YCC

If you like the era because of the beautiful costumes but dislike the political part, you can try "Miss S" (Gao Wei Guang & Ma Yi Li). It is a female detective series, and she was so sexy in her cheongsam, and he was so handsome in his suits. The flirting was so over the top.

Another Republican era drama that I like is "Winter Begonia" which focused on Chinese Opera

I copy this from one of the comments below:

Cocoberry
1st clue - she cried at the graveyard of Shen, recognize the maids, forgotten birthday so many hints there,
2nd her mother giving birth not the same story told,
3rd, her hand writings and drawing, knowledge even in music and politics,
4th to confirm is the drawing of Shen collection recognize by father xu. If she is not Shen Jialan then who is she?

I think this drama prefers us to connect the dots ourselves by observing and listening. It may be a bit difficult to rely on the subtitles without understanding the spoken words.

It will be clearer in ep.42 when he thanked XLX for asking him to resign

From the physician description in ep 42, it sounds like melanoma (very malignant skin cancer)

It was that painting. It used to belong to Grandfather Sen. XLX recognize it, and suggested to her father to show it to Grandfather Lin.

Try "Pull String" (Ao Rui Peng), it was really crazy, especially the beginning and middle part. The ending was a bit too serious.

I think it was the painting (ep. 42) from the conversation with his grandfather. The painting used to belong to Grandfather Shen. It was XLX who recognize the painting, and asked her father to show it to Grandfather Lin.

I think episode 42 kind of answer this. Love is not in the mouth, but in the heart. It is when they understand each other, care for each other, fight for each other.

This is an interesting view, and I think you have a point here. In one of the interviews, Tan SY mentioned that during filming, she didn't feel like the FL because everyone is important, every character has their own story, even if they were just a maid. It's very different with other dramas where the camera always focused on the FL & ML.

Everyone (except LJQ) was very uncomfortable & unhappy with what he did (i.e. getting the Emperor's decree to marry an ex-slave). His mother actually said he deserved that slap. If XLX was of higher status (like Zhao Xin Tang), she could slap him and no one will utter a word. We knew that XLX was actually a noble-born lady, and she told LJQ off with "If I were from a noble family, e.g. the Grand Secretary's family, would you marry me without asking for my parents' permission?

Not necessarily. In fact, they can be of almost the same age, since they were born from different mothers. XiuWan can be born just a few seconds before XiuRu, and she will the 2nd sister.

LJL (2nd Young Master) understand that LJQ can protect his son, but only XLX can protect his wife. He was wise to understand this.

I love his acting in Kill Me Love me, too. Especially the beginning part.

I think a lot of these dramas are geared toward female audience, and sponsored by female-centric products (skin care, etc) or written by female writers :)

To each, their own priorities. For Grandfather Lin, family survival is most important. For Grandfather Shen, honor is most important.

Before the wedding, he probably didn't have the chance, because he was flogged and had to recuperate at home. On the wedding night, he did try. But what he didn't understand was why LanXiang was so upset, how would he know that LanXiang was Shen JiaLan?

It's basically about a group of women going "Against the Current", break out from the patriarchy of that ancient time.

I have a feeling the other way round. Ji'er may turn out to be helpful later. When little Shen JiaLan gave her spare cloths to the sickly Xu LanXiang (original), she never thought Xu LanXiang & her parents will repay her kindness in such an unexpected way.

Grandfather Shen & Grandfather Lin submitted petition to the previous emperor to be cautious with the fief Princes. True enough, one of the fief Princes rebelled and became the new emperor. The new emperor found out about that petition. Both families were supposed to be eliminated. But Grandfather Lin quickly submits his resignation and arranged for a marriage alliance with the Zhao. Within that short time frame, everyone will try to save themselves first. If Grandfather Shen was any wiser, he would do the same thing, but he chose Integrity over Survival. Grandfather Lin chooses Survival for his family.