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| “Let the Man Work!”: Netizens Defend Chen Zheyuan in Yu Zheng’s Latest Controversy "Royal Court Ballad" (Weibo) |
According to YuZheng, Royal Court Ballad was meant to mark the grand comeback of actress Wu Jinyan after a seven-month maternity break. She had already been confirmed as the female lead. But then came the twist: the male lead, reportedly backed by one of the major investors, wasn’t keen on being billed second.
“If we don’t compromise and let Wu Jinyan keep the top billing, the production can’t move forward,” Yu said bluntly.
But in classic Yu Zheng fashion, he didn’t hold back, adding: “I’m not willing to hand over the lead position to that kid.” He didn’t drop a name, but the Internet didn’t need much more to jump to conclusions.
Within hours, Weibo was ablaze with users naming Chen Zheyuan as the so-called “kid.” He’s long rumoured to be the investor-favoured actor in question, and fans of both stars were quick to draw lines in the sand.
Weibo Thinks It’s Chen Zheyuan—But Should It Matter Without Proof?
While Yu Zheng never confirmed anything outright, netizens pieced things together: Chen Zheyuan, recent fan-favourite and rising star, was reportedly in talks for the male lead. So, naturally, the internet assumed he was the one refusing second billing.
But here’s where it gets tricky: there’s been no official confirmation from Chen Zheyuan’s team, nor has the actor himself said a word. Despite that, he’s already facing a digital storm.
“I feel bad for him,” one user wrote. “Filming hasn’t even started, and he’s already being made the villain. If Wu Jinyan could carry this solo, why have they waited so long to secure a male lead? They obviously want a name with pull.”
Another added, “Chen Zheyuan literally just played second male lead in another drama. It’s not that he refuses second billing. It’s the investors who are pushing him for lead. What’s wrong with negotiating your position before signing?”
But Not Everyone’s on His Side…
While some are defending Chen Zheyuan, not everyone is convinced he’s squeaky clean in this mess. One rather sharp comment read: “No wonder he’s called the ‘Crown Prince.’ Always trying to get his way without acknowledging his co-star.”
Another took aim at Yu Zheng himself: “Can Qinglang Operation clean up Yu Zheng first? These types of livestream rants just stir up fan wars. What’s the point?”
And then there’s the theory that Yu Zheng might be using this drama (both literal and figurative) to control the narrative: “Chen (Zheyuan) just finished a second-lead drama, and now suddenly he’s ‘refusing’ second billing? Something doesn’t add up. Maybe Yu’s trying to turn public opinion against him.”
Back to Square One for Royal Court Ballad?
At this point, Royal Court Ballad is stuck in limbo. Wu Jinyan’s long-anticipated return has been overshadowed by a never-ending billing debacle, and fans are beginning to lose patience. The whole thing’s been dragging on for months, and with no confirmed male lead and no filming underway, some are wondering if the drama will ever get made.
To make matters worse, all the behind-the-scenes mess is fuelling fresh fan wars and reigniting tired debates about gender equality in drama billing, investor power, and casting politics in the industry.
Whether Chen Zheyuan is truly involved or just caught in the crossfire, one thing’s clear: Royal Court Ballad has a lot of work to do before it can win back public goodwill—and actually get cameras rolling.