THE SHORT VERDICT:

Show gets off to a strong start, with an interesting premise and a promising OTP, I was soon fully sucked in and very much on board for this OTP reunion.

However, in my opinion, some of Show’s narrative choices in its middle-to-late stretch don’t do it any favors. I found this stretch a lot less interesting than our first half.

I found this to be several steps down from our strong start, but Show does deliver on the happy ending promised, so there’s that? 😅

THE LONG VERDICT:

You know those scenes in dramas when one half of a couple says to the other, “You’ve changed; you’re not the same person I fell in love with!”??

Heh. You could say that that’s kind of how I kind of felt towards this show, when I got to the late stretch of my watch. 🤭

Yes, Show was still telling the same story, but the way it was coming together, wasn’t my favorite thing, and that definitely marred my watch experience.

However, just because it wasn’t my favorite thing, doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t work for you. 😁

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Here’s the OST album, in case you’d like to listen to it while you read the review.

Overall, I found the OST pleasant as a general rule, and well-applied to support our narrative. However, I can’t say that any of the tracks got under my skin, so I don’t have a favorite to share.

HOW I’M APPROACHING THIS REVIEW

First I’ll talk about how to manage your expectations going into this one, and what viewing lens would be most helpful.

After that, I talk about stuff I liked and didn’t like so much. I’m opting not to do a separate section on characters and relationships, for this review. Finally, I spend some time talking about my thoughts on the finale episodes.

If you’re interested in my blow-by-blow reactions, &/or all the various Patreon members’ comments during the course of our watch, you might like to check out my episode notes on Patreon here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are some things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. Our story might take a while to settle

..and you likely need to exercise some patience, and suspend some disbelief, while it does so.

Because of the nature of our story, we’re thrown into a lot of angst right at the beginning, which is not fun.

Additionally, the story starts when our leads are about 40 years old, and neither Zhang Ling He nor Zhao Jin Mai is convincing playing that age.

It’s not just the fact that they look way younger than 40 (well, she’s 38, but close enough), they both don’t have enough gravitas or presence to convince me that they are that age.

Once we get to the part where they get to their do-over, though, everything lands a lot better.

2. Don’t be too fussed about context

It will take a while for how everything fits together, to come together in your head.

Show drops the context in a rather piecemeal fashion, when that particular piece of context is relevant.

This makes it easier to keep track of who’s who, what’s what and why, but it does mean that there are stretches of time when we don’t feel super sure of exactly who’s who, what’s what and why.

That said, Show does ensure that you have a good enough sketch of the big picture, to anchor your appreciation of the story.

3. Be ready to suspend disbelief

It’s inherent in our story’s premise, yes, but additionally, as Show tells its story, there tend to be some elements that require suspension of disbelief.

4. The romance leans restrained

Even though Show’s marketing puts the OTP loveline at the center of everything, I did find that the treatment of the central romance leaned more restrained, not just in terms of the relationship itself, but also, in terms of this loveline’s place in our story.

Knowing to expect that, helps.

STUFF I LIKED

Our story’s concept

I was in-principle interested in this show, based on the premise and the cast.

To me, the premise is basically a Chinese period version of Go Back Couple (review here!), which was a kdrama that I enjoyed very much.

Of course, this being the Chinese period version of it, things are much more complex and there are layers of intrigue, because our female lead isn’t just getting a chance to live her life again – she’s a princess, with all the political trappings that might go with that station.

At the heart of it, though, it’s a very similar story to Go Back Couple, where our OTP starts the story at bitter loggerheads.

Unlike Go Back Couple, the way our OTP gets to their do-over point, is by dying – which wasn’t the case in Go Back Couple.

This aspect of the story is way more like Story of Kunning Palace, where the female lead dies and goes back in time, to relive her life again.

The difference here, is that instead of just our female lead getting a second chance at life, her loggerheads husband gets a second chance too (also by dying).

In fact, I am very tickled by the fact that Zhang Ling He plays the male lead in both Kunning Palace and The Princess Royal.

It’s almost like he was all, “No fair! I want a chance to get reborn too!” – and that’s how he followed up Kunning Palace with The Princess Royal. 😂

The positioning of the previous life

I do love the idea that Li Rong and Wenxuan (Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He) are much better able to navigate their way around all the political landmines this time around, because they have so much knowledge and wisdom in hindsight.

At the same time, nothing is cast in stone, because even though they might know the personalities of the people they’re dealing with, they cannot know for sure how someone might act or react, in this timeline.

That element of chance really helps to keep the stakes meaningful; Li Rong and Wenxuan don’t have an assured victory or outcome just because of what they know, and that absolutely helps to keep things interesting.

Another thing that I find poignant, is that Li Rong and Wenxuan know how various people had lived and died, in the first timeline.

That knowledge, meshed with the idea that this is a chance for things to turn out differently, feels very poignant to me.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-8. For example, in these episodes, Li Rong learns that Rongqing (Chen He Yi) had plotted to kill her over many years, in the earlier timeline.

Yet, that doesn’t make Rongqing in this timeline a villain – at least, not yet. In this timeline, he’s still innocent of wrongdoing, and that makes for a very poignant and interesting watch.

I find myself reminding myself not to judge him for his wrongdoing in the previous timeline, because this present version of him has no knowledge of that, and has done nothing wrong.

Similarly, Li Rong knows how Chuan (Liu Xu Wei) had turned out to be a ruthless and cruel ruler, in the previous timeline.

And yet, she doesn’t turn away from him, in this timeline. Instead, she’s showing him as much love and grace as possible, in hopes that she will be able to prevent him from going down the same path, in this timeline.

Li Rong’s ability to keep their wrongdoings from the previous timeline, separate from their current reality, is something that I admire. She really is able to divide reason and emotion very well, even when her own emotions had been deeply entangled.

[END SPOILER]

Show’s handling of context from the previous life

I really like the way Show intersplices flashbacks from our original timeline, into our current story.

The flashbacks are only introduced at pertinent points when they are relevant, and I like that a lot.

That relieves me as a viewer, so I don’t have to figure out where to store this piece of information from the original timeline, and I don’t have to figure out when to bring it out again, at a perceived point of relevance.

Show solves all of that for me, with the way it only serves up the flashbacks when it’s relevant to the current timeline.

I can compare and contrast the two timelines right away, and that feels so easy, accessible and gratifying.

I also like how this allows me to contrast right away, the characters in the two timelines.

[MINOR SPOILER ALERT]

Like how Shangguan Ya (Cheng Guo) is so full of life and personality in this current timeline, but looks so dead inside, when we get to see her in the original timeline.

It really brings home how things had changed for her, as she’d entered the palace and taken the role of Crown Princess.

[END SPOILER]

Zhang Ling He as Wenxuan

I found myself really taking to Wenxuan as a character; I quickly found him very likable, and it wasn’t long before I was firmly in his corner, rooting for him.

In fact, I would say that when things got a little hard-going for me during my watch, it was my desire to see Wenxuan get a happy ending, that kept me going.

Mainly, I love that it’s clear to see, very early into our story, that Wenxuan absolutely has feelings for Li Rong, despite their difficult past.

