This review may contain spoilers
It had everything going for it, except follow-through.
Starring Hou Ming Hao and Gulnezer, started out as one of those dramas that instantly grabs your attention. For the first half of the series (roughly up to episode 25), it was genuinely interesting, creative, and refreshing in a way that’s rare for historical dramas. The story revolves around the Rong Family, owners of a massive tea plantation that operates almost like a kingdom. What makes this drama stand out is its reverse-gender worldbuilding. In this society, women hold power while men take on roles traditionally assigned to women. The Rong Family is led by women, all major business affairs are handled by women, and the family heir is always the eldest granddaughter.The plot opens with the heir, Rong Shan Bao (The first, eldest granddaughter), searching for a husband. Men from all over the country compete to marry into this powerful family through contests of martial arts, intelligence, and knowledge. Watching men fight for a marriage position — something usually reserved for female characters — was clever, fun, and surprisingly engaging. The drama constantly flips traditional gender norms, and honestly, I loved that about it. It felt fresh and bold. Another aspect I genuinely enjoyed was the internal dynamic of the Rong Family itself. The sisterhood power struggles were interesting to watch — women scheming against each other, setting traps, and fighting for influence felt fitting within this matriarchal setup. Those conflicts added tension and depth to the story and, for the most part, worked well.
That said, the grandmother’s storyline was a completely different experience for me — and not in a good way. She was frustrating, selfish, and honestly nerve-wracking to watch. At one point, she was almost marry her own granddaughter off to a villain. I understand that, as the head of the family, she was making cold, strategic decisions, but that didn’t make her actions any easier to tolerate. Her character crossed a line for me, and I found myself genuinely hating that entire arc.
Unfortunately, things start to fall apart in the second half. Around episode 25, the story loses its momentum and gradually becomes bland, awkward, and uncomfortable to watch. The introduction of Lu Jiang Lai, a highly capable and promising official who loses his memory and ends up in the Rong household, initially worked well. His playful behavior, sincerity, and growing feelings for the cold and reserved Rong Shan Bao felt natural enough. Even their interrupted marriage due to his sudden imperial assignment made sense. But once Lu Jiang Lai regains his memory, his character takes a strange turn. Despite being established as smart, strategic, and competent, he remains stuck in a lovestruck, almost foolish mode. Loving Rong Shan Bao is fine — his feelings are sincere and consistent — but the problem is that Rong Shan Bao gives him very little in return.
Although the story wants us to believe she loves him, she rarely shows it. She hides important information, avoids honest communication, and keeps him emotionally at arm’s length. To be fair, I understand both perspectives. Lu Jiang Lai leaving abruptly before their wedding without explanation was deeply hurtful, and Rong Shan Bao’s anger makes sense. That said, their communication is clearly poor — and ultimately, Rong Shan Bao handles it worse. There are moments when she physically slaps Lu Jiang Lai after he says something out of line, and while I understand the emotions behind those actions, I wasn’t comfortable with how often physical punishment was used instead of conversation. It only deepens the imbalance in their relationship and makes their dynamic harder to sympathize with. The final arc only adds to the disappointment. The Lu Jiang Lai we were first introduced to — brilliant, confident, and capable — never fully returns. Instead, he repeatedly relies on the Rong Family to solve major cases, which directly contradicts his earlier characterization. The drama ends up feeling like a female-centric story that sacrifices logic and balance to push its narrative forward.
To be clear, this isn’t a criticism of the female lead or Gulnezer’s performance. The issue lies entirely with the scriptwriting. A female-centric drama can be powerful and compelling, but it still needs internal logic and emotionally believable character dynamics. Hou Ming Hao, especially, deserved a much stronger and more consistent script. That said, Glory does shine in terms of production. The cinematography is beautiful, with visually pleasing, well-composed shots throughout. The OST is excellent, the acting across the board is solid, and the chemistry between the leads is decent. Almost everything works — except the story’s direction in the second half and its unsatisfying ending.
