Ashes to Crown

A lot to say about this one. I watched it because I was searching for a cdrama that had a woman protagonist who gives the same energy as Fan Chagyu from Pursuit of Jade. And I can tell you this is definitely THE one. She’s smart, isn’t the classic of « fragile », her backstory is well written and so much more. The revenge was NECESSARY, and even when she found THE one she still wasn’t obsessed with him to the point where she makes her life revolve around him. Throughout the drama, you can see at first how she was really innocent and pure hearted. Her wanting to know more about the life her death mother was living in the Capital, how she faced her dad when she wanted to marry Xiao Xun not knowing the outcome of this decision. He planned everything from day 1 and he took advantage of the fact that she was a little bit too « naive » to get what he wants : be the emperor and have the secret army of her father who is a general well respected. But then, chaos. She got killed when Xiao Xun finally got what he ever wanted, and her dad died too. But from this precise moment, when she got a second chance and she reincarnated, Chu Zhao was a whole different person. And what I love the most about this is even her past self talking to her when needed and always tried to seek revenge for their past life, she still chose to be patient, have a good heart, and at the end choosing Yan Lai. Bonus, how she found her place through the imperial court who is full of men at that time, and even in some episode she encourage other women to express their talents in arts, literature and more is one of the most powerful thing she could have done. I really enjoy when I find historical movies or series that involve romance BUT it’s not the main thing. If the realm is a sacrificial cauldron, why may a women not take share of the broth ?