At 70 episodes, this drama is probably longer than it needs to be, but it remains one of my favorite guilty pleasures from 2018. Sure, some of the palace/harem shenanigans get a bit wild, but it is deliciously fun to watch Wei Yingluo navigate each attack and climb the ranks. Wu Jinyan does a convincing job of portraying Wei Yingluo's growth as she matures from lowly palace maid to Consort. My favorite performance goes to Qin Lan as Empress Fuca Rongyin.

A detailed production (I especially love the costumes) and a satisfying if bittersweet ending help make this a worthy binge watch and re-watch.