🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 12 (from laksa129)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa012.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan","crawl_time":1774599795,"first_indexed_time":1508804719,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,mydramalist!\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan s443","src_root_hash":"2302009727601924612","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"The Story of Ming Lan - MyDramaList","meta_descriptions":["The Story of Ming Lan (Chinese Drama); 知否知否应是绿肥红瘦; Concubine's Daughter: Biography of Ming Lan;Do You Know? It Ought To Be a Wilting Flower"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Ongoing\n73\/78\nDidi\n280\npeople found this review helpful\nStory\n10\nActing\/Cast\n10\nMusic\n8.0\nRewatch Value\n10\nThe Flower That Blooms In Adversity Is the Rarest One of All\nThe Legend of Ming Lan is a very complex and meaningful slice of life drama.  My review is split into two parts: a summary and analysis.\nI. Summary\nThe synopsis is misleading.  ‘Mistreatment’ is a very general statement.  That can mean anything.  The titular character suffers from neglect from her family; her grandmother fills that need: she loves her and cherishes her.  The titular character is both sensible and practical: she acknowledges the reality of her situation and the world she lives in and chooses to be smart about it instead of letting it define her.  The titular character makes the deliberate choice to blend into obscurity: her mission is to avoid attention because she learned at a very young age that standing out can invite danger and I think this is a way of taking back her control of her life in the best way she can.  She presents herself as a submissive, dreamy person never interested in the things that make others scheme.  As a result people think she is nonthreatening and even foolish for not wanting more i.e. 'ambitious'. Thus, about half of the drama instead focuses on her family and the personal actions of her relatives.  Like a sponge she absorbs everything, learning about peoples behaviors, tricks, motivations and good\/bad choices.  On the other hand Gu Ting Ye (future husband) experiences a lot of abuse from his family, but his gender means he can’t take Ming Lan’s route—there are different expectations on him—and as a male, physical punishment is far more common.  The second half then follows Ming Lan after she begins married life and how she works very hard to protect her family, support her husband, and finally step into the limelight as a formidable person who will fiercely protect the people around her and is unafraid to seek justice in an eye-for-an eye kind of way (for extreme crimes) instead of burying them.  The second act really steps up the ante as Ming Lan has much bigger fires to put out and the stakes and risks are bigger, especially since her husband becomes important to emperor, and that carries a risk all on its own (i.e. the higher you rise, the harder you fall).\nII. Analysis\nI do not think everyone would agree with me that this drama is perfect because I strongly believe that whether you love, like, or hate it boils down to personal preference.  For example, I did not like the drama Love 020 because it was not my style—too light—but it succeeded in what it intended to deliver very well so I ranked it an 8.  In contrast, Perfect Couple was not only not my type but I think poorly executed so I gave it a low rating.  This drama more than succeeds in what it wants to do and I loved it.  With these examples I want the reader to know I am trying to be frank and fair with my review but I truly enjoyed the show so there may be some bias.\nFor you, the reader, I think there are some important things you may wish to know before making this 70+ episode commitment:\n1) The titular character does not receive the majority of screen time in the first half (in my opinion).  The titular character does not receive the majority of lines.  The titular character is the focus of the show though.\n2)The drama uses the rigid moral rules of the day as a source for conflict regularly.  Filial piety, virtue, family reputation, and roles (being a good\/bad daughter; good\/bad wife; good\/bad son; good\/bad citizen)\n3)The writers\/directors (I think) attempt to tell a strongly character driven drama, meaning conflict is resolved through dialogue.  Characters are consistent.  Events don’t disappear from the story line, they stay with people for the rest of the show.  Just like people, characters remember.  Characters are impacted by choices other people make, sometimes in a life changing way.  The last ten episodes are more action based as big end games begin to unravel and play out.\nConclusion:\nI have a deep appreciation for this story.  I think the acting was amazing, the writing and presentation, down to where people stand in a given scene, was done with remarkable attention to detail.  Characters are intelligent and not easy to trick.  The acting was extremely believable.\nIf you want a love story told on a grand scale (Ashes of Love, Eternal Love) this may not be for you because romance is just one of many aspects of this drama.  In addition, if you want something light, I would steer clear.  But this is not a palace drama (Empress of China) because the plotting is not anywhere near that level, and throughout all 70+ episodes, only a couple of people die—people are not dropping like flies.\nFor those looking for romance, I cans say that an important aspect of Ming Lan's character is she never wants to inconvenience anyone or rely on others.  The male lead prove through his actions that he is someone she can inconvenience and rely on so their love story is sweet.\nI think potential viewers should consider these points because often people start a drama and are frustrated with plot and speed.  Others may call it a slow burner but it never felt that way to me.  I eagerly await(ed) each new episode and the episodes flew by.  I never fast forwarded.  I don't know what to watch after this!\nFinally,\nI am making a project to review every episode, so if you have questions about plot you can find them there but just be warned these episode summaries contain massive spoilers.  Because of a bug that has not been fixed yet, I can't have paragraph breaks so I have used the (.............) method to delineate breaks.\nRead More\nWas this review helpful to you?","attrs_markdown":"- [Home](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/)\n  - [Hide ads](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/vip)\n  - [Calendar](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/episode-calendar)\n  - [Lists](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/list)\n  - [Feeds](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/feeds)\n  - [Trailers](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/trailers)\n  - [Forums](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions)\n  - [Contributors](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/contributors)\n  - [Games NEW](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/games)\n  - [Stars Leaderboard NEW](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/stats\/leaderboards)\n- [Shows](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/)\n  - [Top Shows](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/top)\n  - [Most Popular Shows](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/popular)\n  - [Variety Shows](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/variety)\n  - [Upcoming](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/upcoming)\n  - 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2019\n\n- [Details](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan)\n- [Episode Guide](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/episodes)\n- [Cast & Crew](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/cast)\n- [Reviews](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/reviews)\n- [Recommendations](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/recs)\n- [Photos](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/photos)\n\n[Edit this Page](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/details?id=23911)\n\nEdit Information\n\n[Primary Details](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/details?id=23911) [Titles](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/titles?id=23911) [Cover Image](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/cover?id=23911) [Related Titles](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/related?id=23911) [Cast](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/cast?id=23911) [Crew](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/crew?id=23911) [Genres](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/genres?id=23911) [Tags](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan) [Release Information](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/release?id=23911) [Services](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/services?id=23911) [External Links](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/external_links?id=23911) [Production Information](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/production?id=23911)\n\n[Report]()\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan