Arranged marriage – historical c-dramas
Historical Chinese dramas with an arranged/forced/contract/convenience marriage.
Dramas with transmigration and time-travel are included, but not Xianxia.
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1. The Prisoner of Beauty
Chinese Drama - 2025, 36 episodes
Marriage alliance
Xiao Qiao, a clever girl from the Qiao family, marries Wei Shao, the sharp and kind master of the Wei family, as part of a family alliance.
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2. The Glory
Chinese Drama - 2025, 30 episodes
Marriage of convenience
Abandoned as a child, Zhuang Han Yan grows up in the southern countryside before returning to her family in the capital. She catches the eye of Fu Yun Xi, a deputy minister with a mysterious illness, who sees her as an ideal wife.
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3. The Sword and the Brocade
Chinese Drama - 2021, 45 episodes
Arranged marriage
Set during the Ming Dynasty, the story follows the romance between General Xu Ling Yi and Shi Yi Niang, the concubine's daughter, who is chosen to marry him to save her declining family.
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4. One and Only
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Arranged marriage
Zhou Sheng Chen, raised by his brother the Emperor, becomes a loyal and skilled general. Cui Shi Yi, betrothed to the Crown Prince since birth, loses her voice and sees her former fiancé become a child Emperor. Returning to the capital amidst political unrest, Zhou Sheng Chen finds himself entangled with the Cui family when the Empress Dowager Regent changes Cui Shi Yi's betrothal to a sickly young companion of the Emperor.
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5. Destined
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Arranged marriage
Liu Yu Ru is the only legitimate daughter of a former cloth merchant living a stoic life with her mother in a household where they're mistreated despite their status. Due to a misunderstanding, she is married off to Gu Jiu Si, the notorious son of Yangzhou's wealthiest family, infamous for his idle lifestyle and indolent ways.
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6. The Romance of Hua Rong
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
Forced marriage
Hua Rong is about to set sail on a heroic adventure she’s often dreamt about, only to be kidnapped by the notorious pirate, Qin Shang Cheng, who is set on making her his bride, willing or not.
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7. In the Name of Blossom
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
Marriage of convenience (season 2 of Flourished Peony)
The story continues in the bustling city of Chang’an, where Fang Garden thrives as a hub of commerce and beauty. The narration follows the tale of He Wei Fang and Jiang Chang Yang as they navigate through personal challenges and societal pressures while slowly building a mutual bond.
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8. The Song of Glory
Chinese Drama - 2020, 53 episodes
Marriage alliance
Desperate to bring peace to his crumbling nation, the young emperor, Liu Yi Kang, son of Emperor Wu of Liu Song, the founder of the Liu Song Dynasty, agrees to an alliance through marriage with the powerful Shen family.
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9. Legend of Yun Xi
Chinese Drama - 2018, 48 episodes
Arranged marriage
Han Yun Xi, a skilled doctor and poison expert, is forced to marry into the royal family during a time of political turmoil among three kingdoms: Tian Ning, Western Zhou, and Northern Li.
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10. General's Lady
Chinese Drama - 2020, 30 episodes
Arranged marriage
Shen Jin grew up as the unfavored daughter of a royal family concubine. The emperor decrees an arranged marriage for her, choosing General Chu Xiu Ming, who defends the borders. Although she falls in love with her chosen spouse, she finds it difficult to find her place in her new home.
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11. The Sleepless Princess
Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes
Arranged marriage
Ninth Princess Chu Yue has experienced long-term insomnia stemming from a childhood accident. Under the wrong circumstance, Yue weds the famous general Xue Yao.
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12. Good Bye, My Princess
Chinese Drama - 2019, 52 episodes
Marriage alliance
A love story unfolds as the 9th Princess of Western Liang, Xiao Feng, is sent to the Central Plains to fulfill a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince.
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13. The Eternal Love
Chinese Drama - 2017, 24 episodes
Arranged marriage
Mo Lian Cheng, the 8th prince of Dongyue, is forced to marry Qu Tan Er, who loves his elder brother, Mo Yi Huai. Before the wedding, Qu Tan Er attempts suicide but wakes up with the soul of modern-day real estate agent Xiao Tan in her body.
