This was my very first chinese drama. I got wind of it on Instagram and just saw someone gushing over Chen Kun so I checked it out and watched the trailer which led me to Netflix where I started watching it. The chinese language was completely new to me at this point (I watched it with english subtitles) but it didn't take long for me to get used to it. I had only watched anime in japanese up to that point so I wasn't used to a new language. I pretty much binge-watched this drama which was due to the mindblowing performances of Ni Ni and Chen Kun because they totally nailed their roles. The way he brought his character to life was unbelievably mesmerizing which was why I was so glued to the screen the entire time while clicking on "Next Episode" like someone close to starving. Me who had never seen any chinese themed drama before in her life, was enchanted by the setting, the costumes and the politics. Some things in this drama aren't historically accurate (i researched it) but the fact that an eunuch would announce Ning Yi's arrival every time he was summoned by the emperor was hilarious yet fascinating to me. This drama basically set the foundation of my newly found obsession with chinese historical dramas and will forever have a special place in my heart, especially with the way it ended.
I probably won't rewatch this in the near future because it made me cry like a bitch. The music was beautiful and fit each scene perfectly. I loved the political intrigue (it's also one of my favorite tropes in books) and how some plot twists unraveled. Overall a drama absolutely worth my time.