I'm obssesed... I really didn't put any expectations on this one since I haven't read any synopsis or spoilers of the plot. One thing that makes me watch this drama is Dilraba, Chen Feiyu, and their OST lineup. But... it turns out the story has been super exciting so far. I can't predict what FL and ML gonna do facing every situation. They are freak pairs, crazy, kind, soft, cold, but warm at the same time. I really hope the plot stays good until the end of this drama. Really good one!!!
I can't help but fall in love with He Simu (istg if I'm the ML I'll instantly fall in love with her like OMGGGG) and how freak she is, then proceeded to see Duan Xu's freak side (especially when he was in the North Soldiers camp, iykyk).
Dilireba's acting is always good for me (I personally love her acting), but this one surprisingly makes me fall in love with He Simu. She's fierce, cold, smart, FREAK, but VERY CUTE AND GORGEOUS. Big love.
P.S. Whoever put Liu Yuning's OST in their recent scene (the market scene), God bless you because the OST matches that very cute scene. Also, Zhou Shen's voice, as always... bless my ears.
So, the FL is Ju Jing Yi, ML Tian Jiarui. Second FL Chen Duling, second ML Joseph Zeng, right? There’s romance between JuJingyi & Tian Jiarui characters?
So far I REALLY LOVE the drama. All of the cast portrayed their character so well. Also, I love how they packed every couple’s story in such a unique way.
FeiNi & Fang Muyang’s love story is written in the most beautiful way. They might not be the smoothest couple, but I love how they grow, learn, and supporting each other through phases of their life. Kind, smart, emotionally stable, and one thing for sure: good at communication & understanding!
Istg Fenglin pmo soooooo much. Wu Youyou portrayed villain character so well to the point where I want to slap Fenglin so bad.😭👋
I’ve watched up to the beginning of episode 21 & I can’t wait to see Fenglin’s downfall.
Also, I want to appreciate Sun Qian for her role as FeiNi. She’s such an AMAZING AMAZING actress!!! She’s FeiNi, her acting is so natural, which makes me drawn into her emotions. If FeiNi happy, I’m happy. If FeiNi sad, I’m sad.
I really hope more people recognize her acting and I believe she’ll shine even more in the future.
The English title is "Glory", translation of Chinese "Rong". The title in Mandarin is "Jade…
I see... thank you for explaining!!
I don’t mind if the story stays connected to the Rong family—after all, they are the center of the story. However, the inner family conflict (sister rivalry, husband competition, power struggles within the household) lasted way too long, in my opinion.
What I was really hoping for was a stronger focus on the Rong family’s tea business, or at least more plotlines outside of repetitive family conflicts. Yes, the tea business still exists as the background of the story, like how RSB and the Rong sisters manage the tea plantations and shoulder their responsibilities. But I was expecting more variety in the plot. After almost 30 episodes of sister conflict, it started to feel stagnant.
Maybe this comes down to expectations, I thought the story would gradually evolve into a broader narrative about tea trade, business expansion, external conflicts, and industry politics, instead of staying so long within the household drama. Exploring different regions, tea cultures, transportation challenges, or rival businesses would’ve added so much depth and freshness to the story.
Overall, I still love the drama, but I can’t help feeling that a lot of great potential was left untouched.
I’m going to be honest—I’m obsessed with this drama and how the story unfolds. But I’d say they kind of wasted a lot of plot potential. Also, considering this is only a 36-episode drama and they still added another Rong family plot, it really pissed me off. The Rong family arc shouldn’t have been dragged out for so long, and I’m so done with that old granny.
Just imagine if they introduced Lu Jianglai’s arc earlier, added more political–business elements (but not centered around the Rong household), or explored the tea business more deeply. For example, an arc about transporting tea or showing tea businesses in different regions would’ve been so fun. Imagine seeing another city with different tea specialties. I love that they provide tea-related information after the ending credits, but it would’ve been even better if they explained it through the plot itself.
I don’t mind having a family-conflict storyline, but they really dragged it out too long.
The story and acting are amazing, and they still manage to surprise viewers in every episode (it’s unpredictable, in my opinion). BUT they let go of so much potential in other arcs. Just imagine spending around 30 episodes on the Rong family and only leaving 6 episodes without properly explaining Lu Jianglai’s background or situation. The tea business concept is actually very unique, but it would’ve been much more fun if they focused more on the business itself rather than the internal conflicts of the Rong family.
