Fight for Love (2025)

O Romance.. Where Art Thou??

It’s funny how the worst part of a drama titled Fight for Love ironically ends up being the love itself.. I simply didn’t feel at all about the romance.. When I watch a drama that has romance at the center of its plot, I need to feel something, it can be fun and lighthearted or angsty and heavy but whatever the tone is, I want to at least care a bit about the relationship.. Well, it just didn’t happen here.. I didn’t feel anything for them honestly.. Their interactions were fine but that's it, it’s just forgettable..

Another issue is that it’s just too long.. 40 episodes is way too much.. And when a story is stretched out like that, it becomes even more important for the narrative to keep moving and to hold your interest the whole way through, but that wasn’t the case here.. The drama has zero narrative momentum.. This should have been a 28–30 episode drama.. There are too many filler stories and way too much time spent on the supporting characters.. We already have the push and pull between the main leads, but then we have to sit through the same thing with the supporting cast as well.. And also an ex who was just there to create unnecessary tension..

It’s such a shame how terribly bland Victoria Song is as the FL, especially when she is paired with a ML like Ding Yuxi.. Her forced expressions, stiff acting and weak fight scenes just made the drama even harder to sit through.. Ding Yuxi is really wasted here and so is his character’s potential.. The issues about his reduced screen time didn’t bother me much, you barely notice it after the initial episodes.. But he is definitely underutilized.. He should have had more fight scenes or at least longer ones.. At least that would have given us something worth watching..

I also wanted to mention a few other things..

Imagine a female general who has killed so many enemy soldiers like they were insects, but when her ex locks her up with him forcefully, she says “What is it that you want?? My body or my love?? If it’s my body, then take it” and then she actually starts to undress herself.. When she could have easily beaten him and walked out without any effort at all.. Does it make any sense??

This one bugged me as well.. The way the story begins.. How does an experienced General march straight into an obvious enemy ambush like that?? With the layout of the land he should have expected it right?? You threw all your sons into one fight, one war, all at the same time.. One wrong move and your whole lineage is gone.. The whole arc honestly felt like it existed just to wipe out the Wei family so that the ML would have a reason to join the FL in her quest for answers and revenge..

The rebirth premise from the original novel felt more promising.. Even though I haven’t read it, I still feel like that version would have been much better.. Why stray so far from it??

Overall, Fight for Love is a drama you can easily skip.. There is nothing here that would make me recommend it to anyone.. The 7 rating is for whatever Ding Yuxi managed to bring to the story.. The team tried way too hard to cram too much into one drama and it just dragged on and on and on..

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ignore the low rating

i wanted to start by saying i mostly just wanted to
write a review because of the rating i would say ignore it give it a try yourself
it's actually pretty good i think all ep are even already rated without all being even out yet

this got me from episode 1 so i finished 4 episodes in 1 sitting
i really like the female lead so far i really like how she
doesn't let anyone step on her she can stand up for herself and her people
also

ep 3





that was the most beautiful blood spitting i have seen and i have seen many

that guy is a real bloody artist


By the ending 10 or something eps it did feel bit boring i think it would have been better if it was only 34 eps only couple i really like is the main couple other couples are alright like i didn't get annoyed whenever they were on screen or skip there part

i don't like to write super long reviews so don't mind me i will go now thx for reading

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Neither here nor there

There are some nice moments in this drama - a lot of the supporting roles are nicely developed and performed, adding to a rich ensemble of characters bringing the kingdoms of Sui and Northern Qi to life. Some standouts to me are Grand Princess Li Changming, Tuan Tuan, Chu Linyang and even Gu Chusheng. But a gaping hole in this story is unfortunately a dull romance between Wei Yun and Chu Yu, our leads. There's simply not enough to sustain the long 40 episodes, and one wonders if condensing this story to 30 episodes might have done the trick. The narrative is too long-winded, making the more interesting dramatic parts somewhat disappear.

Not the epic historic tale I was looking for in a pretty dry section of Chinese drama land in this second half of 2025, but it is still worth checking out especially if you enjoy the reliable performances of Ding Yuxi and that of veterans such as Joe Chen and Cao Jun.

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"Fight for Love": A Journey I Won't Forget (And Why You Should Consider Embarking On It, Too!)

