Glory

A well-made drama

The story is quiet refreshing and engaging to watch. I watched this drama as it dropped episode by episode and it felt a little disjointed so I rewatched it for that continuous feel, which made me appreciate it better.

Many actors in this drama played their roles really well. The main leads, Gulinazha played Rong Shanbao really well and Huo Ming Hao as Lu Jianglai actually brought more life to those moments with Rong Shanbao with his micro-expressions. He is a really good actor and I enjoyed his acting.

The set and the costumes are well-thought of. The tea plantation scenery are very scenic and indeed.

There are even lessons about tea at the end of some episodes. As a non-chinese watcher, I learned something as well. Kudos.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama and would recommend it to others.

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A visually stunning drama with lots of "tea"! (pun intended)

I went into Glory with very high expectations and, as expected, I wasn’t disappointed. Recently, there seems to be a wave of strong dramas with “Glory” in the title, and I was kind of anticipating The Glory, Blossom or even Blossoms in Adversity - type of vibes. Surprisingly, this drama turned out to be very different.

First of all, this drama screams high budget!! The production value alone is impressive: every detail of the setting is beautifully crafted and clearly well thought out. The Ming-dynasty–inspired aesthetics, the costumes, and especially the tea plantations are absolutely stunning. I also really appreciated the historical tea facts shown at the end of the episodes. The OST is gorgeous too and adds a magical touch to many scenes ✨

Despite having noticeable flaws in both the story and the characters, the show somehow managed to put me in a chokehold. It’s addictive enough to keep me watching, constantly wanting to know what happens next. What a pain watching this while it's airing!

But that said, there are also some issues worth mentioning.
The first arc of the story, especially the husband-selection plot and the He Xingming / Yang Dingchen storyline, felt unnecessarily long. It took up a lot of time of the drama without contributing much to the overall progression. Watching a group of men fight over the Rong family’s fortune also wasn’t particularly engaging... Story-wise it could've been a 10 for me, if this arc and the one in the last 4-6 episodes were excluded.
This is my first drama starring Gülnezer Bextiyar, so I can’t fully judge her acting yet. However, her facial expressions often felt a bit stiff. At times, it was difficult to tell whether her character was quietly scheming or genuinely surprised / upset. Nevertheless, her visuals suit the role 100% - she's got that sharp and cold “Ice Queen” aura.
Unexpectedly, I also found Hou Minghao’s acting somewhat tense or off in this drama, which surprised me because I’ve enjoyed his performances a lot in other works.
Now on to the characters: Rong Shanbao is a mixed bag for me. I admire how she prioritizes family above all else and refuses to get dragged into internal power struggles. Considering her difficult upbringing, her composure and emotional restraint do make sense. However, I don't agree with how she treats Lu Jianglai. While it’s true that he betrayed her first, he later makes continuous efforts to redeem himself, especially by solving the case etc. Yet she keeps him at arm’s length, barely treating him differently from the earlier husband candidates. Her lack of communication and tendency to keep everything to herself becomes frustrating over time.
As for the sisters, it honestly surprised me that the Rong family managed to survive for so long given how disunited they were in the beginning. I’m glad Rong Yunyin and Rong Yunxi had character development though. Rong Yunyin’s growth felt more believable, while Rong Yunxi’s change felt abrupt, like a jump: Suddenly she trusts Rong Shanbao and even speaks up for her?
Also, I'm actually growing even more interested in Yunxi and An Cha's story than Shanbao and Fusheng's...
The grandmother is another frustrating, illogical character. Despite her experiencing many setbacks, she sticks to her old mentality - familial piety, strict rules - alwways disregarding her granddaughters’ wishes.

Despite all these flaws, there are many things I genuinely enjoyed.
The story, while sometimes stretched, was engaging because of the constant twists where I expect them the least; especially the second half kept me hooked. My jaw literally drops every second. This is one of the best written stories, I've seen in a while!
And lastly, Rong Yunwan completely stole my heart. She’s adorable and easily one of the most lovable characters in the drama.

So, Glory is far from perfect, but it’s visually breathtaking and I love how the story develops ❤️

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Beauty, Brains, and a Third Act That Blinked

I can’t believe I’m writing this review again after accidentally deleting the first one, but maybe that’s fitting— this is the kind of drama that makes you want to revisit your thoughts anyway.

