Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite shows I ave ever watched. It is not pleasant or romantic at all, but it is one of the most well written and well acted dramas you would want to see. For those looking for light, happy and romance this is not your show, For those looking for a great show with a not always happy storyline that can be disturbing at times, then this show is highly recommended.

it is the story of Wan Mei who is sold to a brothel by her father, already not the typical storyline, for some rice, She manages to escape and ends up in a city of female assassins. She is assigned a shadow Chang An who is her trainer, body guard and servant, and as she is given assassination assignments she also ends up in the line of Dong Xi, a blind probe of the country. Not at all a typical story. Some of it is actually brutal to watch.

As for acting, all I can say is wow. The villain is a bit over the top, aren't they all, but the 3 leads are fantastic. Wang Duo does a really great job with his character Dong Xi who at times himself is not sure what he does or does not feel for Wan Mei. Shaw Qu plays the stoic shadow Chang An to perfection. I have written in other reviews, this is how to play stoic, His face betrays nothing most of the time but when out does it is magical to view, I cannot say enough about Li Yi Tong and her portrayal of Wan Mei, I have never felt so much with one character (except Ye Hua in TMPB) than I did with her. There are some heart-wrenching scenes that I will never forget and I cannot think of an actress that could have done a better job, I have not seen her in another drama, but I am actively looking for other dramas with her,

Rewatch - definitely! The show is 36 episodes with little filler time and moves along quickly. It is beautifully done from story, to acting, to production values, and the soundtrack. The music from the show is also one of my favorites of all time.

This may not be what you expect and it is not typical, but it is really worth a watch.