In the end, Glory feels like a drama with huge wasted potential. What started as a bold, imaginative, and refreshing story slowly turned into a frustrating experience. With such a strong concept, great visuals, and capable actors, it’s disappointing that the writing ultimately couldn’t deliver. On a quieter note, I’m genuinely grateful that this drama took the time to highlight traditional Chinese tea culture. From cultivation and farming to planting, processing, distribution, and finally serving the tea, the story lingers on each step with care. It’s a gentle reminder of how much history, patience, and craftsmanship are poured into something we often take for granted. Watching these scenes felt like a moment of pause — an appreciation of traditions that are still being nurtured and preserved, even as they slip past our everyday attention. It made me admire, once again, how rich and enduring Chinese culture truly is.
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Masterpiece
This drama is full of beautiful women, attractive men and aromatic tea plants.But it's also full of intrigue, jealousy, revenge, hatred, murderers, contradictions, pride, prejudice, envy, resentment and mistrust. There is romance, sadness, love, quiet passion, broken hearts, disappointments and humour.
A perfect blend of everything.
And I'm right in the middle of it, enjoying every single episode.
Every actor and actress is perfect in their role.
Each episode brings new twists and turns, forcing you to rethink everything.
We still have more than half of the series ahead of us. Let's dive into the world of tea and wait to see what else might happen.
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You’re not missing out!
This story took so many paths, and didn’t know where to go. So many irrelevant story arcs that just dragged it unnecessarily. Especially the last 6 episodes came with an irrelevant story of the MC’s family and came out of no where. And so many villains and characters, that I can’t even seem to remember them all. With the FC’s sisters being the villains in the first half: conniving enough to conspire against the one person heading their family and making bank for them and unable to realise that without the FC’s business acumen, they wouldn’t even live the life of luxury they had! Villains need to be smarter, but alas wasn’t the case here! The initial part of the story with the FC’s also brought no many unnecessary evils, and then the God mothers story and drama with her death: I was just fast forwarding majority of the drama. Incredibly disappointingWas this review helpful to you?
Power, Desire, and Deception
Gulnezar (Guli Nezha) absolutely commands the screen in this drama. The role feels tailor-made for her. She embodies Rong ShanBao with effortless authority: haughty yet intelligent, calculating yet dignified, breathtakingly beautiful and fully aware of her own power. As the heiress to the formidable Rong clan, she glides through every scene surrounded by attendants and relatives, radiating the confidence of a woman born to rule. She convincingly portrays an untouchable beauty relentlessly pursued by suitors, while remaining emotionally distant and in control. Notably, there are no tearful breakdowns here, which suits her icy, regal persona perfectly. Her chemistry with Hou Ming Hao works precisely because of this contrast: she is the cold, unattainable prize, while he spirals into near madness over her indifference.The Rong clan itself is a fascinating backdrop. Descended from a fallen matrilineal kingdom, they migrated north into the territory of the Han race after the kingdom’s collapse but fiercely preserved their customs. Women are the heads of families, love is free, divorce and remarriage are accepted, and social norms stand in stark opposition to the conservative Han traditions surrounding them. Their autonomy is safeguarded by an imperial seal granted by the founding northern emperor, making the Rong both untouchable and immensely influential. Add to this a vast tea empire, and you have a clan that is wealthy, powerful, and politically dangerous to cross, and also dares to complicate morality.
The story ignites with the grand event of selecting a matrilocal husband for ShanBao. Suitors flood in, each ready to endure a series of elaborate trials designed to test intellect, character, and ambition. They come from every corner of society: heirs of rival tea clans, a conveniently placed cousin, a poor but brilliant scholar backed by a powerful tutor, and Lu JiangLai, a mysterious man once rescued by ShanBao herself. Beneath his humble exterior lies a dangerous secret: he is an undercover investigator sent to probe an old case tied to the Rong clan, only to lose his memory in the process. What follows is a ruthless battle of wits, where public tests of skill are matched by secret schemes, sabotage, and psychological warfare.
