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DREAM, REALITY, REDEMPTION

The story is well filmed and directed. The only problem is that the dream takes too long ... more should be devoted to the ending, which is rushed. More should be shown between the dream and the real world. What the ML said and how the FL responds in the the dream world.

Well, there's enough evidence that it can be a HE ... the script writer has put everything there that shows that they can be together if she accepts and loves him. This is a BIG IF though ... but in the dream she loves him so maybe it will carry through. In her dream she already worked out that she shouldn't hang on to the first love, ZYL, and the imaginary defender, HRZ.

She already knows that she shouldn't hang to HRZ as a self-protector because she knows she is strong enough with ZXW's love.

She went to the coma with the assumption that NO ONE cares and loves her. She wakes up because ZXW shared that he has always loved her for the goodness in her. He gave her motivation that she can do good like sharing the incense with everyone.

So it's a good ending because there's no need to explicitly say everything. BUT it's rushed!
I gave this drama an 8 because I feel the ending is rushed. There are 2 ways to deal with this: either show more interaction between the dream and real life (ie. he talks to her IRL) ... show those interactions or develop the ending more. The ending is rushed so we are left with a few cartoonish abrupt transitions. I think they should show how the ML talks to her during her dream and how she reacts (this is only done at the end).

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Strong Story and actors

Without a doubt, this storyline is very strong. It doesn't need a lot bells and whistles because it offers a formula that works for most people:
1) Strong Conflict: revenge, marriage of convenience, war between states, jealousy
2) Strong leads: ML and FL have chemistry. Basically, Liu Yu Ning acted almost the same as he did in The Long Ballad with ZLS. He didn't need to improve because it's the formula for success for most MLs in romantic drama: cold, aloof, some comic lines, and romantic looks. Song Zu Er didn't need that many different expressions for her role either. She is a perfect actress for this type of roles: beautiful and coordinating with the scenery and old feminine outfits. Although they weren't require to stretch their acting abilities, whatever acting skills require for their roles, they were convincing.
3) Female empowerment: a strong FL who is not only beautiful, accomplished, intelligent, logical, loyal, etc... I mean who doesn't love such a woman?
4) Kissing - this drama should rate very high-
5) plot line - there was not too many things that were unexpected. Bad people always get what they deserve.

People who might not like this story:
Unrealistic plot, female empowerment to the point of making the ML appear weak as she resolved a lot of problems for him, family fighting (the cousin is a little annoying)
There is no really standout things for most people to hate.

I gave it a 10. My criteria is low: It's entertaining better than all the drama currently showing. I am not looking for heavy themes. I want the good to win, some humor, and romance. This drama delivers everything so it's a 10. It's not an oscar performance but I am not looking for one!

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It gets better after 18

I see many people bashing the FL ... I think it's understandable because the main conflict of the story is the FL's difficult personality. She has anxiety and self-esteem issues due to her family relationship with the grandfather/aunt. You can see clearly even at a young age, she couldn't explain well or even given the chance to do so (ie gift to her grandfather). Her personality was partially shaped by her family experience.
She grows as the story develops. I think after 19, the story becomes more interesting as she started to change based on her experiences. The ML didn't give up on her because essentially, she's a good person ( although not an ideal GF at first): she doesn't do illegal things, she makes sacrifices for people, and you know you can count on her help.
In real life, I have seen women like this FL ... very demanding and difficult but the partners still put up with them because they see qualities that I obviously missed.
But she does have issues with treating people with empathy. Again she will grow ... if she's perfect, we will have nothing to talk about.
For me, this story is watchable (although with some plots and character development issues). It is watchable because the ML CXX is a good actor. I remember that I thought in one really cringy scene that wow, if the acting isn't natural and good, it would have been very difficult to continue. He delivers the scenes charmingly but very watchable.
The weakness of this story is that the writers make some unconvincing storyline but it's saved by good acting. So I would say, it's a watchable drama. However, if you cannot stand unreasonable, unempathetic female leads, then I would say drop the story.

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Can't Wait for the Breakup!

For those who expect a perfect romance: the first 15 episodes may appear to be contradictory and a revenge plot. It initially appeared artificial and contrived. It's more like a fashion show and glimpses of some good acting.

Eps 7 seems to be the turning point for me. The story gets more interesting as details of her and his characters are revealed instead of clips of memories like previous. They help each other in the background. In a way, they are similar, growing up isolated. Most importantly, they both have an agenda.

I like William Chan in this role. He nails the facade well. Great acting from both him and ZLS.

