Based on a novel, this drama is one of the most interesting c-drama I have ever watched.
Directors and actors are brilliant ! The production gave it all to offer a high quality drama with wonderfull soundtrack, beautiful scenery and costumes and a very clever storyline.
We are in a chess game. We are not only watchers, we are part of the drama and are with the characters we choose to support. Are you moved by the emperor ? The beautiful piece taker ? The mad eunuch Qiu Ziliang ? The willful Sword Holder ? Any other character ? What are their real story ? Are they the ones we think they are at first ? There are hidden identities, there are secrets, there are plots, there are nice sword fights, there are struggles for power, there are human affections shared or not, there are mentally ill people.. There is amnesia, there is love, there is revenge.
There is no time for getting bored. There is action and emotion. We do understand everyone's point of view and intentions. That's what makes this drama so valuable.
Actors are at their best : they fit so well with their characters ! At first, I was not quite happy with ZhangYuxi's way of acting, but finally she was just astonishing ! Cheng Yi, Xuan Lu and Mickey He were as usual terrific. Michey He gives his all to incarnate a paranoid eunuch with bloodthirsty power. Thumbs up !
I enjoyed watching this show, I really didn't waste my time !