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Women's Empowerment? Yes. Romance? No.

The biggest problem with this drama is the main character, Xu Lanxiang. She is a "Mary Sue" for lack of a better term with skewed motivations and confusing actions. She seems unaffected by her biological family's deaths unless or until the plot requires it. It gets to the point where her identity as Shen Jialan is only relevant to explain why she's so good at everything. Towards the middle, she exchanges all of her charisma for stoicism that's simply not enjoyable to watch. And throughout the entire second half, her feelings towards Lin Jinqi are inconsistent. She goes from the silent treatment, to risking her life to save his, to confessing they're not compatible, to consummating their marriage. Even after they have children, she goes from doting wife to literally saying "one lifetime" with him is enough. It's just confusing and quite frankly exhausting; and can we please get my man Liu Xueyi in a historical drama that doesn't turn his character into a complete simp? The female friendships are wonderfully written, but the romances really are not. It's possible for a woman to be inspiring while also being in love 😭

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