"Fight for Love" is a drama that recently concluded for me, leaving a lasting impression. While I recognize that individual tastes vary, I wanted to share my personal experience and the reasons behind my solid 10/10 rating, hoping to encourage you to explore it and form your own opinion. I'll admit, the first half of the drama didn't fully grab me, but the final episodes truly elevated the entire experience.

The ending I know it is what most people does. However, for me it the best because they traveled the world! As "Fight for Love" concluded, my feelings were a mix of satisfaction and a touch of bittersweetness. On one hand, I rejoiced in the fact that the leads ultimately achieved a happy ending, finding a way to be together despite the many obstacles they faced. The final scenes, showing them planning to travel the world and experience new adventures, was a testament to their resilience and love for one another.

One of the primary reasons "Fight for Love" resonated so deeply with me was Ding Yuxi's incredible performance. As I delve into his filmography, his portrayal in this drama stood out. He brought such depth and nuances to his character, truly bringing him to life. His impressive emotional range and effortless transitions between lightheartedness and intense drama made him a compelling figure to follow.

I also appreciated the unique dynamic between the male and female leads. While some viewers have noted a perceived lack of immediate chemistry, I personally found their connection both realistic and intriguing. The drama explores the complexities of a forbidden romance, and I felt the actors conveyed the subtle nuances of their relationship with sensitivity and grace. Their interactions, often understated, conveyed volumes through shared glances and unspoken understanding. It was a relationship that grew organically, based on mutual respect, shared values, and a connection transcending social barriers.

Beyond the central romance, "Fight for Love" offers a rich tapestry of supporting characters and storylines. The villains are compelling and complex, the friendships heartwarming and genuine. Each character contributes to the overall narrative, creating a vibrant and believable world. The noteworthy production quality, stunning costumes, breathtaking scenery, and well-choreographed action sequences further enhance the viewing experience.

The story itself is a compelling blend of romance, political intrigue, and personal growth. Exploring themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the fight for justice, it resonated with me on a deeply personal level. While the pacing might feel slow at times, I found it allowed for a greater appreciation of the characters and their journeys. There were moments that made me laugh, cry, and left me breathless with anticipation.

Overall, "Fight for Love" is a drama I highly recommend. While it might not appeal to everyone, I believe it's a worthwhile experience for those willing to invest in its characters and stories. It's a drama that will stay with you long after the credits roll, earning a special place on my personal favorites list. So, if you're seeking a drama that will captivate your heart and mind, I encourage you to give "Fight for Love" a chance. It might just surprise you! It's a 10/10 for me, and perhaps it will be for you, too.

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Pretty Costumes, Awkward Romance, and the Only Reason You Keep Watching is Ding YuXI

🌸 Why I Pressed Play (And Regret Nothing… Almost)

I continued watching Fight for Love for one reason and one reason only: Ding Yuxi 😭💖. Handsome, charming, and carrying that quiet intensity — he was my only hope in what promised to be a painfully slow slog. Honestly, without him, I would’ve quit by episode 3. But here I am, survivor of the first half, ready to rant.

🔍 The Big Picture: “Epic” Scale or Just Over-hyped?

Okay, so Fight for Love really wants you to believe it's this grand, sweeping historical epic. And yeah, the production is gorgeous: 176 sets, a 21,000-square-metre Wei mansion, more than 2,200 custom costumes. It’s like they took every “build everything bigger than life” advice from a drama production manual and ran wild. But if you came for the soul of the story — well, they forgot to send that memo to the scriptwriters.

📖 Plot: Epic… in Theory , Great Idea, Horrible Execution

Potential: 10/10
Execution: 4/10 😩

The plot has everything — love, betrayal, family downfall, national collapse. Chu Yu, widow of ML’s elder brother, falls for the younger brother. Taboo? Check. Family duty? Check. Kingdoms collapsing? Check. Schemes and betrayal everywhere? Double check. But the script? Flat. Wars happen. People die. Secrets are revealed. And I’m just… sitting there. Watching the machine of the plot grind along. Emotional resonance? Apparently outsourced.

💔 First Half: Pretty but Painfully Slow

I’ll be honest: last 10 eps, I liked them. but the first half was a snoozefest. Yes, the costumes and makeup are gorgeous, the cinematography is okay, but that’s like putting a cherry on a flavorless cake. The plot barely moves, the chemistry is non-existent, and I spent way too much time wondering whether I was watching a drama or a live-action painting gallery. And yet, I kept watching — because Ding Yuxi. Without him, I would’ve long left.

