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Very Good Series that Became Overwrought with Too Much Betrayal
I mean good grief. Almost all the main characters in this were betrayed in the worst way by someone or several someone’s who were closest to them and whom they loved. It was a miracle that after all the betrayal any of these characters could trust anyone much less find love.The story starts off strong and builds for the next 20+ episodes. The palace conspiracies and scheming in Yuling and the mystery behind why the FL was betrayed by her fiancé and “brothers”created binge worthy intrigue and drama.
All the characters were complex and well written, save for the ML’s sister - the princess, who was unreasonably naive and stupid purely for plot. The death camp plot also didn’t track. For the lady who was running it , raising the FL from a little girl to be an adult killing machine looked about the same age as the FL. And the SML who was behind the camp looked younger the FL. Lol.
The show was great up until the last 10 episodes where it started to drag. The writers did an excellent job building the story to a fantastic climax in episode 25-26, but then sort of reset to continue the story with plots that should’ve been wrapped up in earlier episodes. The story became so overwrought with backstabbing and ridiculous plots for revenge that it started to get exhausting to watch. Before those last 10 episodes I never felt to the need to FF through the show but found myself doing so due to unnecessary angst and drama.
Still the show was very good. The leads had nice chemistry and a beautiful love story. All the actors performed well. Costumes were beautiful and the sets looked great. Though there was a love story it was the B, maybe even C story. This was mainly about conspiracies, lies, betrayal and revenge. It could’ve been a 10/10 if the last 10 episodes had not weighed it down. Despite this I would watch it again.
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A Must Watch..
This has to be one of the best stories so far in 2025. If i could go higher than a 10 i would. As usual i don't put spoilers on my reviews. Im not gonna base my review on the actors/actresses either. This review is based on the show as a whole. The storyline with all its twists and turns kept me entertained and throwing my phone. The main/supporting characters' stories on this show were imo executed beautifully. Some shows kinda fall short when it comes to making the audience feel and understand these characters. ML/FL chemistry was nice and liked that it was a more mature romance. The relationship between the ML and his siblings was a breath of fresh air.. no rivalry.. no schemes. It was heartwarming to watch. The villians were just wow.. real villians to the core. Speaking of.. to me the relationship/story between the sister and the emperor was the highlight for me.. the way the actors and director pulled that side story off was just incredible! The arc of those characters omg they did a brilliant job! Enough of my rambling! Would i recommend? YES 500%!! Go watch it right now!! Trust me u wont regret it. Chef's kiss!! 💜Was this review helpful to you?
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Enemies by Destiny, Lovers by Choice
The story begins when the First Prince of Susha, Feng Sui Ge (FSG), is about to win the battle of Pingling City. But just as victory is within reach, he’s suddenly struck by a single arrow — fired by the red-clad female general of Jinxiu, Fu Yi Xiao (FYX). That moment plants deep hatred in FSG’s heart toward her.Meanwhile, FYX, instead of receiving rewards for her valor, is betrayed by her own army, hunted down, and left for dead. She loses her memories and her identity. Fate brings them back together — and this time, they join forces to uncover the conspiracy behind FSG’s defeat in battle and the attempt on FYX’s life. I was completely captivated by the early part of the drama and couldn’t wait to see how two people who despise each other would eventually fall in love!
This drama is absolutely amazing! It’s exactly what we want from a female general — badass, cool-headed, fierce, and unstoppable. The enemies-to-lovers trope might sound cliché, but here it’s done perfectly. The fights are brutal, the blood and battles feel real, and both characters remain ruthless even as they slowly fall for each other. Unlike many other dramas where characters soften after falling in love, FSG and FYX stay just as strong and sharp as before. What I love most is how their relationship develops — built on respect and trust. They shine individually, but when united, they’re magnetic and unstoppable.
The story is intense from beginning to end, and the pacing is so good that I never felt bored. The scriptwriting is chef’s kiss! Every problem is resolved smoothly, and the plot keeps you emotionally engaged all the way.