After their divorce, I think we are in for the best drama and comedy. ZLS delivers the perfect timing for comedic element in most of her drama so I don't this will be any different.

With Chinese drama, I think you have to take it with a broad perspective. There's always going to be fillers and plot holes. There's always going to be a communist theme about loving the country, China's the best, and cultural value.

Even with such a good book like As Beautiful As You, they can still mess it up because they were greedy to maximize the profit by adding fillers.

Yes, this drama has a lot of fillers but overall, I think it's acceptable because it was funny. And I think even without Lusi, I will watch it if the actress and actor have chemistry and as funny as these two leads. A lot of Chinese modern dramas are not watchable for me. At least this one has good lead actors. And the director is decent.

For me, the best drama is Love Like the Galaxy. The book was good. The director was perfect. And ZLS best fits the role of female lead.

This drama is fun to watch. If it was a Kdrama, it would have finished in 15 episodes. .

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Big budget/acting can't save a Mediocre Story

Final verdict on this drama: mediocre plot that tries to weave revenge, love, and female empowerment into a realistic drama. It fails because of its artificiality. NOT feeling the chemistry between the leads in this story because the romance was not the highlight. His cruel treatment of her in the beginning and the drastic transition to romance were abrupt. And then suddenly, the romance artificially fizzles, again abruptly, to accommodate the female empowerment narrative.

This is the case when big budget, big acting still can't save a mediocre artificial story.

ZLS's face looks different in this drama. It is distracting sometimes. I am her fan and hope that she doesn't change her beautiful natural face any more, whether it's cosmetic procedures/makeup/losing weight. This is a problem with our culture: we equate beauty to artificial perfection. ZLS looked perfect for every role before this new improved looks. She doesn't need to look "beautiful" because her acting shines.

This is my own personal opinion. I am not an anti-fan.

I am a ZLS's fan as far as acting. The acting is amazing, and she has grown a lot since her last drama. However, the script is not as entertaining.
I think the script needs to be less complicated, more leads time together, more interesting content, more humor, etc.


Production: 10 Amazing special effects, very high end visuals
Acting: 10
Script: 7 borderline boring up to 6
Director: 6 (Just look at how LLTG is directed. That drama is 10+)
Emotional investment in the character: 2 (this is a script/directing problem)
Chemistry: I am a fan of this couple from the Long Ballad. The chemistry there is amazing. Some how I don't feel it here yet. It's the director and script I think.


THE PLOT
Conflict - pearl trading with a revenge/ hidden identities twist, and government investigation. Amidst all this, a young girl develops her character, discovers her true identity, and becomes a jewelry business woman. It's a story about female empowerment, so-so love story, revenge, etc.

eps 1-6 : sets up the backdrop - I think this could be done in 1-2 episodes. But they dragged on. While ZLS acts well and looks amazing as a pearl diver, I think if the script is not entertaining/funny, it's going to be a drag.
If you watch, LLTG, the director is good there and the rating shows it: It's boring family fighting, but he made it fun and entertaining to watch. It's a piece of art.
In contrast, The Pearl Girl, amazing production and special effects, is not skillful in presenting the material in an entertaining and artful way. It's more like Hollywood Little Mermaid with too much other things and graphical violence going on --- Like Korean drama!

eps 7-8: It's beginning to get interesting because she is finally involved in something more meaningful: negotiating trades and dealing with business. She also made a femal friend to help her out instead of struggling by herself. You can see where the plot is heading: Zhang Jin Ran told the girls that in Chang-an, there are shops run by females.

eps 9-10: predictable the way it's filmed. He tricked everyone to believe that he killed the accountant. I still don't feel good about the script. Very mediocre. I don't think it will do well beyond the 8.2-4 range. There are a few story holes - like why she is so strong and can take on the bad guys in fighting. I think the director of this drama is not a good one.

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Story too unrealistic

This was a very disappointing drama. It started out fun, but it went down to being unwatchable. I do like 7Tan, but this drama story is too unrealistic. For example, during the financing of the home products company, the storyline doesn't make sense. Why would she go out of her way to help so much ... almost got injured.

The chemistry started out fine but around 20+, it started to derail when they started to act like "friends". After that, there was no longer a tension.

I skipped after 27 because it was too boring to watch.
I hope she will be in a better drama next time.

