I haven't watched Story of Yanxi, so I didn't have any preconceived ideas of before watching this show.

I enjoyed this series alot. Most of the plotlines have already been covered by other reviews... so i'll just share the bits I loved about the show. The plot isn't exactly fresh - in fact - since it's based on history you can pretty much guess where all of it is going.

Predictable... but...

I loved the clothes, the sets, and the interactions among the main characters.

To be honest, the show might as well be renamed as "The Legend of Lu Bu Wei and the Prince of Qin" because much of the show is really about how these two men make it all the way to the peak of power -and Hao Lan is just the side act! And I'm not a fan of Hao Lan's character; I think she is too hot tempered for her own good and makes bad decisions repeatedly... although she does wise up and impresses me a bit more when she finally becomes the Queen of Qin.

But the best part of the show is the interactions between her and all those around her that makes the show very watchable.
This series is about friendship and a very mature, ambitious kind of love - don't expect any saccharin scenes - it's not that kind of romance.

Lu Bu Wei and Haolan
The chemistry between the these two was what kept me going. Lu Bu Wei's love for her was deep, fiercely loyal, slow-burn and downright exasperating...but his character is one of my most favorite male leads of all the C Dramas I've watched. My only disappointment is that the series did not show them getting back together in the end (despite historians saying that they resumed their affair after the King died). In most C Dramas, the male lead almost never says anything romantic to the women they love. But in this series, what I LOVE most is when Lu Bu Wei says the most ROMANTIC things to Hao Lan (in the most manly way ever) whenever he wants to atone for behaving badly, and it completely melts her heart (and mine too)! She's completely mush when he launches into his confessions of love! "Losing you is like losing my eyes or one hand - losing the fun of living life. How can one do this to himself? So please forgive me!"! LBW's only weakness is his father (who keeps ruining his love-life). He wants to put business before pleasure, and his ambition above love. But no matter how hard he tries, he can't stay away from Hao Lan, and whenever it suits him, he barges into her room and passionately grabs her while confessing all these sweet nothings! And we know he means every word of it; it's just that his timing is SO BAD !! He's the ultimate rogue! My favorite scene is still the one where he hides in her bed (this is towards the end of the series) and after all this time, he can STILL make her throw a hessy-fit like a school girl in love. He says "If I really wanted to take advantage of you, would you be able to resist?" She says "Given your status and power now, you can have any beauty in the land or even the world!" and he looks at her slyly and replies with his shameless grin "But I've looked at only one woman. And I MUST have her!" Lordy, I love these two together!

YiRen/Zichu and Haolan
At first we think that Lu Bu Wei is the only handsome and smart guy in the show.. but Yi Ren/Zichu turns out to be EVEN more brilliant, cunning and dashing! I loved his character too... and if I were Hao Lan, it would be very hard to choose btween the two men in her life. He is the classic handsome gentleman who comes across as the underdog in the first half of the show and then rises into this amazing monarch who deserves every moment of success! The respect and effort to woo Hao Lan is enough to make any woman swoon - coming to her rescue whenever she is in trouble, and lending her a shoulder to cry on whenever Lu Bu Wei hurts her. While calm, soft-spoken and cultured, he is not afraid to pursue what he wants (he shares this trait with Lu Bu Wei, which is why they get along superbly). He strategizes with great precision - both in his bid to claim his throne AND to win over the woman he loves. He moves in swiftly to claims his prize when his plan comes to fruition! I'm totally blown away by his brilliance too.

Lu Bu Wei and YiRen/Zichu
It's not often when 2 male leads who like the same woman also become best friends and collaborators, and here's where Legend of Haolan is different from the others. These two men want the same things and moreover, they NEED each other so badly. One cannot get their objects of desire without each other. LBW is his ticket to seizing throne, and Yi Ren is his ticket to rising above merchant class and become the powerful man in China (besides the King)! Despite loving the same woman they close one eye for each other for the sake of power, wealth and nation. Theirs is one of the greatest King-Chancellor alliances in history - they are both brilliant men with great minds and enormous courage - they literally shared the throne AND the love of same woman. The scene they had together in the King's bedroom before he passes away was an emotional one for me. It pretty much sums up their friendship. the King loved and trusted him so much, that he left behind his empire, his crown prince and to Lu Bu Wei.

It's a VERY GOOD WATCH !!