This review may contain spoilers
The villainness rewrites her fate
It is always interesting for me to watch dramas where the villains are given another chance to rewrite their fate. The pride, determination, and drive that they built after realizing their tragic ending as side characters is always exciting to unfold. Qiao Wan Yan, our villainess-turned-female lead, remained strong and brutal throughout her second life. Rare are the times she had to be "saved" by the two princes, and you can expect her to do the dirty work just to get back at or prevent Qiao Yi Huan from getting what she wants. I love an FML like QWY who knows her strengths well and knows how to play the game like QYH. Both female leads had many tricks up their sleeves, but their intentions differ—and I love how QWY remained unwavering in her desire to gain wealth and power the second time around.To some, it may seem like a negative trait to be materialistic, but living in a world that is cruel to women, QWY’s aspirations are nothing but honest and realistic. I love how the story never made QWY weak-willed or distracted by the male leads’ advances, and instead let her plot all the revenge she had. I almost pitied QYH at some points because she really couldn't keep up with QWY’s plans—but then again, no one could ever stop a woman’s rage—not even another woman. The moment QYH believed that QWY’s retaliation was all because of a man was the moment she lost to QWY.
A Shang as QWY was so effective; she knows how to act with her eyes, and her features perfectly present how innocent, yet cunning-looking, QWY would be.
I also loved the chemistry between QWY and He Yan Li. Their history as childhood-friends-turned-lovers-turned-enemies-turned-lovers-again was satisfying, especially when we learn that HYL is still hopelessly in love with QWY despite being dumped by her. Their banters as "enemies" were adorable too, and I wished we saw more of that. QWY, learning HYL’s true intentions on her deathbed, knew too well that the man was smitten with her, but never used that to take revenge against the crown prince and QYH. She allowed HYL to come into her heart but didn’t play him in her hand. She was honest with her intentions and her loyalty to HYL, which definitely assured the man of her feelings—HYL understood that QWY is a woman who only wants to go all the way up, and he didn’t feel inferior about it. They supported each other in the best ways they could, and this is when we see QWY being warm and loving. Not that she broke from her cold persona, but she showed how love and rage can coexist—we all rage because we all love. Their love wasn’t always heavily tested, but the trials they went through together and alone further prove how much they deserve each other.
In the end, QWY being firm that she would give up all her family's power and wealth to be married to HYL was the most realistic and satisfying resolution I’ve seen in a while. Indeed, QWY started her second life hoping to rise to the top, but there came the realization that she wouldn’t be able to do that without HYL by her side. Rather than saying that she has softened, I’d like to see it as QWY finally reclaiming her peace—and that peace is meant to be shared with the people who had always loved her. Such a perfect ending for a woman who we can now see as someone not driven by pure rage, but by all the love she took for granted in her first life, the love she gave herself in her second, and the love she continues to give and receive in this lifetime.
Favorite part: When QWY said that she loved HYL, but her greatest love will always be herself.
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