LayarHijau.com – The upcoming drama Royal Court Ballad (御廷谣) is back in the spotlight after producer Yu Zheng brought up the issue of top billing during a recent livestream. His remarks quickly became the number one trending topic on Weibo on Monday, June 16, 2025, reigniting discussions about power dynamics in the Chinese drama industry.
During the livestream, Yu Zheng stated that actress Wu Jinyan had already passed the selection process to be the female lead of Royal Court Ballad. However, the project stalled because the investor backing the male lead was not willing to proceed unless their actor received the top billing.
“If Wu Jinyan doesn’t give up the top billing, we can’t start filming. But I refuse to hand over the first position to that kid,” Yu said bluntly, without naming the actor.
His statement quickly sparked speculation online. Many netizens believe the actor in question is Chen Zheyuan, who was previously rumored to be Wu Jinyan’s co-star in the project. This speculation was reinforced by comments such as:
“Yu Zheng talked about Royal Court Ballad during a livestream. He said Chen Zheyuan was the male lead chosen by the investor. The actor wouldn’t accept second billing. If we don’t agree on the billing order, the drama can’t proceed. But if we switch to another male actor, the investor won’t agree either. I think having equal billing would’ve been fine.”
And another pointed out:
“As an actress who has starred in two hit dramas, Story of Yanxi Palace and The Double (Mo Yu Yun Jian), Wu Jinyan still faces the compromise of her ranking. This has triggered discussions about how difficult it is for actresses to rise in status, while male actors are more likely to get support from investors.”
Previously, Chen Zheyuan was one of the names rumored alongside Xin Yunlai and Chen Xinhai to play the male lead. But as Royal Court Ballad was designed from the beginning to focus on the female protagonist, reports suggested that the male actor’s request for top billing created complications.
However, until now, Chen Zheyuan’s team has not officially confirmed his involvement in the drama or any demands for top billing. With no official clarification, it raises an important question—if the rumor hasn’t been confirmed, is it fair for the public to immediately accuse Chen Zheyuan of causing delays?
This controversy has once again highlighted the uncomfortable reality that actresses often have to compromise their positions even in female-centric dramas. But on the other hand, actors like Chen Zheyuan can also become scapegoats of media narratives and public assumptions. In many cases, investor pressure may not even reflect the personal stance of the actors themselves.
Wu Jinyan, known for her breakout role in Story of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略), recently returned to the spotlight thanks to The Double (Mo Yu Yun Jian). After a seven-month hiatus due to childbirth and recovery, she was reportedly preparing to return to filming through Royal Court Ballad.
Yet with behind-the-scenes tension unresolved, the public now wonders whether this drama will truly mark her comeback—or if it will be derailed by power struggles between actors, producers, and investors.
