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Story of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略) is a Chinese period drama series created by Yu Zheng. It is an original screenplay written by Zhou Mo and later developed into a novel by Xiao Lian Mao. Starring Wu Jin Yan, Charmaine Sheh, Qin Lan, Nie Yuan, Tan Zhuo, and Xu Kai, the series premiered on iQIYI from July 19, 2018 to August 26, 2018. During its run, it was streamed more than 15 billion times.
Distributed in more than 70 markets worldwide, Story of Yanxi Palace has since become a huge hit, especially in Asia. It has been named the world's most Googled TV show in 2018.
A spinoff and sequel to the series, Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventure, aired on Netflix December 31, 2019.
Synopsis[]
A young woman who enters the royal palace with an agenda encounters kindness and opportunity.
Wei Ying Luo (Wu Jin Yan) enters the royal court of Hong Li, Qianlong Emperor (Nie Yuan), to uncover the truth behind her sister's tragic death. She suspects the imperial guard Fucha Fu Heng (Xu Kai) and tries to get close to his sister, Empress Fucha Rong Yin (Qin Lan). Ying Luo manages to transfer to Changchun Palace to work as a maid. There, Ying Luo is mentored by the kind Rong Yin, who teaches Ying Luo to read and write, and she also falls in love with Fu Heng.
Through a series of events, Ying Luo becomes the Emperor's concubine, Consort Ling. Alongside other concubines like Consort Xian (Charmaine Sheh), can Ying Luo put her personal agenda aside to serve the Emperor?[1]
Plot[]
In 18th century Beijing (March 18, 1741), Wei Ying Luo enters the court of the Qianlong Emperor, Aisin Gioro Hongli, as one of the palace embroiderers to secretly investigate her beloved sister's mysterious death. At first, believing the imperial guard Fuca Fuheng to be the prime suspect, Ying Luo schemes to approach his sister, the Empress Fuca Rongyin, and succeeds in getting transferred from her embroidery unit to the Empress's Changchun Palace as her maid. Over time, she learns that the Fuca siblings are honest and kindhearted people, innocent of the crime, and develops romantic affections for Fuheng, who is admired by many around the Palace, including Qianlong's Consort Chun who allies herself to Empress Fuca because of her crush on her brother.
Though Ying Luo is not noble by birth and is illiterate, the kind-hearted Empress Fuca teaches her how to read and write, along with all the proper etiquette and mannerisms for noblewomen at the time. Ying Luo also helps Empress Fuca survive a series of maneuvers by her chief rivals, becoming a trusted friend and confidant while never forgetting her own agenda of avenging her sister's murder. In time, Ying Luo discovers that the actual murderer is a Consort of the late Emperor Yongzheng and mother of Qianlong's half brother, and hatches a plot to drive the culprit to her untimely death. Empress Fuca, for fear of Qianlong's fury over Ying Luo's actions, banishes her to the palace sanitation unit to escape his decree of punishment. There, Ying Luo befriends a conniving eunuch, Yuan Chunwang, who is subsequently revealed to be a bastard son of Emperor Yongzheng.
Without Ying Luo, Empress Fuca falls victim to the machinations of Noble Consort Gao that puts her in a coma. News reaches Ying Luo who secretly visits Empress Fuca's chamber to sit by her mistress's side and care for her. Ying Luo's devotion to Empress Fuca convinces Qianlong to relent on his tough stance towards her and allow her to return as a maid. Empress Fuca is able to wake from her coma and becomes pregnant again. She goes through almost life-ending labor to give birth to another son, who is immediately the target of assassination by the duplicitous Consort Chun, devastated for having been rejected by Fuheng. Empress Fuca is driven to suicide when she is not able to save her newborn in a bizarre fire that rose overnight. After Empress Fuca's death, Ying Luo is sent to live and guard over her mistress's grave at the Old Summer Palace. She stays there with Yuan Chunwang until one year (1750), during an imperial visit by Qianlong and his consorts to Fuca's grave, Ying Luo learns that Consort Chun was responsible for her late mistress's suicide. She decides once again to enter the Forbidden City and exact retribution on the evildoers.