poster](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/ZobVJc.jpg?v=1)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/ZobVJ \"The Story of Ming Lan poster\")\n\nWatch Trailer\n\n[Buy on Amazon](https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=The%20Story%20of%20Ming%20Lan&i=dvd&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&linkId=NC2SNK3LR3OVIPOF&tag=myd032-20)\n\nAdd to List\n\n8\\.8\n\n**Your Rating:**   **0**\/10\n\nRatings: **8\\.8**\/10 from 10,398 users\n\n\\# of Watchers: **28,642**\n\nReviews: [116 users](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/reviews)\n\nRanked \\#186\n\nPopularity \\#797\n\nWatchers 10,398\n***\nSet in the Northern Song dynasty, the story follows Sheng Ming Lan, an unfavored concubine-born 6th daughter of an official. After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised by her paternal grandmother. Growing up, she learns to hide her true genius self and use crafty and cunning methods in order to survive the tough conditions where family members are plotting against each other and where no actual familial love exists. She then meets Gu Ting Ye, the second son of a rich marquis household, who is supposed to inherit wealth from both the parents and a noble title. Unlike Ming Lan, Gu Ting Ye is straightforward with his actions and never hides his true self, causing him to fall victim to all the planning and plotting against him, where he ends up losing everything. Ming Lan and Ting Ye join forces, and through cunning schemes and daring endeavors, they both rise in position and work to obtain justice from those that have wronged them. (Source: AH at MyDramaList) \\~~ Adapted from the novel \"The Story of Ming Lan\" (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦) by Guan Xin Ze Luan (关心则乱). \\~~ Two versions: 78 eps (TV) \\| 73 eps (DVD) [Edit Translation](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/details?id=23911&lang=en-US)\n\n- English\n- 한국어\n- 中文(简体)\n- Русский\n\n- **Native Title:** [知否知否应是绿肥红瘦](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan \"知否知否应是绿肥红瘦\")\n- **Also Known As:**  Concubine's Daughter: Biography of Ming Lan , Do You Know? It Ought To Be a Wilting Flower Amongst The Lush Leaves , Don’t You Know? The Green Should Be Plump and the Red Lean , Know Whether It Should Be Green, Red and Thin , 庶女明兰传 , 海棠依旧 , 知否知否應是綠肥紅瘦 , 知否？知否？应是绿肥红瘦\n- **Director:** [Zhang Kai Zhou](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/22559-zhang-kai-zhou)\n- **Screenwriter:** [Wu Tong](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/22560-wu-tong), [Zeng Lu](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/22562-zeng-lu)\n- **Genres:** [Historical](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&ge=10&so=popular&or=desc), [Romance](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&ge=19&so=popular&or=desc), [Life](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&ge=22&so=popular&or=desc), [Drama](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&ge=25&so=popular&or=desc)\n- **Tags:** [Smart Female Lead](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=1782&so=popular&or=desc), [Scheme](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=2070&so=popular&or=desc), [Slow Burn Romance](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=215&so=popular&or=desc), [Calm Female Lead](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=1275&so=popular&or=desc), [Grandma-Granddaughter Relationship](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=2372&so=popular&or=desc), [Revenge](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=370&so=popular&or=desc), [Male Chases Female First](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=763&so=popular&or=desc), [Northern Song Dynasty](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=2397&so=popular&or=desc), [Older Man\/Younger Woman](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=1416&so=popular&or=desc), [Power Struggle](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&th=1502&so=popular&or=desc) [(Vote tags)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan)\n\n- **Country:** China\n- **Type:** Drama\n- **Episodes:** 78\n- **Aired:** Dec 25, 2018 - Feb 13, 2019\n- **Aired On:** Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday\n- **Original Network:** [Hunan TV](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&nt=32)\n- **Duration:** 47 min.\n- **Score:** 8.8 (scored by [10,398 users](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/statistics))\n- **Ranked:** \\#186\n- **Popularity:** \\#797\n- **Content Rating:** 15+ - Teens 15 or older\n- **Watchers:** 28,642\n- **Favorites:** 0\n\nRemove ads\n\n### Where to Watch The Story of Ming Lan\n[![WeTV](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/44wokm.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwetv.vip%2Fen%2Fplay%2F8p71z7ccpttdoc4&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=wetv&utm_content=23911)\n\n[**WeTV**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwetv.vip%2Fen%2Fplay%2F8p71z7ccpttdoc4&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=wetv&utm_content=23911)\n\nFree (sub)\n\n[![Viki](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/kEBdrm.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viki.com%2Ftv%2F35895c&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=viki&utm_content=23911)\n\n[**Viki**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viki.com%2Ftv%2F35895c&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=viki&utm_content=23911)\n\nFree (sub)\n\n[![iQIYI](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/vXey22_3m.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iq.com%2Falbum%2Fthe-story-of-ming-lan-2018-1zm34gmmj4p%3Flang%3Den_us&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=iqiyi&utm_content=23911)\n\n[**iQIYI**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iq.com%2Falbum%2Fthe-story-of-ming-lan-2018-1zm34gmmj4p%3Flang%3Den_us&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=iqiyi&utm_content=23911)\n\nSubscription (sub)\n\n[![CN Drama 感谢订阅中剧独播](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/18X2y_3m.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLQqbdnAgoRmZx4cWwhNGNmPGjpUglzrG_&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama&utm_content=23911)\n\n[**CN Drama 感谢订阅中剧独播**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLQqbdnAgoRmZx4cWwhNGNmPGjpUglzrG_&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama&utm_content=23911)\n\nFree (sub)\n\n[![CN Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/pgYlE_3m.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLvf4fZgfbz557KhSjgdhKog0qal-j5Fep&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama_en&utm_content=23911)\n\n[**CN Drama**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLvf4fZgfbz557KhSjgdhKog0qal-j5Fep&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama_en&utm_content=23911)\n\nFree (sub)\n\n### Cast & Credits\n[Add Cast](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/edit\/titles\/cast?id=23911)\n\n- [![Zhao Li Ying in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Z80bgW_5s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/2321-zhao-zanilia)\n  [**Zhao Li Ying**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/2321-zhao-zanilia \"Zhao Li Ying\")\n  \n  [Sheng Ming Lan](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/character\/sheng-ming-lan \"Sheng Ming Lan - The Story of Ming Lan\")\n  \n  Main Role\n- [![Feng Shao Feng in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/E4jy0_5s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/824-feng-william)\n  [**Feng Shao Feng**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/824-feng-william \"Feng Shao Feng\")\n  \n  [Gu Ting Ye \/ Zhong Huai](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/character\/gu-ting-ye-zhong-huai \"Gu Ting Ye \/ Zhong Huai - The Story of Ming Lan\")\n  \n  Main Role\n- [![Zhu Yi Long in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/e25bd_5s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/8170-zhu-yi-long)\n  [**Zhu Yi Long**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/8170-zhu-yi-long \"Zhu Yi Long\")\n  \n  [Qi Heng \/ Yuan Ruo](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/character\/qi-heng-yuan-ruo \"Qi Heng \/ Yuan Ruo - The Story of Ming Lan\")\n  \n  Main Role\n- [![Karlina Zhang in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/YY6yoe_5s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/14399-zhang-karlina)\n  [**Karlina Zhang**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/14399-zhang-karlina \"Karlina Zhang\")\n  \n  [Sheng Ru Lan](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/character\/sheng-ru-lan \"Sheng Ru Lan - The Story of Ming Lan\")\n  \n  Main Role\n- [![Kira Shi in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/l0pjNQ_5s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/15681-shi-shi)\n  [**Kira Shi**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/15681-shi-shi \"Kira Shi\")\n  \n  [Sheng Mo Lan](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/character\/sheng-mo-lan \"Sheng Mo Lan - The Story of Ming Lan\")\n  \n  Main Role\n- [![Cao Cui Fen in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/2wObrP_5s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/14903-cao-cui-fen)\n  [**Cao Cui Fen**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/people\/14903-cao-cui-fen \"Cao Cui Fen\")\n  \n  Old Mrs. Sheng \\[Ming Lan's grandmother\\]\n  \n  Support Role\n\n[View all (141)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/cast)\n\n### Photos\n[View all (79)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/photos)\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/ENxxz_3s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/ENxxz_3)\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/j3qqd_3s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/j3qqd_3)\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Xz22q_3s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/Xz22q_3)\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/ZobVJs.