LLTG made me sign up because i liked it so much. Aside from what others have previously mentioned, what sets it apart from other usual period drama imo are the following:
1. Our leads are not dumb, pitiful and helpless. They are both cunning, sensitive and strategic on how they handle matters. Although they have flaws too that make them more relatable
2. The emperor, empress and consort live harmoniously without anyone with an intent to harm the other..
3. The family dynamics reflects cultural setting during that period but injected with a modern way of thinking by breaking the norms of what is expected specially the femele characters.
4. The drama triggered a sense of kinship to the fans and commenters that it made watching and waiting more tolerable and enjoyable.
Hope we could move on faster from this drama but this will remain one of my favorite cdrama of all time! ?