For much of the drama, the suitor selection unfolds like a high-stakes chess match. Each move tightens the tension as personal ambitions, hidden motives, and buried crimes surface. An unresolved old case weaves itself into the competition, implicating one of the suitors and raising the stakes even further. At the same time, ShanBao is surrounded by internal threats. Sisters and cousins circle her like predators, eager to seize the heiress position the moment she falters. Every wrong decision becomes a potential downfall, and the suspense builds relentlessly from all sides.
There is a particular satisfaction in watching villains unmasked and crimes exposed, and this drama delivers on that front. My second-favourite suitor, whom I had genuinely hoped might become ShanBao’s alternative should she and Lu fail to reconcile their conflicting duties, is revealed as a villain in disguise. While ruthless, he is also deeply tragic, shaped by circumstances that make him as much a victim as a perpetrator. It is difficult not to feel sympathy for him, even while acknowledging that two wrongs do not make a right.
The final arc turns its focus fully on Lu JiangLai and the revelation of his true identity. His storyline delivers not one but two twists, reshaping everything you thought you understood about his role, his loyalties, and his connection to ShanBao.
As always, I have a bone to pick with the English title 'Glory'. The word has been overused across dramas where the Chinese title has little or nothing to do with it, and the connection to the story is often tenuous at best. It feels like a lazy attempt to copy the branding of earlier successes. Searching for this drama becomes an exercise in filtering through multiple unrelated titles. A drama should stand on its own merits, not hide behind a recycled English name. The translation clearly needed far more thought and care. I would favour something like 'The Tea Heiress' - it's all centred around Rong ShanBao.
Overall, this drama is highly recommended. It offers far more than a simple romance. You get cutthroat rivalry among suitors, intricate crime investigations, the exposure of internal traitors, and a love story forged under immense pressure. Woven throughout is well-timed humour that keeps the narrative lively and prevents the tension from becoming oppressive. It is a richly layered drama that rewards patience and keeps you hooked until the very end.
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Great performance by the actors/actresses, storyline could be slightly better
Very good acting by both characters but FL doesn't really discuss anything with ML even right to the end and love felt very one sided. LJL was more clingy and simpy that I'd like in a ML but HMH is very cute. Last 7 episode was weird/unnecessary/wrong focus towards ending of a drama.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .the endWas this review helpful to you?
Female centric drama will only work if they use a very good actress for the lead role
I can't believe I couldn't finish this drama and has to drop it at episode 32. I usually like this kinda big family dynamic and women empowering drama (Blossom, Blossom in Adversity, The Glory, The Sword and The Brocade, Story of Minglan).My very honest opinion, I think they selected the wrong actress to play Rong Shan Bao. I am actually quite disappointed because this is my first drama of Gul and she is quite famous, I thought she is a veteran actress. I compare this female character alot with Zhuang Han Yan (from The Glory, played by CDL), both character is similar in a way that they could hardly show any emotion, cunning and a lot of scheming involved. It is a very hard role to portray and CDL did it so well.
I actually don't know if it's the character or the actress problem, because in this drama RSB has no growth and no weakness, so this makes her a very very dull FL to watch. The other sisters (except the 3rd) has more growth than her. 2nd sis's story and growth is more interesting to watch than the FL's.
As for the romance, there is a lot of cringy moment instead of romantic moments, the chemistry just couldnt work. I felt Neo Hou tried his very best to charm everyone but it felt as if he is multiplying with zero from FL, everything turns into zero. LOL
The cringe moments were when the FL did the seducing like a man, lifting ML's chin like a girl and ML is turning red and shy like a girl. OMG I just had to look away every time they did this.
