The Princess Royal Review

I was watching The Princess Royal (度华年) mainly because of the cast. Their recent dramas made me sit up and take notice of them. While I was expecting a good production, I wasn’t so sure if the story could keep me engaged all the way to the end. Usually, palace dramas are lengthy with lots of plotting and counter-plotting that go round in circles. Boredom can then easily set in. If you are wondering if this drama also suffers from the same issue, you can find out more in my review of The Princess Royal below.

My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 40
Type: Palace, Historical Romance
Aired: June 2024
Images Credit: Douban Movie

The Cast Of The Princess Royal

• Zhang Ling He as Pei Wen Xuan
• Zhao Jin Mai as Li Rong
• Chen He Yi as Su Rong Qing
• Yi Da Qian as Su Rong Hua
• Liu Xu Wei as Li Chuan
• Cheng Guo as Shangguan Ya
• He Qiu as Qin Zhen Zhen
• Yu Jin Wei as Li Ming / Emperor
• Zhao Pei Lin as Shangguan Yue / Empress
• Karina Zhao as Xiao Rou / Concubine Rou
• Zong Feng Yan as Shangguan Xu

Main Characters

Pei Wen Xuan

Wen Xuan is a low-ranking government censor. He is smart and can read the going-ons behind the scenes. His family comes from a humble background and is just starting to get a foothold among the noble class. Wen Xuan is more emotionally-driven compared to Li Rong and can be possessive and jealous when it comes to love.

Li Rong

Li Rong is the eldest princess and daughter to the Emperor and Empress. She holds certain power in the royal family due to her ties to her powerful maternal family. Li Rong is a smart and shrewd lady. She is also very rational and tends to keep her feelings hidden due to the treacherous palace environment. Li Rong’s motivation is to keep her loved ones safe which is often misunderstood as craving for power. Jing Lan is her personal maid.

Supporting Characters

Su Rong Qing

Rong Qing is the Vice Minister of Justice. His father, Lord Su Min Zhi, is the Minister and the Su family is one of the most powerful noble houses in the capital. Rong Qing is seen as a gentleman and he is always respectful and polite. But he hides a secret and has his own agenda. Rong Qing has a past with Li Rong and is in love with her.

Su Rong Hua

Rong Hua is Rong Qing’s elder brother. He is the eldest son but prefers a more laidback life than working hard to shoulder the family’s responsibility. Rong Hua is a good man with his own mind. He shares a close bond with Rong Qing.

Li Chuan

Li Chuan is the Crown Prince and Li Rong’s younger brother. He is a young man who is still struggling to balance his responsibility and his wants. Li Chuan has a close relationship with Li Rong and has the desire to protect those he loves.

Shangguan Ya

Shangguan Ya is Li Rong’s cousin sister. She is the chosen one to be Li Chuan’s official consort and future Empress. But Shangguan Ya is a free-spirited young lady who prefers a life outside the palace.

Qin Zhen Zhen

Zhen Zhen is Wen Xuan’s ex-fiancee. They were betrothed to each other by their parents and were childhood friends. Zhen Zhen comes from a military family and she has martial arts skills. She values her freedom and also has little interest to lead a life as a consort.

Li Ming / Emperor

The Emperor is Li Rong and Li Chuan’s father. He also has another son, Li Cheng, and a daughter, Princess Hua Yue, with Concubine Rou. The Emperor is a perceptive man who knows those around him are not always being truthful. Thus, he has a suspicious nature and would be wary of those who seem to have too much power and control. His personal attendant is Eunuch Fu Lai.

Shangguan Yue / Empress

The Empress is Li Rong and Li Chuan’s mother. She comes from the Shangguan family which is the most powerful noble house in the capital. Her priority is to ensure the Shangguan family’s interests remain secure which has put a strain on her relationship with the Emperor.

Xiao Rou / Concubine Rou

Concubine Rou comes from the Xiao family which doesn’t have much power. But she is a scheming woman who is buttering up the Emperor to obtain more influence and power for herself and her family. She has a son, Li Cheng, and a daughter, Princess Hua Yue with the Emperor.

Shangguan Xu

Shangguan Xu is the patriarch of the Shangguan family which is the head of the noble houses in the capital. He is a shrewd and pretentious man who wants to ensure the noble houses remain influential and powerful.

