Wednesday 16 November 2011

Legend of Zhen Huan

Drama: Legend of Zhen Huan / Empresses in the Palace
Chinese Title: 后宫·甄嬛传 / Hou Gong Zhen Huan Zhuan
Broadcast Network: Dragon TV, Anhui TV
Broadcast Website: LeTV

Broadcast Period: March 27, 2012 - May 2, 2012

Genre: Historical, Palace
Language: Mandarin
Episodes: 76
Director: Zheng Xiaolong
Origin: China
Related: Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace
Source: Adapted from a novel of the same name by Liu Lian Zi
Watch Episodes On: Viki (eng subs), Youtube (eng subs)

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Synopsis and Plot Summary

A story about the life of the young and innocent Zhen Huan as she blossoms into a powerful empress.

At the time of Emperor Yong Zheng's reign, the 17 year-old Zhen Huan (Sun Li) together with her close friends Mei Zhuang (Lan Xi) and Ling Rong (Tao Xin Ran) joined the search for the emperor's concubine. Zhen Huan only intended to join as a stopgap, however, the emperor becomes deeply intrigued by her intelligence, courage, and dignity such that all three friends are chosen to be the emperor's concubine. Because Hua Fei (Jiang Xin), another concubine of the emperor, is arrogant and keeps on causing trouble for the three, Mei Zhuang becomes subject to injustice, Ling Rong becomes ruthless, and Zhen Huan becomes one of the most astute concubines of the palace.

When Yong Zheng (Chen Jian Bin) realizes Nian Geng Yao's (Sun Ning) ambition for the throne, he orders Zhen Huan's father to get rid of the Nian clan. Not long after, Zhen Huan's father becomes a victim of the literary inquisition and gets imprisoned. A devastated Zhen Huan gives birth to her daughter and leaves the palace to become a nun. There, she meets the 17th prince and falls in love with him. But it is as if fate plays with her and she continues to encounter many trials that will mold her into becoming an empress that is revered by all.

Ending Spoilers

Show

Fun Facts

It first premiered November 17, 2011 on Shaoxing News Station and was later rebroadcasted on a major network beginning March 27, 2012.
Filming took place in Hengdian World Studios and Daguanyuan.
It won critical praise and widespread popularity in China and internationally and was often praised as one of the best historical dramas in recent years.
Liu Lian Zi who wrote the source novel cameos in the first episode as a xiu nv.
There were 67 costumes made for Sun Li and trying everything on literally took the entire day from 10am to midnight.
There were over 140 pieces of jewelry. Chen Min who is the stylist used 24 karat gold and real silver.
A week before filming began, all the cast members who have already been in training for half a month congregated at Daguanyuan to practice.
Zhang Xiao Long who plays Wen Shi Chu is a teacher at the Central Academy of Drama and he helped with many aspects of the drama such as etiquette, music and dance.
Because Sun Li had just became pregnant and due to the drama's intensely emotional scenes, she didn't dub her own voice.
Ada Choi was already pregnant during filming but still persisted in wearing the tall Qing Dynasty flowerpot shoes.
Sun Li and Jiang Xin play bitter rivals but had a very good relationship off camera. The Assistant Director would often beg them to stop playing.

Cast

	Betty Sun Li as Zhen Huan
	Chen Jianbin as Aisin Gioro Yin Zhen
	Ada Choi as Uranara Yixiu
	Leanne Lau as Huang Taihou
	Li Tianzhu as Su Peisheng
	Jiang Xin as Hua Fei
	Li Dongxue as Aisin Gioro Yun Li
	Tao Xinran as An Lingrong
	Lan Xi as Shen Meizhuang
	Zhang Xiaolong as Wen Shichu
	Lyric Lan Yingying as Huan Bi
	Sun Qian as Cui Jinxi
	Zhan Jingyi as Liu Zhu
	Zhang Yameng as Qi Fei
	Ophelia Yang Ziyan as Feng Ruozhao
	Chen Sisi as Cao Qinmo
	Wan Meixi as Xin Pin
	Rayzha Alimjan as Ye Lanyi
	Li Yijuan as Duan Fei
	Zhao Qin as Fu Cha Gui Ren
	Tina Tang Yixin as Guarja Wenyuan

Supporting Cast

Seven Tan Songyun as Chun Guiren
Li Jiaxuan as Li Pin
Rachel Mao Xiaotong as Ying Guiren
Ying Er as Xia Dongchun
Guo Xuan as Zhen Pin
He Yanan as Kang Changzai
Cui Manli as Yu Ying'er
Yang Qi as Meng Jingxian
Liu Yan as Shu Taifei
Wang Wenjie as Aixinjueluo Hongli
Wu Lipeng as Aixinjueluo Hongshi
Lulu Xu Lu as Zhen Yulao
Shen Baoping as Zhen Yuandao
Li Dan as Zhen Mu
Sun Ning as Nian Gengyao
Wang Biao as Zhang Tingyu
Zhang Yi as Long Keduo
Ma Weifu as E Min
Li Hongrui as Mo Ge
Tian Xiping as Dun Qinwang
Tian Pujun as Dun Fujin
Sun Boyang as Xia Yi
Liu Yitong as Song Zhi
Yang Kaichun as Jian Qiu
Elaine Liang Yixin as Bao Juan
Zhou Zihan as Cai Yue
Tian Shumei as Sun Zhuxi
Kang Fuzhen as Aixinjueluo Yinxi
Liu Boting as A Jin
Kang Luo as Xiao Yunzi
Li Lubing as Xiao Xiazi
Ma Yuefeng as Xiao Weizi
Wang Yiming as Zhou Ninghai
Zhao Hailong as Kang Luhai
Liu Yang as Jiang Fuhai
Li Yang as Xu Jinliang
Du Xiang as Huang Guiquan
Zhang Zhiwei as Liang Duorui
Xing Jiefeng as Jiang Zhongmin
Wang Qing as Ru Yi
Li Zhouyang as Yin Xiu
Yang Jing as Fang Ruo
Beibei Zhai as Pei Er
Liu Yin as Ji Xiang
Wang Min as Heng Qinwang
Tan Limin as Heng Qin Wang Ce Fu Jin
Mei Aodong as Ji Yun
Hai Yan as Jing An
Zhao Qianzi as Jing Bai

