Glory

Glory has a happy ending, as Chinese recaps describe it. The leads leave the capital together for Linji, and Rong Shanbao is named the new tea king. No wedding is shown, which many viewers regretted. The recaps agree on the broad shape but differ on several details.

This account comes from finale recaps on Tencent News, NetEase, Sina Finance and Zhihu, not from watching. They describe the same broad shape but differ in places, and we say so where they do.

Lu Jianglai's origin. The recaps say Lu Jianglai is revealed to be the son of the Duke of Yong (永国公, Xue Maotang), born to a maid of the duke's first wife. He is therefore a half-brother of the duke's heir, Xue Shuyu (薛树玉, which one recap writes as 薛玉树). Chinese Wikipedia and several synopses say he came to Linji on the trail of an old case before he lost his memory, but the sources describe that case differently, as a wife murder or as a family massacre.

The heir's death. NetEase recaps say the heir is found dead the morning after drinking with Lu Jianglai, who is then accused of poisoning him. The duke blocks an autopsy until Rong Shanbao arrives with the founding emperor's imperial seal (高祖御印). One of her sisters, Rong Yunshu, reportedly tells by smell that two things killed him. A concubine, Jiping (寄萍), had laced his charcoal, and his sister Xue Yingchuan (薛映川) then used a tonic that reacted with it. A separate NetEase piece says the heir had grown cruel after breaking his leg.

Lu Jianglai's choice. The duke wants Lu Jianglai to inherit the title. Tencent News and NetEase say he angrily refuses, hands the title to his nephew and leaves the ducal household. Rong Shanbao leaves a fast horse behind: if he wants to follow her he can catch up, and if he chooses power they part. Another recap says he states that he recognizes only his adoptive father, a servant who raised him and paid for his schooling. The recaps agree he rides after her and goes back to Linji with her.

The duke's household. The recaps disagree about the duke. One says his wife bit off part of his ear and he ends up sidelined, another says he suffers a stroke. They agree that the heir's wife, Xie Huiqing (谢惠卿), takes real control, and that Rong Shanbao suspects her of being the mastermind and leaves it unspoken. NetEase says Xue Yingchuan is sent to a family temple.

The impostor. NetEase says the suitor Yan Bailou is a fake sent by a rival family, with a real Yan Bailou existing elsewhere. Chinese Wikipedia names the impostor Wei Yao (卫珧), while one recap writes Wei Zhao (卫兆). One recap says he is exposed on the wedding day by witnesses Rong Shanbao brought from Shu, another says Lu Jianglai exposes him, and one says he ends up in prison.

Rong Shanbao and her sisters. The recaps say Rong Shanbao wins the tea-king title through hard-won skill, breaking the idea that only blood counts, and reportedly exposes her father's collusion with an enemy and takes full charge of the family. The sisters mostly find settled lives. Rong Yunshu is said to pledge herself to Bai Yingsheng, who passes the imperial exams and is posted to Linji. Rong Yunxi is said to reunite with An Cha (安茶), and Shen Xiangling is entered into the Rong family register.

The debate. Tencent News and Sina Finance call it one of the most satisfying endings of the year. Others point out that no wedding is shown, and Beauty321 says the investigation of the duke's household has logic gaps. One NetEase piece says Yu Zheng has talked about a second part with the same team in which the couple finally marries. We found no second source and no official announcement.