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| Viewers Prefer the Drama Over the Novel in The Prisoner of Beauty’s Bold Adaptation |
The Chinese drama scene just dropped a bombshell, and no one saw it coming this big. Tencent’s newest historical heavyweight, The Prisoner of Beauty (also known as “Zhe Yao”), took off like a rocket—scooping up that No.1 spot across multiple streaming charts and even leapfrogging over Xiao Zhan’s new release, Zang Hai Zhuan. Yep, it’s that serious.
Starring Liu Yuning and Song Zuer as the newest on-screen power duo, this drama snagged 3 billion views in just its first week. And the wildest part? It’s a major rewrite of the original novel by Penglai Ke—and fans actually prefer the drama version. Talk about flipping the script.
💥 Plot With Bite: Marriage, Politics & a Bit of Old-School Vengeance
At the heart of Zhe Yao is a juicy “married first, fall in love later” setup. Xiao Qiao (Song Zuer), brainy and bold, gets hitched to Wei Shao (Liu Yuning), a sharp but chilly young lord from the rival Wei clan. Their wedding? More about cooling down family feuds than romance.
At first, it’s all power plays and mutual distrust. But slowly, their icy relationship thaws—and we’re talking slo-mo, tension-filled, eye-contact-heavy kind of thaw. Amidst political chaos, betrayals, and danger on all sides, their bond evolves from strategy to real feels. Think enemies-to-lovers with historical drip.
🧠 Smarter Characters, Sharper Drama
What really set tongues wagging is how much the drama switched up the main characters. In the book, Wei Shao was more of a jerk—domineering, emotionally cold, and full of toxic energy. Some readers even called it a “dynasty-era red flag situation.”
But drama Wei Shao? Still a firm leader, but way more emotionally layered. He’s careful, surprisingly considerate, and throws in just enough warmth to melt the coldest of hearts. Meanwhile, Xiao Qiao went from damsel in distress to total game-player. She’s tactical, takes initiative, and even pulls off a wild move—burning down a food supply warehouse to save civilians. Legendary.
🎭 Liu Yuning & Song Zuer: First-Time Pair, Full-Time Fire
Liu Yuning and Song Zuer had never worked together before, but you wouldn’t guess that watching Zhe Yao. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Whether it's sharp-tongued banter or quiet, longing glances, their scenes crackle with real tension.
Fans are eating it up, with sweet moments and emotional blowouts going viral on social. The internet’s already shipping them like crazy—and with good reason. This isn’t your typical “slow burn”—it’s a full-on emotional BBQ.
📈 Comeback Queen & The Costume King
For Song Zuer, this show is a major bounce back. After a rocky patch with previous projects and some drama off-screen, Zhe Yao’s success is putting her firmly back in the spotlight. She even posted a mini-celebration when the drama’s popularity index shot past 30,000 on Tencent.
Liu Yuning, on the other hand, is cruising full-speed ahead. After hits like A Journey to Love and The Story of Pearl Girl, he’s proving he’s not just a vocalist—he’s basically the king of historical drama swagger now. That height, that presence, that soft-but-steely gaze? Certified costume drama royalty.
🎬 Final Word
The Prisoner of Beauty might’ve taken some bold liberties with its source material, but it’s clear the gamble paid off. With a smart script, tight pacing (no dragged-out filler here), swoon-worthy visuals, and actors giving it their all, it’s not just another period piece—it’s a full-on phenomenon.
If you haven’t jumped on the Zhe Yao train yet, now’s the time. Just don’t blame us if you end up binge-watching ‘til 3AM.