I think the reason is that this drama was the first to start filming, and Ai Mi looks like a 15-year-old girl…
You are only criticizing here because you can't accept her as FL. Not because you are concerned for her age. If you were, you would have been loud since MJTY. That's what made you a double standard. I replied before that one of her role already got married in another drama, so it's nothing new to her. Ofc you will only complain here because she's ruining your viewing experience, not because you are concerned or anything. And before giving me moral lectures, exactly what steps did you take which will actually stop this situation? Did you boycott the platform which cast underage actors? Did you sent messages to her agency to stop shoving her into lead roles? Did you protest on chinese platforms tagging the production team? Being loud on mdl, creating negativity which might bring hatred towards the actors is what you are doing rn. Your voice on the wrong place won't stop this situation. You can only bring down the leads and annoy others who want a peaceful place.
I think the reason is that this drama was the first to start filming, and Ai Mi looks like a 15-year-old girl…
Your definition of big IP doesn't represent the industry. Your solo opinion about her look also doesn't represent the whole audience who are saying she looks mature than her age. They even tried to force their opinion saying the mua intentionally made her look older in this drama. Whether she's unknown or popular can be checked by her silent mdl profile & her other drama page with only few voices. And I don't have to agree or deny as I am only stating other's opinion, not mine. But your voice also seems loud only here surprisingly.
I think the reason is that this drama was the first to start filming, and Ai Mi looks like a 15-year-old girl…
1. Big IP means a drama adapting from a popular novel with a big fanbase. KTTPH is an original script. 2. I don't agree with your comment that she looks like a teenager. Because most of the people who doesn't know her age thought she was adult when she played the romantic roles at age 13, 15 and 17. Those who knew her age never raised any concerns before this drama. So questioning the real purpose of their recently overwhelmed concern should be done. 3. She was 17 when she filmed the drama. Not at age 16. 4. She also got married in another drama as a supporting role. There's no controversy about that also. 5. There's countless of dramas with big age gap and minor problems (historical). So it's not easy to digest the deliberate attack on KTTPH.
âïžHou Minghao's interview with L'OFFICIEL about Xiao Wuyi & KTTPH/Que Gu:
âWho says we have no clothes? We share the same robe"
When talking about his role in Que Gu, Hou Minghao shows a different kind of charm. Rather than answering an interview, it feels more like heâs breaking down the script scene by scene. As if he had personally built a house, he canât help but walk others through every carefully crafted detail. âXiao Wuyi is a very complete characterâcomplex and realistic. His motivations, backstory, and the logic of the plot are highly unified. From the first scene to the last, everything connects very smoothly.â
His tone reflects an instinctive recognition of a good script. Xiao Wuyi is a character he is particularly fond of. A battle-hardened general who carries the world on his shoulders, his ultimate goal is to âbring peace to the realm.â In the eyes of others, he is a noble-born young manâarrogant and unruly. In truth, he harbors a deep desire to serve the world, promotes those from humble backgrounds, and is a sharp, reform-minded young figure.
In the drama, Hou Minghao appears in many different looks. Dressed in flowing white robes or blue scholarâs attire, he embodies elegance and nobility; on the battlefield, blindfolded while riding and shooting, or wielding a sword in the rain, he transforms into a heroic young general. To better portray the role, he is especially committed to action scenes. âNo guy dislikes action scenes, but more importantly, I want to convey Xiao Wuyiâs combat abilityâto make the character more convincing and more moving for the audience.â
He admits that in todayâs film and TV environment, action scenes are often compressed in shooting schedules. âItâs a very harsh reality. A great action sequence might end up being five minutes on screen, but it takes two or three days to film. So action scenes are the easiest to cut. But as an actor, I want to defend this to the very end.â To ensure quality, he meets with the director and action choreographers in advance, refining storyboards and movements to achieve efficient execution on set.
