''The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty'' () is a 2020 Chinese television series based on the novel of the same name by Meng Xishi. Produced by
Jackie Chan
Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...
, it stars
Darren Chen
Kuan Hong (, born 15 January 1995), also known as Darren Chen, is a Taiwanese actor and model. He is best known for his roles in ''Meteor Garden'' (2018), ''My Unicorn Girl'', and '' The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty'' (2020).
Early life and educ ...
,
Fu Meng-po
Fu Meng-po (; born May 13, 1987) is a Taiwanese actor. He is best known for his roles in the romance films ''Your Love Song'' (2020) and ''I Missed You'' (2021), as well as the period series ''The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty'' (2020). He has als ...
and Liu Yaoyuan in the lead roles.
The drama premiered on
iQIYI with multi-languages subtitles on April 1, 2020.
Synopsis
In 15th-century China, a quick-witted government official named Tang Fan (
Darren Chen
Kuan Hong (, born 15 January 1995), also known as Darren Chen, is a Taiwanese actor and model. He is best known for his roles in ''Meteor Garden'' (2018), ''My Unicorn Girl'', and '' The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty'' (2020).
Early life and educ ...
) is the best detective in Beijing. When a nobleman's son is murdered, Tang Fan meets martial arts specialist guardsman Sui Zhou (Fu Meng-Po), who is investigating the disappearance of the Crown Prince's study partner. Realizing that the two cases are connected, the devious and powerful imperial eunuch Wang Zhi (Liu Yaohuan) convinces the unlikely duo to team up. Realizing their effectiveness, the three begin working together regularly. As they dig deeper into the crimes plaguing the Great Ming's capital, the trio realize that something very sinister is afoot – including a plot to launch a bloody coup. Can they stop the criminal mastermind before time runs out?
Cast
Main
*
Darren Chen
Kuan Hong (, born 15 January 1995), also known as Darren Chen, is a Taiwanese actor and model. He is best known for his roles in ''Meteor Garden'' (2018), ''My Unicorn Girl'', and '' The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty'' (2020).
Early life and educ ...
(voiced by Su Shangqing) as Tang Fan (
courtesy name
A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...
Runqing), a sixth grade prefecture judge of the
Shuntian Prefecture
Shuntian Prefecture was an administrative region of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties, equivalent to Beijing Municipality in today's People's Republic of China. However, the area of the prefecture jurisdiction was different. The term Shu ...
. He is optimistic, kind and known for being a glutton.
*
Fu Meng-po
Fu Meng-po (; born May 13, 1987) is a Taiwanese actor. He is best known for his roles in the romance films ''Your Love Song'' (2020) and ''I Missed You'' (2021), as well as the period series ''The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty'' (2020). He has als ...
as Sui Zhou (courtesy name Guangchuan), a sixth-grade
Embroidered Uniform Guard
The Embroidered Uniform Guard () was the imperial secret police that served the emperors of the Ming dynasty in China. The guard was founded by the Hongwu Emperor in 1368 to serve as his personal bodyguards. In 1369 it became an imperial militar ...
. He is a good cook and a skilled fighter.
*Liu Yaoyuan (voiced by Sun Langlang) as Wang Zhi, Commander of the Western Depot, Chenghua's secret police. Confidante of
Imperial Consort Wan. He is known for being both merciless yet upright.
Royal family
*Cai Heng as the
Chenghua Emperor
The Chenghua Emperor (; 9 December 1447 – 9 September 1487), personal name Zhu Jianshen, was the ninth Emperor of the Ming dynasty, who reigned from 1464 to 1487. His era name " Chenghua" means "accomplished change".
Childhood
Zhu Jianshen wa ...
, Sui Zhou's great-uncle.
*
Alyssa Chia
Alyssa Chia Ching-wen (; born 7 October 1974) is a Taiwanese actress and television host. She is known for her roles in television series such as the period dramas ''The Prince of Han Dynasty'', ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'' and '' Lady W ...
(voiced by Qiu Qiu) as Imperial Noble
Noble Consort Wan, the Emperor's favorite consort, Wang Zhi's patroness, and Wan Tong's sister.
*Fang Xiaoli as Empress Dowager Zhou (voiced by Liu Qian Han), the Emperor's mother and Sui Zhou's great-great-aunt.
*Liu Shijie as
the crown prince, the son of the Emperor and Virtuous Consort Ji, but raised by Noble Consort Wan.
