Legend of Ban Shu

Legend of Ban Shu (Chinese: 班淑传奇; pinyin: Ban Shu Chuan Qi) is a 2015 Chinese television series starring Jing Tian in the title role of Ban Shu, alongside Zhang Zhehan, Fu Xinbo, Li Jiahang, Li Xinai and Deng Sha. It was produced by Yu Zheng, as a counterpart to his 2013 television series Legend of Lu Zhen.^[1] The series first premiered on Sichuan terrestrial channel in China on October 6, 2015; and was later broadcast nationwide on CCTV on February 6, 2016.^[2][3]

Legend of Ban Shu
Promotional image
Also known as	Ban Shu Legend
Genre	Historical fiction Political Romance
Written by	Zhang Wei
Directed by	Xu Huikang Zhu Ruibin Huang Weiming
Starring	Jing Tian Zhang Zhehan Fu Xinbo Li Sheng Li Jiahang Li Xinai Deng Sha
Opening theme	Jing Gong (惊鸿; Graceful) by Zhang Zhehan
Ending theme	Xin Shang Ren (心上人; Beloved) by Jing Tian
Country of origin	China
Original language	Mandarin
No. of episodes	42
Production
Producer	Yu Zheng
Running time	45 mins
Production companies	Huanyu Film Dongyang Xingrui
Original release
Network	CCTV
Release	October 6, 2015 (2015-10-06)
Related
Legend of Lu Zhen

The drama received positive reviews.^[4][5][6][7]

Synopsis

Ban Shu is a girl who grew up in the western frontier. She travels to the Han capital to meet her father, but he dies before they can be reunited and his family does not approve of her due to her background. In order to be accepted by her father's family, she enters the palace to learn proper etiquette and is hired to be an imperial scholar. Her lack of understanding of Chinese culture causes a stream of comedic disruptions in class, but at the same time her outgoing and unconventional ways brighten up the dull atmosphere of the academy. At the palace she meets and falls in love with fellow professor Wei Ying, who is still grieving for his ex-fiancee. Her vivaciousness and bright personality slowly touches him and allows him to forget about his past love.

Cast

Main

• Jing Tian as Ban Shu
  • Daughter of Ban Chao and princess of Shanshan County. A free-spirited girl who grew up in the grasslands. She later enters the palace and becomes a scholar to prove her identity as Ban Chao's daughter.
• Zhang Zhehan as Wei Ying
  • Descendant of military general Wei Qing. A cold and distant man. Because of the accident of his previous fiancee Liu Xuan, he grew to dislike outlanders. He used to be a capable general, but due to an accident, decides to become a scholar in the palace's academy.
• Fu Xinbo^[8] as Huo Heng/Huo Xuan
  • Huo Heng is the commander of the Eastern Han's imperial army. An intelligent and courageous man. He loves Yao Juan, and would sacrifice anything for her. Huo Xuan is Huo Heng's twin brother. A cunning and crafty man. He loves Deng Sui.
• Li Jiahang^[9] as Deng Zhi
  • Brother of Deng Sui. Great General Cheqi. Kou Lanzhi's fiancee. He used to love Ban Shu and Yue Jin.
• Li Xinai^[10] as Kou Lanzhi
  • Daughter of Marquis Fulu. Known as the most talented girl in the capital. She later becomes a scholar in the palace academy, and becomes rivals with Ban Shu.
• Deng Sha^[11] as Yao Juan
  • Ban Zhao's renowned disciple. A scholar in the palace academy. She loves Huo Heng, and is a close friend of Ban Shu. She has extremely poor eyesight.

