WM

Appreciate such a detailed reply, even if it differs a bit from previous comments I've read on this topic.
Either way, it does sound like something I probably won't enjoy much.
I just wish authors wouldn't give false hope about FL-centric novels with female lead-centric titles.

I didn't, so thanks for the warning.
And now I saw a picture with ML wearing some god-awful mask; it's like a double punch to my gut :(

On a more serious note - in case of "Malicious Empress", I'm more interested in when he will start helping her, as I've been told the female lead was perfectly good on her own for quite some time, and the ML arrived quite late in the story.

Blossom is much, much better, but also much more serious and heavier in tone.

My personal list would be:
Blossom>POJ>POB>Romance of the Female Soldier (this should be a real title)

Interesting conundrum - when I'm watching Big Dramas, I am often tired of the 2nd and 3rd couples boring the hell out of me, even if I understand why they are there.

Here, it was an opposite problem - everything was happening in such a breakneck fashion that after some episodes I was getting tired. Especially when it got combined with the FL getting a bit weaker and more useless after her big move in Episode 20.

Still, it's an above-average Drama for sure; probably would rate it higher if I hadn't watched a million Harem/Palace dramas before and got tired of some tropes. But, the writers here were able to surprise me a few times as well.

The actress playing the female lead definitely deserves a step up; I also liked the emperor, even though their Romance was rather weak (but at least I didn't want to kill him every few minutes).

Good use of flashbacks and sharing internal thoughts.

1) Rather slow-burn, doing it differently from the level of their distrust, would be plain stupid. But, it's not like it leads to some explosive moments...
2) A little bit; ML's brother has his obsessive moments over FL, but this aspect was done poorly.

Thank you.

"Kill my Sins" has been on my radar for quite some time; not only because of the storyline and Liu Shi Shi playing the female lead, but also because I like Shawn Dou, so unlike with many MLs, maybe I won't be wishing him to die every 5 minutes :).

Okay, done.

You should check your own temperature, probably summer heat is affecting you too much.

Very nicely put.

So, if I enjoy FL-centric dramas with capable female leads, what is a better choice - this one or Glory with Gulnezer Bextiyar?

So, if I enjoy FL-centric dramas with capable female leads, what is a better choice - this one or The Glory with Chen Du Ling?

I've had a post about it somewhere; it's like a 90+ rating in the NBA 2k video game - should be used only for GOAT-level players, but in 2026, it feels like half of the league has it :)

Heh, it's exactly what is discuraging to me, lol :).

I could probably live with your issues, but I still don't know how did they make parrot cooperating with them so well, as he (it?) faked his/its own death so convicingly ;).

1) She quickly gets suspicious that something is not right around her, with ML trying to cover the leaks desperately, but officially it takes her 17 episodes to realize fully realise who he is (and resume her memories, which happened at the same time; it would be much better if there were some distance between both things happening)
2) They have a big confrontation and break up around episodes 22-23, but then they get married around 29-30 (it looked rushed).
3) During the break-up he is clearly in love and pursuing her, while she plays the angst card, unfortunately not very convincing.

"becomes useless after falling in love," - you just described average female lead in the drama world :).

They typically have even worse, as they get dumber/weaker/clueless just because ML is around, even if its ML who is pursuing her.

I think "Legend of Blossom" and "Blossom Legend" are still free to use, no matter if it makes sense, or not ;).

I just watched a few trailers/intros and they all seem sugessting a very heavy dosage of romance, which would be extremely disappoining.

I can only hope that it will be a reverse "Romance of the female soldier" situation, where the trailer promised a heavy, revenge and war drama, but in reality we got a teenage romcom with leads masquarading as military.

"Yeah, 10 hours cut, 13 episodes worth of scenes, 25% of total. It's a miracle the show is still an incredible experience. Imagine if it had not happened. Imagine how many scenes and moments with Xingzhou and Miantang are missing! The more I watch it, I begin to get some ideas about what some of what's missing is about."

"The show originally had 53 episodes split over 2 seasons. Then, a new government regulation limits shows to 40 episodes. Each episode is around 45 minutes long.(45x13)/60. Puff! 25% gone. We don’t know all of the cuts, but they include several rebellion and political pieces, Xingzhou's sister's divorce and remarriage to his Magistrate friend. Also,there is an major pirate war part in the original web novel involving Xingzhou’s and Miantang’s forces defeating them together."

Also, here is one of the many Chinese links mentioning it - https://star.ettoday.net/news/2813113

Well, I've read different (Reddit only, though, but author seems convincing):