The leaked descriptions of the side characters: https://www.douban.com/group/topic/327486003/?_spm_id=MTcwNDUwNTMz&_i=8948080sJ3CO8Z,8950391sJ3CO8ZSeems…
Character A (Female) – Around 20 years old Strikingly beautiful, quick-witted, obviously intelligent. She worships money and power above all else. She is jealous of her cousin and often compares herself to her. After Ma marries into the Han Prince’s residence, she willingly acts as her cousin’s stand-in, deluding herself into believing she is superior to the Prince’s consort. Her ambition inflates to the point that she openly competes for the Prince’s favor. When she tries to secure her position through a child, the threat of death quietly looms over her.
Character B (Female) – Around 20 years old Knows some martial arts. Although born of a concubine, she is deeply loved. On her wedding night, she does not bleed, which causes her mother-in-law and husband’s physician to look down on her with disdain. This sparks her rebellious mindset and she begins to create enemies everywhere within the household. During a difficult childbirth, those closest to her completely disregard her and the child—only the household’s senior doctor comes at her insistence, and at a crucial moment, she chooses to prioritize her own life. She is someone who repays kindness with loyalty. Among the many cousins, she undergoes the biggest transformation: initially appearing as a villain, she later takes after her sister-in-law and becomes a protector of the family she loves.
Character C (Female) – Around 20 years old Grew up in a healthy, loving household. She enjoys Suhua poetry and has a heroic aura. Skilled in some martial arts. Straightforward and open-hearted, she falls in love at first sight with the melancholic Chi Hanyu due to a misunderstanding. She becomes the emotional cure that redeems Hanyu. At the plea of Chi Hanzhen, she boldly breaks conventions and brings Hanyu into the Fei family estate. Her decision ultimately preserves the Chi family’s only remaining bloodline.
Character D (Female) – Around 20 years old A soft and gentle girl, constantly manipulated by her mother and disturbed by her older brother, nearly turned into a pawn for political marriage. Raised in a suffocating home environment, she was forced by her mother to distance herself from her charismatic eldest brother and get close to the shallow and flashy second brother. Later, due to her father’s fall from grace, she had to rely on support from the second branch of the family. Unfortunately, her mother and aunt-in-law were on bad terms, so she suffered many slights in front of her cousins. Even at a young age, she dreamed of escaping her family through a good marriage.
Confidential Project Character A (Male) – Around 20–25 years old Second son of the Han Prince, and the one who most resembles his father among ten brothers. Talented in martial arts, handsome, flamboyant, and unpredictable. During the palace infighting, his mother is schemed against by the Prince's main consort and beaten to death by the Han Prince himself. Seizing an opportunity when the heir (his elder brother) makes a mistake, he forces the main consort Wei to her death, drives away his brother, and takes the title of Crown Prince. In the end, during the struggle for power, he, his father, and all his brothers are killed by another grandson of the family patriarch...
Character B (Male) – Around 20–25 years old A loyal bodyguard to the eldest son. Born a family servant, known for both brains and brawn. When the eldest son turned sixteen and wanted to pick a bodyguard, two to three dozen clever attendants were lined up. The eldest son said whoever could bring him down in ten moves would be selected. While others hesitated, he charged forward and took him down in front of everyone. The eldest son kept him close ever since. Later, they went to serve at Juyong Pass together. The son freed him from servitude, and they rose through the ranks together. He eventually became a Baihu (company commander) in the Shenji Battalion.
Character C (Male) – Around 20–25 years old Originally from a scholarly family that got caught in political strife. His father was convicted and the whole family exiled. On the way, they were attacked by bandits and dozens of relatives were killed—only he and his sister survived. His sister focused solely on revenge and used a treasure ship expedition to send him overseas. Unexpectedly, he was poisoned through a scheme but was fortunately rescued by Jin and their growing bond became a deep, hidden relationship.
Yay on the date! 🎊 Liu Duan Duan and Liu Yu were also rumored. Hopefully we get some more confirmations.
FYL's part is most likely true as well, since he had hinted on his douyin about joining a drama crew soon. As for spotting the antis - if someone is jumping around with the takes like "Hahahaha, Liu Duan Duan and Liu Yu will be Luo Yunxi's co-leads - not a single real man in this drama!" they are surely not LYX fans 😅
Yay on the date! 🎊 Liu Duan Duan and Liu Yu were also rumored. Hopefully we get some more confirmations.
Not so sure about those support role rumors, since they are spread around solely by the LYX antis. Today they are jumping around the douban with the new casting rumors, naming another batch of "non-manly" support actors.
Will this have any romance in it? Are there any novel readers who know if this will have a HE? This drama already…
There are romantic subplots for some characters, but overall it’s not a love story. As for the ending - we don’t know yet, since the drama’s plot is significantly different from the novel anyway.
High ponytail confirmed: https://weibo.com/1239076225/Psqguxy3HTranslation below, under the spoler tag.
