Story of Kunning Palace (2023)

Well written and satisfying drama

Such a well written and satisfying drama....Truly loved it!!
The level of acting is phenomenal, pacing is beautiful and the best part for me is that it doesn't has infinite number of evil character plus the one who are evil are handled flawlessly by our leads which makes me enjoy the drama much more, as it shows that writer focus on content more than filling it will unnecessary negative schemes and plots.
The chemistry between BaiLu + Zhang Ling He is sizzling....it has slow start but its gripping till the end. It was worth my time and i feel satisfied with the end
The best part is that it has a HE as i usually avoid sad ending dramas plus it has such breathtaking kisses & it was done beautifully❤️ All in all its a 10/10 for me:)

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Consistent plot, characterisation

First time writing a review. Been looking forward to SOKP since TTEOTM ended. Was hooked from episode 1 onwards. Very interesting plot and characters. Most importantly, consistent plot all the way from episode 1 to episode 38, and consistent characters. Some dramas start off strong but lose steam halfway through, but not this drama.

Let's start with FL Jiang Xuening, acted by Bai Lu. With her second chance in life, she hopes to amend her mistakes. She is smart and acts quite logically. She will fight for herself. I feel the acting is also good. Not sure what else to add.

Xie Wei, acted by Zhang Linghe. I was worried about ZLH acting in SOKP as XW due to MJTY's GZY, but turns out I was wrong. He acted well in this drama. I love how he portrays his crazy side, and on the flip of a switch, shows his gentle face. I also love this character, such a multi-faceted character. He is a schemer, kind of morally gray. In some episodes, he is crazy, enough to make me feel weird sometimes. This type of character adds life to a drama. He also stays true to his character.

Zhang Zhe also stays true to his character.

Yan Lin, acted by Zhou Jun Wei. He's like a puppy. Glad he's accepting of who Xuening loves, and accepts that he's not the one Xuening love.

The side characters in SOKP are also great. For example, the princess, Xuehui, Yan Lin's father, Xuening's father. Man, even Xue Shu, stays true to her character right till the very end.

Comes with a satisfying ending! Not a rushed ending. Not a 1 minute slapped ending. Not some sort of ending placed at a special episode. An actual satisfying ending to tie the ends of everything, and doesn't break immersion! I don't know why, but this is quite rare nowadays in cdrama land.

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If you’re not watching Story of Kunning Palace you are missing out in life!!!

Whoever, is trying to find a drama that will send you in comas back and forth, turn your heart inside out and back in, give you series of asthma attacks!!! Highly highly recommend watching Story of Kunning Palace!!!

Story of Kunning Palace is literally the masterpiece of all masterpieces!!! Bai Lu and Zhang LingHe’s acting of course is spectacular!!! Their abiliy to immerse themselves into their characters as if they were actually JiangXueNing and XieWei and expresss such powerful and deep emotions is insaneeee!!! In addition, their chemistry sky rockets into the sky!!! This is what scientists should study!!! And their visuals!!! Do I need to even comment on that!!! I mean whatever scene they are in they look heavenly beautiful!!!

The storyline of this drama is also sooooo well-written and addictive!!! Just the 1st episode and I was completely immersed into this drama!!! The fact that 5 epidoes were cut due to some issues, this drama is still perfectly paced and doesn’t have any missing parts!!! Also each character has their own moments to shine and have a storyline without it being unnecessary and boring!!!! This drama is probs the 1st drama where I never played forward or 2x speeded it!!! In addition, tho this drama seems to be on the serious and dull side, I guarantee you its not!!! There are many scenes that were soooo sweet, romantic and hilarious that’s makes you blush and smile while sleeping!!!! However, there are also scenes that make you hold your breath from the tension and cry rivers and oceans from the story!!!

Ultimately, everything about this drama is perfection!!! The whole cast, storyline, cinematography, OST, costumes, etc is a chef’s kiss!!! Honestly for me this drama is an infinite out of 10 but MyDramaList only lets me rate it 10/10!!!

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A Tale of Dark Obsession vs Courage and Redemption



This series by mutual agreement is proving to be the most captivating of all we are currently watching. And there are at least 5 serious contenders at the moment. So if period/costume series are your genre......do not miss it. I promise you will adore it.