FSG deserves an award for “Best Brother in the World.” Seriously. He spends so much time saving his unreasonable sister, Feng Xiyang (FXY). Who falls in love with someone you clearly can’t have? She’s frustrating — betraying her family for a man who never loved her back. Xia Jingshi (XJS) literally told her he couldn’t return her feelings, yet she still thought she could change him. Eventually, FXY turns against him and seeks revenge with Xia Jingyan (XJY), who’s even worse. The dynamic between XJS and XJY is complicated — their hatred feels justified, but XJY is undeniably a bully, targeting XJS simply because he was born to a concubine. In the end, FXY never truly grows up. She keeps repeating her mistakes and meets her downfall exactly as expected — stabbed by the very man she loved.
On the other hand, FSG’s bond with Feng Chengyang (FCY) is heartwarming. He’s clear about who he hates (his mother, the Empress), but he never lets that taint his love for his brother. Both of them refuse to fight for the throne, valuing their bond more than power. The antagonists have tragic backstories too. XJS’s pain and thirst for revenge are understandable — poisoned and bullied since childhood — but his cruelty still can’t be justified. He kills countless innocents in his quest for vengeance. Another shocking twist comes from FSG’s close friend, whose betrayal hit hard. His reasons are tragic, and while his hatred feels misplaced, you can almost understand it. Still, I love how the brotherhood between FSG and his comrades stays strong to the end. Their loyalty is touching.
My only disappointment was seeing FSG hand the throne to FXY. She never redeemed herself — she was reckless and foolish until the end. I would’ve preferred to see FCY rule instead; he has a clearer sense of right and wrong. Though his mother’s crimes complicate things, he would’ve made a fairer ruler.
Overall, this drama is totally my cup of tea! I loved the fast pacing, strong characters, gorgeous cinematography, perfect color grading, brilliant script, and emotional OST — everything was chef’s kiss! Who would’ve thought Chen Zheyuan could pull off such a powerful role? He completely owns the screen as Feng Sui Ge — ruthless, regal, and utterly mesmerizing. He brings such depth and charisma to the role that it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing him.
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No chemistry from main casts like being forced
First 3 episodes was attractive, but later boring, common problem on xianxia drama.FL pretty but don't like her voice is dubbed, so distracting. LQ voice is sharp n melodious why being dubbed? ML is clumsy, eyes contact doesn't show chemistry, feel like being forced.
I like LQ hopefully in next drama will be paired with better acting male lead.
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Loved the first half, second half lost its warmth
What stands out to me most about this show is the lack of clearly evil villains. They all have complicated emotions and reasons for what they did. I think enjoyment of this show depends on how much you empathize with these villains, and how you handle situations when you do.I’ll start with the protagonists. The FL, Fu Yixiao, is definitely badass. She paid for her skills with a traumatic past, which makes her more relatable than just a random genius. She’s in a really difficult situation at the beginning, and I found her attitude and actions to be exactly appropriate for a smart and strong person. She also has compassion and empathy. She is definitely a FL I root for and like.
The ML, Feng Suige, is also likeable. He isn’t sugarcoated- he really is ruthless sometimes- but deep down he also has some softness, and in the end he’ll do what’s right. I especially like his difficult relationship with his father, whom he both loves and resents. It is surprisingly relatable for a modern audience, though somewhat odd for a historical imperial context.
The relationship between the leads grows in a most delightful way- this is enemies to lovers done well. It’s a constant power struggle between them as they learn to cooperate. Normally I complain about overly dramatic moments and set-up cutsey scenes, but here I really liked them, probably because I enjoyed their dynamic so much. After they get together, I continued to enjoy watching their relationship because it’s supportive but not over-the-top protective. It felt genuine to me.
As for the antagonists? I wouldn’t say they’re all sane, but I found them much less hateable than the typical show. They are not purely evil- they’re capable of love, kindness, hurt, and regret, which makes them relatable. They also mostly have reasonable motivations that I could understand and empathize with.
I do enjoy multidimensional and complex characters, which add depth to a show. But I also tend to want a good outcome for the characters I empathize with, so empathizing with characters on both sides of a conflict is troublesome. More detailed examples are in the spoilers section below.