In order to achieve the goal, Ying Luo skillfully charms Qianlong, becoming part of his harem, and is bestowed a title, Consort Ling. With meticulous planning, she topples her rivals one after another, including the villainess, now Noble Consort Chun, even insofar as exposing her role in Empress Fuca's death, which leads to her fall in the hands of Ying Luo's archrival, the newly named Empress Hoifa-Nara (1751). Ying Luo's captivation of Qianlong brings her numerous threats, such as from newcomer Concubine Shun, a beautiful and cunning woman dead set to even the score with Qianlong and Fuheng for having been forced into political marriage in the Forbidden City. Framing Ying Luo for attempted assassination, Concubine Shun deftly teams up with Empress Hoifa-Nara to put Ying Luo under house arrest and pull strings to starve her nearly to death. Nevertheless, Ying Luo is able to reverse her situation, reveal Shun's treachery, and restore Qianlong's affections for her. Having reached stalemate at this point, Ying Luo negotiates for a truce with Hoifa-Nara on the condition that they both not harm any children of the palace in spite of the rivalry.
A decade later (1765), however, the nihilistic Yuan Chunwang betrays Ying Luo and joins Hoifa-Nara, causing a series of mishaps in the palace that even force the Empress Dowager's hand and break her hold on power. Hongzhou, the Emperor's brother, also plots to sabotage Qianlong's Southern river tour. On a chosen night, a band of rebels suddenly storms onto the royal vessel just as a fire engulfs the Empress Dowager's cabin, prompting Qianlong to charge into the flaming cabin to save his mother, seemingly perishing himself in the process.
The next morning, as Hongzhou gallantly appears to restore order from the overnight coup, Qianlong and the Empress Dowager emerge safely from a secret passageway designed by Fuheng and expose Hongzhou's plan of treachery. After Qianlong sentences Hongzhou to death, Yuan Chunwang gets on his knees in front of the Emperor and claims he is a long-lost son of the Yongzheng Emperor. The Empress Dowager denies this, which drives Yuan Chunwang into madness, leaving others unable to determine whether or not it is to protect Qianlong. At this time, Consort Ling comes out of hiding under the protection of the Emperor's guards, prompting Hoifa-Nara to protest once and for all the Emperor's lavished attention for Ying Luo alone. In a fit of rage and jealousy, she cuts off her own hair, a taboo in Manchu tradition analogous to an outcry for divorce, effectively cursing the entire Aisin Gioro clan.
In the end, Empress Hoifa-Nara is permitted to keep her title but loses all of the Emperor's affections. Wei Ying Luo is elevated to the most powerful title: 'Imperial Noble Consort". Remembering Empress Fuca's teachings, she embodies all the qualities of a virtuous consort and supports the Emperor until death.
Cast[]
- Wu Jin Yan as Wei Ying Luo / Consort Ling
- An upright, strong, and cunning woman who is ahead of her time in terms of knowledge and reasoning. She enters the palace to investigate the murder of her sister. In the palace, she uses her innate skills to rise above the tangles of conventional palace rivalries for nobler causes and defeat her enemies. Adoptive mother of the fifth prince, Yongqi.
- Nie Yuan as Emperor Qianlong / Hong Li, an Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
- Xu Kai as Fu Heng, Empress's brother and leader of the imperial guards
- He is a foil for the Emperor since he is a rather free man without the hamper of pomp and circumstance. In this way, he can be truer himself in love and life, and he maximizes the privilege by being upfront and forward in his feelings, without the hesitation and unease that clouds every step taken by his more powerful superior.
- Qin Lan as Empress Xiaoxianchun / Fuca Rongyin, the first Empress of Qianlong and a kind, gentle, and virtuous lady.
- Charmaine Sheh as Consort Xian / Shu Shen, The Step Empress
- Lin Chen Han as Young Shu Shen
- Initially a kind-hearted and virtuous woman who wanted nothing but peace, she soon realizes that her kindness only results in her being stepped on. After her family's demise, she becomes a cunning woman who manipulated others for her own means.
