The new Chinese historical drama The First Jasmine arrived on June 9, 2026. With only six episodes streaming, it has already caught attention for doing something different. The show stars Bai Lu and Ryan Cheng (also known as Cheng Lei). Based on the novel “Sheng Shi Di Fei” by Feng Qing, the story follows Ye Li, a noble daughter forced into marriage with an injured prince.
Most romance dramas follow a simple path. Boy meets girl. Problems get in the way. Love solves everything. The First Jasmine does not follow this path. It mixes revenge, power struggles, and mental trauma into the love story from the very first episode. Here are five ways this show breaks the typical romance drama mold.
The Marriage Happens Without Love or Hate
Most historical romance shows start with the leads falling in love despite family pressure. The First Jasmine starts differently. Ye Li and Prince Xiuyao get married for convenience. Neither one loves the other. Neither one hates the other. They are just neutral.
The marriage is a political move. The emperor arranged it to give Ye Li’s family a “Family of Charity” plaque. The prince accepts because he needs allies for his secret revenge plan. Love is not part of the deal. The story focuses on their hidden agendas and family power instead of romantic feelings.
The Female Lead Is Not a Damsel in Distress
Ye Li, played by Bai Lu, is not your typical noble daughter. She does not need saving. She is smart, hard to read, and has her own plans. Behind her calm and polite behavior, she hides a vengeful nature.
Ye Li talks to a maid who may be a ghost or a hallucination. This happens because of past trauma from the Lishan Academy fire that killed many people. She copes with her pain by jogging, playing games, and even committing murder by proxy. Her revenge methods are cruel but satisfying to watch.
The Male Lead Has Real Weaknesses
Most romance dramas show the male lead as strong and perfect from the start. Ryan Cheng‘s character, Prince Xiuyao, is different. He is a crippled prince dealing with his own pain and anger. His legs are injured, so he cannot move freely. This makes him feel more real and human.
Cheng Lei is known for playing “broody and moody” characters. His character is not just a love interest. He has his own revenge mission and political goals. The romance grows slowly as the two leads learn to trust each other while hiding their secrets.
Revenge and Romance Happen at the Same Time
Typical dramas separate revenge plots from love stories. The First Jasmine mixes them together. Both leads are working against the same enemies, but they do not know it at first.
In one scene, Prince Ding’s group planned to kill an enemy the same day and place as Ye Li. But Ye Li got there first and burned him alive. The eunuch even says a line similar to “The Lannisters send their regards” from Game of Thrones.
The Tone Shifts from Peaceful to Dark
The drama does not stay in one emotional zone. It starts with pretty visuals and peaceful scenes. Then it quickly turns serious. The show hints at hidden motives and dark secrets from early on. Even side characters feel threatening and have their own personalities and struggles.
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Where to Watch and Cast Details
The First Jasmine is streaming on WeTV and Viki. The main cast includes Bai Lu as Ye Li, Ryan Cheng as Mo Xiuyao, Cai Zheng Jie, Yang Shu Yi, Lin Mu Ran, Feng Xue Ya, Shawn Zhang, Chen Xi, and Li Mu Feng.
The drama has already shown strong early success. It became Tencent Video’s annual opening-day advertising champion with seven ads during the first broadcast.
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