# Royal Nirvana

Royal Nirvana (Chinese: 鹤唳华亭) is a 2019 Chinese television series based on the novel of the same name by Xue Man Liang Yuan. It stars Luo Jin and Li Yitong. It started airing on Youku from November 12, 2019.

## Synopsis

Crown Prince Xiao Dingquan lost his mother and sister at a young age and his father, the Emperor, is distant towards him because he is backed by his maternal uncle General Gu and the army he controls. He lives on tenterhooks, fearful of losing the handful of people who are close to him. His father is a formidable figure whom he both respects and fears. Even as he strives to receive his love and approval, he is also afraid of the inevitable crushing disappointment if he fails.
Firstborn Prince Qi has designs on the throne and conspires against Dingquan with the help of his father-in-law, the powerful Chancellor Li Baizhou. They cause harm to befall the people he cherishes and widen the rift between the Emperor and Dingquan.
Teacher Lu Shiyu who is strongly influenced by Confucian values is a fatherly figure to Dingquan. He summons his student Lu Ying back to the capital with the intention of recommending the latter’s daughter Lu Wenxi to be the Crown Princess so as to help Dingquan gain an upright and trustworthy ally in court. Dingquan and Wenxi meet by chance when her brother gets into trouble and they develop mutual admiration although Dingquan has never seen what she looks like.
When Wenxi’s father and brother are thrown into jail, Wenxi goes undercover as a maid in the Crown Prince’s residence to help them. In the process, she quietly supports Dingquan to resolve two cases. Together, the couple manages to redress Wenxi’s father and brother’s case and bring the villains to justice. They are each other’s pillar of support as they brave dangers and make sacrifices to bring peace to the country.

## Cast
### Main

| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Luo Jin | Xiao Dingquan | Crown Prince. Third prince of Southern Qi. He yearns for his father's love but is feared and suppressed due to his position. |
| Li Yitong | Lu Wenxi (Abao) | High ranking official Lu Ying's daughter. She is the woman Xiao Dingquan loved. She disguises as a maidservant and sneaks into the palace to seek revenge for her family’s death. |

### Supporting
#### Royal family

| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Huang Zhizhong | Xiao Ruijian | Emperor of Northern Qi. Previously the Prince of Ning. |
| Wang Yuanke | Gu Siqing | Deceased Empress of Northern Qi. Gu Silin's younger sister. Xiao Dingquan's mother. |
| Miao Pu | Noble Consort Zhao | Daughter of Zhao Yong, the Count of Anping. Mother of Xiao Dingtang and Xiao Dingkai. |
| Zhao Yuanyuan | Noble Lady Song | |
| Jin Han | Xiao Dingtang | Prince of Qi. Eldest prince of Northern Qi. An extremely ambitious man who schemes in order to claim the title of the Crown Prince. He is favored by the King. He frames Xiao Dingquan of killing Lu Ying. |
| Lu Yanqi | Princess Consort of Qi | Li Baizhou's daughter. She is hot-tempered. |
| Xin Peng | Xiao Dingkai | Prince of Zhao. Fifth prince of Northern Qi. He also in love with Lu Wenxi. |

#### Officials

| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Wang Jinsong | Lu Shiyu | Minister of personnel. Grand tutor. Xiao Dingquan's teacher, who provides him guidance and advice. |
| Zhang Zhijian | Li Baizhou | Head of the secretariat. Xiao Dingtang's father-in-law. |
| Terry Chiu Hsin-Chih | Lu Ying | Palace assistant secretary. |
| Bao Daozhi | Zhang Luzheng | Minister of justice. |
| Alan Liu Te-Kai | Gu Silin | Marquis of Wude. Xiao Dingquan's uncle. He wields great military power. |

#### Others

| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Zheng Yecheng | Gu Feng'en | Count of Jiayi. Gu Silin's son. |
| Liu Yitong | Lu Wenpu | Lu Ying's son. |
| Cheng Xiaomeng | Zhang Nianzhi | Zhang Luzheng's daughter. |
| Dong Chunhui | Zhang Shaoyun | Zhang Luzheng's son. |
| Wang Yu | Xu Changping | |
| Liu Hailan | Xixiang | A palace maid. |
| Hao Lei | Lady Zhang | A palace maid of the deceased empress. |
| Wang Ruizi | Lady Wu | A palace maid of the service bureau. Lady Zhang's daughter. |

## Production

The series is produced and directed by Yang Wenjun (Happy Memories of the Ma's; Best Director winner at Shanghai Television Festival). It is written by Xue Man Liang Yuan, the author of the original novel. Other notable cast members include style director William Chang and art director Chen Haozhong (Empresses in the Palace, Eternal Love).
The series began filming in May 2018 at Xiangshan Film and Television Town, and wrapped up in January 2019 at Dunhuang. Filming also took place in Wuxi and Inner Mongolia.

## Reception

Douban gave the drama 7.1 out of 10 out of more than 57,000 user reviews.

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Category | Nominee | Results |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Web Series | Royal Nirvana | Nominated |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Top Ten Web Series | Royal Nirvana | Won |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Quality Director of the Year | Yang Wenjun | Won |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actor | Luo Jin | Nominated |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actor | Wang Jinsong | Nominated |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actor | Jin Han | Nominated |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actress | Li Yitong | Nominated |
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Most Promising Actor | Zheng Yecheng | Won |
| Sina Film & TV Award Ceremony | Top Ten Television Series | | Won |
| 26th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Cinematography | Gan Yunquan | Nominated |
| 26th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Art Direction | Chen Haozhong | Nominated |
| 29th Huading Award | Best Actor | Luo Jin | Pending |
| 29th Huading Award | Best Actress | Li Yitong | Pending |