I want to begin by saying how eager i was to watch this drama but it wasnt available anywhere. Only recently has it been released on viki so i am finally able to watch it. I just had to vent my anger after watching till 20 else I'd have waited till finishing it to give the review.

Characters and acting: Not gonna lie, for me Zheng Yecheng carried the entirety of the drama like i watched it just for him. He was way too sweet, charming, loyal and devoted and selfless. And i think he deserved a better lover than the princess. I've seen 3 of Zhao Lusi's dramas, and tbh i like her, but she is not a good choice for these serious tragic characters, i felt like she didn't fit the role of Qin Chuan well. She was so busy portraying her anger and sadness that i couldn't see any chemistry with the ml. The original princess was better for the role i guess.
To me the most pitiful character remained Fu Jiuyun throughout, it's like nothing he does is ever enough. Imagine loving someone for thousand years, witnessing her death through ten lifetimes and then when you finally come close to her you end up dying for her without even getting her(well this is something that i found for myself when i read the reviews.)
Zichen was straight out annoying. Ermeng was a complex but good character. Liyuan was despicable. Meishan and Xiaobai were fun to watch. Xuanzhu remained the same selfish and greedy princess throughout.

Story: Idk if its because i spoiled the drama for me by reading reviews beforehand or it's because of the story itself but the drama couldn't keep me invested or addicted. It started off so well with everything. But as the story progressed, i couldn't see minimal love in the FL for the ML. She was like still in love with Zichen idk why i felt so. I kept feeling that she just abused MLs love for her by taking him for granted and rejecting him everytime. She was too cruel to him. The ML was so good to her like i can't even explain in words. The story is so much about the FLs revenge motive that the FLs love for the ML can't even be seen. In the last 5 episodes she was suddenly in love with him but they never showed how and when she started loving him. I admit that with all the constant love and care from him anyone would fall for him but they should have shown a little more of that part. She is like all about fighting her own fate and revenge and pushing the people that love her away. I haven't read the original novel so i don't know how it goes, but i heard that it is a lot more detailed with a happy ending but don't expect all that from the drama. I don't know how exactly it is in the novel but in the drama it's all there is. A lot of parts were abrupt while some parts felt draggy because of the 2nd couple and the FLs constant anger and indifference.

Music: The music is truly so beautiful and soothing. I loved the music.
From what I read from other reviews, there was a lot of key information missing and a confusing ending and dramatic modifications from the original story. The script could've done a better job at explaining the backstory of the ML instead of wasting scenes on the 2nd couple. Overall once i am done with this drama, I'm not gonna rewatch it because I'm already preparing myself for a heartbreak at its end. But I'm going to finish it till 30. Might change my review after i finish it.



P.s i have finished it now and my opinions didn't drastically change, instead i am left confused about what exactly happened in the last episode.