This is one period drama female lead selection that has gone through many iterations but from all industry casting accounts this is it. C-actress Liu Xie Ning is reportedly the last one standing and will join male lead Li Yun Rui in the Youku big budget period C-drama Gui Liang Chen. Last year there was talk of teenage Ai Mi being the female lead, and most recently the last few weeks Sun Zhen Ni entered the picture before there was serious signs pointing to Zhang Ya Qin. But the final pick has landed with Liu Xie Ning who is being heavily elevated by Youku to female lead this year so hopefully she and Li Yun Rui make for a well cast pairing. Production is slated to start next month February 2026.