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Low-budget production with sensational writing

This story has a lot of potential. It's just not perfectly executed. I think the production should be 40 eps to properly build up the story. The way it is, things seem to be abrupt, just like a comic movie.
Some people call it low budget - I have to agree. That's how it feels for me. I wish they can remake it with more budget. Sometimes I feel like I was watching one of those mini-series- lots of sensational details and abrupt scene changes.
It has all the making of the vengeful mini-series but not so extreme:
1) Abusive relationships
2) Marriage for revenge
3) Sensational thriller cliffhanger at the end of each episode to hook the audience
4) Abrupt transitions and plot holes


After eps 23, this is the first drama that I don't like the FL. That selfish ruthlessness and self-confidence. Hopefully, she will have a redemption arc. It's one thing for female to be in control but another to be selfish and not considering her partner's feelings. Female empowerment doesn't mean women losing empathy and take control of others' lives without permission.

Wow, that little girl, Fu Ling Zhi, acts better than most adults. Her eyes are so expressive.

I am all for it being a feminist drama. But I feel the writer makes the FL appear be irrational, violent, and reckless to dramatize the events. That's not a feminist view. We can be logical, patient, take the high road, and empathetic. It's frustrating to see the ML (portraying that traditional ML roles) being her teacher, telling her to be patient and logical.

It's entertaining but I am going to lower my score because I feel that overall, when compare to other dramas like The Double, Love Like the Galaxy, etc ... it should only be a 7,5 value.

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Losing interest

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of the FL actress: Park Eun Bin
I have watched almost all her drama!

From the title, I thought it would be about singing .... not family violence and abusive relationships ... the abusive dad story breaks the mood. I don't like to watch abusive stories so this is not my type of drama.

The story is not focused. To many stories and not enough about the Diva. I find it very difficult to connect with the main leads and their love story as adults because they don't spend enough together as a couple.

I can't connect with her as a singer either because the singing story is not continuous and distracted by other stories about family.

There only 12 eps. I feel it's too short to be focusing on crimes, family abusive relationships, etc ... more should be focused on her story ... I think there would be lots of good and funny moments about her adapting to a new modern life. But no: the writer chose an easier route through abusive story! I guess it's easier to write that story because funny stories are more difficult.

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A Masterful Blend of Mystery, Romance, Humor, and Storytelling

This drama has everything going for it: chemistry, storytelling, humor, and mystery. Let’s begin with the mystery, as the other elements are more self-evident. The plot is rooted deeply in the past, with secrets hidden from both the audience and the characters themselves.

Character Backgrounds
The Male Lead (ML): Xie Zheng
Names: Xie Zheng (Formal), Marquis Wu’an (Title), Yan Zheng (Alias used while in hiding), “Xie Jiu Heng” (Name given by his teacher).
Family: His father, Xie Linshan, married the sister of Prime Minister Wei Yan.
The Mystery: After his father’s death, Xie Zheng was raised by his maternal uncle, Wei Yan. Curiously, Wei Yan treats Xie Zheng better than his own son, even convincing the renowned Grand Tutor Tao to take him on as a student.

The Female Lead (FL): Fan Changyu
Family: Her father is Wei Qilin (formerly a servant of Wei Yan). He married General Meng Shuyuan’s daughter and took the surname Meng. Later, while in hiding, he changed his name to Fan Erniu.


Other Characters:
Meng Family
FL's grandfather and Mother
Zhu Youchang (General Zhu - served under Meng Shuyuan) was imprisoned by Wei Yan for seventeen years
According to him: Wei Yan sent FL's father Wei Qilin with a Tiger Tally and a letter telling the Meng General to abandon the transfer of grains to ML's father. They should rescue the 16th prince instead.
Tiger Tally of Xunchang to no avail, it turns out Zhu Youchang had sewn it into his severed leg - when QM's shadow men came, he gave it to them hoping to clear the Meng General's name.

Wei Family
Wei Yan - Prime Minister supposedly conspired to kill the ML's father.


Qi Min/Sui Yuanhuai : The imperial grandson. As a child, he stood in for the eldest son of Prince Changxin; during this time, half of his face was severely burned, leaving him with chronic illnesses.
This chapter discusses QM's history and how he became Sui Yuanqing's brother:
https://www.readthedrama.com/novels/chasing-jade-zhu-yu/chapters/66

Why he dislike his son - Yu Bao'er? because YB can take his throne before he can succeed in overthrowing the current king.

Sui Yuanqing: The second son of Prince Changxin and the heir apparent. If Prince Changxin takes the throne, Sui Yuanqing will inherit it. Qi Min intends to use Xie Zheng to eliminate Sui Yuanqing.
The Li Family Alliance: When Prince Changxin’s path to the throne falters, Qi Min begins collaborating with the Li family to secure his own chance at power.

