The historical romance drama "Shang Gongzhu" premiered on Tencent Video on October 23, releasing four episodes on its first day, while simultaneously launching overseas on Disney+. The series advances the relationship between the male and female leads at a relatively fast pace, with its popularity index on Tencent Video surpassing 24,000 within two hours of release.
"Shang Gongzhu" stars Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui in their third collaboration, adapted from the web novel of the same name by Yi Ren Kuikui. The story revolves around Princess Mu Wanyao, born of the main consort, and Yan Shang, a scholar from a humble background: Mu Wanyao encounters a carriage breakdown on her way back to the capital, meets Yan Shang, and temporarily stays at his home. Their relationship gradually develops amidst differences in status, political maneuvering, and emotional testing.
Discussions following the premiere focused mainly on episodes three and four. After revealing her identity as a princess, Mu Wanyao orders Yan Shang to heat water and carry her into the bath, making the clash between imperial protocol and private space the highlight of this plotline; about ten minutes into episode four, the pair shares a kiss scene.
Compared to the common long-term buildup of romantic relationships, "Shang Gongzhu" unfolds with a pace of "meeting in episode one, living together in episode two, and kissing in episode four," leading some viewers to describe the plot progression as rapid. Since its launch, the show has also entered trending discussion lists on multiple social media platforms, and its future performance remains to be seen based on sustained popularity and audience feedback.