go, the clearer it becomes that Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan did love each other. They just failed at communication so spectacularly that it cost them their lives. Tragic, but also a little “this could’ve been an email.”

That’s why the emotional reset at the beginning feels both intriguing and slightly off. You would expect resentment, anger, maybe even a proper enemies to lovers arc after what happened. Instead, the story leans into something softer almost immediately. Li Rong keeps her distance, but Pei Wen Xuan wastes no time slipping into what can only be described as devoted husband mode with a hint of jealousy on the side. It’s abrupt, yes, but the more you watch, the more it feels intentional. Their connection never really disappeared, it just got buried under layers of regret.

And honestly, once the two start interacting more, it’s hard not to get pulled in.

Their chemistry carries the drama in a way that feels effortless. They bicker like an old married couple, trust each other like long time partners, and slowly relearn how to love each other without the baggage of pride and misunderstanding. There’s something very comforting about how natural they feel together. One moment they’re arguing, the next they’re sharing a quiet space like it’s second nature. It doesn’t feel like a new romance. It feels like muscle memory.

What makes it even more fun is their dynamic. Pei Wen Xuan is, for lack of a better term, a complete baby girl, affectionate, clingy, openly jealous, yet still incredibly smart and capable. Li Rong, on the other hand, is the definition of a girlboss with a sharp tongue and zero tolerance for nonsense. She leads, protects, and calls people out when needed, but she also softens in subtle ways around him. It’s an unconventional pairing that somehow works perfectly. He supports her without losing his strength, and she dominates without overshadowing him. It’s equal, just… flavored differently.

Of course, their relationship doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The world around them is messy, and the drama makes sure you feel that.

The political storyline is straightforward in concept but dense in execution. At its heart, it’s a power struggle between the emperor and the noble families, but the way it unfolds is anything but simple. Schemes stack on top of each other, alliances shift constantly, and every decision has consequences that ripple outward. It’s engaging, but also exhausting at times. Not because it’s confusing, but because it rarely slows down. You’re always in the middle of something, and missing a single detail feels like a risk.

What’s interesting is how the drama eventually reveals that the real villain isn’t just a person, but the system itself. The obsession with power, control, and legacy creates an environment where trust is fragile and love becomes collateral damage. The deeper you get into the story, especially when past life events are fully unpacked, the more suffocating it feels. Everyone is trapped in a cycle that almost guarantees tragedy.

That context makes the second chance element more meaningful. Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan aren’t just trying to save themselves. They’re trying to navigate and possibly outplay a system that already destroyed them once.

And then there’s Su Rong Qing.

He enters the story with an air of quiet suspicion, the kind of character who feels important before the plot even confirms it. When it becomes clear that he’s more involved than he lets on, especially with his connection to the past, he adds a layer of tension that initially works well. There’s a melancholic undertone to his relationship with Li Rong, something filled with regret and unresolved feelings.

But the longer the story goes, the more that intrigue fades. His role expands significantly, almost to the point where it feels like the drama forgets who its main leads are. Instead of becoming a compelling antagonist, he becomes frustrating. His actions feel repetitive, his motivations less impactful, and despite how much time the story gives him, he doesn’t leave a strong emotional impression. It’s a strange imbalance where he dominates the narrative without truly elevating it.

Still, the drama has its strengths in how it handles emotional payoff.

Moments of confession, jealousy, and vulnerability hit well because they are backed by history. When Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan choose to trust each other, it feels earned. When they express their feelings, it carries the weight of everything they lost before. Even the softer, fluffier scenes work because they are not just cute for the sake of it. They are a form of healing.

Pei Wen Xuan’s character shines particularly in this aspect. His intelligence and strategic thinking make him reliable in high stakes situations, but it’s his emotional openness that makes him stand out. At the same time, that same love can become his weakness, pushing him into impulsive decisions. It’s a nice balance that keeps him from feeling too perfect.