The Li Family:
Second Male Lead (SML): Li Huaian / Wen Kan.
Grandfather: Grand Tutor Li, a powerful court official. He married his daughter to the Emperor, but she remains a childless Empress because the Emperor seeks to balance power between the Li and Wei families. He sends his grandson, Li Huaian, to investigate the events of 17 years ago.

The Events of 17 Years Ago
Meng Shuyuan, a loyal general under Xie Linshan, disregarded military orders to rescue 100,000 besieged civilians while transporting provisions. This delay led to the deaths of the Chengde Crown Prince and Xie Linshan at Jinzhou. Meng supposedly committed suicide to atone.
Wei Yan order Wei Qilin to kill his wife. WQ refused and took his wife into hiding - changing his name to Fan.

That same year, the Eastern Palace caught fire, reportedly killing both the Crown Princess and the imperial grandson. These two events—the defeat at Jinzhou and the palace fire—occurred in quick succession. Anyone with eyes can see they are undoubtedly connected.
The Answer: The Crown Princess set the fire herself to secure a slim chance of survival for the imperial grandson.

THE Mysteries:
1) Why did Meng Shuyuan, who was not known for being reckless or disloyal, disobey a direct order?
2) If Wei Yan was the culprit orchestrating the conspiracy to kill Xie Linshan, why did he allow Meng Shuyuan’s descendants to live?
3) Did Wei Qilin pressure General Meng to delay the shipment?
4) What does the Li family have to do with all of these events?
5) Who wanted to harm the Eastern Palace?
6) What is in the box given to He Jingyuan to give to Wei Yan when Fan Changyu's parents commit suicide?

7) Did Wei Qilin mastered the events that killed Zie Chang's father? This is the question that Changyu needs to answer because if he did, Zie Chang can't be with her!
-- I think this is a predictable scenario and might make the drama feel like it's the same old type of story- star crossed lovers again.


ANSWERS (spoilers ALERT)
1) "Back then, it wasn’t the old general who disregarded military orders and delayed the grain transport. It was the Sixteenth Prince, who was accompanying the army, obsessed with glory. Seeing only a few thousand Northern Turks guarding Luocheng and tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside, he ignored the old general’s orders and insisted on leading a rescue. In the end, the Sixteenth Prince was captured alive. The Northern Turks demanded the old general exchange the army’s grain supplies for the prince’s life—or else they would use the prince’s blood to consecrate their banners!"

2) Together ML figured out that delaying Old General Meng's grain shipment—the true aim of the mastermind was to ensure Jinzhou's fall. Or rather, to ensure the death of the Chengde Crown Prince and 16th prince die so that another prince (19th) could take the throne. They attributed this to Wei Yan.
MYSTERY: However, I think it's not WY because FL's father Wei Qilin is not guilty as she claimed because then her mom would not have lived with him. WQ's letter sent to WY must be this letter!

3) Why does WY raised the ML?
When ML's mother discovered the plot, she committed suicide and made WY promise to raise ML. This way, WY won't kill him because he's under his watchful eye.
He hated his mother for killing herself but when discovered that she died for him, he was remorseful.

My Rating
Storytelling: I think it offers a fresh take. While there have been stories about butcher female leads before, the combination of the characters, the director’s filming, and the actors contributes to the show's popularity. It’s time to take a woman who is a butcher seriously. Her skills are not just there for show; they actually save lives. She is the true lead because the story focuses mainly on her journey to become an equal to the ML.
Humor: I like how the humor comes from irony as well as physical gags. The actors deliver these comedic moments with a nonchalant touch and solid acting skills.
Direction: Sometimes we give all the credit to the actors. However, in this case, the director also contributed significantly to the success of the drama.

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An entertaining drama with good visuals and acting

You can say whatever you want, criticize the story, age difference, loopholes, etc
But you can't deny that this drama appeals to the general public and garners high reviews because it's an entertaining story: NO it isn't realistic, it's a typical drama, and has a Netflix stamp on it, etc ...

BUT the characters are likable, with redeeming quality. The violence is not excessive.
The acting and chemistry were good. Yes, there were some cringy moments.

Ep 12 was unnecessary/nonsensical drama. But hey, let them add some fillers as the actor/actress really deserve some more screen time together! :-) I'll watch 13 for their kids' story too!

I didn't feel as if it was wasting my time. I felt entertained.
I am still giving a 10 despite all the loopholes and incredible scenarios. It's like comic story but it's entertaining.

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