âQue Gu has an excellent teamâeveryone is willing to work together to complete this creation.â What impressed him most was a scene involving a fire blade: a weapon over two meters long, coated with gunpowder. As he swung it, it scattered sparks like fireworks. Throughout filming, he held the blade barehanded, with tiny sparks splashing onto his body, arms, and face. Hou Minghao explained, âI didnât get burned, but there was a stinging sensation.â
The scene took three days to shoot, with each take requiring the gunpowder to be reapplied and reignited. âUsually in battlefield scenes, actors need âbattle damageâ makeup or dirt applied to their facesâbut I didnât need that. By the end, my face was already covered in ash. We werenât just filming for spectacleâwe wanted to convey the tragedy of war and the brutality experienced by the character, to release Xiao Wuyiâs energy and emotions through the action.â
The emotional storyline is another highlight of Que Gu. Xiao Wuyi, by a twist of fate, marries his friendâs childhood sweetheart. What begins as a decision for greater ambitions gradually turns into genuine feelings, trapping him in a conflict of âwanting to love, but unable to.â Hou Minghao describes it as an âemotional blind spotâ: âHe canât fully let himself love, yet he canât help but get close. He becomes overwhelmed, secretly jealous, and even pushes the other person away with harsh words. That kind of inner conflict feels very real.â
This imperfection is exactly what Hou Minghao loves about the character. His emotional struggles and human flaws make him more grounded and give the role more room for development. When it comes to personal feelings, he has his own stance; when it comes to duty and the greater good, he holds grand ambitions. Xiao Wuyiâs worldview and values become increasingly clear and complete as the story unfolds and his emotions evolve.
A review from film bloggers at the IQIYI event today.
"I met Hou Minghao up close on iQiyi today, and after hearing his two-minute speech, I'm even more excited for his portrayal of Xiao Wuyi.
From the leaked photos and promotional materials, it's clear he's completely immersed himself in the role once again. On the outside, he's a decisive and ruthless general in a chaotic world, his red robes worn and tattered, conveying a strong sense of battle. Yet, hidden in his eyes is a restrained, resentful, and deeply tender sideâa perfect balance he strikes.
What's most captivating about Hou Minghao's acting is his dedication and meticulous craftsmanship. Every glance, every moment of emotional restraint leading to an explosion, reveals his deep understanding of the character. He doesn't try to be cool or superficial; instead, he imbues Xiao Wuyi's contradictions, struggles, and integrity into his very being.
Looking at his previous roles, his acting has steadily improved, consistently delivering new surprises. The drama "KEY TO THE PHOENIX HEART" is so compelling, from its characters to its story. Coupled with Hou Minghao's nuanced yet powerful performance, it's hard not to eagerly anticipate its release. We can't wait for Hou Minghao to bring a three-dimensional and vibrant Xiao Wuyi to life!"
Q: âWas there any particular scene that made you truly step into his (Xiao Wuyi) heart, where the sense of belief suddenly surrounded you?â
đ±: âCan I sayâŠevery scene? Honestly, because this character, for me, is actually a very heavy one. His âweightâ doesnât come from being difficult to portray, but from the identity and mission he carries. I would say he is an extremely, extremely, extremely important role at this stage of my life. I worry about him and feel heartache for his devotion to his country and people. I also feel pain when he fights on the battlefield, losing his life, his eyesight, and his comrades. I feel like I empathize with him all the time.
Our drama includes many battlefield scenesâfighting in the rain, in flames. Every time, it pulls me deeper into becoming this character. I remember in the first episode, there was a scene involving a flaming blade. We used real fire on set. Since the flame couldnât burn continuously, for every close-up or wide shot, we had to apply fuel to the blade and light it with a lighter. Because the flame would only last about 2â3 seconds, we had to complete each shot within that short window.
But to achieve this effect, I didnât really feel any hardship or exhaustion. Because with every take, I felt myself becoming more of the character, like we were shaping each other. And I think thatâs also a kind of strength that Xiao Wuyi has given me.â
Hou Minghao about Xiao Wuyi : A man burdened with many shackles, who nearly lost his life in a battle, but that didn't affect his dedication to protecting his country and its people. He'd rather suffer any hardship and injury than compromise his principles to get everything he wanted!
