Soju's Exciting Lakorn Line-ups!
Jointly produced by iQiyi, Tencent Pictures, and Stellar Media, Love In Pavilion, airing during April and May of 2025, saw Zhang Yun Long devoting himself to Liu Shi Shi within a star-studded cast that includes Ding Yu Xi, Meng Zi Yi, Zhai Xiao Wen, and Zhang Ruo Nan. The likes of Peng Xiao Ran, Neo Hou Ming Hao, and Yukee Chen Yu Qi portrayed memorable guest roles as unique demons.
Love in Pavilion is a loose adaptation of the "Fox Spirit Matchmaker" IP. As Wangquan Hong Ye, Zhang Yun Long is tasked with delivering a compelling layered performance of a young leader as a powerful Daoist who cherishes and experiences love, loss, friendships, and adventures while having to deal with numerous challenges. Consequences influence his future decisions, making an unavoidable impact on the different races of demons and humans via his son, Wangquan Fu Gui.
Before joining forces with Liu Shi Shi as Dongfang Huai Zhu to cherish love and counter evil, Zhang Yun Long had acted in more than 30 dramas. Recognised for grounded, polished performances able to combine raw emotions with restrained nuancing regardless of drama genre, Zhang Yun Long has showcased his ability to complement his female co-stars in modern and historical costume dramas. Previous projects include starring alongside Eleanor Lee in the 2019 ocean conservation-focused drama My Poseidon, and courting Dilraba Dilmurat as minor deity Lord Cang Yi of Mount Zhiyue during the 2020 release Eternal Love of Dream, adapted from "Three Lives, Three Loves: The Pillow Book" by novelist Tang Qi Gong Zi.
《来战》ie "Lai Zhan" (tentatively titled as Let's Fight on MDL) is co-produced by IQiyi, Tencent, and Stellar Media, starring Ju Jing Yi and Zhang Yun Long as primary leads A'Dai and Xiao Yi Han, respectively. Filming commenced at Hengdian Studios on 29 June 2025, and contents of the wrap-up special were released on 10 December. On 21 December 2025, both leads attended the Tencent Video All Star Night. Ju Jing Yi and Zhang Yun Long were honoured with "Outstanding Artists of the Year" as recognition for their contributions.
Let's Fight is directed by Zhao Yi Long, who has helmed dramas such as Rising With The Wind, starring the likes of Gao Zhi Ting, Zhong Chu Xi, and Gong Jun in 2023, as well as Love Game In Eastern Fantasy starring Ding Yu Xi and Esther Yu Shu Xin in 2024. The main screenwriter is the author of the original novel Jiu Lu Feixiang, i.e., Hong Wan Ling.
Ju Jing Yi also stars in the currently-airing Veil of Shadows alongside Joseph Zeng, Tian Jia Rui, and Chen Duling
Let's Fight is an adaptation of a short story from the novel "The Masters: Feeling Distressed". This xianxia novel tells six short stories of masters guiding and teaching disciples to escape dangers and circumvent difficulties. Six pairings, six romantic stories, six different outcomes. In the relevant short story, innocent, naïve A'Dai feels betrayed by her master Xiao Yi Han, who took her in and taught her cultivation. She seeks answers, but Xiao Yi Han refuses to explain his motivations and beliefs, primarily centred around his older brother. Not understanding how Xiao Yi Han truly perceives her when he finally makes a decision, which comes across as betrayal and abandonment, clarity only begins to occur when a certain sacrifice is completed.
For the drama adaptation, the ending is different from the novel, alongside other significant changes. The drama synopsis, combining various sources, is as follows:
When Heaven and Earth were separated by Pan Gu, yang became the sky, and yin became the earth. Spiritual energy could nourish everything. Humans could cultivate immortality, and demons could transform themselves into human form. Only the tribe of Penglai could steal the cultivation abilities of all races to enhance and nourish themselves at the expense of other beings; they were sealed away by an Immortal Sect.
In the chaos of the Penglai Rebellion, beggar A'Dai was taken in and became the apprentice of the unruly and idle Immortal Xiao Yi Han. While Xiao Yi Han displayed improper traits as a cultivator, A’Dai exercised diligence to overcome obstacles and rack up achievements. Training in the mountains to triumph in tests, the feat of taming a unique divine hammer instantly granted her widespread fame.