💫 Ding Yuxi (My Yu Xi Boy): The One Who Actually Carries It

Speaking of him — thank god for him. From the start, Ding Yuxi does a solid job: cute, hopeful, charming. And by the end? He’s grown into this responsible mountain of feels. The way he matures, shoulders the tragedy, and holds his ground — it’s honestly the only reason half the emotions in the final episodes landed for me.
But, Oh yes, Ding Yuxi is the male lead, supposedly. In reality? About 9–10% of screen time. Fans are furious. And I get it — the guy carries the story, but the editing apparently wanted us to admire the scenery instead of the protagonist. Classic.

👩‍🦰 Chu Yu / FL: From Hot Mess to … Slightly Less Hot Mess

Oh, Chu Yu. In the beginning, I thought she was cringily chaotic: too naive, too silly, and acting like someone who forgot her inner strength. But later? She actually… grows. Not fully perfect, but better. Sure, fans online complained Victoria Song leans too heavily on wide-eyed “shock” expressions.
Fair. But credit where it’s due: by the final episodes, she’s earned some of her moments. I even found myself liking her decisions (gasp).

💥 Romance & Chemistry: Where Did the Sparks Go?

Let’s talk about the romance — or lack thereof. The chemistry between ML and FL? Pretty much zero for me, especially in the early episodes. Their romantic scenes feel like two actors politely reciting from a script. They were like “older sister–younger brother” rather than lovers.
Meanwhile, the second couple had much better tension, even though their choices frustrated me at times. And honestly, the bromance between the ML and SML felt more natural than the romance itself 😂. They could fight over the same woman in private but work together seamlessly for their country — that dynamic was more compelling than half the love scenes.

🎨 Production : Beautiful Aesthetics ⚔️ Battles: Music Video, Not War

The production deserves praise for its beauty 🌸 — gorgeous sets, detailed costumes, and aesthetic color grading. But some of the action scenes… oh my god 😭.
First half fight scenes had me laughing out loud. Dramatic robes, slo-mo sword swings, romantic “battle dances” 💃🗡️. By the finale, the big war is okay — still stylized, still ridiculous, still prettier than it should be. Honestly, it looks like a TikTok choreo more than a bloody battlefield.

🌹 Final Thoughts: A Gorgeous Hot Mess

Would I recommend? Yes… with a strong disclaimer:

Watch for Ding Yuxi, the visuals, the costumes, and some occasionally decent character growth.

Do NOT expect a deep, consistent romance or emotionally satisfying plot 😑.

The drama is basically a beautiful painting that occasionally moves.

Sarcastically speaking: it’s a “must-watch” if you love gorgeous scenery, slightly awkward romance, and seeing a male lead work harder than the script allows him to 💀💖.

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Waste of the Potential

I edited this review after watching the full series.

The concept is supposed to be good. The makeup and costumes are flawless—the cast looks amazing without trying too hard. They clearly invested a lot; the ML alone has at least five different wig styles, lol. But the execution just isn’t there yet. The romantic scenes aren’t sentimental, and the kissing scenes are awkward. Some episodes are so bad and some so good that it feels like they were made by two separate production teams.

The first 20 episodes bored me throughout, but it does get better—so much so that it feels like the second half was directed by a completely different director. But just when everything improves, the last 3 episodes become so horrible that I genuinely wanted to drop the show (after enduring so much already). I absolutely hated the last few episodes.

The biggest problem with the first 25 episodes is the cringiness. The fight choreography, flying capes, and dialogue are all extremely cringe. I couldn’t make myself watch the scene where Wei’s brothers’ wives performed that dance before leaving the house, lol.

It’s also very jumpy. There’s almost no emotional build-up. I don’t know if they were aiming for fast-paced storytelling, but it didn’t work—it still feels slow-burn, slow-paced, and boring, just more jumpy. Honestly, you could skip the first 20 episodes and not miss much. There is never any real emotional build-up. The whole “family doom” plot is supposed to be the main driving force for the leads, but the script barely uses it after a few episodes. After all the torture in jail, I expected some strong emotional development, but it just passes by without impact.

