| Language: | Standard Chinese |
| Num Episodes: | 68 |
| Producer: | Dai Xiaorui |
| Location: | Hengdian, Tang Dynasty City, Xiangcheng |
| Runtime: | 45 minutes |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Network: | Changsha News Channel Youku |
| Country: | China |
| Native Name: | 上陽賦 |
| Genre: | Costume drama |
| Director: | Hou Yong, Cheng Yuanhai |
Monarch Industry (also dubbed The Rebel Princess) is a 2021 Chinese fictional costume drama. This drama is adapted from MeiYuZhe’s novel Di Wang Ye, and stars Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Yiwei, Tony Yang, Kara Wai, and Angie Chiu.[1]
The drama was filmed between February and November 2018. It began broadcasting on Changsha News Channel on 8 January 2021, and on Youku on January 9, 2021.
The story is set against the fictional Cheng Dynasty involving the imperial Ma family and the noble clans; Wang clan of Langya and Xie clan of Chen. The royal family is supported by both the Wang and Xie clans for generations which results in recurring clashes for power whilst disregarding the wellbeing of the common people. Wang Xuan (played by Zhang Ziyi), and her first love, the third prince, Ma Zitan (played by Tony Yang), are childhood sweethearts that are madly in love. They wish to get married but are faced with multiple setbacks because of a prophecy that states, "to acquire a lady from the Wang clan is to obtain the world." Wang Xuan is ultimately coerced into marrying an accomplished general from the peasant class, Xiao Qi (played by Zhou Yiwei) who was bestowed the title Prince of Yuzhang. Xiao Qi is well aware that he commands 200,000 Ningshuo soldiers and is at risk of becoming a pawn in the struggle for power. He takes an extreme measure to avoid this by abruptly rushing out of the capital in the middle of the wedding banquet, leaving Wang Xuan ashamed, disheartened and insulted. The two were separated due to the awkward start of their marriage amidst rising political turmoil. Wang Xuan is eventually moved by Xiao Qi's ambition to bring peace and prosperity to the common people. She finally decides to accept Xiao Qi who provides her with the freedom she is used to as she discovers her own calling and learns to cope with her prestigious yet complicated family, maturing into a lady in her own right. They gradually fall in love while overcoming various conflicting identities/roles/responsibilities, ethical dilemmas and political schemes to create a new era of stability.
The drama was highly anticipated as it was Zhang Ziyi's first foray into television dramas.[2] Chinese netizens criticized that Zhang, who was 38 years old during the production, was portraying a 16-year-old person at the beginning of the show.