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/ZobVJ)\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/pOg88s.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/pOg88)\n\n[![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/xYnXEs.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/photos\/xYnXE)\n\n### Reviews\n[Write Review](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/write_review)\n\n![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/letter\/jwinlyn)\n\nOngoing 78\/78\n\n**[jwinlyn](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/jwinlyn)**\n\n**93** people found this review helpful\n\n[Other reviews by this user](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/jwinlyn\/reviews)\n\n[3](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/jwinlyn\/review\/43553)\n\nJan 9, 2019\n\n**78** of **78** episodes seen\n\nOngoing\n\n[3](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/jwinlyn\/review\/43553)\n\n**Overall 9\\.0**\n\nStory 9\\.0\n\nActing\/Cast 10\n\nMusic 8\\.0\n\nRewatch Value 9\\.0\n\n**A rich tapestry of Song dynasty life**\n\nFrom the writers that brought Battle of Changsha, you can expect a tightly-woven, authentic slice of life story. Each character and plot line, even the minor ones, have been written with so much raw detail that you feel every undercurrent of emotion simmering within. It is for viewers to sip and savour like fine wine - the longer it takes to ferment, the more intoxicating the fragrance. The subtle nuances, layered plot lines and complex characters...they all come together to paint a picture of quiet beauty, like our MC Ming Lan. Some viewers complain the pace is slow, but you'll be surprised how quickly you get drunk.   \n  \nThe acting is top-notch, delivered by a superb cast of veterans and not just pretty faces, lending justice to the well-written characters. These are not characters to fawn over, but you can imagine every flawed individual in the flesh, because that's how good and how real the acting is. There are no caricatures of stereotypical villains or dumb self-sacrificial heroes. The covert glances, slight hand gestures, undulating voices and variable facial expressions are all on point to hit right in the feels. Even the maids and servants can have their own unique charisma.   \n  \nNot to mention, other aspects like the music is simple but sophisticated without the usual lyrical overtures of historical dramas. The instrumental scores are effective in supporting rather than outshining the storyline. The costumes and sets are a feast for the eyes. The cinematography is exquisite. I personally love the soft sepia tones created by lots of warm natural light. There is a lot of effort spent on shooting every scene to maximize the visual impact.   \n  \nMing Lan is the definite, must-watch family drama! Watch it if you love period dramas of depth and complexity.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan)\n\nWas this review helpful to you?\n\nYes\n\nNo\n\nCancel\n\n![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Le4gxt.jpg)\n\nOngoing 73\/78\n\n**[Didi](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/josse20j)**\n\n**280** people found this review helpful\n\n[Other reviews by this user](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/josse20j\/reviews)\n\n[6](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/josse20j\/review\/44313)\n\nFeb 9, 2019\n\n**73** of **78** episodes seen\n\nOngoing\n\n[6](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/josse20j\/review\/44313)\n\n**Overall 10**\n\nStory 10\n\nActing\/Cast 10\n\nMusic 8\\.0\n\nRewatch Value 10\n\n**The Flower That Blooms In Adversity Is the Rarest One of All**\n\nThe Legend of Ming Lan is a very complex and meaningful slice of life drama. My review is split into two parts: a summary and analysis.  \n  \nI. Summary  \nThe synopsis is misleading. ‘Mistreatment’ is a very general statement. That can mean anything. The titular character suffers from neglect from her family; her grandmother fills that need: she loves her and cherishes her. The titular character is both sensible and practical: she acknowledges the reality of her situation and the world she lives in and chooses to be smart about it instead of letting it define her. The titular character makes the deliberate choice to blend into obscurity: her mission is to avoid attention because she learned at a very young age that standing out can invite danger and I think this is a way of taking back her control of her life in the best way she can. She presents herself as a submissive, dreamy person never interested in the things that make others scheme. As a result people think she is nonthreatening and even foolish for not wanting more i.e. 'ambitious'. Thus, about half of the drama instead focuses on her family and the personal actions of her relatives. Like a sponge she absorbs everything, learning about peoples behaviors, tricks, motivations and good\/bad choices. On the other hand Gu Ting Ye (future husband) experiences a lot of abuse from his family, but his gender means he can’t take Ming Lan’s route—there are different expectations on him—and as a male, physical punishment is far more common. The second half then follows Ming Lan after she begins married life and how she works very hard to protect her family, support her husband, and finally step into the limelight as a formidable person who will fiercely protect the people around her and is unafraid to seek justice in an eye-for-an eye kind of way (for extreme crimes) instead of burying them. The second act really steps up the ante as Ming Lan has much bigger fires to put out and the stakes and risks are bigger, especially since her husband becomes important to emperor, and that carries a risk all on its own (i.e. the higher you rise, the harder you fall).  \n  \nII. Analysis  \nI do not think everyone would agree with me that this drama is perfect because I strongly believe that whether you love, like, or hate it boils down to personal preference. For example, I did not like the drama Love 020 because it was not my style—too light—but it succeeded in what it intended to deliver very well so I ranked it an 8. In contrast, Perfect Couple was not only not my type but I think poorly executed so I gave it a low rating. This drama more than succeeds in what it wants to do and I loved it. With these examples I want the reader to know I am trying to be frank and fair with my review but I truly enjoyed the show so there may be some bias.  \n  \nFor you, the reader, I think there are some important things you may wish to know before making this 70+ episode commitment:  \n  \n1\\) The titular character does not receive the majority of screen time in the first half (in my opinion). The titular character does not receive the majority of lines. The titular character is the focus of the show though.  \n  \n2\\)The drama uses the rigid moral rules of the day as a source for conflict regularly. Filial piety, virtue, family reputation, and roles (being a good\/bad daughter; good\/bad wife; good\/bad son; good\/bad citizen)  \n  \n3\\)The writers\/directors (I think) attempt to tell a strongly character driven drama, meaning conflict is resolved through dialogue. Characters are consistent. Events don’t disappear from the story line, they stay with people for the rest of the show. Just like people, characters remember. Characters are impacted by choices other people make, sometimes in a life changing way. The last ten episodes are more action based as big end games begin to unravel and play out.  \n  \nConclusion:  \nI have a deep appreciation for this story. I think the acting was amazing, the writing and presentation, down to where people stand in a given scene, was done with remarkable attention to detail. Characters are intelligent and not easy to trick. The acting was extremely believable.   \n  \nIf you want a love story told on a grand scale (Ashes of Love, Eternal Love) this may not be for you because romance is just one of many aspects of this drama. In addition, if you want something light, I would steer clear. But this is not a palace drama (Empress of China) because the plotting is not anywhere near that level, and throughout all 70+ episodes, only a couple of people die—people are not dropping like flies.   \n  \n For those looking for romance, I cans say that an important aspect of Ming Lan's character is she never wants to inconvenience anyone or rely on others. The male lead prove through his actions that he is someone she can inconvenience and rely on so their love story is sweet.   \n  \nI think potential viewers should consider these points because often people start a drama and are frustrated with plot and speed. Others may call it a slow burner but it never felt that way to me. I eagerly await(ed) each new episode and the episodes flew by. I never fast forwarded. I don't know what to watch after this\\!  \n  \nFinally,  \nI am making a project to review every episode, so if you have questions about plot you can find them there but just be warned these episode summaries contain massive spoilers. Because of a bug that has not been fixed yet, I can't have paragraph breaks so I have used the (.............) method to delineate breaks.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan)\n\nWas this review helpful to you?\n\nYes\n\nNo\n\nCancel\n\n[View all](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/reviews)\n\n### Recommendations\n[Add Recommendations](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/add_rec)\n\n[![Story of Yanxi Palace](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/QBPRg_4t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/28565-the-tale-of-yanxi-palace \"Story of Yanxi Palace\")\n\n[![The Sword and the Brocade](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/vA588_4t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/58945-jin-xin-si-yu \"The Sword and the Brocade\")\n\n[![The Rebel Princess](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/ByBg1_4t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/28037-emperor-phoenix \"The Rebel Princess\")\n\n[![The Rise of Ning](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/mO5Q5P_4t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/714123-long-life-long-street \"The Rise of Ning\")\n\n[![A Dream of Splendor](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Ee4Jz_4t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/76169-bian-liang-meng-hua-tu \"A Dream of Splendor\")\n\n[![Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/XYxmO_4t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/729363-love-like-the-galaxy-part-2 \"Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2\")\n\n[View all](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/recs)\n\n### Recent Discussions\n[New Topic](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan?action=new_discussion)\n\n| Title | Replies | Views | Latest Post |   |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| ![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/nOLD5W_1t.png) | **[Link to Translated Novel](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/148072-link-to-translated-novel)** by [noveladdict](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/15068342) | 0 | 0 | No discussions yet |\n| ![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/nOYWDQ_1t.png) | **[The Story of Minglan知否知否应是绿肥红瘦 OST List + English Resources](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan\/143892-the-story-of-minglan-ost-list-english-resources)** by [Find Chinese Song](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/FindChineseSong) | 0 | 0 | No discussions yet |\n| ![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/By6nV_1t.jpg) | **[What if Minglan took the Yuanruo Route?](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/legend-of-concubines-daughter-minglan\/78319-what-if-minglan-took-the-yuanruo-route)** by [Phoenix\\_Empress](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/Phoenix_Empress) | 12 | 0 | [![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/letter\/AlexaSaltz)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/AlexaSaltz) [AlexaSaltz](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/AlexaSaltz) Mar 26, 2025 |\n| ![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/letter\/Anoif) | **[Highly recommend reading the novel](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/legend-of-concubines-daughter-minglan\/91773-highly-recommend-reading-the-novel)** by [Anoif](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/Anoif) | 8 | 0 | [![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/ABk6Kv_1t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/Aldurciyka) [Aldurciyka](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/Aldurciyka) Apr 19, 2024 |\n| ![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Z83V3O_1t.jpg) | **[Ming Lan-Gu Ting Ye romance](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/legend-of-concubines-daughter-minglan\/119349-ming-lan-gu-ting-ye-romance)** by [mparthur](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/10333819) | 1 | 0 | [![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Z83V3O_1t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/10333819) [mparthur](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/10333819) Sep 1, 2023 |\n| ![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/yNPqkt.jpg) | **[Best quotes](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/legend-of-concubines-daughter-minglan\/42797-best-quotes)** by [BaeAnna](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/BaeSAnna) | 2 | 0 | [![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/rNedRN_1t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/ChicagoTypewriter) [Chicago Typewriter](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/ChicagoTypewriter) Sep 29, 2021 |\n\n[View all](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/discussions\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan)\n\nRemove ads\n\n### Comments\nMyDramaList is a space for respectful and thoughtful discussion. 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Please keep things kind and civil.\n\n[Login](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/signin) or [Register](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/signup) to post comments\n\nAwards\n\n### Details\n- **Title:** The Story of Ming Lan\n- **Type:** Drama\n- **Format:** Standard Series\n- **Country:** China\n- **Episodes:** 78\n- **Aired:** Dec 25, 2018 - Feb 13, 2019\n- **Aired On:** Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday\n- **Original Network:** [Hunan TV](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/search?adv=titles&nt=32)\n- **Duration:** 47 min.\n- **Content Rating:** 15+ - Teens 15 or older\n\nRemove ads\n\n### Statistics\n- **Score:** 8.8 (scored by 10,398 users)\n- **Ranked:** \\#186\n- **Popularity:** \\#797\n- **Watchers:** 28,642\n- **Favorites:** 0\n\n## Top Contributors\n[![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/jbKLr_1t.jpg)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/MrBouBou)\n\n[**MrBouBou**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/MrBouBou)\n\n170 edits\n\n[![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/6N8gd_1t.gif)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/Hessa)\n\n[**Hessa**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/Hessa)\n\n114 edits\n\n[![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/b3zJxN_1t.png)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/hoshiakari)\n\n[**hoshiakari**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/hoshiakari)\n\n74 edits\n\n[![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/WPzNKO_1t.png)](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/frankly)\n\n[**frankly**](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/frankly)\n\n70 edits\n\n## News & Articles\n[![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/2VmxV_2c.jpg) 30 Most Popular Chinese Actors on MDL: Welcome to 2022! (Part 2)](https:\/\/news.mydramalist.com\/article\/30-most-popular-chinese-actors-on-mdl-welcome-to-2022-part-2 \"30 Most Popular Chinese Actors on MDL: Welcome to 2022! 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All rights reserved.\n\n![App Store](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/assets\/appstore_logo.png)\n\nDownload on the\n\nApp Store\n\n![Google Play](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/assets\/googleplay_logo.png)\n\nDownload on the\n\nGoogle Play\n\n### About\n- [FAQ](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/faq)\n- [About Us](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/about)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/contact)\n- [Terms](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/terms)\n- [Privacy](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/privacy)\n- [Support Us](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/vip)\n\n### Dark Mode\n### Work With Us\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/contact)\n- [API](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/api_request)\n\n### Recommended\n- [K-Dramas Calendar](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/episode-calendar)\n- [Top 100 K-Dramas](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/top_korean_dramas)\n- [Top 100 Japanese Dramas](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/top_japanese_dramas)\n- [Top 100 Chinese Dramas](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/top_chinese_dramas)\n- [Top Anime](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/shows\/anime)\n\n![](https:\/\/d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net\/atrk.gif?account=RcWWk1a4eFf2zM)\n\n##\nSomething went wrong.