Who Plays The Prince Is A Girl In The Adaptation?

The casting choice for the prince in that adaptation was such a delightful surprise! I stumbled upon the series while scrolling through recommendations, and the moment the prince appeared on screen, I did a double take. The role is played by Zhao Lusi, who brings this incredible mix of charm and mischief to the character. She’s known for her comedic timing, but here, she flips between regal poise and playful energy so effortlessly. It’s not just about the cross-dressing trope—she makes the prince feel layered, like someone genuinely navigating a double life. The way she handles the sword fights and court politics while keeping that subtle femininity underneath? Chef’s kiss. I’d honestly watch her in anything after this.

What’s even cooler is how the show plays with gender expectations beyond just the casting. The script leans into the irony of other characters being fooled by her performance, and there’s this one scene where she’s teaching a noblewoman how to flirt—while in disguise as a man—that had me cackling. It’s rare to see an adaptation commit so fully to the absurdity of the premise without undermining the character’s competence. Also, minor tangent, but her chemistry with the male lead is off the charts; their banter feels like something out of a screwball comedy.

Funny story—I almost dropped this drama after episode one because the CGI was rough, but then the prince showed up, played by Zhang Xueying, and I got hooked. Her performance is this perfect balance of stoic and vulnerable. Like, she’ll be delivering some ruthless political maneuver, and then there’s this flicker of panic in her eyes when someone gets too close to discovering her secret. The way she adjusts her posture and voice when switching between private and public scenes is so nuanced. You can tell she studied a lot of historical male leads for reference—there’s a bit of Chen Kun’s brooding energy in her portrayal.

Bonus points for the hairpin scene in episode 7, where she almost gets caught wearing one. The way she spins it into ‘testing the court ladies’ loyalty’? Genius. Also, minor detail, but I love how they let her keep slightly feminine gestures—like tucking her hair behind her ear—when she’s alone. Makes the character feel more real.

Oh, this adaptation was my guilty pleasure last summer! The prince is portrayed by Ju Jingyi, and she absolutely nails the androgynous vibe. I’ve followed her since her SNH48 idol days, so seeing her take on a role like this was wild. She’s got this delicate features but carries herself with such authority—like, you totally buy her as a young ruler who’d command armies. The costuming team deserves a shoutout too; they padded her shoulders just enough to give her silhouette that masculine edge without it feeling cartoonish. There’s a scene where she’s in full armor, and the way she lowers her voice to bark orders? Chills.

What I appreciate is how the show doesn’t treat her identity as a mere gimmick. There’s this quiet tension when she interacts with her love interest, where you can tell she’s constantly calculating how much ‘prince’ versus ‘real self’ to reveal. Also, side note: the BTS clips showed her practicing horseback riding for weeks, and it shows. That finale where she gallops across the battlefield with her hair coming loose? Iconic.