New Life Begins

This crowd pleaser starts off with a beauty contest held to provide the princes of powerful Xin state a pool of girls to choose from to marry or to take as concubines.

Amiable Li Wei (Tian Xi Wei) has been forced to represent Ji state, a predicament her politically weak father could not save her from. All she and her family could hope for is for her to not be selected by any prince. Alas, 6th Prince Yin Zheng (Bai Jing Ting) takes an interest in her.

The first few episodes promise a fast-paced entertaining drama. However, it gets bogged down by one of CDramas' pitfalls - too many fillers, i.e., scenes that don't advance the main story and seem to be added only to lengthen the drama. Thus, some later episodes are draggy.

Nevertheless, the drama sticks close to its lighthearted form. Even the palace intrigues are light. It tackles the subject of female empowerment and independence campily. Female friendship is celebrated. The romance between Yin Zheng and Li Wei is delightful.