A friend who finished watching told me that it's ok for me to stop at episode 32 because moving forward there is not much value added to the story.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Tea on Glory
After watching The Unclouded Soul, I got so excited because I didn’t have to wait long for this drama to air. Honestly, my expectations weren’t high since I wasn’t too sure of the FL actress. I first saw her in Weaving a Tale of Love, and I had mixed emotions with her acting there, but with Hou Ming Hao, there wasn’t a doubt that he’ll do great in this drama. And sure enough, I was enthralled. While it was a great drama, the message of the story didn’t sit right with me. I’m all for female empowerment, but the Rong family striking down the male family members if they made a slight wrong move was pretty bad. The grandmother really got under my skin. Her character didn’t earn my sympathy throughout the whole story. The most trusted person in her life was Shan Bao, but just one slight mistake, she wanted to disown her. Like, really? This is the granddaughter that held your tea business successfully and you treat her like this? The sisters Yunxi, Yunyin, and that other one were a couple of spoiled brats here, but we got character development for Yunxi and Yunyin, except for whatshername. She was never nice to Shan Bao, even until the end of the story. Her character was just there to annoy the viewers. And oh, I forgot about Yunshu. Despite of what she did to the grandma, I didn’t expect her to stay around. I did not like her one bit. I knew her family were not treated well by the grandma that’s why she had her grudges, but she didn’t have to treat Shan Bao like that, challenging her position in the family. Now on to the husband selection. OMG. These men just drove me to the wall. I was expecting her cousin, Wen, to be a potential friend by Lu Jiang Lai, who was named Lu Fu Sheng by Shan Bao since he lost his memories after his accident, but NOPE, he decided to be a jerk and backstab the one who saved him all the time. I didn’t understand the part where a man had already been selected to be Shan Bao’s husband, but all the other men still had some time to stay at the Rong mansion, so they had plenty of time to scheme. Like what the heck was that? They should have all gone home once someone had been selected. Anyway, let’s move on to Jiang Lai, the ML of the story. He was a secret imperial inspector who went on investigations. The moment he slit that bad guy’s throat without mercy, I knew the drama was going to be so good. Cunning and ruthless ML’s always have me on a chokehold. He played a funny and cute character when he was Lu Fu Sheng. Originally, he wanted to infiltrate the Rong family to investigate the Wei case from 10 years ago, but came across assassins one day while he was in his sedan. He was saved by Shan Bao. She had him investigated. She found out about his background but still withheld information until he got into serious trouble. They were both at fault, in my opinion. They both had secrets to begin with, and were not always honest with each other. The FL actress only had one facial expression, and that really bothered me. But then again, maybe the cold, stiff part of her character was really needed. She was just too pretty here. And Hou Ming Hao? OMG. His makeup was too thick here. That distracted me too much, to be honest. I had to look past that and focus on his acting chops. He was pretty good here, especially the fight scenes. I love the fight scene with his dad. I love how Lu Jiang Lai wasn’t blinded by riches and titles because he was right, they only bring hatred and agony. I already knew right from the start that he was the son of a high ranking government official. I hate his father. Jiang Lai had a great reason not to accept being the heir. He went ahead and chose Shan Bao instead. I’m just disappointed that the last few minutes ended with him chasing her at the dock when Shan Bao and her sisters were getting ready to leave, but hey, I’ll take it, rather than having an ending with one of them dying, you know. It’s also nice not seeing the usual wedding ceremony between them, because hello, they’ve already done the deed, like twice now. Kissing scenes were scorching hot. *chef’s kiss* Overall, I enjoyed the drama despite some flaws. It was entertaining, especially learning about tea etiquette at the end of each episode. Everyone delivered a great performance.Was this review helpful to you?
The plot keeps you guessing - it's part murder detective mystery drama paired with historical family/court intrigue romantic drama with a side dash of 'learn about the tea industry.' There were multiple times, in a good way, where both in terms of plot and themes, I was like where are they going with all of this??
The uniqueness of the murder mysteries and family intrigues genuinely make it interesting to sort out 'who done it.' Not only are our main characters intelligent but the side characters and villains are intelligent too and run from a bit problematic all the way to complete monsters which makes for interesting viewing. The banter and dialogue here can be quite wry and the humor dry in very clever ways.
I'm a big fan of equal partner romances and this one speaks to challenging the old generation into forging a new type of partnership. Not misandrist nor misogynist but something wholly new. But, if you were hoping for a romance centered drama the romance scenes drop out pretty heavily 1/2 way through.
Acting is quite limited in range but very much works for the personalities and plots of the drama. The main couple plays most things with a straight face with a small smile, wink, clenched jaw, or twist of a aring to indicate that there is more going on underneath. I want to give a nod to the costumes which were much better than most dramas at this budget level.