\n\n##\nSomething went wrong.","attrs_readable_markdown":"![](https:\/\/i.mydramalist.com\/Le4gxt.jpg)\n\nOngoing 73\/78\n\n**[Didi](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/profile\/josse20j)**\n\n**280** people found this review helpful\n\nStory 10\n\nActing\/Cast 10\n\nMusic 8\\.0\n\nRewatch Value 10\n\n**The Flower That Blooms In Adversity Is the Rarest One of All**\n\nThe Legend of Ming Lan is a very complex and meaningful slice of life drama. My review is split into two parts: a summary and analysis.\n\nI. Summary  \nThe synopsis is misleading. ‘Mistreatment’ is a very general statement. That can mean anything. The titular character suffers from neglect from her family; her grandmother fills that need: she loves her and cherishes her. The titular character is both sensible and practical: she acknowledges the reality of her situation and the world she lives in and chooses to be smart about it instead of letting it define her. The titular character makes the deliberate choice to blend into obscurity: her mission is to avoid attention because she learned at a very young age that standing out can invite danger and I think this is a way of taking back her control of her life in the best way she can. She presents herself as a submissive, dreamy person never interested in the things that make others scheme. As a result people think she is nonthreatening and even foolish for not wanting more i.e. 'ambitious'. Thus, about half of the drama instead focuses on her family and the personal actions of her relatives. Like a sponge she absorbs everything, learning about peoples behaviors, tricks, motivations and good\/bad choices. On the other hand Gu Ting Ye (future husband) experiences a lot of abuse from his family, but his gender means he can’t take Ming Lan’s route—there are different expectations on him—and as a male, physical punishment is far more common. The second half then follows Ming Lan after she begins married life and how she works very hard to protect her family, support her husband, and finally step into the limelight as a formidable person who will fiercely protect the people around her and is unafraid to seek justice in an eye-for-an eye kind of way (for extreme crimes) instead of burying them. The second act really steps up the ante as Ming Lan has much bigger fires to put out and the stakes and risks are bigger, especially since her husband becomes important to emperor, and that carries a risk all on its own (i.e. the higher you rise, the harder you fall).\n\nII. Analysis  \nI do not think everyone would agree with me that this drama is perfect because I strongly believe that whether you love, like, or hate it boils down to personal preference. For example, I did not like the drama Love 020 because it was not my style—too light—but it succeeded in what it intended to deliver very well so I ranked it an 8. In contrast, Perfect Couple was not only not my type but I think poorly executed so I gave it a low rating. This drama more than succeeds in what it wants to do and I loved it. With these examples I want the reader to know I am trying to be frank and fair with my review but I truly enjoyed the show so there may be some bias.\n\nFor you, the reader, I think there are some important things you may wish to know before making this 70+ episode commitment:\n\n1\\) The titular character does not receive the majority of screen time in the first half (in my opinion). The titular character does not receive the majority of lines. The titular character is the focus of the show though.\n\n2\\)The drama uses the rigid moral rules of the day as a source for conflict regularly. Filial piety, virtue, family reputation, and roles (being a good\/bad daughter; good\/bad wife; good\/bad son; good\/bad citizen)\n\n3\\)The writers\/directors (I think) attempt to tell a strongly character driven drama, meaning conflict is resolved through dialogue. Characters are consistent. Events don’t disappear from the story line, they stay with people for the rest of the show. Just like people, characters remember. Characters are impacted by choices other people make, sometimes in a life changing way. The last ten episodes are more action based as big end games begin to unravel and play out.\n\nConclusion:  \nI have a deep appreciation for this story. I think the acting was amazing, the writing and presentation, down to where people stand in a given scene, was done with remarkable attention to detail. Characters are intelligent and not easy to trick. The acting was extremely believable.\n\nIf you want a love story told on a grand scale (Ashes of Love, Eternal Love) this may not be for you because romance is just one of many aspects of this drama. In addition, if you want something light, I would steer clear. But this is not a palace drama (Empress of China) because the plotting is not anywhere near that level, and throughout all 70+ episodes, only a couple of people die—people are not dropping like flies.\n\nFor those looking for romance, I cans say that an important aspect of Ming Lan's character is she never wants to inconvenience anyone or rely on others. The male lead prove through his actions that he is someone she can inconvenience and rely on so their love story is sweet.\n\nI think potential viewers should consider these points because often people start a drama and are frustrated with plot and speed. Others may call it a slow burner but it never felt that way to me. I eagerly await(ed) each new episode and the episodes flew by. I never fast forwarded. I don't know what to watch after this\\!\n\nFinally,  \nI am making a project to review every episode, so if you have questions about plot you can find them there but just be warned these episode summaries contain massive spoilers. Because of a bug that has not been fixed yet, I can't have paragraph breaks so I have used the (.............) method to delineate breaks.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/mydramalist.com\/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan)\n\nWas this review helpful to you?","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Description	The Story of Ming Lan (Chinese Drama); 知否知否应是绿肥红瘦; Concubine's Daughter: Biography of Ming Lan;Do You Know? It Ought To Be a Wilting Flower
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Boilerpipe Text	Ongoing 73/78 Didi 280 people found this review helpful Story 10 Acting/Cast 10 Music 8.0 Rewatch Value 10 The Flower That Blooms In Adversity Is the Rarest One of All The Legend of Ming Lan is a very complex and meaningful slice of life drama. My review is split into two parts: a summary and analysis. I. Summary The synopsis is misleading. ‘Mistreatment’ is a very general statement. That can mean anything. The titular character suffers from neglect from her family; her grandmother fills that need: she loves her and cherishes her. The titular character is both sensible and practical: she acknowledges the reality of her situation and the world she lives in and chooses to be smart about it instead of letting it define her. The titular character makes the deliberate choice to blend into obscurity: her mission is to avoid attention because she learned at a very young age that standing out can invite danger and I think this is a way of taking back her control of her life in the best way she can. She presents herself as a submissive, dreamy person never interested in the things that make others scheme. As a result people think she is nonthreatening and even foolish for not wanting more i.e. 'ambitious'. Thus, about half of the drama instead focuses on her family and the personal actions of her relatives. Like a sponge she absorbs everything, learning about peoples behaviors, tricks, motivations and good/bad choices. On the other hand Gu Ting Ye (future husband) experiences a lot of abuse from his family, but his gender means he can’t take Ming Lan’s route—there are different expectations on him—and as a male, physical punishment is far more common. The second half then follows Ming Lan after she begins married life and how she works very hard to protect her family, support her husband, and finally step into the limelight as a formidable person who will fiercely protect the people around her and is unafraid to seek justice in an eye-for-an eye kind of way (for extreme crimes) instead of burying them. The second act really steps up the ante as Ming Lan has much bigger fires to put out and the stakes and risks are bigger, especially since her husband becomes important to emperor, and that carries a risk all on its own (i.e. the higher you rise, the harder you fall). II. Analysis I do not think everyone would agree with me that this drama is perfect because I strongly believe that whether you love, like, or hate it boils down to personal preference. For example, I did not like the drama Love 020 because it was not my style—too light—but it succeeded in what it intended to deliver very well so I ranked it an 8. In contrast, Perfect Couple was not only not my type but I think poorly executed so I gave it a low rating. This drama more than succeeds in what it wants to do and I loved it. With these examples I want the reader to know I am trying to be frank and fair with my review but I truly enjoyed the show so there may be some bias. For you, the reader, I think there are some important things you may wish to know before making this 70+ episode commitment: 1) The titular character does not receive the majority of screen time in the first half (in my opinion). The titular character does not receive the majority of lines. The titular character is the focus of the show though. 