Watch some news or read some history. It isn't about logic, it's about human nature, where people that are different…
Calm down… of course it’s human nature, and I’m naturally pissed off by this kind of behavior. Especially in the context of blaming others and acting superior.
I’m kind of pissed off by how humans always blame demons, while they themselves are free to do evil things and then pin everything on Hongye. It’s like: Something bad happens—"Oh, it’s the demon’s fault." Then... "Oh, we must kill Hongye."
What kind of logic is that? Can't u give this man a rest?
I also realized that most of Hou Minghao’s characters that I’ve watched so far are targeted or blamed for things they didn’t do. Tbh, he has already done the demon king trope and the ‘being blamed’ trope before, which makes me wish he would pick more diverse roles. That said, so far I like how the story is progressing, the characters are cute, and the Xiao Yao–Hongye dynamic is enjoyable.
I also love how Tan Songyun portrayed Xiao Yao’s character—she’s unique, naughty, has her own judgment, full of love, and wise. She’s playfully annoying in the cutest way possible. I love her.
I decided to watch this drama on its premiere date. Four episodes in so far, and I love it! I really like how every character has their own motive, and you can’t help but be suspicious of everyone. Even those characters with an ‘innocent’ look.
I love how the plot has evolved so far. It’s not too slow, not too fast—just the right pace. I also like the ML’s survival instincts. And the FL is SO, SO ALPHA (love it). She’s the real definition of a firstborn daughter and firstborn granddaughter. Her responsibilities and pressure are REAL.
I also want to praise the writer for not turning the ML into a completely different character after he experiences memory loss. He still retains his core personality traits, martial arts skills (which can be explained as muscle memory), and intelligence. Basically, he’s still the same person—he’s just lost his identity and memories of himself, without losing who he is at his core.
I've watched K-dramas since 2012 and C-dramas since 2015, yet ironically I hadn't seen any of Cheng Yi's dramas until SAB. Now, I finished Sword and Beloved and Mysterious Lotus Casebook.
SAB has HUGE POTENTIAL as a drama, although I started to dislike the obsessive sibling plot in the later part. I would have given it a higher score (maybe a solid 8–9 considering the aesthetic, OSTs, costumes, acting, and unique plot) if they hadn't leaned so much into that weird sibling storyline. Some parts also made me question why they drifted away from the main focus of the drama, which is Fugui and Qingtong. Despite that, I genuinely liked most of the characters—especially Fugui. There's so much to learn from his character. The way Cheng Yi portrayed Fugui is the reason I'm now watching more of his works. I'm not part of his fandom, just a casual viewer, but I can say he's an amazing actor.
Then I decided to watch MLC…
I'm the type of person who chooses a drama not based on reviews, data, heat index, etc. But I've heard for a long time that MLC is an amazing drama, and I'm glad I finally watched it in 2025—better late than never! (Hopefully I’ll write a review on MDL soon lol.) I love MLC SOOO MUCHHH that I honestly regret not watching it in real time. It's truly good, and the second season is very much needed—it has huge potential for a comeback. I've watched several Chinese crime-solving dramas, and I’d say this is one of the best (my personal favorite).
Right now, I'm watching Love and Redemption and Immortal Samsara back to back. Both dramas are definitely angsty-coded (and I knew Cheng Yi’s characters tend to be tragic). I don’t mind happy, sad, or open endings as long as the ending is meaningful—an ending that doesn’t make me question the purpose of the story. Hopefully these two will also turn out to be good ones.
If anyone comes across this comment, feel free to recommend me Cheng Yi’s dramas with amazing plots!
I'm on episode 18, and a little bit traumatized by Liu Xue Yi's character (somehow he gives off a crazy, obsessive guy), which reminds me of a spider brother in SAB (NO HATE FOR THE ACTORS THEY DID SO WELL BTW).
I just kinda traumatized by the obsessive villain trope. While XueYi has been getting annoying in the past 3/4 episodes.
I’m watching Love and Redemption and Immortal Samsara simultaneously — L&R (episode 18) and Immortal Samsara (episode 7). I love the story so far. I’ve only seen (sadly) the not-so-romantic side of Cheng Yi in SAB. Meanwhile, MLC (the one I really like) has only about 1% romance, since it’s not a romance-focused drama.
