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The Mdl comment section for “a road to splendor” is actually very nice compared to this one.

I think the harsher critiques for this drama is because many viewers didn’t particularly like the Fl, and they also didn’t feel the couple had any chemistry. The criticism got much worse since the drama didn’t have a clear cut happy ending.

Watching a drama is a very subjective experience. There are lots of Cdramas viewers don’t like, but I enjoyed so much because the plot or characters resonated more with me. It’s just that it doesn’t feel good when people criticize something you obviously enjoyed so much.

I find YJX character arc quite interesting. I haven’t read the novel yet, but in the drama, I think it will make sense for him to later regret not marrying the FL, when he had the chance. I actually think he was captivated by her beauty when he saw her at that poetry gathering in the Fu family, but the way my girl just ignored him and went straight to his mum must have felt like a huge slap on his face. So, his feelings of inadequacy and resentment at his mum caused him to hate her too, cos he sees her exactly as his mum.

His reasons for not wanting to marry the FL is actually realistic. People who grow up under very controlling parents usually run far way from that archetype when selecting a spouse. Although his decision to ruin the FL’s reputation continually is just evil and unforgivable.
So I think later on, when he discovers that although the FL is ambitious and smart, she is also warm and very kind (unlike his mum), he will come to bitterly regret his decision to go for Fan Yake instead.

Come to think of it, his mother wasn’t wrong at all that Tingyun was the best bride for him. YJX is in a dicey position, where his father occupies a high position in court, and there is a rule saying father and son can’t be in office together. So if care is not taken, even though he is clearly very smart, he may not hold an official position while his father is in office. What he needs is an ambitious spouse to help him gain an official position (like Tingyun is doing for Zhao Ling , and his mum is helping his dad rise in office). Instead his stupid ass is now stuck with Fan Yake who is so shortsighted that she exchanged her father’s priceless books for stupid trinkets. He will come to regret the day he chose her over the FL.

I agree with all you have said. We have really been starved of mutual affection and love from on the onset with a couple in Cdramas. Usually it’s one party with one sided feelings of love, while the other remains oblivious or aloof. This is much more refreshing in comparison.

I don’t think he was shy. Although they didn’t reveal the reason, I think he was hesitant to present the CP’s letter and take up a high position without earning it.

The tricky part about situations like that is that, if his superior feels that he is cozying up to the higher ups to get ahead, he may make things harder for him, especially since he doesn’t have a solid family background to shield him. I guess we will see more about his army life in the next episodes.

The FL’s personality reminds me of Manman in Prisoner of beauty. They both have that “make the best out of a bad situation” personality , and they are also quite forward with their man, and not emotionally constipated. Very refreshing.

General Mo’s concubine just ruined things for the FL. Currying favour with those military wives would have made things easier for them, but now General Mo’s wife is going to make things really hard for the ML and FL. So annoying.

There is no universe where betraying your best friend because of a man will ever be forgivable. Even if she was jealous that Tingyun was born into nobility and wealth, that doesn’t make it okay. Besides Tingyun always treated her with all sincerity.

It’s even much worse because she knows what it means for her best friend’s reputation to be ruined, especially considering the type of psycho family she comes from that’s obsessed with female virtue. Literally the equivalent of families obsessed with honour killing today.

I find most recent Cdramas find it hard to portray a genuine balanced love story between ML and FL. They usually make the Ml become unreasonably obsessed and a doormat, while the FL remains aloof till the later part of the drama, making the romance seem very one sided. If it’s a few dramas, it’s fine, but when it’s multiple dramas, it just gets boring, and the MLs start blending into each other.

The irony is that they adapt novels with genuinely interesting plot lines, then force this trope into the drama, turning the story into a generic slop. A FL can be powerful and career-driven while still going after her man, like see the kdrama “it’s okay to not be okay”, among others.

The king marrying the FL’s mother to protect her actually saved her life initially, but the empress dowager drove her out of the palace. So, the FL’s grandmother used that opportunity to poison her to death. Which is why the fl initially thought the empress dowager was the one behind her mother’s death, not knowing it was actually her grandmother.

With time, I’m just convinced that there is never going to be another modern Cdrama like Lighter and Princess. Li Xun is probably the most unique modern Cdrama male lead I’ve ever seen…he was traumatized, continually betrayed but he was still selfless with his self respect completely intact, very much unlike the doormat simp excuse of male leads we are inundated with nowadays. This drama is truly one of a kind.

Ikr.. we’ll just have to ignore. I won’t even bother dignifying them with an answer.

I don’t understand the trolls in the comments. If you say you are dropping the drama cos it doesn’t work for you, that’s perfectly fine. There are so many other dramas to choose from. What’s the point of still lingering on this page, and dropping inane comments like you don’t have better things to do with your time.

If the drama is not working for you, drop it and move on, and let people enjoying it discuss peacefully with each other. Is it so hard to not be a nuisance?

Chen feiyu really knows how to play the cocky, flirty pretty boy without coming off as greasy or cringe. It’s just so effortless for him. And Dilraba, I wonder what it is like to live with such beauty. Sometimes when she comes up on my screen, I literally pause cos of how breathtakingly gorgeous she is. I hope she does more of this mature fantasy role, it suits her a lot.

I think you should drop it if it’s not working for you. Those episodes are literally what the show is about..borrowing senses.

This drama has so much potential..the story line is intriguing, and both the male and female lead are very complex and layered characters. Fingers crossed that the plot remains tight and engaging.

Arthur Chen’s acting in episode 8 is incredible! Damn. He ate up those fight scenes and left no crumbs. So scary.

I’m confused too. Can’t wait to find out in upcoming episodes.

Damn..just 6 episodes in and we already have a bed scene. The chemistry is chemistrying. I love the tone and mood of this drama a lot.

Wait a min..is Dian xu not human? How can he see her even when she is in her ghost form?

Loving the dark mood of this drama so much! Obsessed already!