appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Ada Jiang

It seems China’s imperial palace is never short of back-stabbers, murders and dirty tricks.
This summer it has been the setting of two Chinese historical television dramas that have been captivating audiences around the globe – Story of Yanxi Palace and Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace.
Social media has been abuzz with debate among viewers about which of the many ruthless characters in the dramas is the most evil.
Here we take a look at four manipulative royal villainesses from four Chinese historical palace dramas.
Empress Cixi’s favourite princess and what you didn’t know about her
Niuhulu Yu-yuet (Consort Yu) – ‘ War and Beauty’ (2004)





金枝欲孽 ~ 【鄧萃雯 ~ 如妃】 《金枝欲孽》讓無數人從此愛上鄧萃雯，也使事業處於低潮期的她，反彈邁向事業巔峰。 嬌小的鄧萃雯飾演「如妃」霸氣十足，每一個眼神都是氣勢。原本反派的如妃最後來了個大逆轉，在一眾花旦中殺出一條路，成為了笑到最後的那個人。 Welcome +FOLLOW #金枝欲孽 #鄧萃雯 #邓萃雯 #sherentang
A post shared by 娛樂Share (@chinese_entertainment_share) on Mar 23, 2017 at 6:52am PDT



War and Beauty is, without doubt, one of the most beloved classic Chinese imperial palace historical dramas produced by TVB Hong Kong.
The series won almost all the major TVB awards when it premiered in 2004.
It has been suggested that the programme started the trend for dramas set in the Chinese palace that featured ruthless, scheming characters and inspired many of the shows that came afterwards.
Netflix hopes Chinese TV series ‘The Rise of Phoenixes’ takes off globally
Consort Yu, played by Sheren Tang, is one of the core characters of the 30-part series.
As one of the emperor’s favourite imperial consorts, Yu is widely regarded as a sensible and wise wife, but in reality she is cruel and ruthless to anyone who threatens her position in the palace.





港劇花旦60大 ~ 四大金枝，你虞我詐 四大花旦，同台斗戲 四大視后，芳華絕代 最經典宮廷劇：#金枝欲孽 最難忘女搭檔：#鄧萃雯 #張可頤 #黎姿 #佘詩曼 Welcome +FOLLOW #港劇花旦60大
A post shared by 娛樂Share (@chinese_entertainment_share) on Jul 24, 2017 at 5:56pm PDT



In the first episode the pregnant Yu plots the murder of Consort Chan when she feels threatened after the concubine catches the eye of the emperor while she is indisposed.
Yu ignores gossip swirling around the palace, suggesting that Chan’s ghost will seek revenge – by fearlessly entering Chan’s bedroom after she has died.
This opening made a deep impression on viewers and perfectly illustrated the ruthlessness of Yu’s character. (Spoiler: there are touching turning points in later episodes).
Yu aim is always to put herself first and protect her position, but she also has hopes and dreams secreted away inside her heart that will help to melt viewers’ hearts.
The woman who ‘ruled’ China: what you didn’t know about Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Ulanara Yixiu – ‘Empress in the Palace: The Legend of Zhen Huan’ (2011)





甄嬛传#皇后#蔡少芬#
A post shared by 古风 (@ya_10_30) on Aug 24, 2016 at 4:54am PDT



Empress in the Palace, produced by Zheng Xiaolong in 2011, is based on Liu Lianzi’s internet novel of the same name.
The show was a major success and has remained one of the most popular television dramas that are streamed online today.
Among the programme’s many characters, Empress Ulanara Yixiu, played by the Hong Kong actress Ada Choi, is definitely one of the most memorable.
Grim Reaper Lee Dong-wook turns lifesaver in new Netflix medical K-drama ‘Life’
She initially comes across as a kind and patient motherly character, who finds her position in the palace threatened when Consort Hua grows increasingly popular with the emperor.
The empress gradually reveals her true, darker, more menacing side in later episodes.





