I expected a more interesting, intense political drama...but it's too slow and I am still not hooked into it even after 12th episode.. Before watching this drama, I watched "The disguiser" and I was completely hooked in the disguiser though...

I was kind of bored like you until about episode 19! After that it just keeps getting better and better though! Now I'm on episode 28 and quite hooked I would say :P

Come to think of it.... I watched The Disguiser because of the characters in NIF. I didn't like it that much because the romance part was stronger yet the pairing was really a fail. lol

Keep watching. Once you get hooked up, every minute is enjoyable. BTW, despite labeled as 'romance', it doesn't really have romance in it. So if you're looking for the romance, it'll probably feel very slow

It took me until episode 20 and a few months. But it was so worth it. 

I keep hearing about how much everyone loves this, so want to finish it. The synopsis of the story totally sounds like something I'd love, but I keep falling asleep every time I try to watch it. The characters all seem so reserved. I don't have any feeling towards the main character. All the stuff that happened to him and his family that is supposed to make you care for him and his revenge plan is just talked about but not shown. So much of it is just dialogue and complicated plotting against characters that are supposed to be bad, but you don't really see enough of the characters that he is getting revenge on to really care. It's like watching someone talk about the moves in chess match. But reading this discussion, I guess I need to somehow get to episode 20? I don't know if I can do it. I think I'm only on episode 10 or something.

UPDATE: I finished it and agree. To me it was all worth it! I loved it in the end.

I'm here for Hu Ge this was the first time I saw this actor, this is my second viewing, his character is playing very important role since he is moving the pieces. He wants justice, sometimes using cruel methods, people getting the fruit of what they planted. The characters are very well portrayed. I'm new in Chinese dramas and movies, I love it. they have a different pace. Also enjoyed "Princess Agents".