As a fan drama and movie with a fast pace, this one definitely the first CDrama that I watched with normal speed and without skipping any parts/scenes. I used to watch it with double speeds and skip after skip since some previous CDramas I watched were full of bickering trashy talks to drags and length the duration. This one definitely uses a smart way to catch my attention.

It has a sweet way to introduce all characters. There's no "not useful character", even Chen Sheng Gong a character with the least dialog, can't be erased since he is the reason why Niao2 has to stay with her Grandma. My fav character is A Fei, he can make me smile in each of his scenes. And I'm happy that the writer doesn't kill A Fei and A Qi just for the shake to make the story more "dramatic".
Its way to introduce each family of each character is very nice too. As an Asian, Niao2 life is very relatable to me (but, I don't have Ling Bu Yi, the Emperor, and the Empress to help my ass, lol). The feeling to have our parents compare us to everyone, makes me feel everyone is better than me, and that I am nothing but the black sheep of the family, bad-mouthing in front of everyone.... Even the Empress is not as different than Niao2's mother, who can be a great mother for Niao2 but not for both of her own children. For the first time, I can enjoy an Asian family relationship without feeling heartache and depression.

All characters' personalities are also well written and make sense. Niao2 who has trust issues and refuses to depend on others makes sense coz she's been abandoned and bullied since birth. Zi Sheng who is quiet and crazy to gain his experience in war makes sense because he is trying to surpass his uncle. A Yao who is timid coz he got used to having his brother do almost everything for him, and Yuan Sheng who clueless about how to get a Niao2's heart is make sense coz his teacher just as clueless as he is. Niao2's mother is hard coz she's a soldier and the father indeed mostly has the opposite way from their wife on how to treat his children etc

It has (of course) Ling Yi as the main villain, but to drag the story, instead of using bickering useless talk, or too focused to Ling Yi's bad deeds by adding unstoppable evil plans, it used a lot of unrelated villains instead. These villains are not only useful to drag the story, but they also help Niao2 to be more mature and wise. I love it also even gives a great ending for each villain, some of them even get a better life and even have their personality changed.

It also does not use the enemy-to-lover (lame) formula that is used in most CDramas. Even though in the novel, Niao2 is described as an extremely beautiful woman, (you can see some scenes where some characters appraise Niao2's beauty) Zi Sheng falls for her courage to expose her own family members who violated the law, A Yao falls for she fought back when his fiancé insulted her at the festival, while Yuan Shen falls for her smartness.
I feel sorry for Yuan Sheng, for using the wrong method to approach Niao2, and when he does it right, it's just too late.

I like how the writer even 5 years is not enough for Niao2 to forgive Zi Sheng. (I HATE lame plots like when the character pretends to get sick in order to get forgiveness from their love interest, or the "go to a faraway place and then be prevented"). Another reason this drama deserves to get my perfect score is regardless Asian perspective on "the must" for getting married, this drama shows some characters who are brave enough to stay single, and that living a live as single is a choice, not a pathetic thing.

And after Ling Yi's death is put at ep 48, gives all characters enough episodes to end their stories. Like the dead for the Empress; Niao2's mother and Grandma understand their mistake and even though she try to atone it; Zi Sheng for his guilt and Niao2 for her anger.