The ML seems to have a small crush on the FL at first, then suddenly—out of nowhere—he becomes madly in love and extremely persistent in just one episode. Him being crazily in love should have been enjoyable to watch, but I just didn’t feel any chemistry. DYX acted well—I was rooting for him. But the FL seems to have zero feelings for the ML, then suddenly at the fake wedding she admits she loves him too, even though they can’t be together. The director should have at least given us something—anything—to ship them before that moment. They had 20 episodes to show even a tiny spark.

The first half also has logic problems. Why does the FL have to be so secretive? Why is the ML so doubtful of her early on, when their parents were killed for the same reason? Shouldn’t they have cooperated easily? But later, they share their secrets about the rebels freely with random acquaintances without hesitation. Also, why did they even need a fake wedding? Did the editors cut explanations out?

Around episodes 29–30, the story becomes really good. The fighting scenes improve, the leads start feeling smart and strategic, and I became invested in their war plans. It becomes fast-paced, intelligent, and fairly realistic. Both leads are steadfast in love—they aren’t the self-sacrificing type. Even if it puts each other at risk, they take that risk together. I loved this part.

Then the last 3 episodes happen, and everything goes downhill. Not because the stupid and evil emperor tries to stop the ML and FL’s love, but because of more logic problems. All the strategies to “rescue” the princess are unnecessary—especially considering they can’t take her back anyway. At this point, Da Sui honestly feels like the villain. They mess up Bei Qi far worse than Bei Qi ever did to them, using dirty and pointless methods. I actually felt bad for Zhao Yue—he’s portrayed as evil, but he’s only “evil” because Da Sui screwed him over. If they truly wanted peace, the princess could have simply asked Zhao Yue to make peace and return the three cities; he was clearly willing to do anything for her. She could have stayed with him, been happy, and governed peacefully. Instead, they chose a path that killed many people. Da Sui’s emperor is way worse than Bei Qi’s. This made me stop rooting for the leads’ cause—they’re doing terrible, pointless things for a horrible emperor while trying to appear self-righteous.

If you’re not a DYX or VS fan and just want to root for the couple, go find a better series. If you still want to watch, skip the first 19 episodes.

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Started with a bang, ended with a splat

My disappointment in writing this review is very strong. Why? Because this had potential to wrap up China’s stellar historical drama year with another bang. But it failed. Oh how it failed.

Pros:
• One of the best fleshed out casts of any drama. Hands down. This was the strongest aspect of the show. Even when I completely lost interest in our leads, the subplots and characters kept me going to finish (though I HEAVILY skimmed through the last 8 episodes).
• An incredibly solid first half, especially those fist 13 episodes!
• Our secondary couples were just excellent. There are four couples in this show, including the main leads. The other three outshone our leads by far. In fact, the romance between [SPOILER] the Princess Royal and the main villain was so incredible. It had me fully captivated.

Cons:
• OUR LEADS. These two were knocking it out of the park at the beginning. But goodness gracious by episode 25 I was so done with them. Let me break it down specifically:
— Ding Yuxi was stellar in the early episodes as he grieved his family. Afterwards? To be honest I feel like his character had split personalities. One personality was a ruthless general and cunning young marquis fighting for his family, and the other was a love sick puppy who cried at the drop of the hat.
— The wonderful character of Chu Yu fell prey to Victoria Song’s unfortunate ability to begin strong and fizzle out mid drama. Plain and simple.

• Poor pacing. If you’re going to do a Cdrama over 30 episodes, the pacing HAS to be good. We know it’s possible. We’ve seen some amazing dramas that go even into the 50 episode zone (looking at you “Love like the Galaxy”) without losing your interest. So what went wrong here? Well… they essentially put the climax of the whole show at episode 28/40. I mean this literally. Epic battle scenes, humiliation, political intrigue, a victory that defies odds—and by episode 30 it was over.

So what happens next? Literally episode after episode of the emperor trying to keep the leads apart and our leads handling this stupidly. Add some politics and a little bit of slice of life randomly… The only thing that kept me skimming was the scenes between the three side couples. Then what’s crazy is the final battles weren’t even as epic as the ones in 28-30.

• Tragic ending for their best selling point in the last quarter. I knew the Princess and king of Northern Qi wouldn’t have a happy ending. But dude. They were the best part of the last ten episodes and it ends [SPOILER] with them confirming their love before she poisons him with a kiss, tells him she aborted their baby, asks to try again in the next life, pushes him off a literal cliff, and then jumps of the cliff herself.

• Chemistry? None. All three of our side couples had way more chemistry than Ding Yuxi and Victoria Song. In fact, in some ways, our FL had better chemistry with the SML.