Plot-wise, the first 14 episodes or so are about Fu Yixiao untangling what happened to her while building a relationship with the ML. I solidly enjoyed this section. It is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, which offset each other perfectly. I definitely cried a lot, but at the end of the day I still felt warm and fuzzy.
Given my empathy for so many characters, I was also relieved that the leads seemed to feel as torn as I did. For example, there are quite a few betrayals, but they don’t lead to an immediate new enemy; the characters seem to still value the bonds they once had. Not only did I enjoy this exploration of complicated emotions, but I was also hopeful that the leads would handle things with mercy and compassion, and things would turn out ok.
As the story moves on, it becomes more about classic power struggles and revenges. I enjoyed the show less and less. I honestly found it a bit stressful to watch, and I lost hope that things would work out for everyone. By the end, on the Susha side I could not hate the villains, and on the Jinxiu side I didn’t even know who I was rooting for.
Not only that, but the scriptwriters apparently decided that they’re done with Fu Yixiao, because they sort of just drop her story. They even leave some plot points dangling in the wind (eg I don’t think she ever got full closure on the death camps). By the end, aside from providing battle support and emotional support, her main role seems to be delivering thoughtful, moving speeches as needed- always just the right thing at the right time.
We are instead treated to a deep dive on Princess Xiyang’s adventures in Jinxiu. Xiyang is at first a bit cringe to watch, and nobody- not even the audience- can take her seriously. But at some point she ponies up, gives herself a talking to, and makes herself a player in the game. It’s a bit much on the character yo-yoing, just barely believable; I found some of her decisions and reactions relatable, and others not. Overall I just did not see how things could ever go well in Jinxiu, and the entire arc filled me with dread.
There is some decent humor in the first part of the show. Small things here and there had me laughing out loud, like: clever dialogue between the two leads; the ML’s deep voice and authoritative tone saying really petty things; those adorably bewildered subordinates; the irreverent doctor; the waggly-headed official; etc. Unfortunately, the humor doesn’t stick around long, mostly fading away as things get more serious.
There is also a lovely theme of home, family, and belonging. Yixiao delivers many a moving monologue about it. It’s a nice, warm theme that mitigates some of the more heartwrenching aspects of the show. Unfortunately again, it also sort of gets dropped by the end; the show at that point is more business than heart, missing what I liked so much about the first half.
Acting-wise, Li Qin as FL does an outstanding job. Of the four (!!) female generals I’ve watched in the past few months, she is my favorite. Her expressions are subtle but she captures just the right aura- confident, capable, and mature, even when teasing the ML. Chen Zheyuan as the ML also does a pretty good job. His expressions are less subtle, but I was so convinced by his authoritative, strong Feng Suige (those slow blinks, lol) that I was almost surprised to see him laughing in other scenes. The supporting cast also give strong performances.
The fighting is ok, both choreography and execution. I got the idea of what’s going on, but it’s nothing special. Fu Yixiao’s mastery of archery is central to the story, so I’m sure they did their research... maybe it’s just cultural differences that she’s constantly shooting arrows from her chest/chin and sometimes with her bow almost horizontal.
For music, I absolutely love the ending song and was glad that it and its instrumental got played a lot. However, the music selection is a little odd. They’d frequently play short snippets of one song and then cut to a different song, which is kind of annoying.
Overall, I’d give this a 9.5 for the first half and 6 for the second. I rounded it down to 7.5 because the ending impression is lasting.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
It’s a happy ending for our leads- pretty much everyone in their party survives the last 10 episodes, and they defeat all enemies. Happily, the ML’s little brother stays a sweetie pie to the end.
However, if you were rooting for Princess Xiyang and the emperor of Jinxiu, you would be sad about that.
The last episode is mostly fighting. Happy cavorting afterwards lasts about 5 minutes, and the fates of selected individuals are told through dialogue. It’s not that satisfying, but honestly, I no longer cared. Xiyang takes the Susha throne... erm, I’m not sure she’s qualified, but ok.
MORE MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD
I’ll go through some examples of possibly-could-be-considered villains that I could not hate. I could go on and on, but I’ll limit it since this is a review and not a critical analysis.
