 |
| Glory Rumored to Premiere in December as Hou Minghao and Guli Nazha Shine in New Costume Drama |
The buzz around Hou Minghao just keeps getting louder. Fresh off his hit performance in Love in the Clouds (入青雲) with Lu Yuxiao, the rising star is powering through 2025 with serious momentum.
October alone saw him rack up massive follower growth across platforms, reportedly gaining 660,000 on Weibo, 790,000 on Douyin, and 170,000 on Xiaohongshu. With those numbers, it’s no shock he was crowned Weibo Actor Rising Star, cementing his place as one of the most talked-about male leads in Chinese dramas right now.
And he’s not slowing down.
Hou Minghao’s next project, the costume romance-mystery Glory (玉茗茶骨), is rumoured to premiere on 29 December on Mango TV.
Industry chatter also suggests Cheng Yi’s new drama The Vendetta of An (長安二十四計) may drop earlier on 17 December, sparking talk of a potential ratings battle to close out the year.
Fans are already amused at the idea of a mini face-off, especially since Guli Nazha and Cheng Yi previously played siblings in The Journey of Legend (赴山海).
A Scholar-Detective, a Tea Heiress, and a Tangled Past
In Glory, Hou Minghao takes on the role of Lu Jianglai, a brilliant top scorer of the imperial examination who is posted to Chun’an County as its young magistrate.
Sharp-minded and level-headed, he quickly becomes known for cracking baffling cases in the region.
But his steady rise crashes into chaos when an old case involving his wife resurfaces, pushing him to a breaking point.
Enter Rong Shanbao, played by GuliNazha, the bold and influential daughter of a renowned tea family. She pulls Lu Jianglai back from the edge, restoring his position and placing him exactly where he needs to be.
Thanks to family disputes and long-standing grudges, Lu Jianglai is temporarily relegated to the role of steward under her command.
Yet, bit by bit, he regains control, unravels the truth behind the old case, reorders the family affairs, and helps revive their tea business.
Their constant clash of wits gradually warms into trust, and trust naturally sparks romance.
What begins as reluctant collaboration slowly builds into a partnership full of strategy, banter, and heart, leading the pair toward a promising and upbeat ending.
On-Screen Chemistry Already Making Noise
Early promotional material has already stirred excitement, revealing five romantic kissing scenes that fans cannot stop discussing.
These include a bedside kiss emphasising Hou Minghao’s toned figure, two close-range kissing moments in a quiet room, a gentle forehead kiss, a scene where he carries a drunken Rong Shanbao, and a sharp, spontaneous side kiss when she pulls him by the collar.
Each moment hints at a lead pairing with strong chemistry and plenty of intimate drama to look forward to.
One of the Year’s Most Watched-For Costume Dramas
With leaked teasers, speculation about competing year-end premieres, and a plot mixing romance, mystery, and business intrigue, Glory is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated titles closing out the year.
The combination of Hou Minghao’s rising star power and Guli Nazha’s elegant screen presence has only added fuel to the hype.
If rumours prove true, December might deliver one of the strongest costume drama showdowns of 2025, and Glory looks ready to make a serious impact.
Source: Upmedia