- Tan Zhuo as Imperial Noble Consort Huixian / Gao Ning Xin of Emperor Qianlong
- Her palace strategy can be summed up as "the best defense is a strong offense." With an air of indifference, she walks and talks meaner than a viper, and for those who think lightly of her, cruelty is her specialty. However, for all that they know, she is actually a lonely child who lives by making the whole palace her stage in the hopes of catching the attention of her man.
- Fang Yang Fei as Yong Cheng, the 4th Prince who was later sent to Imperial Clan Court.
- Wang Xi as Old Yong Cheng
- Wang Yuan Ke as Noble Consort Chun of Emperor Qianlong
- She is initially distant from palace strife and intrigue and was a lackey of Empress Xiaoxianchun. Described as gentle, sophisticated, and talented by many. However, it's later revealed that she was in love with Fuca Fuheng and his rejection turned her into a scorned woman. After Fuca Fuheng's rejection, she went berserk and caused the death of Empress Xiaoxianchun's son, which therefore directly caused her death. She becomes ruthless on her quest for the Emperor's affections and power struggle to ensure her son becomes favored.
- Lawrence Wong as Hai Lancha, a royal front guard and a friend of Fuca Fuheng who falls in love with Mingyu.
- Hong Yao as Hong Zhou / Prince He, the brother of Emperor Qianlong
- Puts on an apathetic, foolhardy demeanor to conceal his ambition and lifelong disappointment of being second to Qianlong.
- Su Qing as Er Qing, Fu Heng's wife, the first maid to Empress Fuca
- She is an opportunist who will not let morals get in the way of ambition. She marries Fuca Fuheng.
- Song Chun Li as Empress Dowager Chongqing
- Adoptive mother of Emperor Qianlong and a woman with some secrets of her own. Prizes a stable empire above all and will actively pursue a stable harem for her son.
- Jenny Zhang as Consort Shun / Niohuru Chenbi
- She is gifted to Emperor Qianlong as a diplomatic gesture by a Qing vassal state. She has the face of pure innocence and the heart of a shrew.
- Yi Yong as Dr. Ye Tianshi, for Taiyuan Hospital
- Lian Lian as Noble Consort Yu
- She gave birth to Qianlong's fifth son Yongqi. Timid and cowardly, she remains reticent about her abuse until Ying Luo comes to her protection. In time, she learns to be quite a machiavellian as she sacrifices herself and takes down Ying Luo's rival.
- Li Chun Yuan as Consort Shu / Nalan Chunxue
- A member of the harem who very early handled by Ying Luo and even over the course of the series, to the point of becoming comic relief.
- Li Ruo Ning as Noble Consort Qing / Lu Wanwan
- Quiet but self-assured, she is a little person who can effect big changes.
- Jiang Zi Xin as Ming Yu, the second maid to Empress Fuca
- Outspoken but dim, she is loyal to Empress Fuca unreservedly, and later becomes Ying Luo's reliable friend and co-conspirator.
- Sookie Pan as Imperial Concubine Jia / Xiao Jia Pin, a daughter of a Korean minister, an underling of Noble Consort Gao, and the mother of the 4th prince
- To survive, she does Gao's dirty work and is there to take the fall for her. Her younger sister later enters the harem with a strong distaste for Ying Luo and does not get very far. Moreover, younger concubine Jia is impulsive.
- Wang Mao Lei as Yuan Chun Wang, a mysterious person with a wicked mind
- He believes that he and Ying Luo are two of a kind, and will do whatever it takes to make her see it his way, whether or not she wants to.
- Anna Fang as Zhen'er, a maid to Consort Xian and becomes her lackey and partner in crime
- She is loyal to Consort Xian. She killed herself during the Southern Tour.
- Ma Chuanyan as Empress Xiaojingxian
- She chose Fuca Rongyun for Hongli, Qianlong Emperor
- Ren Wanjing as Fangcao, a maid of Consort Yu
- She was unconsciously swapping poisonous shell powder with pearl powder with Ah'Shuang, maid of Concubine Jia during Noble Lady Yu's pregnancy.
