Story of Yanxi Palace

Both Dramas Feature:

- A fierce, unconventional heroine who refuses to be bullied. Both FMLs are stubborn, intelligent, cunning, and loyal.

- A love triangle between a stubborn and cunning FML, a commanding grouchy yet possessive ML, and an intelligent, loveable yet pitiful 2nd ML.

- A lead couple brought together by circumstance rather than choice. In both series, the relationship (or rise to power) begins with reluctance, tension, and emotional distance.

- But evolves into deep love, loyalty, and intense devotion. Both MLs go from “I don’t like you” to becoming full jars of vinegar any time someone else looks at their woman.

- Both dramas have calculating, deeply entrenched political intrigue with characters that challenge the throne.

- Well-timed humor and comedic moments. Despite the palace scheming, both series sprinkle in witty banter and comedic relief that keeps the pacing fresh.

- A strong supporting cast of loyal friends, funny side characters, and palace allies bring warmth, levity, and extra storylines that make the world feel full and vibrant.


Key Differences Between the Two Dramas:

Tone & Genre:

- Yanxi Palace is more historical-realistic, grounded in political maneuvering and court intrigue.

- Kunning Palace blends historical drama with light fantasy elements, mainly due to the heroine’s rebirth, she gets a second chance to rewrite her tragic fate.

Character Journeys:

- Wei Yingluo rises from a low-ranked maid and carves her own path upward through wit and grit.

- Jiang Xue Ning starts as an empress reborn as a noblewoman with ambition but must confront her past mistakes after being reborn.

Romance Development:

- In Yanxi, romance is slower, steadier, and woven subtly into the political tension.

- In Kunning Palace, the romance is more direct, emotional, and fate-driven, with heavier emphasis on the ML’s protectiveness and emotional growth.

Pacing & Atmosphere:

- Yanxi Palace is meticulous, strategic, and visually elegant.

- Kunning Palace is faster-paced, more dramatic, and more intense in emotional storytelling.

The synopsis of "Story of Yanxi Palace" honestly seems fairly bland which is typical historical palace drama involving the inner harem fighting for the emperor's affections, and bla bla bla which is definitely different from "Jun Jiu Ling" storyline.

These two different dramas found common ground. Both drama have strong and smart female leads. Both drama have plots such as revenge, royalty, politics, etc.

If you love Wei Yingluo, you will love Jun Jiuling.

GXWS is like the vertical knock off version of the Yanxi Palace storyline, except without all the political subplots and scheming. It covers have the story with very similar scenarios as in Yanxi Palace.

Competent FL who embroiders
Fl favoured by empress/royal consort
FL liked by the king, though she likes his trusted aide( the outcome is different in both though)

If you liked the Peking Opera in Farewell My Concubine, there is a minor story arch in Story of Yanxi Palace that covers it. They mention a few of the opera pieces by name (including Farewell My Concubine), play out some of the scenes, and even explain a few of the stories briefly. Peking Opera is later banned from the palace though, so it only shows up in the first 1/3 of the show.

Both feature opera and homoerotic relationships. However, that is just my personal reading of Yanxi Palace. I would say there are homoerotic subtexts in the drama but it does depend on your own reading.

They both are a palace drama with a very interesting storyline. The female lead is pretty and clever.
Produced by the same companny

- smart FL who can outwit everybody else (in the beginning of LOA),
- FL enters palace / court to get revenge for her family / sister

If you like the female lead in Yanxi you will surely love Weiyoung
Both of them are strong, righteous,smart,loyal and with a strong sense of justice.
Every action they take serves a purpose.

Both are palace fight. Concubine, ugly politics, Eunice's, power fight. Suppression, Beautiful costume accessary,

I'm a history buff, and although Dreaming Back is a fictional time travelling romance drama, the history of the Kangxi era is seemingly accurate. If you like to watch more about the Qing Dynasty, The Story of Yanxi Palace is a must-see drama about the Palace politics and the strive for power.

Both feature strong female leads that are intelligent and cunning. The storyline is really different and Young Blood is (in my opinion) a smarter drama, but the female leads are somewhat similar.

The story of LuZhen closely resembles that of Yanxi Palace because both FLs started as a palace servants and climbed their way to the top using their skills. Both FLs are smart and able to stand up for themselves.

This is similar to Story of Yanxi Palace only more youthful and low budget. FL enters palace to find who killed her family. FL involved with Emperor's guard and possible link to the Emperor himself.

The story is in certain parts quite similar. Plus there are a lot of plot schemes moved by the main lead, that starts as a servant exactly like Wei Yingluo.