Legend of Lu Zhen | |||||||
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Also known as | Female Prime Minister | ||||||
Chinese name | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | 陸貞傳奇 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 陆贞传奇 | ||||||
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Genre | Historical fiction Romance | ||||||
Based on | Female Prime Minister by Zhang Wei | ||||||
Written by | Zhang Wei | ||||||
Directed by | Li Huizhu Zheng Wei'en Liang Guoguan | ||||||
Starring | Zhao Liying Chen Xiao Qiao Renliang Yang Rong Tang Yixin Maggie Cheung Ho-yee | ||||||
Opening theme | Cherish by Li Yuchun | ||||||
Ending theme | Mood by Zanilia Zhao and Chen Xiao | ||||||
Country of origin | China | ||||||
Original language | Mandarin | ||||||
No. of episodes | 59 | ||||||
Production | |||||||
Executive producers | Yu Zheng Mu Xiaohui | ||||||
Production location | Hengdian World Studios | ||||||
Production companies | Perfect World Hunan Broadcasting System Yu Zheng Studio | ||||||
Original release | |||||||
Network | Hunan Television | ||||||
Release | 5 May 29 May 2013 | –
Legend of Lu Zhen (Chinese: 陆贞传奇) is a 2013 Chinese television series based on the novel Female Prime Minister (女相) by Zhang Wei. Directed by Li Huizhu, Zheng Wei'en and Liang Guoguan and produced by Yu Zheng and Mu Xiaohui, the series stars Zhao Liying and Chen Xiao. It was first broadcast on 5 May 2013 in China and subsequently aired in other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.
The story centres on the rise of Lu Zhen (Zhao Liying) from a mere lady-in-waiting to prime minister during the Northern Qi dynasty. The character of Lu Zhen is based on Lu Lingxuan, a lady-in-waiting of Northern Qi that grew very powerful.
Lu Zhen was the elder ambitious daughter of the Lu family, who successfully ran the family porcelain business, much to her father's delight and her stepmother's jealousy. Afraid of Lu Zhen taking away family assets upon her impending marriage, her stepmother Zhao Yinglan schemes to poison her father and attempts to frame Lu Zhen for the murder. When Lu Zhen is acquitted, her stepmother arranges to marry her off as a concubine to an old man so that she can seize the family assets. Lu Zhen flees and is saved by Prince Gao Zhan (Chen Xiao), who falls in love with Lu Zhen due to her resemblance to his first love Xiao Huan Yun (Yang Rong).
Gao Zhan faced the same family problem; when his father died, Empress Lou usurped his succession to the throne so that her own son and Gao Zhan's elder half-brother, Prince Yan (Qiao Renliang) could become emperor. Though Gao Zhan's connection, Lu Zhen entered the palace to become a maid, with the aim to rise to a sixth rank female official so that she could appeal to the supreme court to re-investigate her father's murder. Amidst the constant scheming between Prince Zhan and Empress Lou in the fight to claim the throne, Lu Zhen managed to gain the emperor's support and rise through the ranks with her hard work, intelligence, and luck. She then helped Prince Gao Zhan claim his rightful throne, but could not be his empress due to certain circumstances. Gao Zhan instead conferred her the title of prime minister upon his ascension, which is the highest position in the court so that she could best exercise her talent and aid him in ruling the country.
Imperial Family
People in the Palace [lady officials, eunuchs, servants]
Lu Family
Shen Family
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singers | Length |
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1. | "Cherish (珍惜)" (Opening theme) | Yu Zheng | Tan Xuan | Li Yuchun | |
2. | "Mood (心情)" (Ending theme) | Yu Zheng | Tan Xuan | Zhao Liying & Chen Xiao |
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Air date | Weeks | Average ratings | Rank | Episode |
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August 9, 2013 | 1 | 0.35 | 7 | 01-02 |
August 12–16, 2013 | 2 | 0.51 | 4 | 03-07 |
August 19–23, 2013 | 3 | 0.74 | 5 | 08-12 |
August 26–30, 2013 | 4 | 0.88 | 4 | 13-17 |
September 2–6, 2013 | 5 | 0.77 | 4 | 18-22 |
September 9–13, 2013 | 6 | 0.79 | 4 | 23-27 |
September 16, 2013 - September 20, 2013 | 7 | 0.67 | 4 | 28-32 |
September 23–27, 2013 | 8 | 0.92 | 5 | 33-37 |
September 30 - October 4, 2013 | 9 | 1.04 | 4 | 38-42 |
October 7–9, 2013 | 10 | 1.07 | 4 | 43-45 |
The series was the 8th highest rated drama of 2013 with an average rating of 1.944 (CMS46).[2] It is also well-received by South Korea viewers and led to increased recognition for Chen Xiao in the region.[3][4][5]
Year | Award | Category | Winner | Result |
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2013 | China TV Drama Awards | Top 10 Television Series | Won | |
Best New Actress | Zhao Liying | Won | ||
Asia Rainbow TV Awards | Actor with the Most Potential | Chen Xiao | Won | |
LeTV Awards | Most Popular Actress | Zhao Liying | Won | |
Tudou Young Choice Awards | Most Popular Actress (Mainland) | Won | ||
Most Popular Actor (Mainland) | Chen Xiao | Won | ||
2014 | Huading Awards | Best New Actor | Nominated | |
Best New Actress | Zhao Liying | Nominated |