- Rain Wang as Princess Zhao Hua, the 7th daughter if Emperor Qia Long from Consort Ling
- She was raised by the Dowager Empress.
- Chen You Wei as Yong Qi / Prince Rong, fifth son of Emperor Qianlong from Consort Yu
- He is the surrogate son of Ying Luo when she becomes Consort Ling and is a potential candidate for the throne due to his many talents.
- Bai Shan as Dowager Yu, Prince He's mother and consort of the Yongzheng Emperor
- She is willing to commit all kinds of evil to protect her son. She conceals her villany under the face of a pious Buddhist. It was revealed, that she killed Ying Luo's sister. Died by a lightning strike.
- Zheng Louis as Xiao Quan Zi
- The little thief who has proven his worth to Ying Luo at the end.
- Sun Ao as Yong Ji, the 12th Prince
- Yang Jingru as Hupo, a staff at Empress Fuca's Changchun house
- Thinking that she and Ying Luo are essentially on the same level even after Ying Luo's promotions, she becomes cheeky and is punished to hard labor.
- Cheng Mo as Yu Hu, a maid to Consort Chun
- By the order of her mistress, she told the supervisor of the Fire Bureau to change normal coal to bursting chrysanthemum coal and to freeze the water. Thus, she played a significant role in Empress' Fuca's death. Placed silver needs on Mingyu's body. She was willing to testify against Noble Consort Chun after being interrogated by Empress Hoifa Nara
- Gao Yu Er as Jin Xiu, the embroiderer's maid
- She is a jealous hater of Ying Luo at the embroidery unit and is later punished for hard labor.
- Xu Xiao Nuo as Princess Si Wan
- Yin Xu as Madame Fang, the second head of the embroidery unit and hates Ying Luo
- She framed Ying Luo for having an affair with a guard and was banished.
- Yang Jing Ru as Hu Po, a maid to the Empress
- Zhoua Yicheng as Prince Zhe, the 7th son of Emperor Qianlong from Empress Xiaoxianchun
- He dies at a young age in raging flame. When he was born, he was highly favored and loved.
- Liu En Shang as Li Yu, the head eunuch and loyal servant of Emperor Qianlong
- He can read his master by his countenance and does not mind being the butt (literally) of his aggression.
- Shi Yan Fei as Zhi Lan, a maid to Consort Gao
- Arrogant and vulgar, she is ready to commit any crime for her master. She uses Chuxiu palace maids for her mistress' needs, even if it breaks the Palace law. She treats badly people inferior to her.
- Chen Ruo Xi as Ling Long, the embroiderer's maid
- She is another hater of Ying Luo at the embroidery unit and is later punished to Ningguta because she stole precious threads used for Empresse's birthday present.
- Zhang Yi Xi as Ji Xiang, the embroiderer's maid and Ying Luo's first friend in the embroidery unit
- She got tricked by Linglong and met her death.
- Wang Xinhui as Consort Wan
- A timid and tactful lady, she obeys the rules.
- Liu Lu as Consort Ying
- She seems to be a well-informed lady with good intentions and a conformist.
- Qian Jessie as Ashuang, a maid to Consort Jia
- She was giving poisonous shell powder to Fangcao, a maid of Consort Yu. She collaborated with Prince Yi Hongxiao to topple Ying Luo, which led to her demotion to a mistress.
- Zhao Mengjie as Feicui, a staff at Empress Fuca's Changchun Palace
- She later served in Empress's Immortal Room in Forbidden City.
- Gao Rui as Bailing, a maid of Imperial Consort Dowager Yu
- After the death of Imperial Consort Dowager Yu, she stayed at Shoukang Palace and served demoted Empress Hoifa Nara as a Momo.
- Zhang Tianyun as Zhenzhu, a staff at Empress Fuca's Changchun house
- She later becomes a maid for Ying Luo and remains extremely loyal to her.