I found myself sitting up, all ready to squee, every time we got an indication that Wenxuan was still very much smitten.

At the same time, I also found Wenxuan’s rather easygoing, laidback, and rather cheeky nature very enjoyable to watch.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-4. Very quickly, I feel like we can see Wenxuan’s concern for Li Rong showing through his sardonic gaze.

I mean, the dude just can’t help himself when it comes to Li Rong’s affairs, can he?

He claims that he has no interest in being selected as her husband, but he also can’t tear his eyes away from Li Rong, to see who she’s talking to, and what she might be thinking.

He keeps analyzing the pros and cons of her various marriage prospects, and just.. can’t seem to keep away, can he?

It becomes clear quite quickly, that he does have affection for Li Rong, despite how strained things had gotten, in their past life. 😁

E5-8. Wenxuan’s cheeky side is coming through more strongly for me, these episodes, and I find myself often chuckling at his bits of nonsense.

Like the way he so plaintively presents his case to the Emperor (Yu Jin Wei), saying that his life is in danger, now that he’s spent the night alone with Li Rong; it’s almost like a little boy complaining to his father, that he’s been treated unfairly.

I thought it was pretty cute – especially since we know that Wenxuan’s just playing his cards well and putting on an act, and is actually very confident of getting the Emperor to agree to his marriage with Li Rong. 🤭

And then there’s how, when Li Rong’s men present him with her portrait and says that he just needs to bow to the portrait to thank her, he draws himself bowing, in the portrait itself. HA.

I thought that was quite cheeky. 😁

E17-20. Even though Li Rong being so busy with the Inspectorate wears on him, Wenxuan does have a very lovely, supportive attitude, which I love.

Like when Li Rong officially opens the Inspectorate, and he tells Shangguan Ya that he will do whatever it takes, to support his wife’s aspirations, whatever they might be; that that is the way in which he will love her.

Gosh, I do love that. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Treatment of our OTP relationship in Show’s first half

In the first half of our show, I was very pleased with the treatment of the OTP relationship.

Firstly, I liked that it was such a central focus of our narrative; that’s exactly what I’d wanted, and Show was very good about giving that to me.

Secondly, I really liked all the little milestones that we get, in terms of Wenxuan and Li Rong finding their way back to each other, in this new timeline.

At the same time, I also loved the idea that these two people know each other really well, from having spent a good chunk of a lifetime together, and that their knowledge of each other, is still relevant and useful, in this new life. 🥲

Here are some of my personal highlights, from this portion of our OTP relationship.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-4. One thing I really like, is the fact that Li Rong and Wenxuan know each other so well, that they are each quickly convinced that the other person is also there for a do-over, because of the way the other person is playing weiqi.

I honestly really love that.

They may not have gotten along for much of their marriage, but they sure do know each other well, and I love that that knowledge is mutual, and they both figure it out before the game is over. 🤩

And then, even though they agree to henceforth never see each other again, neither of them is able to keep to that agreement.

First, she is quick to send him anti-itch medication to help with the citron fruit that she’d forced him to eat, knowing that he’s allergic and would break out in a rash right away after eating it.

And, she makes sure to include a cloak, as well as a whole tray of silver.

As for him, once he realizes that she might be in trouble, with those masked men riding towards her residence, most likely to kidnap her, he just can’t help but get involved, to try to save her.

These mutual demonstrations of care and concern definitely make up a big reason for why I feel quite seriously invested in this story already.

I can clearly see that these two people don’t hate each other the way they say they do; I can see that they care more than they say they do.

And now I just want to watch them find their way back to each other, and find a better way to be together, in this new life.

I honestly find it quite endearing that Wenxuan goes out of his way to help Li Rong, and even ends up carrying her on his back, when she says that she’s too tired to walk any further.

They bicker and all, but he still takes care of her and gives her the grilled fish to eat first, and even makes a hay bed for her and gives her his cloak, while he makes do with trying to warm his hands by the fire.

And then, when she sees that he’s cold, she lets him lie down with her under the cloak – an offer which he hilariously doesn’t hesitate to take up. 😁

Besides these practical demonstrations of care, I also really appreciate the bit of honest conversation that they have, lying there under that cloak.

I’m actually pleasantly surprised that Li Rong believes Wenxuan when he tells her that the fragrance pouch had been forced on him by Rongqing, and that every attendant in Li Rong’s palace wore a similar pouch.

It looks like Li Rong may have grievances against Wenxuan, but she does trust him, that he wouldn’t lie about something like that.

I also appreciate that Li Rong is the one who asks that they not talk about the past any longer, and stop being enemies in this life. I found this olive branch a little unexpected, though very welcome.

Plus, when he asks her what her plans are, she does open up, and talk about how she’d like to live this life free from being surrounded by suspicion, from witnessing the brutality of her brother when he’d ascended the throne, and from seeing Rongqing’s family get destroyed.

And, when she asks him what his regrets are, he doesn’t say it out loud, but we do hear him think, that he hadn’t let anyone down – but her.

Aw. If I’d already been on board for this OTP to find their way back to each other, I think this moment makes me even more eager to see that happen. 🥲

E5-8. I love when Wenxuan and Li Rong do their low-key bickering thing, because it’s all very genteel, mostly, but they still manage to put through a good number of snide remarks, to poke at the other person. It’s quite entertaining. 😁

Like how Wenxuan says that he has to be bold, to ask for Li Rong’s hand in marriage – because she’s so fierce and dangerous. 🤭

Of course, there’s also the way he’s so hyper-aware of anything she has to do with Rongqing, while she’s always quick to remind him of his past dealings with Qin Zhenzhen.

They’re officially only in a contract marriage, but the jealousy is real, and I find it very entertaining as well.

Besides that, though, the mutual care is real too, and I really do love that.

Like when Wenxuan says that he’s tired and wants to snooze while leaning on the pillar while waiting to be called in by the Emperor, and Li Rong tells him to lean on her, so that he won’t fall.

Aw. I thought that was sweet.

And then, when Li Rong falls asleep in the carriage, Wenxuan is careful not to wake her, as he gets off the carriage. I thought that was sweet too.

In bigger strokes, there’s also how Li Rong does what she can to protect Wenxuan, when he’s detained by the Ministry of Justice. She uses her influence and authority, saying that he is her person, and that she will visit him daily – thus ensuring that he won’t be ill-treated while in detention.

And then there’s also how, when Consort Ning tries to charge at Li Rong in episode 8, in an attempt to kill her, Wenxuan is quick to shield her, with his own body.

It’s these kinds of mutually protective moments that really give me the thrills, like, Ahhh! These two people really care about each other! 🥲🥲

The fact that these two people are very much on the same level, when it comes to their more strategic discussions, also gives me a thrill.

Like, yesss, they are equally smart, and they each really get what the other is saying, nuances, layers and all. It makes me feel that they really can communicate on the same wavelength, and are therefore very well-suited to each other.

Honestly, I really quite enjoyed the fact that they were in adjoining prison cells, during their time in detention.

With both cells having their doors wide open, daily comforts and amenities all brought in, and Li Rong even able to go out for walks, this detention really is a token thing, so I wasn’t at all worried that anything bad was going to happen to them.

