Ramnyli

I was totally drawn into this drama and loved it at first. Tian Xiwei is fantastic in the dual roles of Wei Rao and A Chou—she completely disappears into both characters, and after loving her in Pursuit of Jade, it was great to see her range here. The storyline is compelling, and her relationship with Lu Zhuo, played by Yan An, is genuinely fun to watch.

I absolutely loved the first half of the drama. I was so hooked that I couldn't stop watching. Watching A Chou and Lu Zhuo slowly fall for each other, and the way they always save each other, was the highlight for me. Their chemistry is what makes the show work.

But I think it started losing its momentum, and the story became repetitive. How many times can she plot and scheme before it starts to feel like the same cycle over and over? In that sense, the second half was a letdown.

The ending is open-ended, clearly leaving the door open for a potential next season. It's hard to judge it fully because it doesn't feel like a complete story. But if there is another season, I worry it would just be more of the same—her having to fight the royals who are left in the court all over again.

Final Verdict: A good watch overall, elevated by Tian Xiwei's standout dual performance and a strong first half, but ultimately let down by a repetitive second half and an inconclusive ending. Recommended if you're a fan of the leads, but go in knowing the story doesn't wrap up neatly.