This review may contain spoilers
The Rough Road to Splendor
After finishing Melody of Golden Age, I jumped straight into The Road to Splendor because I’m currently obsessed with the Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi pairing. The early episodes (around 1–3) feel a bit slow, and the FL gets bullied a lot while she’s still not very street-smart, which can be a little frustrating. But after that, the drama becomes really enjoyable.
The plot is well-written. Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun keep solving one problem after another—as soon as they resolve one issue, a new one appears. Both characters have clear motivations and realistic character development. Zhao Ling starts as an illegal salt merchant and gradually rises to become a high-ranking official. Fu Ting Yun is intelligent and sharp; she constantly supports and elevates the male lead. Neither of them changes easily—they have to fight to survive in an unfair system, which feels very realistic. After they get married, the problems only get bigger and more complicated. One thing I didn’t particularly like is that people around the main couple often act foolishly and create unnecessary trouble for Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun to clean up. The antagonists are also quite irritating, especially Yu Jing Xiu, who loves playing the victim, always blaming others and never reflecting on himself. It can feel a bit exhausting at times with how many problems keep piling up, but the show is still very entertaining. The performances of the leads are excellent. Ding Yuxi does a great job showing Zhao Ling’s ambition when he’s still a salt merchant, and once he gains power, you can really feel his commanding presence. Deng Enxi’s acting has improved a lot in this drama—it feels natural, detailed, and perfectly suited to the role. Even when she’s not speaking, her eyes and body language convey so much emotion. Their relationship feels very realistic and natural. It develops gradually, like two real people who have to go through hardships together. The chemistry between them in this series is even better than in their previous collaboration—every glance, small gesture, and moment of silence between them communicates so much. I’m not disappointed at all that they paired up again.
Overall, the plot is strong and feels grounded. Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi deliver great performances with excellent chemistry. The costumes are beautiful, character development is logical, and the supporting cast is solid. Even though it can be tiring how problems never stop coming for the main couple, the drama is still highly entertaining, and the satisfying ending makes The Road to Splendor definitely worth watching.
The plot is well-written. Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun keep solving one problem after another—as soon as they resolve one issue, a new one appears. Both characters have clear motivations and realistic character development. Zhao Ling starts as an illegal salt merchant and gradually rises to become a high-ranking official. Fu Ting Yun is intelligent and sharp; she constantly supports and elevates the male lead. Neither of them changes easily—they have to fight to survive in an unfair system, which feels very realistic. After they get married, the problems only get bigger and more complicated. One thing I didn’t particularly like is that people around the main couple often act foolishly and create unnecessary trouble for Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun to clean up. The antagonists are also quite irritating, especially Yu Jing Xiu, who loves playing the victim, always blaming others and never reflecting on himself. It can feel a bit exhausting at times with how many problems keep piling up, but the show is still very entertaining. The performances of the leads are excellent. Ding Yuxi does a great job showing Zhao Ling’s ambition when he’s still a salt merchant, and once he gains power, you can really feel his commanding presence. Deng Enxi’s acting has improved a lot in this drama—it feels natural, detailed, and perfectly suited to the role. Even when she’s not speaking, her eyes and body language convey so much emotion. Their relationship feels very realistic and natural. It develops gradually, like two real people who have to go through hardships together. The chemistry between them in this series is even better than in their previous collaboration—every glance, small gesture, and moment of silence between them communicates so much. I’m not disappointed at all that they paired up again.
Overall, the plot is strong and feels grounded. Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi deliver great performances with excellent chemistry. The costumes are beautiful, character development is logical, and the supporting cast is solid. Even though it can be tiring how problems never stop coming for the main couple, the drama is still highly entertaining, and the satisfying ending makes The Road to Splendor definitely worth watching.
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