Xia Jingyan, emperor of Jinshui: at first he is framed as a good-for-nothing scumbag, and I was relieved to find a character I can simply hate. But then later, seeing how he dotes on Xiyang, how hurt he gets, how much he wants to be needed... he’s still a big red flag, but I was secretly rooting for him. My only consolation is that many other viewers seem to feel the same way.
Xia Jingshi, the SML: it’s hard to hate him too much when he seems so sincere towards Yixiao (delusional as it is). The death camp thing is pretty bad, but somehow the show dropped this idea. Later, the total disregard with which he treats Princess Xiyang hit really close to home for me. I took it personally and felt really bitter, but in the end, it’s a minor insult compared to the fate of nations. Considering everything he suffered and how he became this way just trying to survive... I did hate him by the end, but it was a long journey to get there.
Murong Yao, the traitor friend: I thought his motivation was valid. He and his father really were treated unfairly, and I can understand how a child would let that deep resentment fester until it stood no chance of healing. Add to this that he seems to not actually want to harm the ML, and I just couldn’t wish him a bad ending.
Papa Murong: he makes such a crafty villain that it’s almost character assassination. But honestly, he’s trying to save his son’s life, and he’s already tried begging desperately. I couldn’t blame him. If people along the way had extended more kindness, this wouldn’t have happened.
Emperor of Susha: I don’t know if he’s considered a villain, but he did cause a lot of the problems. Yet he loves his children, and the late empress as well- though that seems to be a more complicated mix of feelings, which is relatable in its own way. In the end I decided he’s insane. I got chills when I realized that he was just silently sitting on his hatred for all those years, acting like nothing was wrong. A normal person could not do that.
Empress of Susha: I believe she was not at fault for the late empress’s death, just a beneficiary. I also believe she cared for the emperor and was genuinely hurt that he never cared for her. For awhile she also tries begging, wanting to resolve things through talking. To a lesser degree than Papa Murong, I felt she was also pushed into villainhood.
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一笑随歌 Fated Hearts
SPOILER ALERT!If you haven’t finished the drama yet, please don’t read my review! Thanks.
Xia Jing Yan’s death wasn’t something I expected. . . . . . .
It left me deeply disappointed and really sad. Even though he wasn’t actually a good person, he still had the potential to become one and even a good emperor with Feng Xi Yang’s help and love.
In my opinion, Feng Xi Yang had feelings for him too. She might not have realized it completely, but I believe she would’ve admitted it eventually. That’s why the ending didn’t feel happy to me,I would’ve called it a happy ending if Xia Jing Yan and Feng Xi Yang had found peace together and both countries made peace.
Anyway, I’m thankful for such a beautiful show. I enjoyed every moment except the ending.
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the single dumbest ending ever in all the c-dramas that I've watched
the romance part is strong and good, they understand and care for each other deep it can be said that they're one soul in two bodythe characters are good but in critical moments they suddenly become idiots
he was dumb and irresponsible enough to reject the crown once which resulted in that massacre, I can NOT believe he did it AGAIN and to make it worse he made XI YANG the ruler?? WHAT? an idiot woman who betrayed EVERYONE? the girl doesn't understand what's right and what's wrong all she did in jixing was schemes and not for a good cause and her ways were evil and now she wants to be empress:) good luck with that (how old even is she 18?20?)
xia Jingshi was one step behind to win it all and he gave it up to kill FS. that's another decision that I will not accept. I KNOW obsession is strong in some people, but considering everything I don't think his obsession was that strong for FML.
endings are very important in deciding wether a drama is good or not, this ending ruined the drama from being good to a time waster
I wasted my time on this and I regret it
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ENEMIES TO LOVER DONE RIGHT
Fated Love is one of those dramas I honestly didn’t expect to be this good. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic? Absolutely mind-blowing. I can’t remember any other drama that handled this trope so seriously and so well. Maybe a few tried, but none gave me the same hype I felt here.The plot might sound common — two nations at war, an emperor’s concubine playing the villain — but the twists were so unpredictable. I loved how my opinions of characters kept changing. For example, Xia Jingyan started as someone I disliked, but ended up being one of my favorites, especially because of his relationship with Xingyan.