Visually, the drama is undeniably beautiful. The golden tones, the soft lighting, the overall richness of each frame all contribute to a very polished look. The opening sequence alone sets a strong impression. That said, the commitment to aesthetics occasionally comes at the cost of consistency. There are moments where lighting and time of day don’t quite match, which can pull you out of the scene if you notice it. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s there.

Pacing is where the drama struggles the most. Forty episodes is a lot, and you feel it. Some arcs drag longer than necessary, and certain plot points lean too heavily into dramatics. There are also scenes where the writing dips, especially when intense situations suddenly shift focus in a way that feels out of place. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does make parts of it feel slower than they need to be.

By the time you reach the final stretch, the story becomes heavier, darker, and more emotionally draining. The full picture of the past is revealed, and it’s honestly a lot. Betrayals, sacrifices, and choices that spiral into tragedy all come together in a way that makes you understand why these characters were given a second chance in the first place.

The ending, thankfully, delivers a sense of closure. Not everyone is redeemed, and that feels appropriate. Some characters face consequences, while others move forward in quieter ways. Li Rong’s final position feels well earned, and the overall resolution reflects growth rather than perfection.

Performance wise, the cast does a solid job bringing these characters to life. Zhao Jin Mai captures Li Rong’s balance of authority and vulnerability, making her feel both powerful and human. Zhang Ling He brings charm and emotional depth to Pei Wen Xuan, making his more affectionate traits feel endearing rather than excessive. Together, they create a dynamic that keeps the story engaging even when the plot wavers.

In the end, this is a drama that thrives on its characters more than its plot. It’s messy, occasionally frustrating, and definitely longer than it needs to be, but it also has heart. When it focuses on Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan, it’s genuinely compelling. It’s the kind of story where you might roll your eyes at certain choices, question the direction at times, but still keep watching because you want to see these two get their second chance right.

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Could have been great with better writing

PLOT: The first marriage of convenience between the ML, commoner and brilliant scholar, and the FL, imperial princess, smart but arrogant, ended fatally for both. They come back to life, just before their wedding, determined not to make the same mistakes. However, the ML2 (FL's former friend/lover, castrated) constantly intervenes to foil their plans. Eventually, the ML and the FL agree to prevent the tragedy from happening again... Lots of plots, power games within the Court, with the emperor facing the great noble families in the background.

+++ Very good actors (all of them) and an awesome CL. They're the ones who keep us hooked to the series. I really like Zhang Ling He, his acting, his micro-expressions.
+++ The secondary characters are well developed and well interpreted.
+++ The production is effective, with the clues given at the right time and the suspense is maintained until the end.
+++ The sets, costumes, OST are of high quality.

### The explanations about returning to life and sometimes the flashbacks make the situation rather confusing.
### The character of Su Rong Qing (very well played by Chen He Yi) is excessive and his behavior is not very consistent.
### Some narrative arcs are too long and we tend to lose focus a little.
### The ending is a bit abrupt (luckily there is the special episode).

=> A good series despite some flaws, thanks to the talent of the actors.
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PLOT: Le 1e mariage de convenance entre le ML, roturier et brillant érudit, et la FL, princesse impériale, smart mais arrogante, s'est terminé fatalement pour tous les 2. Ils reviennent à la vie, juste avant leur mariage, décidés à ne pas commettre les mêmes erreurs. Cependant, le ML2 (ex ami/lover, castré, de la FL) intervient sans cesse pour déjouer les plans. Finalement, le ML et la FL se mettent d'accord pour empêcher la tragédie de se reproduire... Beaucoup de complots, jeux de pouvoir au sein de la Cour, avec en toile de fond, l'empereur face aux grandes familles nobles.

+++ De très bons acteurs (tous) et un CL génial. C'est lui qui nous tient accroché à la série. J'aime beaucoup Zhang ling He, son jeu d'acteur, ses micro-expressions.
+++ Les personnages secondaires sont bien développés, bien interprétés.
+++ La réalisation est efficace, avec les indices donnés au bon moment et le suspense est maintenu jusqu'au bout.
+++ Les décors, les costumes, les OST sont de grande qualité.