I really liked the fact that Li Rong and Wenxuan got to share a good amount of conversation (and teasing bickering), while in detention. It felt like.. quality time, in a way? 🤭

In particular, that moment, when Wenxuan tells Li Rong that since he’s agreed to marry her, he will abide by the boundaries required of a husband, feels so sincere.

Li Rong responds by asking if that’s until they get divorced, but you can see that she’s very cautiously testing the water – because there’s a part of her that wants this sincerity to be enduring and true.

We also get another piece of Wenxuan’s truth, when he admits to Li Rong, that part of the reason he’d struggled with his feelings for her, was because, to him, admitting that he liked her, was equivalent to admitting defeat and bowing down to royal power.

This feels like an insurmountable obstacle, in the sense that her royal position is an inherent part of who Li Rong is, but.. I have hope that Show will help Wenxuan find a way to look beyond this, in the episodes to come.

Mainly, I’m just glad that these two are talking about things in an open and honest manner; that’s the first step in the right direction, isn’t it?

E9-12. I honestly do love the idea that Wenxuan has so much clarity about his feelings for Li Rong, and is unabashed about letting her know about how he’s felt about her in the past, and how he feels about her now.

I definitely like that Wenxuan keeps dropping hints of how he feels, as he interacts with Li Rong.

On that note, I do really like the way he is kind of cheeky with her; you can tell that he’s just having fun with her, and isn’t actually trying to be unpleasant. Kinda like he’s pulling her leg, just to see how she responds.

I find it quite cute and entertaining.

Like how deadpans, at the top of episode 9, that he might look like he’s joking, but he’s really in need of money.

And then, when she tells him that she doesn’t have a lot of money right now, and to not go overboard with his spending, he pretends to think about whether other princesses might have more ready cash – which of course, makes her react in a bit of a petty jealous huff.

Tee hee hee. I found this all quite cutely adorable. 🥰

And then, when they’re being all casual with each other, he suddenly turns serious, and tells her that if there were a next time, he would still shield her (like he’d done when Consort Ning had tried to charge at Li Rong with her hairpin, in episode 8).

Aw. I do love how that leaves Li Rong looking thoughtful; it feels like Wenxuan’s tweaking how she thinks about him, slowly but surely.

What I mean is, Li Rong might not even be cognizant of it herself, but there are times when there’s a softness about her, when she thinks upon Wenxuan, and I find that quite telling, like she’s softened her heart towards him.

Like when the Emperor talks to her about her marriage, and asks what she thinks of Wenxuan, her expression softens, as she answers that he’s quite good, just as her father had said.

I’d like to think that that softness is her heart leaking out, a little bit. 🥲

And, I also like that Li Rong teases Wenxuan sometimes, in her own way.

For example, the way she sends the portraits of the two wedding outfits to Wenxuan, and asks him to help her choose – but then makes sure to select the one that he didn’t choose, saying that in matters like these, it’s always best to choose the opposite of what the man thinks.

Heh. I thought that felt like a gentle prank, on her part. 🤭

And then the way she sends a note to Wenxuan, just to remind him not to embarrass her during the wedding rituals, complete with a threat and a drawing of what looks like an expired turtle with “x”es for eyes, lands as a cheeky ribbing. 😁

It’s also cute, how, after the wedding, Li Rong pesters Wenxuan to help her take off her headdress, and Wenxuan does his best fumbling through it, coz he doesn’t know how to take it off either.

The next day, when Wenxuan takes Li Rong to the gambling house to look for Shangguan Ya, I couldn’t help but notice that he looks really quite pleased, as he puts his arm around Li Rong, and tells whoever will listen, that she’s his wife. Aw. That’s quite cute, yes?

And then, when they’re chasing after Shangguan Ya, it’s very telling, how Wenxuan gets all upset that Li Rong falls from the second floor, even though he’s quick to catch her in his arms.

Our boy can’t bear the thought of Li Rong possibly getting hurt, and I think it’s all very cute.

I also like how Wenxuan pays close attention to Li Rong’s moods, and does what he can to help her, or at least help her feel better.

Like when he notices something off about her mood after her visit to the palace, he continues to pay attention to it, right into the night.

At first, he asks her about it, but she doesn’t say much, and so, later, he asks her maid whether she’d had a disagreement with her brother.

Not only that, he blends a calming incense, and takes it with him when he goes to see Li Rong that evening.

Clearly, he’d prepared that incense with her mood in mind, yes?

I’d’ honestly missed this on my first watch of the episode; it’s an almost throwaway moment.

But now that I’ve noticed it, I really like how it lends more layers to Wenxuan’s attentiveness towards Li Rong. 🥰

And of course, I do like that Li Rong responds to his query, and tells him about the thing that’s on her mind, to the point of discussing with him, why Chuan had turned out the way he did, in their original timeline.

It’s really great, honestly, that Wenxuan is able to provide her with insight that she clearly hadn’t previously considered; that Chuan had been that way, because he’d lost all the people who’d mattered to him – even Li Rong herself, because time had changed her too.

I do like the idea that Wenxuan is so wise and perceptive. 🥲

Of course, like I mentioned earlier, Li Rong keeps talking about helping Wenxuan have a happy marriage with Zhenzhen, and the time she unveils her grand plan in the carriage, complete with details on how she plans to help him marry Zhenzhen after their divorce, Wenxuan really loses his composure.

I was quite happily shocked, honestly, when Wenxuan runs back to the carriage window and ends up telling Li Rong that he’d never liked Zhenzhen, and that he has only ever had feelings for her.

Ahhh!!! I’d had no idea that we would get a confirmation of either of their feelings, this early in our story! 🤩

It’s too bad that Wenxuan is so exasperated and frustrated, that after he’s spilled his feelings to Li Rong, he tells her that he’s tired, and that they should live separately.

Ack! I thought he was really going to storm off into living separately from Li Rong, and I was so glad that Li Rong runs after him, upon remembering how they’d ended up being separated, in their previous timeline.

I’m so relieved that Li Rong apologizes to Wenxuan, and also, explains more about what she’s like, and why she’d concluded that Wenxuan had had feelings for Zhenzhen.

Importantly, when Wenxuan asks her if she’s happy after understanding what he’s said to her, she nods yes.

Ahhh!! So she’s happy about the fact that Wenxuan has only ever had feelings for her! YESSS. 🤩

I’m glad that this is enough to change Wenxuan’s mind about living separately, and he walks right back to the carriage with her.

Beyond that, I’m even more glad, that he continues to talk things out in the carriage; that feels very healthy.

Like how he apologizes too, for trying to matchmake her with Rongqing, and how she tells him that she’d never blamed him, and then explained her way of thinking about relationships; that when a relationship isn’t yet confirmed, she doesn’t like to disturb others.

I also like how Wenxuan makes it clear that Li Rong can make all of her own decisions, but that he needs to make the decisions when it comes to his matters, and I love how he earnestly suggests that whenever something bothers either of them, they need to articulate it to each other.

And then I love how Li Rong gets into the spirit of things, and request that Wenxuan refrain from talking about living separately, from now on.