Episode Ratings

Dragon TV
Date	Episode	CSM52 Cities (%)
Date	Episode	Ratings	Audience Share	Ranking
2012-03-27	3-4	0.677	1.820	5
2012-03-28	5-6	0.727	1.880	6
2012-03-29	7-8	0.844	2.190	5
2012-03-30	9-10	0.930	2.320	4
2012-03-31	11-12	0.894	2.370	4
2012-04-01	13-14	0.910	2.410	4
2012-04-02	15-16	1.018	2.770	4
2012-04-03	17-18	1.036	2.860	2
2012-04-04	19-20	1.050	2.750	3
2012-04-05	21-22	1.081	2.880	3
2012-04-06	23-24	1.009	2.630	3
2012-04-07	25-26	1.035	2.670	4
2012-04-08	27-28	1.147	2.900	3
2012-04-09	29-30	1.315	3.420	3
2012-04-10	31-32	1.174	3.120	2
2012-04-11	33-34	1.296	3.410	2
2012-04-12	35-36	1.272	3.320	2
2012-04-13	37-38	1.262	3.660	2
2012-04-14	39-40	1.199	3.180	2
2012-04-15	41-42	0.897	2.290	4
2012-04-16	43-44	1.294	3.450	2
2012-04-17	45-46	1.410	3.780	2
2012-04-18	47-48	1.416	3.760	2
2012-04-19	49-50	1.513	3.990	2
2012-04-20	51-52	1.552	4.000	2
2012-04-21	53-54	1.570	4.230	2
2012-04-22	55-56	1.562	4.160	1
2012-04-23	57-58	1.444	3.820	2
2012-04-24	59-60	1.618	4.180	2
2012-04-25	61-62	1.609	4.300	2
2012-04-26	63-64	1.570	4.370	2
2012-04-27	65-66	1.670	4.470	2
2012-04-28	67-68	1.684	4.480	2
2012-04-29	69-70	1.525	4.250	2
2012-04-30	71-72	1.696	4.750	2
2012-05-01	73-74	1.710	4.520	2
2012-05-02	75-76	2.063	5.600	2
Average	3 - 76	1.289	3.431

Anhui TV
Date	Episode	CSM52 Cities (%)
Date	Episode	Ratings	Audience Share	Ranking
2012-03-27	3-4	0.959	2.570	3
2012-03-28	5-6	0.854	2.220	3
2012-03-29	7-8	1.058	2.750	3
2012-03-30	9-10	1.087	2.720	3
2012-03-31	11-12	1.005	2.670	3
2012-04-01	13-14	1.080	2.850	3
2012-04-02	15-16	1.097	2.980	2
2012-04-03	17-18	1.008	2.760	3
2012-04-04	19-20	1.110	2.910	2
2012-04-05	21-22	1.105	2.950	2
2012-04-06	23-24	1.090	2.830	2
2012-04-07	25-26	1.281	3.300	1
2012-04-08	27-28	1.233	3.120	2
2012-04-09	29-30	1.332	3.460	2
2012-04-10	31-32	1.309	3.490	1
2012-04-11	33-34	1.428	3.760	1
2012-04-12	35-36	1.407	3.680	1
2012-04-13	37-38	1.377	3.660	1
2012-04-14	39-40	1.411	3.730	1
2012-04-15	41-42	1.330	3.420	1
2012-04-16	43-44	1.422	3.800	1
2012-04-17	45-46	1.519	4.060	1
2012-04-18	47-48	1.517	4.020	1
2012-04-19	49-50	1.625	4.280	1
2012-04-20	51-52	1.567	4.030	1
2012-04-21	53-54	1.652	4.430	1
2012-04-22	55-56	1.512	4.000	2
2012-04-23	57-58	1.667	4.230	1
2012-04-24	59-60	1.760	4.540	1
2012-04-25	61-62	1.753	4.680	1
2012-04-26	63-64	1.954	5.370	1
2012-04-27	65-66	1.720	4.590	1
2012-04-28	67-68	1.806	4.790	1
2012-04-29	69-70	1.878	5.210	1
2012-04-30	71-72	1.853	5.150	1
2012-05-01	73-74	1.770	4.680	1
2012-05-02	75-76	2.110	5.750	1
Average	3 - 76	1.423	3.769