Flourished Peony () is a 2025 Chinese historical television series directed by Ding Ziguang and produced by Huace Media. It stars Yang Zi and Li Xian in the lead roles. Adapted from Yi Qianzhong's novel of the same name, the series is set in the Tang Dynasty and follows the story of He Weifang, the daughter of a merchant and Jiang Changyang, the “Flower and Bird Envoy” of Chang'an.
The series premiered on Mango TV and Migu Video starting January 7. It was released on Hunan Television's Golden Eagle Theatre on January 9 and ended its run on February 2. It also premiered internationally on multiple platforms including Netflix, VIU, Viki, Line TV, MyVideo, Astro, K+, Vidio, TrueVisions Now and MOA covering 80 countries and regions.
Flourished Peony was a commercial and critical success, becoming the series with the highest investment in the history of Hunan TV and Mango TV. The series received two nomination at the 30th Shanghai Television Festival, winning the Best Art Direction Award. It was nominated for Best Television Series award at the 33rd China TV Golden Eagle Awards and 2nd Golden Panda Award and has a direct continuation titled In the Name of Blossom which serves as its sequel.
Flourished Peony marks the second collaboration between Yang Zi and Li Xian following their 2019 television series Go Go Squid!.
Plot The story is set in the Tang Dynasty and follows He Weifang, a merchant's daughter who can cultivate rare peonies. She goes to Chang'an after leaving a marriage of convenience. After meeting Jiang Changyang (played by Li Xian), the "Flower and Bird Envoy" there, the two form a partnership.
He Weifang leads a group of downtrodden women to establish "Hua Man Zhu", a flower shop. After much difficulty, they succeed in a patriarchal society. As He Weifang and Jiang Changyang grow closer, she realizes that Jiang Changyang, known as the most corrupt official in the dynasty, is actually an honest man working as a spy for the emperor. They marry and eventually fall in love. Together they work for the greater good.
Cast Main Actor Character Introduction Yang Zi Li Meiyi (young)He WeifangDaughter of a merchant and the owner of the flower shop "Hua Man Zhu". She was forced to marry Liu Chang in exchange for medicine for her gravely ill mother. Later she discovers that the medicine she received was fake, resulting in her mother's death. Distressed, she seeks divorce from Liu Chang. With the help of Jiang Changyang, she escapes to Chang'an from Luoyang. Partnering with him, she uses her exceptional skills in cultivating rare peonies and her intelligence to enter the business world of Chang'an. She marries Jiang Changyang. She begins to cultivate flowers behind the Jiang residence and eventually establishes "Wu Yong Tang", leading a group of women toward economic independence in a patriarchal society.Li Xian Song Cuiqihao (young)Jiang ChangyangKnown as the Flower and Bird Envoy, he serves as the Junior Secretary of the Guanglu Temple and is a close minister to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Though outwardly carefree and uninhibited, he is kind-hearted and courageous, has strategic insight, and is loyal to his country and family. Having entered the imperial palace at a young age, he grew up alongside the emperor, earning his trust and working secretly to eliminate corrupt officials within the court by pretending to be corrupt himself. After encountering He Weifang in Luoyang, he becomes intrigued by her personality and circumstances. Initially assisting her out of curiosity, he develops genuine affection for her. He later marries He Weifang and becomes an investor in her business ventures in Chang'an.
Supporting Actor Character Introduction Wei ZhemingLiu ChangFormer husband of He Weifang and a proud and rigid scholar. He resents He Weifang for separating him from Li Youzhen and treats her coldly after their marriage. His attitude gradually changes as he recognizes her resilience and kindness. He marries Li Youzhen after his divorce and advances in the bureaucracy by aligning himself with Prince Ning. Known for his strategic thinking, he repeatedly advises the prince but his plans often fail, reducing him to a political pawn. As Prince Ning's defeat becomes inevitable, Liu Chang betrays him to save himself.Zhang YaqinLi YouzhenPrincess Ji'an, daughter of Prince Ning. Willful, capricious and jealous, she uses coercive means to obtain what she wants. She loves Liu Chang but her father forces her to marry another man. After her husband's death, she attempts to rekindle her relationship with Liu Chang and marries him after his divorce but her domineering behavior repels him. Jealous, she repeatedly targets He Weifang and during an attempt to humiliate her at a horse farm, she is accidentally trampled on and loses her fertility.Tu SongyanPrince NingA member of the imperial family. Ambitious, treacherous, deceitful and outwardly loyal to the emperor, he secretly consolidates power by hoarding weapons, forming alliances with court officials and plotting rebellion. To remove obstacles, he repeatedly frames loyal ministers and eliminates dissenters. At the height of his influence, he coerces the emperor and controls key aspects of the court. However, his schemes fail due to the efforts of Jiang Changyang, He Weifang and their allies.Qu ZhemingEmperor Xuanzong of TangThe reigning emperor. With the alias 3rd Young Master, he travels incognito accompanied by Jiang Changyang. Despite his anonymous appearance, he retains his authority and identity as the emperor, using these journeys to gain insight into the conditions of his subjects and the actions of the officials.Shen MengchenHuangfu LinggeThe Pure Consort. One of the emperor's consorts. Beautiful and intelligent.Tong MengshiLi XingHe Weifang's cousin and a loyal minister of the emperor. He used to like He