Gorgeous Jiang Xin Joins Kevin Cheng and Yuan Hong for Drama Adaptation of Hua Xu Yin

Forget like, this is 100% unbridled love love love! The Bu Bu Jing Xin gang, still waiting for Tangren‘s ladyboss to put her money where her mouth is and actually start filming the long touted modern sequel to that drama, has been busy buzzing up weibo with cute getogethers, bromancy bickering and flirting, and set visits to share the love. One set of brothers will be reuniting sooner rather than later, and it’s actually two princes who had very few scenes together in BBJX but the few they had were exceptional. Kevin Cheng, passionate ambitious 8th Prince, will be reuniting with Yuan Hong, wild carefree 13th Prince, for the upcoming drama adaptation of popular historical C-writer Tang Qi Gong Zi‘s fantasy romance novel Hua Xu Yin (華胥引 The Lure of the Hua Xu Song). With all the talk of Tangren owning the rights to Tang Qi Gong Zi’s other famous C-novel San Sheng San Shi Shi Li Tao Hua (三生三世，十里桃花 Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms), I’m surprised Hua Xu Yin is getting the celluloid treatment first. I read Three Lives Three Worlds last year when I was on a Tong Hua novel binge and to be honest I didn’t like it much. I find Tang Qi Gong Zi’s prose much too floral for my tastes and the story didn’t work for me since I loathed the male lead. I’ve heard so many great things about Hua Xu Yin and the fandom for this novel is insanely rabid – I started reading last night and I can confirm this novel is DA BOMB and I may even like it better than Da Mo Yao and Yun Zhong Ge. Tong Hua’s novels are considered more pulpy by C-readers whereas Tang Qi Gong Zi has a more high brow reputation and following. To sweeten this cast even more, the leading lady is someone I totally love. Jiang Xin was the best of all the leading ladies in Zhang Ji Zhong‘s 2002 version of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (she played Mu Wan Qing) and while I haven’t followed her career I find her ridiculously gorgeous and a very good actress. So much win here it’s not even funny. I guess I’m off to devour the rest of the novel but if you’re curious check out the novel synopsis below.

The synopsis for the novel shows that this is set in ancient China and is a fantasy historical piece unfolding during a chaotic time. On the day her kingdom was destroyed, Princess Ye Zhen wore her official robes and plunged over the castle walls to die with her kingdom. She says “I may not have been raised as Princess would, but I am dying like a Princess should.” She is resurrected using a magic pearl (the jiao ju) and she wanders the Nine Provinces (ancient China was also referred to as the Nine Provinces since the principalities were all called provinces) using the Hua Xu tune as the lure and she weaves dreams for others. The magic pearl can only keep her alive for 3 years, and the only way to feed the pearl energy is if it consumes happy dreams of those who choose to relinquish the rest of their life to remain in a dream (think The Matrix). Some have their dreams come true. Others have their wishes granted. And the pain and suffering of real life is brushed aside in the song. For those who choose willingly to remain in a dream state, that person gives his/her remaining life to Ye Zhen’s magic pearl and her existence is extended. She is the dream world’s only God, controlling life and death, but she cannot control her own happiness. She meets with the Prince of her rival kingdom, each meeting takes two forms, each fate takes two forms. Is it a destined meeting, or a cruel joke played by fate? The simple Hua Xu tune, can it allow a person to reclaim memories and no longer feel sorrow? When her magic pearl which sustains her existence is shattered, Ye Zhen loves Mo Yen but he cannot fight a fate that wants to toy with him. She uses every last ounce of strength to play a final tune, for whom does she play………….?