Fated Hearts

Mama! I am in love with a criminal

-I want to rewrite Xia Jingshi and Feng Xiang's love story and give them a happy ending.
-beautiful people with their great portrayals
-ML-red flag in war but green flag in love. But I guess their love story with the red clad general was more romance/less struggles.
-I want the support leads to be the main leads,their story has more impact on me. Though Xia Jingyan was there,I still wished that there's a change of heart in the prince of Zhennan.
-All the villains were killed,none had been given a second chance to be good again, like Xia Jingshi. Their pain was valid but their methods were wrong.
-still a great drama,u will taste the bitterness and the sweetness of revenge. You will surely be moved by the characters' tears. Fast paced, revenge was satisfying but war had no ending and blood was everywhere. Friendship didn't last,everyone was scheming,and loyalty sucks. Love,forget about it.The lead characters got it,but the supporting characters didn't.
-my heart breaks for all the father here
-my heart aches for the love that never reciprocated
-my heart bleeds for the unending revenge that caused ruin to the one who avenged.

I couldn't blame Xiang for disobeying her brother and father,coz I,I am also in love with the criminal.Xia Jingshi🤦♥️😭

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The Hearts Were Fated. The Chemistry, Not So Much.

At the Battle of Pingling, Fu Yixiao, a red-clad female archer of the Jinxiu Kingdom, shoots and seriously wounds Feng Suige, the eldest prince of Susha, forcing his army to retreat. But victory doesn't last long. Yixiao falls off a cliff, wakes up with no memory, and finds herself hunted by assassins with no idea who she is or why someone wants her dead. Fate puts her right back in front of her enemy. Suige, convinced there's a bigger conspiracy behind the battle, offers her a deal: work together to unmask the mastermind pulling the strings on both sides.
What starts as a forced alliance between two people who have every reason to hate each other slowly turns into something far more complicated. Enemies-to-lovers, palace power struggles, layered villains, and a kingdom full of people with knives behind their backs. Fated Hearts has a lot going on, and honestly, for the most part it delivers. So why am I giving it 8.5 and closing the app without rewatching? Let's get into it.
The Female Lead Surprised Me
I genuinely did not see her coming. Fu Yixiao is loyal, talented, fierce, and deeply human, the kind of female lead who actually earns your respect instead of just being handed it by the narrative. She carries the show with a quiet dignity that never tips into the annoying "perfect heroine" territory. One of the best I've seen in a while, and I came in with zero expectations.
The Male Lead Holds His Own
Feng Suige is not just a brooding prince. He's a leader who actually thinks about the people he's ruling, someone who stayed loyal to his father even after everything that man put him through. That kind of emotional complexity is rare and it makes you root for him genuinely, not just because he's the male lead.
The Princess Storyline, No Just No
A portion of viewers seem to prefer the princess's storyline over the main couple's and I genuinely do not get it. Feng Xiyang spent the majority of this show being naive, impulsive, disloyal to a brother who sacrificed everything for her, and willing to throw her entire life away for someone she barely knew. First brother, then second brother, no backbone, no consistency. Her love interest wasn't better either, an ailing prince willing to sacrifice innocent lives for personal gain. If you prefer that pairing over two mature, principled adults who actually have values, we are simply not watching the same drama.
The Amnesia Arc
Both leads get an amnesia arc at some point. One of them was unnecessary. You'll know which one when you get there.
The Traitor Was Obvious
I clocked Murong Yao as the traitor very early on and it took some of the suspense away. Whether that says more about the writing or about how many dramas I've watched at this point, honestly maybe both.
The Emperor's Death Was a Writing Mistake
The Emperor was one of the more interesting characters, complicated, morally grey, well-acted. Which is exactly why his death felt so frustrating. Having a character who was essentially done by that point survive long enough to pull off that ridiculous hair-brushing scene and take him out was one of the biggest missteps of the entire script. He deserved a better exit than that.
The Secondary Villain Overstayed His Welcome
The FL's traitorous brother made it all the way to the final episode and I was done with him around episode twenty. Once he was exposed in the prison, his story was over. Every scene after that point felt like the show refusing to let go of a thread that had already unravelled.
The Romance, The Biggest Letdown
This is the one that stings because it's the whole point. A show called Fated Hearts, built around a love that is supposed to be consuming and inevitable, and across 38 episodes I never fully felt it. The chemistry between the leads was warm but never electric. They tried, there are scenes that work, but okay is not enough when the entire premise promises a love larger than kingdoms and fate itself. I needed more sparks. The show never gave them to me.
8.5 out of 10. Good drama, wrong title.