During this time, master and apprentice
A'Dai deeply hates the tribe of Penglai. She decides to hunt down Xiao Yi Han. Their relationship as master and apprentice is fractured. Upon entering Penglai, while being helped by the tribe of Penglai in their journey of enduring countless hardships, the master and apprentice put aside their prejudices. Because of these two cultivators, the races of humans and demons join forces to form a unique array, thereby cleansing and transforming the fundamental source, creating the woes of the tribe of Penglai. Hatred and chaos of a thousand years between two worlds and three tribes is thus resolved.
BTS of the leads reveals many moments of camaraderie, laughter, and goofing around. It is impossible to avoid the chemistry between Zhang Yun Long and Ju Jing Yi before and during scenes such as imparting cultivation techniques, duelling, and tea shenanigans. The couple has been dubbed the "Wolf Rabbit CP" because Zhang Yun Long stands at 185 centimetres, and when positioned beside Ju Jing Yi’s petite frame of 159 centimetres, this perceived combination of protective firmness and persistent sweetness makes many fans happy.
On 27 March, Let's Fight won the award for "Most Anticipated Drama" at Emeihan Mountain Red Gala Night 2026. Producer Wang Yixu has confirmed Let's Fight will be airing in the second half of 2026. Reservations for this drama have reached 5 million.
Less than three weeks after Tencent Video All Star Night in December 2025, Zhang Yun Long returned to Hengdian Studios for a third historical costume drama. Originally slated at one point to co-star with Li Yitong in "The Noble", Zhang Yun Long commenced filming S+ drama《云初令 Yun Chu Ling (also known as "Cloud's First Command" or "Yun Chu's Vengeance" on MDL) with Esther Yu Shu Xin on 12 January this year, which only recently wrapped up filming. Reservations have opened on IQiyi and Tencent, quickly exceeding 1.4 million. On 3 April this month, unique posters and primary cast details were released.
In a unique novel of revenge and rebirth by Zhao Yunzi, Yun Chu humbled herself to marry into the Xie family and do her best to glorify them into attaining great achievements, only to suffer the ultimate betrayal from her husband and stepchildren. Her prestigious, loyal, long-standing clan of Yun was destroyed, her family brutally exterminated, and she was forced to drink poisoned wine.
When a second chance unexpectedly gave her the opportunity to be reborn in an earlier timeline with this husband and stepchildren, she decides to take charge of destiny. Reclaiming her financial independence by retrieving her dowry and properties and ensuring burgeoning income through various ventures for her future goals, Yun Chu also embarks on a strategy of social sabotage.
To ensure that a nest of poisonous vipers will reap the consequences of retribution, she orchestrates events and circumstances to expose her husband’s lechery and hypocrisy to irreversible public contempt. Sweetly guiding her stepchildren through decisions and ideas while making them believe she wants the best for them, Yun Chu is determined to ensure permanent destruction of reputations and nullify any possible official advancements, to make them pay for their previous treachery, maximising her personal suffering and death.
In the process, she becomes entangled with the problems of the Imperial Family and the future of the country. Finally solving a personal mystery that has haunted her after marrying into the Xie family, Yun Chu finds happiness with her true equal as a life partner. 
The drama adaptation of the novel has several changes not disturbing the main themes of revenge and retribution. Fans are guessing as to the extent and details of all changes, including the novel concept of rebirth.
Esther Yu has taken on a role unlike her previous dramas, as the daughter of a much-revered, capable general. She is no longer naïvely benevolent nor easily manipulated. Hiding a principled, passionate heart and a scheming mind beneath her composed, demure veneer, Yun Chu intends to avenge this blood feud, prevent the destruction of the Yun clan, and transform herself into a protector.
To convincingly adopt the mannerisms and mindset of a complex, vengeful stepmother, Esther Yu joined the team two months in advance to read the script, lost at least 5 kilograms, and honed her equestrian skills plus swordplay prior to filming. In the officially released special episode, a shot of her coldly raising her eyes can be described as “the gaze is a blade, and the tip of the blade is coated in frost”.