Supporting

Palace academy Tien Niu as Ban Zhao A renowned historian and scholar. Ban Shu's aunt, Deng Sui's teacher. Zhang Xinyu[12] as Liu Xuan (Mo Chou) Ban Zhao's senior disciple, and the top female professor in the inner palace academy. She used to be Wei Ying's lover, but was sent to the Southern Lands due to a marriage arrangement with King Zuoxian. Zhang Yijie as Liu Hong Son of Prince Zhongshan. Student of Professor Wei. Zhang Xueying[13] as Liu Yan Princess Beixiang. Daughter of Prince Zhongshan. An unruly and spoilt girl who likes Wei Ying, and treats Ban Shu as a rival. Guan Xiaotong[14] as Jiang Xiu Elder mistress of Lanling Order's Jiang manor. Jiang Yiyi as Jiang Ling Second mistress of Lanling Order's Jiang manor. Kang Ning[15] as Liu Xing Princess Wenxi. A girl with weak health but a kind heart. Merxat as Kou Feng Brother of Kou Lanzhi. He likes An Xin, and dislikes Ban Shu due to her rivalry with his sister. Sun Yi as Ah Cen Daughter of Grand Herald Lin. Kou Lanzhi's most favored student. Fan Linlin as He Hui Daughter of the provincial governor. Zheng Danlei as Ah Xiang Liu Yan's close friend. Gao Yu'er as Ah Shuang Gao Jicai as Zhu Ding Son of Glorious Grand Master Zhu Mingtang. Chen Long as Li Yong Son of Guannei Marquis Li Guang. Xiao Yuyu as Xia Wenji Daughter of the Education Minister. A female professor who entered the Academy at the same time as Ban Shu, but was scared away by the rowdy students. Imperial family Li Sheng as Deng Sui Empress Dowager Deng. She has a forbidden love with Huo Xuan. Wang Peidong as Liu Hu Emperor An. Wang Jialin as Liu Wu Prince Liang. He aims to overthrow Deng Sui. Xiang Yicheng as Princess Yunxiu Servants Wang Shuang as Court Lady Ming Personal attendant of Deng Sui. Shao Min as Wang Sheng Wet nurse of the Emperor. She often encourages the Emperor to go against Deng Sui. She treats Kou Lanzhi as a younger sister. Kent Tong as Uncle Zhong Loyal servant of Ban family. Wen Wen as Pei Huan Personal attendant of Ban Shu. Cao Xinyue as Bi Yu Personal attendant of Kou Lanzhi. Zeng Yixuan as Jin Shu Attendant of the inner academy hall.

Court officials Lu Yong as Yang Zhen Minister of Eastern Han. Wang Jianxin as Marquis Kou Fulu Marquis. A renowned scholar. Kou Lanzhi and Kou Feng's father. He is in cahoots with Prince Liang, and aims to overthrow Deng Sui. Qiu Xinzhi as Zhu Mingtang Glorious grand master. Zhu Ding's father. Yang Long as Qin Huai Deng Zhi's subordinate. Zhang Jia as Ban Yong Sima General. Ban Shu's brother. Zhuo Fan as Jiang Chongdong Investigating Censor of Lan Tai. Jiang Xiu and Jiang Ling's father. Hu Pu as Bai Chengen A general. Yue Dongfeng as Minister Cai In charge of the purchasing orders of the palace. Wang Maolei as Zhen Jian A general. Princess Yunxiu's husband. Ya Jiahui as Du Zhong Minister of Ye Ting Order. People of Han kingdom Hei Zi as Lord Nanyang Wang Lin as Lady Nanyang Jiao Junyan as Ah Yue Courtesan of Hongxiang Court. Deng Zhi's close confidant. Johnny Zhang as Song Cheng Military captain of Xiliu Camp. Jiang Xiu's lover. Zang Hongna as Yin Xiu A girl who likes Huo Heng. Kristy Yang as Zhu Ding's mother. He Yanni as Miao Rouniang Zhu Mintang's second wife. Others Gao Yunxiang as Su Li Leader of the Inner Mongolias' Bandits. He likes Ban Shu. Zhang Meng as Yue Jin A songstress who came from the Northern Lands. Deng Zhi's crush. Kang Lei[16] as An Ping Prince of Loulan Kingdom. Dilraba Dilmurat[16] as An Xin Princess of Loulan Kingdom. She likes Kou Feng. Ji Chen as Mo Dong A businessman from the Northern Lands. Gao Weiguang as King Zuoxian Ruler of Inner Mongolias' Southern Lands. Liu Xuan's husband. Li Yilin as Prince of South Leader of Inner Mongolias' Southern Lands. Brother of King Zuoxian. Zhang Yameng as Consort Dowager Mother of King Zuoxian. Kun Enpan as Ah Zhu Personal attendant of King Zuoxian.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on October 10, 2015.^[17]

No.	Title	Singer	Length
1.	"Alarmed Goose (惊鸿)"	Zhang Zhehan	4:15
2.	"Sweetheart (心上人)"	Jing Tian	4:26

Ratings

• Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

CCTV-8 Ratings[18]
Air date	Episode	Ratings	Audience Share	Timeslot ranking
2016.2.8	1-4	0.389	1.24	10
2016.2.9	5-8	0.463	1.63	11
2016.2.10	9-12	0.431	1.49	13
2016.2.11	13-16	0.420	1.27	11
2016.2.12	17-20	0.499	1.43	7
2016.2.13	21-24	0.564	1.49	11
2016.2.14	25-28	0.689	2.09	9
2016.2.15	29-32	0.633	1.94	11
2016.2.16	33-36	0.698	2.17	10
2016.2.17	37-40	0.744	2.28	9
2016.2.18	41-42	0.694	1.82	10