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A true enemies to lovers

A true enemies to lovers.
My favorite thing about this is that those who needed to die, actually died. There were a few sacrifices sadly like every drama, but I’m happy Xiyang didn’t end up with Emperor of Jinxui and that he actually died. Speaking of Xiyang, when the whole marriage situation started, her childishness was highlighted, and by the end, I think she is the character that had the best character development. From how she was at first, to how she used to emperor to what she became in the end, amazing all of it. The funniest thing I found is how the emperor of Jinxui felt like a wattpad bad boy “you hit me? how interesting, now I love you”, this part was genuinely hilarious.
The main couple 😩. Genuinely what a match, I love that when they met they actually hated each other, I hate stories that romanticize meeting in war, it’s brutal and that’s what made it good. Their acting was good overall.
As always, lots of things were expected like how the death camp was ran by Jingshi but it was still nice.
Either ways, overall, a really nice enjoyable watch.
Technicalities wise, at some scenes, the volume of the music was higher than the sounds of people talking so that tilted me a bit.

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"Professionalism romance", Weighed on Family Drama

It's an enemy to lover romance, classic.. but what I love about this story is their 'professionalism'.. They're both fighter, warriors with known reputation which make them equal.. The FL character is a strong female warrior that had been through hardship and came out as a fearsome general..equal to the ML character who is a first prince (should be a crown prince -no spoiler, it's part of the story-) also a general who called the God Killer of his country..

And as we all know, they're from enemy country then somehow becoming lovers..
The romance scene between them is not so many, and I counted perhaps less than 5 scenes they acted lovey dovey in the whole story. So if you wish to watch lovesick couple, this might be not for you.

in my opinion, the story focused on their relationship development that make it a lot of fight brutal scene between them in the first 10 episodes.. then when they finally developed feelings, they still maintain their professionalism (the fact that both of them are prominent figure, both of them are General).

What I like about the female character is that after she fall in love with ML, she still keep her strong character as a female general, while know when to yield to the ML as her now lover.

Overall in my opinion, this story weighed more on family drama and friendship..
This story explore lots of that.. between stubborn father and eldest son.. between loving father and spoiled only son..an overprotected daughter whose going through her lovesickness rebel phase..also about friendship and betrayal..

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Striking Visuals, No Misunderstandings, Clear Communication, strong female lead- A drama done well!

What I really liked about this show was the Female Lead, and ANY show that does its female characters well is a great show.

The initial episodes really had the high energy, tension, intrigue that was tantalising though the middle part got muddled through, a little draggy even but there were moments that made me really stick to and complete the show.

Not strictly enemies to lovers as marketed but the strong dislike between the leads due to their original roles/ duties were clearly palpable and carried out really well by the actors.

I really liked the casting and acting of the characters especially with Fu Yuxiao, Li Qin really brought this red clad general to life, she was absolutely the formidable general one who's capable, composed and intelligent.

I also loved how the characters were really consistent to their original goals & ideals. Ml doesn't end up becoming the emperor but instead left the governance to his sister. (love women in power)

They also have the most equal relationship. She literally lashed him back so they could be even to cooperate, the chemistry absolutely fire. They both experience betrayal together, help each other through the grief, protect each other and COMMUNICATE, NO MISUNDERSTANDING, He ALWAYS asks for her opinion and help cuz she's his partner.

Also I kinda didn't mind how the second couple went-? Loved the Princess's arc (possibly a villain arc but she was just collecting the dues) And the chemistry between her & the emperor was absolutely divine- he needed to be useful, to be worth enough for someone to ask for his help and she wanted her revenge. I loved how she went from this naive & sheltered Lil princess who thought she can fix him to scheming and using all her wits for revenge.
The Emperor was cunning, but also a philander in ways the contradiction in itself made him interesting, loved this arc, kinda saved the show as it went through the draggyness.

I was totally expecting more depth into the alliance and how it'll affect the main plot, kinda felt that it was underutilised.


💌 In conclusion-
The show is totally watch worthy with strong female character who's a general and behaves like one,ML who's kind, understanding ISN'T GRUMPY OR BROODY, CLEAR COMMUNICATION, NO BREAKUP, NO MISUNDERSTANDING, HE ENDING. Also doesn't help that the action scenes and visuals were absolutely gorgeous.

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Liked it!

This show definitely didn't need to be this long, but it was still good! I usually have a hard time focusing on the political parts of C-dramas because I just don’t care enough to listen to old men talk, but weirdly enough, I didn’t mind it here.