Let’s start with what ''Glory'' does exceptionally well.
- Visually, this drama is an absolute feast. The tone, the narrative style, the color palette, the costumes—every frame feels deliberate. The attention to detail pulls you straight into its world, and the OST doesn’t just accompany the story, it elevates it. This is one of those shows where aesthetics aren’t decoration; they’re part of the storytelling.

- The cast deserves genuine applause. Supporting characters aren’t just fillers here—they all have agendas, motives, and secrets. At various points, I found myself rooting for them, distrusting them, or doing both simultaneously. No one feels entirely safe, not even the characters who initially present as innocent. My naturally suspicious heart was on high alert from early on. Bonus joy: spotting so many familiar faces from short dramas felt like a delightful little Easter egg hunt.

- Plot-wise, the first two-thirds are rich, layered, and genuinely gripping. Tea cultivation heritage, a powerful family monopolizing an industry, murder mysteries, abductions, reverse harem undertones, and multiple no-nonsense female characters—it’s a dense mix, but one that mostly works. The Rong family arc in Linji, in particular, is where the drama truly shines. That stretch is confident, immersive, and sharply written.

- And then there’s the female lead. A queen, frankly. Cool-headed, scheming, razor-smart, and always ten steps ahead while chaos unfolds around her. She had me fully sold at the very first slap. What I admired most is her consistency—she never bends her core personality to appease the plot. I know the comment sections were in full meltdown mode over her “overly cool” demeanor, especially in romance, but you don’t get to ask for a strong, calculating woman and then complain when she’s emotionally composed. The traits that make her formidable are the same ones that make her restrained in matters of the heart. Personally, I loved her throughout and found myself applauding like a proud stage mom every time she outplayed everyone.

Now, where did I struggle?

- The male lead. HMH is endlessly charming on screen, and his portrayal of LJL—scheming, mischievous, shameless and morally grounded when it truly matters—was a joy, especially early on. He’s justice-driven, devoted, and willing to burn the world down for the woman he loves. That’s the good stuff. I genuinely enjoyed the leads’ dynamic up until around episode 20ish.
But in the final third, his character veers into insecurity and emotional neediness that didn’t quite work for me. This is entirely personal taste, but I tend to adore strong female leads paired with unwavering male leads. Watching him oscillate between fierce devotion and emotional instability left me conflicted—swooning one moment, mildly annoyed the next. HMH handled the role amazingly and made the character’s emotional arc believable, even when the writing choices didn’t fully work for me, and full transparency: I probably wouldn’t have picked up this drama if not for him. Still, I wish the writers had taken his character in a steadier direction.

- The final third of the drama also suffers in comparison to what came before. After spending around 30 episodes deeply invested in the Rong family arc, the Capital storyline—compressed into roughly six episodes—feels rushed. The pacing wobbles, the editing becomes uneven, and the overall narrative polish drops. You can feel the story sprinting toward the finish line instead of arriving with confidence.

That said, I still consider this a good drama, especially when viewed through a female-centric lens. From that perspective, it succeeds more often than it falters.
The romance is… fine. Enjoyable, but restrained. The chemistry is there, the kisses (though few) are undeniably fire, yet there’s a lingering sense that something is missing—more spark, more heat, more emotional payoff. Again, very much a personal take.

So, would I recommend ''Glory''? Yes, absolutely—especially if you go in knowing what kind of story it wants to tell.
Will I be rewatching it? Probably not. But am I glad I watched it? Definitely. It’s flawed, stylish, ambitious, and anchored by a female lead who refuses to dim her brilliance—and that alone makes it worth the journey.

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A high stake family ethics drama

I saw glory rating dropped from 8.5 to 8.3; I don't know why everybody is making a fuss about the last 6 episodes; yeah the ML's side of story of the duke household was old formula but annoying scenes moved at a fast pace and it was interesting enough and better than many other dragged out male lead background of other dramas.

I don't know what others were expecting from this drama, the title says it all, its about a family's glory, a high level family ethics drama that goes through many twists and turns of family bonds and family prosperity and unity; even ML's duke family plot hinted at the family glory and prosperity and power thing. I didn't find it inconsistent, the drama team delivered what they were supposed to, its a high stake family drama centered around solving family issues and that's it. Why everyone is making a grand idea like there should be something more like court politics, emperor, ML's career etc but these are not what this drama has hinted at all.

Anyways, people can just watch it with the mindset of a high stake family drama, there are many western shows and novels set around family inheritance suspense thriller; so for me Glory was just fine, maybe an extra 10 min ending with the main leads' wedding and a chit-chat tea party with all the sisters and their partners would be nicer but enjoyable nonetheless.