Aw. YES for setting reasonable boundaries, and setting a healthy standard of communication. Sounds like some excellent foundations for a marriage, to me. 🥰😁

E13-16. One thing I don’t think I will ever get tired of, is the sight of Wenxuan and Li Rong standing side by side, presenting a united front, and backing each other up.

I love this idea that they are very much on the same page, and trust each other to play their parts, and be the backup that each of them needs.

The more they do this, the stronger I perceive their connection to be. 🥰

These episodes, we see them do this over and over, in front of the Emperor, in front of the court, at the Ministry of Justice, and in front of Wenxuan’s family members, and I got a bit of a thrill every time. 🤩

I also like that they discuss things between themselves, in order to strengthen their joint position.

Like the way Wenxuan advises Li Rong not to act too smart in front of the Emperor, and make it look like the Inspectorate is more Wenxuan’s idea, all so that the Emperor won’t see Li Rong as being too much of a threat.

It’s very wise and strategic, and I like that Li Rong does exactly that – even though she also does take the chance to thwap Wenxuan on the head, while telling him that he’s pretty smart.

Heh. This has become a running gag, almost, with Li Rong often thwapping Wenxuan on the head with her fan, and even though Wenxuan always protests, I do think that this is Li Rong’s own way of showing.. closeness and connection, with Wenxuan, even if she’s not ready to show affection per se.

Also, I think Wenxuan’s reaction faces amuse her, as we see from the little smirk that crosses her face, as she walks away from him.

It’s like she tells him, these episodes, that she’s the only one who’s allowed to bully him; that’s exactly the energy behind the head thwap, in my opinion. 😁

I like that Wenxuan actually doesn’t seem to truly mind, despite his protests. After all, he lets out a tiny shadow of a grin as well, as he walks after Li Rong.

Putting that all together, I find them very cute as a pair, honestly. With these two, bickering equals affection and ease in each other’s company, and I like that.

One of my favorite things about their connection, is Wenxuan doing husbandly things for Li Rong, whether she knows it or not.

Like when he finds her fallen asleep while reading, he’s so tender as he puts away the scroll, carries her to her bed, and tucks the blanket over her.

And, I do also really like that her waking up and realizing that he’s there, doesn’t stop him in the least; he just keeps going. 🥰

Importantly, we get to see that the care is mutual, even though Li Rong mostly doesn’t admit it.

But look at the way she heads right over to the Pei residence, the moment she finds out that Wenxuan is in trouble.

I appreciate that we get to see her take a moment to take a breath and compose herself, before walking into the fray; this shows that she wasn’t calm, in hurrying over, and the reason she wasn’t calm, is because she was worried about Wenxuan. 🥲

I love how steely and quietly fiery she is, in defending Wenxuan, and taking to task the people who would dare to lay a hand on him.

She’s admirably eloquent as she fields all the excuses that his uncles offer up, and I love that she just absolutely won’t be stopped, no matter what they say. She is determined to save Wenxuan from being beaten, and I love that. 🥲

And of course, I absolutely lapped up that moment when Li Rong declares that now that she and Wenxuan are married, he has his own family, and has someone who protects him and loves him.

Eeee!!! She’s talking about herself protecting and loving him, and I spazz. 🤩🤩

And then I love how gentle she is, as she takes his arm and says, “Let’s go home.”

Awwww. I am very quietly flailing over here. 🫠🥲🫠

Afterwards, I feel very heartened to see Li Rong personally dress Wenxuan’s wounds, instead of delegating it to a physician; that makes the point that she is very personally invested in Wenxuan’s wellbeing, doesn’t it? 🥰

PLUS, how about the way she tells him not to push himself like this any further, because it makes her feel bad.

In fact, the actual dialogue says “我心里不好受” which literally translates as “it’s hard for the inside of my heart to take.” That has a very specific, different flavor than “feel bad,” and I’m latching onto that as more evidence that Li Rong does care very much for Wenxuan. 🥲

Most significantly, I love that we get some snuggly type skinship, because Wenxuan’s using the excuse that he’s in pain, to hold Li Rong, as he sleeps. Awww. I love how cozy this is. 🥰

I honestly really like how determined Li Rong is, to continue to protect Wenxuan, even in the face of criticism from the court.

She’s utterly fearless when Wenxuan’s uncles try to bring a charge against her before the Emperor, and I love how she’s able to hold her own against them.

In fact, she’s so fearless, that it really didn’t occur to me, when she went head to head and knee to knee with them, in kneeling outside the imperial study, that she might not actually have a plan.

I’m so glad that Wenxuan rushes to get her, when she’s kneeling in the rain.

That flashback from the original timeline, that it had been Rongqing who’d gone to her with an umbrella, really had me on tenterhooks, because I was rooting so hard for Wenxuan to be the one to reach her first, this time.

The way Show has Li Rong look up and see Rongqing first, really had me for a second – and then I was so relieved to realize that it really was Wenxuan after all.

I love how Wenxuan grabs her in a princess-carry, and stoically carries her back to the palanquin, and takes her home.

Isn’t it really cute, how Wenxuan bundles up Li Rong in a blanket when they’re back home, and hugs her like he’s her personal clingy koala?? 🐨😍

And, even though they still do bicker a little bit, I can’t help but glom onto the small little happy smile that Li Rong smiles, while Wenxuan’s smothering her with that clingy embrace. 🥰🥰

I also really like that we have Wenxuan stating explicitly, that he doesn’t intend to part ways with Li Rong in the future.

[END SPOILER]

The three ladies

I do appreciate the friendship that we see forming among Li Rong, Shangguan Ya and Zhenzhen.

It feels extra precious, given what we know about the original timeline, where all three of them had been miserable while confined to palace life.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E19. As they sit together and share drinks after the establishment of the Inspectorate, they look much more fulfilled and content compared to how they’d been in our original timeline, even though Zhenzhen has had to fake her death and is now known as Xun Chuan.

[END SPOILER]

STUFF THAT WAS OK

Treatment of our OTP in Show’s second half [BROAD SPOILERS]

So.. the reason the OTP relationship in the second half of our story is in this neutral section, is because of a few reasons.

1, I feel like Show ramps up the political stuff in its second half, and as a result, our OTP relationship stops being such a central focus.

2, I’d imagined that once our OTP feelings were established as being mutual, that our OTP relationship would be more steady and well-anchored.

Instead, we have Li Rong choosing to keep Wenxuan at a business distance, and this frustrated me a great deal. It honestly felt like we’d taken 5 steps forward, only to take 5 steps back. 😭

3, At the same time, we do still get some nice OTP moments, which I did genuinely appreciate and enjoy.

Weighing all those things together, it felt apt to put our second half OTP relationship, in this neutral zone.

Here are a few highlights from our second half that stood out to me extra.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E17-20. In episode 17, when everyone was reporting that Wenxuan was dead, it was sweet heartache to see Li Rong angst about his wellbeing.

Even though she puts on a strong front and insists that he’s alive, you can tell that she’s actually really worried and scared that he might actually be dead, and I could feel that she was using every fiber of her being to keep her mind focused on the idea that Wenxuan just had to be alive.

