Both main characters who overcame great adversity to get to where they are, and used their intelligence to help their loved ones avoid danger and achieve honourable goals. Mei Changsu in NiF went through 12 years of extremely torturous treatment (adversity) and carefully planned and schemed (intelligence) to help his righteous best friend to the throne and return the honourable name of his family and Chilin Army. Ming Lan was severely neglected growing up in her house, suffering from a lack of food and chill despite being the daughter of an officer, and lost her mother when she was 8 so that she had to live each day in extreme caution (adversity). She used her intelligence to keep her friends, husband and grandmother from harm from jealous relatives and the royal family.

Whereas in NiF you can feel Mei Changsu's love for his fiance, best friend and former army buddies that he left behind, you can feel Ming Lan's love for her mother, friends, husband and grandmother.

Both series are also well acted. The stories are well written - actions taken by characters have long-lasting consequences throughout the story, and each character has depth and purpose.

- intelligently, well written mystery dramas (although I find the Joy of Life dialogue more humorous)
- each character lives and dies with purpose and the story is ended neatly
- involving the jianghu underworld
- main character does not desire power, is upright and loyal to his comrades, displays excellent character growth throughout the drama