### Les explications sur le retour à la vie et parfois les flashbacks rendent la situation plutôt confuse.
### Le personnage de Su Rong Qing (très bien interprété par Chen He Yi) est excessif et son comportement n'est pas très cohérent.
### certains arcs narratifs sont trop longs et on a tendance à décrocher un peu.
### La fin est un peu brusque (heureusement qu'il y a l'épisode spécial).

=> Une bonne série malgré quelques défauts, grâce au talent des acteurs.

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Who ever love feminist plot will definitely love it....

Dear Readers,

Its been a very long time since I wrote my last review.
So, I'm not sure where I should start ..

Let me start with the drama Plot.

The story line is similar to the drama plot (Story of Kunning Palace) where the FL lead accidentally travel back in time and change her fate from wrong doings. The only difference in Princess Royal is all the three Leads ML ,FL & Anti- Villain accidentally travel back in time. Where the Anti- villain character (We cannot say CHY as Su Rong Qing a villain character but his past life changes him drastically to be bad). There was a bit loop holes in some characters were the director could have given them extra scenes. for Qin Zhen Zhen , Shangguan Ya, Li Chuan as their scenes are much lesser together and the story only centered with the lead actors. Other than that the story was perfect to me.

Character Difference:

At some point I was immersed in the FL character (ZJM) as Li Rong. This is the second drama I have watched under her acting it was really beautiful I'm really impressed by her acting. (There was a scene where Li Rong will come to know who killed her in her past life) She really nailed it.....

There are two ML once is of Hero and the other is like Anti-Villain. Both of their performance was good. Previously I had watched few drama's of ZLH as Pei Wen Xuan but my favorite one was "Story of Kunning Palace". I felt the chemistry between the leads did not fit much seems to be like pretending but I loved their (ML & FL) bickering scenes.

As for our Anti- Villain Su Rong Qing his acting was good but there with flaws like the facial expression's he could have done better. I felt the director could have given him few more scenes where he can show his evil character outstanding.

Other actors also did a good job and I felt the pain of story's Love, friendship, betrayal in each characters.

Even though the drama is big with 40 episodes and slow going it is worth watching.

I wish whoever love FL centered character will definitely love this story.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Bye & See you again in different drama review.

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Sweet...but that's it.

This truly female-centric drama is filled with sweet moments between Li Rong and Pei Weixuan, but don't get me wrong—I’m not complaining about that. In fact, it's the only good thing in this drama.

The overall plot revolves around royal politics, but it fails to engage. Why? Because it's the same old story used in countless other Chinese dramas—cliché and predictable. The political aspect of the drama is especially problematic. Rather than enhancing the story, it overwhelms it, making the romance feel secondary. The political intrigue is replete with the usual power struggles, betrayals, and court manipulations seen in many other Chinese dramas. This lack of originality makes the political storyline just feels stale.

When it comes to the relationship between Li Rong and Pei Weixuan, there are many scenes that can make you swoon—scenes that other Chinese romance dramas should take inspiration from, not just for the moments themselves but also for the chemistry between the characters. However, that’s all there is to their relationship. It’s sweet, but as the episodes progress, it becomes bland. It lacks depth.

Emotional depth in a relationship means that the characters connect on more than just a superficial level. They should share their vulnerabilities, support each other’s growth, and face challenges together in a way that strengthens their bond (Which they do show but only at a a certain level). In this drama, the emotional moments between Li Rong and Pei Weixuan are tied to a few predictable elements:

Misunderstandings that get resolved: These moments can create temporary tension, but they often feel contrived and don't lead to any significant character development or deeper understanding between the characters.

Su Rongqing: The presence of a third party can add drama, but it can also distract from the development of the main relationship. Instead of focusing on how Li Rong and Pei Weixuan grow together, the drama spends too much time on external conflicts.

