Monday, 7 May 2018

Story of Yanxi Palace

Drama: Story of Yanxi Palace / Yanxi Strategy
Chinese Title: 延禧攻略 / Yan Xi Gong Lue
Broadcast Network: Zhejiang TV
Broadcast Website: iQIYI

Broadcast Period: September 25, 2018 - November 21, 2018

Air Time: Monday - Thursday 22:00 (two episodes)
Initial Release Date: July 19, 2018
Genre: Historical, Palace, Romance
Language: Mandarin
Episodes: 70
Director: Hui Kaidong, Wen Deguang
Screenwriter: Zhou Mo
Production Company: Huanyu Film
Producer: Yu Zheng
Origin: China
Watch Episodes On: Viki (eng subs), Youtube

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Synopsis and Plot Summary

A story revolving around a palace maid with a plucky attitude, street smarts and a good heart as she maneuvers the dangers in the palace to become a concubine of Emperor Qianlong.

During the 6th year of the Qianlong's reign, Wei Yingluo (Wu Jin Yan) finds her way to the Forbidden City as a palace maid to investigate the truth behind her older sister's death. She vows to exact justice after learning that Hong Zhou (Hong Yao) is connected to the case. The kind and gentle Empress Xiaoxianchun (Qin Lan) worries that Wei Yingluo would tread on a path of no return, so she does everything in her power to help Yingluo and to be her pillar of support. Under the Empress' guidance, Yingluo becomes a female official and starts to let go of her hatred. However, the Empress dies an untimely death. Misunderstandings arise between Yingluo and Emperor Qianlong yet they eventually learn to see eye to eye and to find comfort in each other inside the palace that is full of intrigue and conspiracy.

Ending Spoilers

Show

Fun Facts

It is produced by Yu Zheng.
Filming took place in Hengdian World Studios and Shanghai.
It is Wu Jin Yan's second time playing the female lead.
It is Xu Kai's first time in a Qing Dynasty drama and his first time playing a role that undergoes huge changes since it follows his character from a young age until he becomes a middle-aged man. Aside from shaving his head for the role, Xu Kai also came to set early to discuss the script with the production team.
It is Tan Zhuo's drama debut.
Jiang Zi Xin also did her homework for the role to study proper decorum and history before entering the set.
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
Although many of the cast members were fresh faces in the industry, the drama garnered interest for bringing together seasoned actors like Charmaine Sheh, Qin Lan and Nie Yuan.
Charmaine Sheh who made a name for herself in TVB dramas returns to costume dramas after five years though she joins the cast in a supporting role.
After the success of the hit drama online, Story of Yanxi Palace was broadcasted on Chinese television via Zhejiang TV. It premiered as a daily drama on September 24 and an evening drama on September 25. The show initially aired Monday to Thursday from 22:50-24:00. After the National Day holidays, the air time was moved to 22:00-24:00.
It was the world’s most Googled TV show in 2018.
It was first released on TVB on August 6, 2018.
As of October 2018, it became the Mainland Chinese drama with the highest viewing record on TVB.
It ranked first in the top 10 highest rated TVB dramas in 2018 with an average of 31.8. It reached the highest total audience of 39.3.
According to Yu Zheng, the use of silk was a strong inspiration for Story of Yanxi Palace.

Dialogues/Quotes
"Man should be kind and good-hearted but what’s more important is to know how to protect oneself."

"If you just want to build up a good reputation, you’ll have to do good deeds for the entire life. Should you have a blemish, your reputation will be tarnished."

"If you are petty, you will not be happy. Take a step back and you’ll get a broader perspective."

"Man’s determination can beat Heaven’s will. As you progress, if you ever meet a huge obstacle that causes you to stop moving forward, don’t just focus on the end goal. Try to calm yourself down, concentrate on completing your tasks well. Maybe, you will be able to turn the tide."

"The time you spent on waiting is actually spent on accumulating power, once the time is right, you can then give your enemy a fatal blow."

"If crying works, the Palace will be flooded with tears long ago."

"Life is like a boat going against the tide, if you don’t progress, you will move backwards."

"Jealousy is like a snake that devours your heart. Anyone who has ever been jealous will be hideous."

"I wanted to exchange my victory for a person, one that I lost but would fight hard to get back. At the battlefield when the sword almost pierced through my chest, I thought to myself if I were to return, I will get her back regardless of how she feels – whether she blames or hates me, I will want to be with her for the rest of my life."

"You are so devoted to the Emperor but why did you let him know? The one who says “I love you” first, loses."

"No matter how ridiculous this rumour is, as long as there are people who believe, it will be real."

"No matter how devastated I am, I must tell myself that it’s okay and one day I’ll have something better."

