CKDramaddicts

☺️ I did go back and make an edit in mine after reading yours, lol ... the part where I gushed about how great the relationship dynamics were including parent and child... I'm like, okay maybe just the moms and not the dads!!

Always look forward to your reviews and fresh perspective, and this one is another great read, even with our differences in opinion. ☺️ King Liang's siege was definitely one of the big highlights for me as well, and completely agree, the acting really makes everything work!

No break-ups -- the main couple has a super healthy and supportive relationship -- but they through a lot together, some of which is quite sad and painful, because they love each other so much. But it's a happy ending for them. Some of the supporting characters you'll like are not as lucky though.

Whew, review is up (I don't think I've ever written one this long! 😅). I wasn't sure going into this drama, but it turned into one of my absolute all-time favourites. Thanks to everyone in the comments who made this a fun, comfortable, and sane place to express my constant delight -- I really enjoyed chatting with everyone and reading all your comments!

They do show what happened, but only much later, so you didn't miss it! Hope you enjoy the rest, it's a wonderful drama.

Yes, I can definitely appreciate all that and wanting to be able to grow and advance your career. Hopefully he will get more/better lead roles too.

Haters are so ridiculous -- wasting so much negative energy and time.

yes, I assumed the Eunuch probably knew, but they got to him first.

While I'd love to see him take on more ML roles, I actually hope he keeps taking on these supporting roles as well because I think sometimes they are more interesting and challenging. I actually think it's a shame when an actor "graduates" completely into leading status and never goes back, because sometimes the meatiest and most interesting roles and characters aren't always the main hero.

I actually thought the way they did it was very emotional. LZS clearly did not want her to know who he was while he was alive if she wasn't on his side. I think that was important to him. I'm probably reading too much into his character, but I feel like he was extremely protective of that memory, and revealing himself to her if she didn't accept him as he was now would've have tarnished that.

I absolutely loved New Life Begins too. The first part has a bit of the same vibe, but overall very different. A lot more political intrigue and fighting, but also, the romance is much stronger, more swoony, and dramatic here, imho.

Exactly, same for me!!

I did not think he was telling Xifeng where it was. I think he knew he was dying and worried his will would not be followed if nobody could find it/or conversely, if it fell into the wrong hands. Xifeng, who is really sharp just happened to pick up on it and decided to investigate. That was my interpretation, anyway.

Am I the only one who bawled through the first half of the final episode?? I cried for so many people, but really did not expect to shed any tears, let alone this many for LZS too. This was so well done and such a satisfying ending! Not rushed, no loose ends that I can think of.

There's some tragedies, but overall, a happy, satisfying, unrushed ending!

😆

Yes, I figured that was the reason, but thought it was still nice to weave that detail in -- it's easy to keep a character like that one-dimentional, but I thought it was a humanizing touch that makes him less like a typical background character and another element that added more depth to that world in general, every character has it's origin and reason for being.

The Eastern Capital arc has been really good too. If anything, in some ways, the plot has moved a little faster than the previous arcs because they're running out of episodes to tell a lot of story and wrap things up, lol...so this could be good/bad depending on your perspective. I still love it, personally, flaws and all.

Today's developments were devastating! LZS is truly next level in his villainy and LXY is chilling and confident pulling off the character. I do hope they give a satisfying closure to his story and ending. (Also, I kept wondering why Mengzi was so blindingly loyal to LZS, and amazingly got that little scene with Ye Shi'an that sheds light on that.)

This cracked me up. It may be lazy writing, but I also blame the 40 episode limit. They've done a pretty amazing job fitting so much in as it is. It really could use an extra couple of expisodes though, as things are definitely starting to feel a bit rushed. 😥

lol, I wondered the same! I just told myself he snuck in or bribed his way in, or was allowed to come back with The Brat, but was all behind the scenes. It's LZS, afterall. 😆Details, pfth! 😜