Two princes are vying for power. Our female lead, who is dressed up as a male, finds herself caught between this power struggle.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Jiang Chao: Chen Ting Yi
You Jing Ru: Han Yuan Niang / Han Shi Yi
Wang An Yu: Wang Zhong Yu
Director:
Chinese Title
女世子
Network: Tencent Video
Recap Grade: C
First Impression: 2.5/5
First Impression: 2.5/5
Mini Recaps
[Ep2] Chen Ting Yi (5th Prince) saves Han Shi Yi but he was just testing her if she really doesn't know how to fight. Chen Ting Yi chooses her to be his study buddy, another word for servant, in order to keep her close to him.
[Ep3] Chen Ting Yi checks her body if she cheated during a test. She feels offended he touched her body. For him, he feels that the size of her waist is awfully weird for a man's. Wang Zhong Yu is working to gain Han family support as well. He's not a prince, he's the cousin of the Crown Prince. Wang Zhang Yu offers his sister for Han Shi Yi to marry. Han Shi Yi flatly refuses which offends the sister, Wang Xi Yuan.
Although Han Shi Yi pretends to be weak and dumb, Chen Ting Yi sees through it all.
Han Shi Yi and Chen Ting Yi accidentally kiss. She fell over him and landed on his mouth.
[Ep4] Han Shi Yi becomes worried Chen Ting Yi is gay because rumours have it that he doesn't like girls. Han Shi Yi is terrified now. Lol. But she is starting to feel something for him too this episode.
[Ep5] Han Shi Yi gets herself a fiancee (it doesn't finalize though. Her care-free attitude to marrying another girl is worth nothing. Is she really set on being a man for life? If her identity does get exposed though, her whole family will have to die because that is the punishment for lying to the Emperor.
Chen Ting Yi wants to prove to her that he's not into men. Thus, he makes her sleep over at his place tonight. Before that they have lunch together. He tells her he's seen Han Shi Yi's sister (Han Yuan Niang). Chen Ting Yi recalls her telling him that Han Shi Yi likes reading and studying. The sister also gave him a bracelet that only she knows how to make. The way she ate the drumstick was weird. She was swiping it against her lips. So fake.
The two men sleep together in bright red (wedding) bed sheets. Han Shi Yi manages to fall asleep first. Chen Ting Yi can't. His heart is beating abnormally fast. That night, Han Shi Yi dreams of his brother. She was running away with her little brother (Han Shi Yi) because a killer is after them. She fell into the water while her brother was killed.
Wang Zhong Yu wants Han Shi Yi to dress up as a girl. Han Shi Yi takes on the dare.
[Ep6] Han Shi Yi has a condition for her to wear females clothes though. Whoever loses at climbing a tree the fastest will wear females clothes. Han Shi Yi loses. But that's because someone maliciously cut her rope. Chen Ting Yi and Wang Zhong Yu find it odd and investigate into it. Wang Zhong Yu finds out his father is the one behind it. Han Shi Yi is in the way of Crown Prince's pathway to gain the throne. Wang Zhong Yu doesn't agree with his father's ways.
Chen Ting Yi makes an even grander discovery. He finds out Han Shi Yi is a girl. He learned that when she was drunk and he was taking her clothes off. When he found her chest bandaged, he kept unraveling it and unraveling it until – well until you know what. He, however, decides to keep it a secret for her. He doesn't want her family to be killed. His attitude towards her the next day changes immediately. He's extra caring towards her.
[Ep7] Chen Ting Yi is accused of injuring his second brother (Crown Prince). He has no intentions of overtaking the Crown Prince but he can't let his brother continue his awful deeds.
Chen Ting Yi likes Han Yuan Niang. He makes it pretty obvious by calling her his person. But she doesn't know; she's oblivious to the fact that her identity was revealed. Chen Ting Yi becomes jealous when she's close to Wang Zhong Yu.
By accident, Han Yuan Niang falls into the water. Wang Zhong Yu accidentally rips her clothes and he sees her chest bandage. Before Wang Zhong Yu can save her, Chen Ting Yi has already dived in the water to cover her up. Wang Zhong Yu is now suspicious she's a girl.
[Ep8] Han Shi Yi receives a present from Chen Ting Yi. It's a hairpin that was left to him by Empress Yuan.
[Ep9] Wang Zhong Yu is feeling the blossoming of love. He's conscious of Han Shi Yi now.
[Ep10] Chen Ting Yi and Han Shi Yi travel to a nearby city to investigate a political corruption. They meet a doctor in the prison and he exposes Han Shi Yi of her sex. To Han Shi Yi's surprise, Chen Ting Yi remains calm. She seems moved but she misunderstands and thinks he's using her identity to threaten her (Han family) to work for him.
