A Splendid Match

it's like finding a gem

No expectations, did not watch the main lead's series before. I haven't been watching cdramas for a month because nothing is getting my interest. I really just started this because everyone is saying that this was the lead's second collab and I'm curious. 

Now I finally found another gem!!! ONE OF MY TOP 3 CDRAMAS!! I do love it when they do the romance with such care. One of the most well executed parts of the series.

The first 5 episodes was, a torture to watch really. I was so close to dropping this, I even 2x speed some parts. But it picks up. Again, the romance is what made me stay. I definitely did not like some execution and acting/plot direction. Some of them are hard to watch with plot holes and unnecessary details. Because what the fuck was that with Jiyao and Yexian?? I had to look away from my screen lmaoooo. Director, please keep making romance but leave the aura farming scenes alone. Cisha was saved because of his face card, the rest were a victim 😭 also, they should've flesh out Qinglan and Yexian's storyline, the girl became a nuisance. Yexian's death would've been more impactful if there was a deeper story behind the two. Even if they still went to that one sided love route. Poor girl, she'll think she's cursed. Also, making Yanyun's sister-in-law suspicious but they didn't fully execute it and just made her fade away, tells me THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN 70 LONG EPISODES THEY CUT SO MUCH SHIT I JUST KNOW IT.

Gu Jinzhao. I love how fearless you are. You did everything I wanted you to do. Slapping tf out of his brother, choking her sister and not afraid to speak out. Plus, the sneaking and making out with Yanyun when you two are not yet married. Girl, you are bold af. I love you. The fact that she still helped her sister after everything she did to her mother, tells me everything about her. I'm just disappointed that they did not properly talk about that incident.

Chen Yanyun knowing his feelings early on, confessing first AND TWICE. Did not pressure my girl but waited and still helped her. A TRUE HUSBAND MATERIAL.

"What about you?" OH MY GOD IF I WAS THERE I WOULD'VE FAINTED I WAS SCREAMINGGGGGG
He is so sure and calm, he even helps Yexian even though he knows about his feelings for his wife. My man was secure. They also did a good job of executing his character. Those moments where you can feel his authority behind the screen. When he was staring at his nephew and confronting him in Episode 33. I was scared for Xuanqing tbh. I do love to commend Xuanqing's actor, acting so good his face is pissing me off.

The angst in Episode 33-34. Such a delicious arc. I love how emotional and intense all of it was. I totally get both Jinzhao and Yanyun's sides. My girl needs assurance that Yanyun understands, and Yanyun needs a bit of space not to redirect that anger towards her. My parents. UGHHH THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN A LONGER DRAMA.

Some directions I'd like to point out: Making Jinzhao's family find out that CYY likes her and is involved with her WAS MESSYYYYYYY. I like the court plot where they replaced the kid to get the traitor prince. Also, the villains being good and understanding to their wives is their only redeeming quality. I was surprised Fu Hailian did not take concubines and was okay with not having children. I do believe he was good before but the taste of power clouded his mind.

I also like the ending. Yes, it would've been better if we got a more romantic end. But ending it with a bigger fire when it started with one? Poetic. They should make a season 2 I SWEAR TO GOD I WOULD TUNE IN SO FAST

ALSO!! RUGGED EPISODE 38 CHEN YANYUN SHOULD'VE STAYED LIKE THAT FOR ONE WHOLE EPISODE!!! MISSED OPPORTUNITY I TELL YOU

hopefully we do get a special episode this friday!!!!!!!!!

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Plot is nothing new, great chemistry, great actors

Splendid Match surprised me in many ways. It’s not a drama with groundbreaking storytelling or shocking twists, but what it does well is create a balanced mix of family drama, romance, friendship, and political schemes that slowly pulls you in.

Plot & Story

The drama can roughly be divided into three stages.

The first part focuses on the FL right after her coming-of-age ceremony, where we mainly see her dealing with family conflicts, social expectations, and the complicated environment around her wealthy household.