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For The Reverse Harem, Sub ML Loving Girlies

There's always something that draws me to a drama. For this, it was an edit I saw on Twitter. I saw Jianglai on his knees, looking up at Shanbao with those pleading puppy dog eyes, and they had me. Hook, Line & Sinker. Then I found out there was a reverse harem element to it and... Yeah, there was no hope for me. I was going to see this to the end. And that, I did.

🫖What I Liked🫖
🥰The Female Lead - They told me that I was getting a cold and cunning female lead, and they delivered. Throughout the show, Shanbao remains clever (and manipulative), maneuvering not only the men seeking to woo her, but also the tea business, and her very complicated family dynamics. Not once did I feel like she fell back and let the ML run the show. True to her family's traditions, the women are at the helm. And that's where she stayed till the end.

🥰 The Male Lead - Now, if we start talking about my love for male submissives, we'd spend all day here. All you should know is that they have a very special place in my heart. And my 'God, when?' prayer is still very much alive and well in this aspect.
Aside from the perfectly submissive man that Jianglai is, he's also smart and useful. My fear going into this was that he'd 'hide behind her skirts', always waiting for her to save him. Not only can he stand on his own, but he's also clever, ambitious, loving, dedicated, and cares about her business. Lu Jianglai's puppy-dog eyes may have brought me into this show, but his taking the time to learn about the tea business and help out where needed, without having to be told, won me over.

🥰The 5th Sister - Would I say I loved YunShu? No. But she was by far the most interesting of Shanbao's sisters. Miss Ma'am had me suspicious and freaking out for like 22 episodes. A true definition of a snake in the grass. She was also really smart. I respect smart characters, regardless of whether they are the villain or not.

🥰The sisters' relationship - In the beginning, it was tumultuous, at best. Over time, however, it evolves into what true sisterhood is. All the ladies grow, understand each other, and change, leading to a united Rong family. The kind that their ancestors had created and hoped for, for their future generations.

🥰The tea tidbits that were shown at the end of some episodes - I'm from a predominantly tea-drinking country but we have NOTHING over China. I mean, I didn't think we had anything close to them, but those tidbits showed me just how vast the difference is. The history of tea in China is truly vast and rich. Incredible

🫖Things I Didn't Like/Appreciate🫖
👵🏻Grandmother - Listen, I am all for respecting your elders, but this woman.... Yo! She had me heated. She was out here, increasing my blood pressure from how utterly horrible she was. YunShu and I might not have agreed on a bunch of things, but I was squarely on her side when she mentioned that their grandmother was basically the root of all evil. At least in their family.

She was supposed to guide the sisters. Help foster their relationships not just for their good but also for the good of the family legacy and traditions. But no, she made 1 mistake back when she was young, and her embarrassment over that became every generation's problem after that. Not only did she become like those rich snobby nobles, but she, a woman from a matriarchal home, becomes patriarchal - the biggest sin of all IMO. Believing that the man, the match between her daughters and some man determines their success as a family. She had zero faith in her family members

That person who called granny a 'dusty bag of bones' was on to something. She's entirely horrible, callous, and so judgmental towards her family. Let's not even start on how loudly she insulted a child of 4/5 years. I'm too young for a blood pressure medication prescription.

📚The story from episode 26, but largely from ep 30 - I would try to leave a note after every episode or every 2 episodes. However, after episode 25, I stopped. Clearly, that's where my excitement for the show started waning. But I think the biggest letdown was from ep 30. I don't quite know what the point of Jianglai's 2nd (and apparently OG) family was for.
At 1st, I thought they wanted to highlight the sad reality of the women from this time. The Rong family is obviously the exception, being matriarchal in a patriarchal society.

A quote that stuck with me from this arc was said by the duke's wife. It partly states
"Even if her father committed a grave mistake and disobeyed her grandmother's orders, as a daughter, she should kneel and beg again and again. Even if it meant not eating or drinking, starving to death. She should have sought her grandmother's forgiveness."
It clearly shows how the women of this time were expected to pay for the sins of the men in their lives. And were even punished for them. I thought that this was the point. To show the stark difference in how the Rong family treated both their men and women, and how the rest of the world did.

However, as the arc unfolds, things get weird, with the biggest issue being that Shanbao and Jianglai no longer work together. She seemed to be making decisions for him, doing that whole 'I'm hurting him to protect him from him/myself'. I fucking hate that trope. And then it was a family drama/murder mystery.... It was a lot, and for what?