Imbalance in their relationship: It’s clear that Pei Weixuan loves Li Rong more than she loves him. This imbalance can create tension, but it also makes their relationship feel one-sided and unfulfilling.

Politics: While political intrigue can add complexity to a story, in this case, it detracts from the emotional core of the relationship. The characters are often more focused on external power struggles than on each other.

Reflecting on the drama "Queen of Tears," I realize how much Li Rong and Pei Weixuan's relationship lacks in terms of emotional depth. Their love story feels more like a series of plot points than a genuine, evolving bond. They never reach the point where being apart feels like losing a part of themselves. They don’t cry for each other or display the kind of profound emotional connection that makes their love feel essential to their existence. The focus on political intrigue overshadows their personal connection, making it difficult to invest in their romance.

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A total simp drama

His wife literally humiliated him, cheated on him and killed him in the previous life. But what did he do? He is trying to match his wife and her past lover (also who killed him). I mean, what the f**k. Can you be a bit man enough? It's not a realistic drama at all. The scheme plots till now are so vague that you will not understand actually what happened. I can understand one thing about Chinese drama: why there is always a male second lead, and the heroin is really close to them, but rarely any second heroin, even if there was, she will be treated as air by the hero. Feminism at its peak,

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Loved this drama for Zhang Ling He

Wanted to start doing more reviews even though it makes me nervous. So decided to start with this one with a lot of reviews that differ from mine. I'm not great at this but here goes.

I really loved this drama and it definitely will be one of my top ones for Zhang Ling He. His character Pei Wenxuan is so great and loved his lines in this so much. I thought they also did fine with showing how smart his character is even though yes I know they could of did more but Li Rong didn't do everything alone. I really loved the bickering between Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong I found it funny and cute really like an old married couple and I understand some people would find it annoying and childish, but they did learn to communicate better with each other where they could actually talk everything out instead of dragging the misunderstandings out. There were just so many great scenes between these two the confession in the rain, the way Li Rong comes to his rescue against his family, and these are just to name a couple.

Su Rongqing's character I really didn't have a problem with and I thought the guy who played him did a pretty good job, and I didn't think he had more screen time then Pei Weixuan. The one thing that I did find annoying was the last episode where they really dragged out his scene that I just really found it unnecessary. Maybe I am the only one but in that episode it felt like they really tried to force the chemistry but it felt really off to me.

One thing I will say is to just always watch a drama for yourself cause you never know if you will love it or not unless you do.

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unrealistic and confusing. there are little spoilers in my review from the first 3 episodes.

I really wanted to like this drama. I have seen the ML before and felt he is a decent actor. I have reach episode 19 and the story remains confusing, unrealistic and clear as mud. The FL i am puzzled by. emotionless and stoney, but maybe that is poor direction i don't know as i have never seen her before. There is almost zero emotion from the FL about anything, after what is suppose to have been in a previous life/dream a 20 years of marriage. I would have given up long ago. She seems to prefer the man who killed her. go figure.
So i am giving up now, and i feel sad. But there it is. you can't please everyone.

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Watching mainly for interaction between Leads

i find ZHAO JIN MAI acting is unique.

Most people will say some acted well when they shout and scream like double lead actress does. She is different beast. But ZJM has unique style of acting in that you dont feel she acts but LIVES in it.

Oh i am watching her first time. First episode was bad . But i got hooked in 2nd episode and when she throw ML into water and they chit chat around after. That is when i noticed her acting. She acted with face , eye and overall mannerism.

I do not think any one can act that good except one. Zhang Tian Ai ( great actress). She never get many chance because she outshine male actors.

ZJM dont do not because she acts different. We can see ZJM is 4 level above ML when it come to acting.

Anyways i plan to watch her other dramas now.