Fans of Luo Yunxi, thank you for sending me so many suggestions for Xi-ge’s look — I’ve received them all 🙏
For his main look, he’ll be wearing a high ponytail. In other scenes, there will be a few different hairstyles. The makeup will be elegant and light, and his eyebrows will be styled neatly to better highlight the character’s overall image 😊
I’ve already designed the hairstyle and makeup sketches, so please be patient, LuoShiFens! And we hope for everyone’s continued support~
Yes, it should be somewhere in the first episodes. And there will be a certain plot twist about Tang Lici there…
Guest appearances in variety shows are rarely listed in advance, since it’s never clear when a specific episode will air- if it airs at all.
But Luo Yunxi, Fang Yilun, Xiao Shunyao, and Yang Shize did take part in a special episode of Who’s the Murderer, there were plenty of photos of them going to and from the set.
Mango has been shopping this drama around since 2024, and yesterday LYX’s agency was added to the list of producers.…
Ah, you probably mean this one? https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5099856513466974 There hasn't been a peep about it since last november. It doesn't look like a project they intend for LYX, that's for sure.
They tried for quite some time to launch it with Chen Yao, but nothing came of it. Now it’s rumored to start filming in June with Song Zuer as the FL, and a revolving door of ML rumors (iirc, Wang Hongyi was the last name thrown around).
Honestly, the ML in Biao Mei is quite a good fit for LYX, and they most likely bought the IP rights with him in mind. But novels with soft, passive heroines who just dream about the ML taking care of them have fallen out of favor—and now it’s basically impossible to leave that kind of plot “as is” without getting major backlash from the audience for being outdated or regressive.
Mango has been shopping this drama around since 2024, and yesterday LYX’s agency was added to the list of producers. Seems like they finalized some kind of deal during the Mango Conference. Whether it involves LYX himself - we’ll see. After all, his agency has launched dramas without him before. In any case, it’ll likely start filming in the latter part of 2025, since the drama’s filming permit expires in early 2026. The rumored director is Wen Ruohan, who was the second (i.e., assistant) director on Joy of Life.
The crew seems solid—nothing super prestigious, but definitely in the "decent and above" category. Great to…
Yes, he was an action director on several Huanrui dramas, and they were all a mess safety-wise. Hopefully, that was just because of Huanrui’s (in)famous tendency to cut corners and save costs and not the action director’s attitude itself. At least it seems like they aren't going for a rushed schedule - 110 days is a decent amount of time for a 30-episode drama.
Translated info from the drama's poster material. Includes info on crew and synopsis. 🎭 https://x.com/Xixiko0728/status/1922132947181986157
The crew seems solid—nothing super prestigious, but definitely in the "decent and above" category. Great to see Li Bingnan as the action director (he worked on Mysterious Lotus Casebook).
Here are some highlights from the crew list, with representative works noted:
Chief Director & Executive Producer: Steve Cheng (Burning Flames, The Untamed)
Assistant Director: Liu Chongchong (Burning Flames)
Action Director: Li Bingnan (Mysterious Lotus Casebook)
Cinematographer: Zhang Linke (The Wandering Earth)
Costume Designer: Huang Wei (Till the End of the Moon)
Makeup: Lin Anqi (The Double, Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty)
Hair Styling: Zeng Minghui (Love of the Divine Tree, TTEOTM)
Yesterday, LYX attended Jason Zhang’s concert: https://x.com/LuoYunxiFanClub/status/1921692244936995013 Besides LYX, there were several other celebrities invited, mostly singers. Made me wonder if it has anything to do with Stage Boom Season 2, the variety show Jason Zhang is rumored to be participating in (it’s supposed to air this autumn on iQIYI). Well, that - or possibly an OST for one of the dramas.
🍉 New cast member He Hong Shan?https://x.com/TawArtsSU35/status/1919765399706759421Hope the story and plot…
Eh, fandoms are always yelling about "bad cake", unless it's a super prestigious production. It was the same with "The Truth Within", but that team turned out perfectly fine. Let's wait for the official announcement for this one.
1
Strikingly beautiful, quick-witted, obviously intelligent. She worships money and power above all else. She is jealous of her cousin and often compares herself to her. After Ma marries into the Han Prince’s residence, she willingly acts as her cousin’s stand-in, deluding herself into believing she is superior to the Prince’s consort. Her ambition inflates to the point that she openly competes for the Prince’s favor. When she tries to secure her position through a child, the threat of death quietly looms over her.
Character B (Female) – Around 20 years old
Knows some martial arts. Although born of a concubine, she is deeply loved. On her wedding night, she does not bleed, which causes her mother-in-law and husband’s physician to look down on her with disdain. This sparks her rebellious mindset and she begins to create enemies everywhere within the household. During a difficult childbirth, those closest to her completely disregard her and the child—only the household’s senior doctor comes at her insistence, and at a crucial moment, she chooses to prioritize her own life.
She is someone who repays kindness with loyalty. Among the many cousins, she undergoes the biggest transformation: initially appearing as a villain, she later takes after her sister-in-law and becomes a protector of the family she loves.
Character C (Female) – Around 20 years old
Grew up in a healthy, loving household. She enjoys Suhua poetry and has a heroic aura. Skilled in some martial arts. Straightforward and open-hearted, she falls in love at first sight with the melancholic Chi Hanyu due to a misunderstanding. She becomes the emotional cure that redeems Hanyu. At the plea of Chi Hanzhen, she boldly breaks conventions and brings Hanyu into the Fei family estate. Her decision ultimately preserves the Chi family’s only remaining bloodline.