1 
1 
1 
I replied before that one of her role already got married in another drama, so it's nothing new to her.
Ofc you will only complain here because she's ruining your viewing experience, not because you are concerned or anything.
And before giving me moral lectures, exactly what steps did you take which will actually stop this situation?
Did you boycott the platform which cast underage actors? Did you sent messages to her agency to stop shoving her into lead roles? Did you protest on chinese platforms tagging the production team?
Being loud on mdl, creating negativity which might bring hatred towards the actors is what you are doing rn. Your voice on the wrong place won't stop this situation. You can only bring down the leads and annoy others who want a peaceful place.
Your solo opinion about her look also doesn't represent the whole audience who are saying she looks mature than her age. They even tried to force their opinion saying the mua intentionally made her look older in this drama.
Whether she's unknown or popular can be checked by her silent mdl profile & her other drama page with only few voices.
And I don't have to agree or deny as I am only stating other's opinion, not mine.
But your voice also seems loud only here surprisingly.
KTTPH is an original script.
2. I don't agree with your comment that she looks like a teenager. Because most of the people who doesn't know her age thought she was adult when she played the romantic roles at age 13, 15 and 17. Those who knew her age never raised any concerns before this drama. So questioning the real purpose of their recently overwhelmed concern should be done.
3. She was 17 when she filmed the drama. Not at age 16.
4. She also got married in another drama as a supporting role. There's no controversy about that also.
5. There's countless of dramas with big age gap and minor problems (historical). So it's not easy to digest the deliberate attack on KTTPH.
âWho says we have no clothes? We share the same robe"
When talking about his role in Que Gu, Hou Minghao shows a different kind of charm. Rather than answering an interview, it feels more like heâs breaking down the script scene by scene. As if he had personally built a house, he canât help but walk others through every carefully crafted detail. âXiao Wuyi is a very complete characterâcomplex and realistic. His motivations, backstory, and the logic of the plot are highly unified. From the first scene to the last, everything connects very smoothly.â
His tone reflects an instinctive recognition of a good script. Xiao Wuyi is a character he is particularly fond of. A battle-hardened general who carries the world on his shoulders, his ultimate goal is to âbring peace to the realm.â In the eyes of others, he is a noble-born young manâarrogant and unruly. In truth, he harbors a deep desire to serve the world, promotes those from humble backgrounds, and is a sharp, reform-minded young figure.
In the drama, Hou Minghao appears in many different looks. Dressed in flowing white robes or blue scholarâs attire, he embodies elegance and nobility; on the battlefield, blindfolded while riding and shooting, or wielding a sword in the rain, he transforms into a heroic young general. To better portray the role, he is especially committed to action scenes. âNo guy dislikes action scenes, but more importantly, I want to convey Xiao Wuyiâs combat abilityâto make the character more convincing and more moving for the audience.â
He admits that in todayâs film and TV environment, action scenes are often compressed in shooting schedules. âItâs a very harsh reality. A great action sequence might end up being five minutes on screen, but it takes two or three days to film. So action scenes are the easiest to cut. But as an actor, I want to defend this to the very end.â To ensure quality, he meets with the director and action choreographers in advance, refining storyboards and movements to achieve efficient execution on set.
