This review may contain spoilers
A combination of poor writing and awful characterization | Should have been "Legend of Qishao".
"It's hard to find someone you like who likes you back. It's harder to love each other for the rest of one's life." - Noble Consort Yi (Feiye's Mother)
I am literally out of nice words for this drama. This is a clear representation of how illogical and ludicrous idol dramas were back then. It goes beyond common perception and will leave you baffled as to what just happened. For the record, I even gave it consideration... lots of it—thinking that I had to be considerate since I am watching a 2018 drama eight years later, in 2026. But heck! This show is an abomination. I couldn't even stomach watching it consecutively from episode 30 onward because the storyline increasingly became overly frustrating and unbearable to watch.
It would have been understandable if the reason for my disdain was the hateful antagonists; however, my disgust for this show is rooted in the storyline, repetitive plot, supporting characters, and the protagonists themselves. Plenty of the scenes are giving "2018–2022 idol drama" absurd tropes. I would have accepted it if they kept them to a bare minimum, but dang! They went above and beyond! Watching it today made me roll my eyes. The level and scale is just too much for me. Some examples are:
× Scene Transitions: One minute they're jumping off an enclosed pond, and the next, the setting has suddenly shifted to a massive waterfall. Where did that even come from? /Facepalms/
× Lack of Urgency: I don’t understand how they can just "chill and grill" or go stargazing when they have an enemy to catch—someone who is likely lurking nearby, waiting to kill them.
× Historical Accuracy/Etiquette: Having a concubine perform a lewd dance in front of everyone is a complete violation of palace etiquette. Not to mention, her outfit was incredibly revealing for the setting. (Episode 23)
There are a handful of these, and I am just too exhausted of this show to recall all of them.
The story started at a relatively nice pace. Though the storytelling was quite odd and the scenes were simply absurd, I kindly gave it a pass, considering that this is an idol drama and I'm watching it in 2026. However, such scenes kept on happening to the point where it started getting irritatingly unbearable. Well, it's not like it wasn't annoying at the beginning; it was at least acceptable at first, but as the story progressed, it gravely worsened. When I reached episode 30 and realized that it still had 18 episodes remaining, I started asking myself, "Why is this unnecessarily long? The story should have ended by the 30th episode to wrap up all this nonsense."
The narrative itself has potential. It has a nice foundation and could have led to a brighter and more compelling path only if they hadn't overly utilized the repetitive plot of poisoning random high-ranking individuals and saving them just to give Han Yunxi (FL) the spotlight. It was common to do that, to set up the FL as whatever legendary poison master they want her to become. However, what's annoying is the introduction and development they gave her. She was supposedly a poison master or a master-to-be, but she is simply amateurish and inexperienced for the title—and it remained that way until the very end. She's hardworking, I will give her that, but she's nothing without the people around her. Her character development felt so artificial that I started telling myself how big of a liability she is to this story. She is constantly being saved by everyone because, if not, her head would have rolled on the ground within the first 10 episodes. She was impertinent and courageous, yet incapable.
The entire story feels like a training ground that, frankly, didn't help much. In the end, she was still unable to formulate a cure for Long Feiye's poison. If it weren't for the blood inherited from her father and the medical book/bracelet belonging to her parents, she would have remained useless for 90% of the show. I'm not even sure why the drama was named after her. The only justification seems to be that her father's blood—which happened to be the cure—runs through her veins. Aside from that, I can't think of any reason the title fits. "The Story of Qishao" would have been a much more reasonable alternative title.
Regarding Long Feiye (the ML)... he is no better! He kept too many secrets and was always nonchalant about his feelings. Additionally, he maintained a cold, stoic poker face that seemed normal during the first half of the story but became exhausting to watch halfway through the show. The only moments his expression changed were when he was jealous or, on rare occasions, when he was happy. He is frustratingly reserved and rigid, which dragged out their romantic issues until the very end.
The "cheerful girl and stoic, cold guy" trope would typically work if the characters were allowed to warm up to each other naturally. But goodness—the male lead served a cold, expressionless face for 98% of the show, while the female lead remained amateurish with little improvement by the end. Not to mention her unnatural acting, which I could barely stand after enduring it for 30 episodes. Just imagine the emotional restraint and tolerance I had to exert to finish this show.
What made it even worse was the 2nd CP; who were both so immature and bickered so much that I’d get a headache the moment they appeared on screen. They started the show that way and ended it with that same demeanor—an uncalled-for consistency. I truly cannot! I’m just grateful they learned to put up a facade once he (Tang Yi) ascended the throne and they became the monarchs. If not, I would have pulled my hair out from sheer frustration.
In conclusion, a lot was happening—repetitively—and while the story wasn’t necessarily messy, it became exhausting over time. The plot felt recycled, constantly using the same tropes just to make the female lead appear capable and reliable. Surprisingly, my biggest issue wasn't the story itself, but the characterization of both the protagonists. Even the supporting roles were a pain in the ass!
