LayarHijau – Yang Zi is returning to the costume drama genre with The Heir alongside Han Dongjun. The drama, set during the Ming Dynasty, is scheduled to premiere on iQIYI International on May 17 and has already drawn major attention ahead of its release.
The Heir tells a story centered on Huizhou’s traditional Hui ink-making industry. The drama combines family conflict, business rivalry, and the struggle to preserve a family legacy, all wrapped in an emotional and ambitious historical narrative.
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In the series, Yang Zi plays Li Zhen, the youngest daughter of a renowned ink-making family that suddenly falls into crisis after a major upheaval. Faced with hardship, Li Zhen steps up to revive her family’s business, even if it means challenging an old rule that only allowed men to inherit the ink-making craft.
Yang Zi revealed that what moved her most about the drama was its depiction of family bonds and emotional connections between the characters. She also appears with a noticeably different look compared to her previous historical dramas, wearing softer makeup and elegant Ming Dynasty costumes with looser silhouettes.
According to Yang Zi, the styling unexpectedly suited her long neckline and allowed her to show a different side of herself on screen.
To fully prepare for the role, Yang Zi began learning traditional ink-making techniques three months before filming started. She practiced so intensely that her hands developed calluses and blisters from manually grinding the ink materials.
Meanwhile, Han Dongjun plays Luo Wenqian, the second son of the Luo family, who also comes from a long line of ink-makers. Luo Wenqian and Li Zhen have known each other since childhood, and their relationship gradually evolves from rivalry into a partnership built on trust and mutual support.
Han Dongjun’s return to historical dramas after several years has also attracted plenty of attention from fans. The actor admitted he was thrilled to work with Yang Zi for the first time, saying he had long wanted to collaborate with her and considers her an exceptionally talented actress.
Han Dongjun also shared that he personally added a short line to the script to describe Li Zhen’s character. In the scene, Luo Wenqian compares Li Zhen to a rain lily, a flower that remains resilient and full of life even after enduring storms and hardship.
According to Han Dongjun, no single color could fully capture Li Zhen’s personality. He believes she is more like a rainbow, filled with many different strengths and layers. His thoughtful description earned praise from netizens, who were impressed by his deep understanding of the characters’ relationship.
Beyond its star-studded cast, The Heir has also generated buzz for its powerhouse production team. The drama is directed by Hui Kaidong, best known for Story of Yanxi Palace, with art direction from the team behind Nirvana in Fire and costume styling led by the creative force behind Empresses in the Palace.
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