Weifang.Dong JieAunt FengJiang Changyang's auntShao YunQin ShengyiWang Qing's wife. She assisted He Weifang to escape Wang Qing's coercion. After her divorce, she becomes He Weifang's business partner. Tricked into remarrying Wang Qing, she kills him and herself during a confrontation.Xin PengWang QingQin Shengyi's abusive husband and a tavern owner. He made trouble for He Weifang. Qin Shengyi killed him after he tricked her into remarrying him.Yang KunAunt SunShe was sent to He Weifang and Qin Shengyi by Wang Qing to make trouble. But she joins them in the business.Guan LeZhu FuStrong and sensible, she uses her skill to make perfume powder to collaborate with He Weifang.Sun MeilinLü GengchunDaughter of the head of the "Hua Xing Lü". Secretly practiced medicine to help people. Later sided with He Weifang's.Zhang QiXu ZupingTeacher of the Emperor and Jiang Changyang. Prince Ning ordered his assassination. But Jiang Changyang faked his death and saved him.Xu LingyueXiao XuexiDaughter of General Xiao and Jiang Changyang's childhood friendZhang LeiFather LiuLiu Chang's fatherHao WentingMother LiuLiu Chang's motherGu ZichengQin LiulangQin Shenyi's brother; admirer of He WeifangYuan RanMadame HeHe Weifang's motherChen SisiAunt HeHe Weifang's auntLiao YinyueYu LuHe Weifang's maidBao ChenxiLian ZhouJiang Changyang's concubine. She was tasked by Prince Ning to spy on Jiang Changyang.Ma YiCao YuyingDeputy head of the flower businessGuo ZheChuan YuJiang Changyang's bodyguardZhou PuUncle WuManager of the private home for orphans which was opened by Jiang ChangyangLin ZiluBi YuLi Youzhen's personal maidXie XinMadam YunOwner of Hua Yun LouWang TianyuQiu ShiLiu Chang's guardMu TongShe YanEmperor's bodyguardChen YilongPei ZhongKui YuanAh TaoHu YiyanQing QueNi HanjinYu ZhengGao ShengAh Ci
Soundtrack
Production Development The series is set in the Tang Dynasty. In order to showcase the beauty of that era and recreate its grandeur, during the development period of the show, the production team collaborated with the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They researched across various location and consulted more than twenty experts on the custom, culture, history and architecture of the Tang Dynasty and peony-related knowledges.
Scriptwriting The series is adapted from Yi Qianzhong's 2011 novel Flourished Peony. Many changes were made during the scriptwriting process, some of which are quite significant. Contents involving He Weifang's sickness and her marrying in the Liu family for a miraculous medicine were changed into her mother being sick and He Weifang marrying to obtain the medicine for her mother. Her conflicts with concubines in the Liu household were removed. The adaptation also made changes in the relationship dynamics between He Weifang and her family. In the novel, she has a close relationship with her family and they supported her in every step including her divorce and starting her own business. But in the series, He Weifang's father is indifferent toward her and doesn't help her during her critical moments. The screenwriter, Zhang Yuanang, also made changes in the character of the male lead and second male lead and merged several characters from the original work into roles. The male lead, Jiang Changyang, is an imperial strategist in the novel, handling dangerous matters. While in the series, he is changed to a flower and bird envoy. His calm and expressionless personality was changed into animated, shrewd and quick-witted. The second male lead Liu Chang is a complete wastrel in the novel. In the series, he is characterized as ambitious and aspiring but weak-willed and subservient to his parents. Screenwriter Zhang Yuanang stated in an interview that she wanted to portray the protagonists as emotionally mature and independent individuals. She explained that both He Weifang and Jiang Changyang are people who endured cruelties of life. Their relationship starts after knowing and understanding each other and develops gradually. The character Qin Shengyi received particular attention from the screenwriter Zhang.
Costumes, makeup and props The production team researched extensively to depict the cultural richness and visual splendor of Tang Dynasty accurately and chose the colorful and mottled patterns of Sancai ceramics as the main visual concept for the entire series. About 1,500 costumes were made for the production. Each design was influenced by various Tang Dynasty paintings, murals and artifacts sourced from major museums across China. For example, the wedding crown Jiang Changyang gave to He Weifang to wear at their wedding was made based on the "Six-flowered Hairpin Crown" worn by Lady Pei, the wife of Yan Shiwei from the Wu Zhou period. It took more than a month to completely make the crown. The necklace and headdress worn by Li Youzhen during her wedding were inspired by two artifacts excavated from the tombs of Li Jingxun and Princess Li Bian. The "Peacock Crown" worn by a dancer in one scene was based on a Tang Dynasty figurine of a woman riding a horse and playing a waist drum exhibited in the Xi'an Museum.
Many of the props and costume elements in the series were inspired from actual Tang Dynasty relics. A silver sachet worn by Jiang Changyang was modeled after a silver incense burner with grape and bird design held in the Shaanxi History Museum. Another celadon octagonal vase was based on a famous Tang Dynasty artifact. The design of the bedding featured in the series was inspired by a national first-class cultural relic, a light yellow silk quilt embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns, collected by the Jingzhou Museum in Hubei Province. Hairstyling in the series also drew inspiration from historical sources. Many of the hairstyles worn by female characters were based on Tang Dynasty female figurines displayed at the Xi'an Museum.