The second part is where the story becomes emotionally stronger. After facing the tragedy of losing her mother, the FL slowly matures and becomes more grounded. This is also where her relationship with the ML truly shines. Instead of rushing into romance, the drama allows them to slowly build trust, friendship, and mutual understanding first.

The final part shifts more heavily into politics, marriage, and power struggles. We see the ML navigating dangerous political schemes while trying to protect both his position and the woman he loves. The political plot itself is not particularly new or complex compared to heavier political dramas, but it blends well with the romance and family themes without becoming overwhelming.

Overall, the drama’s strength lies in its balance. It gives viewers a little bit of everything — family, romance, friendship, and political maneuvering — while keeping the emotional focus on the characters.

Male Lead – Ci Sha

Some viewers may find the ML “boring” because he is not written as the typical revenge-driven or emotionally explosive male lead. Instead, he is portrayed as mature, intelligent, and emotionally restrained from the start — a young Grand Secretary who is already powerful, politically clever, and respected.

Ci Sha was honestly a pleasant surprise for me. At first, I thought he mainly relied on his strong physical presence, masculine aura, and intense gaze. But as the story progressed and the layers of his character slowly unfolded, he showed far more acting range than I expected.

He convincingly portrayed:

* a soft-hearted man deeply in love,
* a calculating strategist and cunning politician,
* a disappointed uncle to his adopted nephew who failed him
* and a ruthless warrior during battle scenes.

The best part is ne delivered everything with full commitment.

Female Lead – Ren Min

The FL starts off somewhat immature, but the drama clearly establishes early on that she is intelligent, observant, and capable. She is beautiful, wealthy, and sharp-minded — qualities that naturally draw the ML toward her.

Perhaps because Ren Min and Ci Sha had worked together before, their chemistry feels incredibly natural. The tension between them is not loud or exaggerated. Instead, it comes through subtle pauses, lowered gazes, awkward silences, and restrained expressions during their early encounters. The internal tension between the characters is obvious even when very little is being said.

Ren Min portrayed this beautifully. As the character matures emotionally throughout the story, her performance also becomes stronger and more layered.

Overall, Splendid Match may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers a very satisfying slow-burn romance with layered characters, strong chemistry, beautiful visuals, and enough political intrigue to keep the story engaging.

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A splendid watch

I really loved it. I’m probably biased, but I can’t help it. Main leads had so much chemistry and great relationship, this helped show so much. Parents are frustrating of course. Jinzhao was such a good character, fun, girly, so smart and strong. Lord Chan was intelligent masculine, reserved and confidant man. l loved how they married because of love. last couple of episodes were terrible pased and really needed ending showing somethings they had in novel, so that was disappointing, but considering I have already rewatched it twice I have to give it high score in my list.

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A magnificent and very romantic historical series.

PLOT: The FL, daughter of a nobleman and official, married to the descendant of a line of merchants, was raised by her maternal grandmother. Her grandmother works for the Third Master [ML] (very powerful at court, but under the thumb of his mentor). This mentor (who will become the de facto ruler of the country after the emperor's death) is an ambitious reformer, but power-hungry. The FL returns to the capital to help her mother, who has been sidelined in favor of a concubine and her daughter.
Corruption, power struggles, interest conflicts between branches, marriage stakes, etc., all play out.
The presumptive heir of a marquis, who is in love with the FL, becomes her best friend and helps the FL and ML in their struggles.

+++ ☆✲ﾟ｡(((´♡‿♡`+)))｡ﾟ✲☆ Breathtaking trio of actors: Ci Sha / Ren Min / Winwin
+++ All the actors are excellent, bringing to life well-developed and endearing characters. [I'm in love the future emperor]
+++ Magnificent production: superb costumes, sets, landscapes, framing & lighting [exceptional camera work], hyper-realistic fight and war scenes, OST. Everything is perfect!