*Yang Kairu as Virtuous Consort Ji, mother of the Crown prince, who was killed by Noble Consort Wan.
*Zhao Xiaolu (voiced by He Wenxiao) as Princess Gu'an, cousin of the current Emperor and daughter of the Jingtai Emperor. She harbors hatred toward the current ruler for the plight of her family.
*Yang Kaicheng as Wang Xian, husband of Princess Gu'an. Despite being autistic, he is highly talented in weapon making and invented Bo Lang, a bomb that caused massive explosion.
*Li Taiyan as the
Jingtai Emperor
The Jingtai Emperor (21 September 1428 – 14 March 1457), born Zhu Qiyu, was the seventh Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1449 to 1457. The second son of the Xuande Emperor, he was selected in 1449 to succeed his elder brother Emper ...
, the Chenghua Emperor's uncle, who deposed, and was in turn deposed himself, by the Chenghua Emperor's father.
People around Tang Fan
*Huangyang Tiantian (voiced by He Guannan) as Dong'er, a maidservant who delivers food to Tang Fan and later follows him. She is highly intelligent and analytical despite her young age. She likes Sui Zhou.
*Mao Yi as Pei Huai, a skilled physician and Tang Fan's close friend. A hapless womanizer until he meets Tang Yu.
*He Nan (voiced by Xu Jiaqi) as Duo'erla, an
Oirat girl who clashes with Tang Fan and later befriends him. She came to the Capital in search of her long-lost lover.
*Pan Shiqi as Tang Yu, Tang Fan's sister. She was married to an abusive husband, but got a divorce and later get together with Pei Huai
*Lu Jinhao as He Cheng, Tang Yu's son and Tang Fan's nephew.
*La Mu Yang Zi as Dong Gu, owner and chef of Dong Ji restaurant.
*Zhang Yilong as Wuyun Bulage (Wu Yun), Duo Erla's follower. He is knowledgeable about weaponry and horses.
People around Sui Zhou
*Xiong Xiong (voiced by Shao Chenliang) as Xue Ling, Sui Zhou's subordinate and friend in the Embroidered Guard.
People around Wang Zhi
*Yu Mingxuan as Ding Rong, Wang Zhi's subordinate and an expert in many fields.
*
Steve Yoo (voiced by Qi Sijia) as Jia Kui, a former soldier who was captured by Sui Zhou after fifteen years on the run for murder. He eventually becomes a bodyguard for Wang Zhi.
*Wei Yunxi (voiced by Yun Hezhui) as Mother Cui,
madam
Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for Woman, women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French ...
of the Huanyi Brothel.
Li Zilong and allies
*Wang Maolei as Li Zilong, Leader of Bai Yue Sect. Descendant of the
House of Li
The House of Li () was the ruling house of the Western Liang dynasty and the Tang dynasty of China.
Family information
The Li family originated in the Longxi Commandery and had Han ethnic origins. They were also known as the Longxi Li lineage ...
. He aims to stage a coup for revenge.
*Liu Bin as Shang Ming, Commander of the Eastern Depot, one of two imperial secret police forces (the other being the Western Depot).
*Chen Weixu as Wan Tong, head of
Jinyiwei
The Embroidered Uniform Guard () was the imperial secret police that served the emperors of the Ming dynasty in China. The guard was founded by the Hongwu Emperor in 1368 to serve as his personal bodyguards. In 1369 it became an imperial milit ...
guards. Wan Zhen'er's brother
*Gao Lancun (voiced by Liu Cong) as Wan An, Chief Grand Secretary, ally of Li Zilong .
*Yang Junchao (voiced by Ao Lei) as
Öštemür (A'shi Tiemu'er), an
Oirat Khagan who wants to overthrow the Ming Dynasty.
*Zhang Baijia (voiced by Feng Lan) as Qing Ge, a famous courtesan. Li Zilong's god-daughter, who is planted as a mole in Huanyi Brothel.
Shun Tian Magistrate Manor
*Cao Yang as Pan Bin, prefecture judge of Shun Tian Magistrate Manor. Tang Fan's senior
*Qu Ge as Lao Sun, coroner at Shun Tian Magistrate Manor
Extended cast
*Chen Mengyao as Feng Qingzi, a courtesan at Huanyi Brothel.
*Gong Ziqi as Lin Chaodong, Feng Qingzi's lover.
