Legend of Lu Zhen

Legend of Lu Zhen
Drama poster
Also known as	Female Prime Minister
Traditional	陸貞傳奇
Simplified	陆贞传奇
Mandarin	Lùzhēn Chuánqí
Genre	Historical fiction Romance
Based on	Female Prime Minister by Zhang Wei
Written by	Zhang Wei
Directed by	Li Huizhu Zheng Wei'en Liang Guoguan
Starring	Zhao Liying Chen Xiao Qiao Renliang Yang Rong Tang Yixin Maggie Cheung Ho-yee
Opening theme	Cherish by Li Yuchun
Ending theme	Mood by Zanilia Zhao and Chen Xiao
Country of origin	China
Original language(s)	Mandarin
No. of episodes	59
Production
Executive producer(s)	Yu Zheng Mu Xiaohui
Production location(s)	Hengdian World Studios
Production company(s)	Perfect World Hunan Broadcasting System Yu Zheng Studio
Release
Original network	Hunan Television
First shown in	China
Original release	5 May (2013-05-05) – 29 May 2013 (2013-05-29)

Legend of Lu Zhen (Chinese: 陆贞传奇) is a 2013 Chinese television series based on the novel Female Prime Minister (女相) by Zhang Wei. Directed by Li Huizhu, Zheng Wei'en and Liang Guoguan and produced by Yu Zheng and Mu Xiaohui, the series stars Zhao Liying and Chen Xiao. It was first broadcast on 5 May 2013 in China and subsequently aired in other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.

Synopsis

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 assets upon her impending marriage, her stepmother schemed to poison her father and attempted to frame Lu 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 assets. 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 elder half-brother, Prince Yan (Qiao Renliang) could 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 between Prince Zhan and Empress Lou in the fight to claim the throne, Lu Zhen managed to gain the emperor's support and rise through the ranks with her hard work, intelligence, and luck. She then helped Prince Gao Zhan claim his rightful throne, but could not be his empress due to certain circumstances. Emperor Zhan instead conferred her the title of prime minister, which is the highest position in the court so that she could best exercise her talent and aid him in ruling the country.

Cast

• Zhao Liying as Lu Zhen
• Chen Xiao as Gao Zhan
• Qiao Renliang as Gao Yan
• Yang Rong as Xiao Huan Yun (Xiao Guan Yin)
  • Yuan Xue Er as child Xiao Huan Yun
• Tang Yixin as Shen Bi
• Maggie Cheung Ho-yee as Lou Qing Qiang
• Emma Wu as He Dan Niang
• Leanne Liu as Lou Zhaojun
• 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 Yunxiang as Xu Xian Xiu
• Han Dong as Li Cheng

Soundtrack

Reception

The series was the 8th highest rated drama of 2013 with an average rating of 1.944 (CMS46).^[1] It is also well-received by South Korea viewers and led to increased recognition for Chen Xiao in the region.^[2][3][4]

Awards and nominations

References