Historical and/or fantasy C-Drama not palaceplot

Is fantasy necessary, or just historical?

 maidenholmes:

Is fantasy necessary, or just historical?

No not at all, the only preference is not in modern times, preferably not 20-21th century at all

• The Untamed - Has cultivator sects but no royal palace. The ML starts out as an orphan who is taken in by the leader of a cultivator sect. He easily gets in trouble, but is talented and quickly gains power. At one point he is sort of a sect leader, but the group he leads has no material wealth.
• The Legends - Has cultivator sects but no royal palace. The ML starts out as a seemingly parentless, penniless and powerless boy, but becomes a powerful sect leader and lives in something akin to a palace built by the FL. 
• The Story of Ming Lan - The ML is born into a noble family, but at times his position in his family and in society falls quite low. The ML eventually becomes a marquis and talented general. Although he is friends with the emperor, he never lives in the palace and never has a position in the royal family.
• Sound of the Desert - The ML and SML hold positions of power in society, and both visit the palace occasionally, but neither is part of the inner royal family. The ML is a talented general who eventually fakes his own death to run away from the reach of the palace with the FL.
• A Familiar Stranger - The ML is a powerful general and keeps that position throughout the drama.