- Zheng Xiao Dong as Gao Heng, Consort Gao's brother
- Zhang Ting Ting as Madame Liu, the head of the crew at the palace sanitation unit
- She is the pawn of the consorts in the schemes against Ying Luo.
- Alen Tan as Qi Jia Qing Xi, a friend of Ying Ning
- He drew Ying Luo into the Imperial Garden and framed her for seducing him. He was later punished by the emperor.
- Cheng Jun Wen as Hong Xiao / Prince Yi, the cousin of Emperor Qianlong
- He collaborates with Noble Consort Gao against Ying Luo and Consort Xian (framed her father for corruption). Was sent to the Imperial Clan Court because he added salt to the sacrificial meat.
- Xu Bai Hui as Consort Yi, a friend to Noble Lady Yu
- She is an early victim of Noble Consort Gao.
- Deng Sha as Wei Ying Ning, Ying Luo's sister
- When Ying Luo was born and thrown to the river, she rescued her and brought her up. As a seamstress, she changed her name into A'Man. She was raped by Prince He and killed.
- Sun Di as Eunuch Wu Shulai, a supervisor of the inner courts and a rival of Yuan Chunwang
- Ru Ping as Lady Fuca, Fu Heng's mother
- He Jia Yi as Madam Zhang, the head of the embroidery unit and Ying Luo's palace mentor at the beginning
- Zhang Tian Yun as Zhen Zhu, a maid to the Empress
- Want Yi Zhe as Fu Kang An, Fu Heng's son
- Fang Chu Tong as Qing Lian, Fuca house slave
- Su Mao as Gao Bin, Consort Gao's father
- Wei Yan Kan as Fu Qian, Fu Heng's brother
- Dai Chun Rong as Mrs. Nara, Consort Xian's mother
- Chen Yuan Yuab as Xi'Er
- Li Jing Xiu as Madame Liu, a maid to Dowager
- Zhang Jie as Yi Zhu, a maid to Consort Shen
- Cheng Guo Dong as Doctor Liu Tai at Tai Hospital
- Yao Wei Ping as Consort Xian's father
- Lie Yue Min as Minister Zhang Tingyu (Ep.33)
- Yu Zhe as Xiao Tong Zi, Prince He's aide
- Tang Jiatong as Jiaqing Emperor, the 15th son of Emperor Qialong from Consort Ling
- Feng Wu Sheng as the butler for Fucha house
- An An as Ma Nao
- Chang Cheng as Eunuch Dasheng, a junior eunuch and an assistant to Li Yu
- Liu Shi Tong as Lan'er, a maid
- Liu Ze Yu as Xiao Zhang Zi
- Liu Guo Ji as Liu Zhen
- Kelly Li as Wan'er
- Zhao He as Zhao Qing
- Wu Li Hua as Head Physician Zhang
- Liu Yue Tao as Wang Zhong
- Wang Hui Chun as Emperor Yongzheng
- Gao Yang as Uya Qing
- Wang Yu Wei as Prince Duo'er, Zhao Hua's husband
Soundtrack[]
Episodes[]
In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
| Episodes | Aired | Average audience share | Ratings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1-8 | September 24, 2018 | — (1st) | 0.253% (AM)/0.498% (PM) | |
| Episode 9-12 | September 25, 2018 | 3.787% (7th) | 0.330% | |
| Episode 13-16 | September 27, 2018 | 3.853% (6th) | 0.319% | |
| Episode 17-20 | September 28, 2018 | 4.316% (4th) | 0.354% | |
| Episode 21-24 | September 29, 2018 | 3.780% (4th) | 0.285% | |
| Episode 25-32 | October 1, 2018 | — | 0.593% | |
| Episode 33-40 | October 2, 2018 | — | 0.615% | |
| Episode 41-48 | October 3, 2018 | 7.317% (1st) | 0.689% | |
| Episode 49-56 | October 4, 2018 | 7.474% (1st) | 0.694% | |
| Episode 57-70 | October 5, 2018 | 6.202% (1st) | 0.603% | |
| Re-run | ||||
| Episode 1-8 | October 6, 2018 | 5.576% (2nd) | 0.565% | |
| Episode 9-16 | October 7, 2018 | 5.787% (2nd) | 0.619% | |
| Episode 17-20 | October 8, 2018 | 4.894% (4th) | 0.403% | |
| Episode 21-24 | October 9, 2018 | 4.915% (4th) | 0.422% | |
| Episode 25-29 | October 10, 2018 | 5.957% (2nd) | 0.494% | |
| Episode 30-33 | October 11, 2018 | 5.546% (1st) | 0.442% | |
| Episode 34-37 | October 12, 2018 | 6.485% (1st) | 0.520% | |
| Episode 38-44 | October 13, 2018 | 5.451% (1st) | 0.518% | |
| Episode 46-52 | October 14, 2018 | 5.848% (1st) | 0.588% | |