And Chengyang! I really thought he’d turn evil because of Empress Zhuang’s lies, but his brotherhood was stronger than that. That twist genuinely got me.
The two main leads totally slayed until the very last episode. Yixiao was such a strong general, though sometimes her actions made me forget she was a general — she reminded me more of a martial artist from a Xuanhuan or Wuxia world.
Also, I couldn’t stop laughing when some people said they dropped this drama because of Zheyuan’s lips — like, seriously? People were going crazy over Jiaxu before! (Not everyone, of course.)
Still, I’m left with a few questions: Who attacked the Storm Alliance? Who ended up ruling Jinxiu? Did I miss a scene, or was that left hanging? And does Weiran know that Jingshi was the one behind that abduction place?
Either way, I really hope they release a special episode. Overall — HIGHLY RECOMMENDABLE.
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good but not mind blowing
The plot, well...its not really that exciting. Its an enemies to lovers plot with alot of other parties involved. First there is his revenge for his mother, then there is yixiao's revenge, then there is XJS's revenge....just all sorts of revenge stories mixed together. I enjoyed the start and the build up to the villains involved but it was quite obvious from the start. Halfway through the plot became a bit draggy and I was hoping there will be some big twist. But there was nothing much.However, its still a good watch cause i enjoyed CZY's acting. The most unlikeable character for me was his sister cause she was really very naive and just causes all the issues. Her stories with the emperor from Jinxiu was just a waste of time. XJS ended up being a villain because his revenge plan coincidentally included people from FSG's side but what both of them were doing was mostly the same.
The plot after eps 28 was just a mess...it was just a bunch of filler eps without much substance. They introduced issues between the leads to drag it out until the final battle which just ended in 2eps....Technically this is the pattern for cdramas, im not surprised anymore.
I enjoyed the acting by both the leads, they chemi was good as well. Their chemi was good but their kiss scenes were shot so badly kinda ruined the moment. I was impressed by CZY cause usually i only see him in modern dramas so historical was a change. Only issue was sometimes the makeup on his face was too much that it was really obvious. Especially his lips which always didnt have any colour. I really liked his fits tho! I feel like they styled him well. Li Qin was really pretty and also very good. Her acting was more graceful and calm. I loved her makeup especially the eye shadow.
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Great all around storyline
Just finished today omg who ever casted these two leads together def deserves some praise they fit love when its strong fl and strong ml the characters felt like a strong mature relationship and parentship standing together as one and their chemistry was everything. As for the second fl her story was strong dealing with abusive marriage and so full of hatred misses out on someone who actually loves her and losing her child it broke my heart i was glad in the end she put her focus on helping her people and the country . Lin qin i love seeing her as warrior in dramas. Even there is alot darkness besides light in this drama i def watch it again and recommend to check out.Was this review helpful to you?
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BANGER##!!!!
lover but this one packs a punch, in the beginning you'd think they would actually kill themselves before they get to the love part. There was just the balanced amount of romance, scheming, comedy and fights with a little twist with Mr Murong. That one caught me off guard cause I had a bunch of suspects but he was never on my list.Now they had a stellar cast and the leads had perfect chemistry. Right from when I saw the trailer earlier this year I knew I was not gonna miss it. Li qin has always been a good actress and she showed why she is one of the best. I have watched some of chen zhe yuan dramas but I am seeing him in a new light after this drama. All the supporting characters played thier role well and the OST was perfect.
Am I the only one who thinks this drama deserves a higher rating. It is certainly one of standout drama of 2025 and that says a lot cause there are many buzzworthy dramas in 2025.
Now I am looking forward to chen zhe yuan new drama Chasing dreams, though I dont know when it is releasing.
Al in All I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a seamless connection of genres that creates this mega buster. I finished this in 2 days.
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One of the best dramas in 2025
The plot twist in this drama is fantastic. There is no boring episode. I am typing this at 3am, which means I’m sacrificing my sleep. That’s to show how much I love this drama. Every cast had a role to play and they played it well. We have the loving couple and we have the toxic couple. It’s a must watch. I know I would be a watching it again.Was this review helpful to you?
