LayarHijau.com – The screenwriter of the Chinese drama "The Glory" has responded to allegations of plagiarism raised by a Weibo user, who claims that the work is copied from the novel "The Laughing Lantern" (Deng Hua Xiao).
This plagiarism accusation is noteworthy because "The Glory" is adapted from the novel "The Reborn Noble Girl is Hard to Find" by Qian Shan Cha Ke, while "The Laughing Lantern" is one of the author's latest works.
Several netizens who have read "Deng Hua Xiao" have pointed out striking similarities between the storylines of the drama and the novel. They highlighted that the plot of the main character returning to the city with a secret, as well as the initial suspicion and testing between the male and female leads, bears a strong resemblance.
Sohu reported that after the plagiarism allegations surfaced, the screenwriter addressed the issue on Weibo, stating, “The novel 'The Laughing Lantern' will be published on October 19, 2023, and by that time, I had completed the script for 15 episodes.”
"The Glory," starring Chen Duling and Xin Yunlai, presents a story that, despite being adapted from a novel, differs significantly from its source material. Only a few names and character interactions remain consistent with the novel.
In the novel version, Zhuang Han Yan is reborn after being forced to drink poison by her stepsister, Zhuang Yu Shan, on the night of her wedding to Wei Ru Feng. Zhuang Han Yan's mother had already passed away before the wedding.
Meanwhile, "Deng Hua Xiao" is set during the Liang Dynasty, according to one of MyDramaList users. The story follows a nine-year-old girl who escapes a deadly plague and sells herself into slavery to a poison master. While her parents and two siblings survive, the girl disappears without a trace.
For the next seven years, she becomes the 17th test subject of the doctor, who has already lost sixteen subjects. The girl endures various tortures—left in the wilderness, given poisons that make her wish to end her life, and more—all before she turns twelve. The childhood trauma and sociopathic tendencies shape her complex character.
After her master’s death, she returns home only to find everything in ruins. Her family has faced tragic fates: her sister married into a merchant family in the capital and died, her gentle brother became a fugitive and was executed, her father was killed by bandits, and her mother perished due to the calamities that befell them.
The girl sets off for the capital to uncover the truth behind her family's destruction. There, she encounters a suspicious and intelligent man who keeps his distance and doubts her intentions. The tension between them escalates as the plot thickens, promising a story filled with intrigue, betrayal, and a quest for identity.
This controversy has sparked heated discussions on social media regarding originality in the entertainment industry. Fans and critics alike are now eager to see the next steps from the parties involved following this revelation.