New stills released for fantasy drama Liao Zhai with Zhang Miao Yi and Chang Hua Sen as it wraps up filming

Liao Zhai (聊斋) is adapted from the classical Chinese stories collection Liao Zhai Zhi Yi by Pu Song Ling. My version of Liao Zhai was from TVB’s Dark Tales 1 and 2 in the 1990s. Lol.

From TMDB, the synopsis: A mysterious beauty’s severed head appears in the bustling marketplace. A fox spirit, trapped in the treacherous depths of human desire, struggles to escape her fate. When the Judge of the Underworld descends to swap heads and hearts, chaos erupts. A paper doll awakens to life with the final stroke of a brush, a wooden puppet grows a beating heart, and a withered tree stirs with forbidden longing. In this world where the boundaries between flesh and fantasy blur, ancient magic and human folly collide—revealing that even the most lifeless things may hunger for a soul.

This version will adapt 6 stories from the collection.

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Air date announced for xian xia drama When Destiny Brings the Demon with Chen Fei Yu and Wang Ying Lu

When Destiny Brings the Demon (献鱼) is adapted from the novel Offering Salted Fish to Master written by Fu Hua.

Synopsis from Youku: Modern-day office drone Zou Yan accidentally stumbles into the world of cultivation and wakes up as Liao Tingyan, a disciple of the Qinggutian Sect. She’s soon selected to serve the reclusive Grandmaster Sima Jiao, a powerful cultivator who’s been secretly sealed inside a mountain for 500 years. Twisted by isolation and rage, he’s cold, hot-tempered, and bent on revenge. Liao Tingyan doesn’t konw that “her” original identity is a demonic assassin. But to his surprise, she shows no ill will, no ambition, and no desire at all. Her nature fascinates him. Thus begins an unlikely romance between a villainous immortal and a healing-type “slacker,” a connection that defies fate and spans lifetimes.

You can read the translated novel at WordDrain69.

Airing 8/16~

Woohooo Fei Yu is back in costume! I will take a peek!!

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Liu Xue Yi and Meng Zi Yi join the political marriage wagon in The Princess‘s Gambit

The Princess‘s Gambit (桃花映江山) is adapted from the novel written by Bai Lu Cheng Shuang.

Synopsis Per WeTv: The story is set during a time when the world is divided into three kingdoms. The Wei Kingdom is powerful but embroiled in a fierce struggle for the throne; the Wu Kingdom is focused on development and strategic planning; and the Zhao Kingdom is in turmoil, with Empress Lu controlling the court, putting the country in jeopardy. Princess Jiang Taohua of Zhao, ambitious and determined, seeks to escape Empress Lu’s control by arranging a political marriage with Wei. However, upon arriving in Wei, she is attacked by wolves and later wakes up to find herself accused of an affair with Chancellor Shen Zaiye. To stay in Wei, she offers to become Shen Zaiye’s concubine, making her a thorn in his side. Despite this, Jiang Taohua, who is poisoned, must fulfill Empress Lu’s task to bring down the Crown Prince. Shen Zaiye, while known as a tough and unyielding official, secretly desires to support a wise ruler and strengthen Wei. However, he falls into a trap while investigating palace smuggling, leading to his unintended entanglement with Jiang Taohua. Although Shen sets a deadly trap to remove her, Jiang’s willingness to risk her life earns his respect. Forced to live in Shen’s household, Jiang faces challenges from Shen’s wives and concubines, as well as his combative sister. But having grown up in Zhao’s treacherous palace, Jiang easily handles the internal household conflicts. Desperate to complete her mission and get the antidote for her poison, Jiang sneaks out of the estate to seek help, even as Shen keeps a close watch on her. As they clash and outwit each other, mutual feelings start to develop. Jiang soon discovers that the Crown Prince is also Shen’s political enemy, and offers to help him take the prince down, along with the various wives and concubines planted by political forces around Shen. The two form an alliance, and as they work together, they manage to expose the prince’s crimes to the emperor, causing the fall of the Eastern Palace. However, the struggle for the throne only intensifies from there.

