Platinum Fox

I recommend Blossom. The male lead is the second male lead here (Yuan). The writers made sure there was lots of romantic scenes and kisses (even one from a horse).

Yes, the mother is my favorite character. I would love an in depth back story on her. I can infer what happened to her, but would like to know the whole story. Season 1, for me, is the better of the two seasons.

Most audience members would agree with you on the mother being the villain. Since I don't know how far you are into the drama, I don't want to spoil it for you. Happy watching.

We have all wanted to do that, but there are excellent reasons for why she does what she does. Also, if looked at from a historical perspective, the mother is actually very progressive in her treatment of Shao Shang.

I never really understood the brewing of tea until I started watching Asian dramas. I can't believe how complicated it can be. For me stick a tea bag in a cup and I am there!

Can't really recommend anything else. I did watch The Sword and the Brocade along with A Dream of Splendor. For me, A Dream of Splendor was better. Have you watched Miss Truth?
Also, the male lead was in Love Like the Galaxy. I would consider him the second male lead in that drama.

A Dream of Splendor

The father hates Song Mo because the father hated Song Mo's mother, who he was forced to marry. He loved another woman whose family had committed a crime and she was a courtesan. The courtesan, because of her crime, could not become a legal wife or a concubine. Thus she became a mistress. Any children from her would not be able to inherit the family estate and title as they are not a part of the family tree and legitimate household. This is why Song Mo's father switched Song Mo's biological sister with the mistress' month old son. Song Mo's mother didn't know the difference and raised Song Han as her biological son. If something were to happen to Song Mo, Song Han could legally inherit the family estate and title. Hope this helps.

It does become important to understand this for things that happen further in the drama.

Loved the human bubble machine scene in this drama! Zhao Lu Si looks like she is really having fun with it.

Right, the switch happens after the male lead is born. The girl would have been Song Mo's full biological younger sister. Song Han is just a half brother (but even Song Mo thought that Song Han was his full fledged brother until he learned the truth). This story line helps you understand why Song Mo's father hates him so much, and why Song Mo goes off to live with uncle the Duke of Ding. Hope this helps.

I was the exact opposite as you. For me, the beginning of LLtG did not get me interested. It took me another try to get fully hooked. Maybe the timing isn't right for you, but it does have the LLtG, Joy of Life, The Story of Ming Lan, The Story of Kunning Palace vibe. You can see the writers are not trying to copy them exactly, but to portray their essence. The writers for this drama seem to have read the comments of those dramas in order to make sure that they put in what the audience wants to see: more romance; a healthy relationship between the leads; a strong, independent, intelligent female lead; and most importantly a happy ending (a wedding).

You didn't. Only in the novel is there transmigration of the female main character.

LLtG is not a transmigration story. No one in that story goes from one body to another, nor do they time travel. So don't know where you are getting there is transmigration. The book is, but the drama is not.

That depends on how you interpreted their speeches starting at 33 minutes in. I thought it was a beautiful wedding and just right for a non-traditional couple! For me, a traditional wedding scene would have ruined what Shao Shang fought so hard to accomplish. jmo

Notice here the couple only bowed to each other (twice usually it is three times) and not the parents or the heavens and earth. That says a great deal about how non-traditional their wedding was.

I have to disagree with the other two who wrote you. There are plenty of kisses and lots of romantic gestures. It is like the writers went out of their way to make sure the audience "sees" the romance. jmo

I didn't quite understand it myself, but I think I get it now. The male lead's mother gave birth to a daughter while in the temple. The mistress, who was at the temple at the same time, had a month old baby boy. It seems the father switched the daughter for the mistress' baby son, so that Song Han could become a legitimate son. Hope this helps.

Actually, I made it to episode 41 this past week and it answers a lot of your questions about the king and his reason for doing what he is doing. As for Uncle Wu Zu, he is sent on different missions for Fan Xian. At the time of Teng Zijing's death, he was on a mission to recover a key to open Fan Xian's mother's box.

For me, the male lead gets the best form of revenge on the person(s) who killed his uncle. Poetic justice certainly rules in this drama.

Yes, she will become a major player in the later episodes.

WZ poisoned her both times he tried to kill JC. That is why her health deteriorated so quickly.

This is the Asian equivalent of My Fair Lady! Love it! One of my first Kdramas.