Legend of Lu Zhen
Legend of Lu Zhen is a 2013 Chinese television series based on the novel Female Prime Minister 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.
Synopsis
The story centers on the rise of Lu Zhen from a mere lady-in-waiting to becoming 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 withheld supreme power.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 assets upon her impending marriage, her stepmother Zhao Yinglan schemed to poison her father and attempted to frame Lu Zhen for the murder. When Lu Zhen was acquitted, her stepmother arranged her to marry off as a concubine to an old man so that she could seize the family assets. Lu Zhen fled and was saved by Prince Gao Zhan, who fell in love with Lu Zhen due to her resemblance to his first love Xiao Huan Yun.
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 could 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 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. 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
- Zhao Liying as Lu Zhen
- Chen Xiao as Gao Zhan
- Qiao Renliang as Gao Yan
- Yang Rong as Xiao Huan Yun
- *Yuan Xue Er as child Xiao Huan Yun
- Tang Yixin as Shen Bi
- Maggie Cheung Ho-yee as Lou Qing Qiang
- Emma Wu as He Dan Niang
- Leanne Liu as Lou Zhaojun
- Bai Shan as Yujiulu
- Wang Lin as Zhao Ying Lan
- Yue Yao Li as Lu Jia
- Li Ji Chun as Shen Jia Yan
- Xi Xue as Shen Jia Min
- Jiang Hong as Wang Xuan
- Tao Shuai as Yuan Fu
- Zhang Hao Ran as Yuan Lu
- Li Wen Wen as La Mei
- Li Yi Xiao as Gao Xiang
- Jin Qiaoqiao as Du Hen
- Madina Memet as Du Mei Er
- Liu Jia Yuan as Ling Long
- Lv Jia Rong as Lady of Yue
- Deng Sha as Princess of Yu Yang
- Gao Yunxiang as Xu Xian Xiu
- Han Dong as Li Cheng
Soundtrack
Ratings
| Air date | Weeks | Average ratings | Rank | Episode |
| August 9, 2013 | 1 | 0.35 | 7 | 01-02 |
| August 12th - August 16th, 2013 | 2 | 0.51 | 4 | 03-07 |
| August 19th - August 23rd, 2013 | 3 | 0.74 | 5 | 08-12 |
| August 26th - August 30th, 2013 | 4 | 0.88 | 4 | 13-17 |
| September 02 - September 06, 2013 | 5 | 0.77 | 4 | 18-22 |
| September 09 - September 13, 2013 | 6 | 0.79 | 4 | 23-27 |
| September 16, 2013 - September 20, 2013 | 7 | 0.67 | 4 | 28-32 |
| September 23 - September 27, 2013 | 8 | 0.92 | 5 | 33-37 |
| September 30 - October 04, 2013 | 9 | 1.04 | 4 | 38-42 |
| October 07 - October 09, 2013 | 10 | 1.07 | 4 | 43-45 |
- Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue
Reception