I thought it was really beautiful that she focused her energies on writing letters to Wenxuan, because that absolutely helps her to keep the hope alive, AND it gives her an outlet through which she can pour out and express her thoughts and feelings towards Wenxuan.

I loved this, and was hoping that she would give those letters to Wenxuan, upon his return.

Alas, she does not give those letters to Wenxuan, but YESSS that he comes back alive, and with the evidence that he’d promised he would collect, thus strengthening their investigation into the Qin family case, and therefore strengthening Li Rong’s position as well.

The moment that I was most waiting for, was the reunion between Wenxuan and Li Rong.

In my head, I was expecting a breathless reunion full of relieved tears and grateful embraces and spilled feelings, and.. Show gave me part of that, so I’m not completely disappointed. 😅

I love the fact that Wenxuan’s breathlessly waiting downstairs for Li Rong, and I love that when Li Rong hearse that he’s there, she wastes no time and breathlessly rushes to see him.

And, we even get a grateful embrace, when Wenxuan rushes forward and takes her into his arms, hugging her tight; he even addresses her as “Rongrong,” her pet name, and tells her that he’s there to take her home.

Aw. Honestly, everything was going to (my) plan, up to this point – until Li Rong stops herself from returning his embrace, that is.

Dang it.

It doesn’t appear to be a huge deal, because Li Rong does end up patting his back, and asking about his wounds, but the outpouring of feelings that I’d hoped for, thinking that a death scare would be a sufficient catalyst, did not come. 😔

But, I do think it is kind of a big deal, in terms of our OTP dynamics, because while we can see that the death scare has galvanized Wenxuan into a more open emotional space, where he wants to be with Li Rong properly, it’s not the same case for Li Rong.

In that moment where she’d stopped for a second, before patting Wenxuan’s back, she’d reined in her feelings and composed herself, and I can totally imagine her telling herself not to give in to her feelings, because she needs to be careful.

That makes me sad, and I think that this is the crux of the OTP dilemma, for the rest of these episodes.

However, I do appreciate the various indications that Li Rong does care about Wenxuan.

Like the way she asks the royal physician to prescribe more healing tonics for Wenxuan, and the way she declines Shangguan Ya’s invitation to play a round of cards, because Wenxuan is at home. That did make me smile a little. 🥲

And, I also like the fact that both Jing Lan and Tong Ye are so keen to see Li Rong and Wenxuan on good terms, so we often see them doing their best to get the two of them to spend time together.

Like how Tong Ye goes to Wenxuan and acts all anxious that Li Rong won’t go to bed, which galvanizes Wenxuan into hurrying over to see Li Rong, and put her to bed himself.

Aw. I like the little moments like this. 🥰

All too often though, it’s like we’re taking one step forward, and then one step back.

For example, I was so happy, really, when Li Rong tells Wenxuan that she’d actually been afraid that he was really dead, and had forced herself to believe the he was alive, because she wouldn’t have known what to do if he’d really died.

But then, the moment Wenxuan turns his gaze to look at her, she gets nervous and turns away, so that he only sees her back.

And when Wenxuan says that there’s no need to be embarrassed, and that he just wants to look at her, she tells him there’s nothing to see, and that they should go to sleep.

And then, when Wenxuan leans in and tells her that he knows that she has him in her heart, and that makes him very happy, and kisses her, she protests – but then he basically offers himself to her, for pleasure, and starts to kiss her in earnest..

..But just as think that we’re possibly going to have some OTP sexytimes, Li Rong pushes him away.

It’s actually quite intoxicating, the way Wenxuan tells her, all soft whisper and lowered lids, not to be taken in by Rongqing’s looks, and reminds her that he’s willing to serve her in any way that she would like, at any time that she would like.

But as before, Li Rong puts a stop to the moment going anywhere, and simply tells him, awkwardly, that she’s understood his message.

Ah, bummer. My heart always leaps a little at these moments of potential, only to deflate, when Li Rong puts on the brakes. 😔

E17-20. OTP-wise, I think that things really start to slide into a not-great situation, after that assassination attempt on Wenxuan at the marketplace.

I mean, it’s a relief that he’s not severely hurt, and it’s also nice to see Li Rong nursing him and feeding him soup because he can’t use his own arm, but those little silver linings are kind of short lived.

It’s ironic, really, that the whole root of the big breakdown in their relationship, is because Li Rong is determined to find out who had tried to kill Wenxuan, and have them killed instead.

That’s why she devises that plan to use herself as bait – which is the thing that causes that big misunderstanding between her and Wenxuan.

He’s getting ready for this big love confession, which he’s been thinking about for a really long time, and she thinks that he’s coming to support her in her effort to trap the assassins. Whoops. 🙈

It was kind of gutting to see Wenxuan register what was happening, and realize that he and Li Rong hadn’t actually been on the same page after all. 💔

It feels like a sucker punch to the gut, when Li Rong accuses him of throwing a tantrum (the exact translation of the dialogue; the subs use a much more vague phrase “act this way with me”).

And it feels like Wenxuan is speaking from so much pain, when he tells Li Rong that even if she doesn’t have him in her heart, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the right to like her, accompany her and or pursue her, and that she shouldn’t disrespect his feelings.

After that, it feels heartbreaking to hear him parse her behavior, and conclude that she doesn’t want to be with him, but can’t bear to lose the use of his talent; that’s why she’s nice to him, to keep him around, but then rejects him when he gets closer.

It’s really sad, because that’s not the truth, but I can totally see why Wenxuan would conclude that this is the reason Li Rong’s been acting this way. 💔

With Wenxuan withdrawing into himself like this, I honestly feel like this is a very crucial, pivotal point in their relationship.

What I mean is, I think that if Li Rong doesn’t do something to correct Wenxuan’s misconceptions about her now, it could really do some serious, longlasting damage to their relationship.

E21-24. I’m actually pleasantly surprised at how Wenxuan’s heart is still tender and open towards Li Rong, after the Terrible Misunderstanding which had resulted in his lovingly prepared flowers being blown up, and his favorite qin being destroyed – and his vulnerable confession-ready heart being trampled on.

Li Rong rightfully angsts over how she’s hurt Wenxuan, and how he’s right about her not wanting to make a commitment, while still wanting him to stay by her side, and it really is quite gratifying, in a sense, to see her angst like that, because at least it shows that she does care about Wenxuan, and that he does get under her skin.

But, given how Wenxuan had left her last, in such a defeated, hurt manner, I’m honestly really surprised, that when Li Rong ekes out her apology for being evasive with him, and then, in an act of desperation, because she feels that she really is losing him, asks him to wait for her a little longer, he actually softens towards her.

To Li Rong’s credit, she really does lay her heart quite bare (by her standards), in the way she tells him that she can’t trust him, and that she also can’t trust herself, but that she does know that he’s good to her, and that’s why she has this obsessive need to confirm, time and again, that he won’t leave her.

Ahhh, the fact that she asks him to wait for her, and to please not leave, feels like a huge concession on Li Rong’s part, honestly. 🥲

And, when Wenxuan doesn’t respond right away, she starts backpedaling, but that’s when her tears begin to actually fall, and in this moment, it’s easy to see that she really does care about him and doesn’t want to lose him.