It was entertaining, worth the watch, and it was nice to see some new plots and themes in genres that have gotten quite repetitive and one note. It's worth a try.
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OMG. THIS IS THE BEST CDRAMA I'VE EVER WATCHED...
THE STORY WERE GOOD, THE ACTORS AND ACTRESS WERE GOOD, THE OST WERE GOOD, EVERYTHING WERE GOOD. Besides the first eps. The first eps were boring for me, BUT IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER AND THEN.. THE BEST I'VE EVER WATCHED. IT'S SO WORTH WATCHING.hi ignore this, my review had to be more than 300 characters for me to post it but WATCH GLORY.
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This review may contain spoilers
STRONG FEMALE LEAD WITH A GAME OF WITS
Firstly, the story follows Lu Jianglai, a brilliant imperial scholar and magistrate known for his ruthless efficiency in solving cases. However, after becoming entangled in a dangerous conspiracy, he is ambushed and left to die. Enter Rong Shanbao, the daughter of a powerful 'Tea King'. Recognizing him as an old political rival, she doesn't just save him; she exploits his amnesia. She brings him into her household as a lowly stable boy to exact her own brand of petty revenge. The drama quickly evolves from a 'rich girl/poor boy' dynamic into a high-stakes struggle for control over the tea trade and the resolution of the murder case that ruined Jianglai.### CRITICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Hou Minghao delivers a standout performance that differs significantly from his usual 'upright immortal' roles. He successfully navigates two distinct personas: the sharp, calculating magistrate and the cheeky stable boy. Also, Minghao's subtle smirks and 'eye-winking' musicality bring a sense of unpredictability to a character who is usually three steps ahead of everyone else.
Furthermore, one of the drama's strongest points is the Rong family dynamics. Unlike many dramas where women are sidelined, 'Glory' presents a strong female lead ( Gulnezer) whose character is ambitious, professional, and unconcerned with traditional marriage expectations. Also, the backstabbing and political maneuvering between the Rong sisters provide a 'Palace Intrigue' feel within a merchant-class setting.
Moreover, the production quality is undeniably high-budget: the series integrates traditional tea-making culture and trade as a coreplot device, rather than just window dressing. The costume design, notably the use of fur headpieces and a fusion of Eastern and nomadic aesthetics, sets it apart from the repetitive look of many 2024-2025 period dramas.
## POINTS OF CRITIQUE
While the reception has been largely positive, some parts of this drama have minor flaws. Purists have pointed out that the Hanfu styling occasionally sacrifices historical accuracy for runaway aesthetics ( eg, modern silhouettes or fits). Also, like many dramas of its length, the middle sections can feel slightly draggy as the investigation takes a backseat to family squabbles, though the outsmarting chemistry between the leads usually keeps it afloat.
In conclusion, this drama is very engaging, with stunning visuals of tea plantations and unique costume design, and a relaxing yet suspenseful vibe with 'who will out-smart who' chemistry. I RECOMMEND IT(*^▽^*)
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Jane Austin's novel in a Chinese imperial setting
If you are looking for lots of fighting scenes - this drama is not for you. If you are looking for passionate love - this drama is not for you. But if you like well written scripts, consistent, logical, without plot holes, depicting complex relationships and full of interesting, engaging characters - you'll love it.For me this drama has the vibe of 19th century novels, like Jane Austin's ones, where the background got as much attention in weaving as the main romantic story. All the secondary and tertiary characters are very well written, their actions are motivated and logical, understandable even if not justified. And most of them are not black or white but multifaceted and realistic. Even the righteous main characters are not cristalline: they are cunning and may be ruthless.
I love the pacing of the episodes 1-30: it is not fast, but very even. There are no boring streches you may find in many c-dramas (with, for example, the whole episodes of cooking and eating) and there are no avalaches of events either. The narrative develops in a steady rythm keeping you engaged the whole time.
I would've given this drama 10/10 if it ended on the episode 30. Unfortunately the producers decided to glue other six episodes with a whole new set of characters - much less engaging and "underwritten". Frankly, this whole part would be better off as the season 2 with 20 episodes that would've given them space to really develop the stories of those people.