Synopsis

Li Rong and Wen Xuan had been married for 20 years. She was the eldest princess who had much power behind the scenes while Wen Xuan was the Grand Chancellor. Their marriage was arranged by her Emperor father who wanted to restrain her power and the influence of the noble houses led by her mother’s family. Hence, Wen Xuan was chosen due to his more humble family background.

While their marriage started off well, distrust soon emerged due to various incidents including Wen Xuan’s close relationship with his ex-fiancee. On the other hand, Li Rong became attached to her childhood friend from the noble Su family, Rong Qing. As years passed, the misunderstanding and bitterness grew deeper and deeper due to a power struggle. Her father and subsequently, her brother who inherited the throne, were battling the noble houses for control. Wen Xuan and Li Rong end up in opposing camps. 20 years after their marriage, they died as enemies as Li Rong was poisoned while Wen Xuan was killed.

When they died, they find themselves going back to 20 years earlier before their marriage. This time, Li Rong and Wen Xuan try to right the wrongs that they have done in the past and change some of the outcomes. However, they need to work through the deep distrust carried forward from their past life as they take on officials from the noble houses including Rong Qing.

The Princess Royal Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)

The Princess Royal has a happy ending. Rong Qing’s plot to install the fake Li Cheng as Crown Prince fails with the arrival of the Qin army led by Zhen Zhen and her brother. Rong Hua also stops his family army from listening to his brother to rebel. The Emperor dies after Concubine Rou stabbed him to force him to reveal where he kept the royal seal. Concubine Rou is then shot to death with an arrow with the arrival of Zhen Zhen and her soldiers when she lunges at Li Rong. Princess Hua Yue ends up being alone and miserable with the death of her parents and brother.

Rong Qing commits suicide by burning himself to death. Before he dies, he tells Li Rong that he has never wanted to harm her. He is also happy that she is leading a good life this time around and regrets not being able to lead a life with her.

3 years later, Li Chuan issues an edict to appoint Li Rong as the Regent Princess Royal to govern the state. Wen Xuan will be the Right Chancellor while Shangguan Ya is the Chancellory Advisor to assist Li Rong. Li Chuan has left the capital with Zhen Zhen to the northern border in preparation for future confrontations. He has no interest to be the Emperor and knows he is not cut out to be one.

Li Rong and Wen Xuan remarried and have a happy life together.

When Did The Leads Get Together?

Li Rong knows that Wen Xuan is the only logical choice that she has for a husband. The Emperor wouldn’t allow her to marry any man who comes from a powerful noble house. They have their wedding in Episode 9 after Li Rong gave her agreement as what her father would have wanted. Li Rong and Wen Xuan see the marriage as a temporary arrangement as they thought the other has someone else in their heart. But Wen Xuan becomes angry when Li Rong tries to make plans for him and Zhen Zhen in Episode 11. He tells Li Rong that he loved her and his only regret has always been her and not Zhen Zhen.

After the quarrel, they agree to communicate better in Episode 12. But Li Rong is still guarded as she finds it hard to completely trust Wen Xuan given their past. Wen Xuan plans to confess to Li Rong in Episode 20. But he ends up feeling angry and disappointed when he thought Li Rong has made used of the occasion to lay a trap for some assassins. He also thinks that she knows he loves her but pretends otherwise and tramples on his feelings. Li Rong apologizes to Wen Xuan in Episode 21 and asks him not to leave her but to give her time to open up to him. He tells her that he is willing to wait a lifetime for her.

Li Rong and Wen Xuan consummates their relationship in Episode 29. He is also happy that she sees him as her husband when she becomes angry and concern at the risk he is taking to reform the examination system. Li Rong falls pregnant in Episode 34.

Is There Any Breakup?

A set-up by Rong Qing pushes Li Rong to suggest a divorce in Episode 25. This is because Rong Qing’s plot has given the Emperor the impression that Wen Xuan is manipulating Li Rong and taking over her power. Wen Xuan quarrels with Li Rong over it but she only wants to protect him. He apologizes to her after coming across the letters that she had written that show that she does have feelings for him. They reconcile and become closer as a couple.

Wen Xuan learns to trust Li Rong and agrees to play along. He asks the Emperor to grant him a divorce in Episode 26 and an edict is issued in Episode 27. However, the couple secretly continues their relationship behind the scenes.

Is There Any Love Triangle?