All in all, I didn't appreciate those last 7 episodes. It felt like they used it to increase the viewer's anxiety about whether Shanbao and Jianglai would make it to the end together. Instead of all that, we should've gotten the final ACTUAL wedding, and a glimpse into the sisters' stories with their men. Namely, Yunshu & Bai Yi Sheng, Xiang Ling & Zhu Sheng (Jiang Lai's deputy. I'm making the executive decision that they belong together), as well as YunXi & her baby daddy ( I forget his name)

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Flaws, Schemes, and a Happy Ending — Still a Win

I finally found the time to write a review for Glory, and honestly, this drama is right up my alley ❤️. It is a pure historical drama with a touch of business elements 📜🍵, which happens to be my favorite genre.
That said, the drama does have its flaws and loopholes ⚠️, but overall it is built on a solid foundation 💪. The main theme revolves around tea plantations and the Rong family 🍃🏡, and I really appreciated that the story never lost focus on this core plot or abandoned it halfway through.
The first ten episodes were a bit slow and draggy 🐢, as they almost felt like a variety show of husbands competing to win Rong Shanbao’s heart 🤭😂. Thankfully, once the story picked up, it became much more engaging.
The scheming was well done and on point 😌♟️. Watching how the female lead and male lead worked together to turn the tides made the drama even more satisfying 🔥. Their strategies and growth added depth to the story and kept things interesting.
I’m giving Glory a solid 9.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because it is definitely worth watching. I would have given it a perfect 10, but the loopholes simply can’t be overlooked 😂😂. Still, it was a great, scheming ride with a happy ending 🥹🤭🎉—and one I truly enjoyed.

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Ambition, intrigue, and love, all woven together in an incredible script.

Two ambitious, cunning, and intelligent characters, Lu Jianglai and Rong Shanbao, star in this amazing series. They love each other, but they do not forget their careers and responsibilities. They are independent and stubborn, rebelling against expectations: Jianglai fights corruption and seeks justice, while Shanbao wants to run the plantation her way. They admire each other.
Hou Minghao plays Lu Jianglai and once again surprises me with his talent and versatility. He can be ruthless or act like a spoiled brat; he is equally convincing in both roles. Guli Nazha is also fantastic as Shanbao. There is great on-screen chemistry between them.
The script and direction are superb. A captivating series.

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From Women Empowerment to Power Imbalance

Started this because of the star cast, but the first four episodes were so boring that I dropped it. I restarted only because there was no other drama that held my interest. I’m glad I restarted because the story did get interesting—but unfortunately, it nose-dived again toward the last few episodes.
The first four episodes introduce the ML as a fearless, justice-serving imperial inspector sent to clear out corruption, and the FL as part of the most influential Rong family, the biggest name in the tea business with the best plantations. The FL is the eldest daughter, with the entire responsibility of the family on her shoulders, guided by her grandmother. The Rongs are matrilineal , but men in the family are treated with respect and equality- this promised a refreshing balance.

This opening arc focuses on families visiting the Rong household to be selected as husbands for the FL. These episodes are overly invested in showing how the FL is beautiful, strict, just, strong, and diligently running the tea business, while the other sisters are scheming for her place.The ML is ambushed by corrupt officials, nearly loses his life, is saved by the FL, and develops amnesia. This felt like a known trope and is what made me drop the drama initially.

After restarting, the drama became more engaging. The different schemes by suitors from prominent families, along with the sisters’ internal politics, and how the FL navigates all of this with poise and grace, were a treat to watch. At this point, it felt like a perfect women-empowerment drama. The ML slowly regains his memory, and together they form a team, remove corrupt officials, and bring justice to the region.
The ML also advises the FL to soften toward her sisters and guide them gently rather than ruling with an iron fist. She integrates this advice, and the sisters become softer and more inclusive of one another—another positive point for sisterhood.

This is where the problems start. Instead of continuing this character development and integration, the script begins to fail. The FL’s role becomes too perfect and overly self-reliant. In one case, she should have taken the ML’s help to arrest a convict, but instead she does everything herself and even locks the ML in a room. This goes against the narrative built so far. The ML has proven himself trustworthy, and while the FL is a capable businesswoman, her stepping into law enforcement shifts the tone from grounded women empowerment to toxicity.

The ML’s role, which initially seemed progressive and promising, gets sidelined until he almost becomes an obedient simp. The entire capital arc feels unnecessary. The arc where the ML is pining, again goes completely against the character that was originally introduced. The FL solving everything while the ML—introduced as an intelligent, fearless investigator—does nothing except admire her, is incoherent. Unfortunately, the drama moves from women empowerment to a narrative where the woman does everything.

