Caitlin

I really liked that Li Peiyi is not the typical female lead who just waits for someone to protect her. She is smart, observant, stubborn, and willing to put herself in danger to find the truth. Xiao Huaijin, meanwhile, is calmer and more analytical, so the two of them balance each other really well. Their investigative partnership is honestly one of the best parts of the drama. What I enjoyed most is that every episode gives us another mystery, another clue, or another piece of information, so I rarely felt like the story had nothing going on. The cases also aren't completely separate because many of them gradually connect to the larger conspiracy surrounding Peiyi's family. As the story progresses, the mystery becomes more personal for her, which makes her determination to uncover the truth feel more meaningful. The drama also explores betrayal, revenge, corruption, family tragedy, and the position of women within the imperial court, so there is more to it than simply solving murder cases.

The relationship between Peiyi and Huaijin is another part I enjoyed, although I have to be honest: the romance is definitely secondary. Most of the time, they feel more like investigative partners and close companions than an actual romantic couple. Their feelings develop slowly through trust, teamwork, protection, and understanding. I actually liked that because their relationship doesn't suddenly become romantic for no reason. They gradually become people who can rely on each other. Their chemistry is subtle rather than overly dramatic, and I think that suits the story. However, this is also where I felt a little frustrated because I wanted more romance😭. There are so many cases, conspiracies, political problems, and family secrets that the romance sometimes feels like it is sitting in the background. So when the drama finally gave us more obvious romantic development, I was basically like, “FINALLY!” Huaijin eventually openly expresses his feelings, and their relationship moves toward marriage, which gave their slow-burn romance a satisfying payoff.

I also think the drama's biggest strength is its female lead. Peiyi isn't perfect—she can be reckless and sometimes jumps into danger too quickly—but she is determined and capable. I enjoyed watching her fight for the truth instead of simply accepting what other people told her about her family's past. Bai Lu's performance also works well for this character because Peiyi's emotions are often controlled rather than exaggerated. One review similarly praised her restrained portrayal and the character's determination.

Still, I appreciate that the drama doesn't completely abandon the mystery in favor of romance. It knows what kind of drama it wants to be. This is primarily a historical detective story with romance on the side, not a romance drama disguised as a mystery. Honestly, I was a little disappointed by how little romance there was, but I still tried my best to enjoy the drama for what it was. Once I accepted that the mystery was always going to be the main focus, I found it easier to appreciate the story for what it was trying to do.

Overall, the pacing isn't perfect, some cases are more interesting than others, and I definitely wanted more romantic moments, but the main mystery kept me curious. Every episode has something happening, and the way the individual cases gradually connect to Peiyi's family tragedy gives the whole story a bigger purpose. For me, it's a satisfying historical mystery that puts investigation first and romance second. I enjoyed Peiyi and Huaijin as a team, and although I wished the romance had more screen time, their slow-burn relationship made the eventual payoff feel deserved. The 34-episode run is quite long, but the story generally gives each episode something to work with, so I didn't feel like I was watching it for nothing.