Drama Info:
Title: Royal Nirvana (鹤唳华亭) He Li Hua Ting
Episodes: 60
Release Date: November 12, 2019
Film Location: Ningbo Xiangshan, Wuxi, Inner Mongolia
Plot Synopsis:
A story that follows the journey of the Crown Prince until he is Emperor. The Crown Prince lives a lonely life – he has many enemies that want him dead and doesn’t have his father’s love. Despite all this, the Crown Prince loves his country and is willing to do anything to protect it.
During the 4th year of the current Emperor’s rule, Xiao Ding Quan is appointed as the Crown Prince. Gu Si Lin, the general and his uncle, helps him gain military control and support. Lu Shi Yu, a court noble, helps give him advice and guidance to learn the ins and outs of the court happenings.
The Emperor believes the Crown Prince’s alliances and support poses a threat to his reign even though Xiao Ding Quan has been nothing but loyal to his father. The Emperor is fine with his other son, Xiao Ding Tang plotting against the Crown Prince for the throne.
Separately, a civil official, Lu Ying has died and his daughter wants revenge. Lu Wen Xi, the daughter, becomes A Bao and enters the palace as a maidservant to avenge her father. She meets the Crown Prince and they fall for one another but there is too much pain.
Trailer:
Cast & Characters:
Luo Jin 罗晋 as Xiao Ding Quan 萧定权
The prince who is attacked by the enemy from all sides, as the Crown Prince, he is suppressed by the emperor. Deeply influenced by Confucian traditional education, he longs for the father’s love, and keeps the responsibility as a courtier and as a son. The power is fixed for the royal family to be alone in the world, to hold his position and die himself.
Li Yi Tong 李一桐 as Lu Wen Xi 陆文昔
The daughter of a civil servant Lu Ying, she sneaks into the East Palace for revenge. She pretends to be Ah Bao and becomes the maidservant to Xi Yuan Yu Yi. After several months of planning and waiting, she finally attracts the attention of the Crown Prince. The mutual temptations of power gradually produce romantic feelings.
Huang Zhi Zhong 黄志忠 as Xiao Jian 萧鉴
The Emperor and Xiao Ding Quan’s father. He is both a strict father and a far-sighted monarch.
Wang Jin Song 王劲松 as Lu Shi Yu 卢世瑜
Tai Fu, the leader of Qing Liu, and the teacher of the Crown Prince. Although he is strict he is sincere and he treats the Prince like his son. His death helps force the emperor to crown the prince and solidify the prince’s status as the future ruler.
Zhang Zhi Jian 张志坚 as Li Bai Zhou 李柏舟
Ding Tang’s servant, a schemer.
Miao Pu 苗圃 as Gui Fei 贵妃
Jin Han 金瀚 as Xiao Ding Tang 萧定棠
Illegitimate son of the emperor, he is timid and afraid, and vies for emperor.
Drama Posters:
Airing Calendar:
2 comments
This synopsis is good, except that it omits the crucial basic fact underlying the entire play. This is that the daughter/maidservant had been slated to marry the crown prince and that they were already deeply in love though they had not seen each other’s faces. The fact of a deep love connection that was thwarted painfully from the beginning by the various character flaws of the emperor, the CP and even her…not to mention the evil chancellor…all of this caused by and revealing layers upon layers of corruption, intrigue, manipulation for power, fear and conflict is pivotal to all the rest. Their attraction and the depth of the pain of the bretrayals, deception, cruel abandonments and ambivilence throughout the rest cannot be properly understood without this.
Thanks for the detailed explanation! I actually haven’t watched the drama but only worked off of their early on description. Seems like a lot of political intrigue and strategy!