It is primarily about one woman named Jiang Xuening (played by Bai Lu) who had an overwhelming and insatiable lust for power. Her obsession became her downfall as it ended up destroying her and all of those who had trusted her. She was so focused on her quest to become the next Empress, that she scarcely noticed the trail of destruction behind her. 
She had but one goal…and whatever it cost, that she was willing to do. But once she had achieved the position she had sought...there was little joy. 
Her ruthlessness had gained her few allies and multiple enemies. 

But of those who had once cared for her...there was one man, a very disillusioned man named Zhang Zhe
(played by Wang Xingyue) who because of her ...now awaited his death in prison.
Still she carried on...until the palace, roiled by unrest, became her prison too.
With the loss of her freedom, she realizes she has only one card left to play. So she strikes a deal with Xie Wei (Zhang Ling) to save Zhang Zhe from prison. If he will agree..she will offer her own life as collateral. When he agrees... she took her life. 

But by a strange twist of events…she awakens later in her family home… only as her much younger self. 
After the shock wears off, she realizes she has been given a second chance at life. This time she purposes she WILL make all the right choices. 

So with the benefit of her past as her guide…she attempts to change her future and her fate. This is her story of redemption. 



It is played by a stellar cast:
*Bai Lu as Jiang Xuening is utterly captivating...acting dual parts flawlessly. 

A role this complicated and the focus of so many scenes required a especially skillful actress, and wow, is she ever the one!

*Zhang Ling as Xie Wei is a very complex character....shaded by both light and shadow. 

We loved him in My Journey to You, but this more challenging role highlights the range of his talent. 

He is leaving it all on the table in this one, after this..he said he hopes to do a modern series as this one took a toll on him and I believe it. 
He is so sinister at times…that the nape of my neck tingles, yet he can wordlessly look at her with such care..that my toes curl. 
He conveys an element of mystery (never giving the game away) and a masterful presence that suits the dangerous setting of the court. 
The scriptwriter deserves props for giving him such a wonderful role but... in my view ...he is outperforming expectations.
 By far, he is the most fascinating male lead in any series that I have seen in a while. 

I simply cannot wait for the fireworks between them...one hug was mesmerizing. He understands her, because he is her match.

*Wang Xingyue as Zhang Zhe is also riveting. I don’t typically fall for the SL and I did not expect that anyone could compete with Zhang Ling in this one. Yet somehow….Wang Xingue manages to do just that. His face is fascinating. And because the chemistry between him and Bai Lu simmers every time they meet that also seems tantalizing. Lol.
But although he is an upright and honorable man, it doesn't appear that he is right for her. Even if he loved her..it is doubtful he could understand her. 
They are vastly different in every conceivable way.

Both men are beautifully defined with strengths and weaknesses, but neither are perfect.
They are complicated and mysterious men which makes them oh.... so.... fascinating to watch! Lol.

So here is your setting for the story…and as always I will be back with an update.


Enjoy..this one is gonna be one to rave about!

@Final: This series was epic to the end. The wrap up was perfect, I couldn't fault one thing. I even loved the brief modern scene with the writer where she opens the door and there he is. Perfect tiny tidbit. Likewise...I loved the special episode they included at the end and the behind the scenes were fun as well.
It is clear that this entire cast enjoyed each other and that bonding on set..contributed to the success of this project. Congratulations to everyone involved in this beautiful drama, thank you for all the thrills, the laughter and the tears..it was a wonderful experience. I am happy to recommend this series to you. It will immediately go in my fave rewatch list.

Happy Watching!

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Never-ending schemes ?

If you think Xie Wei is one step behind, he’s actually two steps ahead. These types of revelations are actually my favorite because they’re satisfying and slightly unhinged. Making me believe that the situation is hopeless, but actually that was just a farce? The scheming and palace politics were really good, I liked how the characters all walked a fine line between being good and “bad”. Those who deserved a bad ending got one, and man was that satisfying. The scene with the eunuch giving Xue Shu the poisoned wine was so funny to be honest😭. The man was too happy to kill that evil woman; it is quite sad how she ended because she did everything to survive but that is what you get when you can’t scheme properly. In the end, she simply couldn’t match Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei😏.

At first, I wasn’t very emotionally invested in the show to be honest, BUT it pulled me in regardless, which is why I kept watching it. The more I watched, the more invested I got with the intricacies of the plot, the scheming and how the characters would act next.

The romance was an interesting one: sort of toxic and possessive, and I think Zhang Ling He did a good job playing Xie Wei, I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. I can say the same for Bai Lu! Can’t wait to watch more of her dramas, she has a long catalogue!😎💗

Overall, sort of different from what I usually watch but really nice!

