What a waste of time this series is. I looked forward in anticipation to what was billed an exciting. new costume drama only to have my hopes dashed. The two leads tried their hardest - but in the end the story line was so insipid that I gave up.
The only relieving grace, if there was any, was the acting of some of the support roles.. but having said that the actress who played Miaorong should never be on screen again..
As for the story line being billed as a romance between a princess and a palace guard - what a load of hogwash. For a start, Li Qian is not just some palace guard, but a famed general from a noble family. As for Princess Baoning - whoever decided upon her make up and wardrobe should have their head examined.
To call the plot third rate would be too kind. It is as though half way through the writers realised they had a turkey on their hands and decided to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the script. Every kind of 'love story/revenge story' cliche is added often without any sense or benefit.
But my main gripe is with the so called character traits of the main leads. Li Qian is a doormat, while Baoning is portrayed as spoilt, arrogant, self centred, self-entitled and stubborn. Any sane man would have told Baoning to take a running jump. But no - loyal, devoted loving hubby Li Qian doesn't - instead he goes into full masochist mode - the more you hurt me the more I love you - utterly ridiculous.
A much more interesting and realistic plot would have been for the two leads to split up from each other and then have them reconcile with each other, having had a long hard look at themselves and realised their shortcomings - for Li Qian to be more assertive and Baoning to turn over a new leaf - but this would have been too much to ask ...wouldn't it?
All in all 3 out of ten