Ashes to Crown | Open Thread

[Coming soon]

Notable Actors/Actresses

Zhou Yi Ran: Xie Yan Lai

Chen Du Ling: Chu Zhao

Director

Yang Long

Screenwriter

Li Min

Chinese Title

翹楚

Paragon

Genres: Period, Romance, Palace, Period Romance

Network: Youku

Year: 2026
Episodes: 24

Jump to Remarks | Recs | Comments

Cast

Chen Du Ling: Chu Zhao	Zhou Yi Ran: Xie Yan Lai Fu Jiu
Tang Xiao Tian: Xie Yan Fang	Wang Rui Chang: Xiao Xun
Wu Shi Le: Chu Tang	Gao Mao Tong: Deng Yi

Romcom/Romance Checklist

[In Progress]

Have answers? Submit it here

How much of the plot is angst/romance?

0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

The ML:

Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Tsundere / Falls in Love First / "Reborn" / Noble Idiot / CEO / General

The FL:

Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Falls in Love First / Better than ML / "Reborn" / Noble Idiot / Business-woman

Describe the Relationship (the tropes):

Annoying Love (F/M) Rivals +++ / Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Hidden Identity / Healing Love / Harem / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Opposites Attract / Pining Love / Second Chance / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / School to Adulthood / Star-Crossed Lovers 

Relationship Progress (officially together; first (official) kiss; breakup*):

Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24

# of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3

Ending:

Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / Bad / Rushed+++

Remarks

[Drama Info]

Following a successful run with The Glory, Chen Du Ling is in another Yang Long directed drama. Yang Long's directing credits also include Sword and Fairy (1), My Little Happiness (Tang Xiao Tian ML), and A Love So Beautiful. 

The screenplay is credited to Li Min and Xia Meng Ying. Other than Cao Xuanxuans Love Journey, Li Min previously worked as part of the writing teams for Rattan, Only for Love ,and Legend of Fei. More recently, she began leading projects under her own name like In the Moonlight (Bao Shang En and Wang Hong Yi) and Boundless Bright Moon (Peng Xiao Ran and Zheng Ye Cheng).. 

Adapted from Xi Xing's novel Empress Chu 楚后.

P.S. This aired on Tang Xiao Tian's birthday (June 2nd)

Wrapped filming on August 28, 2025.

[Ending]

Recommendations

Preliminary recs are random / a peek at the list. These may be updated if drama is completed

Genre List:

Scheming / Palace Romances

Scheming	Palace	Romance

→ Go to June 2026 post