### The story has moments of inconsistency, especially in the last episodes (4-5)
### The ending is rushed.

=> Excellent series, which could have been a masterpiece with better writing.
***********************************************************
Magnifique série historique et très romantique

PLOT: La FL, fille d'1 noble, officiel, ayant épousé la descendante d'1 lignée de marchands, a été élevée par sa gd-mère maternelle. Celle-ci travaille pour le 3e Maître [ML] (très puissant à la Cour, mais sous la coupe de son mentor). Ce mentor (qui deviendra le quasi maitre du pays à la mort de l'empereur) est un réformateur ambitieux mais ivre de pouvoir. La FL revient à la capitale pr aider sa mère, mise à l'écart au profit d'1concubine et de sa fille. .. Corruption, luttes de pouvoirs, conflits familiaux et d'intérêt entre les branches, enjeux des mariages, etc. L'héritier présomptif d'1 marquis, amoureux de la FL, devient le meilleur ami de la FL, et aide FL &ML ds leurs luttes.

+++ ☆✲ﾟ｡(((´♡‿♡`+)))｡ﾟ✲☆ Trio d'acteurs époustouflant : Ci Sha / Ren Min / Winwin
+++ Tous les acteurs sont excellents, et donnent vie à des personnages bien dvlpés et attachants. [j'adore le futur empereur]
+++ Magnifique production : superbes costumes, décors, paysages, cadrages & lumières [travail de caméra exceptionnel] , scènes de fight et de guerre (hyper-réalistes), OST. Tout est parfait !

### L'histoire a des moments d'incohérence, en particulier dans les derniers épisodes (4-5)
### La fin est rushed.

=> Excellente série, qui aurait pu être un masterpiece avec une meilleure écriture.

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Done watching A Splendid Match and honestly, it was such a great and beautiful drama. I truly enjoyed watching it from beginning to end. The story, emotional scenes, acting, and character development were all done very well, which made the drama very memorable for me.
Still, my biggest bias in this drama is definitely Ren Min and Winwin. Ren Min acted so well here. Her chemistry with both the male lead and second male lead was amazing, and she handled every emotional scene perfectly. One thing I always love about Ren Min is her crying scenes. She cries so naturally, and her tears fall like waterfalls. The emotions feel real and sincere instead of forced, which is why I always enjoy watching her emotional scenes. She has this special ability to make viewers genuinely feel the sadness, pain, and heartbreak of her character.
I especially loved her scenes with the second male lead because I was never bored watching them together. Their interactions felt soft, emotional, and very natural. Every scene between them had this emotional tension and warmth that made their chemistry stand out even more for me.
Ye Xian played by Winwin was honestly such a perfect role for him and definitely one of the most memorable characters in the drama. His acting was amazing, and he portrayed Ye Xian’s gentleness, loyalty, sadness, and quiet strength beautifully. Even though his character had a tragic ending, I think it was executed very well and emotionally impactful.
His death scene while fighting on the battlefield as General Ye Xian was heartbreaking but meaningful at the same time. It showed his courage and dignity until the very end. I also loved the letters he left for the female lead, his mother, and his sisters because they were so touching and beautifully written. One of the most emotional parts for me was his message about how he would rather die on the battlefield than slowly die in bed because of his illness. Knowing that the doctors only gave him a limited time to live — only three years because of his sickness — made his decision and sacrifice even more heartbreaking and meaningful. Despite his condition, he still chose to fight bravely and live with honor until his final moments.
Overall, A Splendid Match is truly a beautiful Chinese drama with strong acting, emotional storytelling, and unforgettable characters. After finishing it, I’m honestly hoping even more that Ren Min and Winwin will collaborate again someday, but this time as the main female lead and male lead together. I really think an enemies-to-lovers story would suit them perfectly, especially in a republican-era drama. Their chemistry already feels natural and emotionally engaging, so imagining them in a story filled with tension, misunderstandings, hidden feelings, sacrifice, and slow-burn romance would be amazing. Both of them also have visuals and acting styles that would fit the elegant and emotional atmosphere of a republican drama beautifully.