The acting is fantastic. All the actors really delivered, portraying this little society full of realistic characters and their complex relationships.
It goes without saying that Hou Minghao's playing was - as always - impeccable. With his incredible versatility he is able to play convincingly a lowly scheming servant, and a proud ruthless official. Gulinazha was outstanding in portraying a cool-headed, intelligent and just leader of the family.
The whole cast was great, but I'd like to mention especially Zhang Nan in the masterfully played role of the blind sister, Zhao Yiqin who very convincingly portrayed his character with the unexpected twist and brilliant Li Fei (Richard Li) in the role of a villain.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not Glorious Enough!
A plot with a matriarchal set up where every family member is cunning and scheming against each other,Hou Minghao as the male lead as an imperial magistrate who is amnesiac, saved by the female lead..... sounds really interesting.Well...it was interesting as it began. Introduction of the characters, the world building,Rong family and their heritage,the inner conflicts among the sisters,Rong Shanbao and her commanding personality, Lu Jianglai and his ruthless aura...everything was mesmerizing.
But the problem began soon,where the story started to fall apart in the midway and started to feel like some scattered pieces of story glued together only to show how great Rong family is when the actual problem lies within themselves.
Rong Shanbao,as the female lead and the next main lady of Rong family after her grandma is someone who is extremely cunning,smart,who has dealt with the family tea business since she was 13. She is a powerful woman with impaccable aura. But the problem is,her power comes from her extremely cold personality, her cunning emotionless manipulative mind. She is not some saint,she also schemes behind others back. But when Lu Jianglai came to her life and their relationship began,thats where the problem started. Her continuous toying around with him,never confessing her love when he already did multiple times,never communicating her thoughts or plans with him......everything made the relationship extremely frustrating. She used him whenever she wanted (and ofcourse he let her), and the next scene she is acting like he's a nobody in her life.... This thing was constant the whole drama. Its a matriarchal set up so the power dynamics is reversed.....but whenever Lu Jianglai stood up for himself and told her hypocrisy on her face,either a kiss or slap on the cheek was her answer to everything.She never put him as her priority, never. Its always either her work or her family or something else. Her cold demeanour with expressionless face and never warming up with Lu Jianglai was'nt helping at all. Idk if it was the script or the actress,she didn’t had to do much in terms of expression cause she only had two or three expressions the whole time.
Hou Minghao didn’t disappoint as always.Lu Jianglai started real good as a fearless ruthless imperial magistrate.... And as Lu Fusheng,he was also good. But the way all that aura and everything was gone in later episodes was really something. He just remained as a lovesick puppy,only asking for Rong Shanbao's love in every situation,helping her,saving her...when Rong Shanbao just kept using him or planning without any sort of communication with him. Their relationship felt dull...sometimes forced with no destination. Even when the dynamics are reversed,there should be a balance,this drama fell short in this aspect.
Storywise...it was good at the beginning. Sisters are sworn enemies, all scheming, plotting but failing in front of Shanbao was enjoyable. Later they all got their deserved ending,some learned their lessons and some found love. It was good to see.
But the real headache was the Grandma. God knows how such selfish and dumb woman was the head of such so called great family. She just kept blabbering about their heritage, pride and whatnot but never tried to understand her grand daughters,not a single one. Shanbao,Yunxi,Yunin,Yunshu.......all were heavily misunderstood, misguided by her prejudiced mind and were led to take wrong steps. And she had no remorse of it,its always others fault,not her. The way she didn’t even take a second to dethrone Shanbao just because she didn’t agree with her and immediately took Yunshu as her next favourite really mademe question her sanity. Its surprising how and why Rong family members still kept obeying her. No wonder Shanbao turned out to be a ice queen in terms of emotions.
Overall....it was nice to watch something different, women with real power. The costumes were gorgeous,so was the set. The scenerios with the tea garden on the hills were really eye pleasing. Its just the storytelling became frustrating at some point, seemed like they didn’t know where to land it.
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