This is the first time I don't really ship the main couple. They were cute in the beginning, but that's before they got married to each other!!!

The first half of the drama was good. Then Ming Lan got married to Gu Ting Ye and the ship sailed. I fast forwarded most of the episodes afterwards as I really couldn't get myself to care about the story of Ming Lan in the Gu Manor. Before they got married Gu Ting Ye told Ming Lan that they are going to live in their own place (to avoid clashing with Gu's evil stepmother). Yet, it never happened.

The palace story (which took place after the marriage), I also couldn't be bothered about. I find the characters in the palace as weakly written. So I fast forwarded most.

The only reason I did a lot of fast forwarding, instead of skipping those episodes altogether, was because I didn't want to miss out on the story of Ming Lan's first love, Qi Heng. My heart broke for him. Yes, he's a bit naive but he's a good man and he did all the right thing. I'm satisfied with the ending as he found his good match (who's tragically, in my opinion, much better than the heroine Ming Lan - maybe the writer also secretly doesn't like Ming Lan? Haha). He so deserves it!

But, I can't believe Molan could live "happily ever after" (meaning, not dead nor imprisoned) - she's as bad as her mother. She made sure all of the pregnancies of her husband's concubines/mistresses couldn't survive full term)!

My favourite character in this drama would be Ming Lan's eldest brother, Chang Bai.

Overall, a bit disappointed. The acting of the main characters are good though, so that's why I'm not giving it less than 7.