''Monarch Industry'' (, also dubbed ''The Rebel Princess'') is a 2021 Chinese fictional

costume drama Costume is the distinctive style of clothing, dress and/or cosmetics, makeup of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, occupation, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch—in short, culture. The term also was traditionally used ...

. This drama is adapted from MeiYuZhe’s novel ''Di Wang Ye'', and stars

Zhang Ziyi Zhang Ziyi (; ; born 9 February 1979), sometimes credited Ziyi Zhang, is a Chinese actress, known for playing independent and strong-willed characters. Born and raised in Beijing, Zhang was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in 1996. Th ...

, Zhou Yiwei,

Tony Yang Tony Yang (; born 30 August 1982) is a Taiwanese actor who rose to prominence for his debut film role in ''Formula 17'' (2004), for which he won the Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer The Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer () ...

Kara Wai Kara Wai Ying-hung BBS (; born 3 February 1960) is a Hong Kong actress best known internationally for her roles in wuxia films produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s and 1980s. Wai has since portrayed a wide range of roles on screen ...

, and

Angie Chiu Angie Chiu Ngar Chi (; born 15 November 1954) is a Hong Kong actress, and was the third runner up in the 1973 Miss Hong Kong pageant. Early life In 1954, Chiu was born in Hong Kong. In 1971, Chiu graduated from Shung Tak Catholic English Colle ...

. The drama was filmed between February and November 2018. It began broadcasting on Changsha News Channel on 8 January 2021, and on

Youku Youku Tudou Inc. (formerly Youku Inc.), doing business as Youku (), is a video streaming service and former video sharing website based in Beijing, China. It operates as a subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Limited. Youku has its headquart ...

on January 9, 2021.

Synopsis

The story is set against the fictional Cheng Dynasty involving the imperial Ma family and the noble clans;

Wang clan of Langya The Wang clan of Langya (or Langye) () was a Chinese clan which gained political prominence during the Han dynasty and became one of the most powerful non-imperial clans during the Eastern Jin period. History Origins According to the New Book o ...

and

Xie clan of Chen The Xie clan of Chen Commandery () was a prominent clan, originating in Chen Commandery (modern-day Zhoukou, Henan). First rising to prominence in the Eastern Jin period, they retained their importance throughout the Southern dynasties in the Nor ...

. The royal family is supported by both the Wang and Xie clans for generations which results in recurring clashes for power whilst disregarding the wellbeing of the common people. Wang Xuan (played by Zhang Ziyi), and her first love, the third prince, Ma Zitan (played by Tony Yang), are childhood sweethearts that are madly in love. They wish to get married but are faced with multiple setbacks because of a prophecy that states, "to acquire a lady from the Wang clan is to obtain the world." Wang Xuan is ultimately coerced into marrying an accomplished general from the peasant class, Xiao Qi (played by Zhou Yiwei) who was bestowed the title Prince of Yuzhang. Xiao Qi is well aware that he commands 200,000 Ningshuo soldiers and is at risk of becoming a pawn in the struggle for power. He takes an extreme measure to avoid this by abruptly rushing out of the capital in the middle of the wedding banquet, leaving Wang Xuan ashamed, disheartened and insulted. The two were separated due to the awkward start of their marriage amidst rising political turmoil. Wang Xuan is eventually moved by Xiao Qi's ambition to bring peace and prosperity to the common people. She finally decides to accept Xiao Qi who provides her with the freedom she is used to as she discovers her own calling and learns to cope with her prestigious yet complicated family, maturing into a lady in her own right. They gradually fall in love while overcoming various conflicting identities/roles/responsibilities, ethical dilemmas and political schemes to create a new era of stability.

Cast

Main

as Wang Xuan (A’Wu), Princess Shangyang → the Princess Consort of Yuzhang ** The daughter of Wang Lin and Princess Jinmin * Zhou Yiwei as Xiao Qi, the General of the Ningshuo Army → the Prince of Yuzhang → the Prince Regent *

as Ma Zitan, the third prince → the Prince of Anping → the Emperor ** The third son of the Emperor by Noble Consort Xie

Supporting

The Imperial Family

* Heidi Wang as the late Empress Dowager Xiaomu * Jiang Kai as Ma Yao, the Emperor * Shi Ke as Wang Huanxi, the Empress → the Empress Dowager ** Wang Lin's younger sister; the mother of the Crown Prince *

as Noble Consort Xie ** Xie Yuan's younger sister; the mother of Zitan * Guo Jiaming as Ma Zilong, the Crown Prince → the Emperor ** The eldest son of the Emperor by Empress Wang * Zuo Xiaoqing as Xie Wanru, Princess Yifang → the Crown Princess → the Empress ** The daughter of Xie Yuan *

Purba Rgyal Purba Rgyal (; born July 8, 1985), also known as Pu Bajia ( zh, c=蒲巴甲, p=Pú Bājiǎ), is a Chinese singer and actor of Tibetan ethnicity. Life Early life Purba Rgyal was born on July 8, 1985, in Jinchuan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang ...

as Ma Zilü, the second prince ** The second son of the Emperor by a lowly consort

The Wang clan of Langya

* Yu Hewei as Wang Lin, the Duke of Jing; the Prime Minister * Zhang Xingzhe as Wang Xu ** Wang Lin's younger brother *

as Ma Jinruo, Princess Jinmin ** The Emperor's younger sister; Wang Lin's wife; the mother of Wang Su and Princess Shangyang * Jia Yiping as Wang Su, the heir to the Duke of Jing → the Prince of Jiangxia ** The son of Wang Lin and Princess Jinmin * Chen Jinru as Princess Huan Mi, the heiress consort of Jing ** The daughter of Huan Changde; Wang Su's wife * Ceng Yixuan as Wang Qian, Princess Consort Tuo →Queen of Hulan ** Wang Xuan's cousin * Liu Yun as Su Jin'er, Princess Shangyang's maid → Noble Consort *

Sui Yuan Sui Yuan (; born 8 May 1992) is a Chinese actress and dancer of Tibetan ethnicity. Early life and education Sui was born in the city of Haikou in Hainan on 1992. Her father was from Shandong, while her mother, a dancer of Tibetan ethnicity, was ...

as Xiao Yuxiu, Princess Shangyang's maid → the Countess of Suyi ° Xiao Qi's adoptive sister * * Cao Jun as Pang Gui, leader of the covert guards of the Wang clan who is loyal to Wang Xuan

The Imperial Court

* Jiang Tao as Marquess Xie Yuan * Zheng Wang as Wen Zongshen * Li Jianxin as Huan Changde, the Duke of Jingyuan * Liu Duan Duan as Song Huai'en, a lieutenant in the Ningshuo Army → the Count of Suyi * Hou Xiao as Hu Guanglie, a lieutenant in the Ningshuo Army * Hai Ling as Hu Yao, a lieutenant in the Ningshuo Army ** Hu Guanglie's younger sister * Peng Bo as Tang Jing, a lieutenant in the Ningshuo Army * Li Yuxuan as Mu Lian

Hulan tribe

* Yuan Hong as Helan Zhen ** The illegitimate son of the King of Hulan * Wang Ruolin as Helan Tuo ** The nephew of the King of Hulan

Critical reception

The drama was highly anticipated as it was Zhang Ziyi's first foray into television dramas. Chinese netizens criticized that Zhang, who was 38 years old during the production, was portraying a 15-year-old person at the beginning of the show.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 13795432, Shang Yang Fu 2021 Chinese television series debuts Chinese historical television series Chinese romance television series Mandarin-language television shows