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| “The Prisoner of Beauty” Surpasses “Legend of Zang Hai” in Popularity—Here’s Why Everyone’s Obsessed |
The battle of C-dramas is heating up, and surprisingly, The Prisoner of Beauty has come out on top, outshining heavy-hitter Legend of Zang Hai—even with mega-star Xiao Zhan leading the latter.
Starring Liu Yuning and Song Zuer, The Prisoner of Beauty (also known as Zhe Yao) has captured the hearts of drama lovers across China and beyond, and its popularity is skyrocketing fast. But what makes this drama so irresistible?
Let’s start with the lead: Liu Yuning plays Wei Shao, a battle-hardened general with ice in his veins and a fire in his heart. Carrying the trauma of a brutal betrayal and the destruction of his family, Wei Shao lives for revenge—until fate hands him a wife from the very family that wronged him.
That wife? None other than Xiao Qiao, played by the ever-charming Song Zuer. Their complicated marriage turns into an emotional rollercoaster filled with tension, forgiveness, and (of course) slow-burn romance that viewers can’t get enough of.
🎭 Acting Power + Onscreen Magic
This drama isn’t just surviving on pretty costumes and high production—Liu Yuning brings serious acting chops. Fans still remember him from A Journey to Love and The Legend of Pearl Girl, but Zhe Yao is proof he’s in his prime now. With this role, he’s officially become a “Three Crown King”—topping costume drama rankings on Tencent, iQiyi, and Youku. That’s a triple crown no male actor has touched in the last five years.
Meanwhile, Song Zuer is enjoying a stunning comeback. After being briefly sidelined over tax-related controversies, she’s bounced back stronger than ever. Her nuanced performance as Xiao Qiao has earned her tons of praise, with some fans calling her “the modern Zhao Liying.”
💖 Viral Moments That Melted the Internet
A huge part of The Prisoner of Beauty’s success? The insane chemistry between its leads—and the internet can’t stop talking about it.
One moment that broke the internet happened on May 20, a day known as “520” in China (a kind of unofficial Valentine’s Day). During a livestream promo, Liu Yuning and Song Zuer played a no-hands plastic hoop game. Let’s just say—it got intimate.
The pair had to move a ring using only their mouths, and the close body contact, intense eye contact, and awkward-cute smiles had viewers squealing. Some fans even said it was “sweeter than anything in the actual drama,” with comments like “This is realer than the script!” flying across Weibo.
The height difference didn’t go unnoticed either—Liu (189 cm) carefully guiding Song (165 cm) through the game made the moment feel straight out of a romantic webtoon.
🧠 Not Just Romance: Deep Drama & Political Intrigue
But Zhe Yao isn’t just fluff. The story goes hard on political drama, betrayal, and emotional growth. Wei Shao must not only win wars but lead a nation—side-by-side with the daughter of his sworn enemy. His internal struggles, moments of vulnerability, and the slow path toward healing give the show serious emotional weight.
As the drama crosses the halfway mark of its 36-episode run, plotlines are intensifying and character arcs are deepening. The public is clearly hooked, and many are already calling it the hit drama of 2025.
🏆 Final Verdict?
With viral promo moments, mature performances, and a gripping love-meets-politics storyline, The Prisoner of Beauty has everything it needs to be this year’s most talked-about historical romance.
Liu Yuning isn’t just leading a hit drama—he’s leading a whole wave of fan obsession. At this point? He’s not just Wei Shao. He is the new Ancient Drama King, and nobody’s dethroning him anytime soon.