The Road To Glory (归鸾) is adapted from the novel Gui Luan (Return of the Male Phoenix) written by Tuan Zi Lai Xi. It’s the same author behind Zhang Ling He’s upcoming drama Zhu Yu / Chasing Jade with Tian Xi Wei.
The story follows our couple: She is a fallen princess whose mission is to secure military aid for her family and she’s on her way to obtain help from a marriage alliance when she is kidnapped to be trafficked. Our hero is a local street ruffian with a sick mother. He is described as a wild beast with great martial arts and survival skills. They meet in chaotic times, fall in love unexpectedly, but eventually get separated because of who they are and what her goals were at the time. Sounds delicious!! The angst!! And I love how he rises to power too instead of being born with a silver spoon. Woohoo!
You can read the English translation of the novel here (only up to chapter 120 though). Words on the streets is that the author never finished the novel before it was sold to Tencent.