Not sure why ratings are so low. Personally I really enjoyed this drama and found it refreshing. The whole story exudes a sense of calm, despite the conflicts and evil. It talks about a woman who acts intelligently but also with equal amount of kindness and consideration. She has independent thought and wants to help other women. She doesn't want to be lead by a destined path and does not want other women to be trapped by their situation. Especially the example of her wanting to eventually overthrow the tradition burying (living) concubines with their dead emperors. She cared deeply for other women and their situations. Everyone has flaws but everyone also has their reasons and their own logic; she acknowledges that and does not begrudge anyone. It teaches us that not everything in life will go as planned, and you just have to approach it with optimism and care. She melted many hearts. I enjoyed the uplifting message. I liked the dialogue the most. It added to the authenticity of the interactions between characters. I would definitely watch this again, since it doesn't matter the ending, it's all about her journey and her choices. There isn't a point in the story where I need a conclusion or a grand reveal. It feels like watching someone grow up in their own time.

The music is nothing crazy stunning but it fits the show well. Very spring, bright with a hint of bittersweet. The costume colors are wonderful. The sets are aesthetically pleasing and not ostentatious. THE FOOD LOOKS DELICIOUS. The camera work for the cooking and the meal prep was documentary level. It made me very hungry. The best part is that the dishes were realistic! Based on actual recipes and didn't seem too implausible for that dynasty.

They include some fun historical facts like the different viewpoints of the emperors of each reign. They incorporate ML's love of painting, when that emperor is know to created many famous paintings. They include key historical reasons for each of the emperor's deaths and the courts.

Possible Spoilers: I really didn't like Su Yue Hua's character. She was probably the one who sank the furthest into evil. You can tell from the first few episodes and she just sinks further and further and it gets kind of frustrating to hear her delusions. You Yi Fan's character had a reasonable storyline as an antagonist and I think his ending justified his journey.