The Sword and the Brocade

It a pleasant C-drama. Very slow start then the drama grab hold of you & don't let you go till last episode...it mostly talking..a lot of that & days to days of aristocracy life. Rich women problem & full belly problem....through all that a major conspiracy had to be resolved.

I'm not sure how this show managed to make a dull couple with the most tepid temperament so much fun to watch. Perhaps it's the chemistry between the FL and ML (played by Seven Tan and Wallace Chung). Or maybe because they are the least annoying characters among a boatload of over-the-top, melodramatic personalities in this harem drama.

The story follows the trial and tribulation of a concubine's daughter who married into a large prestigious family filled with continuous conflicts and intrigues. There were also several murder mysteries that placed her and her new family at risk. There are definitely plot pitfalls, but not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the show thus far.

Some of the elements that kept me going past twenty-some episodes were the exquisite set design and original soundtracks. The beautiful "Be together" by Zhou Shen is now one of my favorite Chinese drama theme songs. In addition, the performance by Seven Tan and Wallace Chung really was a pleasure to watch.

I recommend this romantic period drama to anyone who needs a fun little mental escape at the end of a long day.

I really enjoyed this drama. It was good, it really Teaches us to be good, and let your words be your honour 🎖

Hang in there because the series really pulls together around episode four. The dynamic of a home with both concubines and a legal wife was portrayed in all it's brutal reality which, at times, was hard to watch. I can't imagine being a woman in China during these periods.

The best part was, Tan Songyun, the lead actress, who gave an almost flawless performance.

The Sword and the Brocade is a compelling story about concubine-born Luo Shiyi who marries Xu Lingyi, Marquis Yongping to honor a dying sister's wish. Seven Tan and Wallace Chung are outstanding in their roles, the former as the smart, diligent and kind Shiyi, the latter as the cold, strict and upright Lingyi. The sweet, heart-fluttering slow-burn romance between Shiyi and Lingyi develops in a charged setting laden with scheming concubines and political rivals.

When the leads fall in love, their devotion to each other is so heartwarming you'd just want to keep watching how an intelligent and sensible couple who truly love, respect and trust each other overcomes one scheme after another, outmaneuvering enemies together.

My main gripes about Cdramas are their length and tendency to drag. But this is so good, with hardly any draggy parts, I just wanted it to keep going. The music is stirring, the cinematography is stunning and the story flows smoothly. The ending is one of the most satisfying endings in Cdramas I've watched.

This got a lot of flak for featuring the concubine system, which, for me, is tantamount to saying that all shows featuring war and crime are bad. In fact, far from supporting the concubine system, this drama shows how evil it is, causing much grief to everyone involved, from the husband to the wives, concubines and children. In the end, the male lead and his brother both abandon the practice. Thus, the flak this drama got was unfair and undeserved.