This review may contain spoilers
A Beautiful Pairing in a Flawed but Interesting Series
I was genuinely excited to watch this series because of this particular pairing. I’m not usually a big fan of transmigration plots, but the strong chemistry between the leads and the powerhouse cast convinced me to give it a try.
Overall, the story has a unique concept and could have been incredibly engaging — but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The editing felt uneven, and the pacing of how the story unfolded made it hard to stay fully invested. I struggled through several parts and often felt tempted to skip scenes. The prologue of Zang Shan, which I know is meant to be important, was difficult to follow and connect with since it appeared only in scattered episodes. There were also many conflicts, villains, and side characters introduced throughout the story, to the point that I forgot some of them by the time the ending came.
There were moments when I found myself browsing on my phone while watching, which to me is a sign that some scenes could definitely have been trimmed or tightened.
But despite its weaknesses, the casting is truly the saving grace of this series. Every actor — even the supporting ones — delivered credible and compelling performances.
* The actor who played Prince Duan was outstanding: charming on the surface yet convincingly villainous.
* The actress for Xie Yong Er also did a wonderful job.
* And both actors who portrayed the male and female versions of Bei Shu were an absolute delight to watch.
The Main Leads
The biggest joy of this drama is undeniably the main couple. Their chemistry feels natural, warm, and deeply comfortable — like they fully understand their characters and each other. Some of the early comedic scenes felt a bit awkward, but as many great actors say, comedy is one of the hardest genres to master, so that’s understandable.
I’ve always been a fan of Wang Chu Ran — beyond her stunning beauty, she consistently chooses roles that showcase her strengths. I genuinely don’t understand why she receives so much hate simply for being beautiful; if anything, she continues to prove her talent and versatility with every role.
Cheng Lei, however, was the biggest surprise for me. I had only seen him before in The Legend of Female General, where he didn’t stand out as much. But in this series, he delivered a real breakthrough performance. His role required him to portray a wide range of personas — cheeky, flirty, authoritative, vulnerable, furious — and he transitioned between them effortlessly.
One moment he’s a playful, lovestruck CEO Dan; the next, he becomes a terrifying emperor capable of commanding fear. His emotional control in the scene where Wan Yin goes missing — shifting from a desperate man begging Mr. Bei to save the woman he loves, to an intimidating ruler — was particularly memorable.
And his chemistry with Wang Chu Ran? Off the charts.
WCR has played flirty, vixen-type roles before, but here she truly embodied the character of You Wan Yin — both demonic and angelic, regal yet deeply human. Together, they felt like a genuine married couple, not just romantic leads.
Final Thoughts
Despite the messy execution of the plot, the performances of Cheng Lei and Wang Chu Ran — alongside the strong supporting cast — made the series worth watching. I would love to see these two reunited in another project, preferably one with stronger writing and direction that can fully showcase their incredible acting range.
Overall, the story has a unique concept and could have been incredibly engaging — but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The editing felt uneven, and the pacing of how the story unfolded made it hard to stay fully invested. I struggled through several parts and often felt tempted to skip scenes. The prologue of Zang Shan, which I know is meant to be important, was difficult to follow and connect with since it appeared only in scattered episodes. There were also many conflicts, villains, and side characters introduced throughout the story, to the point that I forgot some of them by the time the ending came.
There were moments when I found myself browsing on my phone while watching, which to me is a sign that some scenes could definitely have been trimmed or tightened.
But despite its weaknesses, the casting is truly the saving grace of this series. Every actor — even the supporting ones — delivered credible and compelling performances.
* The actor who played Prince Duan was outstanding: charming on the surface yet convincingly villainous.
* The actress for Xie Yong Er also did a wonderful job.
* And both actors who portrayed the male and female versions of Bei Shu were an absolute delight to watch.
The Main Leads
The biggest joy of this drama is undeniably the main couple. Their chemistry feels natural, warm, and deeply comfortable — like they fully understand their characters and each other. Some of the early comedic scenes felt a bit awkward, but as many great actors say, comedy is one of the hardest genres to master, so that’s understandable.
I’ve always been a fan of Wang Chu Ran — beyond her stunning beauty, she consistently chooses roles that showcase her strengths. I genuinely don’t understand why she receives so much hate simply for being beautiful; if anything, she continues to prove her talent and versatility with every role.
Cheng Lei, however, was the biggest surprise for me. I had only seen him before in The Legend of Female General, where he didn’t stand out as much. But in this series, he delivered a real breakthrough performance. His role required him to portray a wide range of personas — cheeky, flirty, authoritative, vulnerable, furious — and he transitioned between them effortlessly.
One moment he’s a playful, lovestruck CEO Dan; the next, he becomes a terrifying emperor capable of commanding fear. His emotional control in the scene where Wan Yin goes missing — shifting from a desperate man begging Mr. Bei to save the woman he loves, to an intimidating ruler — was particularly memorable.
And his chemistry with Wang Chu Ran? Off the charts.
WCR has played flirty, vixen-type roles before, but here she truly embodied the character of You Wan Yin — both demonic and angelic, regal yet deeply human. Together, they felt like a genuine married couple, not just romantic leads.
Final Thoughts
Despite the messy execution of the plot, the performances of Cheng Lei and Wang Chu Ran — alongside the strong supporting cast — made the series worth watching. I would love to see these two reunited in another project, preferably one with stronger writing and direction that can fully showcase their incredible acting range.
Was this review helpful to you?