Han Shi Yi reveals to Chen Ting Yi that only her parents and her two maids know her identity. Her brother died at six years of age. She has no intentions of living as a female again ever. To her surprise, Chen Ting Yi's response to this is confessing his love to her. He tells her to not be silly, "Everyone can already tell what my feelings are for you." This confession is happening so fast.
[Ep11] Han Shi Yi rejects Chen Ting Yi. She always treated herself like a man, dating another man was never in her plan. She can't accept him. She should have expected him to be cold on her after that rejection but now she's fretting if he'll expose her gender. She brownnoses him and even attempts to cook for him. His orders are impossible for her to make. It's not impossible for him though. His culinary skills impress her.
Lin Bao Zi bargains with Chen Ting Yi. Han Shi Yi applauds him for his courage to counter the prince. When Lin Bao Zi leaves, Chen Ting Yi prods her that she hasn't given in to him either. Han Shi Yi says she's completely innocent.
Lin Bao Zi gets back at Han Shi Yi and creates an opportunity for Han Shi Yi and Chen Ting Yi to sleep together. They have a conversation while lying in bed. She realizes he's always been super lonely so she eagerly offers him all the girls she knows. He doesn't want any of them but he starts listing all the faults in the girl he likes. She is rebellious and loves to lie. Basically, it's Han Shi Yi. This exceptional girl lights up his world. He moves in to kiss her. Han Shi Yi is frozen. They kiss. Han Shi Yi is still frozen but she's not refusing him until she remembers who she is. She pushes him off but from that kiss, he knows she has him in his heart. He tells her she can lie all she wants but her bodily reactions cannot. Han Shi Yi reminds him that she will forever be Han Shi Yi. There are no "ifs". With this, Chen Ting Yi is even more determined to become the Emperor to recover her female identity.
Wang Zhong Yu realizes he likes Han Shi Yi. He also realizes Chen Ting Yi knows she's a girl and likes her too. Wang Zhong Yu gets a slight advantage with Han Shi Yi because he can continue being close to her like good old brothers. Wang Zhong Yu takes her (on a date) to a magic show. Chen Ting Yi who normally doesn't care about shows like these joins in. He's not the only one jealous this episode though because Han Shi Yi isn't quite happy when Chen Ting Yi's female 'cousin' keeps pestering him. Jealously though isn't the only problem here. The magic show seems like an event that was orchestrated to kill one of them. The magician is aiming a weapon at Han Shi Yi.
[Ep12] Chen Ting Yi and Wang Zhong Yu quickly react to the sneak attack. They chase after the man. Han Shi Yi follows. She smartly helps Chen Ting Yi fight the man who can summon eight illusional figures behind him. When the man turns to attack her instead, she recognizes the black print in his palm. It's the same man who killed her brother.
That man who attempted to kill Han Shi Yi was sent by the Crown Prince. Wang Zhong Yu's father slaps his son for ruining the plan. Wang Zhong Yu doesn't regret his actions at all. He threatens his father to not harm Han Shi Yi. The Crown Prince has her on his hit list too because he thinks Han Shi Yi is Chen Ting Yi's ally.
Through Wang Zhong Yu's mischievous actions towards Han Shi Yi, Chen Ting Yi realizes that Wang Zhong Yu also know she's a girl.
Han Shi Yi tells Chen Ting Yi her wishes for her future. She would like to open a restaurant of some sort. She even has a name for it: “Zhi Mei Chai” (a chalet for those who know about taste). A hint to the ending?
[Ep14] Han Shi Yi and Chen Ting Yi are targeted again. Well technically, it’s Chen Ting Yi they’re after; they being Wang Zhong Yu’s father. They take turns to guard the cave. Han Shi Yi stays up with Chen Ting Yi but she’s giving him attitude because of his female cousin. He doesn’t know what he did wrong to deserve this cold shoulder from her but finally deduces it to jealousy.
It’s Han Shi Yi’s turn to stay up but she’s sleepy. Chen Ting Yi takes her shift as she sleeps on his shoulder. He starts playing with her hair and it makes the other students misunderstand these two. Han Shi Yi is wide awake now. She pouts at him for always bullying/teasing her. Chen Ting Yi doesn’t know what she means, at least that’s what he’s saying. That night while she’s sleeping on his shoulder, she dreams that she’s his bride. She denies dreaming of him when he says he heard her calling his name.
