Personal opinion…any other face that played XW would have made me feel the relationship or romantic line was controlling and boarderline toxic. XW character is very intense, intelligent but possessive. He’s definitely not the type that has the mindset of “if you’re happy, I’ll be happy”. Realistically, keeping JXN near him is actually way more dangerous for her as XW is a strong strategist so would have enemies everywhere. It would have been nicer forJXN to leave and realise her love for him on her own and come back to him. I truely believe that “if it’s meant to be yours, it’ll come back to you.”

I felt they way they got together in the end didn’t feel like love but more like JXN felt too much debt to him. Almost like pity and very forced. I think over time she would have definitely loved him but as an audience, I didn’t get to see that transition.

Story is similar to “Love like the Galaxy” and some things were done better, like the way the main male lead was smart enough to get the revenge he so desperately wanted but also didn’t walk all over the FL trust to get there. He literally said and then showed that JXN was the most important thing to him when he stabbed his own hand. Actions do sure speak louder than words. On that note, there was also some things that wasn’t done as well like the aforementioned rushed/forced love. Give JXN some time to breath and process so she can make the decision herself to return to him. I think that the couple in “Love like the Galaxy” had a literal 10 year or so gap before they got back together. They were more mature and more trusting. As they say “Distance makes the heart grow fonder”.

But damn, ZLH face is just too gorgeous. He really played the role well and the man can cry like a god. His intensity, jaw clenches and beautiful lips makes it really hard to take your eyes away from the screen. He really didn’t have the air of “imperial teacher” though but considering the story line, it’s a smaller issue than the others. He really did not suit his “modern” day look either so whoever styled him for that did us a great injustice.

BL was great as always but her make up and hair didn’t make her stand out. The first episode when she was Queen, everything looked majestic. I guess that was the point but her “younger self” image really made her look older than when she was the Queen. The Princess really was beautiful and made BL look like an extra in some shots when they were together.

Would rewatch literally for only ZLH and BL but otherwise the story was average. The kiss scenes really felt like they would melt my screen so I’m so glad it passed review! BL always has such great kisses with all her ML but I would say ZLH takes the cake as the best kiss partner so far.