The letters of Ye Xian were honestly one of the most painful and heartbreaking parts of A Splendid Match. They were written so beautifully yet filled with so much sadness that every word felt heavy emotionally. What made the letters even more hurtful was knowing that Ye Xian already accepted his fate before going to the battlefield. He wasn’t writing simple goodbye letters — it felt like he was quietly preparing for his final moments while trying to leave comfort and love behind for the people he cared about.
The letters to the female lead, his mother, and his sisters were especially touching because you could feel how much he loved them, even while hiding his own pain. Instead of complaining about his suffering or fearing death, Ye Xian chose to speak gently and calmly, which made the scenes even more heartbreaking. Sometimes the quietest pain hurts the most, and that was exactly what his character showed.
One of the most emotional parts was his message about how he would rather die on the battlefield than slowly die in bed because of his illness. Knowing that he had lived for years carrying the burden of having only a limited time to live made his words even more painful. It showed that deep inside, Ye Xian already understood that his life would not be long, yet he still chose to live bravely and protect others until the end.
What made those letters unforgettable was how they reflected Ye Xian’s personality — gentle, selfless, loyal, and tragic. Even in his final moments, he was still thinking more about the feelings of the people he would leave behind instead of himself. That’s why the letters hurt so much emotionally. They didn’t feel overly dramatic; they felt sincere, quiet, and full of acceptance, which made them even more heartbreaking to watch.
I honestly think “My Love Letters” would be such a beautiful title for a future drama starring Ren Min and Winwin. The title itself already feels emotional, nostalgic, and romantic, which matches the kind of chemistry they showed in A Splendid Match. Their scenes together had this soft emotional tension that made even simple moments feel meaningful, so a drama centered around letters, hidden feelings, and emotional longing would suit them perfectly.
I can really imagine them in a republican-era enemies-to-lovers story with the title “My Love Letters.” Maybe they start as people who misunderstand or oppose each other because of family conflict or political differences, but slowly develop feelings through anonymous letters or messages they secretly exchange. Ren Min would fit the emotional and vulnerable scenes perfectly, while Winwin’s calm and gentle aura would make the romantic tension even stronger.
The drama could have themes of longing, sacrifice, healing, and slow-burn romance — the kind of story where emotions quietly grow over time instead of happening instantly. Both of them have visuals and acting styles that fit elegant and emotional storytelling very well, especially in historical or republican settings. And knowing how expressive Ren Min is in emotional scenes, especially crying scenes, combined with Winwin’s soft and melancholic acting style, I think they could create something truly memorable together as main leads someday.
Hopefully they really get another chance to collaborate again in the future because their chemistry honestly has so much potential.

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truly a splendid match between the leads ?

My review is pretty much biased because I like the chemistry between the FL and the ML and so, it’s a total win for me. I like the pairing and I’m happy to give it 10/10.

I watched the FL and the ML in another drama called TRON and the intense relationship between the FL and the “2nd” ML in the drama was hot and sizzling. Thus, I was thrilled to know that they were leads in this drama. Additionally, another reviewer wrote that there were “satisfying slaps” in this drama and I was sold. I watched for these “satisfying slaps” and they were truly very satisfying slaps! Pls watch for them slaps!

What I Loved:
- The FL didn’t get her parents love but she was very loved, adored and pampered by her wealthy and doting maternal grandmother. It was such a sweet relationship. Often, girls are treated as less than second best in such dramas but she was viewed as the best thing which I liked very much.
- The FL had her supporters.
- The sizzling chemistry which built up between the FL and the ML. I love watching them get together gradually. It felt so sweet to watch them fall deeply in love.
- I liked how the ML was so able to protect the FL but the FL wasn’t a pushover in any way. I liked that she was feisty and he was fierce.
- I liked the “satisfying slaps”. Those who were slapped really deserved those slaps. They had to be taught good and proper lessons and be put back into their place.
- I liked the romantic scenes (and there were so many) of the ML and the FL. For instance, I liked how they consummated their love and marriage. It felt sweet and earned after their trials and tribulations.

What I Didn’t Like:
- The selfish and incompetent father of the FL.
- The many relatives who were fair-weather ones and who were selfish and avaricious. They had ulterior motives, black hearts and were so incompetent.
- The spurned lover except he wasn’t quite spurned but he wrote his “spurned lover” narrative. He was so awful to watch and pretty much “delulu”. The FL went out of her way to avoid him after her blissful marriage to the ML and yet, he thought it was all about him - the one who got away. It was so crazy and terrible to watch. I hated him.