A post shared by 乌拉那拉·宜修 (@wulanalayixiu) on Mar 1, 2018 at 2:58am PST



To protect her position the empress plots the murder of several concubines and their children – and even the death of her own sister, Empress Chun Yuan, to become empress.
However, her scheming murderous ways are eventually revealed and she finds herself imprisoned by the emperor for the rest of her life.  
New F4 are ready to charm in Netflix’s ‘Meteor Garden’ 2018
Hoifa-Nara Shushen (Consort Xian) – ‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ (2018)





《延禧攻略》佘诗曼所饰演的娴妃已经黑化成不择手段，借刀杀人的皇后娘娘。演技超赞！日前就有传用15天就拍完了《延禧攻略》中的戏份，真的是无敌啊！ . #instagain #igdaily #Love #yanxigonglue #china
A post shared by MY (@myfm) on Aug 21, 2018 at 12:57am PDT



This new series, produced by Yu Zheng, which started to be broadcast on the online video platform, iQiyi, in July, has become this summer’s veritable hit.
The drama follows the story of Wei Yingluo, a smart and witty maid who enters the palace to uncover the cause of her sister’s death.
In the end she becomes Consort Ling and continued to be the Emperor’s favourite consort.
Yet the rise of Wei is far from easy; Consort Xian, Hoifa-Nara Shushen, who becomes the new empress after the death of Empress Fucha, is her biggest enemy in the series.
Xian, played by Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh (below) – whose classic Chinese good looks make her perfect for such historical dramas – is a clever, manipulative character who knows how to start a fight between the concubines while staying out of trouble herself.





#延禧攻略 剧照 #演技派 #佘詩曼 #charmainesheh #阿佘 #xathiman #娴妃 #beauty #清宫戏 #佘诗曼 #辉发那拉淑慎 #actress #chinadrama #宫廷剧 #thestoryofyanxipalace
A post shared by @ zhuhani on Aug 29, 2018 at 11:27pm PDT



Fun fact: Sheh also played a Yi Shun in War and Beauty.
Xian is an honest person at the start of the series, but grows embittered and increasingly evil following the deaths of her mother and brother after they fall victim to unfair treatment and political disputes.
She realises that adopting an honest approach will not help her or her family survive in the palace.
First she plans to poison Consort Gao, then stirs up the emotions of Consort Chun, which leads to the killing of the empress’ second son, which, in turn, leads to the suicide of the empress.
Xian also plots against Wei by revealing the secret of her sister’s death, which causes her to be resented by the emperor.
First Person: Chinese restaurant Madame Fu is a delightful new acquaintance
Jin Yuyan (Consort Jia) – ‘Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace’ (2018)





#辛芷蕾 #如懿传
A post shared by 中国互联网电视 (@cctv_newtv) on Nov 16, 2017 at 6:12pm PST



The highly anticipated series, starring Zhou Xun, Huo Jianhua and other leading Chinese actors and actresses, finally premiered in August after three years of preparation.
Yet it has been regarded as a relative failure compared with the massive success enjoyed by the rival series, Story of Yanxi Palace.  
However, over the course of its first 20 episodes, the scheming and manipulative actions of Consort Jia, played by the young Chinese actress Xin Zhilei (below), have definitely been entertaining.





很喜歡，很很有實力的一位演員。#辛芷蕾
A post shared by 職業暖男 (@jionxinchen) on Oct 11, 2017 at 6:00am PDT



 Jia is one of the characters in the palace with hidden levels to her wickedness; she may look innocent on the outside, but don’t be fooled.
She is the mastermind behind many dirty tricks and outlandish plots as she tries to achieve her goals.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter


History of mooncake moulds and their designs, and those preserving the craft

How Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns are traditionally made and an artisan defending the craft

How a Hong Kong-style milk tea shop in Tokyo has customers queuing out the door

Style Edit: Chow Tai Fook’s Song collection gives the Chinese drum a golden update

Chinese culture

4 biggest back-stabbing female villains in Chinese imperial palace TV dramas

Xin Zhilei as the scheming Consort Jia in the Chinese historical drama ‘Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace’.

K-drama idol Gong Yoo gets his own movie house in Hong Kong

K-drama heartthrob Gong Yoo was in Hong Kong for a fans meeting in May 2017. Korean cinema company CGV is opening its newest location in Hong Kong at D2 Place Phase II this month – and it is dedicating one of its movie houses to Gong Yoo.

CGV Cineam's ScreenX

D2 Place Phase II facade

Magazines

Style

News & Trends

Celebrities

Villainess in ‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ captivated summer audiences, but which other women in historical dramas are equally bad?


Chinese language cinema

4 biggest back-stabbing female villains in Chinese imperial palace TV dramas

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Villainess in ‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ captivated summer audiences, but which other women in historical dramas are equally bad?

Villainess in ‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ captivated summer audiences, but which other women in historical dramas are equally bad?