Kiie

I was very surprised too! with such a solid line of actor/actress.

I LOVE it when they made the protagonist layered with background story and their purpose in the drama. In the end we as viewer start to emphatize or symphatize them. I always have a soft spot for morally grey characters (or outright red flags).
In Key of The Phoenix Heart, Peter Ho’s character was one of it. The kind that outshine main leads and deserves standing ovation.

Yes madam zuo was very interesting too. And I low key pity her. Too bad her role is just to facilitate FL growth arc in the beginning of the story. You know this kind of protagonist they have no upperhand and will always lose. but Madam Yu is very smart and more experience than FL and she is playing a different game, all mind manipulations and we are still wondering what else she is plotting.

This drama has better main plot and very interesting character growth for both main leads, but POJ has better villain and side characters. I still miss the prime minister and grey hair Qimin a lot. 😭
in Road to Splendor, the only side character that was written very good is Madam Yu. awesome actress! But I am only at epi14, maybe they will introduce more side characters later.

Madam Zhou is a woman with a lot of resentment. I lowkey pity her…
What a horrible time to be born as woman. 🥺😭

Fake marriage, married first, fall in love later trope.

Not everyone who has a different opinion than you is a hater. PeachBlossomGoddess she writes very good drama review here.

the rating of this is drama is fluctuating like share market. Haters and fans of this drama are working crazy hard. lol.

not a surprise the rating is low despite the story and acting are great. This drama get more hate than usual due to the age gap issue.

look at all her new drama projects, these are those deeper drama, that's not focusing on romance anymore. When she was with Huanyu, she had to make those money making idol dramas that boost her popularity. Now I think she is at a different chapter of her acting career.

wishing her all the best. T____T
I will miss her tremendously because I think she no longer will choose idol, xianxia and period drama. Those are the dramas that I like to watch and discovered her.

Those who is still harping about the age gap issue, hello, this drama got approved faster than a lot of other dramas. If the CCP thinks it's ok, then it's OK. They are one the strictest censorship board. You all are just bitter you couldn't get to watch your BL dramas. lol

But yeli's martial art is way better than him. lol. They found him at the end, probably will offer him a job or something.

I am up to date (but not the express 1). Of course they have to add the blood vomiting, it's c-drama after all. hahaha

and the hair greying overnight due to stress.....

I thank the director for the subtleness in this drama. For once, I dont see OTT blood vomiting scene during fights. There's one scene where ML's friend was punched and he vomited water, I find that more believable than excessive blood vomiting in all the other c-dramas.

Slice of life with drama, with a lot of drama.

If you want similar trope (married first, fall in love later), you can try Prisoner of Beauty, Sword and Brocade, Destined.
The Double was watchable for me, but it doesn't have that feel-good family vibe. The couple is odd but it kinda works, I don't know due to what, maybe age gap, maybe plot, I'm not sure.

nooo, I wouldn't want that for them. That is a over-glorified position. No one is ever happy sitting on it.

I can see your hair turning grey. hahahaha

yes, he is the assassin I'm talking about. but they have very little screen time but so good!!