3/10/24 ep 26-30 it's my 1st review live -- I was so hooked that I ended up binge watching -- Awesome story, awesome ending. Some parts hurtful and hard to take but made a realistic ending for that time period and for the different status' and cultural dynamics. Wow I think it was probably worse back in those days and this is great fiction played out.

As you can see I rated all segments 10 -- it was easy to watch and easy to stay with and by the end of the episodes I looked forward to the OST. Loved the costumes and makeup. Also enjoyed the subs -- really good actors and will be looking forward to seeing them in future works.

Ep 26-27 FL's cold demeanor as a woman is a 10. Loved how these 2 eps played out, I was roped in and what great acting. I have to add that FL was in My Little Happiness and I found her acting a 10 there also.

ep 21 quote from seer/witch -- : 'have you thought about it? All things are born according to their own laws. It's like a long river. If you block its path, it will find another way. But no matter what, it will never stop.'

3/9/24 ep 19 -- Oh my goodness, another principle quote that's worth thinking on -- LuAnran: "Li Xi, Doug Qing -- don't you think that, all along, I seemed to have seized the opportunities but every step was getting more and more dangerous. I sank deeper and deeper. Everything was my self-conceit. I was too naive. In this world, where is the certainty and control? Change one thing and there will be a new crisis." The principle is -- where is the certainty and control? We as humans follow a certainty in our lives and we want control of our lives... the nugget principle is 'change one thing and there will be a new crisis-- we humans charge in to change things in our lives; we want to fix it and have a better solution on how to fix it -- but the end result is a new crisis... This is where we need to restrain ourselves from creating changes and making personal decisions and turning to God for the solution. Building our faith in God and not ourselves.

LuAnran says something that is worth putting into quotation -- "Some birds in a cage are destined to die there. This huge cage, this endless intrigue, I'm really tired." The flashbacks in & outs are well incorporated with the storyline.

(earlier today) wow, I made it to ep 18 and the scheming has gotten so thick I've lost track of what originally happened in the 1st 4 eps that set off the following 5-18 eps. Several key folks have died from eps 1-4 and now new players are in place. She couldn't stop the death of her mother, but she really was ruthless with the death of her 2nd mother (father's 2nd wife). God's Word holds to one husband and one wife... This is what God saw, the chaos, ruthless scheming, discord and division. Not a safe place to raise holy children. The chaos in her family shows in the palace. Princes scheming against one another for the throne... and the Emperor survived through 30 eps. Not liking the deep intrigue, but that's what makes this story -- we as humans tend to look for trouble and be in the thick of trouble. I have to give it to the writer/s FL has 2 MLs that are in love with her. One loves her for what she can get/give him and the other loves her, sincerely.

Rated @ 8.5 during 1st 3 eps very fast pace for me, no drag-time..