Oh boy, I am still reeling from the last few episodes down until the Emperor’s last breath. I honestly lost so much sleep, bingeing this show. I must be a masochist (and more of a Cheng Yi fan now) that while this show no doubt pained me, Qi Yan and Cheng Rouyu brought out the best feels amongst any character pair I have ever watched in any cdrama. Evertime they are on screen, even though you know it’s gonna hurt, you cannot help but watch how every scene will unfold. Alas, their beautiful suffering.

This is a riveting imperial court drama playing a game of thrones. It is very interesting how they used chess as the show’s plot tool. Equally interesting is the menagerie of characters, the plotting, the maneuvering, the twists and the turns. It will keep you hooked or at the very least you wanted to see Qi Yan and Cheng Rouyu together.

I cannot say enough how great Cheng Yi played Qi Yan here. He is a brooding tainted emperor, a loner and a stab-happy brilliant strategist oozing with sensuality. Zhang Yu Xi was beautiful, naive but loyal to a fault. Both devoted to each other.

This show isn’t for the faint of heart. I like to think that at the very end, Qi Yan faked his death and he is the one Cheng Rouyu was smiling at. I also like to think that their next life is portrayed in their modern drama “South Wind Knows My Mood”, but knowing how Cheng Yi chooses his shows, prepare your heart once more, you might be in a for another heartbreak 💔.