Cast

	Wu Jinyan as Wei Yingluo / Ling Fei
	Qin Lan as Fu Cha Rong Yin / Empress Fu Cha
	Nie Yuan as Qian Long
	Charmaine Sheh as Xian Fei
	Xu Kai as Fu Heng
	Wang Yuanke as Su Jinghao / Chun Fei
	Tan Zhuo as Gao Ningxin / Gui Fei
	Su Qing as Er Qing / Fu Heng Fu Ren
	Hong Yao as Hong Zhou
	Lawrence Wong as Hai Lancha
	Lian Lian as Yu Guiren
	Li Chunai as Na Lan Chun Xue / Shu Fei
	Jiang Zixin as Ming Yu
	Sookie Pan Shiqi as Jia Fei
	Li Ruoning as Lu Wanwan / Qing Fei
	Jenny Zhang Jiani as He Zhuo Chen Bi / Rong Fei

Supporting Cast

Wang Maolei as Yuan Chunwang
Song Chunli as Tai Hou
Fang Anna as Zhen Er
Liu Enshang as Li Yu
Yang Jingru as Hu Po
Chen Youwei as Aisin Gioro Yong Qi
Shi Yufei as Zhi Lan
Yin Xu as Fang Nizi
Deng Sha as Wei Yingning
Gao Yuer as Jin Xiu
Gao Yang as Uya Qingdai
Xu Baihui as Yi Pin
Helen Cheng as Yu Hu
Bai Shan as Concubine Yu
Ru Ping as Fu Cha Fu Ren
Cheng Junwen as Aisin Gioro Hong Xiao
Sun Ao as Aisin Gioro Yong Qi
Dai Chunrong as Hui Fa Na La Fu Ren
Zheng Long as Xiao Quanzi
Sun Di as Wu Shulai
Gong Fangmin as Aisin Gioro Yun Tao
Zhang Bin as Aisin Gioro Yun Xi
Huang Shiliang as Aisin Gioro Fu Peng
Zhang Jie as Yi Zhu
Fang Yangfei as Aisin Gioro Yong Cheng
Rain Wang Herun as Princess Zhao Hua
Wang Yuwei as La Wang Duo Er Ji
Wang Yizhe as Fu Kang'an
Senior Xu Xiaonuo as Si Wan Ge Ge
Xu Yuan as Chi Su
Rain Wang Herun as Princess Zhao Hua
Lian Lian as Ke Li Ye Te A Yan / Yu Fei

Soundtracks

Kan (看) by Lu Hu (陆虎)
Gong Liu Qiang (宫柳墙) by Li Chun Ai (李春嫒)
Hong Qiang Tan (红墙叹) by Hu Xia (胡夏)
Xue Luo Xia De Sheng Yin (雪落下的声音) by Lu Hu (陆虎)
Xiang Wang (相忘) by Su Qing (苏青)
Wu Chang Chun Qiu (无常春秋) by Wu Ruo Xi (吴若希)
Xue Luo Xia De Sheng Yin (雪落下的声音) by Qin Lan (秦岚)
Gong Qiang Liu (宫墙柳) by Li Chun Ai (李春嫒)

Episode Ratings

Zhejiang TV
Date	Episode	CSM52 Cities (%)			CSM Nationwide (%)
Date	Episode	Ratings	Audience Share	Ranking	Ratings	Audience Share	Ranking
2018-09-25	1-2	0.151	1.659	22	0.110	1.690	24
2018-09-26	3-4	0.107	1.592	24	0.070	1.330	30
2018-09-27	5-7	0.123	1.652	26	N/A	N/A
2018-10-01	8-10	0.366	3.482	7	0.220	2.640	13
2018-10-02	11-13	0.293	3.090	12	0.220	2.720	14
2018-10-03	14-16	0.392	3.863	9	0.250	3.010	13
2018-10-04	17-19	0.440	4.043	8	0.30	3.610	13
2018-10-05	20	0.439	4.600	8	0.240	3.420	12
2018-10-08	21-22	0.292	3.025	15	0.160	2.280	17
2018-10-09	23-24	0.292	2.828	17	0.160	2.020	17
2018-10-10	25-26	0.222	2.878	19	0.110	2.290	26
2018-10-11	27-28	0.233	2.718	19	0.120	2.250	24
2018-10-15	29-30	0.213	2.368	18	0.110	1.610	26
2018-10-16	31-32	0.266	2.902	13	0.180	2.500	17
2018-10-17	33-34	0.252	3.369	17	0.150	3.370	22
2018-10-18	35-36	0.221	3.113		0.120	2.340	26
2018-10-22	37-38	0.271	2.852	14	0.140	1.970	26
2018-10-23	39-40	0.301	3.960	13	0.150	3.230	23
2018-10-24	41-42	0.285	3.685	15	0.110	2.170	29
2018-10-25	43-44	0.272	3.053	17	0.140	2.630	28
2018-10-29	45-46	0.229	2.864	17	0.100	2.000
2018-11-01	47-48	0.138	1.654	24
2018-11-05	49-50	0.200	2.324	20	0.100	1.610
2018-11-06	51-52	0.239	2.985	20	0.120	2.120
2018-11-07	53-54	0.197	2.540	21
2018-11-08	55-56	0.185	2.249	20
2018-11-12	57-58	0.189	1.987	20	0.130	1.890	27
2018-11-13	59-60	0.148	1.710	25
2018-11-14	61-62	0.149	2.985	23
2018-11-15	63-64	0.201	2.384	21	0.140	2.700	23
2018-11-19	65-66	0.182	2.030	21	0.120	1.910
2018-11-20	67-68	0.290	3.734	11	0.130	2.280	25
2018-11-21	69-70	0.212	3.065	21	0.150	3.010	26
Average	1 - 70	0.251	2.654		0.145	2.372