Wen Xuan and Zhen Zhen were betrothed to each other but she rejected his marriage proposal. She explained to him in Episode 7 that they are not into each other anyway and it was merely their parents’ arrangement. Zhen Zhen sees Wen Xuan as a friend and brother. In Episode 11, Wen Xuan himself tells Li Rong that he has no special feelings and regrets towards Zhen Zhen. He only thought he had feelings for Zhen Zhen because he was brought up to take care of her since she was betrothed to him.

Rong Qing is also in love with Li Rong and she does have a soft spot for him due to their close relationship in the past. But they disagree over her plans to open the Inspectorate Office to investigate the noble houses for their excesses. Rong Qing feels that it will put Li Rong in danger and he claims that he wants to protect her. But Li Rong disagrees and tells him that they are not on the same path in Episode 15. Rong Qing offers to marry her in Episode 17 when Wen Xuan is presumed dead while getting evidence for a case for Li Rong. But Wen Xuan’s return makes Rong Qing’s offer redundant.

In Episode 25, Li Rong tells Wen Xuan that Rong Qing is merely an old acquaintance to her when she suggests that they divorce as part of a counterplot to Rong Qing’s set-up. Li Rong also warns Rong Qing in Episode 30 that she will hate him her whole life if he kills Wen Xuan in order to achieve his aim of deposing Li Chuan.

Is Rong Qing Also From The Past Life?

Yes, Rong Qing is also from the past. He knows Li Rong is from their previous life in Episode 22. This is because she seems to know things about a criminal that he had investigated and told her before. Li Rong realizes Rong Qing has also come from their past life in Episode 25. This is based on their interactions and the fact that he seems to be one step ahead of things which is only possible through hindsight. She asks him about it directly in Episode 30 and he admits that it seems like he has woken up from a dream.

Who Killed Li Rong In The Past?

The whole story of what happened in the past is revealed in Episode 33 and 34. Li Rong questions Rong Qing about it after they fell down a cliff together. Li Rong has thought all along that it was Rong Qing who killed her as revenge against Li Chuan for what the latter did to his family. But the reality is it was Li Chuan who slowly poisoned her. This is because Li Chuan thought Li Rong wanted to kill him. Li Rong was set-up by Shangguan Ya to mislead Li Chuan.

Rong Qing found out about it later and tried to delay the effects of the poison as much as possible. But he and Shangguan Ya decided not to give her the antidote because she would always try to protect Li Chuan each time conflict arose. Li Rong represented the noble houses and had vast powers. Li Chuan ordered Li Rong’s death on his deathbed because he wanted his heir to be free from the stranglehold of the noble houses. The heir he had chosen was Li Ping, his son with Zhen Zhen.

Rong Qing cooperated with Shangguan Ya to let Li Rong die because the designated Crown Prince, Li Xin, was not Li Chuan’s son but Shangguan Ya and Rong Hua’s. Rong Qing wanted to protect his brother’s son and his family’s lineage since he was the only one left alive and had been castrated on Li Chuan’s orders. If Li Rong finds out the truth, Li Xin would have been killed. As such, Rong Qing knows he doesn’t deserve Li Rong for playing a part in killing her previously. He is also adamant that Li Chuan would be a brutal ruler who should be stopped from inheriting the throne.

The Other Side Of The Story

Li Rong is shocked and feared history will repeat itself where Li Chuan is concerned after hearing Rong Qing’s description of his brutality. But Wen Xuan offers Li Rong another side to the story regarding her brother in Episode 36. Li Chuan was held back by the nobles who refused to listen to his orders and carry out policies that benefit the people. He couldn’t do anything to stop their corruption and excesses. With no power to go against them, Li Chuan felt ashamed and incompetent.

Even in his personal life, he didn’t have a choice of not sleeping with Shangguan Ya as he was pressured to produce an heir with her. They had to resort to using aphrodisiac to do the deed which he found detestable. He hated Shangguan Ya but loved Zhen Zhen tremendously. When Zhen Zhen became pregnant, Shangguan Ya felt pressured to have a son. Otherwise, Zhen Zhen’s son, Li Ping, would be the heir and he would be a threat to the noble houses in the future since Zhen Zhen is a commoner.

To get pregnant, Shangguan Ya’s father got her ex, Rong Hua, to become her lover. They subsequently had a son, Li Xin, whom was passed off as Li Chuan’s heir. Rong Hua then tried to kill Li Ping to protect Li Xin’s status but ended up killing Zhen Zhen instead. This drove Li Chuan over the edge and he became tyrannical as a result. He killed his uncle and mother after finding out about Li Xin’s paternity and brought down the Su family by accusing them of being treasonous.

