cfy

The script is good though some of the preoccupations seem overdone. Yes, salt was important in its days but some of the details seem rather incredulous. Salt as snow ......then salt into brine ...salt from the cliffs to salt in the capital....yet there is not much details into the actual salt operations.

There is much emphasis on propriety where even a glimpse of undergarments (not worn) can give rise to a scandal. However the ML and FL chooses to remain unmarried for 5 years and yet spend much time in close proximity.

The FL is a statement in grace. There is no need for grand standing. Her glances are enough to shoot arrows into hearts. Minimal motions required. just a roll of her eyes does more than the usual fluttering antics of lesser beings. Ancy Deng truly impresses with her exquisite grace and elegance. In anger or in tears, her expressions are measured yet conveys the full measure of her emotions. She is the best reason to watch this drama.

The ML struts and poses. He likes to fold his arms akimbo and kicks his friends yet his friends love him. Initially, as a salt smuggler, he was a trifle irritating. When he morphed into the soldier attempting to earn credits, he had more lipstick than the FL. He only came into his own in the later stages as a favoured imperial official when he sprouted a goatee but still lacks the dignity of high office and age. Maybe because his clothes were oversized.

Wen ZR as Mdm Yu brings her repertoire as the consummate mother another level up from "Love's Ambition", where she was brilliant as the domineering mother. Every mannerism and every nuance in her speech carries forth another twist.

Cinematography is excellent esp the autumn scenery in Ganlin. Amazing colors and details of the leaves much appreciated. The desert scenes were magnificent. The Capital shots were a little weird. There are people when there are crowds. At times, its just the protagonists by themselves. I can't believe an execution can be carried in private by one person. And often the streets can be totally empty. Whoever did costumes had strange taste. I wonder what were the soldiers' head gear made of and where the inspiration came from? And it certainly is a little strange when the soldiers' had more make up than the maids. The ML certainly had more heavily slathered on lipstick as a soldier than the FL in Ganlin.

There is too much convenience in the story. I can't believe anyone can kidnap a "Second Ranked" lady and then allow her maid free to inform everyone of this most heinous crime. Is it that easy to just grab anyone to be a concubine, especially if the victim is one of the most prominent lady of the Capital? Towards the end, it seems like the story ran out of twists and there is literally more than half an episode dedicated to many little happy endings.