Palace (, lit. Jade Palace Lock Heart) is a 2011 Chinese television series produced by Yu Zheng; starring Yang Mi, Feng Shaofeng, Mickey He and Tong Liya. The series was directed by Lee Wai-chu and starred cast members from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The series was first broadcast on Hunan TV in China from 31 January to 21 February 2011. It is later followed by Palace 2 (Chinese: 宮鎖珠帘) (2012), Palace 3: The Lost Daughter (Chinese: 宫锁连城), and the film The Palace (2013 film).
The series was extremely popular during its run and led to widespread fame for its cast.
Synopsis
Luo Qingchuan (Yang Mi) is a modern day actress. One day she decided to try a romantic role which she has never done before so she scouted around and found a director who intended to direct and produce a romance drama set in the Qing Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor YongZheng.
The rest of the drama is focused on her character becoming embroiled in the princes' struggle for the throne and is torn between her love for Yin Si (Feng Shaofeng), the eighth prince, and Yin Zhen (Mickey He), the fourth prince and future Emperor Yongzheng. She is also betrayed by her friend Tong Suyan (Tong Liya). Caught in the crossfire of political intrigue, her wit and compassion serve her well in her bid to stay alive.
Cast
Main
Yang Mi as Luo Qingchuan
Feng Shaofeng as Yinsi, the 8th prince
Mickey He as Yinzhen, the 4th prince
Tong Liya as Tong Suyan
Supporting
The Imperial Men
Kent Tong as the Kangxi Emperor
Zong Fengyan as Yinreng, the crown prince
Ma Wenlong as Yintang, the 9th prince
Liu Bin as Yin'e, the 10th prince
Tian Zhenwei as Yinxiang, the 13th prince
Mao Zijun as Yinti, the 14th prince
The Imperial Women
Leanne Liu as Consort De
Sonija Kwok as Concubine Xi
Maggie Shiu as Consort Liang / Empress Hešeri
Amber Xu as Jinzhi
Vicki He as Xueru, the Crown princess
Zhang Tong as Princess Bingyue
People of the Palace
Shen Baoping as Longkodo
Wilson Guo as Xiao Shunzi
Lu Jiarong as Fei Cui
Ye Simiao as Jin Momo
Liu Jiayuan as Xin Lian
Lu Yi as Ying Shuang
Yuan Shanshan as Ru Bing
Others
Xi Xue as Princess Ningxiang
He Xianda as Songgotu
Wang Xianghong as Gu Xiaochun (later Nian Gengyao) Li Qindong as Nian Gengyao
Present day
Yan Yikuan as Lin Feifan
Liu Fang as Qingchuan's mother
Zhu Yaying as Lin Feifan's mother
Historical inaccuracies
One historical inaccuracy is that although this is a historical drama, the protagonist Luo Qingchuan was shown wearing yellow even when she was not a member of the imperial household. It is a very serious inaccuracy because in Imperial China, such a disregard could have someone put to death by the Emperor for not respecting this custom.