In essence, I rate this drama 10/10 because it is a great watch with an interesting plot. It is a good drama. More importantly, I like the intense and yet, sweet relationship between the ML and the FL. They are lovely together. He’s very manly! I like a manly man! Watch for the leads. 💕

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Great Performances, But I Never Fully Connected with the Leads

A Splendid Match is a well-made drama with strong performances, beautiful production, and an enjoyable story overall. You can clearly see how talented both lead actors are, and I thought they did an excellent job bringing their characters to life.

That said, I never really warmed up to either of the main characters. It’s not because of the acting—in fact, I thought both actors were brilliant—but I just didn’t find myself emotionally connecting with their personalities. Because of that, I wasn’t as invested in their romance as I had hoped to be.

The supporting cast helped keep the drama enjoyable, and there were plenty of entertaining and heartwarming moments throughout. The story flowed well, and I appreciated the balance between lighter moments and the more emotional scenes.

Overall, this is still a solid drama that is worth watching, especially if you enjoy historical romances. It just didn’t completely click with me on an emotional level because I never formed that attachment to the main couple, and for me, that’s often what makes a good drama become a great one.

Sometimes a drama can do almost everything right, but if you don’t fall in love with the main characters, it’s hard to fall completely in love with the drama itself.

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Love the cast and most of the plot but…

But it fell off for me on the last episode, mainly because I feel that wasn’t a great ending. I think they were still doing alright around episode 37/38, but leading up to 40 I was just like😲. Something’s you can expect after years and many dramas later, but I don’t know how to feel.

On to characters and cast, love love LOVED the cast. Not their fault it the plot went they way it did, they killedt it🥰. Ren Min, Ci Sha, and WinWin. Honorable mention , Zuo Ye (loved how he acted his character out in the beginning, but he made me so mad at the end sigh).

Loved Chen Yanyun as a character and Ci Sha did him justice! Loved that he had his own experiences being the older one in the relationship and how they meshed well together. The way he started becoming aware of Gu Jinzhao, it was already done for, I loved their plot line, and I seen some say they wish for more scenes, but to me, and while I do love scenes filled with romance and interaction, I do love the pacing of their relationship and that the directors had them do it slow and steady, cuz ya know, slow and steady wins the race(some times, don’t quote me). Loved that it was a she fell, but he fell harder and we love it!!!! Give. Me. More! Would love to see him in a mature modern drama hehe🤭 (same character type PUHLEASE!!! Saying for everyone with a sensible attitude🙇🏾‍♀️)

Gu Jingzhao, loveddd her character tooo. Loved that they made her take no bull from no one. She was strong headed, but she was still usual a girl in the end☺️. So wish the director, producer, whoever, would’ve did a time lapse. Lost potential I say. I have to say she isn’t the only MFL that I’ve been watching who isn’t afraid and I love to see it! That being said, when her and Jiuheung got close, I lost it 😆. I need this modernized HELLOO👋🏾!

Sigh…. Ye Xian, Ye Xi. An! I instantly loved him because as I’m watching and see that he looks familiar, I make a comment saying he looks like WinWin, and uh guess what? It is! Ayeee! I am unfortunately a kpop fan and as I soft launched my interest into NCT when they came out because the concept blew my mind but I’m here for the music. So my love for WinWin stems from a different place but it’s all the same because I suppose him in whatever he wants😀. Ok so moving on, his portrayal of Ye Xian is 10 out of 10. No bias included, because soon after, while I was cool on Ye Xian (liked him but the way he was so rough, I was side eyeing him). I do like Ye Xian as his character was doing better but the way they had to tiptoe around him with certain stuff and how he reacted in the beginning/middle, whew I can’t be around. At the end, I was sad with how they did him. While you first watch, you can see how, yeah I guess that would happen, you’re still like, why did the plot go there?