I love it when both the male and female leads are sharp and strong; it’s such a pleasure to watch because it’s not frustrating, and I hate being frustrated. While the chemistry wasn’t the best, it also wasn't bad enough for me to drop the show. The only parts I skipped religiously were the little sister's scenes. I know some people liked her story, but she just seemed annoying at first. By the time her plot actually got interesting, I’d skipped so much that I didn't fully grasp what was happening and I was too lazy to go back!

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A must watch enemies to lover show

I'm so glad that I decided to watch this show, I was not a huge fan of enemies to lover storyline but this was soo good! There are a lot of scenes I love but I particular love the scene where the ML regained his memory, it’s so beautiful and thoughtfully executed, unlike the usual predictable memory loss trope. It really shows just how deeply the female lead loves the male lead, especially when she promises not to leave him. Both of their performances truly shine here. The way CZH transitions from disbelief, to gradual realization, and finally to regaining his memory is incredibly well done, you can see every shift in his micro-expressions, which makes the whole moment feel so real and powerful.

I also love how both the FML and ML are both strong in their characters and the FML did not become dumb after she lost her memory like most other shows. Another scene that I found good was when XJY died, I can’t believe I actually cried at that scene, the acting was phenomenal. It really shows how even a supporting character can have so many layers when both the writing and the actor’s portrayal are this strong.

I also love the ending because it calls back to so many moments from the first episode and weaves them into the finale. Details like the female lead covering his eyes and the bow make everything feel full circle and intentional.

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Great Start but Got Draggy towards The End

Fu Yixiao was a commander under Jinxiu’s First Prince, Prince of Zhennan Xia Jingshi, both being in love with each other and planning to get married. However at Battle of Pingling, right after FL secured a win for the Jinxiu by shooting the enemy’s general, the first Prince of Susha, Feng Suige right in the chest, FL went missing. It turned out she was shot down a cliff and hunted by assassins, at which she encountered Ling Xueying, daughter of divine physician Ling Feng, revered by both emperors of Susha and Jinxiu. Xueying brought her back for treatment, and while she was left to soak in the spring for recuperation, she met with ML who was sneaking in to recuperate in the pool. Due to a head injury during the fall, FL did not remember who she was and her life before, so ML took this chance to lure her into his trap by saying that they were friends. Once captured, ML tortured FL for revenge and intel as he believed Jinxiu had Susha’s people working as a spy. Unable to extract intel from her due to her amnesia, he brought her back to Susha under the pretense of a concubine. Meanwhile Xia Jingshi was frantically looking for FL when he heard she was spotted with ML. With the marriage arrangement between Susha and Jinxiu in return for peace, Xia Jingshi rushed to Susha under the guise of the bethrothal to Princess Feng Xiyang, when in reality he was determined to bring FL back with him to Jinxiu. As FL’s memories started to come back in bits and pieces, she realized there was a more sinister reason for her falling off the cliff, and eventually decided to work with ML to uncover the truth.

I truly prefer seeing Li Qin as a badass character than those demure, soft ones (like Lin Waner in Joy of Life). So far I have only seen Song of Glory where he was also a badass there, and i loved it too. In here, I love how resolute and ruthless the FL’s nature is. She doesnt hesitate to pay back every single lash that she received during interrogation by the ML, very unlike some supposedly badass FL who conveniently forgets the torture they had been subjected to a few episodes before just because they was starstruck by him. And you know how when the high and mighty minister started to pull ranks and bicker with the ML and in most situations the young one had to concede to the old villainous minister? We can all get pure satisfaction from this show because our ML doesnt take no nonsense at all. He actually swung a fist at the old guy’s face when the old hag won’t budge. Pure satisfaction!

Although i liked the plot where they deviated from the trash novel’s, I couldnt fathom how childish the court politics theyve written. It is disappointing that ML had no vision of his future beyond avenging his mom, of how much the court and the kingdom would be thrown in turmoil after he got rid of the trecherous minister who also has ties to the royal blood and then refuse to ascend the throne as his father wanted. For a brilliant mind who had been tiptoeing around people who keeps trying to kill him growing up, he was sure damn short sighted and never planned ahead. As for the SML, how is he so naiive and stubborn in not treating Xiyang courteously even as nominal wife? He had no connection and power in Jinxiu’s court, how could it never crossed his mind that a good relationship with a princess that represents a foreign power who is also infatuated in him would add considerably to his advantage and road for revenge? All his life he was trampled upon and used beyond measure, subjected to countless humiliating situations all due to his lowborn status, and when he was scheming against the court for survival he thought he’d just toss off this foreign power backing just because he was in love with a commoner who had turned against him? How laughable. If ML was shortsighted and never planned ahead, then the SML is double triple that! I just got off the brilliant Nirvana in Fire so the political scene in Fated Hearts seemed practically kindergarten level, giving off how stupid the characters are written. They couldve made the plot more interesting with better scheming characters, but nope, they went with the dull and stupid plot instead.

