Novoland: Pearl Eclipse

Synopsis

During the Zheng Dynasty, efforts to obtain the rare Naga pearl cause Ye Haishi, a girl from a fishing village, to lose her father. As the rest of her family and villagers are threatened by soldiers, the passing first minister Fang Zhu takes her under his wing as his disciple. Disguised as a male, she enters the imperial court as the emperor Zhu Zhongxu's bodyguard.

While Fang Zhu and Haishi love each other, a turn of events forces the couple apart. After Haishi’s real gender is revealed, she becomes the emperor’s consort in name and is conferred the title 'Madame Naga Pearl.'

Cast

Main

Yang Mi as Fang Haishi / Ye Haishi

A young girl who hails from a fishing village. People of the village are forced to gather Naga pearls, the tears of Naga mermaids, to pay in the form of taxes. While searching for Naga mermaids at sea, Ye Haishi and her father are attacked by sharks. She was the only survivor, saved by a Naga mermaid who goes by the name "Lang Huan". Afterwards, when the village is threatened by corrupt government officials, she sneaks an attack on the officials' leader, killing him with a single stab. On the run from other officials, she meets Fang Zhu, who offers to take her in and asks her to choose whether she wants to live as a man or woman; she chooses the former. She takes on the surname of her master, "Fang", and later develops romantic feelings for him.

William Chan as Fang Zhu / Fang Jianming

The commander of Secret Force and the top official of the Zheng Dynasty, Lord Qinghai. As a descendant of the Liushang Fang family, Fang Zhu was sent to the royal palace to accompany the royal heirs when he was young. He and Chu Zhongxu, the current emperor, grew up together and formed a close bond. During prince Yi's rebellion, Chu Zhongxu was injured badly. To save his best friend, Fang Zhu became Zhongxu's Baixi; someone who endures all the sickness, physical pain and injuries inflicted on the host. After he recovered, Fang Zhu faked his own death and wore a mask to conceal his identity. While staying hidden, Fang Zhu protects Chu Zhongxu and works together with Chu Zhongxu to eradicate corrupt individuals in the court. He then passes by Haishi's village and takes her in as a disciple. He later develops romantic feelings for her, but keeps pushing her away.

Xu Kaicheng as Emperor Di Xu / Zhu Zhongxu

After the Yi Rebellion, he was the only successor to the throne. Thus, he became the Emperor of the Zheng Dynasty against his own will. He has a hot temper and is dispirited, due to the loss of his first love, Zizan. He later on meets Tilan, whom he detests due to her resemblance to Zizan. He eventually develops feelings for her.

Chen Xiaoyun as Zizan and Tilan / Consort Shurong

Zizan is Emperor Di Xu's first love and the late-empress of the Zheng dynasty. She is the princess of Zhunian.

Supporting

Ye Qing as Zhu Linglang / Commandery Princess Fenyang.

Zeng Yongti as Ju Qiqi, ex-head mistress of the palace's fabric department and aunt of Zheliu. She shares a one-sided love with Fang Zhu.

Li Tai as Tang Qianzi / General Tang. He is a military general assigned to guard Huangquan pass. He is secretly in love with Ti Lan / Consort Shurong.

Huang Junjie as Zhou Youdu, a good friend of Fang Haishi and Fang Zhuoying. He fell in love with Haishi at first sight.

Ye Youwei as Zhu Jichang / Lord Chang, younger half brother of Emperor Di Xu.

Han Xiuyi as Su Ming, one of the six-winged generals and Fang Zhu's enemy.

Special appearance

Dong Xuan as Lang Huan. Mermaid who has a special bond with Haishi.

Production

In November 2018, Yang Mi attended Tencent drama-round up press conference to announce her upcoming role in the Novoland franchise. Official filming began in Hengdian World Studios on 3 May 2020 and wrapped up on 20 September 2020.