If you are waiting the release of The Spring Of The Blade, there are several historical romantic C-dramas that can deliver a similar adrenaline-fuelled experience. From women rewriting their tragic destinies to powerful couples joining forces against dangerous enemies, these Chinese dramas combine romance with palace intrigue, revenge, hidden identities and high-stakes power games.

Here are five historical C-dramas to add to your watchlist if you enjoy intense romantic stories with plenty of twists.

Drama Title Primary Cast Main Vibe / Tropes Key Platform
Scent of Time Zhou Ye, Wang Xingyue Second Chance, Redemption, Family Politics Youku
Story of Kunning Palace Bai Lu, Zhang Linghe Gray Morality, Palace Intrigue, Enemies to Allies iQIYI
The Double Wu Jinyan, Wang Xingyue High-Stakes Revenge, Secret Identity, Power Duo Youku / Netflix
Who Rules the World Yang Yang, Zhao Lusi Martial Arts, Equals-in-Power, Hidden Royalty Netflix / WeTV
Pursuit of Jade Tian Xiwei, Zhang Linghe Fake Marriage, Survival, Protective Romance iQIYI

1. Scent of Time (2023)

  • Cast: Zhou Ye, Wang Xingyue, Peng Chuyue, Zhang Yihei
  • Plot: After her greed and past choices destroy her family, a young woman gets an unexpected second chance at life. Determined to change her tragic fate, she begins correcting her mistakes while navigating complicated family relationships and dangerous political games. The romance is subtle but filled with emotional tension, making Scent of Time a compelling watch for fans of darker historical romance.
  • OTT Platform: Youku, HBO GO

2. Story of Kunning Palace (2023)

  • Cast: Bai Lu, Zhang Linghe, Wang Xingyue, Zhou Junwei
  • Plot: After meeting a tragic end in her first life, a clever woman gets another opportunity to rewrite her destiny. Her journey brings her into the orbit of a ruthless and highly strategic man, leading to a fascinating relationship built around secrets, survival and political manoeuvring. 
  • OTT Platform: iQIYI

3. The Double (2024)

  • Cast: Wu Jinyan, Wang Xingyue, Chen Xinhei, Liang Yongqi
  • Plot: A woman wronged by her husband and family assumes the identity of her late benefactor to seek revenge against the people who destroyed her life. Her carefully constructed plan becomes even more complicated when a powerful Duke discovers that she is hiding something. As the two join forces, their relationship develops through strategy, danger and undeniable chemistry. 
  • OTT Platform: Youku, Netflix

4. Who Rules The World (2022)

  • Cast: Yang Yang, Zhao Lusi, Xuan Lu, Lai Yi
  • Plot: Two exceptionally skilled martial artists travel through the jianghu while concealing their royal identities. Despite their playful banter, both characters are powerful, intelligent and fiercely independent. As political conspiracies and battles threaten their world, their mutual respect slowly develops into romance. 
  • OTT Platform: Netflix, Tencent Video (WeTV)

5. Pursuit of Jade (2026)

  • Cast: Tian Xiwei, Zhang Linghe, Ren Hao, Snow Kong
  • Plot: A strong-willed butcher’s daughter and a fallen marquis enter a pragmatic marriage for their own reasons. However, their carefully planned arrangement takes an unexpected turn when war and political conspiracies push them into increasingly dangerous situations. As the heroine learns to fight for herself and those she loves, the fake marriage gradually develops into an emotional relationship.
  • OTT Platform: iQIYI, Mango TV

Why Are These C-Dramas Worthy Watching Before Spring Of The Blade Release?

If you love historical C-dramas packed with revenge, secret identities, political conspiracies and romance, these five titles are worth adding to your watchlist. Scent of Time explores redemption and second chances, Story of Kunning Palace leans into morally complex palace politics, while Who Rules The World adds martial arts and hidden royal identities to the mix.

Meanwhile, Pursuit of Jade brings the popular fake-marriage trope into a world of war and political intrigue. Together, these dramas offer plenty of fierce protagonists, complicated relationships and slow-burning romance for fans of the historical C-drama genre.