It genuinely surprises me that this drama has such low ratings. After reading the top popular reviews, I prepared myself for foolish plotlines, silly characters, and lots of skipping.

Instead, I discovered one of the better-paced C-dramas I've watched: it is slow but progresses steadily, never dragged nor produced irrelevant fluff to fill time. All the characters had their distinct personalities, backgrounds, and arcs (excepting the Crown Grandson/Xu Kai's character, who is perfect son and monarch material from beginning to end), interacted with one another reasonably from their unique character perspectives instead of falling into stereotypes or tropes. The plotline generally aligned with historical touchpoints, but spun a lot of creativity into what types of people who might have lived through them and how they might have experienced that life, creating a lot of depth and humanity. This is NOT a romance-heavy story, although ML/FL's relationship is a main throughline of course. Many people seem to watch it mainly as the non-official continuation of STORY OF YANXI PALACE, and either love it or hate it for how well this drama fulfilled that fantasy. While the story does do a lot of fan service to that effect, it would be a mistake to see the story only from that lens. It has its own focus, themes, and things it wants to convey.

SOME CRITIQUE: The acting is mostly good for Idol-ish drama full of pretty people. I do notice that the main pretty actors--ML/FL, Empress Hu, You Yifan--all overly-rely on a wooden face and subdued reaction to fit a somber sense of historicity, but aren't always consistent or able to convey that various thoughts/emotions are running beneath the calm surface, which more-established actors can manage (the Dowager Queen is fantastic, always a clear sense of righteousness and harsh intellect shining through; and Ziping, too, as the rough but loyal friend). This is no NIRVANA IN FIRE, or THE RISE OF PHOENIXES, where viewers are constantly aware of conspiracies afoot and double-meaning in every other phrase. There isn't, in fact, a lot of tension in the political plot line or palace intrigues in general. Often, viewers only realize some early scenarios are supposed to hint at conspiracies or hidden doings, only AFTER everything is already exposed--which is fine if you've been patient in watching to those later episodes, but not so great to keep you gripped while things are actually happening.

VERDICT: But ultimately I don't think the drama is impacted by these issues, because although a lot of the story is based around politics, the main theme is on how to see people, understand their worth, and the value of managing relationships. Treating people well and wisely is more than just a matter of one person with another, but is inherently political and impacts matters of State and power. FL is strategic, self-determined, and kind--but demonstrates that being kind doesn't mean being a pushover, and that kindness will win out in the end because the vast majority of people aren't pure evil. They may harbor their own goals, dreams, hopes, have people that they love/protect/aid, and therefore conspire against you or try to trip you up wherever possible. At the same time, they're flesh and blood too, and are moved by your kind treatment such that at the lowest points they leave a space open for FL to survive, or are slowly persuaded by ML/FL's leading-by-example to see the fault in their own ways, ultimately become redeemed in various ways. This is a hopeful drama that showcases the strength of women, working in one of the only professional places available to them, fighting for a space to exist and prove their worth to others and themselves. It says, everyone has a REASON for being the way they are, and people just want to live their life in the best ways they know how to, whether that way is worthy or full of jealousy and hatred. FL chooses to see and nurture the good that exists in everyone, and ultimately is rewarded by a peaceful marriage, well managed Inner Court, and country, and so it is a very happy ending!