The FL’s acting was good in the beginning. Her poise and grace matched the character well initially, but the lack of emotional range later makes the performance look wooden and performative. Episode 22, where she stands up to her grandmother, should have been a turning point. Instead of feeling integrated and transformative, it fails to add depth. The ML’s acting is good, but the writing completely fails him. The blind sister’s acting stands out the most—she appears humble, while the direction clearly shows that she is scheming. Both the writing and direction strongly support her role.

Production value is good. The story starts strong after the initial slump but nosedives later.
Female centric drama from tea business or career perspective is actually 9.5/10
But from relationship perspective it became 1/10 .
Overall, what could have been a 9 became an 8 for me.

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Beyond Romance: Strategy, Ambition, and Female Authority

First, I must admit: comparing two dramas starring the same actor, aired simultaneously, is almost inevitable. As someone who recently reviewed Unclouded Soul (also starring Hou Minghao), I approached Glory with a conscious effort to judge it on its own merits. However, the overwhelming popularity and unique narrative of Glory make the comparison a fascinating study in contrast and quality.

Where Unclouded Soul offered a familiar, well-executed xianxia (fantasy) template, Glory presents something rarer: a truly innovative plot within the historical genre. Having watched hundreds of Chinese dramas, I can confidently say this storyline is a chef's kiss—an absolute masterpiece of intrigue and subversion.

🔥The Plot: A Breathtaking Game of Power and Tea

The plot is the undisputed star. Set against the backdrop of the Ming Dynasty tea trade, it centres on the Rong family—a powerful matriarchal clan where women hold absolute power. This simple premise unlocks a narrative treasure trove:

👑A Sisterhood at War: The core conflict isn't about women fighting for a man's favour, but sisters strategically battling for the inheritance and leadership of their family empire. Their competition is intellectual, ruthless, and deeply compelling.

🐍 "Marrying In" - A Role Reversal: The concept of men competing in contests to be chosen as husbands, essentially "marrying into" the powerful Rong family, is brilliantly subversive. It turns centuries of gendered tropes on their head.

♟️Calculated Moves in a Grey World: This is not a reverse harem drama, nor is it a mindless “girlboss” fantasy. Every character, from the leads to the supporting cast, operates in shades of grey or black. They are strategists, each with hidden agendas and personal trump cards. There are no naive "white lotus" characters to pity—only players in a high-stakes game.

🖤 Mystery and Romance: Woven through the family politics is a year-old missing person case investigated by the male lead, Magistrate Lu Jianglai (Hou Minghao). His path—losing his memory, being saved by the formidable eldest Rong daughter, Rong Shanbao (Gulnazar), and their ensuing chess game of love and suspicion—adds layers of suspense and slow-burn romance.

⚔️Female Lead: True Agency, Not Romantic Validation

Rong Shanbao is what a true “strong female lead” should be.

Her decisions are driven by ambition and responsibility, not romance. Her goal is clear: to expand the tea empire and secure her position. Love is secondary—almost optional.

What I appreciated most is that female rivalry here is not about men. The sisters compete for power, voice, and control of the future. Female ambition is not demonised, and that alone makes this drama refreshing.

💥Romance: Two Red Flags, One Brilliant Dynamic

The relationship between Rong Shanbao and Lu Jianglai is layered and fascinating.

They test each other, manipulate each other, and yet understand each other deeply. Their dynamic evolves from “female-dominant, male-subtle” to “two equally cunning strategists.” This is intellectual attraction at its finest.


🧩Acting: A Showcase of Talent and Transformation

The performances are top-notch across the board.

🌱Hou Minghao proves his remarkable range. While beloved as an immortal or demon in fantasy roles, here he delivers a nuanced, "tea-scented" performance. His ability to shift from the righteous, sharp-eyed magistrate to the seemingly docile, amnesiac servant—his "change of face"—is masterful. He embodies the clever, sometimes scheming, yet ultimately captivating Lu Jianglai perfectly.

💅Gulnazar owns the screen as Rong Shanbao. She portrays cold authority, strategic brilliance, and hidden vulnerability with equal conviction. Her famous "three slaps" scene is already an iconic moment of cathartic justice.

