LayarHijau – Ao Ruipeng and Li Landi soared to fame after co-starring in the historical detective drama Coroner’s Diary (朝雪录), which became one of iQiyi’s biggest surprise hits of the summer season. Initially, the two were rumored to reunite in the upcoming drama The Early Spring (早春晴朗), but recent reports suggest that role has gone to Pang Guanying and Sun Qian. Instead, Ao and Li are now in talks to reunite in the modern romance drama My Queen, My Rules (不二之臣).
Adapted from a popular Jinjiang romance novel, My Queen, My Rules follows a couple locked in a contract marriage who begin as strangers putting on a façade, only to develop genuine feelings over time. Ao Ruipeng is said to have already signed a letter of intent, while Li Landi is still weighing her options.
Industry insiders point to one key hurdle: lead billing. In Coroner’s Diary, Li Landi was the female lead with first billing. However, My Queen, My Rules is reportedly “male-led,” with the male character cast first and the female role chosen later. This has led to negotiations over whether the billing can be equal or if Li would once again receive top credit.
iQiyi, which has officially recognized Coroner’s Diary as one of the three most popular costume dramas in the first half of the year—alongside Feud (临江仙) and A Dream Within A Dream (书卷一梦)—is reportedly eager to bring the pairing into a modern setting to capitalize on their chemistry and popularity. If Li signs on, pre-production is expected to move quickly, with plans to shoot and broadcast in rapid succession to capture the current wave of interest.
If she declines, Ao Ruipeng will likely move on to another project, and the search for a new female lead will focus on iQiyi’s rising stars such as Xia Meng or Shen Yujie.
In the novel’s storyline, protagonist Ji Mingshu marries Cen Sen, who then leaves for Australia for work for two years. Upon his return, Ji decides to divorce—only to realize their prenuptial agreement imposes steep financial penalties for ending the marriage. She promptly changes her mind, opting to maintain the relationship, which slowly transforms from a contractual arrangement into a genuine romance.
Source: Upmedia