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Best Costume Drama of 2023

This drama is solid, and the characters are well-written, so I wanted to give it a 10/10. Xiaobo, the sweet kid who helped ML, was done wrong by the writers, so they only received a 9.5/10. Apart from the prince and princess and the one who denies relations, the Xu family is dreadful, and they can catch these hands. Watching Duke Xu's son be arrogant and hateful throughout the show was triggering to the point that even I wanted to fight him.

Now let's talk about two of my favorite characters:
Xie Wei is dark, flawed, and sometimes unhinged, and this show did not disappoint. I remember reading a comment that described the ML: "He is a walking red flag, but I am colorblind," and yes, I too am colorblind; I might have early memory loss too, because when he says 'Ning'er,' especially in that angry deep tone I forget everything and fall deeper. It's like I'm hypnotized; ML is captivating. It's like being enchanted by a beautiful voice, even when you know the speaker is threatening, which he is most of the time. ML makes no secret of the fact that he is no saint. He is like yes, I am terrible, but love me. He is entertaining to watch and very petty and jealous, even at the end. The character wasn't written for people to sympathize with. He is who he is, and I love that. The FL's relationship with him is a delicious mess because he is sometimes unhinged, and I enjoyed it.
Overall, it was an excellent performance, and I'm looking forward to more of this actor's work. Now I have to watch everything this actor has acted in because he is so talented. I was today's old when I found out he was in 'Love Between Fairy and Devil.' honestly, I have struggled to watch that drama. I don't find any enjoyment in it, and I blame all the people who hyped it because my expectations were set high. Stop the overhyping of dramas.

Now, let's talk about Yan Lin; usually, I'm not too fond of characters like this due to how they are written. However, these writers did this character justice. He is loveable, and I wanted to protect him, and he deserves the world. This beautiful character is the opposite of Xie Wei. He is the guy you yearn to be with; all your family and friends want you to be with, but too bad you are addicted to the bad guy. He is a loyal friend, an excellent son, and a loyal brother. Honesty, most of my favorite scenes from this drama include him. The scene where he gave a well-deserved ass whopping to Duke Xu's hateful son after he disrespected the FL and slapped her. He said, 'You wouldn't disrespect her not in front of me.' Next is the scene where he is in prison and talks to the FL. He asks her why she doesn't like him when she thinks he's so great and is willing to do anything for him. I love his relationship with the FL lead; it is healthy and well-written.

I have no complaints about this drama except for how they treated Xiaobo, which makes me angry. He was loyal, cute, and deserved better.

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The whole package!

Wow! Just completed 38.5 episodes in 3 days. Did not feel long at all. Fantastic entire cast, rational storyline (every detail), beautiful scenes, great pacing, perfect ending. Captivating episode after episode. One of THE best historical C-drama I’ve watched. Highly recommend to everyone, and I’m not a big historical drama fan and I LOVE every minute of it. I don’t usually rewatch dramas but this one was done superbly. I didn’t know the ML before watching this drama and wasn’t a huge fan at first but I totally fell in love with him, in fact, all three love interests. Loved how the story unfolded throughout the storytelling. Especially love the added bookends of modern day.

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Best Drama in 2023!!

Definitely recommended to watch! Im my opinion , this is the best Chinese Wuxia drama in 2023. The story is about revenge and hoping to change the destiny. Unique story and well written script. Love that the FL lead is also smart and strong just like the ML. the ost, story, plot, and the cast are 100000000/10. Even though, there are not much romantic scenes, but i still love it and addicted to watch. Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu’s acting are incredible 🔥😍. Their chemistry is great, but sadly had to wait for so long till I get to watch their romantic scenes together. But that’s okay, I still enjoyed this drama so much.

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Best Chinese Historical of 2023 and in recent years !!!