Character D (Female) – Around 20 years old
A soft and gentle girl, constantly manipulated by her mother and disturbed by her older brother, nearly turned into a pawn for political marriage. Raised in a suffocating home environment, she was forced by her mother to distance herself from her charismatic eldest brother and get close to the shallow and flashy second brother. Later, due to her father’s fall from grace, she had to rely on support from the second branch of the family. Unfortunately, her mother and aunt-in-law were on bad terms, so she suffered many slights in front of her cousins. Even at a young age, she dreamed of escaping her family through a good marriage.
Confidential Project
Character A (Male) – Around 20–25 years old
Second son of the Han Prince, and the one who most resembles his father among ten brothers. Talented in martial arts, handsome, flamboyant, and unpredictable. During the palace infighting, his mother is schemed against by the Prince's main consort and beaten to death by the Han Prince himself. Seizing an opportunity when the heir (his elder brother) makes a mistake, he forces the main consort Wei to her death, drives away his brother, and takes the title of Crown Prince. In the end, during the struggle for power, he, his father, and all his brothers are killed by another grandson of the family patriarch...
Character B (Male) – Around 20–25 years old
A loyal bodyguard to the eldest son. Born a family servant, known for both brains and brawn. When the eldest son turned sixteen and wanted to pick a bodyguard, two to three dozen clever attendants were lined up. The eldest son said whoever could bring him down in ten moves would be selected. While others hesitated, he charged forward and took him down in front of everyone. The eldest son kept him close ever since. Later, they went to serve at Juyong Pass together. The son freed him from servitude, and they rose through the ranks together. He eventually became a Baihu (company commander) in the Shenji Battalion.
Character C (Male) – Around 20–25 years old
Originally from a scholarly family that got caught in political strife. His father was convicted and the whole family exiled. On the way, they were attacked by bandits and dozens of relatives were killed—only he and his sister survived. His sister focused solely on revenge and used a treasure ship expedition to send him overseas. Unexpectedly, he was poisoned through a scheme but was fortunately rescued by Jin and their growing bond became a deep, hidden relationship.
Seems like the novel had been changed into a female ensemble drama.
MTL below, under the spoiler tag.
As for spotting the antis - if someone is jumping around with the takes like "Hahahaha, Liu Duan Duan and Liu Yu will be Luo Yunxi's co-leads - not a single real man in this drama!" they are surely not LYX fans 😅
As for the ending - we don’t know yet, since the drama’s plot is significantly different from the novel anyway.
For his main look, he’ll be wearing a high ponytail. In other scenes, there will be a few different hairstyles. The makeup will be elegant and light, and his eyebrows will be styled neatly to better highlight the character’s overall image 😊
I’ve already designed the hairstyle and makeup sketches, so please be patient, LuoShiFens! And we hope for everyone’s continued support~
Translation below, under the spoler tag.
"Smoke Phoenix" with Naran, starts filming in June.
But Luo Yunxi, Fang Yilun, Xiao Shunyao, and Yang Shize did take part in a special episode of Who’s the Murderer, there were plenty of photos of them going to and from the set.
There hasn't been a peep about it since last november. It doesn't look like a project they intend for LYX, that's for sure.
They tried for quite some time to launch it with Chen Yao, but nothing came of it. Now it’s rumored to start filming in June with Song Zuer as the FL, and a revolving door of ML rumors (iirc, Wang Hongyi was the last name thrown around).
Honestly, the ML in Biao Mei is quite a good fit for LYX, and they most likely bought the IP rights with him in mind. But novels with soft, passive heroines who just dream about the ML taking care of them have fallen out of favor—and now it’s basically impossible to leave that kind of plot “as is” without getting major backlash from the audience for being outdated or regressive.
In any case, it’ll likely start filming in the latter part of 2025, since the drama’s filming permit expires in early 2026.
The rumored director is Wen Ruohan, who was the second (i.e., assistant) director on Joy of Life.
At least it seems like they aren't going for a rushed schedule - 110 days is a decent amount of time for a 30-episode drama.
Here are some highlights from the crew list, with representative works noted:
Chief Director & Executive Producer: Steve Cheng (Burning Flames, The Untamed)
Assistant Director: Liu Chongchong (Burning Flames)
Action Director: Li Bingnan (Mysterious Lotus Casebook)
Cinematographer: Zhang Linke (The Wandering Earth)
Costume Designer: Huang Wei (Till the End of the Moon)
Makeup: Lin Anqi (The Double, Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty)
Hair Styling: Zeng Minghui (Love of the Divine Tree, TTEOTM)
Besides LYX, there were several other celebrities invited, mostly singers. Made me wonder if it has anything to do with Stage Boom Season 2, the variety show Jason Zhang is rumored to be participating in (it’s supposed to air this autumn on iQIYI).
Well, that - or possibly an OST for one of the dramas.
It was the same with "The Truth Within", but that team turned out perfectly fine. Let's wait for the official announcement for this one.