Anyway, I’ve ranted enough. This was super disappointing.

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Yet another poorly executed C-Drama wasting a great ML!

I really wish mydramalist would allow users to sort the reviews by lowest instead of only most helpful or most recent! There are always many 9 & 10 star reviews lately on new dramas that IMO DO NOT DESERVE ANYWHERE NEAR THOSE RATINGS! I'm wasting dozens of hours of my precious time watching drivel other reviewers have given 9 & 10 stars to that I'm having to fast forward through 50% OUT OF EVERY EPISODE! This is no exception! AND I LOVE DING YU XI! I'd pay good money just to watch him standing still! I can't get past the fact that the FL looks so much older but BOTH kept acting so much younger than they actually are! That had me constantly eyerolling and outright gagging! His acting is usually great so I fault the director and script! I could've accepted their romance as is without all of that nonsense! This drama is FULL of eye candy but that doesn't make up for the amount of side romances, side stories and the terribly chaotic main story! Watch at the risk of your own boredom and irritation!

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Romantic Warrior Couple

I love this pairing, Chu Yu loves fearlessly and Wei Yun loves fiercely, both embodying the English title of the show Fight for Love. All Chu Yu wanted in a romantic partner is someone who will fight through life's obstacles beside her and she them, and she got it in spades finally after her first try didn't work out. Both characters both can get serious and have their playful sides. They are a delight every time they are on screen together. They are on equal footing with her also being a comrade in arms and an extremely capable General having fought and learned alongside her general father since she was a child. She's also smart and fun. He's also all those things, it's fantastic. It's always great to see romantic partners that are not only take care of each other equally, but equal in power dynamics for either hetero or queer romances. One of the things I appreciate is that Chu Yu is older than Wei Yun and looks every bit the gorgeous grown woman warrior that she is, while Wei Yun is younger and has a baby face though Ryan the actor is 30 and Wei Yun is just 3 years younger than Chu Yu. Both the characters are able to be cute and funny without being annoyingly cutesy and also have gravitas when the situation requires it. I love that once she decides to date him, they aren't stingy with the displays of affection. The kisses are actually romantic, particularly when she kisses him and he kisses back even more passionately, opening his eyes mid way just to look at her, and they continue kissing. The show is however stingy without giving them one last kiss scene as they overlook the peaceful scenery of their homeland that they fought and won together.

All the women characters get to get their agency in various ways and it's wonderful. Chu Yu's ex boyfriend Chu Sheng really fumbled again and again. She's truly the coolest girlfriend in the world, not caring about conventions, protected and helped him achieve his goals, only for him to ditch her for his own plans, but still wants her to be with him. His ex-wife also genuinely loved him and he couldn't even be nice to her, though her dad did threaten his life in order to marry her, but Chu Sheng also got a political boost that he wanted out of it. Good for her to divorce him. At least Chu Sheng becomes a helpful political ally for Chu Yu later. It's poetic justice for Chu Yu that her signature romantic gestures in order to secretly scheme with the Wei family's eldest brother happened on the same day as Chu Sheng's marriage that led to her catching the attention of Wei family's youngest son. Technically Wei Jun also fell for her, because who wouldn't swoon at a gorgeous lady declaring their love for them in such an artistically spectacular way even if he later found out it was to plan with him about solving a problem that affected both their families. That probably made him fall harder. He died on the battlefield, but at least he got to be grieved and his family taken care of by Chu Yu as his widow in the time that his family needed the most.

Chu Yu saved Wei Yun from being scapegoated to death and even empowered his military standing as the head of Wei family. It was great seeing him fall deeper for her as she takes action to save him and take care of his family even while he's so suspicious of her before finally finding his brother's letter. It's even better when he completely loves her and his eyes are always so soft and vulnerable around her. While he serves his 3 years of border patrol duty, she becomes an official general of Beifang when the crown prince takes over as King and doesn't have the same constrictive views of his father before him keeping Chu Yu down in order to boost Wei Yun, and also opens up the opportunities for women to become Officials as well. It's beautiful that she does a proposal dance at the city gates as Wei Yun returns, the same dance that captured his heart and she full on proposes to him, "I'm here to marry you, will you marry me?" And he accepts saying "I will." with teary eyes. His dream has come true for her to proposal dance to him. I also love how it's recounted verbally to Chu Sheng by his helper, that the General of Beifang is dancing upon the gate tower for Duke Wei, so the road to the palace is blocked. The guys got to hang out a lot and there were two instances where one of the guys went into full drag. ShiLan pretending to be his sister makes sense, but Liu Qiba going full drag for the fake wedding didn't make any sense other than he just wanted to for fun, which good for him. It would have been nice if there were more scenes when all of Chu and Song women were together. That one scene of them commiserating on the roof showed that they had great friendship chemistry together as well.