The only consistent character worthy of praise was Gu Qishao. He was the MVP of the show and the lead we actually deserved. It’s a shame they decided to kill his character at the end, too. He was the male lead we never had; the story's ultimate "TOTGA" (The One That Got Away). This drama would have been miles more interesting if the focus had stayed on him. The actual protagonists were equally frustrating, and Gu Qishao alone was the reason I stuck with the show until the very end. At one point, I even hoped for a "lead reversal," wishing he would take over the story entirely. He was the only character who kept me watching and prevented me from dropping the series. That being said, it’s safe to say there was "No real winner" in this show.
If I were to create my own ending, I would have Gu Qishao and Han Yunxi end up together and let Baili Ming Xiang handle Long Feiye until he dies. lol. Halfway through the drama, you just get tired of the old, worn out plot. Well, I guess it’s my mistake for watching a 2018 drama eight years later, but dang! Some other dramas I watched that were released in the same year aren't this bad.
Let me conclude this review by saying that I dread—severely—finishing the last 18 episodes of this show. I had to make preparations per episode in order to brace myself for whatever ridiculousness they were about to serve me in the remaining episodes. It was a real challenge to finish them. This drama is way too long for its own good. 30-35 episodes would have sufficed.
P.S. I’m still wondering about the unexplained mystery of the magical bracelet. It is disappointing that the story concluded without delving into its lore, especially since it was a literal cheat code that saved Han Yunxi’s ass multiple times.
Story - 4.0, The overall storyline wasn't bad and could have worked—if only it hadn't been mismanaged and misdirected. I don't know what the director and writer were thinking when they shot those repetitive scenes. Didn't they get tired of it themselves? Smh
Acting/Cast - 4.0, I hold no personal grudge against the cast—I actually admire most of them, particularly Zhang Zhehan and Wang Youshuo. However, I am disappointed by the writing, specifically the poor characterization of the female lead and the second couple. I also believe Zhang Zhehan overplayed his character’s coldness; his unchanging poker face eventually felt grating rather than compelling.
Music - 7.0, I can't even recall how the music sounded because I was so irritated by how tiring the plot had become. Well, at least the music never bothered me, which is why I am giving it this rating.
Rewatch Value - 1.0, It's a hard NO from me. I won’t even waste more words explaining why. Just read my review above and you will see."
Overall - 5.0, This drama greatly disappointed me. I love Zhang Zhehan, so I watched it; however, it traumatized me. I don’t think I can watch his other dramas anymore. To sum it all up, this drama was killed by bad writing and poor characterization. I will never understand people rating it so high—geez, some people really have no taste! lol
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
I am literally out of nice words for this drama. This is a clear representation of how illogical and ludicrous idol dramas were back then. It goes beyond common perception and will leave you baffled as to what just happened. For the record, I even gave it consideration... lots of it—thinking that I had to be considerate since I am watching a 2018 drama eight years later, in 2026. But heck! This show is an abomination. I couldn't even stomach watching it consecutively from episode 30 onward because the storyline increasingly became overly frustrating and unbearable to watch.
It would have been understandable if the reason for my disdain was the hateful antagonists; however, my disgust for this show is rooted in the storyline, repetitive plot, supporting characters, and the protagonists themselves. Plenty of the scenes are giving "2018–2022 idol drama" absurd tropes. I would have accepted it if they kept them to a bare minimum, but dang! They went above and beyond! Watching it today made me roll my eyes. The level and scale is just too much for me. Some examples are:
× Scene Transitions: One minute they're jumping off an enclosed pond, and the next, the setting has suddenly shifted to a massive waterfall. Where did that even come from? /Facepalms/
× Lack of Urgency: I don’t understand how they can just "chill and grill" or go stargazing when they have an enemy to catch—someone who is likely lurking nearby, waiting to kill them.
× Historical Accuracy/Etiquette: Having a concubine perform a lewd dance in front of everyone is a complete violation of palace etiquette. Not to mention, her outfit was incredibly revealing for the setting. (Episode 23)
There are a handful of these, and I am just too exhausted of this show to recall all of them.
The story started at a relatively nice pace. Though the storytelling was quite odd and the scenes were simply absurd, I kindly gave it a pass, considering that this is an idol drama and I'm watching it in 2026. However, such scenes kept on happening to the point where it started getting irritatingly unbearable. Well, it's not like it wasn't annoying at the beginning; it was at least acceptable at first, but as the story progressed, it gravely worsened. When I reached episode 30 and realized that it still had 18 episodes remaining, I started asking myself, "Why is this unnecessarily long? The story should have ended by the 30th episode to wrap up all this nonsense."
