LayarHijau – Political costume drama Royal Betrothal (御廷谣), starring Wu Jinyan and Chen Zheyuan, has officially premiered. Besides its gripping power struggles, the series has also drawn attention for the chemistry between its two leads and the amusing behind-the-scenes stories they recently shared.
In the drama, Wu Jinyan plays Meng Tinghui, the first female court official to achieve the prestigious Sanyuan Jidi honor by placing first in all three levels of the imperial examinations. Chen Zheyuan stars as Ying Gua, a young emperor known for his calm, reserved, and commanding presence.
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Before the drama’s release, rumors circulated that the two stars had clashed over billing order. However, they appeared to be on great terms when promoting Royal Betrothal together during a livestream.
The opening episodes follow Meng Tinghui as she studies diligently for the provincial examinations while secretly disguising herself as a celebrated dancer to help attract customers to her friend’s restaurant. During one of those nights, she encounters Ying Gua, who is being hunted by assassins. Their chance meeting marks the beginning of a relationship that will eventually change both of their lives.
One of the most talked-about scenes from the premiere features Meng Tinghui confronting a group of arrogant officials’ sons who cause trouble at the restaurant. Fearlessly, she ignites phosphorus powder in the main hall and warns them that the only way to deal with madmen is with equally extreme measures. The scene quickly won praise from viewers, who said it showcased the kind of bold, fearless character Wu Jinyan is famous for portraying.
Speaking about the sequence during the livestream, Chen Zheyuan admitted that watching Wu Jinyan perform was incredibly satisfying. He praised her ability to fully grasp the essence of her character, saying that was what made the scene so impactful.
Wu Jinyan, meanwhile, confessed that although she has played many strong female leads throughout her career, those roles never become easier. She explained that because audiences have high expectations for such characters, finding the right balance in every performance is actually more challenging. As part of her preparation, she even imagines her character having an energetic background soundtrack, almost like the theme music in an action movie, to help herself get into the role.
The actress also shared a funny story from filming a noodle-eating scene with Chen Zheyuan. She said she was amazed by how seriously he approached the scene, to the point that she assumed the bowl of noodles must have been his own meal.
According to Wu Jinyan, Chen Zheyuan finished the entire bowl even though the noodles had already gone cold.
“Watching Chen Zheyuan eat is incredibly satisfying. Even after the noodles had gone cold, he still finished the whole bowl. I honestly thought he had brought the food himself,” Wu Jinyan joked.
Chen Zheyuan later revealed that the noodles had actually been sitting out for quite some time and no longer tasted good. Even so, he decided to eat every last bite so the scene would look as natural as possible on camera.
His dedication even surprised the director and the crew. Once filming wrapped, they were stunned to discover the bowl was completely empty. When a staff member asked whether the noodles had been delicious, Chen Zheyuan laughed and replied that they actually tasted terrible.
He jokingly added that the director might have thought he was too immersed in the eating scene. Ironically, the final cut only included two brief shots of him eating. Even so, the incident has become one of the funniest and most memorable behind-the-scenes moments that Wu Jinyan and Chen Zheyuan shared while filming Royal Betrothal.