Ok to clean this up, love the character portrayal , love the family ties (gives us more family drama too!!). If you couldn’t tell or didn’t read that, I LOVED THE ROMANCE ASPECT, GIVE ME MORE OF THAT🙇🏾‍♀️🙇🏾‍♀️🙇🏾‍♀️. Cast muy bien. Watch it if you care , watch it if you don’t. Or don’t watch at all, who am I to tell you.

💋☮️✌🏾


Ok back after watching 41, and I tell you I will be forgetting the plot over the next 2/3 years, but I will be coming back to that episode just because I can.

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Worth returning to for the ultimate emotional payoff

This has got to be one of the most splendidly executed emotional payoffs I've seen in a historical romance C-drama.

Okay, hear me out.

I dropped this drama at episode 16 because the romance felt too much of a slow burn. Two episodes later (and after many dramas), it completely won me back and ended up earning a seat at my banquet rating system. (づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ♡ I was completely hooked. Well... mostly by the romantic journey of the two leads.

The first part of the story focuses heavily on Gu Jinzhao's family background and personal life. Then the drama introduces several men who, in one way or another, become connected to her heart. What I found interesting was that most of them weren't really competing against each other, they were competing against their own responsibilities, ambitions, and priorities. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun quietly stood on the sidelines, carefully strategizing not only his next move in court politics but also how to win Jinzhao's heart. By the time the male lead confessed, I was already rooting for him with my whole heart.

What truly made this drama compelling for me was the acting. The cast didn't simply perform their roles to move the story forward, they breathed life into every scene and made the characters feel genuinely human. I found myself watching the actors' faces almost as much as the subtitles. The antagonist would smile, yet the moment things slipped beyond his control, that smile would subtly falter. Chen Yanyun's usually calm and composed expression would soften almost imperceptibly whenever Gu Jinzhao was involved or needed his help. Even a romantic rival's glare carried enough emotion to make me feel tiny pricks under my skin.

I spent half my time analyzing the meaning behind those subtle emotional shifts... and the other half forgetting who was betraying whom or committing treason. ٩(^ᗜ^)و

The cinematography deserves praise as well. The drama knows exactly when to slow down. During tense moments, the camera lingers on a character's expression while the music quietly builds in the background. Some of my favorite shots were the slow-motion scenes focused on the male lead. They weren't overused, but when they appeared, they perfectly heightened the suspense and political tension.

My biggest issue was the finale. It felt slightly undercooked compared to how high the stakes had become. The conflict kept escalating, and then it seemed to resolve a little too quickly. However, after watching the special episode, I appreciated the ending much more. It reminded me of something Chen Yanyun had said earlier in the story. This was a man who spent years climbing the imperial court, manipulating powerful people, exposing corruption, and getting blood on his hands in pursuit of justice. Yet after everything settled, what he wanted most wasn't power anymore, it was simply to spend an ordinary life with the woman he loved.

Despite my frustration with the finale, the romance more than made up for it. I especially loved how their married life felt surprisingly grounded. Their misunderstandings weren't exaggerated just for the sake of drama. They argued, communicated, made up... and then kissed. Honestly, that's the kind of emotional payoff I was waiting for.

Overall, A Splendid Match completely surprised me. I came back expecting nothing after dropping it the first time, yet somehow finished it feeling incredibly satisfied. More than the palace intrigue, what stayed with me was watching two people slowly choose each other over everything else. For me, that's where this drama truly shines.

⭐ Rating: 4.25/5
Story: ★★★☆☆½ (3.5/5)
+0.75: Ci Sha's micro-reactions, dramatic coat flipping, and effortlessly kicking everyone's ass. 👩‍🍳🤌

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Watch this with the Understanding the Ending is Disappointing

First of all I love both leads and have waited a long time for this to premiere. I have liked the pair since Rise of Ning . This time though Ci Sha wins her heart and he is the hero, and for that this show delivers. He deserved a lead role and he has good chemistry with Ren Min, and he is easy on the eyes and wonderful actor. I have already rewatched every scene of them together several times. They portray a mature yet deeply passionate love and it is beautiful. There are several affectionate scenes and they all are very satisfying. My favorites are their wedding night, when they get back together after she sends him the divorce letter, and when he carries her in the Temple on his back. All the other men in her life really didn't move me, and didn’t distract me or make me root for them because for me she was always meant to be with Third Master Chen.