And just when i thought the plot could not get any worse, then bam they proved me wrong. Who the heck buries corpses in the middle of a route? 🤣 even if it’s in the forest, it’s still in plain sight accessible by carriage. Truly a joke.

And what even more laughable is how characters could survive multiple sword slashes and strikes through the midsection and chest like theyre freaking Terminators. Gosh, they really pushed the odds to the limits with ML’s supposedly assassination and later Xiyang’s 🤣 basically the good characters will survive while the bad characters wouldnt survive even one strike of sword. Lame-ass writing.

Despite the cringy plot, I am impressed with Feng Chengyang, ML’s pure-hearted brother. At first i thought he would be easily manipulated by both his mom and grandfather, being the soft and crybaby that he is, but it turned out he changed drastically after assuming the throne. Now this is one of the brilliant and pure soul that the screenwriter didnt manage to botch. Honestly i think he would be a thousand times a better ruler than the dense and stupid Xiyang, like seriously.

Love the fight choreography. Love the songs. Love Sa Dingding’s cameo. Love FL’s badass character that stayed true to the end. Love all the lead and second lead casts, theyre all beautiful people that impressed me with their acting (of all the cast I am only familiar with Li Qin and Sa Dingding, and a few support roles that i regularly see in other shows), but somehow I had a hard time finishing the show as quickly as when i binge great shows before. Even the last episode it took me 2 days to finish. I even got sleepy during the final battle. I cannot explain it, maybe the cringy and draggy plot in the last 10 episodes got to me more than my love for the overall plot? Somehow they failed to keep my binge attention.

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Fated Hearts Review

I finished watching Fated Hearts a few months ago and wanted to write a review of all the things I recall and why i enjoyed it:

Starting off with Fu Yi Xiao, she was a badass character who showed the audience the power of women. Even though she was backstabbed by the one she trusted, she came back stronger and maybe it was even for the better. Seeing the relationship between Feng Sui Ge and Fu Yi Xiao evolve from enemies, to partners and eventually lovers, they really portrayed each dynamic with vivid difference. When I think of Fated Hearts, 3 things stand out to me. First is Feng Sui Ge, never holding back what he has to say in front of his dad. I find that this is sort of rare in other dramas i've seen. If something needs to be said, trust that he will say it and I love that. He never cowered in front of the court, his dad and enemies. Truly a man. Second, Fu Yi Xiao having Sui Ge's back with her bow and arrow. She is so reliable, strong, and astute. Even though she loses her memory (and we see this plot in different dramas) she handled it realistically and smartly. Not trusting completely, being wary but also giving a chance. Such a smart women. Thirdly, (i don't why this left such a big impression on me) when Feng Sui Ge came back for his army, he knew they would be loyal even under those circumstances. The way all the soldiers welcomed him as well as Fu Yi Xiao was so heart warming. If i were Feng Sui Ge and saw that loyalty and trust from the army I cultivated I would probably shed a tear or two. If you are looking for a fierce couple, an interesting story that will keep you excited do watch it :)


(also the rewatch value for me is low because i don't usually rewatch shows not because the show was bad)

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I guess some dramas DO deserve a second chance

Fated Hearts was… a bit of a rollercoaster for me, and not always the smooth kind. So buckle up for my long ass rant for an overall pretty okay drama. Also, sorry for the person I will become when I reach the rant part of this review.

Was it very enjoyable? Yes. Did it have flaws? MANY. Would I still recommend it for a good time? Absolutely. I find the drama world is filled with so many bs shows and it's becoming increasingly difficult for a drama to keep me engaged enough to want to finish it, so for that reason, this drama deserves its flowers.

I have to preface this by saying that I started this drama MONTHS ago and dropped it after the first 2 episodes until last week.

