Story-wise, it is a decent drama as the story centers around a girl who was encouraged by her less-privileged mother to study as it would afford her more opportunities in the world. Great message for the women of today, and refreshing to see a female character assume a role as a court official, even if entirely fictitious. This is not the first drama to do this, but it is the first to show women taking the exam alongside the men to then become an official.

The acting from all 4 main leads are convincing and there is also a likeability about the supporting cast which isn't always the case as many dramas use the supporting cast as time fillers who serve no real purpose of driving the plot forward. Here they are given an identity, and even a personality, unlike their usual ornamental existence!

The music is a delight and the chemistry is there between the leads, compliments to the screenwriter who was able to bring the two characters together in a way that is amusing and also unique.

The problem? Oh boy. Where do I begin? The screenwriter (just like so many other screenwriters of chinese olden day dramas) refuses to believe in the capacity of the audience to be able to appreciate a romance that is mature, genuine, and that isn't all about sex. Their perception and trust in the viewer to be able to consume an adequately written, well-paced build-up of a relationship is so low, that wherever possible they try to remind us that the leads are attracted to each other, which actually ruins the natural chemistry they actually have. Just as we're enjoying the authentic and interesting dynamic, the screenwriter will then proceed to use vulgarity or not-so-subtle reminders that the male lead is a man, and that Muzhuo is a female, the supposed suggestiveness, not so suggestive, but rather distastefully shoved down our throat countless times instead. It's as if cdramaland writers cannot fathom that we as viewers of dramas can actually appreciate a romance that doesn't involve juvenile sexual innuendos at every turn and assumes that for a romance to be believable or marketable, we MUST incessantly ingrain in the viewers' minds that the leads want each other physically.

Whatever happened to the good old days of showing, and not telling viewers what to think? Whatever happened to conveying emotions of yearning for each other without ever resorting to cheap sexual references as a means to create chemistry between the two characters? For anyone wondering, I grew up on Hong Kong olden day dramas which rarely ever needed to employ such tactics to create romantic pairings that worked and was full of chemistry. The reason why olden day dramas are so popular and were such a pleasure to watch is because of the virtues that are known to be prevalent during that time. Loyalty, filial duty and undying, unconditional romantic love was at the forefront of themes featured in these dramas. These quintessential elements of an olden day drama is slowly being stripped away by the commercialism of these chinese productions, rendering the seasoned viewer in me restless and wanting to turn away from these narratives simply because of the patronising experience we are being confronted with because the screenwriters lack respect for their work, and the audience as a whole.

Do better please cdramaland. It could have been a good drama! Just like all those other dramas that were tarnished by the same limitation. Please quit the suggestive trash and regain some faith in the viewers' capacity to appreciate art and classy storytelling in the romance department of the story. Cdramas can go so much further if they would just let go of this obsession with featuring unneccesary sexual references in their productions.