The story is both beautiful and painful at the same time
I watched this drama first time in 2022 without knowing that there were special episodes. However, I still consider this drama to be good and worth watching, although I did not watch the additional episodes in that time. Now here I am again in 2026, rewatch this drama on Viki App.What I truly love about this drama is that it not only gives us the clever and planned tactics to be the winner in the Eastern Palace to get the "Crown Prince" position, but also a love story that is beautiful and painful at the same time. The fifth prince of Li Empire, Li Chengyin, hid his identity as Gu Xiaowu, the tea merchant, and tried to gain the trust of the eighth princess of Xi State, Xiaofeng, to infiltrate Danchi, the tribe ruled by Xiaofeng's maternal grandfather. As Li Chengyin disguises himself as Xiaowu, his feelings grow time by time, and he becomes truly in love with the princess.
Xiaofeng, the carefree, cheerful, and innocent princess, started falling in love with Xiaowou and trusted him but had no idea about Xiaowu and Xiaofeng beloved master's plan to get rid of Danchi. On the day of their wedding ceremony, Danchi was attacked, and Danchi was eventually defeated due to Xiaowu's hidden betrayal. This part is the most cruel ever. Xiaofeng directly caught Xiaowu herself executing her beloved grandfather. All sincerity and true love between Xiaofeng and Xiaowu just disappeared at the same time from that moment on. After discovering the truth behind Li Chengyin's actions, Xiaofeng jumps down the River of Forgetfulness to lose the painful memories. Then, Xiaowu followed her, and both of them lost their memories.
However, fate seems cruel. Xiaofeng is involved again after losing memories in Li Chengyin's matters for the throne of the Li Empire. And no matter who the crown prince is, Xiaofeng will always be the crown princess. Chengyin and Xiaofeng, in their lost memories, fall in love again. Yes, it was written that Xiaofeng and Li Chengyin were destined to be entangled for three lifetimes.
In this drama, I am truly amazed by how extraordinary Xiaofeng's character was from beginning to end. She was so carefree, cheerful, well-behaved, innocent, cute, and beautiful. She also deeply cared about the prosperity and peace between the Xi State and the Li Empire. Therefore, I understand why she ultimately decided to sacrifice herself for the sake of peace between the Xi State and the Li Empire. On the other hand, it was her way of letting go of all the problems (painful love-hate) between herself and Li Chengyin. She punishes him to live well after her death.
This drama does have some cruel and painful love scenes, but I still highly recommend watching it because the storyline is well-directed and there are many life lessons to be learned. The cinematography, with its grassland setting and Tibetan Hanfu style, is a must-see. Even though this drama has over 50 episodes, I still find myself captivated by each episode. But don't forget to watch the special episodes for their modern life. It will heal your pain after watching the heartbreaking ending of the series. LOL.
I really love how well Peng Xiaoran and Cheng Xingxu portray their roles in this drama. Enjoy watching, everyone.
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Worth watching with great fighting scenes and little romance
For those who want watch this drama, the English title of this drama should be "Heaven and Earth Sword Heart".When looking the title named "Sword and Beloved", I think everybody will expect the sweet romance will really happen between FL and ML.
So if you want to get many romantic scenes between ML and FL, i don't think this drama will meet your expectation.
I have watched two series before: The red moon pack and Love in Pavilion. And this drama is the story of Wangquan Fugui, the son of Wangquan Hongye (Wangquan Sword) and Dongfang Huazui (Dongfang Fire). Since I have already known about his parent story, this drama becomes more meaningful for me, especially the presence of Chengyi for FuGui's role.
I do aware this drama has some shortcomings:
1. Many supporting roles dominate scenes between episodes 21-29, making screen time for ML become less and many unecessary scenes appear.
2. Why the villain Quan Jinting takes long to die? and he always sucessfully recommit crime again and again. what happens hey?
3. I think many viewers expect Fugui's Experience much better after getting out from the Wangquan Manor. But back to the way this story is written, his screen time become less and less after.
Despite its shortcomings, I still enjoy watching this drama until the last episodes for this reason:
1. Every cast of this drama plays the role perfectly.
2. The Fighting scenes is also incredible
3. Visual, outfit, acessories, and ost are perfect.
4. CGI the best
5. The story of friendship and family touches my heart so much.
6. Chengyi's presence. I become more inlove with him in this drama. The character of Fugui is always consistent from the start. He is so handsome (of course), calm, warm, cool, thoughful, lovely, and say no to hate till the end after all the things he has been goin through. He never hates his father and All bad people in Yiqi Aliance. What's more about Chengyi: his fighting scenes and double character are never dissapointing.
7. Love how Li Yitong deliver FL characters. From a careless, funny, cheerful spider to a firm, smart, and cold person. In the last few episodes, after she lost his brother, her painful is still felt but remains strong.
I know that everybody has their own perspectives for this drama, so do I.
For me, Sword and Beloved has its own place in my list. Having followed two previous series before watching this, finally i can breath calmy to know the black Fox is gone for good. Eventhough FuGui has to sacrifice many things including himself. Yes of course it is so sad watching the ending like this and I cried. However the scene is cool and perfect when FuGui defeat the black fox with 4 treasures including Wangquan Sword, Dongfang Fire, water-control orb, and the seed of grief tree.
happy watching guys
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