Royal Betrothal

Smart, ambitious and just chaotic enough

Meng Tinghui is an orphan who refuses to accept the life society has decided for her. Her goal is to enter officialdom through the imperial examinations and prove that a woman can stand among the most educated and powerful men in the court. Along the way, she crosses paths with Ying Gua, the young emperor travelling incognito. What begins as an unusual encounter gradually develops into a relationship built on mutual respect, political cooperation, friendship and, eventually, something much more personal.
The premise itself isn't revolutionary, but I really enjoyed the way the drama approached it.

Meng Tinghui isn't waiting around for someone to change her life. She is already determined to change it herself.
And that's probably what I liked most about her. She's intelligent, ambitious, stubborn and occasionally so confident in her own plans. She knows what she wants and, more importantly, she knows exactly how difficult it will be for a woman to achieve it in the world she's living in.
She doesn't suddenly become powerful because the male lead decides to help her. She earns her position through her intelligence, persistence and ability to solve problems. The fact that she becomes one of the first women to enter the Hanlin Academy gives her journey an additional layer, because her ambition isn't simply about personal success. She genuinely wants to challenge a system that has never been designed with women like her in mind.

I also enjoyed how the drama mixed different types of conflicts. We get court politics, investigations, corruption, power struggles, questions surrounding the imperial examination, criminal organizations and eventually a much larger conspiracy.

The relationship between Meng Tinghui and Ying Gua was another major highlight. I particularly liked that their relationship didn't immediately become a typical romance. They first develop an understanding as two people who recognize each other's intelligence. Ying Gua sees that Meng Tinghui is capable of much more than the position society would normally allow her, while she gradually realizes that the apparently carefree young man she met is hiding something considerably more important. Their dynamic works because neither of them completely dominates the other.
They're both stubborn.
They're both clever.
And they're both very used to having their own way.
Which, naturally, means watching them interact can be hilarious.

One of the relationships I unexpectedly enjoyed was Yan Fuzhi and Shen Zhishu. Their interactions brought some much-needed lighter moments to the drama, and I found myself looking forward to their scenes. The secondary characters in general help make the world feel more populated, rather than existing solely to move Meng Tinghui and Ying Gua's story forward.

For a large part of the drama, I was very invested in the political storyline and especially in Meng Tinghui's journey as a female scholar and official. Then the story introduces larger revelations surrounding her identity and the Blood Moon Society, and while I understand why those twists were included, I wasn't always convinced that they were the strongest direction for the story.
The drama sometimes feels like it has too much story and not quite enough time to properly explore all of it. Several conflicts take a long time to develop, only for the final resolution to happen much faster than expected. The last part especially feels like it could have benefited from more breathing room.
It's one of those dramas where I can recognize the flaws while still having a very good time watching it. The first half in particular had me completely invested, and even when the story became less consistent toward the end, I never reached the point where I wanted to abandon it. Not a new historical-drama masterpiece, but a genuinely entertaining watch with a smart and ambitious female lead, an interesting emperor, plenty of court intrigue and a romance that takes its time developing.

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Plot triumps over promotion Acting over Hype

Im lovin Royal Betrothal so far it strays away from the popular trope flooding the C world at the moment. Its refresing to see a Young emperor Ying Gua played by Chen Zhe Yuan trying to burst out the grips of the throne. Not being a puppet of the old seers of the old ways. It nice to see an emperor not just handing out Edicts and reform in the comforts of his throne.
This is my first Wu jin Yan drama and i only hear good things from her acting and drama selection and ao far i am very satisfied. She played Meng Ting Hui an abused orphan trying to defeat oppression she experience early in life by studying and trying to be a good politician.

i am soo inlove with friendships being shown in this drama Meng Ting Hui and Fu zhi friendship is just lovely. Same goes with Yingua and Zhi zu.

This series just air dropped all of a sudden even actors in it were caught off guard . Absolutely no promotion which is just sad given the effort made by the people involve. Its just a relief that with the actors skills Yingua and Meng ting hui was given life beautifully.

Given the brouhaha this drama had in the onset of filming im just glad the drama is doing well.