It’s so sweet and touching, that Wenxuan’s response, after he turns around, is to ask her if 10 or 20 years is enough, and if not, how about another 20 years, and that she can take her time, because he’s good at waiting, and won’t leave, because he’s liked her for a long time.

Awwww.. Isn’t that so sweetly touching?? 🥲🥲🥰🥰

Afterwards, I thought it was both cheeky but also pretty smart of Wenxuan, to continue to sleep in the study like he’d first requested, despite the fact that they’d just hugged and made up.

It’s kind of conniving, yes, but I do think that it does Li Rong some good, to miss Wenxuan over the many days that pass, because that in turn finally galvanizes her into action, to sneak into the study to be with him.

And, because Wenxuan’s always been the more forthcoming one in their relationship, I honestly don’t begrudge Wenxuan this moment, even though he did manipulate Li Rong into a situation where she couldn’t help but express the fact that she missed him. 🤭

I love the little scene where Wenxuan gets all happy that Li Rong’s there to see him, and then they each take turns poking holes in the other person’s little act, like Li Rong calling out Wenxuan for playing hard to get, while Wenxuan latches onto the truth, that Li Rong really does want him back in the main bedroom – but doesn’t want to be embarrassed.

My favorite beat in this scene, is when Wenxuan tells Li Rong that all she has to do is say the word, and he’d solve everything in a way that would save her reputation, and she ekes out this tiny, “Come back with me then,” to which Wenxuan blithely agrees, like he’s a merchant who’s just cut a great deal with a customer. 😂

It’s honestly pretty cute how both Jing Lan and Tong Ye get such huge shocks, when they come upon our OTP snuggled up in bed together, in the morning. 😁

I also enjoyed the little snippets of Wenxuan and Li Rong enjoying the Lunar New Year celebrations together, particularly the part where Wenxuan tries to help Li Rong brush flour off her face, after she proudly shows him the first dumplings she’s ever made.

Aw! Doesn’t that have newlywed bliss written all over it?? 🥰🥲

I also love that moment when they run out to watch the fireworks, and with his soft gaze trained on Li Rong, we hear Wenxuan promise her in voiceover, that he will never leave her; that the Grand Princess will always have her Prince Consort, and Li Rong will always have Pei Wenxuan.

I found that very touching. 🥲🥲

And it’s also sweet, that Li Rong’s voiceover to Wenxuan, in this moment, is that she will work hard to maintain the happiness that they have. 🥰

E25-28. I did feel like the row over Li Rong wanting to divorce Wenxuan came about very suddenly, since Wenxuan had just been comforting Li Rong and assuring her that he wasn’t angry at her for her misstep in court that morning.

But, on further thought, it makes sense, because we know that Wenxuan loves Li Rong very much, and that the last thing he would want, is to divorce her.

We also know that he’s been very touchy in the past, whenever Li Rong had talked about divorce, when they’d been on poorer terms.

I can see her suggestion now, that they get divorced, would touch a raw nerve with Wenxuan, and cause him to be very upset.

And, I can see why Li Rong would feel so frustrated, because of his stubbornness, and (what she sees as) his refusal to trust her.

I’m SO relieved that it doesn’t take long for Wenxuan to find those letters that Li Rong had written to him, when she’d been dealing with the rumors that he’d died.

YESSS. I’ve been waiting for those letters to make their reappearance!

I’m so glad that Wenxuan now has the assurance that he needs, that Li Rong really does love him.

I feel like this has been his vulnerable weak spot for a long time, because he just hasn’t quite had the confidence, that Li Rong truly cared about him.

But now he DOES have that confidence, and I’m so pleased that it makes the world of difference.

It makes me feel that Wenxuan is so buoyed by the assurance of Li Rong’s love for him, that he could take on the world. 🥰

It’s quite cute that he would immediately storm the boat that Li Rong’s hired, in a fit of emotion, with the intention of going to see her – but then get suuuper jealous right away, because he sees Cui Yulang offering to be Li Rong’s mate.

Oops. Talk about bad timing; he missed all the important stuff, where Cui Yulang tells Li Rong about the case that he’d like her to investigate for him. 😅

I can totally see why Wenxuan would drag Li Rong off that boat and into the boat that he’d paddled, and just whisk her away (if only he could paddle faster, the whisking would be more convincing, heh).

I’m honestly kind of bummed that they fall right into a fight, with Li Rong baiting Wenxuan into divorcing her – which instead galvanizes him into forcing himself on her.

Eep. That was hard to watch, not gonna lie. 🙈

I’m glad though, that Li Rong fights him off, and then demands to know how he could treat her like this – which shakes Wenxuan out of his blinded crazy fit enough to realize what a terrible thing he’s done.

I’m really relieved that he immediately apologizes, and then tells her that he’s seen the letters, and knows her heart; that he’d misunderstood her, but that he also gets sad and jealous, and that he doesn’t like the way she acts like she can leave him anytime.

And I’m so glad that Li Rong tells him the truth; that she doesn’t value power over him, and has always just wanted a way to have it all, to protect them both, and that she has, in fact, fallen for him again. 🥲

Augh. This feels like such a significant milestone in their relationship, doesn’t it?

With Li Rong articulating her feelings for Wenxuan, and Wenxuan asking her to be open with him about how she feels, and them tearfully hugging it out, this feels like the start of a whole new chapter, for our OTP. 🥲

I’m glad that after this moment, they spend a little more time having a heart-to-heart talk, before Wenxuan tells Li Rong, that he’s willing to follow her plan, to get divorced, for the sake of their strategy.

It’s so significant, that as they lie side by side, gazing at the stars overhead, he tells her that he wants to give her everything that she wants, and she tells him, that it might be nice for them to have a child.

And when he asks if she isn’t afraid, because that would create a new vulnerability for them, she says, in her quiet way, that if he isn’t afraid, then neither is she.

Ahhh. That’s so great. I feel like this is the best OTP moment we’ve had thus far; they’re together, their feelings are out in the open, and they’re even on the same page about starting a family??? 🥲🥲🥲

It’s just too bad that they have to put the divorce plan into motion right away, and it really isn’t long before the Emperor grants Wenxuan’s request.

I mean, I know that this is all for show, but it does bum me out somewhat, that we are definitely getting fewer chances for our OTP to spend quality time together, as a direct result. 😔😅

It helps that Wenxuan makes sure to get time with Li Rong, while making sure to keep up the appearance of being on poor terms with her.

Like telling Tong Ye to stand guard outside the study where he’s supposedly sleeping – but run off to cuddle with Li Rong instead. 🤭 I thought that was cute.

E29-32. I like the idea of Wenxuan seeking out Li Rong coz he misses her, and I like that he unabashedly tells her that he misses her, and even admits to hitting Cui Yulang.

And then we have the shared flower petal bath, which is rather sweet, but also rather tame, given how much potential the scene had.

I think I was just looking for something a little more.. ardent? Like, I wanted to feel like there was a lot more pent-up emotion in both of them, finally given release in this moment, and what we got was sweet, but also, a little flat, to my eyes. 😅

I do appreciate the various indications that Li Rong really does have feelings for Wenxuan, particularly since she’s mostly quite a reserved type, when it comes to showing her feelings.

