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The Story of Minglan is a Chinese historical television series adapted from the novel ''Don’t you know? The green should be plump and the red lean'' by Guanxin Zeluan. It stars Zhao Liying, Feng Shaofeng and Zhu Yilong. The series is slated for broadcast in 2018 by Hunan TV.

Synopsis
Set in the Northern Song dynasty, the story revolves around Sheng Minglan, the unfavoured sixth daughter of an official. After being mistreated by her legal mother and bullied by her half-sisters, Minglan learns to hide her skills and true intentions, and ultimately succeeds in avenging her biological mother’s death. She meets Gu Tingye, who initially dislikes her but after witnessing her wits and intelligence, decides to help her. They eventually fall in love with each other. After Gu Tingye becomes a powerful official, he successfully makes Minglan his wife. As his wife, Minglan helps guard against his unpleasant relatives and purges the court of corrupt ministers. The couple eventually earned their happily-ever-after, and Minglan rose to prominence as an influential figure of the Sheng family.

Main

 * Zhao Liying as Sheng Minglan
 * The youngest daughter of the Sheng family. Despite her intelligence and bright nature, she is the least favored child of the family. She is often put into dire circumstances and has to fight for survival while avenging her mother's death.


 * Feng Shaofeng as Gu Tingye
 * The second son of the Marquis of Ningyuan. He is known for his hedonistic ways after being tricked by his father’s concubine, yet eventually turns over a new leaf and becomes a trustworthy subject of the eight prince.


 * Zhu Yilong as Qi Heng
 * The second son of Lord Qi. Minglan’s childhood sweetheart. However they eventually separate as his family pressures him to marry a lady of noble birth.

Sheng household

 * Cao Cuifen as Old Mrs. Sheng
 * The matriarch of the Sheng family. She adopted Minglan’s father Sheng Hong, who is the son of a concubine, as her own. She takes a particular liking to Minglan, and does everything she can to protect her from the dirty residential intrigue that goes on in the inner courtyard.


 * Liu Jun as Sheng Hong
 * The head of the Sheng family. He puts the family's interests over everything else, thus straining his relationship with his adoptive mother. He is tactful and talented in reading people and situations, but turns helpless at the conflicts between his wives.


 * Liu Lin as Lady Wang Ruofu
 * Legal wife of Sheng Hong. Mother of Changbai, Hualan and Rulan.


 * Gao Lu as Lady Lin Qinshuang
 * Sheng Hong's concubine, Molan's birth mother. She has a gentle and weak appearance, but is particularly good at scheming, thus allowing her to establish and secure her position in the household despite being a concubine.


 * Wang Renjun as Sheng Changbai
 * Eldest son. He is knowledgeable and well-learnt but humble. He puts his family's interest over his own welfare, and is seen as a dependable sibling and son.


 * Wang Herun as Sheng Hualan
 * Eldest daughter.


 * Zhang Xiaoqian as Sheng Changfeng
 * Second son.


 * Shi Shi as Sheng Molan
 * Fourth daughter. Cruel and possessive, she is Minglan's main rival. She is desperate to improve her social status, and, with the help of her mother Lady Lin, uses an underhanded method to marry the son of the Marquis of Yongchang.


 * Zhang Jianing as Sheng Rulan
 * Fifth daughter. She is spoilt and unruly, but is actually kind at heart.

Gu household

 * Li Hongtao as Gu Yankai
 * Marquis of Ningyuan. Gu Tingye's father.


 * Wang Yinan as Lady Qin
 * Gu Yankai's concubine, Gu Tingyu's mother. She hides her shrewdness and reticence behind a virtuous appearance. In order to allow her son to achieve success, she is able to resort to exhaust every means.


 * Gao Zifeng as Gu Tingyu
 * Eldest son. Gu Tingye's elder brother and main rival.


 * Kang Qunzhi as Mother Chang
 * Gu Tingye's nanny.

Qi household

 * Chen Jin as Princess Ping Ning
 * Daughter of Marquis Xiang Yang. Qi Heng's mother.

Others

 * Li Yixiao as Zhu Manniang
 * A woman from the pugilistic world. Despite coming from poverty, her goal is to become the legal wife of the Gu Tingye. She is manipulative and guileful, using both her wits and schemes to marry into the Gu family and bearing two children for Gu Tingye.


 * Lin Xi as Rong Jie
 * Gu Tingye and Zhu Manniang's daughter.


 * Ma Ding as Zhou Xueniang
 * Lady Lin's servant-in-waiting. She is faithful to her master and uses all means to ensure her safety.

Crew
The Story of Minglan is produced by Hou Hong Liang and Daylight Entertainment, who has produced several hit television series like Nirvana in Fire and Ode to Joy. It is directed by Zhang Kaizhou of Love Me, If You Dare and Ode to Joy 2. The screenplay of the series is written by Zeng Lu and Wu Tong, who were both co-writers of Battle of Changsha.

Shooting
On May 8, 2017, Zhao Liying was announced to play the leading role of Sheng Minglan. Feng Shaofeng was unveiled as the male lead on June 20, 2017. The rest of the supporting cast was announced in August 2017. Principal photography started in September 2017 at Hengdian World Studios.