*Zhang Zhongxing as Zheng Ying, Marquis Wu'an (voiced by Zhao Ming Zhou).
*Luo Maoyang as Zheng Cheng, elder son of the Wu'an Manor. A wanton playboy. He was killed by Zheng Ying.
*Zhou Hang as Zheng Zhi, second son of the Wu'An Manor. He killed Zheng Cheng, as he felt that he is an embarrassment to the family name.
*Yang Changqing as Liu Xiang, head eunuch. He killed Han Zao in an attempt to frame Royal Consort Wan.
*Shi Diwen as Han Zao, the crown prince's study companion.
*Shang Chengjun as Huang Jinglong, magistrate of Ji An City. He is known for his cruel and harsh punishments, resulting in the death of many prisoners.
*Qian Rufu as Lu Zhi, magistrate of
Tongzhou (later Yunhe).
*Yu Yang as Huang Ying, Huang Jinglong's subordinate.
*Liu Yaoyuan as Yang Fu, a criminal captured by Huang Jinglong that looks identical to Wang Zhi.
*Lu Zhanxiang as Nie Ping, a boy that was jailed for stealing money to buy medicine for his mother.
*Gao Jian as Chen Xu, a general guarding the borders. Known for his uprightness and fierce loyalty to the country.
*Dong Liwu You as Xiao Niqiu, leader of the beggar children. Helps Wang Zhi in gathering intelligence.
*Tang Ziyue as Xiao Chizi, one of the beggar children. Helps Wang Zhi in gathering intelligence.
*Yu Yuan as Yu Zhengpeng, elder son of Yu family. A general. He hated Wang Zhi as he believed he caused the death of his father.
*Lin Xu as Yu Zhenglin, second son of Yu family. A minister. He tried to turn the citizens against Wang Zhi as he thought he killed his family.
*Yuan Qiao as Yu Xiulian, daughter of Yu family. She admires Sui Zhou, whom she was almost betrothed to (voiced by Yu Meng Ci).
*Chu Tianshu as Zhang Degui (Chef Zhang), chef of Yu family. He has a secret crush on Yu Xiulian and after failing to have his feelings reciprocated, killed the entire Yu family.
*Zhao Yang as Zhu Jianmou, a prince who often helps out the needy and is known as "Great Kind Person". However, he is actually a serial murderer who kills foreign young girls and dig out their heart, due to having been betrayed by his lover.
*Shi Damao as Qian Tai, a tea merchant who traffics children out of the capital.
*Lu Lin as He Lin, Tang Yu's abusive husband.
*Li Liqun as Ma Lin, the wealthiest merchant of Yunhe who is in charge of the silver mines. Subordinate of Li Zilong.
*Yang Huan as Li Mao, a scholar who is concerned about the welfare of mine workers (voiced by Wei Chao).
*Yang Tun as Ma Yuancong, Ma Lin's son.
*Ge Xingjia as Ma Rufu, housekeeper of Ma manor.
*Zhang Yue as Er Tao, leader of the mine workers in Yunhe.
*He Ziming as Li Fei, a former soldier. He impersonated Sui Zhou, using his name to rob the officials and distribute the money to the poor
*Yan Weiliang as Li You, Li Fei's younger brother.
*Hu Xiao as Sun Da, an official guarding the ice house.
*Li Yuanyuan as Jin Sanniang, seller of ice in the black market. Descendant of a family who helped build the palace's secret tunnels (voiced by Zhang Kai).
*Shu Yaxin as A'lasi / Ding Man, an
Oirat spy sent to the palace as a eunuch. Duo'erla's lover.
*Jiang Feng as Gao Yi, an accomplished general who was captured by the
Oirats
Oirats ( mn, Ойрад, ''Oirad'', or , Oird; xal-RU, Өөрд; zh, 瓦剌; in the past, also Eleuths) are the westernmost group of the Mongols whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of Siberia, Xinjiang and western Mongolia.
Histor ...
while protecting the former Emperor.
*Jia Shuyi as Madame Gao, Gao Yi's wife.
Soundtrack
International broadcast
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sleuth Of The Ming Dynasty
2020 Chinese television series debuts
2020 Chinese television series endings
Chinese historical television series
Chinese web series
IQIYI original programming
Mandarin-language television shows
Television shows based on Chinese novels
Television series set in the Ming dynasty