Hou Minghao has once again captured the attention of Chinese drama fans with two new projects that are different in genre and concept in Asia's top streaming service iQiyi.
In The Unclouded Soul, he teams up with Tan Songyun in a captivating romantic fantasy story, while in Glory, Hou Minghao plays the strategic and emotional Lu Jianglai alongside Gulnezer Bextiyar.
Both dramas are now available to watch on iQIYI, offering a deep battle of emotions, power, and destiny — making them must-watches for Chinese drama fans.
It is a great start for iQIYI after releasing many excellent drama series in 2025. 'Glory' and 'The Unclouded Soul' is set to lead the way to a brilliant start for the streaming giant in 2026.
'Glory' Launches on iQIYI International, Starring Hou Minghao and Gulnezer
“Glory”, starring Hou Minghao and Gulnezer, is a Chinese period drama that weaves together themes of truth, trust, and choice. Blending elements of mystery, emotional drama, and traditional cultural symbolism, the series constructs a narrative world marked by a distinctly Eastern sensibility.
The story follows Lu Jianglai (Hou Minghao), a top imperial scholar appointed as magistrate of Chunning County. Determined to reopen a long-buried case, he becomes the target of an ambush during his investigation and loses his memory as a result. This unexpected turn of fate leads him to be rescued by Rong Shanbao (Gulnezer), the heir to a prominent tea-making family, drawing him into a complex web of family secrets and psychological maneuvering.
As Lu Jianglai and Rong Shanbao navigate mounting challenges together—while managing the tea estate and confronting external threats—mutual trust gradually takes shape, and an understated emotional bond begins to develop. Their relationship grows not through dramatic declarations, but through shared responsibility and quiet collaboration.
With the gradual return of his memory, Lu Jianglai discovers that the truth he has been pursuing is deeply intertwined with the secret Rong Shanbao has long protected. As truth and emotion converge, the characters are pushed to confront difficult choices between duty and personal conviction, allowing the story to move beyond romance and toward a deeper examination of human nature.
Lu Jianglai’s growth does not follow the conventional path of a dominant hero. Instead, his strength emerges through careful observation and rational judgment amid uncertainty and loss. Rong Shanbao, caught between familial obligation and personal emotion, becomes a decisive force through her resilience and resolve. As the mystery unfolds, their relationship deepens with restraint and tension, reinforcing the drama’s emotional complexity.
Visually, “Glory” is rooted in traditional Chinese aesthetics. Through refined costume design, atmospheric settings, and rich tea-culture imagery, the series creates a composed yet suspenseful Eastern worldview, where visual language and narrative tone remain closely aligned.
Centered on “tea” as a cultural and symbolic motif, “Glory” brings together mystery, emotional relationships, and character growth, offering audiences a story experience that balances Eastern aesthetics with strong genre appeal.
iQIYI Launches “The Unclouded Soul,” Starring Tan Songyun and Hou Minghao
Starring Tan Songyun and Hou Minghao, the Chinese fairy-tale fantasy drama “The Unclouded Soul” is now streaming on iQIYI. The series follows Xiao Yao, a human girl, and Hong Ye, the king of the demon realm, whose chance encounter draws them into a long-standing conflict between humans and demons. As their paths repeatedly cross, the story unfolds through intertwined destinies, delivering an emotionally charged fantasy narrative.
In “The Unclouded Soul,” Tan Songyun takes on a dual role, showcasing impressive range as both the calm and resolute human princess Ning An and the lively, free-spirited wanderer Xiao Yao. The sharp contrast between the two identities adds depth and dramatic tension to the story. Hou Minghao steps into a strikingly different role as Hong Ye, appearing in silver hair and dark robes that give the character strong visual presence. His performance balances restraint and strength, revealing the character’s inner complexity.
One of the drama’s key highlights lies in its narrative structure built around time dislocation and cyclical encounters. Rather than following a linear timeline, the story places its characters in shifting identities and circumstances, allowing them to meet, separate, and confront each other repeatedly.
Through these encounters, the series explores themes of desire, trust, and moral choice. Xiao Yao’s unwavering purity of heart—untouched by obsession or greed—becomes a crucial force that drives the story toward reconciliation and redemption, elevating the drama beyond a conventional romance.
Visually, “The Unclouded Soul” establishes a distinctive Eastern fantasy aesthetic. Inspired by rare natural landscapes, the creative team incorporates unusual phenomena into set and prop design, creating a fairy-tale world that feels both imaginative and grounded. Elements such as glowing forests, floating waterfalls, and bone-reconstruction effects are seamlessly integrated with character movement, delivering an immersive and visually rich viewing experience.
Now streaming on iQIYI, “The Unclouded Soul” invites audiences to follow the choices and actions of Xiao Yao and Hong Ye, and to witness perseverance and redemption at the intersection of fate.