I’m honestly quite tickled by the idea of her buying the house next to his, and then climbing the walls, just to visit him. 😁

For someone like Li Rong, who’s not only reserved, but royalty, and used to other people doing things for her, this is a pretty huge leap, honestly.

And it does give me a thrill to realize that she’s willing to go this far, because she misses Wenxuan this much. 🥲

The way she gets all upset with him for putting himself at risk by volunteering to take on the exam fraud case, is also evidence that she cares for him a great deal, and I do like that.

E29-32. I do love that when Rongqing arrests Wenxuan and drags him back to the Ministry of Justice, Li Rong wastes no time in marching up in person, to take Wenxuan back with her, and that she absolutely stops to threaten Rongqing, that if anything untoward were to happen to Wenxuan, she would hate him – even if she never hated him for killing her.

I do relish the idea that Li Rong values Wenxuan’s life more than her own, literally, and that’s why she’s threatening Rongqing like this.

ALSO. Can I just say, I find it cute that Li Rong would take an injured Wenxuan back to her residence, with a prepared cover story angle, that she’s just that smitten by him, even though they’re already divorced.

Tee hee hee. It’s kind of thrilling, honestly, that Li Rong, who’s always been dignity personified, would allow her reputation to be dragged through the gossipmongers, as a lovesick woman who can’t forget her husband. 🤭

[END SPOILER]

Zhao Jin Mai as Li Rong

I just wanted to say upfront, that I like Zhao Jin Mai as a general rule, and really enjoyed her in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love and Reset (reviews here and here!).

And, overall, I feel that Zhao Jin Mai does a solid delivery of Li Rong as a character.

However, I have to admit that I hit a ceiling in Show’s late stretch, with the particular blend of measured and breathy that Zhao Jin Mai uses, as Li Rong.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E33-36. I’m sorry to say this, but these episodes, Li Rong’s measured manner of speaking really started to rub me the wrong way, specifically starting during her cave conversation with Rongqing.

I do understand that this is part of her character; that she’s meant to be this very reserved, controlled sort of person, and that’s why she has the habit of speaking in very measured tones.

However, I feel like the range of expression that Zhao Jin Mai allows Li Rong, as a character, is too limited.

In this cave scene, where Li Rong comes to the devastating conclusion that the one who’d engineered her death hadn’t been Rongqing, but her own brother, Chuan, she’s still very measured, in her grief.

It’s like Zhao Jin Mai has put a deliberate ceiling on the amount of emotion that Li Rong is allowed to express, and that relative lack of variance, is finally kicking in for me as kind of bland and boring, even though I do recognize that Zhao Jin Mai is working a fair bit of nuance into that measuredness.

The measuredness just finally got to me, these episodes, particularly with SO. MUCH. TALKING. that goes on, involving Li Rong’s measured tones. 😅

[END SPOILER]

Basically, you could say that I appreciated the strength and shrewdness – and the compassion, too – that we see in Li Rong, as a character.

But, in execution, I found her frustrating, even though I understood why she would be as repressed as she was.

Add on the breathy measuredness, with which I hit a wall, and.. I have to confess that I didn’t like Li Rong as much as I’d hoped to.

..Which is why I’ve got her in this neutral section.

The connection between Li Rong and Rongqing [SPOILERS]

Even though Show flirts with the idea of Rongqing being a rival for Li Rong’s affections, I think it’s clear that Li Rong doesn’t actually have romantic feelings for him.

Mostly, I see it as her feeling compassion for him, and wanting to give him a chance to live well and be happy, unlike how he’d lived, in his previous life.

This, even though Li Rong spends most of our story with the belief that it had been Rongqing who had killed her, in her previous life.

I did find it quite odd that Li Rong would be able to be so forgiving of Rongqing, even when she believed that he’d killed her in the past, but I rationalized that she understands his grudge, because his family had been massacred, and he himself had been castrated, leaving him with little to no dignity.

I also rationalized that it’s easier for her not to hold a grudge against Rongqing, because her death in her previous life isn’t absolute; she’s here again, living it all over again, with a chance to do everything over.

Without lasting consequences of that death, I suppose it’s easier to forgive and move on, yes?

All in all, I wasn’t too invested in this connection, but thought I would mention it at least, since our story teases so much, Rongqing as a potential love rival for Wenxuan.

The connection between Chuan and Zhenzhen [SPOILERS]

I was low-key invested in the loveline between Chuan and Zhenzhen, if only because they’d been so in love in their previous lives, but had had it so hard, with her dying so tragically, and him being so distraught at her death.

Just based on that alone, I hoped that they would get a happy ending this time around.

This couple barely spends any screen time together, honestly, so I didn’t find my engagement with this loveline growing much more than my in-principle interest.

..Which is why it’s landed in this neutral zone.

STUFF I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH

Chen He Yi as Rongqing [SPOILERS]

I’m sorry to say this, but I really did not like Rongqing, as a character. 😅

When Show was pushing him as a potential love rival for Wenxuan, I was exasperated with him for continuing to think that he had a chance with Li Rong, even though she’d already married Wenxuan.

And then, when Show reveals him to be the Big Bad in our story, I was frustrated with his dogged attitude towards his chosen goal; he just refused to consider any other option.

Add on the fact that I didn’t find Chen He Yi’s delivery of Rongqing to be very compelling nor dynamic, and Rongqing was just altogether pretty bleah for me.

On a tangent, I have to confess that I found Chen He Yi’s lazy eye very distracting. 🙈

I’d low-key noticed it in earlier episodes, but maybe it’s because Rongqing’s doing more glaring and glowering in the second half of our story, after being outed as our antagonist; I found it a lot more obvious in later episodes. 😅

I dunno; I guess it’s not his fault? But I was very distracted anyway. Sorry.

The political stuff

I have to confess that I didn’t feel super interested in the politics in our story world.

To be fair to Show, the political stuff can be pretty clever; it’s just that the way it’s executed, makes it very dense for the first-time watcher.

What I mean is, the first time watching the plotting scenes, it’s hard to stay focused, because you can’t tell, at this point, how the various bits and pieces are significant, in the larger story.

Because you don’t know what’s significant, it can feel laborious trying to remember all the little details.

On second watch, however, the details start to make sense on hindsight, which makes for a rather interesting situation, because unless you’re writing about the show like I am, would you really revisit episodes that you found boring and dense?

I feel like most viewers wouldn’t, and in my head at least, I don’t think that works in Show’s favor. 😅

I personally would have preferred if Show had been less ambitious with making the politics clever, and just made it easier for us to follow, as an audience.

For the record, however, here are a couple of examples of what I mean, when I say that the politics can be quite clever.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E21-24. A lot of the thought processes are very layered, with small little details leading to big outcomes, like with Wenxuan telling the Emperor about the popularity of the white jade hairpins, whose sky-high prices and selective sales, lead the Emperor to become suspicious of Consort Rou rubbing shoulders with the noble families (who threaten the stability of his reign), because there’s no way of her being able to purchase one herself.

