Selected Recaps from Episode One (1) to Episode Ten (10).
The Dream of Chang’an debuted on August 8, 2021 with Cheng Yi and Zhang Yu Xi headlining this intriguing palace drama based on the late Tang Dynasty.
INTRODUCTION
During Emperor Wenzong’s rule, the court was controlled by powerful eunuchs especially Chou Shiliang. After a failed attempt to remove the powerful eunuch, prime minister Wang Yan’s entire clan was massacred. However, his two granddaughters survived.
The younger sister was took in by Shanggong Yuxi of the Ziyi Bureau (Purple Palace Guards) and renamed Cheng Ruoyu. Meanwhile, Chou Shiliang adopted the older sister as his god-daughter and renamed her Chou Yanzhi.
The prince who accompanied Chou Shiliang in the slaughters, Li Yan, ascended the throne seven years later and summoned Cheng Ruoyu as his “sword”, the Imperial Purple Guard. Martial art adept but mischievous Ruoyi first met the young emperor in the forest while his entourage was hunting foxes with him at night. The grown up Chou YanZhi was also placed in the palace, as Chou Shiliang’s eyes to monitor the new emperor.
SELECTED ONE TRUE PAIRING (OTP) SCENES:
EPISODE ONE AND EPISODE TWO
Agreeing to a bet by Ruoyu, Yanzhi managed to outsmart her by getting her subordinates to snare the rabbits. Fortunately, Li Yan stepped in and cue a scene of him grabbing her hands to hunt a fox, a bigger catch. In the end, cunning Yanzhi still won by purchasing dead wolves.
Next, Yan Li excused himself from a court assembly, supposedly for another hunt. Knowing I am not completely satisfied, the next scene had Li Yan getting her onto a horseback ride. And soon after, Ruoyu landed on top of him as she rescued him from an assassination attempt.
EPISODE 4 and EPISODE 8
While investigating the previous emperor’s edict, Ruoyi proved to be a faithful guard as she shielded Li Yan when both were trapped in a dungeon. Again, she ended up in the same awkward position before their narrow escape.
Instead of summoning the imperial doctor to avoid alerting the palace, Li Yan took on the task of cleaning her back wounds. Yes, on his bed. To soothe her embarrassment, he claims disinterest teasing her thin looks as she groggily awakens.
Possessing similar frames and features, this OTP has to be the most compatible couple, visually, among all in the Chinese wuxias.
As if not enough to show that this couple looks identical, this closeup scene showcased his top notched archery skills with Ruoyu acutely aware of the intimacy as the scene lingered over his face gently pressed on her earlobes.
The drama’s favorite theme. For the third time Ruoyu fell upon Li Yan, as he frantically grabbed her arm after a slip in the bedroom. This time kissing him, sorry more like resting her lips on him.
Right at this moment, his personal eunuch who is also Ruoyu’s adopted uncle appeared and chastised her lightly for “disturbing and discussing” with the emperor late into the night. Li Yan’s expression was calm and unreadable as the startled Ruoyu scurried off followed by the speechless eunuch.
Moments later. Not unpleased, he finally smiled.
And on second thought….oh no ….what’s just happened?
EPISODE 9 and EPISODE 10
Fourth time is the charm. Finally in a reverse situation, Li Yan ended on top of Ruoyu. This time he seemed less surprised and didn’t make any move to remove himself.
And of course, a dense palace guard chose this very moment to break the spell, only to have an angered Li Yan chased him away with an arrow.
That spurred immediate palace gossips. Ruoyu’s uncle was overjoyed, thanking the heavens for bestowing him the blessings to be a potential royal uncle in law.
Li Yan didnt help much either. Adding to the rumours, he ordered the poor girl to massage his knees in front of the palace attendants. Partly teasing her, he took advantage of their nosiness to seemingly instruct her on his next plans.
Uncle eunuch plays Cupid as he gestured Ruoyu to take over feeding the nightly tonic to Li Yan. She hid his pill and drew the blinds close as he bidded. Playing up the act, he pulled her to the bed. Poor flustered girl promptly sleeps.
As a spy eunuch appeared to interrupt them, Li Yan took off his outer garment. The astonished eunuchs gave them some time to the duo to concoct their plans. Next thing they knew, he kicked her out. Hahaha.
Upon sending her off to their secret mission, Li Yan has a nightmare and frets over her safety. After accomplishing her quest, Li Yan rode to her rescue from an attempted arrest by Yanzhi. Nonplussed but pleased Ruoyu found herself riding on the same horse with Li Yan, despite a dozen guards riding horses as well.
QTIZEN 