2)The drama uses the rigid moral rules of the day as a source for conflict regularly. Filial piety, virtue, family reputation, and roles (being a good/bad daughter; good/bad wife; good/bad son; good/bad citizen) 3)The writers/directors (I think) attempt to tell a strongly character driven drama, meaning conflict is resolved through dialogue. Characters are consistent. Events don’t disappear from the story line, they stay with people for the rest of the show. Just like people, characters remember. Characters are impacted by choices other people make, sometimes in a life changing way. The last ten episodes are more action based as big end games begin to unravel and play out. Conclusion: I have a deep appreciation for this story. I think the acting was amazing, the writing and presentation, down to where people stand in a given scene, was done with remarkable attention to detail. Characters are intelligent and not easy to trick. The acting was extremely believable. If you want a love story told on a grand scale (Ashes of Love, Eternal Love) this may not be for you because romance is just one of many aspects of this drama. In addition, if you want something light, I would steer clear. But this is not a palace drama (Empress of China) because the plotting is not anywhere near that level, and throughout all 70+ episodes, only a couple of people die—people are not dropping like flies. For those looking for romance, I cans say that an important aspect of Ming Lan's character is she never wants to inconvenience anyone or rely on others. The male lead prove through his actions that he is someone she can inconvenience and rely on so their love story is sweet. I think potential viewers should consider these points because often people start a drama and are frustrated with plot and speed. Others may call it a slow burner but it never felt that way to me. I eagerly await(ed) each new episode and the episodes flew by. I never fast forwarded. I don't know what to watch after this! Finally, I am making a project to review every episode, so if you have questions about plot you can find them there but just be warned these episode summaries contain massive spoilers. Because of a bug that has not been fixed yet, I can't have paragraph breaks so I have used the (.............) method to delineate breaks. Read More Was this review helpful to you?
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After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised by her paternal grandmother. Growing up, she learns to hide her true genius self and use crafty and cunning methods in order to survive the tough conditions where family members are plotting against each other and where no actual familial love exists. She then meets Gu Ting Ye, the second son of a rich marquis household, who is supposed to inherit wealth from both the parents and a noble title. Unlike Ming Lan, Gu Ting Ye is straightforward with his actions and never hides his true self, causing him to fall victim to all the planning and plotting against him, where he ends up losing everything. Ming Lan and Ting Ye join forces, and through cunning schemes and daring endeavors, they both rise in position and work to obtain justice from those that have wronged them. (Source: AH at MyDramaList) \~~ Adapted from the novel "The Story of Ming Lan" (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦) by Guan Xin Ze Luan (关心则乱). \~~ Two versions: 78 eps (TV) \\| 73 eps (DVD) [Edit Translation](https://mydramalist.com/edit/titles/details?id=23911&lang=en-US) - English - 한국어 - 中文(简体) - Русский - Native Title: [知否知否应是绿肥红瘦](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan "知否知否应是绿肥红瘦") - Also Known As: Concubine's Daughter: Biography of Ming Lan , Do You Know? It Ought To Be a Wilting Flower Amongst The Lush Leaves , Don’t You Know? The Green Should Be Plump and the Red Lean , Know Whether It Should Be Green, Red and Thin , 庶女明兰传 , 海棠依旧 , 知否知否應是綠肥紅瘦 , 知否？知否？应是绿肥红瘦 - Director: [Zhang Kai Zhou](https://mydramalist.com/people/22559-zhang-kai-zhou) - Screenwriter: [Wu Tong](https://mydramalist.com/people/22560-wu-tong), [Zeng Lu](https://mydramalist.com/people/22562-zeng-lu) - Genres: [Historical](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&ge=10&so=popular&or=desc), [Romance](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&ge=19&so=popular&or=desc), [Life](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&ge=22&so=popular&or=desc), [Drama](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&ge=25&so=popular&or=desc) - Tags: [Smart Female Lead](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=1782&so=popular&or=desc), [Scheme](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=2070&so=popular&or=desc), [Slow Burn Romance](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=215&so=popular&or=desc), [Calm Female Lead](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=1275&so=popular&or=desc), [Grandma-Granddaughter Relationship](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=2372&so=popular&or=desc), [Revenge](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=370&so=popular&or=desc), [Male Chases Female First](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=763&so=popular&or=desc), [Northern Song Dynasty](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=2397&so=popular&or=desc), [Older Man/Younger Woman](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=1416&so=popular&or=desc), [Power Struggle](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&th=1502&so=popular&or=desc) [(Vote tags)](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan) - Country: China - Type: Drama - Episodes: 78 - Aired: Dec 25, 2018 - Feb 13, 2019 - Aired On: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - Original Network: [Hunan TV](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&nt=32) - Duration: 47 min. - Score: 8.8 (scored by [10,398 users](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan/statistics)) - Ranked: \#186 - Popularity: \#797 - Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older - Watchers: 28,642 - Favorites: 0 Remove ads ### Where to Watch The Story of Ming Lan [![WeTV](https://i.mydramalist.com/44wokm.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwetv.vip%2Fen%2Fplay%2F8p71z7ccpttdoc4&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=wetv&utm_content=23911) [WeTV](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwetv.vip%2Fen%2Fplay%2F8p71z7ccpttdoc4&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=wetv&utm_content=23911) Free (sub) [![Viki](https://i.mydramalist.com/kEBdrm.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viki.com%2Ftv%2F35895c&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=viki&utm_content=23911) [Viki](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viki.com%2Ftv%2F35895c&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=viki&utm_content=23911) Free (sub) [![iQIYI](https://i.mydramalist.com/vXey22_3m.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iq.com%2Falbum%2Fthe-story-of-ming-lan-2018-1zm34gmmj4p%3Flang%3Den_us&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=iqiyi&utm_content=23911) [iQIYI](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iq.com%2Falbum%2Fthe-story-of-ming-lan-2018-1zm34gmmj4p%3Flang%3Den_us&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=iqiyi&utm_content=23911) Subscription (sub) [![CN Drama 感谢订阅中剧独播](https://i.mydramalist.com/18X2y_3m.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLQqbdnAgoRmZx4cWwhNGNmPGjpUglzrG_&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama&utm_content=23911) [CN Drama 感谢订阅中剧独播](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLQqbdnAgoRmZx4cWwhNGNmPGjpUglzrG_&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama&utm_content=23911) Free (sub) [![CN Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/pgYlE_3m.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLvf4fZgfbz557KhSjgdhKog0qal-j5Fep&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama_en&utm_content=23911) [CN Drama](https://mydramalist.