I was rooting for this to be a standout. My journey with epic Chinese dramas has me always searching for the next gem. This one started off engagingly well, but the second half disappointingly fizzled....

Abandoned as a child, Zhuang Han Yan (Chen Du Ling) grows up in the southern countryside with cruel neglectful guardians because her family believes she is cursed. She finds her way back to her family in the capital and catches the eye of Fu Yun Xi(Xin Yun Lai), a deputy minister, who sees her as an ideal  second wife. 

What drew me in was the slow-burn build of the first half, the costumes, and the beautiful cinematography. Where it faltered was with the leads, who lacked the experience to guide us through the emotional twists and turns of the second half. Tooooo much talking and not enough showing.

The spark between the leads fizzled out in the second half, making their sudden deep love feel jarring. The story tried to juggle too much, shifting from romance to anger, then betrayal and back again, but the lack of experience showed.

Our heroine somehow stays spotless, even while digging up bodies and hauling them through town in a pale blue and silver dress, not a single stain or tear in sight.

The mother (Wen Zheng Rong) stole the show with her unforgettable entrance. I wish she had survived, but her exit was needed to turn the audience against the father. The storyline with the best friend who became a royal concubine felt like a missed opportunity.

The Zhou concubine (Wang Yan) and second daughter (He Hong Shan) duo stood out; their acting experience shone through, and they truly made the most of the material they were given.

To grasp the true danger and complexity of the Pei faction, we needed more than just glimpses of the interactions with the female lead's father and the male lead. Seeing the powerful eunuch himself would have added depth, helping us understand the stakes and what drives the antagonist in this supposed epic. How was Pie allowed to die so easily? Where is the rest of the fraction? The father is always acting alone...

Is it worth your time? Honestly, I had to push myself to see it through to the end on Viki...so its a hard NO from me. 

What are your thoughts? In the comments share what your opinion is. I am curious.

This was the year when my self-confidence began to grow. A good foundation was formed.

The previous year, I had already gone on an island writing retreat. I enjoyed it so much I joined for a second time.

After that, I began looking forward to more local travel adventures, both for work and on my own. I got used to doing things by myself and meeting new people.

I had just started this blog and began attending more writing events, connecting with fellow enthusiasts and African authors. As I entered my thirties, I reached out to a group of inspiring women to contribute to this series about being a woman.

I enjoyed my job, assignments and deliverables and began a contract as a full staff member. I felt like a real grown up 😀.

I was becoming more creative, developing new core professional skills and with encouragement started speaking up more in work meetings. 'Taking up space ' and finding a 'seat at the table' is what they called it then. This was also when my workaholic tendencies began, as I could focus on delivering rather than office politics. I was always available. My manager and team supported and nurtured me, and I loved every minute of it!

I started wearing lipstick and took more pride in my appearance. Despite my protests, my sister-in-law convinced me that I could look good with different shades. She was right. I began to enjoy getting ready in the mornings.

2016 was a good year, even though the ever-present worry and doubt still nagged at me, just as it does today. I kept moving forward, believing in the opportunities the future would bring!

No one told me about the beautiful train station.

"Oh yeah, they have a beautiful station, but no one ever talks about this." says my friend as we weave our way to the subway station.

It was my first beautiful surprise, but I had to stop myself from staring too wide so that I wouldn't become a magnet for pickpockets. At least I had been warned about them.

This is what Italy does to me, leaving me in awe at something that is daily scenery for many.

Just like the TikTok videos, the Duomo di Milano greets you at the top of the stairs of the subway station exit. The details—I wasn't prepared for the details. This time, I clutched my bag for safety and then allowed my eyes to fully widen and my jaw to drop. The closer I got, the more I realized it's everything everyone said it would be and so much more! Make sure you check out the Museum too.

We made a quick stop at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Milan's living room), full of luxury brands like Dior and Gucci. It always surprises me to see so many people shopping. I can't wait for the day when I can own a luxury brand item. It was too early in the morning for me to have a Campari, but the famous café was already full with both coffee and cocktail drinkers.

Next stop: Uniqlo. I wanted to see if it was worth all the hype. And wow, it really is! I was in there for an hour. I spent double what I intended to and then came back home to order more because I now had a good idea of the sizes. I got a helpful tip from a colleague to read the labels to ensure I was buying what I wanted and not what was being cleverly marketed.

We passed the Starbucks Reserve, where the line was extremely and ridiculously long. And there were big burly bouncers checking everyone's bags...I like my Frappuccinos too but Italy, in my humble experience, has great coffee bars.. and you're spoilt for choice.... there is almost atleast one on every street...

I caught a glimpse of the Castello Sforzesco entrance ...

We headed to the Brera District for lunch and finished the day with pizza, white wine, and people-watching. I have never seen so many luxury designer bags in my life. I spotted at least five Hermès bags within 30 minutes of each other. I would like to know if Milan is operating in the same economy as the rest of us....

Is Milan worth it? Yes, for the day, at least. I will be returning.