''Palace II'' (, lit. ''Locked Beaded Curtain'') is a 2012 Chinese television series written and produced by
Yu Zheng and directed by Lee Wai-chu. It is a sequel to the 2011 television series ''
Palace
A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...
''. The series was first broadcast on
HBS in China from 20 January to 8 February 2012. It was followed by ''
Palace 3: The Lost Daughter'' (), and the film ''
The Palace (2013 film)'', otherwise known as ''The Palace: Lock Sinensis'' ().
Synopsis
Luo Qingchuan, the time travelling protagonist in ''
Palace
A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...
'', has returned from the
Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
to the 21st century together with the eighth prince
Yinsi, and they are married. Yinsi experiences difficulty in adapting to modern life, and Qingchuan is not doing well in her antique-selling business. Qingchuan changes her career and becomes a screenwriter. Her first story, based on her time travelling experience, is adapted into the popular television series ''Palace''. Qingchuan is skyrocketed to fame, and she starts writing a sequel. One day, while on the set of ''Palace II'', Qingchuan suddenly remembers that she and Yinsi are celebrating their wedding anniversary on that day. She declines to be the lead actress and recommends Lian'er, who is playing a supporting role, to be her replacement. The director considers carefully and eventually agrees to the suggestion.
''Palace II'' is set in the Qing dynasty during the reign of the
Yongzheng Emperor
The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), also known by his temple name Emperor Shizong of Qing, personal name Yinzhen, was the fourth List of emperors of the Qing dynasty, emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing em ...
. Lian'er meets the 17th prince
Yinli and they start a romantic relationship. However just as they are planning to get wed, Yinli is forced to give up on Lian'er in order to save his mentor
Alingga, and he marries Alingga's daughter Jiajia instead. The heartbroken Lian'er wishes to leave the palace and lead a normal life, but she finds herself embroiled in complex circumstances: the official
Li Wei proposes an alliance with her; the eunuch Su Peisheng wants to repay her kindness; her close friend Yushu betrays her.
Lian'er realises that although the members of the imperial household appear to get along harmoniously, they are actually constantly plotting against each other, and she is torn between rivaling factions. By coincidence, she catches the attention of the Yongzheng Emperor and rises through the ranks to become
Consort Xi, and a stepmother to Yongzheng's son
Hongli. At this point Lian'er discovers that she is now in a more complicated situation with various lurking dangers. By choosing to persevere and remain faithful to herself, believing that she can weather the storm, she eventually overcomes all odds and earns herself the dignity and respect she deserves.
Cast
Main
*
Yuan Shanshan as Niuhuru Lian'er,
Consort Xi, the protagonist.
*
Du Chun as
Yinli, the 17th prince.
*
Mickey He
He Shengming (born He Min on July 9, 1976) is a Chinese actor and singer. Born in Xiantao, Hubei, He moved to Guangzhou, Guangdong in the early 1990s to pursue a music career. Along with Peng Liang and Yang Guang, they formed the boy band China ...
as Yinzhen, the fourth prince who becomes the
Yongzheng Emperor
The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), also known by his temple name Emperor Shizong of Qing, personal name Yinzhen, was the fourth List of emperors of the Qing dynasty, emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing em ...
.
** Han Zixuan as young Yinzhen
*
Shu Chang as Bo Haitang, Concubine Yun. She is Concubine Wan and Xixiang's rival. Shu Chang simultaneously played Bo Mudan, Haitang's twin sister.
*
Jenny Zhang as Genggiya Yushu, Concubine Yu. She was originally Lian'er's friend but later became her foe. The character is based on
Imperial Noble Consort Chunque.
*
Yang Rong as Xugiya Xixiang, Noble Lady Qian. She is Concubine Wan's cousin and Concubine Yun's rival. The character is based on
Consort Qian.
*
Sun Feifei as Ula Nara Zhen'er, Lian'er's friend and love rival. The character is based on
Empress Xiaojingxian
Empress Xiaojingxian (28 June 1681 – 29 October 1731) of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Ula Nara clan, was the primary wife of the Yongzheng Emperor. She was empress consort of Qing from 1723 until her death in 1731, and was posthumously hon ...
