LayarHijau – Costume drama The Shadow Sovereign has been winning praise since its release, thanks to its fast-paced storytelling, polished production, and the chemistry between its leads, Li Hongyi and Snow Kong. However, while the series continues to receive positive reviews, Li Hongyi has found himself at the center of controversy after appearing alongside Snow Kong at a promotional event.
For Snow Kong, The Shadow Sovereign marks a major milestone in her career. After gaining recognition through supporting roles in hit dramas such as The Double, Blossom, The Prisoner of Beauty, The Legend of Anle, Pursuit of Jade, and Blossoms of Power, the series is her first historical drama as the leading actress.
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Internationally, The Shadow Sovereign is available to stream in Indonesia on Viu.
In China, the series is released as a short-form drama on Bilibili. Despite running only about 25 minutes per episode, it has earned praise for its brisk pacing and high production values, which many viewers say rival those of full-length dramas. The series climbed to No. 4 on Maoyan’s online drama chart, outperforming Esther Yu’s recently concluded drama.
Adapted from Qing Wei’s novel Princess Pingyang, The Shadow Sovereign follows Shen Xiao (Li Hongyi), a young scholar from a humble family determined to uncover the truth behind his father’s death by entering the imperial court. His life takes an unexpected turn after spending a night with Princess Zhaoyang, Li Shu (Snow Kong), only to be abandoned by her afterward.
After placing first in the imperial examination, Shen Xiao shocks the court by submitting a memorial accusing the princess of living an extravagant and indulgent lifestyle. What begins as a hostile relationship gradually evolves into mutual respect and eventually romance as the pair join forces to challenge the rigid social hierarchy.
The drama has also been praised for its cinematography, seamless editing, elaborate costumes, and production design. Its first episode, which features an intimate scene between the two leads, quickly became one of the show’s biggest talking points.
However, public attention recently shifted away from the drama itself and toward its promotional event. On July 24, Li Hongyi and Snow Kong attended a fan event where they were asked to perform a viral hand-dance routine set to the song “GGEZ.”
A former girl group member, Snow Kong enthusiastically performed the dance with energetic movements and expressive facial expressions. Li Hongyi, on the other hand, was criticized for appearing stiff and expressionless, with many viewers saying he looked uninterested and only went through the motions.
Videos from the event quickly spread across Chinese social media, sparking heated discussion. Many netizens praised Snow Kong for carrying the atmosphere on her own, with comments such as, “It’s heartbreaking to see Snow Kong working so hard alone,” and, “Snow Kong should have been paired with Deng Kai instead.”
Li Hongyi, meanwhile, faced harsh criticism from some viewers. Comments included, “If he doesn’t want to be in the entertainment industry, then don’t show up,” and, “Is this why he’s never truly become popular after all these years?”
As the controversy gained traction, the event’s host addressed the issue in a social media post on July 25. The host said the promotional event had gone smoothly and that all of the cast members had approached the event sincerely and professionally.
The host also defended Li Hongyi, writing, “Li Hongyi always tries to meet everyone’s expectations. Please allow artists to have different expressions during drama promotions, and please allow everyone to be less than perfect in areas where they are not good at.”
Separately, it was later clarified that the dance segment was actually a punishment game. Because Li Hongyi had won the game, he was not required to participate in the dance. Even so, short video clips circulating online led many viewers to believe he lacked enthusiasm during the promotion, fueling the wave of criticism.
The incident has since divided Chinese netizens. While some believe Li Hongyi’s demeanor reflected a lack of professionalism, others argue he simply appeared awkward and uncomfortable with the lighthearted promotional format rather than intentionally showing disrespect toward the event or his co-star.