🍵 The Supporting Cast is exceptional. Cheng Xiao (as Second Sister), Zhao Jia-min (Fourth Sister), Chen Ruoxuan, and others bring their A-game, making every family feud and side plot engaging. The chemistry among the entire ensemble, especially the volatile mix of potential suitors and ambitious sisters, crackles with energy.

🎬Production: A Feast for the Senses

The production quality is outstanding. The director's vision shines through in the deliberate cinematography:

🫖 Symbolic Framing: The use of high/low angles to establish power dynamics, symmetrical compositions to create tension, and intimate subjective shots to draw the viewer into the characters' perspectives is brilliant.

🍃Atmospheric Lighting: The careful use of "golden tones" for opulence, crisp "daylight tones" for intrigue, and cold "moonlight tones" for mystery builds a rich, immersive world. The achievement of creating convincing outdoor daylight scenes within a studio is particularly impressive.

🥂 Authentic Detailing: The sets, costumes, and props related to tea culture feel authentic and lavish, grounding the high-stakes drama in a tangible, beautiful historical setting.

🥲A Few Minor Considerations

No drama is flawless, and Glory has a very high bar it sets for itself.

🧶Pacing and Complexity: The dense web of schemes and large cast might require closer attention from viewers. It's not a casual watch; you need to engage with the plot to fully appreciate its intricacies.

🎃Niche Appeal: Its stark, "no truly good people" approach and intense focus on political manoeuvring might not appeal to those seeking a more traditionally romantic or hero-centric story.

🍁Final Verdict

Glory is a triumph. It is a smart, stylish, and powerfully subversive drama that respects its audience's intelligence. It takes the historical genre and infuses it with fresh ideas—matriarchal power structures, role-reversed romance, and unapologetically ambitious female characters. The combination of a gripping, masterful plot, superb acting (led by a transformative Hou Minghao), and exquisite production makes it not just the better of the two concurrent Hou Minghao dramas, but a standout masterpiece likely to be remembered for years to come.

For anyone tired of repetitive tropes and craving a historical drama with bite, brain, and breathtaking execution, Jade Tea Bones is an essential brew. Don't miss it.

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Refreshing - A female centric story from a Man's POV

It is a nice drama, Good plot different and very unique from many other cdramas.
The Female centric story from a Man's POV isn't it quite refreshing?
Generally we see a Female centric story from a Women's perspective where we can understand their struggles, sympathise and understand why they have taken this or that decision. But here the Women have different problems from what we see usually, a Family run by women from many generations. These women are proud but value the heirarchy and know their family values or virtues.
They are very open minded women and personally I always think that if there really exists a matriarchial society in the world it would be somewhat like this as well.
Especially the FL Rong Shanbao, the heavy empahasis on her character being strong willed and super smart comes from her own experiances from childhood, though she was forced but she knew from her childhood what responsibilities lay on her hand watching her half broken and a lil gone astray family ( but the root cause of this entire chaos lies in the hand of her grandma). She knows what is happening, why it is happening, How it is happening and What will happen. She knows how to save herself and now her beloved the ML as well.
Now coming to ML, Lu Jiang Lai/ Lu Fusheng, he is initially shown as someone who is very just, knows how to solve cases and is super diligent and impartial. His intial standings tell us that he will never bend to his superiors and abides to the rules/laws set in the society. He will give justice and can never watch injustice happening in front of him. Though he is called stubborn cuz of this principle he follows he does know how to get what he wants without making himself fall in trouble. He is smart as well, but after all he is still a imperial officer and does his job well there is nothing more which drives him, no personal interest no back story whatsoever. He may have following textbook example and his learnings from his master. Coming to dealing persons in real life and family he is not trained in that, that's where he lacked.
The last 9-10 eps for his family's arc, I see that's where he showed his weakness, he never had a true family - was always bullied(Classic HMH storyline hehe.....idk even I love watching him being miserable) was looked down he shut his foster family up but his real family is another case, he was truly devastated and didn't know how to fight back. He was never emotianly down cuz of his love towards FL but due to his real family and their schemes. She always just supported him and tried to mingle in his family as only his wife but never ever meddled in his affairs and decisions until the end when there was no other option.
Idk why they had to make a ML more slow witted in the final arc or may be he was from the beggining cuz his filial piety never came in between in his schemes and job.
It is a very nice drama, if u would like to watch a real stromg Fl rather than a fake strong FL u should definitely watch it. Not only FL this drama has good amount of entertainment, mysterly and even the writers are smart and don't keep everything strainght and simple from the start they know how to engage viewers and make them think more and more. This was a good strategic drama.
Definitlely will rewatch again.

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