Tale of power and redemption

Zhao Jinmai stars as Princess Li Rong in the Chinese costume drama The Princess Royal. CHINA DAILY

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."

This famous line from William Shakespeare's play Henry IV is often used to describe the burdens and difficulties of leadership. The same is true of a Chinese princess.

Following the story of a princess and her consort in a fictional dynasty, where a miracle gives them a second chance at life, the Chinese costume drama The Princess Royal has dominated social media discussions since its debut on the Chinese streaming platform Youku in June.

Hashtags related to the drama have garnered more than 2 billion views on Sina Weibo, a social media platform that tracks popularity levels in China. The drama has also extended its reach to international markets and is currently available on overseas platforms, including Netflix and Viki, resonating with viewers across over 190 countries and regions.

"This is undoubtedly a must-watch drama. Can't get enough of it," commented a netizen overseas.

So, how has The Princess Royal captured the hearts of today's global audience?

The drama is an adaptation of a popular web novel by Moshubai (pseudonym), which has already been translated and published in Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries. The twisting storyline revolves around Li Rong, a princess of a royal family who wants to fight for power and change her destiny.

Like many princesses in real history, Li is forced into an arranged marriage with her consort, Pei Wenxuan, for political reasons. After living with resentment caused by misunderstandings for two decades, they were both killed in a palace intrigue involving a power struggle for the throne.

However, death is not the end of their lives but the start of a new journey.

A miracle occurs, rewinding the clock to the time when Li and Pei first met, but with the memories of their past lives. Armed with the knowledge of her future, Li is determined to rewrite her destiny and get to the bottom of a series of royal conspiracies.