Zhang Yun Long is Chu Yi, one of the sons of the Emperor. An astute military leader, he conceals secrets and plans beneath the façade of an aloof, idle prince with no interest in worldly affairs. Raising a pair of frail twins, he crosses paths with Yun Chu. Their negotiated collaboration results in realising mutual vulnerabilities, even as they tackle court politics and neutralise conspiracies. In the process of probing and understanding the truths of a woman he had not anticipated entering his life, they support each other as partners in different ways, including innovative "baby-raising" on her path of revenge. Chu Yi is a strategist in court, a gentle, principled guardian comfortable ruling his home, and sincere, mixed with clumsiness when handling two young children. He will not allow Yun Chu to escape him.
Parenting. Personality. Power. Calibrated decisions become a relationship of trust and respect in an unshakeable emotional bond; the political realities and enemies they must each face transform their personal lives into unavoidable, crucial components determining the stability and future of their country. Can Yun Chu and Chu Yi preserve their individuality and partnership, protect their families, and achieve their dreams, while handling responsibilities and problems created by factional politics and unresolved grievances within the Imperial Family?
Zhang Tian Yang has starred in domestic megahits such as the rural-realist This Thriving Land and commands the role of Xie Jing Yu, Yun Chu’s cruel, power-hungry, prestige-seeking husband.
Having helmed dramas such as Moonlight Mystique, Fated Hearts, Story of Kunning Palace and Ashes of Love, Chu Yui Bin directs this intricately-layered story promising grand historical narratives intertwined with character-driven developments and personal fulfilment, for an audience seeking emotional connectivity and answers of justice. Cultural heritage elements evident in sets and costumes include Dunhuang murals and Suzhou embroidery. Zhang Yun Long is reunited in this drama with the main screenwriter Xu Ting, who was also a screenwriter in his 2019 drama My Poseidon.
The texture and depth of this drama's demands can be seen with cast members divided into three camps. Cheng Hong Xin is devious, talented Xie Shi'an, Liu Jia Yi is his brother Xie Shi Wei, and Yan Bi Guo is their sister Xie Ping. Zeng You Zhen is Yun Chu's personal attendant Ting Shuang. Lin Xiao Zhai is Ting Yu, also known as Concubine Yu. Veteran actress Yang Kun assumes the status of matriarch of the Xie Mansion, who can tell a story with one look.
Powerful actors Han Dong and Qin Tian Yu greatly enliven and raise the stakes within the Imperial Family. Han Dong leads as the unfathomable Emperor. Qin Tian Yu rose to prominence with his outstanding performance as the temperamental, sadistic emperor in Fated Hearts. In the enigma of Prince Chu Rui, he composes himself as a gentle man whose waters run deeper than anyone suspects. Mi Re, i.e., Merxat Yalkun, is Chu Mo, and the rest of the Imperial Family will unfold with the episodes. 
Friends and family of the Yun clan include Huang Hai Bing as Yun Chu’s father. Xu Bai Hui also assumes an important role in aiding and protecting Yun Chu. Court intrigues and family feuds are much anticipated.
Announcement of the cast as three camps alongside the release of "Feihua Ling"-styled character posters on 3 April for “Yun Chu’s Vengeance” have been praised for their originality and traditional references. "Feihua Ling" is named after a famous line in the poem “Cold Food” by the poet Han Hong of the Tang Dynasty. "Feihua Ling" alludes to a drinking game played by the literati in spring or autumn, during the period of the Warring States. Players recite poetry according to a given theme, which tests every individual’s poetry knowledge and reaction speed.
The poster of each actor and actress features a specifically tailored poem of two lines based on the character’s name and keywords to describe their personality and hint at their fate, where each line must not exceed seven words as per the rules of “Feihua Ling” poetry.
Poetical interpretation of Esther Yu's character Yun Chu (as per the official Weibo account for the drama) can be understood as "Clouds break through flowers and create shadows, the first time I learn the secrets of life and death as a lesson", usage of each word in her character's name being used to initiate each line respectively. Zhang Yun Long's poem of Chu Yi is an answer to Yun Chu, a metaphor alluding to his ruthless protective methods and deep feelings akin to a god of war. This ingenious combination of beautiful classical poetry aesthetics and characterisation has been praised by netizens.
Premiere dates have not yet been announced.
Are you looking forward to any of these dramas?
Source: Baike Baidu, yule360.com, Sohu.com, yule360.com, Sohu.com
