General Murong Qiu Yu was infatuated with the second prince Li Mo, she aided him in seizing the throne. However, she was betrayed and killed by Li Mo and her sister Murong Xin Er. After being reborn, Qiu Yu found herself back on her wedding night with the seventh prince, Li Jian. Qiuy Y decided to join forces with Li Mo’s rival, Li Jian, to ensure that Murong Xin Er and Li Mo face the punishment they deserve… – source, MDL

I followed the TBR Challenge Prompt for “once!” This is a new to me scriptwriter (Luo Man Ying) – which isn’t something I usually check, but I did here. It’s also fitting because the story is the best part of the drama. What’s Wrong With My Princess is one of the most satisfying revenge stories I’ve seen. It’s a short drama so definitely not big budget, but definitely worth watching. I think I’ve seen both lead actors in other dramas previously, but ironically the one who I’d be most interested in seeing again was a character I hated – the SFL. (I chalked it down to the directing and good acting – her character is awful.)

When it comes to Chinese dramas the way lead characters are discussed are “Female Lead (FL),” “Male Lead (ML),” “Second Female Lead (SFL),” “Second Male Lead (SML),” and occasionally there’s a third FL and ML. Although ML and FL are always the hero/heroine, it’s not the case for SML, SFL, etc. – just they also get the more developed stories and longer screen time. There are some trigger warnings needed for the beginning – although it’s so unrealistic and absurd seeing it at least for me wasn’t that big of a deal – in fact I kept thinking and even said “that’s not how this shit works” but it was so awful it’s one of those “I don’t mind it’s wrong” things. The evil characters kill FL’s child in utero… right as she’s going into labor. It’s deeply fucked but that’s the point and why she comes back so angry and determined to exact justice. There’s also the dark history (or purported history) of consorts and concubines doing this sort of thing in the palace in order to grab power for themselves or preserve power … so it’s slightly less “what the FUCK”/more common to see to a native audience than to a Western audience.

I loved that our FL was General Murong Qiu Yu. A lady general? Yes please! The blurb/summary for once is exactly on point. Legit that’s it – she’s killed by the man she loved (the second prince who became the emperor) who betrayed her with her younger sister, and is reborn and brought back to life five years before the time of her death. She wakes up with her memories and is ready for vengeance. Qiu Yu is smart, determined, and willing to suffer small slights but no major ones this time around. It was so satisfying seeing her anticipate all the sneaky tricks people played on her her “first life.” She turns the tables on them and wins again and again. This sadly is very different from most dramas. Especially full length ones. Qiu Yu is the eldest daughter of her father, but her mother wasn’t his official wife (likely she was a concubine?) which is why her “mother” in the show isn’t her birth mother, and why her family hasn’t ever really treated her well.

Our ML is the seventh prince of the kingdom, Li Jian. In the “previous life” Qiu Yu actually poisoned him to death for the second prince because she was in love with the second prince. Li Jian definitely doesn’t trust FL in the beginning because he knows she’s an agent for his brother. However I think in both lives Li Jian loved her. He’s definitely helpful throughout even as he’s initially cautious. I liked that he’s so in love and supportive, even as our FL is clueless – and he gets frustrated with her but never takes his anger or bad moods on her. There are some questionable scenes but the truth is quickly revealed. He’s pretty close to a green flag – while he doesn’t tell FL everything, it makes sense he doesn’t. He’s no fool and doesn’t blindly or entirely trust FL as that isn’t a smart move, especially considering their past. I love that he consults with FL on both their plans, and is caring and considerate.

Really there’s no summarizing the plot since *gestures above* – but seeing every storyline brought me joy. I think in part it’d help to have some background in watching other cdramas (identifying tropes), but even without, it’s still satisfying to see bad people pretty damn quickly punished for their actions. There’s no “inside jokes” where other major dramas are referenced, etc. It was also nice to have a smart FL and ML who see through tricks immediately. I felt it was a bit of wish fulfillment too like damn it’d be nice to have been able to do something like this, or witness this.

I also felt there absolutely was romance in this series, although not as overt or obvious as some others. I read comments where people said there wasn’t any romance, but I disagree. Sure there aren’t any lengthy kiss or seduction scenes (and honestly those are hit or miss even in webshorts which overall are vastly better at it than full length dramas) … but you can tell Qiu Yan and the seventh prince are falling in love. He tells her he’s there to support and protect her, tells her she can have anything she wants other than leaving the city (which would mean leaving him) … her opening up to him and telling him her schemes in advance. Them working together and cooperating to foil the evil plans of the second prince. And a sweet line where he basically tells her they were destined to be together.

In the end we’re told FL isn’t a mean or petty person – which I don’t know if that’s more lip service, because she really leaves no room for her sister, the second prince, or her “mother,” but it’s not as if she would’ve survived had she not taken them out. Qiu Yan also says her thoughts are that if she can take care of a problem herself it’s better to do so than leaving it up to the universe. Why wait on karma? And considering how she was treated – it makes sense. FL tells ML she can predict the future as a way to explain how she just knows things. But she also tells him if things are different then circumstances change and she won’t be able to know what might happen. (Which includes anything after she was supposed to have poisoned him…) Qiu Yan also tells Li Jian things and lets him investigate them himself in order for him to trust and believe her. Qiu Yan in this life has realized what a good person Li Jian is, and wants to support him (and his bid for the throne).

SML and SFL are the second prince, Li Mo, who has been trying to kill ML basically his whole life, and Murong Qiu Yan’s little sister, Murong Xin Er, who is the “legitimate daughter.” Xin Er is in love with the second prince. She’s entirely jealous and petty. The second prince also … likes Xin Er, but I think it’s more that he’s just attracted to her. He’s maintained a relationship with FL in order to use her. (FL’s first life, Li Mo had her go fight all his battles, and after she conquered all his enemies he made her the empress, but also took her little sister as a favored consort. So.) SML treated FL as his personal blade, and is continuing to try to do so this time around. Of course he has no idea FL “hates him to the bone.” SFL is basically a problem because she’s constantly trying to ruin FL’s life – even kill her. (Same with her mother being a problem. They’re absolutely heartless and ruthless.) SML’s arrogance has him believing FL is in love with him despite him being awful to her and constantly only using her. So that’s all on him. I think their sole “saving grace” is that both are more attractive (at least in my opinion) than ML and FL, so at least they’re pretty to look at.

The costuming and accessories all look good, as do the hairstyles/wigs, and the sets too. While this is low budget (the cast is basically only the main actors), it doesn’t scream low budget. The calligraphy and paintings, vases and decorations in the homes and palace, they’re all noticeable but not distracting. The music and soundtrack are nicely done as well.

I’ve watched this drama at least three times now (all repeats were to write this review but I kept getting distracted – I’ve got it playing in the background currently to refresh my memory), and I’m still not tired of it. Seriously if you’re ever in a bad mood this is the perfect antidote. Want to see shitty people get their comeuppance quickly? Here you go. I watched it in “movie form” so I’m not sure how the single episode version is, but the “only problem” I had with the full version is that sometimes the audio cuts out. So as a background watch, that’s a problem. The full version has “built in” English subtitles that are well done, so there’s at least that. I can’t recall any major problems with it, so that’s a good sign. Technically the drama is 32 “10 minute” episodes. (But with opening and closing credits each episode is honestly much less… you don’t have to deal with that in the movie form.)

I’m definitely going to rewatch this in the future. Especially if I’m in a bad mood. Seriously any time a bad person tries to play a trick they’re cut off at the knees. Even knowing what happens, watching each subsequent scenario still brings a smile to my face. (The first time I was clapping in glee.)