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Bombastic drama. Excellent comeback for the Hengdian Queen Jinyan

If you're looking for a revenge drama with political intrigue, strong female lead and slow pace romance, this is for you.
I know the main leads don't disappoint at all regarding script, they know how to pick a good one and I was waiting for this drama but I didn't expect it to be so unique and excellent.
Knowing Jinyan and Zheyuan were recovering from injury and 6 months postpartum during filming is just unbelievable. They delivered at a high level, very professional.
Talking about the supporting cast, they were incredible, the 2nd couple adorable, and the captain, he is a new actor and made his debut with this drama, he served and ate🥰
The villains I hate their characters so much, they pissed me, that means they did they job extremely good.
Don't hesitate to watch it guys, there's a lot happening in this drama, you can feel happy, sad, mad, pissed off, laughing, empathetic, all mixed emotions at the same time, that show they know how to covey emotions to viewers through their acting, expressions. People might be mad for the ending but not me, not all story should end with the same formula. They deserve this score.

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A good watch

The plot of this drama may be a one, that we already have seen many times before, like the struggle of women to pursue their careers, their fight against many injustices in the society, and the hardships they face while they try to make a living; but the way the story presents itself makes it a good watch👌
Meng Ting Hui, an orphan who was brutally beaten and tortured in her childhood and also loses her sister Xiang in the process, is determined to study, write the imperial exam and become an official, fights her way through all the atrocities and difficulties she faces, and also gives her best in investigating and eliminating the evil in the country.
On the other hand, Ying Gua, the young emperor is determined to remove corruption, and all the kinds of evil in his country while establishing peace.
Both the protagonists are stubborn, focused, dedicated, determined, sincere, honest in whatever they do. Their persistence to rectify all the injustices and bring villains to justice was very good👍
Wu Jinyan as Meng Ting Hui, was very good in her acting. As always, she shines in such kind of roles who maintain their inviduality along with relying on only themselves and not others.
Liked the performance of Chen Zheyuan as the Emperor.
All the other actors were good too.
Loved the friendship of Fu Zhi and Meng Ting Hui and how they stood for each other in difficult times.
Liked the mature romantic track between the Emperor and his subject, Meng Ting Hui.
The only downside I felt, was sometimes, the decisions made by Meng Ting Hui, may not seem reasonable and also stupid, but anyways her peraistence and determination to rat out all the villains who cause all sorts of evil in the realm and her sincerity to see the case to the end was very nice👏. Atleast, she was much better than those male officials qho do nothing but slandering others.
On a final note, THE ROYAL BETROTHAL, may not be an outstanding drama or masterpiece, but definitely, it is a WORTH WATCHING DRAMA.💯
I thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

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It’s nice to see WJY portray costume dramas. I love how she always gives her best to her role. She’s one of the actress I always look forward. If we’re going to talk about this drama, let’s admit that it’s a bang. All actors stood out without overshadowing the others. 😍 I like that this drama doesn’t focus on romantic love story, it’s political, war, and scheming which I love most in cdramas. Idk if people tell they don’t have chemistry, for me it can’t only be measure in a romantic encounter. There so many ways that made this drama a good dynamics.

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What a waste!

When I saw the FL and ML, i was actually very excited. but alas, i was disappointed that , how do i say it.. not sure if it is the how the story is being told (scripting), the production or how the director make this drama is just average or even poor. I feel it's very contrived, disjointed and not realistic. I feel from the acting to the scene and all , it just felt awkward. It's just not seamless and the transition is very poor, IMO.

Don't get me wrong, the story itself is pretty good... it's just how the drama is being made. i guess, at least. not to my expectation to say it is a 9 or 10 level. What a waste when you have a great casts like the ML and FL. Perhaps it is the screenplay or something. It is just poorly done. The acting, at times, especially Fuzhi (exaggerated) or even Meng Ting Hui (WJY, I expect more) or his assistance, Ying Qing (damn annoying), are also poor. Fortunately, the ML is a saving grace. I watch a couple more episodes. I would pin this poorly done drama on the director or screenplay. Just poorly done. I am already at Episode 20 and oh, my.. cannot stand it.. irritates me so much I just decided to stop and watch others. I will take my time to finish this or i will never finish this drama .

