Cast & Character List
Chen Duling as Zhuang Hanyan
Zhuang Hanyan is the third daughter of the prominent Zhuang family, but her early life was far from privileged. Branded with a superstitious "curse" of bringing misfortune to her family, she was abandoned as a child and sent to live in the rural south. There, she endured abuse and hardship. Eventually, she is forced to return to the capital, seemingly a fragile and submissive young woman.
However, beneath her demure exterior lies a sharp mind and a resilient spirit. Hanyan is a master of disguise, employing a "playing the pig to eat the tiger" strategy – appearing weak and harmless to lull her enemies into a false sense of security while she plots her revenge.
Hanyan's journey is one of remarkable transformation. She rises from being a discarded outcast to becoming the "No. 1 Noble Lady of the Capital." Teaming up with Fu Yunxi, she exposes the dark secrets and conspiracies within the Zhuang family. Ultimately, Hanyan breaks free from the constraints of a patriarchal society, achieving a powerful awakening and finding her own voice. She is courageous and kind, and becomes Fu Yunxi's ideal partner.
Xin Yunlai as Fu Yunxi
Fu Yunxi is a man of intriguing contradictions. On the surface, he presents the image of a gentle and refined scholar-official. His demeanor is calm, and he possesses an air of quiet sophistication. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a deeply strategic and calculating mind. He is known for his sharp intellect.
Fu Yunxi suffers from a mysterious illness, which has led him to seek a specific kind of marriage. He isn't looking for love, but rather a practical arrangement. He needs a wife who is capable and virtuous, someone he can trust to manage his household and, more importantly, to secure the future of his family. This is what draws him to Zhuang Hanyan. He sees in her not a romantic partner, but a collaborator. He is attracted to Zhuang Hanyan's courage and kindness. As they work together, their relationship deepens, and they fall in love.
He Hongshan as Zhuang Yushan
Zhuang Yushan is the elder, legitimate half-sister of Zhuang Hanyan. She embodies the outward appearance of a perfect noblewoman within the Zhuang household. Elegant and assertive, Yushan is initially presented as a model of virtue and propriety. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a ruthless and cunning nature.
Driven by ambition and likely resentment, she actively participates in the schemes against her half-sister, Zhuang Hanyan. Yushan plays a key role in orchestrating Hanyan's downfall, designing a trap to push her into a desperate situation. Ultimately, she is outmaneuvered by Hanyan, who uses her own political acumen to counter Yushan's machinations. She is the daughter of Zhuang Shiyang.
Yu Entai as Zhuang Shiyang
Zhuang Shiyang is the patriarch of the powerful Zhuang family and the father of Zhuang Hanyan. He is the central antagonist of the series. On the surface, he presents himself as a virtuous and incorruptible figure. However, this is merely a facade. In reality, he is a master manipulator who abuses his power and authority for personal gain, and he is the core of the family's corruption.
As the ultimate villain, Zhuang Shiyang is the primary target of the protagonists' revenge. He secretly controls the family's influence, creating a direct conflict with the investigation led by Fu Yunxi of the Dali Temple. Ultimately, his crimes are exposed by the combined efforts of Zhuang Hanyan and Fu Yunxi. He represents entrenched corruption and the abuse of power.
Wen Zhengrong as Ruan Xiwen
Ruan Xiwen is the matriarch of the Zhuang family and the biological mother of Zhuang Hanyan. Forced apart from her daughter due to the pressures of her family and the rigid societal expectations of the time, Ruan Xiwen is a complex and reserved character.
She embodies the tragedy of women under the constraints of feudalistic traditions. Her personality is marked by a quiet endurance and internal conflict. However, influenced by her daughter, she begins a journey of awakening later, and she reconciles with her daughter.
Wang Yan as Zhou Ruyin
Zhou Ruyin is the seemingly gentle concubine of the Zhuang family patriarch, and the mother of Zhuang Yushan. However, beneath her mild exterior lies a cunning and manipulative mind. She is a key participant in the schemes against the protagonist, Zhuang Hanyan, even colluding with her own son, Yushan, to bring about Hanyan's downfall.
Ultimately, her machinations backfire, and she is outmaneuvered by the very woman she sought to destroy. Zhou Ruyin is the personification that the quiet ones are the most dangerous.