The next morning, Chen Ting Yi is off alone to fend off the attackers. He’s poisoned. Han Shi Yi is so worried about him she ends up confessing to him. Chen Ting Yi has a sly smile. He’s faking it. He took the antidote a while back. He hugs her but she whines he lied to her. He tells her it’s to make up for all the lies she told him. Their feelings reciprocate.
Chen Ting Yi captures the attacker who killed Han Shi Yi’s brother (the real Han Shi Yi). Han Shi Yi can finally rest in peace.
Although all is well and Han Shi Yi admitted she loves Chen Ting Yi, she refuses to be blinded by love or else she would put her family in danger. She plans to distance herself from Chen Ting Yi. Ah, so more scenes of Wang An Yu? I’m fine with that too.
[Ep15] Wang Zhong Yu confesses his love for Han Shi Yi. He says he's different from Chen Ting Yi, unlike him, he can give up everything for her. Han Shi Yi uses this vulnerable Wang Zhong Yu to push Chen Ting Yi away. She makes this grown man cry asking her if their love wasn’t mutual at all. All that spinning during this scene got me dizzy. I wonder how awkward it was filming this
Wang Zhong Yu smiles to Han Shi Yi assuring her he knows he’s being used but he feels honoured to be used by her. When he turns away from her, he shows us a face that's hurt all over. However, whether he's actually a good man is becoming a question this episode. He is seemingly on 2nd Prince's side and withholding medication from villagers who are in dire need of it.
When no one's looking and when Han Shi Yi is asleep, Chen Ting Yi sits next to her to let her sleep on his shoulder. He continues to love her just as much.
[Ep16] Wang Xi Yuan (Wang Zhong Yu's sister) dresses up as a male to visit her love, Chen Ting Yi. Han Shi Yi sees through her disguise. She tries to put in some good words for her in front of Chen Ting Yi but he doesn't care about her. Han Shi Yi also saves Wang Xi Yuan from bandits.
Han Shi Yi figures out that 2nd Prince is trying to burn down the village to erase all his crimes.
[Ep17] Wang Zhong Yu is trying to save Han Shi Yi but his dad locks him up.
Han Shi Yi sends a young girl to warn Chen Ting Yi to not enter the village. It's a trap set up by the 2nd Prince. But he does and he saves Han Shi Yi. Lin Bao Zi suffers an injury while trying to examine Han Shi Yi because of an overly worried Chen Ting Yi.
[Ep18] Han Shi Yi secretly dresses in female wedding clothes. Chen Ting Yi happens to see it. He gives her a kiss and promises he'll make it possible for him to wed her.
Han Shi Yi is to marry today. Not only are the men trying to stop her marriage, so is Wang Xi Yuan. She's now in love with Han Shi Yi. She almost 'rapes' Han Shi Yi had it not been for Wang Zhong Yu who arrives in time. Then during the wedding, she performs a switch-a-roo with the real bride so that she can be Han Shi Yi's bride. That doesn't fly so well. Wang Zhong Yu takes his sister back home. By the end of this episode because of all the switches, it's as if Han Shi Yi's marriage never happened.
[Ep19] Chen Ting Yi and Han Shi Yi are off to different war sites. He wears the bracelet she made for him to war and she wears the necklace he gives her. He promises to recover her female identity after the war. She promises she’ll wait for him.
Unfortunately, the battle ends tragically on Han Shi Yi's side. Her father and her maid dies. Han Shi Yi is forced off a cliff. She had a very bloody look on her. Very scary.
Unfortunately, the battle ends tragically on Han Shi Yi's side. Her father and her maid dies. Han Shi Yi is forced off a cliff. She had a very bloody look on her. Very scary.
[Ep20] Han Shi Yi is saved by a villager but she lost all her memories. Chen Ting Yi gets revenge for her and Wang Zhong Yu sneaks out of his manor to search for her.
Lin Bao Zi, our comedic relief, shakes his head towards an unconscious Han Shi Yi. Misunderstanding she died, Chen Ting Yi cries. She’s just asleep. Chen Ting Yi continues to cry but it’s a relieving type of cry. When he turns around to see Lin Bao Zi still there, he quickly recovers his calm and cool expression. Ha. Lin Bao Zi turns serious as he asks him if he’s sure he wants her to recover her memories. They still don’t have proof that Chen Ting Yi isn’t the mastermind behind Han family’s demise. Once she remembers how her family died, she’ll think it’s Chen Ting Yi’s fault.
Han Shi Yi tries to run away from Chen Ting Yi but she ends up falling right into Chen Ting Yi’s arms. He lies to her that she’s his wife. He uses a marking on her chest to prove that she is indeed his wife.