The other standout woman and her twisted romantic pairing is of course the Eldest Princess who should have been King, ChangMing. She loves her country deeply and survived an abusive political marriage in order to secure the throne for her brother. She has a harem and even keeps some porn in her library that was hilariously found by Chu Yu's sister Chu JIn who tagged along to investigate what happened to ChangMing who gets kidnapped by her favorite harem guy HanMei who turns out to be both a mole, but also the royal lineage of the enemy country who becomes king Zhao Yue and wants her to be his queen. She tries to kill both him and herself, but failing that, she decides to do what she does best and destroy the enemy from within. Despite him being her favorite, she never slept with him, but she seduces him as a step to sow discord in his alliance marriage with a lord's daughter. She becomes pregnant to her own surprise. Symbolically, it might have been because the pregnancy was a product of true love, as she really did love HanMei and he loved her. Sadly, the pregnancy did come at the worst time for her and she can only tell the little soul to find her in the next life as she takes abortion medicine in order to frame the other consort and HanMei makes an enemy of that consort's family. She implies the same thing when she gives poisoned kiss to HanMei who asked her if she ever loved him at the edge of a cliff, telling him that they shouldn't be born as royals in the next life. She also dies of the same poison, but willingly hurls herself off a cliff after pushing him off despite Chu Yu offering her an antidote, declaring she will clear the other half of the blame for HanMei. I hope the family of three finds happiness in another story. Truly a fantastic role for Joe Chen, it would be great to see her in a modern drama romance with Liang Xue Feng.

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Disappointed that Ding was under utilised.

Ding Yuxi is brilliant and his scenes are the only ones worth watching. The 10 star rating for acting is for him only. The advertisements and trailers are highly misleading because they promote him heavily but in reality he's basically been sidelined. Seven episodes in and he was only given a total of about 30 mins screen time. The rest is focused on the FL and ensemble cast. The story(ies)seems disjointed but I don't know if it's because of bad editing or bad writing. Perhaps both. All the brothers and the father are killed but after a bit of grieving the story suddenly switches to "Ah well, forget that, moving on". Disappointed. Producers and writers dropped the ball on this. Feel like dropping the show now. I am only hoping it gets better.

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Some Romances Are Truly Unbelievable!!

Adaptations are a risky business, because you never know if they would work or not!

This was my first time watching a show featuring Victoria Song. As soon the credits rolled by in the first episode, she was atop a bridge performing the sword dance. I have seen numerous women perform sword dances in various dramas and yet Chu Yu’s performance was unique. No wonder Wei Yun fell in love at first sight. The show strongly hinges on the premise of fighting for love; because our main couple go through hell before finding their happiness. It is literally a fight against the monarchy and age-old societal prejudices. The main highlight of this show that it features three other love stories alongside the main leads and each of them are as unique as the mains. The drama adheres to its base concept until the last episode and delivers a romance that is swoon worthy!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/fight-for-love-series-review/

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One of the Few Adaptations that Surpasses the Novels they’re based on!

The FL Chu Yu was determined to get to the bottom of her father’s death and her brother’s serious injury on the battlefield of Fengling, which she suspected to be because of traitors, and won’t stop at nothing even if it means her reputation ruined, scorned and misunderstood by her mom and sister, and marrying a dead general, Wei Jun, who had fallen in battle. This is Chu Yu, a girl who will not stop for no one and nothing until her goal is accomplished. This is how she met with ML, Wei Yun who was the youngest brother of her dead husband. 6 of Wei Yun’s brothers perished in the battle of Baidi Valley including his father the general of Wei army, and he returned home with their bodies in tow, but inadvertantly faced the accusation of crime for valor due to the battle being lost along with the lives of seventy thousand soldiers. Chu Yu, as the eldest mistress of the mansion, received him in the capital and later fought for his release. Although Wei Yun was very wary of her motives of marrying his dead eldest brother and continuoesly opposed her presence in the family, he finally came to an agreement with Chu Yu as he realized both Fengling and Baidi Valley’s battle losses had been connected. With that, both of them started to work hand in hand to investigate, which turned into a blossoming forbidden love.