Now as I mentioned, going in, the first couple of episodes had me doubting my choice and the good reviews. The battle scenes especially felt underwhelming, and the whole thing looked like it wanted to be epic but kept getting stuck in beauty commercial mode. The colors, the shots, it just didn’t do the story justice. This frustrated me to no end because even within the first 2 episodes I SAW THE POTENTIAL. Add in some very questionable editing choices that completely kill the momentum of scenes, and I was already side eyeing by episode 2. It genuinely felt like a drama stuck a few years in the past in terms of execution. This desperately needed the director of Blossom. Now THAT was art.

That said, I’m really glad I gave it another shot because it did get significantly better. The fight scenes improved, the story picked up, and I found myself way more invested than I expected.

Li Qin as Fu Yixiao was a major win for me. I wasn't familiar with her acting so I didn't know what to expect going in, however if I were to choose within a sea of female generals we have seen these past few years, she is by far the most believable. She felt strong both physically and emotionally and THANK GOD the amnesia didn’t wipe her personality like some other dramas (looking at you "Are You the One"). She stayed consistent, capable, and believable and her decisions always aligned with who she was. Her stunt work was also genuinely convincing, you could tell she took those martial arts classes seriously.

Chen Zheyuan also surprised me in a good way. I was skeptical about the casting, but he delivered. Although I could never truly buy him as the cruel "Killer God" they tried to pass him off as. When he embraced his softer side was when his character truly came alive for me. His fight scenes were also pretty solid, even though I always found him a bit skinny to play a battle strong general, the period clothes helped him out a lot and I could gaslight myself long enough to get through the fight scenes.

The chemistry between the leads was also pretty solid. Their dynamic felt balanced, like actual partners rather than one carrying the other (I found the balance similar to Blossom), and the enemies-to-lovers progression was paced well, even if it started off a bit toxic (as it should). Their romantic scenes were also well done, I actually wish we got more, not intricate ones but small light moments here and there towards the end. I actually would have been even happier with the romantic scenes if it weren't for that BIG ASS LIGHT that appeared each time. Was this the directors attempt to strategically blind the censorship committee so they couldn’t see the scenes? Because if the committee can’t see it, guess what, NEITHER CAN I. I was fighting for my life trying to see what was happening.

Also… Chen Zheyuan, respectfully my dude, why are your eyes WIDE open when going in for a kiss? Please.

Now, production choices. The music...why is it so LOUD. Trying to hear the dialogue required actual labor. Also… why the aggressive face smoothing? Everyone is out here blending into the background. The cast is already attractive, we didn’t need this.

Also, the story split into two locations after the halfway point, namely Susha and Jinxiu, and at times it genuinely felt like I was watching two completely different dramas.

The Jinxiu storyline was so lucky to have Chen He Yi’s face because he carried. I know his acting got some lukewarm feedback but I personally couldn't care less because....pretty boy. Call me shallow, I've made my peace with it. The character he plays, Xia Jingshi though? Dogshit. What he did at the end to Xiyang… truly despicable. He bid his time for the throne and acted strategically but my god he has NO heart, at all. This was telling from the start, but it was incredible to see there was no saving grace for him, even for a moment. He was going off of just bad vibes and horrible decisions. My dude literally said "I SHALL NOT BE REDEEMED!" Well, consider your wish granted pretty boy.

Xiyang, on the other hand, was one of the more interesting arcs for me. I found her smart, strategic, and adaptable. Her growth felt earned to me, and I appreciated how she made the most out of her situation. She actively matured and grew a lot in Jinxiu and her motivations, while driven by petty emotion, still made sense to me considering her background and upbringing. Watching her manipulate the Jinxiu emperor was also SO nice. Women in male dominated fields. Honestly, Xia Jingshi was pretty shortsighted for not seeing her value. I'll talk more on my thoughts on her ending in a little bit, so hold off on the pitchforks, I do have some criticism for her.

However, I still don't think her character really deserved the amount of hate she got online. I thought Xiyang was pretty smart and made the best out of the situation she was in, especially as someone who grew up sheltered and not really involved in palace drama, she held herself very well. I began indifferent towards her but after her resolve in regards to Xia Jingshi, she became a very interesting person and I loved her scenes. Obviously, her hatred for Xia Jingshi was unreasonable in some places because yes, he did say time and time again he did not reciprocate her feelings and never will, but I understood her frustration and her reaction felt true to her character and upbringing. She was a beloved princess who was naive enough to believe that her sincerity would make her a small path to Xia Jingshi’s heart. I can't fault her for trying, while holding onto her feelings from years ago built on a fleeting moment of a random act of kindness from Xia Jingshi. Was this stupid? Yes. But does it also kinda make sense for her character? Yeah, kinda. Also when she was pleading with Feng Suige to marry Xia Jingshi and said “I can change him”……Xiyang, I'm going to hold your hand when I say this, no you can’t babe.