| Episode 54-56 | October 15, 2018 | 6.362% (1st) | 0.528% | |
| Episode 58-60 | October 16, 2018 | 6.545% (1st) | 0.541% | |
International broadcast[]
| Region | Network | Aired | Timeslot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | TVB Jade | August 6, 2018 - October 6, 2018 | Monday-Friday at 20:30 CST | Dubbed in Cantonese. The episodes originally scheduled for August 26 and September 22, 2018 were aired on October 1, 2018. |
| Macau | ||||
| Australia | ||||
| United States of America | ||||
| Malaysia | Astro AOD TVB Jade | |||
| Vietnam | HTV7 | August 9, 2018 - November 2018 | Monday-Friday at 17:00 ICT | Dubbed in Vietnamese. |
| H1 | November 22, 2018 - February 20, 2019 | Monday-Friday 19:50 ICT (November - December 2018) Monday-Friday & Sunday 19:50 ICT (December 2018 - January 18, 2019) Monday-Sunday (January 19, 2019 - February 20, 2019) |
Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. This series broadcast for 77 episodes instead of 70 of the original, likely due to TVCs times. | |
| VTC1 | March - June 2019 | 17:00 ICT | Dubbed in Vietnamese. | |
| LA34 | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| HGTV | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| TBTV | Mid-2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| NTV | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| CTV | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| ATV | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| THTG | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| VP | June 2019 - September 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| BRT | 2019 | Original language with Vietnamese subtitles. | ||
| SCTV2 | February 2019 - May 2019 | |||
| Singapore | Hub VV Drama | September 20 - | Monday-Friday 17:00 SST | Original language. |
| Mediacorp Channel U | March 8 - June 13 | Monday-Friday 22:00 SST | Original language. | |
| Canada | Fairchild TV 2 HD (FTV2HD) | August 6-present | Monday-Friday 16:30 & 20:30 EST (Vancouver) Monday-Friday 19:30 & 23:30 EST (Toronto) |
Dubbed in Cantonese (TVB version). |
| Philippines | ABS-CBN | January 27, 2020 - May 5, 2020 | Dubbed in Filipino. | |
| Asianovela Channel | June 1, 2020 - present | Dubbed in Filipino. | ||
| India | Zee TV | TBA | Dubbed in Hindi. | |
| Zee Tamil | Dubbed in Tamil. | |||
| Zee Keralam | Dubbed in Malayalam. | |||
| Zee Telgu | Dubbed in Telugu. | |||
| Zee Bangla | Dubbed in Bengali. | |||
| United States of America | CTI America | September 3, 2018 - | Monday-Friday at 15:00 & 19:00 PT | Original language. |
| Japan | Eigeki | February 18, 2019 | Monday-Friday at 21:00 JST | Original language with Japanese subtitles. |
| Cambodia | PPCTV Drama 10 | March 10, 2019 | Monday-Friday 11:30 & 19:30 UTC+07:00 | Dubbed in Khmer. |
| Malaysia | 8TV | September 16, 2019 - December 22, 2019 | Monday-Friday at 19:00 MYT | Original language with subtitles. |
| Romania | TVR 1 | October 9, 2019 - January 28, 2020 | Monday-Friday 17:35 EET | Original language with subtitles. |
| March 25, 2020 - July 13, 2020 | Monday-Friday 17:00 EET | |||
| Lithuania | LNK | January 4, 2020 - | Saturday & Sunday 17:45 EET | Dubbed in Lithuanian. |
| Portugal | RTP1 | TBA | Original language with subtitles. |
Production[]
Many of the film props and costumes use as centerpieces exquisitely made articles from traditional Chinese crafts that are dying out with few master-level experts remaining to pass on their skills to the next generation. The acquisition of these skills requires a lifetime commitment to perfect, since they are unsurprisingly labor-intensive, demanding a sharp eye and tireless hands in order to replicate in painstaking detail the exclusive nature of their beauty.