To each his own, you can try and see if you can take it.. You may feel the same way like I do or by all means finish it... i think still worth trying to watch a couple of episodes first. At least you can convince your self. hehe

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My willingness suspension of disbelief refused to bend the knee hence it was a disaster watch for me

It all started when the
1. The Lion Roar Tiger Gang Bang kept appearing in public and escaping with guards running two inches behind them in slow mo, fgs it was ridiculous. I disconnected every single time, I know why it's like that plotwise but the disconnect was instant everytime. Plot fault.
2. That Shen Zhishu has a total of three expressions, it reached a point where I knew the face he was going to make even before he made it and was never disappointed. I think I've seen this guy somewhere before and his acting and stylish in this drama is the same from the last place I saw him, directors fault.
3. Tinghui getting drugs shoved in her face at the edge of that clip was unbelievable, and Huang Bo going the way he did and the chief surviving that fall only to be stabbed the way he did had me asking Google if I was missing glasses for TV, cause a lot of what I was seeing wasn't making sense, eh. Because Huang Bo was tattered and Almighty Gang Bang Chief turned out okay, I know I know cliff Falls are the way they are but nah...it didn't work here. Plot fault.
4. See that Right Counselor, every single time he showed up on screen, all I could see were his eyes that always looked like they were swimming in liquid and there's something on his throat! Like he has 2 Adam apples but the other one gave up coming out halfway, I nearly whipped out my magnifying glass just to be sure.
This has taught me a lesson, I'm never going to watch another drama if my willing suspension refuse to bend the knee again, I'll just drop it and respect myself and the screw.
Although this was a fail with me, it's a solid 8 nonetheless in terms of cinematography, costumes, set, fight choreography but some of the characters were straight up butchered, that Meng Tinghui would talk tough and then get squared by some random hooligan that kidnaps her every other episode, she just couldn't choose a struggle most times, phew. That suspension of disbelief is really underestimated y'all.

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Melancholic but somehow good ending

It started off really good, he du & fl the most carefree they can ever be, the way the fl raising from the worst situation to an official, the way her life filled with great aspirations & desire for power just to protect people but damn it she really has loads of trauma, fu zhi being there for fl in life or death situations, always being there for her & she herself wanted to get out the regular path for women & wanted to be a business woman despite having a lot of struggles they made it to the capital, emperor struggles with corruption & keeps a office & keeps the fl & some other people there, wants to not to be controlled by anyone & maintain peace and prosperity of the realm, definitely there's a lot of opposition for women but step by step defying the general rules like women can't do official duties, enchantress cause emperor is standing up for the office & established that could women participate imperial exam, she's makes the faith kept on her by emperor worth it, he used her once, she acted bold, questioning the authority & acting on her own, their childhood comes to light I would say thanks to emperor for guiding the fl on the right path & kudos to her for following it, she avenged her sister & somehow got out of it, she was sexually assaulted but didn't blamed or let rumours stop her but learned self defence which is admirable, every evil person has a story it's like they didn't had a better choice but need to pay for their actions but that chancellor gu is most disgusting & despicable guy, he got his retribution, in the end the xu ting also realised about his self centred & narcissistic behaviour which is great but sacrificed himself for the nation, shen zhu li I was annoyed by her but she got beguiled so understandable but the love she got is pretty rare in reality & fleeting, fu zhi & shen zhi shu a really cute love story, nian was mad in love, full of devotion & loyalty for the emperor & the guard in initial eps he was just experiencing love but let's just say fate had other plans, the shen family parents are pretty inspiring, bofeng house competitor owner is good too & many other characters & many stories, they added a bit more past to fl character it was messy & draining despite the fine acceptable ending. Everyone did their best in their acting. The production lost their budget many times. The pace & story went south in later episodes, fl & ml made pretty mature choices at the end, that shangguan & situ xue - no words & but that shangguan was blinded by hatred, the gu chancellor was blinded by power, there was no happily ever after, somehow they were able to capture the depth of the characters, soo much happening if you binge watch, you're going to be numb but the effort for feminism, making own choices, sacrifices, pain, killing, infamy all for one thing change. Yes, the peace is achieved in the end but it had blood, tears & sweat & it felt it's fleeting & empty.

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