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLvf4fZgfbz557KhSjgdhKog0qal-j5Fep&utm_source=mdl&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=cn_drama_en&utm_content=23911) Free (sub) ### Cast & Credits [Add Cast](https://mydramalist.com/edit/titles/cast?id=23911) - [![Zhao Li Ying in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/Z80bgW_5s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/people/2321-zhao-zanilia) [Zhao Li Ying](https://mydramalist.com/people/2321-zhao-zanilia "Zhao Li Ying") [Sheng Ming Lan](https://mydramalist.com/character/sheng-ming-lan "Sheng Ming Lan - The Story of Ming Lan") Main Role - [![Feng Shao Feng in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/E4jy0_5s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/people/824-feng-william) [Feng Shao Feng](https://mydramalist.com/people/824-feng-william "Feng Shao Feng") [Gu Ting Ye / Zhong Huai](https://mydramalist.com/character/gu-ting-ye-zhong-huai "Gu Ting Ye / Zhong Huai - The Story of Ming Lan") Main Role - [![Zhu Yi Long in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/e25bd_5s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/people/8170-zhu-yi-long) [Zhu Yi Long](https://mydramalist.com/people/8170-zhu-yi-long "Zhu Yi Long") [Qi Heng / Yuan Ruo](https://mydramalist.com/character/qi-heng-yuan-ruo "Qi Heng / Yuan Ruo - The Story of Ming Lan") Main Role - [![Karlina Zhang in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/YY6yoe_5s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/people/14399-zhang-karlina) [Karlina Zhang](https://mydramalist.com/people/14399-zhang-karlina "Karlina Zhang") [Sheng Ru Lan](https://mydramalist.com/character/sheng-ru-lan "Sheng Ru Lan - The Story of Ming Lan") Main Role - [![Kira Shi in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/l0pjNQ_5s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/people/15681-shi-shi) [Kira Shi](https://mydramalist.com/people/15681-shi-shi "Kira Shi") [Sheng Mo Lan](https://mydramalist.com/character/sheng-mo-lan "Sheng Mo Lan - The Story of Ming Lan") Main Role - [![Cao Cui Fen in The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama](https://i.mydramalist.com/2wObrP_5s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/people/14903-cao-cui-fen) [Cao Cui Fen](https://mydramalist.com/people/14903-cao-cui-fen "Cao Cui Fen") Old Mrs. Sheng \[Ming Lan's grandmother\] Support Role [View all (141)](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan/cast) ### Photos [View all (79)](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan/photos) [![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https://i.mydramalist.com/ENxxz_3s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/photos/ENxxz_3) [![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https://i.mydramalist.com/j3qqd_3s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/photos/j3qqd_3) [![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https://i.mydramalist.com/Xz22q_3s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/photos/Xz22q_3) [![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https://i.mydramalist.com/ZobVJs.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/photos/ZobVJ) [![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https://i.mydramalist.com/pOg88s.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/photos/pOg88) [![The Story of Ming Lan Chinese Drama photo](https://i.mydramalist.com/xYnXEs.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/photos/xYnXE) ### Reviews [Write Review](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan/write_review) ![](https://i.mydramalist.com/letter/jwinlyn) Ongoing 78/78 [jwinlyn](https://mydramalist.com/profile/jwinlyn) 93 people found this review helpful [Other reviews by this user](https://mydramalist.com/profile/jwinlyn/reviews) [3](https://mydramalist.com/profile/jwinlyn/review/43553) Jan 9, 2019 78 of 78 episodes seen Ongoing [3](https://mydramalist.com/profile/jwinlyn/review/43553) Overall 9\.0 Story 9\.0 Acting/Cast 10 Music 8\.0 Rewatch Value 9\.0 A rich tapestry of Song dynasty life From the writers that brought Battle of Changsha, you can expect a tightly-woven, authentic slice of life story. Each character and plot line, even the minor ones, have been written with so much raw detail that you feel every undercurrent of emotion simmering within. It is for viewers to sip and savour like fine wine - the longer it takes to ferment, the more intoxicating the fragrance. The subtle nuances, layered plot lines and complex characters...they all come together to paint a picture of quiet beauty, like our MC Ming Lan. Some viewers complain the pace is slow, but you'll be surprised how quickly you get drunk. The acting is top-notch, delivered by a superb cast of veterans and not just pretty faces, lending justice to the well-written characters. These are not characters to fawn over, but you can imagine every flawed individual in the flesh, because that's how good and how real the acting is. There are no caricatures of stereotypical villains or dumb self-sacrificial heroes. The covert glances, slight hand gestures, undulating voices and variable facial expressions are all on point to hit right in the feels. Even the maids and servants can have their own unique charisma. Not to mention, other aspects like the music is simple but sophisticated without the usual lyrical overtures of historical dramas. The instrumental scores are effective in supporting rather than outshining the storyline. The costumes and sets are a feast for the eyes. The cinematography is exquisite. I personally love the soft sepia tones created by lots of warm natural light. There is a lot of effort spent on shooting every scene to maximize the visual impact. Ming Lan is the definite, must-watch family drama! Watch it if you love period dramas of depth and complexity. [Read More](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan) Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Cancel ![](https://i.mydramalist.com/Le4gxt.jpg) Ongoing 73/78 [Didi](https://mydramalist.com/profile/josse20j) 280 people found this review helpful [Other reviews by this user](https://mydramalist.com/profile/josse20j/reviews) [6](https://mydramalist.com/profile/josse20j/review/44313) Feb 9, 2019 73 of 78 episodes seen Ongoing [6](https://mydramalist.com/profile/josse20j/review/44313) Overall 10 Story 10 Acting/Cast 10 Music 8\.0 Rewatch Value 10 The Flower That Blooms In Adversity Is the Rarest One of All The Legend of Ming Lan is a very complex and meaningful slice of life drama. My review is split into two parts: a summary and analysis. I. Summary The synopsis is misleading. ‘Mistreatment’ is a very general statement. That can mean anything. The titular character suffers from neglect from her family; her grandmother fills that need: she loves her and cherishes her. The titular character is both sensible and practical: she acknowledges the reality of her situation and the world she lives in and chooses to be smart about it instead of letting it define her. The titular character makes the deliberate choice to blend into obscurity: her mission is to avoid attention because she learned at a very young age that standing out can invite danger and I think this is a way of taking back her control of her life in the best way she can. She presents herself as a submissive, dreamy person never interested in the things that make others scheme. As a result people think she is nonthreatening and even foolish for not wanting more i.e. 'ambitious'. Thus, about half of the drama instead focuses on her family and the personal actions of her relatives. Like a sponge she absorbs everything, learning about peoples behaviors, tricks, motivations and good/bad choices. On the other hand Gu Ting Ye (future husband) experiences a lot of abuse from his family, but his gender means he can’t take Ming Lan’s route—there are different expectations on him—and as a male, physical punishment is far more common. The second half then follows Ming Lan after she begins married life and how she works very hard to protect her family, support her husband, and finally step into the limelight as a formidable person who will fiercely protect the people around her and is unafraid to seek justice in an eye-for-an eye kind of way (for extreme crimes) instead of burying them. The second act really steps up the ante as Ming Lan has much bigger fires to put out and the stakes and risks are bigger, especially since her husband becomes important to emperor, and that carries a risk all on its own (i.e. the higher you rise, the harder you fall). II. Analysis I do not think everyone would agree with me that this drama is perfect because I strongly believe that whether you love, like, or hate it boils down to personal preference. For example, I did not like the drama Love 020 because it was not my style—too light—but it succeeded in what it intended to deliver very well so I ranked it an 8. In contrast, Perfect Couple was not only not my type but I think poorly executed so I gave it a low rating. This drama more than succeeds in what it wants to do and I loved it. With these examples I want the reader to know I am trying to be frank and fair with my review but I truly enjoyed the show so there may be some bias. For you, the reader, I think there are some important things you may wish to know before making this 70+ episode commitment: 1\) The titular character does not receive the majority of screen time in the first half (in my opinion). The titular character does not receive the majority of lines. The titular character is the focus of the show though. 