Let me preface this by saying that I dont like to reveal spoilers in my reviews so this will be spoiler-free. I would like to first applaud the writers, director, technical team, costume department....all the many people involved behind the scenes who worked so hard to make this drama a success. I love to see people hard work bts rewarded. Now on to the actors. Everyone did an amazing job here. ZhangLihe is a revelation. This is my 1st drama of his and I am now a fan. I loved his acting here and the nuances he gave in his performance. Quite honestly these types of MLs are really not my cup of tea in dramas but I really attribute the fact that I loved his character so much to him, the actor. I havent watched any Bailu dramas since Arsenal Military Academy and she did an amazing job here; I love the myriad of emotions she portrayed as well. The other second male leads and other actors did a great job. The way the comic timing seamlessly blend in a " dark, serious" drama like this is a testament to the actors and also the writing. I love the political intrigue, fight scenes, reverse harem , harem court drama....all of this contributed to make this drama such a good drama. I hope ZLH and Bailu work in another drama in the future because their chemistry in this one was outstanding. I also loved that it wasnt heavily romance focused; dont get me wrong, I love a good romance in a historical drama but I also appreciate the political intrigue. Give it a try, you will love it and I dont even like to follow trends or whatever but the hype that this drama is getting is very well deserved.

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A MUST WATCH!

This drama is such a rollercoaster of emotions. You will cry, and you will smile, there is so much angst, and politics but also a smart villainess Female Lead, scholarly, overly intelligent ML, and a super 2-second male lead. Yes, we have 2 SMLs and the chemistry of the FL with two of them was amazing and you will cry for the other two. But our ML deserved her truly after what he had gone through, she is like a light in his dark life. A true definition of how love brightens one's life.
Talking about the story, was very distinctive from what I had expected. The FL was indeed a villainess in her first life and made some major mistakes that caused her to die. The rebirth allowed her to follow a different path, at first she tried to avoid the situation altogether. But when she realized she could not avoid it, she decided to change it but when she realized that she couldn't change it either, she became active in preventing the worse situation. Though things were happening according to the past, they still changed because of the subtle changes, especially in the characters because of her change and intervention.
It WAS A HAPPY ENDING! Though it looked like a sad ending drama throughout the show, it was a happy ending. This drama is worth watching because of the ending, after so much angst, politics, and mind games we got a happy and satisfying ending. The chemistry in the drama is mindblowing, the main leads, supporting cast, everyone did a great job in portraying emotions and playing their part. I loved Yan Lin and the Princess, their roles had drastic changes and showed so much growth and development. I don't watch many Chinese historical dramas but after Love Like the Galaxy, this became my favorite one. Can I watch this again? Maybe No! Because it was so intense and I don't think I can handle it again but I will watch their happy moments later, so yeah! Their happy moments can be seen again and the osts are just so beautiful that it would make you cry.

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One of the Best Chinese Dramas 2023

I really like the drama. Really deserves to be one of my favorite dramas this year!

It's slow going at first, but I advise you to be patient and pay close attention to the storyline. The more you watch, the more addictive you will become.

Even though there are flaws in the editing, I like the action scenes in this drama. The prison scenes at episode 20 and at the Shangqing Temple just amazing.

The chemistry between Bai Lu and Zhang Linghe is also great. Their acting is perfect and makes this drama even more worth watching.

I also love all the OST. Just amazing
Solid 10/10

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Different cdrama with some great politics

Greetings!!
I am writing review for this because i think this drama shows different side of chinese dramas and not just the typical romantic story i mist say it started low but the value is certainly increased even if you are struggling in first few just go through it till 3 or 4 then you will understand the whole thing.
This drama has the cast like the perfection for their each role Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu play the character slightly different this time but also showing their talents and it just remind me of Xianxia "Till the End of the Moon" where Luo YunXi and Bai Lu slayed their role and so in this Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu also slayed together and also Bai Lu's on-going drama "only for love" is also the great hit in modern romance.

The story showing some interesting politics also and that's what i love to see the more you watch the more you want to see the head strong Jiang Xue Ning who can do anything to become an empress, manipulated many people, betrayed and control them then died by killing herself in regret to exchange life for someone else and whereas Xie Wei who killed entire palace help of Yan Lin who is betrayed by Jiang Xue Ning as his lover and Zheng Zhe almost played important role of Xue Ning's lover and he has his seperate charm also his character play is great anyways not spoiling the second part of story enough for catching your intrest maybe and the most important part that it is not like the other show "My Journey to you" that drama's script was not very liking to me but this is just amazing you are drawn to this drama.

The OST: I would say that i didn't get to know all of the songs but those i have listed it feels straight to heart you can definitely feel the music like every person says you should feel yes that feel! you know what I mean...

Overall this is a very good drama with amazing costume and scenes also contains comedy with some romance i enjoyed watching it and a little disclosure, THIS DRAMA WON THE “HALL OF HONOUR” AT IQIYI SCREAM NIGHT 2023
Thankyou ^^

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