.
Supporting
*
Michelle Bai
Bai Bing (; born 2 May 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer.
Bai is noted for her roles as Xue Baochai and Princess Yushu in the television series '' The Dream of Red Mansions'' (2010) and '' The Myth'' (2010) respectively.
Early life and ed ...
as Geng Shuwan, Concubine Wan. She is Xixiang's cousin and Concubine Yun's rival. The character is based on
Consort Ning.
*
Leanne Liu as
Consort De, the deceased empress dowager. She was the birth mother of Yinzhen and Yinti.
*
Tien Niu as Grand Consort Qin, the birth mother of Yinli.
*
Michelle Yim as Bo Yun, a prostitute, and mother of Haitang and Mudan.
* Hai Lu as Niuhuru Jiajia, Yinli's wife.
*
Kent Tong as
Alingga, Jiajia's father. He is a mentor and father-in-law to Yinli.
*
Bao Bei'er as Su Peisheng, a high-ranking eunuch.
* Wei Qianxiang as
Yinti, the 14th prince.
* Ma Wenlong as Ula Nara Zhalantai, Zhen'er's younger brother and Xixiang's lover.
* Li Man as Jingiya Xiuli, Concubine Xiu, Hongli's birth mother. The character is based on
Consort Qi.
* Wang Yang as
Li Wei, the minister of justice and Concubine Yun's lover.
*
Chen Xiao as Yinxi, the 19th prince.
* Jiang Ruijia as Niuhuru Rong'er, Yinxi's wife and Lian'er's younger sister.
* Zhou Shaodong as Niuhuru Lingzhu, father of Lian'er and Rong'er.
* Liu Fang as Guwalgiya Yuying, Lingzhu's wife, and mother of Lian'er and Rong'er.
* Chen Xu as Hongli, the Yongzheng Emperor's son and future
Qianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 17117 February 1799), also known by his temple name Emperor Gaozong of Qing, personal name Hongli, was the fifth Emperor of China, emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China pr ...
.
** Han Zixuan as young Hongli
* Zhao Jingyu as Daniu, Concubine Wan's daughter.
* Liu Bin as Yin'e, the 10th prince.
* Sun Jian as Li Qingxi, a eunuch.
* Ru Ping as Erma, Yinli's nanny.
* Shen Baoping as
Zhang Tingyu, a minister.
* Yang Yaotian as Xiongkui, a mysterious man.
* Hao Ziming as Zeng Jing
* Shao Min as Xiuchun
* Ai Long as Yuanshou
* Wang Lin as Panchun
* Xue Jianing as Wenyue
* Li Xiang as Mrs Zhang
* Xia Yang as Bingyan
* Luo Ting as Wu Yong
* Zeng Zhen as Xuezhen
* Lü Jiarong as Shuangshuang
* Zhao Jinjun as a eunuch
* Marco Li as Commander Cui
Special appearances
*
Yang Mi
Yang Mi ( zh, s= 杨幂, t=, p=, born 12 September 1986), also known as Mini Yang, is a Chinese actress and singer. She began her career as a child actress in '' Tang Ming Huang'' (1990) and transitioned to adult roles in the 2000s, gaining recogni ...
as Luo Qingchuan, the protagonist of ''Palace''. Yang Mi simultaneously played Huaying, a palace maid.
*
Feng Shaofeng as
Yinsi, the eighth prince who traveled through time to the 21st century together with Qingchuan and married her.
*
Zanilia Zhao as Tunggiya Baihe, an assassin planning to kill the Yongzheng Emperor.
*
Sonija Kwok as herself, a Hong Kong actress who guest stars in the last episode.
Soundtrack
Awards
References
External links
*
''Palace 2'' official pageon Hunan TV's website
*
on
Sina.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palace II
2012 Chinese television series debuts
Television series set in the Qing dynasty
Sequel television series
Television shows written by Yu Zheng
Hunan Television dramas
Chinese historical television series
Chinese romance television series
Television series by H&R Century Pictures
Qianlong Emperor
Television series by Huanyu Film