I'm not a sucker for romance, but I’m trying to explore Cheng Yi’s romance dramas, so I started with Love and Redemption and Immortal Samsara. L&R is quite cute — I wouldn’t call it a “mature” romance because the characters feel young, but it’s still adorable.
Surprisingly, Immortal Samsara has really good chemistry! Somehow, the leads just click for me. I don’t know how the plot will take their relationship (considering people say this drama breaks your heart), BUT I hope the writer executes it well, especially because the ML and FL have huge potential together on screen.
according to dramaslot.com’s review of this drama, it is exactly what you look for. looks nice. imma give it…
Hi! A little update: I’ve watched until episode 23, and I LOVE IT!!! I just love how chill and fun the dynamics of the drama are, and somehow I can relate to the characters. I don’t really need to think about the plot—it feels like watching the daily lives of some young, ambitious people. Also, I love how the FL and ML’s relationship grows. Their romance isn’t the only main focus! The way they build themselves (career, family, relationships) and how they handle problems is also the reason why I love this drama.
As someone who’s looking for a slow-paced, chill, and relaxing drama, I’d definitely recommend this one.
Hi! I’m looking for a chill drama, and this one seems fun and relaxing. This might sound weird, but I want a drama where I don’t have to think too much, and most importantly…it’s not emotionally draining! Is this a good one to watch?🧐
Everything about Lize Palace just doesn’t make sense—especially the part where they force their clan members…
(UPDATE) THAT ANNOYING GIRL IS SIFENG'S MYSTIC SNAKE PET??!!!! WTF... wow... what... Poor Xuanji, Linglong, Mingyan... this is so stupid... :")))) huft... It's not Sifeng's fault, but that pet...she's really annoying this time. I hope there's no stupid ideas for next time.
I can't help but fall in love with He Simu (istg if I'm the ML I'll instantly fall in love with her like OMGGGG) and how freak she is, then proceeded to see Duan Xu's freak side (especially when he was in the North Soldiers camp, iykyk).
Dilireba's acting is always good for me (I personally love her acting), but this one surprisingly makes me fall in love with He Simu. She's fierce, cold, smart, FREAK, but VERY CUTE AND GORGEOUS. Big love.
P.S. Whoever put Liu Yuning's OST in their recent scene (the market scene), God bless you because the OST matches that very cute scene. Also, Zhou Shen's voice, as always... bless my ears.
FeiNi & Fang Muyang’s love story is written in the most beautiful way. They might not be the smoothest couple, but I love how they grow, learn, and supporting each other through phases of their life. Kind, smart, emotionally stable, and one thing for sure: good at communication & understanding!
Istg Fenglin pmo soooooo much. Wu Youyou portrayed villain character so well to the point where I want to slap Fenglin so bad.😭👋
I’ve watched up to the beginning of episode 21 & I can’t wait to see Fenglin’s downfall.
Also, I want to appreciate Sun Qian for her role as FeiNi. She’s such an AMAZING AMAZING actress!!! She’s FeiNi, her acting is so natural, which makes me drawn into her emotions. If FeiNi happy, I’m happy. If FeiNi sad, I’m sad.
I really hope more people recognize her acting and I believe she’ll shine even more in the future.
I don’t mind if the story stays connected to the Rong family—after all, they are the center of the story. However, the inner family conflict (sister rivalry, husband competition, power struggles within the household) lasted way too long, in my opinion.
What I was really hoping for was a stronger focus on the Rong family’s tea business, or at least more plotlines outside of repetitive family conflicts.
Yes, the tea business still exists as the background of the story, like how RSB and the Rong sisters manage the tea plantations and shoulder their responsibilities. But I was expecting more variety in the plot. After almost 30 episodes of sister conflict, it started to feel stagnant.
Maybe this comes down to expectations, I thought the story would gradually evolve into a broader narrative about tea trade, business expansion, external conflicts, and industry politics, instead of staying so long within the household drama. Exploring different regions, tea cultures, transportation challenges, or rival businesses would’ve added so much depth and freshness to the story.
Overall, I still love the drama, but I can’t help feeling that a lot of great potential was left untouched.
Just imagine if they introduced Lu Jianglai’s arc earlier, added more political–business elements (but not centered around the Rong household), or explored the tea business more deeply. For example, an arc about transporting tea or showing tea businesses in different regions would’ve been so fun. Imagine seeing another city with different tea specialties. I love that they provide tea-related information after the ending credits, but it would’ve been even better if they explained it through the plot itself.