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14. Oh My General
Chinese Drama - 2017, 60 episodes
Arranged marriage
During the Song Dynasty, Ye Zhao dressed to become a general of outstanding ability, receiving the top rank of general. The Empress Dowager constantly worries about Ye Zhao holding too much power and takes the opportunity to betroth Ye Zhao to one of the Emperor's nephews, the no-good Prince of Nanping, Zhao Yujin, who possesses remarkable beauty but is pampered, lazy and spends his time on "useless" artistic pursuits.
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15. New Life Begins
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Arranged marriage
Because of a marriage selection, girls from all over the world gather in Xin Chuan. Yin Zheng, one of the six young masters of Xin Chuan, who keeps a low profile, and Li Wei, who just wants to work hard and not get selected, live comfortably in this hometown.
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16. Truth or Dare
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
Arranged marriage
The story follows two couples who unexpectedly end up in marriages they never anticipated, gradually growing in love and trust.
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17. Fake Princess
Chinese Drama - 2020, 27 episodes
Contract marriage
Don’t all mountain bandits love money? For a chest full of gold, Chang Le agrees to marry a duplicitous prince, marking the start of a beautiful romance. Chang Le is no longer free and untamable, having become the fake bride of Crown Prince Li Che.
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18. Serenade of Peaceful Joy
Chinese Drama - 2020, 69 episodes
Arranged marriage
When Zhao Zhen discovers his biological mother is not the Empress Dowager Liu E, but her maid Li Lanhui, he arranges a marriage between his beloved daughter Princess Fukang and the Li family’s son Li Wei as compensation for his lack of filial piety.
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19. The Chang'an Youth
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Arranged marriage
Shen Yi Yi lives in the city and has excellent cooking skills. When she was young, she was friends with Shen Die Yi. Die Yi abruptly dies of a cough and her life remains a mystery. In order to repay her friendship with Die Yi, Yi Yi poses as Die Yi and heads to Chang’an Lu Xing to fulfill the marriage contract.
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20. The Love by Hypnotic
Chinese Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
Marriage alliance
Princess Li Ming Yue of Xiyue is sent to marry Prince Li Qian of Beixuan in a diplomatic arrangement.
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21. Princess Silver
Chinese Drama - 2019, 58 episodes
Marriage alliance
Crown Princess Rong Le of Western Qi awakens with amnesia and doubts about her identity. To secure a political alliance, she is ordered to marry Prince Wu You, but he rejects her. Disguising herself as the tea house owner, Man Yao, she secretly searches for priceless books that could change the fate of a nation. Her journey leads her back to Wu You, who falls for her, unaware she is the princess he turned away. But with new marriage orders from General Fu Chou of Northern Lin, it might be too late for him to realize the truth.
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22. Time Flies and You Are Here
Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes
Arranged marriage
Xie Xiao Man unintentionally offended Zhao Xiao Qian, the famous Julu Prince of the Wu Jiang manor. Because of a set-up, the two enter into a contract marriage, leaving Xiao Man no choice but to marry into the royal family.
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23. Hold On, My Lady
Chinese Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Forced marriage
The domineering female bandit Bai Yun Feng led Chen Da Wan and her brothers in a vain attempt to hijack the birthday gift given by General Hu Shou to Shang Shu Hu Bu. However, they fumbled and were caught by General Huang Fu who gave her two options. Be executed or get married to his second son, Huang Fu Yao, under the pseudonym Lu Wan'er.
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24. My Heroic Husband
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
Arranged marriage
A modern businessman travels back to ancient times; he lands in the body of a man about to be married as a matrilocal husband into a family of cloth merchants
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25. Marry Me
Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes
Contract marriage
Meanwhile, a married man is pressuring Ju Mu Er into a marriage she clearly rejects. In order to keep her unwanted suitor at bay, she proposes a contract marriage to Long Yue, to which he surprisingly agrees!
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26. The Rebel Princess
Chinese Drama - 2021, 68 episodes
Arranged marriage
Wang Xuan and Xiao Qi marry for power but soon fall in love as they fight to protect their homeland.