2\)The drama uses the rigid moral rules of the day as a source for conflict regularly. Filial piety, virtue, family reputation, and roles (being a good/bad daughter; good/bad wife; good/bad son; good/bad citizen) 3\)The writers/directors (I think) attempt to tell a strongly character driven drama, meaning conflict is resolved through dialogue. Characters are consistent. Events don’t disappear from the story line, they stay with people for the rest of the show. Just like people, characters remember. Characters are impacted by choices other people make, sometimes in a life changing way. The last ten episodes are more action based as big end games begin to unravel and play out. Conclusion: I have a deep appreciation for this story. I think the acting was amazing, the writing and presentation, down to where people stand in a given scene, was done with remarkable attention to detail. Characters are intelligent and not easy to trick. The acting was extremely believable. If you want a love story told on a grand scale (Ashes of Love, Eternal Love) this may not be for you because romance is just one of many aspects of this drama. In addition, if you want something light, I would steer clear. But this is not a palace drama (Empress of China) because the plotting is not anywhere near that level, and throughout all 70+ episodes, only a couple of people die—people are not dropping like flies. For those looking for romance, I cans say that an important aspect of Ming Lan's character is she never wants to inconvenience anyone or rely on others. The male lead prove through his actions that he is someone she can inconvenience and rely on so their love story is sweet. I think potential viewers should consider these points because often people start a drama and are frustrated with plot and speed. Others may call it a slow burner but it never felt that way to me. I eagerly await(ed) each new episode and the episodes flew by. I never fast forwarded. I don't know what to watch after this\! Finally, I am making a project to review every episode, so if you have questions about plot you can find them there but just be warned these episode summaries contain massive spoilers. Because of a bug that has not been fixed yet, I can't have paragraph breaks so I have used the (.............) method to delineate breaks. [Read More](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan) Was this review helpful to you? 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[Login](https://mydramalist.com/signin) or [Register](https://mydramalist.com/signup) to post comments Awards ### Details - Title: The Story of Ming Lan - Type: Drama - Format: Standard Series - Country: China - Episodes: 78 - Aired: Dec 25, 2018 - Feb 13, 2019 - Aired On: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - Original Network: [Hunan TV](https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&nt=32) - Duration: 47 min. - Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older Remove ads ### Statistics - Score: 8.8 (scored by 10,398 users) - Ranked: \#186 - Popularity: \#797 - Watchers: 28,642 - Favorites: 0 ## Top Contributors [![](https://i.mydramalist.com/jbKLr_1t.jpg)](https://mydramalist.com/profile/MrBouBou) [MrBouBou](https://mydramalist.com/profile/MrBouBou) 170 edits [![](https://i.mydramalist.com/6N8gd_1t.gif)](https://mydramalist.com/profile/Hessa) [Hessa](https://mydramalist.com/profile/Hessa) 114 edits [![](https://i.mydramalist.com/b3zJxN_1t.png)](https://mydramalist.com/profile/hoshiakari) [hoshiakari](https://mydramalist.com/profile/hoshiakari) 74 edits [![](https://i.mydramalist.com/WPzNKO_1t.png)](https://mydramalist.com/profile/frankly) [frankly**](https://mydramalist.com/profile/frankly) 70 edits ## News & Articles [![](https://i.mydramalist.com/2VmxV_2c.jpg) 30 Most Popular Chinese Actors on MDL: Welcome to 2022! 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Readable Markdown	![](https://i.mydramalist.com/Le4gxt.jpg) Ongoing 73/78 [Didi](https://mydramalist.com/profile/josse20j) 280 people found this review helpful Story 10 Acting/Cast 10 Music 8\.0 Rewatch Value 10 The Flower That Blooms In Adversity Is the Rarest One of All The Legend of Ming Lan is a very complex and meaningful slice of life drama. My review is split into two parts: a summary and analysis. I. Summary The synopsis is misleading. ‘Mistreatment’ is a very general statement. That can mean anything. The titular character suffers from neglect from her family; her grandmother fills that need: she loves her and cherishes her. The titular character is both sensible and practical: she acknowledges the reality of her situation and the world she lives in and chooses to be smart about it instead of letting it define her. The titular character makes the deliberate choice to blend into obscurity: her mission is to avoid attention because she learned at a very young age that standing out can invite danger and I think this is a way of taking back her control of her life in the best way she can. She presents herself as a submissive, dreamy person never interested in the things that make others scheme. As a result people think she is nonthreatening and even foolish for not wanting more i.e. 'ambitious'. Thus, about half of the drama instead focuses on her family and the personal actions of her relatives. Like a sponge she absorbs everything, learning about peoples behaviors, tricks, motivations and good/bad choices. On the other hand Gu Ting Ye (future husband) experiences a lot of abuse from his family, but his gender means he can’t take Ming Lan’s route—there are different expectations on him—and as a male, physical punishment is far more common. The second half then follows Ming Lan after she begins married life and how she works very hard to protect her family, support her husband, and finally step into the limelight as a formidable person who will fiercely protect the people around her and is unafraid to seek justice in an eye-for-an eye kind of way (for extreme crimes) instead of burying them. The second act really steps up the ante as Ming Lan has much bigger fires to put out and the stakes and risks are bigger, especially since her husband becomes important to emperor, and that carries a risk all on its own (i.e. the higher you rise, the harder you fall). II. Analysis I do not think everyone would agree with me that this drama is perfect because I strongly believe that whether you love, like, or hate it boils down to personal preference. For example, I did not like the drama Love 020 because it was not my style—too light—but it succeeded in what it intended to deliver very well so I ranked it an 8. In contrast, Perfect Couple was not only not my type but I think poorly executed so I gave it a low rating. This drama more than succeeds in what it wants to do and I loved it. With these examples I want the reader to know I am trying to be frank and fair with my review but I truly enjoyed the show so there may be some bias. For you, the reader, I think there are some important things you may wish to know before making this 70+ episode commitment: 1\) The titular character does not receive the majority of screen time in the first half (in my opinion). The titular character does not receive the majority of lines. The titular character is the focus of the show though. 2\)The drama uses the rigid moral rules of the day as a source for conflict regularly. Filial piety, virtue, family reputation, and roles (being a good/bad daughter; good/bad wife; good/bad son; good/bad citizen) 3\)The writers/directors (I think) attempt to tell a strongly character driven drama, meaning conflict is resolved through dialogue. Characters are consistent. Events don’t disappear from the story line, they stay with people for the rest of the show. Just like people, characters remember. Characters are impacted by choices other people make, sometimes in a life changing way. The last ten episodes are more action based as big end games begin to unravel and play out. Conclusion: I have a deep appreciation for this story. I think the acting was amazing, the writing and presentation, down to where people stand in a given scene, was done with remarkable attention to detail. Characters are intelligent and not easy to trick. The acting was extremely believable. If you want a love story told on a grand scale (Ashes of Love, Eternal Love) this may not be for you because romance is just one of many aspects of this drama. In addition, if you want something light, I would steer clear. But this is not a palace drama (Empress of China) because the plotting is not anywhere near that level, and throughout all 70+ episodes, only a couple of people die—people are not dropping like flies. For those looking for romance, I cans say that an important aspect of Ming Lan's character is she never wants to inconvenience anyone or rely on others. The male lead prove through his actions that he is someone she can inconvenience and rely on so their love story is sweet. I think potential viewers should consider these points because often people start a drama and are frustrated with plot and speed. Others may call it a slow burner but it never felt that way to me. I eagerly await(ed) each new episode and the episodes flew by. I never fast forwarded. I don't know what to watch after this\! Finally, I am making a project to review every episode, so if you have questions about plot you can find them there but just be warned these episode summaries contain massive spoilers. Because of a bug that has not been fixed yet, I can't have paragraph breaks so I have used the (.............) method to delineate breaks. [Read More](https://mydramalist.com/23911-the-story-of-ming-lan) Was this review helpful to you?
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