My issue though is the ending. It just ended with them walking out of a burning building and a voice over of a decree and then a blank screen. It is like the writers, directors and producers ran out of time, money and energy to bring this to closure with a well written and editted ending for the fans. This is very upsetting considering how long we waited for this show to finally drop. There were so many areas you could have trimmed down to get the ending right!

I will not rate this show lower than an 8 because that hurts Ren Min and Ci Sha the most. They deserved a 10. However the lazy writers, directors and producers who gave up on this show deserve a zero. You don’t do this to fans and their beloved actors-it just is not right. You had a master piece and you blew it

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A Well Written Drama That Got Ruined By Its' Hasty Illogical Sloppy Ending

Positive Points
1. Hands down to the writer for the well-written characters of Chen Yanyun and Gu Jingzhao. It's been quite some time since I came across such well-written ML and FL. I would give a few extra thanks for the character of the FL, especially. The character of the FL is rational, and she has a damn care attitude that is something I liked about her character. She is not the type of sacrificial type of Female lead who always returns bad with good. She also does not give her family a free pass just because they are her blood. Nor does she let the opportunistic people take financial advantage of her just because they are family. She is smart and intelligent. This is something I really appreciate. Also, the thing I absolutely love about this FL is that she never wastes her efforts on someone who does not appreciate it. After her first crush rejected her, she never pursued him. Nor did she waste her time on him. Ye Xian never explicitly told her that he liked her, and it was because of his crush on her that he always helped her. FL never took it for granted and never exploited his feelings for her personal gain. She also tried to help in return, like a true friend. Her marriage view is actually beautiful and rational. I like the way FL's character was written. Her character was consistent. She knows horse riding and archery. The screenwriter actually let her flex her skills and did not reduce her to an accessory for the ML to act as the hero. The ML is also one of the well-written, dignified characters. ML is quite sharp, rational, calm, and diplomatic. He also treats the FL with respect and does not impose his wishes in the name of love. Respect is very important for love to persist for a long time in my opinion. The ML is someone who can indeed be respected. The FL has indeed chosen the right guy for marriage. ML is different from the other 2 love interests of the female lead not due to age but rather the way he handled FL's vow to never marry, showing his composure. He has enough sense to differentiate between state and personal matters. He highly respects the FL and honours her choice and wishes. He diplomatically, with his patience and tactics, changed the No from the FL into Yes, and that is without using any underhanded method.
2. The cinematography, music, direction, and action scenes were nice. The cast was really good in their respective roles.

Negative Points
1. Spent too much time on two other love interests of the FL (I consider Ye Xian as a friend and not a love interest). Why waste such nice chemistry between the leads for showing too much court politics and love rivalry? There was very little of the FL and the ML for my liking throughout the drama.
2. Ye Xian could have been a nice addition. There was no need to make him do impulsive, illogical things. I know he was important for the 2nd half, but still too much time was wasted on him doing impulsive things that I absolutely did not like at all. Ye Xian is impulsive, has anger management issues and is aggressive. Bro loves to turn to drinking every time he faces a challenge/ problem. It does not really matter how good a man is when he is calm and happy. His character is best understood in times of crisis or when he loses his temper. Ye Xian is not a good choice for marriage at all. He impulsively whipped the FL when he could not swallow a few lines of bitter truth. No matter how he helped the FL, he is not a good candidate for marriage, for sure. He also does not have any keen perception of the court politics.
3. What was the ending even, killing everyone and leaving the leads alive only? The writing in the last 3 episodes was absolutely weak. The start was great, but had such a mediocre ending.
Overall, this drama was a nice one-time watch.
Ps. Though a bit unrealistic, the cute little emperor is more sensible than all those treacherous, evil, arrogant, womaniser emperors shown in C dramas.

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