Tigers Sniff the Rose brings Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui back together for a historical romance built on court politics, power struggles and a slow-burn love story. The Chinese drama, also known by its Mandarin title Shang Gong Zhu (尚公主), has confirmed its premiere date and is set to arrive on Tencent Video and WeTV for global viewers.
What Is Tigers Sniff the Rose About
The story follows Mu Wanyao, a princess from the imperial family who refuses to accept the fate laid out for her. She is ordered to leave the capital, Chang’an, and travel to Lingnan to pray for her late mother. On the way back, her carriage axle breaks on a mountain road, and she meets Yan Shang, a gifted scholar from a poor background who is returning home from his studies.
Their first meeting happens in the misty mountains of Lingnan. Small acts of help turn into a deeper bond. Mu Wanyao later helps Yan Shang enter Chang’an, where he begins a career as an official and builds a reputation at court. The country then faces internal unrest and outside threats. Yan Shang steps forward to confront the crisis, and Mu Wanyao works alongside him to expose traitors, resist foreign enemies and protect the people.
The drama is adapted from the novel Shang Gong Zhu by Yi Ren Kui Kui, published on Jinjiang Literature City. The live-action version adds new layers to Yan Shang’s background, including a hidden identity as the son of a disgraced official. That change turns his motivation from simply rising through the ranks into a personal search for justice and revenge.
Release Date and Global Streaming Details
Tigers Sniff the Rose will premiere on October 23, 2026, according to an official announcement made on October 17. The drama’s Weibo account released the premiere date alongside a trailer titled Resonance of Destiny and a new poster.
In mainland China, the series streams exclusively on Tencent Video. It also airs on Aurora TV (极光TV), Tencent’s television platform. Viewers outside mainland China can watch the drama on WeTV, Tencent Video’s international streaming service.
WeTV is available in more than 170 countries and regions, including markets across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The platform offers subtitles and dubbing in up to 12 languages. Viewers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and India can check the WeTV app or website for regional availability.
Episode Count and Release Format
The drama has 40 episodes, with each episode running about 45 minutes. Tencent Video has not shared a detailed weekly release calendar at the time of writing. The complete series has already passed review, and the platform has positioned it as an S+ level production, a label used for its biggest and most expensive projects.
Full Cast and Characters
- Meng Ziyi as Mu Wanyao / Princess Danyang – a proud princess who grows into a strategic political player
- Li Yunrui as Yan Shang – a brilliant scholar from a humble background who hides a painful family history
- Ken Wu (Wu Hankun) as Yang Si – Mu Wanyao’s childhood friend and the crown prince’s closest companion
- Li Xiaoqian as Wei Shu – a young official in Yan Shang’s circle
- Shen Jiayu as Chun Hua – a supporting character tied to the palace and court
- Quan Yilun as Liu Wenji – a court figure whose ambitions create tension
- Yu Ailei as Yu Cheng’an – a key official in the court storyline
- Myolie Wu as Mu Ningshuang – the elder princess, a woman with her own political instincts
- Tang Xiaotian as Meng Zaishi – a member of the imperial family
- Xu Haiqiao as Mu Xun – another royal figure in the power struggle
- Yan Zidong – special appearance
- Bai Bingke as Zhao Lingfei
- Zhang Yue as Liang Lingyi
What Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui Said About the Drama
Meng Ziyi described Mu Wanyao as a character shaped by hardship and a need for control. In an Elle interview, she explained what drives the princess:
“She’s a very complex character. Because of some negative experiences early on, she realized she had to have power in her own hands. Only then would she have the ability to make her own choices. She’s endured a lot, but she always says, ‘No matter what, I have to survive first, so I can accomplish what I want to accomplish.’”
Li Yunrui spoke about the qualities that drew him to Yan Shang. In a June 2026 interview, he said the character stood out for his inner strength:
“Yan Shang possesses a noble vision and is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Driven by his ideals and concern for ordinary people, the character remains committed to his goals even when facing uncertainty and adversity.”
When the drama was officially announced in June 2025, both actors shared dramatic messages on Weibo. Meng Ziyi wrote:
“If you want to fight a tiger, you must sacrifice yourself first. This is my hunting ground. Chang’an, I’m back.”
Li Yunrui added:
“Punish evil, bring peace. Serve the people, be just, be kind, be good. Chang’an, here I come.”
The two also posted a joint line: “Together we challenge injustice and protect the peace of our land.”
What to Expect From the Story
The drama is not a simple costume romance. Court strategy runs alongside the love story. The plot touches on imperial exams, the tension between poor scholars and powerful noble families, and the struggle between imperial authority and palace factions.
Mu Wanyao is written as an active lead. She chooses her own husband, sets plans in motion and seeks power instead of waiting to be rescued. Yan Shang is not just a gentle scholar. The drama gives him a revenge motive and a hidden past, which adds weight to his decisions at court.
Their relationship is described as a marriage ordered by imperial decree, where the two start as rivals before becoming partners. Mu Wanyao uses Yan Shang’s intelligence to steady the court. Yan Shang uses the princess’s position to enter the centre of power. Their bond grows as they face the same enemies.
Some readers of the original novel have raised concerns about how much the drama changes the source material. Those changes include Yan Shang’s family background and the heavier focus on political strategy.
Production Scale and Behind the Scenes
Qin Zhen, known for directing Lost You Forever, directed the series. He Fang, who wrote The Legend of Shen Li and Till the End of the Moon, wrote the screenplay. Yang Bingyin handled the music.
Filming ran for 156 days, starting on August 31, 2025, and wrapped on February 3, 2026. Locations included Hengdian and parts of Guangdong, including Enping in Jiangmen. The production built sets that blend Tang and Song dynasty aesthetics, moving between the misty landscapes of Lingnan and the grand imperial court of Chang’an.
Costume designer Huang Wei created more than 1,200 Tang-style costumes for the cast. The drama is produced by Tencent Video and New Classics Media.
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Reservation Numbers and Fan Interest
Before the premiere, the drama crossed 4.5 million reservations across Tencent Video’s platforms. More than 4 million reservations came from Tencent Video and Weibo combined. About 68 percent of those users were listed as fans of the “Yun Qian Meng Rao” couple, the nickname given to Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui after their previous drama, Blossom.
The character popularity index for Yan Shang surpassed 100 million on Tencent Video in the 24 hours leading up to the premiere. After the October 17 date announcement, the drama topped Datawin’s popularity index for upcoming shows.
Tigers Sniff the Rose premieres on October 23, 2026 on Tencent Video in mainland China and WeTV for international viewers. The series runs for 40 episodes at roughly 45 minutes each.
For more release guides, cast details and streaming updates across Asian dramas, keep reading VvipTimes.
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