I love how they changed some parts of the novel which turned out even better on screen:

- the Song brothers to be good with each other, Song Wenchang was very lovable instead of being at odds with Song Shilan,
- The Wei widows to be more involved in the earlier power struggle instead of merely ornaments and actually possess real martial skills instead of only Jiang Chun,
- FL to have more fights and battles,
- Chu Jin is softer and not as jealous as in the novel, repents much earlier too.

I liked how they changed the plot into Zhao Yue becoming North Qi’s emperor instead of usurping Sui’s throne, cuz this version is more believable than the novel’s plot. It always bothered me how ridiculous Zhao Yue’s ascension to the throne in the novel, and the scriptwriter managed to turn this lousy arc into a masterpiece by having Sui internally disrupting North Qi political scene instead.

I liked how ML’s personality stayed true to the novel too, that he would not trade Chuyu for anyone or anything, even if it means defying the emperor. Novel’s ML and FL have always been resolute and firm, and the fact that ML’s loyalty had always been for the land and its people and never for the emperor made it easier for them to look believable instead of the usual blind loyalty to the throne that common generals usually exhibit. In the novel, Wei Yun had no qualm to replace the emperor for another when he saw him not fit for it. So I liked how the adaptation Wei Yun cared nothing about the emperor’s ridiculous expectation of him being a War Saint and would not compromise. And most importantly i adored how the scriptwriter made their relationship pure and sincere, instead of having them sneaking into each other’s room to sleep together and having a child out of wedlock like in the novel. The adaptation’s ending is also much more fulfilling than the novel. A+ for that.

I dont get the blatant accusation about victoria song abusing power by reducing Ding Yuxi’s scenes, cuz in the novel, Wei Yun is always secondary to Chu Yu. The novel is about Chu Yu and Wei Yun’s mentions are even much lesser than what’s shown on the adaptation. I like Ding Yuxi as an actor, I watched this adaptation partly because of the novel and him being the main lead, and even then i felt the production had expanded wei yun’s character much more than what the novel had of him. Not that I am complaining of course, i totally love DYX as Wei Yun, but i dont mind his scenes being lesser than Victoria Song’s Chu Yu because I know that the original novel is a female-centric piece.

By the way, IMPO this is definitely Ding Yuxi’s best show that I have seen so far. And I am glad that he finally met the perfect co-star. I had been extremely disappointed of the FL’s opposite him before this, their characters are always lacking one after another, so I am glad Victoria Song lived up to my expectation. Her action scenes were finely executed and she spared no effort to make it look grand whenever she needs to display Chu Yu’s martial prowess. Other than her being great with action scenes, the credits must also go to the action choreographer. All the fights here are amazing.

The subtle romance here is also perfect for my taste. Theyre not cheesy or cutesy, but more to mature romance that doesnt need the couple to be all too handsy and kissy with each other everytime they meet. I can’t stand the romance when DYX was with younger female actors in the shows that i’ve seen him in, cuz their characters tend to be the whiny-clingy kinds, which I completely abbhor (i have dropped his shows due to clingy cutesy FL which had gotten on my nerves more than my love for DYX). So his pairing with Victoria Song is perfect in my eyes.

Again, hat’s off to the screenwriter and actors who managed to make Zhao Yue-Grand Princess’s love into something worth to sympathize. I felt nothing for this couple in the novel, and I didnt think Grand Princess was that much in love with Zhao Yue too, but somehow in this adaptation, i could feel how deeply they love each other but torn due to loyalty. I actually felt sad for their ending here.

Anyway, honestly my rating couldve gone higher had not for the lack of memorable songs here. None manage to catch my attention and most are slow ballads. Can’t really rate any higher for that section. Too bad. But this is a good piece, i don’t understand how the rating turned out to be so low.

SO PLEASE DONT GET FOOLED BY THE GENERAL RATING ON MDL.

I am betting those are done by Song’s haters. I don’t get from where the hate was coming, i mean i have seen Luoyang and she was great there too. So I dont get it really, was it because she wasnt young, pretty or whiny-cutesy enough like how DYX’s FLs before this were? 🙄 how dense.

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