[Ep22] Chen Ting Yi is super playful right now as he gets to flirt with Han Shi Yi all he wants. He calls her Han Yan Liang now, her real name. They sleep together on the same bed. She warns him to not touch her when she’s sleeping. He doesn’t touch her, he just stares at her all night.
Chen Ting Yi is slowly winning her heart all over again. However, the cousin of Chen Ting Yi confuses her. Han Shi Yi starts suspecting Chen Ting Yi of lying.
[Ep23] Wang Zhong Yu reveals the truth to Han Shi Yi about her past by finding her maid. The maid tells Han Shi Yi how the crown prince shamed her father of crimes their family has never done.
The cousin reports Han Yan Liang to the Emperor. She is arrested for lying to the Emperor about her female identity. Wang Zhong Yu gathers all the students to beg the Emperor to forgive Han Yan Liang. Chen Ting Yi begs his father to let him take her as his wife. The Emperor actually agrees! However, not everything is happy. Han Shi Yi is uncomfortable with her lost memories and Chen Ting Yi’s lies. Although she’s now betrothed to him, she escapes the palace to figure out her past.
Wang Zhong Yu follows Han Shi Yi to protect her but she suspects him too. He was so cute when he confessed to protecting her. I’m totally a Wang An Yu fan. He’s barely doing anything in this drama but I just find him cute. After the attack, Han Shi Yi recovers her memories. She begins her quest to identify the mastermind behind her father’s death. She finds proof that it’s Chen Ting Yi. Wang Zhong Yu looks at the proof and wants to correct her that it’s actually his father but there’s another sneak attack. Chen Ting Yi arrives and protects her but she’s certain he’s the one who killed her family. Wang Zhong Yu tries to explain but she’s too emotional. She strikes a sword to Chen Ting Yi’s chest. Wang Zhong Yu stops it but it’s too late. The harm is done. Chen Ting Yi doesn’t flinch as he allows her to hurt him. He also stops his men from attacking her.
[Ep24] Chen Ting Yi convinces her to stay with him while he sorts out everything. He speaks with the Emperor but he begs his son to not reveal he had a part in the collapse of Han family. His father dies and Chen Ting Yi ascends to the throne. He is the Emperor. But he still hasn’t cleared Han family’s name. Chen Ting Yi is caught between his late father and his love. He can’t choose between them.
Wang Zhong Yu helps Han Shi Yi escape the palace. Chen Ting Yi tries to stop her from leaving and in the process, Han Shi Yi’s maid dies. That’s the last straw: she leaves with Wang Zhong Yu. He asks her if she’ll continue to be with him. She won’t. She knows it’s not his fault and that it’s his father’s. She won’t blame him. Okay, so what about Chen Ting Yi? He asks her if it’s because her heart still has Chen Ting Yi. She tells him it doesn’t matter who her heart holds anymore.
The end.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-10)] It might be because I'm unfamiliar with this actress, but when I saw her in the intro song, I was like wait, is this BL? Her eyebrows don't help her femininity either. Anyways. This is a light costume rom-con. The male lead is a prince and the second male lead (Wang An Yu!) is a cousin of the prince. I am a little surprised that for this female lead, she's completely set on living as a male forever. She even considered marrying a girl. Both men figure out she's a girl relatively quickly and both fall in love with her these episodes. Why can't men just fall in love with women who dress like women? The foundation is solidly set and the story runs its course smoothy, I'm just not buying into the romance yet.
[Actors/Actresses] I'm watching this drama for its cast. Jiang Chao is an actor that's under the radar for many. He did win my heart in "The Fox's Summer" (with Tan Song Yun) and "To Love, To Heal." And of course, this drama interests me the most because of Wang An Yu. He is legitimately the second lead in this drama. He's not going to get the girl for sure. Sigh. At the moment (ep10) I'm still waiting for his cute moments. The visuals for both men aren't to my liking though. Their hairstyles are so unflattering.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] It’s an open ending but it's practically a happy ending. I’m certain he’ll find her. There’s no reason not to. He’s already done everything she would have wanted and he stayed single for her.
[Review] I’m rating this based more on my feelings than the story. If it’s based on story, I can give this a 3/5 but I also have to admit I wasn’t always paying attention to the story. Emotionally, I wasn’t engaged in the drama. I watched this for the actors (ahem Wang An Yu) and I was interested in the female lead. She looks so much like a man which was interesting. Jiang Chao wasn’t that impressive though. I don’t think period costume dramas fit his facial features. I also like it better when he acts lively.
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