Rong Qing’s Plan With Concubine Rou

Rong Qing’s plan is to prevent the downfall of his family like what happened in his past life. He wants to stop Li Chuan from ascending the throne because it was the latter that ordered for the execution of his family and his castration as punishment for treasonous behavior previously. So, he allies himself with Concubine Rou in Episode 21 to try to maneuver Li Cheng to replace Li Chuan as Crown Prince.

But Concubine Rou proves to be a poor ally with her own ambition and ideas. She is set-up by Li Rong and Wen Xuan which exposes her taking bribes in Episode 31. The Emperor is forced to punish her. He not only refuses to help her but suggests that she kills herself to claim innocence and blame it on Li Chuan for framing her. This will then ensure that Li Cheng’s reputation will remain intact and he still has a chance to be the Crown Prince.

Concubine Rou’s hatred for the Emperor becomes evident then. She accuses him of being a coward for fearing the noble houses and the Shangguan family. She also tells him that she has been poisoning him all along which is why he has no more children after Li Cheng’s birth. Concubine Rou then incites her daughter to try to kill Li Chuan and Li Rong so that only Li Cheng is left to inherit the throne. But the Emperor kills Li Cheng by poisoning him in Episode 34. A lookalike is then used by Concubine Rou and her brother to take Li Cheng’s place in Episode 35.

Side Couple

Li Chuan has feelings for Zhen Zhen but she tells him that she doesn’t like palace life in Episode 11. But Li Chuan still hints to Zhen Zhen to consider living a life with him in Episode 12. She knows he has deep feelings for her after overhearing his conversation with Li Rong. But she decides to give up her identity to become Xun Chuan and Li Rong’s subordinate in Episode 13. This is after her family was framed by the noble houses as a warning to the Emperor as well as Li Chuan for rejecting their choice of a bride for him.

In Episode 19, Zhen Zhen is set to leave the capital to help Li Rong establish a network at the border. Li Chuan doesn’t want her to leave and wants another chance with her. But Zhen Zhen rejects him and tells him that they both have their duties to fulfill. They reunite in Episode 39 after Zhen Zhen returned to the capital to aid Li Rong in the fight against Rong Qing.

Rong Hua and Shangguan Ya are also attracted to each other. He confesses his feelings for her in Episode 27. But Shangguan Ya makes the decision to stop seeing Rong Hua in Episode 32 when it becomes clear that Rong Qing intends to depose Li Chuan as the Crown Prince. She doesn’t want the Shangguan family to be implicated. She makes clear to him her reason in Episode 33 and confirms the breakup in Episode 36 when Rong Hua is unwilling to give up on his brother.

However, Rong Hua is on Shangguan Ya’s side when he finds out the Rong Qing is intent on rebelling in Episode 38. She is by his side when he couldn’t save his brother in Episode 40.

The Princess Royal Review – Second Male Lead Dominates

Frankly speaking, The Princess Royal could have been much better written. It is not that the story is bad but the screenwriter picks the wrong thing or character to focus on. If they want to make this into a second-chance romance, then it isn’t exactly romantic and fails to touch the heart. If they are thinking of having the male lead make amends and being the driver to force a better outcome for everyone, then he is hardly inspiring. And finally, if they had planned to make the female lead more sympathetic towards the second male lead, it ends up making her look indecisive between 2 men instead.

The reason why is obvious. It is because the story rather focuses on the second male lead and his obsession to stop the female lead’s brother from taking the throne. So, he is in love with her but he couldn’t have her. At the same time, they have a long history in their past lives whereby they actually had feelings for each other. A lot of attention is given to this complex relationship which is why the drama will be annoying for some viewers. The romance between the male and female leads is then left competing for this same attention.

Perhaps what the producers wanted is to have a tragic villain that elicits sympathy from viewers. And what the female lead feels for him is actually merely regret and heartache for an old acquaintance who refuses to see the light. But the message just got lost in the script and plot execution.

Characters’ Essence Is Missing

Except for the male lead, both the female lead and second male lead are complex characters. The male lead, Wen Xuan, is reduced to a simp. All that the viewers will get from him is his total devotion to the female lead, Li Rong. His intelligence and talent as a strategist is severely downplayed. Such scenes are few and far in between compared to the screen time allotted to the second male lead, Rong Qing. Therefore, you will wonder at times who exactly is the main male lead in the drama.

