"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!" These are the sounds I often made while watching "A Journey to Love." And there's a good reason for it—this drama is truly a feast for the eyes! From the exquisite costumes and makeup to the breathtaking fight scenes and the heartfelt portrayal of emotions, every detail makes you wonder: Is this really a drama from 2023?

Ren Ru Yi, originally known as Ren Xin, used to be the second-in-command of the Anguo Zhu Yi Wei. Ning Yuan Zhou, on the other hand, is the leader of the Wuguo Liu Dao Tang. The Anguo Zhu Yi Wei is renowned for its beautiful spies, while the Wuguo Liu Dao Tang is known for its intelligence gathering and espionage. Both of them were framed by their own people—one faked their death and changed their name to join the Zhu Yi Wei as a low-ranking member called the "White Sparrow," while the other became a military leader.

Ning Yuan Zhou, now a military leader, joins forces with the Wuguo army to attack Anguo, but they suffer a major defeat, and the Wuguo leader is captured. Ren Ru Yi, during a mission, is at risk of being exposed and her current identity doesn't serve her future plans, so she decides to use this opportunity to escape. However, her companion, Ling Long, who has developed a sisterly bond with Ren Ru Yi, refuses to leave her behind due to "love." Ling Long gives her most valuable bracelet to Ren Ru Yi.

Filled with grief and anger, Ren Ru Yi kills a member of the Liu Dao Tang in a moment of rage, accidentally exposing herself. To evade pursuit, she flees to the Ning Mansion where she coincidentally meets Ning Yuan Zhou. Liu Shi Shi portrays Ren Ru Yi beautifully, displaying a mix of coldness, allure, vulnerability, and bravery that leaves me exhilarated.

I thought Ling Long, played by Liu Shi Shi, would have a good relationship with Ren Ru Yi, but she unexpectedly dies in the first episode. Ren Ru Yi avenges her in just five episodes, and all those involved in Ling Long's murder are dead by the sixth episode. The pace of this drama is so fast that I often wonder if such a plot, devoid of filler episodes, can really span 40 episodes. Moreover, I find it difficult to predict the direction the story will take next. Additionally, what I find intriguing is the characters' strong determination. For example, seeking revenge immediately and never easily falling in love with a man, but still having a child of their own.

Please, I beg the entertainment industry, stop portraying the male lead as "harassing" the female lead for the sake of plot development. This is what normal values should be! Apart from the interactions between the main characters, the supporting roles in "A Journey to Love" are also unique in their own ways. For instance, Qian Zhao, originally from the Liu Dao Tang, is promoted to become a royal guard with exceptional martial arts skills. He may appear cold, but once he opens his mouth, he can verbally destroy you.

Yuan Lu, portrayed by Chen You Wei, is quick-witted and resourceful but also fragile. Yu Shi San, a "beauty blogger," excels in lightness techniques and makeup skills but exudes a "flower thief" vibe. Sun Lang, skilled in martial arts and capable of taking on ten opponents alone, surprisingly has a soft spot for fluffy things.

The princess who can cry on the surface and secretly administer drugs, and who looks good in male attire, adds a unique flavor. The other supporting female characters also have their own distinct features, and there's no need to simplify their appearance just to avoid overshadowing the female lead. Nobody needs to deliberately say, "You are breathtakingly beautiful," but everyone has eyes, can see, and knows who is attractive and who is not.

Using a phrase from an internet user, "I feel like my intelligence is being respected." Especially during the fight scenes and before the appearance of the sharkman, there's no unnecessary chatter. Even the character who has the fastest "game over" in the entire drama, simply passing by Ren Ru Yi, is killed by a single leaf, which is truly friendly to my breast health!

At the end of the year, being able to watch a historical drama like this is truly a well-deserved treat after enduring a year of "malicious" dramas! After all, a single fight scene can be captured in over 800 shots, and with the production team spending 15 days filming, it's hard not to call it a "conscientious" work.