Also known as Female Prime Minister Written by Zhang Wei Final episode date 29 May 2013 Network Hunan Television | Based on Female Prime Minister First episode date 5 May 2013 Number of episodes 59 Executive producer Yu Zheng | |
 | ||
Genre Historical fiction
Romance Directed by Li Huizhu
Zheng Wei'en
Liang Guoguan Starring Zhao Liying
Chen Xiao
Kimi Qiao
Yang Rong
Tang Yixin
Maggie Cheung Cast Zanilia Zhao Li Ying, Gui Gui Similar Palace, The Legend of Chasing, The Journey of Flower, Boss & Me, Palace II | ||
Legend of Lu Zhen or Female Prime Minister (Chinese: 陆贞传奇) is a 2013 Chinese historical romance television series. 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 broadcast in other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.
Contents
Plot
The story centers on the rise of Lu Zhen (Zhao Liying) from a mere lady-in-waiting to becoming prime minister during the Northern Qi dynasty.
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 much of the family asset upon her impending marriage, her stepmother schemed to poison her father and attempted to frame Zhen for the murder. When Lu Zhen was acquitted, her stepmother arranged her to marry off as a concubine so that she could seize the family asset. Lu Zhen fled and was saved by Prince Gao Zhan (Chen Xiao), who would become the love of her life. 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 half-brother, Prince Yan (Kimi Qiao) would become emperor. Through Gao Zhan's connection, Lu Zhen entered the palace to become a maid, with the aim to rise to sixth rank female official so that she could appeal to the supreme court to re-investigate her father's murder. Amidst the constant scheming from 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. Emperor Zhan instead conferred her the title of prime minister, which is the highest position in the court so that she could best exercise her talent and aid him in ruling the country.
Cast
Production
This television series shot the scene in Hengdian World Studios, Zhejiang.
Critical response
The television series received mixed reviews, but got high ratings in its home country.
Broadcasting rights to the show were also sold to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, and achieved high ratings in South Korea.