âQue Gu has an excellent teamâeveryone is willing to work together to complete this creation.â What impressed him most was a scene involving a fire blade: a weapon over two meters long, coated with gunpowder. As he swung it, it scattered sparks like fireworks. Throughout filming, he held the blade barehanded, with tiny sparks splashing onto his body, arms, and face. Hou Minghao explained, âI didnât get burned, but there was a stinging sensation.â
The scene took three days to shoot, with each take requiring the gunpowder to be reapplied and reignited. âUsually in battlefield scenes, actors need âbattle damageâ makeup or dirt applied to their facesâbut I didnât need that. By the end, my face was already covered in ash. We werenât just filming for spectacleâwe wanted to convey the tragedy of war and the brutality experienced by the character, to release Xiao Wuyiâs energy and emotions through the action.â
The emotional storyline is another highlight of Que Gu. Xiao Wuyi, by a twist of fate, marries his friendâs childhood sweetheart. What begins as a decision for greater ambitions gradually turns into genuine feelings, trapping him in a conflict of âwanting to love, but unable to.â Hou Minghao describes it as an âemotional blind spotâ: âHe canât fully let himself love, yet he canât help but get close. He becomes overwhelmed, secretly jealous, and even pushes the other person away with harsh words. That kind of inner conflict feels very real.â
This imperfection is exactly what Hou Minghao loves about the character. His emotional struggles and human flaws make him more grounded and give the role more room for development. When it comes to personal feelings, he has his own stance; when it comes to duty and the greater good, he holds grand ambitions. Xiao Wuyiâs worldview and values become increasingly clear and complete as the story unfolds and his emotions evolve.
Rumored actor : Song Wei Long
Rumored actress : Yang Chao Yue / Aimi
Xiao Wuyi's Costume No.17 đ
https://x.com/i/status/2046153108653482286
"I met Hou Minghao up close on iQiyi today, and after hearing his two-minute speech, I'm even more excited for his portrayal of Xiao Wuyi.
From the leaked photos and promotional materials, it's clear he's completely immersed himself in the role once again. On the outside, he's a decisive and ruthless general in a chaotic world, his red robes worn and tattered, conveying a strong sense of battle. Yet, hidden in his eyes is a restrained, resentful, and deeply tender sideâa perfect balance he strikes.
What's most captivating about Hou Minghao's acting is his dedication and meticulous craftsmanship. Every glance, every moment of emotional restraint leading to an explosion, reveals his deep understanding of the character. He doesn't try to be cool or superficial; instead, he imbues Xiao Wuyi's contradictions, struggles, and integrity into his very being.
Looking at his previous roles, his acting has steadily improved, consistently delivering new surprises. The drama "KEY TO THE PHOENIX HEART" is so compelling, from its characters to its story. Coupled with Hou Minghao's nuanced yet powerful performance, it's hard not to eagerly anticipate its release. We can't wait for Hou Minghao to bring a three-dimensional and vibrant Xiao Wuyi to life!"
https://x.com/i/status/2046227590978118132
https://x.com/i/status/2046062097659015402
đ±: âCan I sayâŠevery scene?
Honestly, because this character, for me, is actually a very heavy one. His âweightâ doesnât come from being difficult to portray, but from the identity and mission he carries. I would say he is an extremely, extremely, extremely important role at this stage of my life. I worry about him and feel heartache for his devotion to his country and people. I also feel pain when he fights on the battlefield, losing his life, his eyesight, and his comrades. I feel like I empathize with him all the time.
Our drama includes many battlefield scenesâfighting in the rain, in flames. Every time, it pulls me deeper into becoming this character. I remember in the first episode, there was a scene involving a flaming blade. We used real fire on set. Since the flame couldnât burn continuously, for every close-up or wide shot, we had to apply fuel to the blade and light it with a lighter. Because the flame would only last about 2â3 seconds, we had to complete each shot within that short window.
But to achieve this effect, I didnât really feel any hardship or exhaustion. Because with every take, I felt myself becoming more of the character, like we were shaping each other. And I think thatâs also a kind of strength that Xiao Wuyi has given me.â
https://x.com/i/status/2046658015982674239
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5290080089670176
[KTTPH weibo update]
"A set of behind-the-scenes photos randomly dropped, and I caught a boss who only focuses on his work"
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5290116270000766
[Hou Minghao Studio Weibo Update]
A man burdened with many shackles, who nearly lost his life in a battle, but that didn't affect his dedication to protecting his country and its people. He'd rather suffer any hardship and injury than compromise his principles to get everything he wanted!