The Ingenious One (2023)

Shrewd, manipulative, and self-aware ML. A complicated storyline with shifting loyalties and criss-crossing relationships between different roles. FL is significantly more BAMF. A must watch for viewers who enjoy clever and complicated storylines that reward intelligent viewers without unnecessary drama mucking up the drama's pacing.

Similarities:
-Multiple sects vying for power plus the imperial court involved somehow.
-Great martial arts skills and fights.
-Smart and savvy leads, with contingency plans and payback strategies.
-Romance make small appearances.
-Plot in one way or another revolves around getting revenge and/or uncovering mysteries.
-Friendship and comedy are both important.

Focusing on a male character on his journey through the world full of fights and schemes. SSS also has Xu Feng Nian who is a smartass on his own rights.

Both dramas have a female lead, that is very skilled in fighting and also capable of tactical thinking, scheming and planning ahead.
Both dramas have a good mix of action, romance and friendship, involving many interesting characters.
Beautiful cinematography, showing many different places along a journey, including a snowy scenery, can be found in both dramas.

Mature smart drama.
Similar scenario. ML trying to uncover past for revenge and clear fathers name. SML has a mysterious past that intertwines with ML's past. ML is a schemer and SML who helps ML is smart and upright.

In both historical dramas Chen Xiao plays a similar character: a smart and strong man falling for a strong woman, while their pasts put their future in danger.

They are both conspiracy heavy historical suspense dramas. They also have a revenge theme. Both are set during the Ming Dynasty. Pledge of Allegiance takes place in early Ming and The Ingenious One in mid/late Ming.

Both are suspenseful historical conspiracy dramas surprise twists, have hidden/multiple concealed identities, betrayals and use art of war like strategies to trap and defeat the enemy.

They are similar, like strategy, smart man lead and a lot of difficult situations to fix. Nice scenario, good characters.

Similarities:
- Yun Xiang and Zhuge Liang are both strategists
- great acting from all actors
- good directing

Both dramas have a group of friends trying to right wrongs and solve mysteries.
Both dramas reverse the usual gender roles with male leads that use their brains instead of their fists and female leads who are good at fighting.

In both dramas:
A group of righteous friends try to fight the "mafia" of the pugilist world.
Good vs Evil , Right against Wrong
Kindhearted people are trying to protect themselves and survive from the bloodthirsty greedy men.
Money seem to rule the world.
Epic fightscenes. Bad guys fight "with their brains" as well . They are smart, cunning and use several methods to take down the good guys (not just swords and fighting).
In this difficult situation love blooms into unexpected places.

Brilliant male leads using their wits to maneuver hardships in wulin world. Strong support characters.