Zhang Ling He and Jelly Lin‘s new historical romance drama The Road to Glory began filming today with a schedule that will likely see the Chinese series wrap its filming sometime in late April.
The production team also dropped several photos of the two leads from the booting ceremony along with confirmation of the director, novelist, head writer and screenwriters.
They are:
Original novel: “Gui Luan” (归鸾) written by Tuan Zi Lai Xi (团子来袭)
Director: Chu De Jian (Return of the Queen)
Head Writer: Zou Yue (Coroner’s Diary)
Screenwriters: Quan Ying, Wang Meng
Starring:
Zhang Ling He as Xiao Li
Jelly Lin as Wen Yu
The drama will be a Tencent Video exclusive.
Zhang Ling He and Jelly Lin’s careers up until now
I have to admit this looks like an interesting pairing (plus they look so cute together), especially as both actors have an extensive body of work already behind them, and work that proves they are both unusually talented.
Zhang Ling He is known for his roles in big hits like Love Between Fairy and Devil, My Journey to You, Tiger and Crane, Story of Kunning Palace, The Princess Royal, Love’s Rebellion, The Best Thing and Our Generation.
Yep, like I said, a large body of work in exceptionally good dramas and one that is quite unusual for an actor who is so young (He’s still only 28).
Meanwhile, Jelly Lin, who is a few months older than Zhang Ling He, recently starred in Whispers of Fate, Footprints of Change, and Les Belles. She has also has lead roles in hits like A Dream of Splendor, and Fights Break Sphere.
Getting them both together in another historical romance then should be fun.
Supporting actors also include Yang Yun Hao (Such a Good Love), Huang Yi (The Legend of Heroes), Edward Zhang (Youthful Glory), and Zhou Lu La (The Prisoner of Beauty).
The Road to Glory plot
The Chinese drama’s synopsis goes like this:
In the winter of the fourth year of Shaojing, Xiao Li (played by Zhang Ling He), the head of the East Market in Yongzhou, unexpectedly rescues Wen Yu (Jelly Lin), a princess of a fallen kingdom who has traveled to the Southern Chen to borrow troops.
During their daily interactions, the two secretly fell in love, with Xiao Li resolving to protect her on her arduous journey to restore her kingdom.
While working with Wen Yu to eliminate the traitor Pei Song, Xiao Li also rises from a street ruffian to become the powerful King of Wei – a man who controls half the country. Because of all this, their relationship becomes increasingly complex as they ascend to the pinnacle of power.
The Road to Glory is listed as having 40 episodes, and will likely be streaming via WeTV internationally once it premieres.
It being a long drama, and an historical romance one at that, with all the complexities of sets, costumes and filming that often entails, it will probably be some time in early 2026 at the earliest before the first episodes of the C-drama are released.
Of course, we will be getting many more promo visuals before then.
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