Do you know, do you know? It should be green plump and red slim.

Synopsis

"The Story of Minglan" is a 2018 period family drama with a Douban rating of 7.8, directed by Zhang Kaizhou and starring Zhao Liying, Feng Shaofeng, and Zhu Yilong. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Guan Xin Ze Luan, it tells the legendary growth story of Minglan, a concubine-born daughter in a Northern Song Dynasty official family, who rises from being neglected to becoming the mistress of a noble household. This marks Zhao Liying's first work after marriage, showcasing the inner-household struggles and the rise and fall of families in the Northern Song Dynasty. Named after a poem by Li Qingzhao, the drama concluded with 700 million views.

Overview

"The Story of Minglan" is a historical family drama that premiered on Hunan TV in December 2018. Directed by Zhang Kaizhou and produced by Hou Hongliang, the series stars Zhao Liying as Sheng Minglan, Feng Shaofeng as Gu Tingye, Zhu Yilong as Qi Heng, Cao Cuifen as Grandmother Sheng, and Liu Lin as Madam Wang. The 73-episode series, produced by Daylight Entertainment, holds a 7.8 rating on Douban. Its title is derived from the lyric "Know it or not, should be green plump and red slim" from the "Dream Song" by the Song Dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao.

Adapted from the web novel of the same name by Guan Xin Ze Luan, the series is set in the Northern Song Dynasty. It tells the legendary story of Sheng Minglan, the overlooked sixth daughter of the Sheng family, born of a concubine. Through her intelligence, forbearance, and the guidance of her grandmother, she gradually rises to become the matriarch of a marquis household. The series is often described as a historical version of "The Grand Mansion Gate" or a "Dream of the Red Chamber" set in the Song Dynasty, meticulously depicting the internal dynamics of a large family—conflicts among wives and concubines, distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children, and the rise and fall of the family.

Plot

Sheng Minglan (Zhao Liying), the sixth daughter of the Sheng family, is the most neglected child, born of a concubine. Her mother, Concubine Wei, the least favored of her father's concubines, was killed by Concubine Lin when Minglan was young. Minglan is then taken in and raised by her grandmother, Grandmother Sheng.

Grandmother Sheng teaches Minglan to hide her brilliance—to not display her intelligence and talents openly, but to understand forbearance and concession. Minglan heeds her grandmother's teachings, appearing dull and dutiful in front of outsiders, while in reality, she is meticulous and possesses remarkable insight. She skillfully navigates the complex family struggles, protecting herself while revealing her capabilities at critical moments.

Young Master Qi Heng (Zhu Yilong) of the Duke of Qi's household falls in love with Minglan at first sight. The two grow up together and develop mutual affection. However, due to their disparity in social status and opposition from Qi's mother, this relationship comes to nothing. Gu Tingye (Feng Shaofeng) of the Marquis of Ningyuan's household comes from a background of a playboy, but he sees through Minglan's outwardly delicate yet inwardly intelligent nature and schemes to marry her.

After marriage, Minglan faces even more complex situations—internal conflicts among wives and concubines in the Gu family and the treacherous political landscape of the court. Relying on her wisdom and resilience, Minglan not only manages her own household well but also resolves crises that threaten the entire family at critical moments, ultimately becoming a virtuous and capable matriarch.

Cast

Zhao Liying portrays Minglan's growth from a young girl to a matriarch naturally and fluidly. In the early stages, Minglan is restrained and hides her锋芒, and Zhao Liying conveys the character's hidden wisdom through subtle and reserved acting. In the later stages, as Minglan gradually reveals her capabilities and takes control, Zhao Liying portrays this transformation steadily and convincingly.

Zhu Yilong's portrayal of Qi Heng is the most heart-wrenching character in the series. He deeply embodies the image of a gentle, refined nobleman. Qi Heng's love for Minglan is profound yet helpless—he loves her but cannot defy his mother's wishes, ultimately watching helplessly as the one he loves marries another. Zhu Yilong gained a large number of fans through this role.

Production Features

Daylight Entertainment maintained its usual high standards in the production of "The Story of Minglan." The Song Dynasty life scenes in the series are extremely meticulous—from tea ceremony and incense burning to pitch-pot and polo, every detail of life strives to restore the authentic appearance of the Song Dynasty. The furniture, utensils, and costumes in the series reference a large number of Song Dynasty artifacts and historical documents. Particularly notable is the method of whisking tea (点茶法) depicted—placing tea powder in a bowl and whisking it with a tea whisk to create foam—which was the most popular way of drinking tea in the Song Dynasty and is rarely presented so completely in film and television.

Cultural Impact

After its broadcast, "The Story of Minglan" sparked strong interest among viewers in Song Dynasty culture. The series' ratings repeatedly hit new highs, concluding with over 700 million online views. Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng met and fell in love during the filming of this series, announcing their marriage in 2019, extending the happy ending from the drama into reality. The series is also hailed as the best textbook on Song Dynasty life—viewers learned about the four refined arts of the Song Dynasty: tea whisking, incense burning, flower arranging, and hanging scrolls.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/26928226/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/知否知否应是绿肥红瘦
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/知否知否应是绿肥红瘦_(电视剧)