Velvet flowers (ronghua)[]
The velvet flower headwear used by the main characters was designed based on historical documents or antiques housed in the Palace Museum. Each adornment is created according to the characteristics of individual palace women. Zhao Shuxian, one of the few craftsmen still making velvet flowers, created all the headwear in the show using the art of making velvet flower (ronghua). This technique dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and refers to the creation of not only floral displays, but also animal shapes made by silk on a twisted wire frame.
Jeweled hairpins (tian-tsui)[]
Worn by the Empress and Consorts as status symbols of opulence, these are hairpins of a particular vibrant blue hue, made from the preserved feathers of the wings and back of the kingfisher bird. The technique resembles cloisonné, and when inlaid with pearls and other gemstones, are especially eye-catching the way a peacock dazzles fanning its tail.
The success of the drama is due in no small part to the contributions of numerous artisans and craftspeople behind the scenes that lend to the authenticity of Qing era fashion and style visible in every frame.
Reception[]
The series has generated buzz online for its engaging plot of a "Cinderella" tale with Chinese characteristics. It set the single-day online viewership record in China with a total of 530 million views, and has attracted a cumulative over 13 billion views since August 2018. The drama is the most viewed Chinese language drama of 2018. It was also the most googled show on earth in 2018, despite Google being blocked in the mainland.
Many viewers praised the story, because unlike the usual amicable heroines, the main character Wei Ying Luo fights fire with fire and outmaneuvers her opponents. It also received praise for its well-developed cast of characters and exciting interpretation by the actors; beautiful cinematography and intricate costume design; as well as its accurate portrayal of history and Qing-dynasty settings. Owing to its success, there has been an increased number of visitors to the Palace Museum in Beijing, which is where all the main characters in the show used to live in times gone by.
Controversy[]
There was uproar in China after a Vietnamese website managed to acquire episodes not yet shown in China and asked visitors to the website to answer questions confirming their Vietnamese identity before the website loads. "This service is for Vietnamese people only. Please answer the following questions: To which country do the Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) belong? Vietnam, China, Philippines or Japan?". The only correct answer to the question is Vietnam. Copies of the episodes were later removed from the platform.
Censorship[]
On January 25, the Beijing Daily, an official government newspaper, criticized the program for failing to promote socialist values. Four days later, on January 29, the Chinese government cancelled the program and similar programs such as Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. CNN and other media outlets quickly reported on this incident, calling it Chinese censorship. A Hong Kong professor stated that the show was censored because it became too popular and defied social norms.
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China | Best Television Series | Story of Yanxi Palace | Won |
| 24th Huading Awards | Best Actress (Ancient Drama) | Wu Jin Yan | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Charmaine Sheh | Nominated | ||
| Qin Lan | ||||
| 2019 | Golden Bud - The Third Network Film and Television Festival | Most Influential Web Series | Story of Yanxi Palace | Won |
| Influence of Recreational Responsibilities Awards | Web Drama of the Year | |||
| Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Telenovela/Soap Opera |
Trivia[]
- Due to the timing of filming, netizens pointed out the similarities between the drama and the highly-anticipated Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace.[2]
- It was the world's most Googled TV show in 2018.[2]
- According to Yu Zheng, the use of silk was a strong inspiration for Story of Yanxi Palace.[2]
Gallery[]
Videos[]