There’s also the way Li Rong anticipates that Xie Lanqing would collude with Lin Feibai, but (indirectly) releases Lin Feibai anyway, so that she can entrap Xie Lanqing with the truth – that he’s actually Lin Feibai’s biological father – and thus prove that he was the one who tried to have her assassinated, not the other way around.

Alternatively, there’s also how things can look innocuously supportive on the surface, but really harbor much more nefarious intentions, like with Wenxuan’s sudden promotion to Vice Minister of Personnel.

I really didn’t understand, until Show explained it to me, that Wenxuan’s promotion to Vice Minister, was not actually a good thing, because it would arouse the Emperor’s suspicion, and basically systemically erode the Emperor’s trust in and relationship with Li Rong.

[END SPOILER]

When Show relies on too much talking

Show tends to communicate things to us via dialogues between our characters, and this definitely started to wear on me, by the time I got to the final stretch.

To make things worse, it seems to me like Show actually ramps up all the talking in its final quarter.

I don’t know if this was a result of the rushed editing that this show reportedly underwent, but plot developments that should have felt exciting, actually managed to land as boring, to me.

Show might have been aiming for Explosion City, but mostly, I felt like I was just getting Exposition City. 😅

Not my favorite thing that Show did, by far.

Here are some examples, even though, like I said, these aren’t Show’s only offenses in this category.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E33-36. That whole conversation in the cave, between Rongqing and Li Rong, felt very labored (and yes, boring) to me.

And then later, we get what feels like The Never-ending Story. 😅

With Li Rong’s conversation with Wenxuan interspliced with Rongqing’s conversation with Ronghua (Yi Da Qian), we get filled in on a lot of stuff from their previous lives, and I honestly don’t know what the director or the writer were going for; it wasn’t long before I felt numbskull bored. 🙈😅

It just felt like it was all going on and on and ONNNN, and coupled with Li Rong’s very measured, regularly breathy tones, I found myself growing increasingly impatient and frustrated, while watching. 😅

Sincerely, it almost felt like I was listening to people narrating this story on the radio, instead of watching a drama, and I don’t mean that in a good way. 🙈

[END SPOILER]

Quick shout-out:

Karina Zhao as Consort Rou

I just had to give Consort Rou a shout-out, because I found Karina Zhao’s delivery of Consort Rou to be distractingly twitchy, and she only got twitchier, the more dramatic her scene was.

And yes, her scenes got increasingly dramatic (and therefore twitchy) in our final stretch. 😅

I didn’t like that so much.

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E37-40. When I find myself feeling wistful as I get to the end of a show, I know that Show’s done a really good job of engaging me.

And when I find myself feeling relieved as I get to the end of a show, I know that Show hasn’t been a great watch, for me.

Unfortunately, as much as I feel sorry to say so, I have to confess that this drama falls into the second category, for me.

I’d seriously started to lose interest in our final stretch, but I stayed for the happy ending that I believed Show would give me, because I care enough about Wenxuan as a character, to want him to have his happy ending with his Rongrong.

And Show does give me that, strictly speaking.

I think I just.. mostly didn’t care so much, for how Show spends its last 4 episodes.

There are 2 – well, make that 2.5 – main things that I didn’t care for too much, in this finale stretch.

The 0.5 here, is the whole thing in episode 37, where Li Rong gets all terrified about seeing Chuan face to face, after she finds out that he’d been the one to kill her, in her first life.

I found this a little overdramatic, because both she and Wenxuan have spent the last couple of years in this new life, with the clear understanding that the people in this life haven’t yet done the things that they’d experienced in their last life.

In fact, all this time, Li Rong’s been working to help Chuan avoid going down the path of tyranny that he’d gone down, in his past life.

And yet, she gets so disturbed when she finds out that he’d been the one to kill her, so much so that she can’t even look at him, and gets all trembly and shivery?

I didn’t find this too believable, but I rationalize that emotional reactions don’t have to make sense, and this was her gut reaction to finding out that her brother had been the one to engineer her death.

After this, the first big thing that I didn’t care for, was Consort Rou’s hysterics, on which we spend a good amount of time.

My goodness, she kept going on and on and onnn, about nobility and such, so much so that when she turns on Li Rong, and Zhenzhen’s arrow kills her, I was quite relieved. 😅

The other thing that I didn’t care for, in these finale episodes, is the verrrryy protracted death scene that we get, for Rongqing.

The amount of screen time and showiness that was spent on this definitely felt very disproportionate to Rongqing’s importance as a character.

I mean, yes, he’s important as our main antagonist, but for him to just take over the screen for such a long period of time, relegating our OTP to the sidelines, felt weird.

I don’t know if the intention was to make us as an audience feel sorry his tragic ending, but I have to admit that the way he shows no regrets about the path he’d chosen for himself, despite Wenxuan pointing out to him that that there were other, better paths that he could have taken, made me lose any remaining sympathy that I might have had, for him.

And, my lack of sympathy only strengthened, when he outright rejects the way out that Wenxuan offers him – to take that medicine that would heal him of his wounds, and then spend his life learning how to better the lives of the common people.

I suppose the idea here is that Rongqing’s decided that it’s too late for him now, but it really does land as him being too snooty or cowardly to take the chance that Wenxuan’s offering him, and that just made me feel more impatient for his death scene to hurry up and finish, y’know? 😅

On the upside, I did like the way both Wenxuan and Li Rong are unhesitating, when it comes to putting the other person’s safety first.

I found Li Rong’s decisive response, lure Wenxuan out of the palace, while she returns to the palace, even if it means risking death, very touching.

All this time, we’ve seen Wenxuan tell her that he’s willing to risk his life for her, but this is a rare instance of us seeing such an overt statement by Li Rong, and I appreciate how this balances out the OTP dynamic.

With this, Show is demonstrating to us, very clearly, that the love between Wenxuan and Li Rong is strong, and neither loves more than the other; they love each other equally, and are ready to die for the other person’s safety, if that were the cost.

Happily, they both survive, and get to continue serving in the court, side by side.

And, 3-year time-skip later, I’m honestly kind of glad that Chuan skips off to explore the world with Zhenzhen, and delegates his emperor duties to Li Rong, as Regent Princess Royal.

She was always more suited for the role anyway, plus this gives Chuan the freedom that he’s always longed for.

And, our OTP gets remarried again (But offscreen! Tsk!), and we get to see them basking happily in each other’s arms, pledging to spend the rest of their lives together.

It’s a sweet note on which to leave our OTP, and that is essentially what I’d wanted; I just wish that we could’ve gotten here without sidetracking so much into what I feel were unnecessary distractions. 😅

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Good start, but drags in the second half, in my opinion.

FINAL GRADE: B

TRAILER:

MV:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of  The Princess Royal, is No Gain No Love [Korea].

You can check out my episode 1-2 notes on No Gain No Love on Patreon here.

Here’s an overview of what I’m covering on Patreon right now (Tier benefits are cumulative)!

Foundation Tier (US$1): Entertainment Drop (Sundays) + the first set notes of all shows covered on Patreon (that’s 2 episodes for kdramas and 4 episodes for cdramas)

Early Access (US$5): +Cinderella at 2 AM [Korea]

Early Access Plus (US$10): +Love Next Door [Korea]

VIP (US$15): +Your Honor [Korea]