The bigger issue lies in the writing for me so... welcome to my descent into madness.

Character development was all over the place so the character shifts felt very abrupt. Murong Yao’s dad? Random personality switch with zero groundwork, not to mention for this character it would have been sooo easy... Also, Suige's little brother Changyang? Went from sheltered teen to master strategist in what felt like one episode. I was genuinely like “did I miss something?” The issue isn’t the arcs themselves but the lack of buildup. Sprinkle in some early hints, some internal conflict, anything! These weren’t bad ideas, they were just poorly set up.

The antagonists also suffered from the same fate. I just thought they weren't very well done. I really like morally grey characters and through decent backstory and motivation I can at least see things from their perspective. I don't have to agree with them but it humanizes them, makes them real instead of just characters which keeps me engaged in the plot. In Fated Hearts however, I found each antagonist undercooked and lacking proper motive. Like “When I was 5 years old the soldiers saved the future emperor instead of me and I.FELT. SAD” like… okay???… nothing else?? REALLY? Even Xia Jingshi, who had EVERY reason to plot a hostile takeover of the court, felt off. His past wasn’t laid out well for the audience and we weren't given enough to connect to him and his sufferings. By the end, he just felt like an obsessive villain and his little rampage felt jarring because it didn't really fit with his character, which was such a waste. I would have wanted to feel torn over his ascend to the throne, but instead it felt unearned. His cruelty was unnecessary and badly explained. I understood him keeping his composure all these years after suffering humiliation and having your life threatened consistently, however, I think if we saw some cracks in his composure leading up to the finale instead of this serene but hypocritical person, I could have understood his actions a bit better and him losing control and going full out lunatic mode wouldn't have felt so jarring.

The show overall felt like it was trying to do a lot within 38 episodes, and while parts of it worked, the pacing for key plot points was a bit off. It’s very much a case of strong leads carrying an undercooked script. If I’m being honest, I stayed for Li Qin, Chen Zheyuan, and their relationship dynamic, not the plot. I'm a sucker for strong leads and mature relationships. And when it came to the Jinxiu plotline, it was Chen He Yi’s face and Xia Meng’s presence doing the heavy lifting. Which… is still an achievement I guess, because I didn’t skip their scenes.

Now, the ending…

Why is Changyang not the emperor? Not to mention Suige talking about the throne like it’s a part time job saying “Xiyang can try it for a few years and if she likes it she can keep it" EXCUSE ME? You did all that for Susha to take the matter of leading it so lightly? I understand that he didn’t want to be emperor himself but my dude...

And Xiyang as empress… I like her, but where was the groundwork for that? I’m all for female rulers, give me that ANY day, but you have to build it. I fear the writers wanted it to be a girl power moment but forgot to establish this within the script. While I did applaud Xiyang for holding her own in the Jinxiu court, she is far from being a leader herself. You can't deny that her motivations were still heavily driven by emotion, pride, and petty revenge. I did not see a leader there, mainly because she wasn’t mature enough.

Meanwhile, Changyang, despite being younger, actually felt calm, strategic, and fit for the role by the end. I really wish we got a proper conversation between the siblings about what they wanted, instead of the script forcing a “he didn’t want it anyway” narrative just to justify the outcome. Did they ever show us in any part of the story that Xiyang had an ambition like this? No. Was it even hinted that she would make a good ruler? No. Like… lay the groundwork and I’ll take a female leader ANY DAY. But you have to do the work!!

That said… I did enjoy this. It gave me:

- a genuinely strong female lead (yay)
- believable chemistry
- a solid enemies to lovers plot
- eye candy second male lead
- not super boring plot that kept me watching

Am I happy I gave it another shot? Yes.
Am I still side eyeing the director for those first two episodes and the big light? Also yes.

Random note: Feng Suige’s brother is adorable and the actor lowkey looks like Rowoon.

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a good revenge story.

This is one of those revenge story where you actually see the revenge plot unfolding. I didn't have high expectations from this show, but to my surprise the plot was executed very well.. you will like this series if :
1. you don't like stupid misunderstandings that goes through the whole series ( there was no misunderstanding between the fl and ml.
2. healthy relation between the fl and ml.
3. strong and independent fl who can hold her own in the battle.
4. understanding ml.

The only place where I thought the story was lacking was the villein's motivation.

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