Liu Xue Yi joins the 3-drama club this year as well! I think his dramas have the closest range of airing within each other, A Moment but Forever in late March, then Love Never Fails followed in late April, and now this at the end of june.

Airing 6/25~

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Costume fantasy drama Love Beyond the Grave with Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Fei Yu wrapped up filming

Per WeTv: The exceptionally gifted Ghost King, He Simu (Dilireba), unexpectedly encounters the young general, Duan Xu (Chen Fei Yu), while out on a break, searching for food. This young general, who carries an item belonging to someone from He Simu’s past, seems not to be the real Duan Xu. As they test each other through subtle exchanges, He Simu gradually uncovers the dark past and aspirations hidden within Duan Xu’s heart. In turn, Duan Xu discovers the steadfastness and loneliness that He Simu has endured. Despite the fleeting lifespan of a mortal, no more than a hundred years, and the four-hundred-year-old ghost who still retains the appearance of a young girl, they resist the relentless passage of time through their love.

Love Beyond the Grave (慕胥辞) is adapted from the novel written by Li Qing Ran. You can read the novel at Nomad Translations. Filming has wrapped a few days ago!

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Li Lan Di throws a wrench in Ren Jia Lun’s plan in Love of Nirvana

Adapted from the novel Liu Shui Tiao Tiao written by Xiao Lou.

Synopsis per Wetv: Xiao Wuxia, the young lord of Yueluo City, has been living in hiding in Liang Kingdom under the alias Wei Zhao, bearing the shame of being labeled a traitor. His mission is to uncover the truth behind his family’s downfall and capture the sole survivor of Prince Qi’s case. However, his plans are derailed by the unexpected arrival of Jiang Ci. Pei Yan takes the injured Jiang Ci into his home, aiming to discover who’s behind the disruption. As they spend time together, Jiang Ci’s innocence and Wei Zhao’s tragic past and sense of national duty spark mutual affection. In the end, Wei Zhao, Jiang Ci, and Pei Yan set aside their personal grievances to unite against the Liang Emperor, achieving their goal of protecting Yueluo City and establishing a just world.

Airing 9/14~

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Dilireba and Chen Fei Yu begin filming for costume drama Love Beyond the Grave

Love Beyond the Grave (慕胥辞) is adapted from the novel written by Li Qing Ran. She plays a beautiful 400-year-old female ghost master who wanders battlefields to feed on human souls while he’s a mysterious young commander of the Taba Army of Daliang. Their fates intertwined that day and he agrees to share his five senses with her. Together, they fight to keep the peace the between the human and spirits realm.

You can read the novel at Nomad Translations.

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Xianxia drama Chong Zi releases first batch of character posters, led by Xu Zheng Xi and Yang Chao Yue

Chong Zi (重紫) is based on the novel written by Shu Ke. The story is almost identical to Hua Qian Gu, with the romance being between a highly-respected immortal male lead who takes in our innocent female lead born with the dark force, fated to join the dark side, as his disciple. She does not want to harm anyone but everyone takes turn to torture/harm her just because of her dark force. Her shifu wants to protect her and the world, but he struggles to do both. The difference that I found between this and HQG is that in here, there are multiple life times/reincarnations, so she does die a few times, even at the hands of the man she completely adores.

🙊

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Novel-to-drama adaptation of Chong Zi begins filming with leads Xu Zheng Xi and Yang Chao Yue

And I thought Xiao Zhan’s The Longest Promise (Yu Gu Yao) sounds like The Journey of Flower (Hua Qian Gu), and here comes Chong Zi to take that candle instead. Lol.

Chong Zi (重紫) is based on the novel written by Shu Ke. The story is almost identical to Hua Qian Gu, with the romance being between a highly-respected immortal male lead who takes in our innocent female lead born with the dark force, fated to join the dark side, as his disciple. She does not want to harm anyone but everyone takes turn to torture/harm her just because of her dark force. Her shifu wants to protect her and the world, but struggle to do both. The difference that I noticed between this and HQG is that in here, there are multiple life times/reincarnations, so she does die a few times, even at the hands of the man she completely adores.

Has anyone read both novels and be able to spill more beans? 😛

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