Legend of Lu Zhen

Legend of Lu Zhen or Female Prime Minister (Chinese: 陆贞传奇) is a 2013 Chinese historical romance television series. The television series was directed by Li Huizhu, Zheng Wei'en and Liang Guoguan and produced by Yu Zheng and Mu Xiaohui, and stars Zhao Liying and Chen Xiao.^[1][2][3] It was first broadcast on 5 May 2013 in China and subsequently broadcast in other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.

Plot

The story centers on the rise of Lu Zhen (Zhao Liying) from a mere lady-in-waiting to becoming prime minister during the Northern Qi dynasty.

Lu Zhen was the elder ambitious daughter of the Lu family, who successfully ran the family porcelain business, much to her father's delight and her stepmother's jealousy. Afraid of Lu Zhen taking much of the family asset upon her impending marriage, her stepmother schemed to poison her father and attempted to frame Zhen for the murder. When Lu Zhen was acquitted, her stepmother arranged her to marry off as a concubine so that she could seize the family asset. Lu Zhen fled and was saved by Prince Gao Zhan (Chen Xiao), who would become the love of her life. Gao Zhan faced the same family problem; when his father died, Empress Lou usurped his succession to the throne so that her own son and Gao Zhan's half-brother, Prince Yan (Kimi Qiao) would become emperor. Through Gao Zhan's connection, Lu Zhen entered the palace to become a maid, with the aim to rise to sixth rank female official so that she could appeal to the supreme court to re-investigate her father's murder. Amidst the constant scheming from Prince Zhan and Empress Lou in the fight to claim the throne, Lu Zhen managed to gain the emperor's support and rise the ranks through her hard work, intelligence, and luck. She then helped Prince Zhan to claim his rightful throne, but could not be his empress due to circumstances. Emperor Zhan instead conferred her the title of prime minister so that she could best exercise her talent and aid him to rule the country.

Cast

• Zhao Liying as Lu Zhen
• Chen Xiao as Gao Zhan
• Kimi Qiao as Gao Yan
• Yang Rong as Xiao Huan Yun (Xiao Guan Yin)
• Tang Yixin as Shen Bi
• Maggie Cheung Ho-yee as Lou Qing Qiang
  • Yuan Xue Er as child Xiao Huan Yun
• Emma Wu as He Dan Niang
• Leanne Liu as Lou Zhao Jun
• Bai Shan as Yu Jiu Lu
• Wang Lin as Madam Zhao
• Yue Yao Li as Lu Jia
• Li Ji Chun as Shen Jia Yan
• Xi Xue as Shen Jia Min
• Jiang Hong as Wang Xuan
• Tao Shuai as Yuan Fu
• Zhang Hao Ran as Yuan Lu
• Li Wen Wen as La Mei
• Li Yi Xiao as Gao Xiang
• Jin Qiaoqiao as Du Si Yi
• Madina Memet as Du Mei Er
• Liu Jia Yuan as Ling Long
• Lv Jia Rong as Lady of Yue
• Deng Sha as Princess of Yu Yang
• Gao Yun Xiang as Xu Xian Xiu
• Han Dong as Li Cheng

Production

This television series shot the scene in Hengdian World Studios, Zhejiang.^[4][5]

Critical response

The television series received mixed reviews, but got high ratings in its home country.

Broadcasting rights to the show were also sold to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, and achieved high ratings in South Korea.^[6][7][8]

Awards

References