The narrative itself has potential. It has a nice foundation and could have led to a brighter and more compelling path only if they hadn't overly utilized the repetitive plot of poisoning random high-ranking individuals and saving them just to give Han Yunxi (FL) the spotlight. It was common to do that, to set up the FL as whatever legendary poison master they want her to become. However, what's annoying is the introduction and development they gave her. She was supposedly a poison master or a master-to-be, but she is simply amateurish and inexperienced for the title—and it remained that way until the very end. She's hardworking, I will give her that, but she's nothing without the people around her. Her character development felt so artificial that I started telling myself how big of a liability she is to this story. She is constantly being saved by everyone because, if not, her head would have rolled on the ground within the first 10 episodes. She was impertinent and courageous, yet incapable.
The entire story feels like a training ground that, frankly, didn't help much. In the end, she was still unable to formulate a cure for Long Feiye's poison. If it weren't for the blood inherited from her father and the medical book/bracelet belonging to her parents, she would have remained useless for 90% of the show. I'm not even sure why the drama was named after her. The only justification seems to be that her father's blood—which happened to be the cure—runs through her veins. Aside from that, I can't think of any reason the title fits. "The Story of Qishao" would have been a much more reasonable alternative title.
Regarding Long Feiye (the ML)... he is no better! He kept too many secrets and was always nonchalant about his feelings. Additionally, he maintained a cold, stoic poker face that seemed normal during the first half of the story but became exhausting to watch halfway through the show. The only moments his expression changed were when he was jealous or, on rare occasions, when he was happy. He is frustratingly reserved and rigid, which dragged out their romantic issues until the very end.
The "cheerful girl and stoic, cold guy" trope would typically work if the characters were allowed to warm up to each other naturally. But goodness—the male lead served a cold, expressionless face for 98% of the show, while the female lead remained amateurish with little improvement by the end. Not to mention her unnatural acting, which I could barely stand after enduring it for 30 episodes. Just imagine the emotional restraint and tolerance I had to exert to finish this show.
What made it even worse was the 2nd CP; who were both so immature and bickered so much that I’d get a headache the moment they appeared on screen. They started the show that way and ended it with that same demeanor—an uncalled-for consistency. I truly cannot! I’m just grateful they learned to put up a facade once he (Tang Yi) ascended the throne and they became the monarchs. If not, I would have pulled my hair out from sheer frustration.
In conclusion, a lot was happening—repetitively—and while the story wasn’t necessarily messy, it became exhausting over time. The plot felt recycled, constantly using the same tropes just to make the female lead appear capable and reliable. Surprisingly, my biggest issue wasn't the story itself, but the characterization of both the protagonists. Even the supporting roles were a pain in the ass!
The only consistent character worthy of praise was Gu Qishao. He was the MVP of the show and the lead we actually deserved. It’s a shame they decided to kill his character at the end, too. He was the male lead we never had; the story's ultimate "TOTGA" (The One That Got Away). This drama would have been miles more interesting if the focus had stayed on him. The actual protagonists were equally frustrating, and Gu Qishao alone was the reason I stuck with the show until the very end. At one point, I even hoped for a "lead reversal," wishing he would take over the story entirely. He was the only character who kept me watching and prevented me from dropping the series. That being said, it’s safe to say there was "No real winner" in this show.
If I were to create my own ending, I would have Gu Qishao and Han Yunxi end up together and let Baili Ming Xiang handle Long Feiye until he dies. lol. Halfway through the drama, you just get tired of the old, worn out plot. Well, I guess it’s my mistake for watching a 2018 drama eight years later, but dang! Some other dramas I watched that were released in the same year aren't this bad.
Let me conclude this review by saying that I dread—severely—finishing the last 18 episodes of this show. I had to make preparations per episode in order to brace myself for whatever ridiculousness they were about to serve me in the remaining episodes. It was a real challenge to finish them. This drama is way too long for its own good. 30-35 episodes would have sufficed.
P.S. I’m still wondering about the unexplained mystery of the magical bracelet. It is disappointing that the story concluded without delving into its lore, especially since it was a literal cheat code that saved Han Yunxi’s ass multiple times.
Story - 4.0, The overall storyline wasn't bad and could have worked—if only it hadn't been mismanaged and misdirected. I don't know what the director and writer were thinking when they shot those repetitive scenes. Didn't they get tired of it themselves? Smh
Acting/Cast - 4.0, I hold no personal grudge against the cast—I actually admire most of them, particularly Zhang Zhehan and Wang Youshuo. However, I am disappointed by the writing, specifically the poor characterization of the female lead and the second couple. I also believe Zhang Zhehan overplayed his character’s coldness; his unchanging poker face eventually felt grating rather than compelling.
Music - 7.0, I can't even recall how the music sounded because I was so irritated by how tiring the plot had become. Well, at least the music never bothered me, which is why I am giving it this rating.
Rewatch Value - 1.0, It's a hard NO from me. I won’t even waste more words explaining why. Just read my review above and you will see."
Overall - 5.0, This drama greatly disappointed me. I love Zhang Zhehan, so I watched it; however, it traumatized me. I don’t think I can watch his other dramas anymore. To sum it all up, this drama was killed by bad writing and poor characterization. I will never understand people rating it so high—geez, some people really have no taste! lol
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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