Li Rong is someone who doesn’t trust easily due to her upbringing and the palace politics. She finds it hard to open up her heart. So, Wen Xuan is kept waiting while she will be shown to have this ‘what could have been’ vibes with Rong Qing. This will go on for at least 20 episodes. If you are particularly sensitive, you might even feel that she has feelings for Rong Qing all the way to the end. For me, I feel that she just has lingering regrets due to their past and wants him to be well. But I do think her actual feelings for Rong Qing is not well-articulated in the drama. Thus, the result is she feels like an indecisive woman which isn’t fair to Wen Xuan.

As for Rong Qing, he should be the most complex character due to his deep inner conflict between duty to his family and love for Li Rong. But that inner conflict is not effectively fleshed out especially towards the end whereby he is reduced to a very typical one-dimensional villain. Hence, you can’t feel any sympathy for him although I think that is the original intention by giving him so much attention.

Romance Is Lacking

I wouldn’t say that the romance between the leads is totally bad. It is not. However, it also fails to inspire. The reason stems from the second male lead, palace politics and the not so well-written male protagonist. In The Double, there is also an ex lurking in the background but the message from the female lead is crystal clear. So, there is no ambiguity. The Princess Royal is more wishy-washy here which just puts a damper on the leads’ romance.

Then the palace politics also takes up a significant amount of time. There is the battle against the noble houses, the suspicious Emperor, and the scheming concubine. But the problem is the male lead isn’t in the driver’s seat in all of these. So, looking at it from the romance angle, it isn’t particularly satisfying to have the male lead being reduced to a supporting role to the female lead when they should be equals.

Therefore, while the romance is sweet at times, the male lead’s value seems to be limited to his unconditional love for the female lead and nothing more. This is still okay except for the fact that their love story isn’t too convincing. After 20 years of distrust and misunderstanding, there is no strong foundation for the male lead to do a 180-degree turn and becomes totally devoted to her instead. He might still love her but a poignant trigger is missing to make the romance heartfelt for the viewers.

Acting & Chemistry

To me, the chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai partly kept me interested throughout the drama. They did a fine job as a couple. They could also emit the feeling that they are an old couple with their banter since they are in fact married for 20 years in their previous life. Their chemistry probably can’t beat the one Zhao Jin Mai had with Leo Wu in Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love but it is good enough to keep the romance going.

Zhang Ling He is great as Wen Xuan and his love for Li Rong is clearly noticeable in his eyes. Whether he is angry, sad, serious or playful, he could express them in a very natural way. Being a prince consort who is supposed to be beneath the princess, he doesn’t overshadow her. I can see that restrain in his acting to reflect the role.

Zhao Jin Mai is still a very young actress and I think she did okay as Li Rong. She is also gorgeous to look at as a princess together with all the beautiful costumes and hairpieces. But I also get the feeling that she didn’t really know how to express herself when it comes to Rong Qing. So, it ends up confusing the viewers as to the character’s actual emotions for the second male lead. I guess this is also due to the script and directing rather than the actress’ problem.

My Verdict – Not That Bad But Wasted Potential

The Princess Royal actually reminds me of Story Of Kunning Palace but without the intrigue and dark vibes. It is also about having second chance at life and going through similar events with the chance to right past wrongs. One thing that bothers me is the lack of an explanation of how this new life comes about or if the past life is merely a dream. Unless I have missed something, I don’t think we are told what exactly happened.

Anyway, the main plot is about palace politics. The Emperor is constrained by the power of the noble houses and he wants to get rid of them. So, if you just want a good romance, this may not fulfill that expectation. The romance lacks a strong foundation and the second male lead’s constant presence might annoy you throughout. But what works is the hook to get you into the story at the beginning. This leaves you with the anticipation of how the protagonists will change the outcome for the better.

For this review of The Princess Royal, I would give it 7.5/10. It is not too bad overall but could also be much better with a more polished script. As long as you can tolerate the second male lead, the story moves along pretty smoothly. It has typical palace politics but with a fresh angle of second chances to keep things interesting. The romance is not going to be great but the devotion and possessiveness of the male lead might still feel sweet. Overall, The Princess Royal does have many flaws but I think it is still good enough to give it a try.

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