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Solid political & romantic drama with INCREDIBLE lead

[After abandoning Nirvana in Fire fairly early, and almost bingeing all of The First Frost, this is only my third CDrama ever. Though I've read MANY regression stories in Jnovels/manga/Knovels/Manhwa/webnovels]

Let me first get out of the way that the absolutely incredible performance Zhao Jin Mai as the incredibly well-written Li Rong, the titular Princess Royal, is indisputably the best thing about this series. I enthusiastically checked out what else she's been in as a result and even started watching Amidst a Snowstorm of Love before finishing this series.
Yes she's distractingly, incredibly beautiful, but it's matched by her performance as this capable, strong, sassy, caring Princess Royal who's risen (in the prime timeline) to be a political juggernaut. The many layers of this character, and the tragic fact that no one else in the world truly understands her, is one of the fascinating things about this series. How do you trust someone who admits she's chasing power? How do you trust her when she says she's doing it for you but then also says she's doing it for the Family but then also says she's doing it for the Commoners...Can they all be true? Can you risk it being a lie? What if it's all true?
The rest of the cast deserves praise, too. Zhang Ling He as Pei Wen Xuan (our main male pov) and Chen He Yi as Su Rong Qing make up the rest of our central love triangle. And it's an interesting love triangle in that it's clear very early on that both men were sincerely and deeply loved by our lead at least at some point, and it colours their relationships throughout the series. (honestly, I was hoping for a poly ending fairly early)
The cast gradually expands overtime, with characters revealing themselves to have multiple layers or sides such that they feel complicated and the resulting complicated mix of politics and events feels a natural result rather than anything contrived for the sake of narrative. (Cheng Guo as Shangguan Ya, He Qiu as Qin Zhen Zhen, etc etc)
Even the King, who for most of his airtime serves his role well as this central power to be feared and approaced with caution, has his moment in a GREAT scene where someone rages at him, pointing out all of his flaws and failures and desires and his actor's reaction gave me a new level of respect. (One of my favourite episodes).

It's this blend of great acting with very well-written characters that helps make this series notable.
But that's not all.

The REALLY interesting thing about this series is it's view on power and morality. Our central character is the main vessel for this philosophy in her refusal to hold grudges or chase revenge when she sees so many schemes as less of a personal affront and more simply a natural result of the corrupting influence of power and the Imperial Court.
It's not personal, it's just business.
But then what do you do when, in this rat race, someone could get enough power such that now the entire nation could suffer greatly?
So many times the issue of the corruptive nature of power and the natural desire to chase it is raised in this series and our characters both consider how it affects themselves but also take it into consideration when dealing with their enemies.

There's also the commoner vs noble class philosophy. It's obviously supposed to be a reference to Communist China but really you can make it an allegory with pretty much any modern day system of democratic government vs the older system depicted here. But it was interesting to see a series where the monarchy is pro-commoner/egalitarianism. (it's not the first I've seen, but interesting to see in a Chinese Imperial Court story)

The OST is solid, and the ending theme is so beautiful I have watched the entire credits many times just to listen to it.
Also, at 40 episodes I was worried it'd go too long... but I actually don't think that's the case. And episode 32 onwards is probably the best of all the episodes.

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A Historical Revenge Drama with Unexpected Twists

Honestly, I feel bad for Zhang Linghe, because in many of his historical dramas, he often ends up being misunderstood or seen as the “bad guy” by the female lead even though he’s actually kind-hearted. In The Princess Royal, Zhao Jinmai character seeks revenge, believing that Zhang linghe character was the one who poisoned her. But the truth is he wasn’t.

I think this drama has some shocking plot twists, though some parts are a bit predictable, especially when it comes to figuring out who the real villain is. Still, there’s one twist that genuinely caught me off guard I didn’t expect the true identity of the person who poisoned Zhao Jinmai in her past life.

This is one of the few historical dramas with a happy ending for Zhang Linghe’s character, which is rare and refreshing. While it’s not in my list of top favorites, I still think it’s a well written story with a satisfying revenge arc. The pacing is a bit slow at times, especially when it comes to the female lead finally realizing how kind her husband was in her past life. But overall, I’d still recommend this drama, especially if you like historical romances with a twist of mystery and revenge.

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