Jing xin si yu

I believe this is what is know as a Harem drama, and is the first I have watched. It centers on a low born woman being married into a prestigious family as the 'first wife' in a household which includes several concubines but she is fantastically skilled in embroidery which she wants to persue as a career but means she is the only women on the house who does not want to be there. Cast into this toxic atmosphere she finds herself threatened by scheming concubines determined to undermine her position, a position she does not want!

As she overcomes these obstacles her cold and distant husband comes to recognise her talents and just what a nice person she is and so starts the slow burning romance.

I have to mention the cinematography which at times is jaw dropping. A simple story of good against evil and good triumphing eventually told in an entertaining and engaging way which is carried by the two leads who give fantastic performances.

I am not familiar with the male and female leads of this movie -- their history, their TV and movie work. But I think all the players in this romantic drama of the Xu family are wonderful. The Sword and the Brocade takes place in China somewhere in the distant past, but the story could take place any time. Simple love, simple conflicts, nothing you have to dig for to understand. I recommend it highly.

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 loved this show. Not many shows are getting my attention lately. I just so happened upon this show and though of Cinderella of the Chinese and it isn't like European Cinderella where she sees him and immediately falls for him. Concubine daughter wants nothing to do with noble, ends up falling for him and having to struggle. Just wish I didn't have to read the subtitles in order to watch it...wasn't easy with having the subs flying across my screen and me having to stop, rewind and pause it so many times. But was better than the European/American stories anyday.

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.