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| Qian Ye Qi Tan Cast, Plot and Release Details: Li Landi and He Yu Join Psychic Princess Adaptation |
Li Landi and He Yu are reportedly heading into their next major Chinese drama together, with the pair set to lead Qian Ye Qi Tan (千夜奇谭), an upcoming costume fantasy romance adapted from the popular manhua Tong Ling Fei (Psychic Princess). The project is expected to begin filming in Hengdian on 20 August 2026, turning what was once a circulating casting rumour into one of the more closely watched new costume dramas of the summer.
The drama is planned for 30 episodes and is being produced by Wajijiwa, with Tencent Video attached as its broadcast platform. Zhao Yilong, known for his work on Chinese fantasy productions including Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, is set to direct the series, while reports indicate that filming will take place in Hengdian over roughly 100 days.
An official release date has not yet been announced, so viewers will have to wait a little longer before knowing when this particular palace turns its doors over to supernatural chaos.
The casting of Li Landi and He Yu has attracted particular attention because the two actors will be taking on a relationship that is considerably less peaceful than the usual polished costume-drama romance.
Li Landi is expected to play Qian Yunxi, while He Yu takes the role of Prince Ye Youming, placing them at the centre of a story built around forced proximity, political complications and two people who appear to have very different ideas about how much patience a palace should reasonably require.
Reports surrounding the production have gathered momentum after the actors' August work schedules pointed towards the project. A recent report placed the first day of filming on 20 August 2026, while Li Landi's official fan support team has reportedly announced plans for support activities around the Hengdian shoot.
He Yu has also been linked to the project in recent reports, with his involvement strengthening expectations that the pair will soon begin working together on the adaptation.
Qian Ye Qi Tan is based on Tong Ling Fei, written by Rou Rou, a manhua that mixes historical fantasy, supernatural elements and comedy rather freely. Rather than offering another perfectly composed noble heroine who spends most of her time worrying about palace etiquette, the story puts Qian Yunxi at the centre of the action, a modern office worker who suddenly finds herself inside a game-like world and living as a noblewoman with an unusual ability to communicate with spirits.
That setup gives Qian Yunxi an immediate advantage over the people around her, although it also creates quite a few opportunities for trouble. She possesses psychic abilities, communicates with supernatural beings and has strong martial arts skills, but she is hardly interested in behaving like the obedient aristocratic heroine everyone expects her to be.
Her independence and rebellious personality make her a rather inconvenient addition to the palace, particularly for people who would prefer their noblewomen to remain quiet and predictable.
Her situation becomes even more complicated when she is pushed into a political marriage with Ye Youming, a prince portrayed as cold, proud and deeply suspicious of her family.
The marriage does not exactly begin with the sort of romantic atmosphere that would make a wedding planner proud. After being left alone on her wedding night, Qian Yunxi has little reason to trust her new husband and even less reason to follow the rules surrounding her new position.
That is where the drama's enemies-to-lovers dynamic is expected to take over. Qian Yunxi and Ye Youming are not instantly swept away by romance. Instead, their relationship develops through arguments, suspicion, competition and a steady battle over who gets to have the final word. Naturally, the answer is probably neither of them, because that would make things far too easy.
The appeal of the central pairing should come from the contrast between the two characters. Ye Youming begins as the controlled and intimidating prince who appears to have everything under control, while Qian Yunxi arrives with supernatural abilities, martial arts skills and absolutely no interest in making his life easier.
Her unpredictable behaviour gradually disrupts the carefully controlled environment around him, forcing the prince to reconsider both her intentions and his own feelings.
The fantasy side of Qian Ye Qi Tan should also give the series plenty to work with. Qian Yunxi can communicate with spirits, ghosts and deities, meaning the palace is unlikely to remain a place where everyone spends their time discussing court matters over tea.
Her supernatural companions and unusual abilities are expected to become an important part of the story, while her martial arts skills give her another way to deal with problems when diplomatic patience has clearly left the building.
Comedy is another major part of what viewers can expect. The original story leans into exaggerated situations, physical humour and the kind of misunderstandings that can turn a relatively ordinary palace problem into complete mayhem.
The adaptation therefore has plenty of room to balance its darker fantasy setting with lighter moments, particularly through Qian Yunxi's refusal to behave according to expectations.
That tone could be one of the biggest attractions of the drama. Chinese costume fantasies can often become heavy with palace intrigue, tragic revelations and characters staring dramatically into the middle distance, but Qian Ye Qi Tan has a more playful foundation.
Its supernatural elements, unusual heroine and combative central romance give it the potential to move quickly between fantasy action, comedy and romantic tension without taking itself too seriously.
Some viewers are excited to see Li Landi and He Yu paired together, particularly because their characters offer plenty of room for bickering and gradual emotional development.
Others remain cautious about the live-action adaptation, especially with Psychic Princess already having an established following among manhua fans. For that audience, the challenge will be seeing whether the drama can preserve the comic's distinctive humour and eccentric energy rather than turning it into another overly polished palace romance.
There is also plenty of curiosity around how Li Landi will approach Qian Yunxi's chaotic personality and whether He Yu can make Ye Youming's initially distant prince convincing without losing the character's comedic potential. Their chemistry will be crucial because so much of the story depends on the pair constantly getting under each other's skin before that tension begins to shift into something warmer.
For now, Qian Ye Qi Tan looks like a promising combination of costume fantasy, supernatural adventure and chaotic romance, with a 30-episode story led by two actors who could have plenty of fun with its unconventional characters. With filming reportedly approaching on 20 August, attention will soon turn to the first costume photos, official character announcements and eventually the release date. Are you looking forward to seeing Li Landi and He Yu together, and do you think Psychic Princess can work as a live-action drama?