I don’t mind having a family-conflict storyline, but they really dragged it out too long.
The story and acting are amazing, and they still manage to surprise viewers in every episode (it’s unpredictable, in my opinion). BUT they let go of so much potential in other arcs. Just imagine spending around 30 episodes on the Rong family and only leaving 6 episodes without properly explaining Lu Jianglai’s background or situation. The tea business concept is actually very unique, but it would’ve been much more fun if they focused more on the business itself rather than the internal conflicts of the Rong family.
Something bad happens—"Oh, it’s the demon’s fault." Then... "Oh, we must kill Hongye."
What kind of logic is that? Can't u give this man a rest?
I also realized that most of Hou Minghao’s characters that I’ve watched so far are targeted or blamed for things they didn’t do. Tbh, he has already done the demon king trope and the ‘being blamed’ trope before, which makes me wish he would pick more diverse roles. That said, so far I like how the story is progressing, the characters are cute, and the Xiao Yao–Hongye dynamic is enjoyable.
I also love how Tan Songyun portrayed Xiao Yao’s character—she’s unique, naughty, has her own judgment, full of love, and wise. She’s playfully annoying in the cutest way possible. I love her.
I love how the plot has evolved so far. It’s not too slow, not too fast—just the right pace. I also like the ML’s survival instincts. And the FL is SO, SO ALPHA (love it). She’s the real definition of a firstborn daughter and firstborn granddaughter. Her responsibilities and pressure are REAL.
I also want to praise the writer for not turning the ML into a completely different character after he experiences memory loss. He still retains his core personality traits, martial arts skills (which can be explained as muscle memory), and intelligence. Basically, he’s still the same person—he’s just lost his identity and memories of himself, without losing who he is at his core.
SAB has HUGE POTENTIAL as a drama, although I started to dislike the obsessive sibling plot in the later part. I would have given it a higher score (maybe a solid 8–9 considering the aesthetic, OSTs, costumes, acting, and unique plot) if they hadn't leaned so much into that weird sibling storyline. Some parts also made me question why they drifted away from the main focus of the drama, which is Fugui and Qingtong. Despite that, I genuinely liked most of the characters—especially Fugui. There's so much to learn from his character. The way Cheng Yi portrayed Fugui is the reason I'm now watching more of his works. I'm not part of his fandom, just a casual viewer, but I can say he's an amazing actor.
Then I decided to watch MLC…
I'm the type of person who chooses a drama not based on reviews, data, heat index, etc. But I've heard for a long time that MLC is an amazing drama, and I'm glad I finally watched it in 2025—better late than never! (Hopefully I’ll write a review on MDL soon lol.)
I love MLC SOOO MUCHHH that I honestly regret not watching it in real time. It's truly good, and the second season is very much needed—it has huge potential for a comeback. I've watched several Chinese crime-solving dramas, and I’d say this is one of the best (my personal favorite).
Right now, I'm watching Love and Redemption and Immortal Samsara back to back. Both dramas are definitely angsty-coded (and I knew Cheng Yi’s characters tend to be tragic). I don’t mind happy, sad, or open endings as long as the ending is meaningful—an ending that doesn’t make me question the purpose of the story. Hopefully these two will also turn out to be good ones.
If anyone comes across this comment, feel free to recommend me Cheng Yi’s dramas with amazing plots!
I just kinda traumatized by the obsessive villain trope. While XueYi has been getting annoying in the past 3/4 episodes.
I’ve only seen (sadly) the not-so-romantic side of Cheng Yi in SAB.
Meanwhile, MLC (the one I really like) has only about 1% romance, since it’s not a romance-focused drama.
I'm not a sucker for romance, but I’m trying to explore Cheng Yi’s romance dramas, so I started with Love and Redemption and Immortal Samsara. L&R is quite cute — I wouldn’t call it a “mature” romance because the characters feel young, but it’s still adorable.
Surprisingly, Immortal Samsara has really good chemistry! Somehow, the leads just click for me. I don’t know how the plot will take their relationship (considering people say this drama breaks your heart), BUT I hope the writer executes it well, especially because the ML and FL have huge potential together on screen.
As someone who’s looking for a slow-paced, chill, and relaxing drama, I’d definitely recommend this one.