This show is a cute comfort watch, and with everything happening in the world, I think we all need something like this from time to time.
I watched this show again after seeing it when it first came out, but I never got around to writing about it. I liked it just as much the second time as I did the first.
In a grand court contest, the unassuming Li Wei (Tian Xi Wei) is unexpectedly chosen to marry Yin Zheng (Bai Jing Ting), the least favoured of the six royal heirs. Initially thrust into a marriage of political convenience, they seem doomed, but they form a genuine connection as they navigate their new roles and learn about each other.
The world-building and storytelling in the beginning episodes is chef's kiss. The way the stop motion animations explain the regions, cultures, and ethnicities really pulls us in. Also, the way in which we are introduced to the ensemble cast and the fact that it becomes clear this drama needs everyone, from princes and princesses to the wives and servants; each actor plays their role well.
This show is really about women, their friendships, rights, and finding freedom. We see women facing struggles in their family homes, in their marriages, and trying to be recognized in the outer world. When they support each other, and have some supportive men as allies, they succeed. It's comforting to watch because you know good will win in the end. There are lots of strong female leads (Chen Xiao Yun, Liu Ling Zi, Fan Shuai Qi, Liu Meng Meng, Chen Zi Han, Smile Hu, Wang Yi Yao) here, and they show strength in many ways—as royal family members, wives, co-wives, mothers, sisters, friends, business partners, and in their communities. There are many layers to this, but the show keeps things light and cute, not too heavy.
Almost everyone in this show is funny except for the crown prince (Edward Zhang), who is the villain. What I like is how the mood shifts right away when the story moves to his home—suddenly, nothing is funny, just cold and tense. Honestly, I think the drama should have ended after his downfall. The fourth prince and his wife tried to plot, but they just couldn't match the crown prince's menacing vibe.
My favourite moments were the third prince's antics. Every time he (Liu Guan Lin) came on screen with his wives, I knew it was going to kick off, but ultimately, when the story twist in episode 23 came and he could understand what he put them all his wives through - the build up and the comic timing was fantastic! He has a good story arc in this one.
The actor, Chang Long, who plays the fifth prince often takes on similar roles in other dramas, but this time, along with the slap stick humour, his character had an emotional story arc too. His damaged relationship with his father, the Lord of Xinchuan, was handled really well.
The show gives us a satisfying #cdrama ending: the main couple gets married, and the royal wedding doesn't feel rushed. All the storylines wrap up nicely, and we get a great reunion with all our favourite characters on the palace roof. The pacing of the episodes and the whole story is really well done.
Overall, this show is enjoyable and makes for a comforting re-watch that you can find on all the usual platforms including You Tube.
P.S: Yes it's true that the show takes what have been called problematic historical cultural elements and tries to make them seem cute or funny. If this bothers you, then this probably isn't the right #cdrama for you.
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