- Drama Title: The First Jasmine
- Also Known As: 莫离, Mo Li
- Genres: Romance, Historical
- Director: Lam Yuk Fan, Leung Sing Kuen
- Cast: Bai Lu, Cheng Lei
- Screenwriter: Xiao Xiang Dong Er
- Number of Episodes: 40
- Date of Release: June 9, 2026
- Original Network: Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: Disney+, WeTV, Tencent Video, Viki
- Adapted from the web novel “Sheng Shi Di Fei” by Feng Qing
Dear readers… a little update from my ordinary life. After talking a break for quite some time because I discovered Tzuyang’s channel, I am back to watching aunties and uncles cooking Chinese street food. My current favorite now is a channel called Taste China, where a man named JJ and his partner Rong travel all over China trying different breakfast foods.
They walk around the street, filming how each breakfast was made, and then they sit down and enjoy the food. All those carbs and deep-fried dishes made me drooling every single time.
Ever since I started watching them, I’ve been making porridge and soups for my breakfast too. I keep telling myself that watching these kinds of videos are bad for my diet, but I just can’t help it. It’s like how I can never stop myself from clicking the “Next Episode” button whenever I’m watching a drama. Anyhow… this is my review for Bai Lu and Cheng Lei’s latest drama, The First Jasmine. Enjoy!
The First Jasmine Drama Review
The Synopsis
Ye Li, the eldest daughter of the Ye family was sent to study at her maternal family’s prestigious Lishan Academy. Eight years later, she returned to the capital. She was originally supposed to marry her childhood sweetheart, the peerless Prince Li, Mo Jing Li.
However, with a single imperial decree, Ye Li is forced to marry the disabled Prince Ding, Mo Xiu Yao. Meanwhile, Prince Li will marry her sister, Ye Ying, on the very same day. As a descendant of the righteous Lishan Academy, Ye Li secretly devised a plan to avenge those who wronged her clan. Her journey is far from easy.
Mo Xiu Yao is the second son of the late Duke Ding. Once a brilliant general who struck fear into his enemies, he was left paralyzed after a fierce battle injured both of his legs. His marriage with Ye Li is arranged against his will. Since the first day, Mo Xiu Yao never trusts his new wedded wife and always guarded towards her.
Now forced onto the same path, Ye Li and Mo Xiu gradually form a genuine connection. They more than just a husband and wife, they become allies. When Mo Jing Li begins plotting to seize the throne from the young emperor, Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao joined forces to outmanoeuvre their enemies, defeat hen one by one, and restore the peace of the nation.
The Review
The First Jasmine isn’t your typical idol drama. if you are familiar with Bai Lu and Cheng Lei, you probably expecting something romantic, funny, and entertaining right from the first episode. Well, not this time. The First Jasmine is something entirely different.
First of all, the story is deep and layered. The visuals are gloomy, shown by the muted palette. Bai Lu and Cheng Lei often appear in warm-toned dramas like Feud, Only for Love, How Dare You!?, and Follow Your Heart. So this cool and toned-down atmosphere caught me off guard.
Yes, it even felt a little dull in the first place. I almost dropped it because I prefer something brighter and warmer in my watchlist. But despite the initial impression, there was something that make me keep watching the whole episodes.
The First Jasmine is an adaptation of a web novel Sheng Shi Di Fei (Golden Age Legitimate Fei) by Feng Qing. I’ve read the book years ago, although I never finished it. And as far as I remember, the story was completely different from the drama.
Well, I actually never understand why people adapt a novel only to change the entire story. I mean, wouldn’t it be easier to just write a new story instead of going through the adaptation procedures? 🤷🏻♀️
Still, I decided to judge the drama while pretend to forget about the novel. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed this one. The First Jasmine may feel painfully slow at the beginning, and it definitely challenge my patience. But there was something that made me stay until the very end. Yes, there’s something about it that completely drew me in.
So I’ve been wondering about that “something”. Was it the slow pacing? Maybe I’ve watched too many fast-paced drama, like Ashes to Crown, that I need some break from it. Was it the palace intrigue? The battle scenes? Or perhaps it’s the gloomy and greyish atmosphere on the drama that quietly pulled me in.
In this drama, Bai Lu and Cheng Lei played Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao, a married couple united in an arranged marriage decreed by the emperor. Both were people with secrets. And as the story got deeper, you find more interesting facts like Ye Li might be suffering from a mental illness.
Meanwhile Mu Xiu Yao, the former God of War, is trapped by survivor’s guilt. His paralyzed legs are more than physical injuries. They are a painful reminder of the battlefield that took away his family, his reputation, his brothers, and the life his once knew.
So these two people, each carrying their own burdens, ended up walking the same path together. Both have unfinished business, emotional baggage to endure, and scars they would rather hide from everyone else. That was when I realized the reason that kept me watching.
It wasn’t the plot that kept me glued to my screen. It was the people. Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao weren’t written as invincible masterminds who solved every problem with a clever trick. They were both carrying wounds that quietly shaped every decision they made. Even the villains in this drama also have some moments of regret and nightmares.
They weren’t the kind of people who committed terrible deeds during the day and sleep comfortably at night. Somehow, that made them feel more real. And more importantly, I really wanted to see whether Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao could ever find happiness in the end.
Their relationship also builds little by little, through trust, understanding, and shared burdens. It wasn’t the kind of romance that made your heart skips a beat in every episode. But every step that made them closer, every glimpse, every little touch, even the smallest hint of jealousy, felt like a milestone that need to be cherished and celebrated.
And that’s why this drama demanded my full attention. The First Jasmine isn’t a drama that you can watch with your mind wandering and still understand everything. Nope. This one asked you to stay focused. Many scenes left me wondering about the characters’ intention (mainly Ye Li) until the pieces of clues slowly come together.
Mo Xiu Yao was much easier to predict. His feelings towards Ye Li were obvious. What I love about him that he wasn’t the kind of male lead who loved with overwhelming intensity. He is not Xie Wei whose love for Jiang Xue Ning almost become an obsession in Story of Kunning Palace.
Nor he was Cui Xing Zhou who would do anything to make Liu Mian Tang happy in Are You the One. And he is certainly not Fang Xie Wen who married Huang Yi Mei just to control her life in The Tale of Rose.
Mo Xiu Yao’s love is subtle and gentle. It grows slowly and when he makes mistake, it hit him harder than I expected. Love really can change a person completely. Someone who loves you the right way can make you feel understood and giving you a sense security. Sharing dreams, values, or goals with someone also makes life’s journey feels more meaningful.
And of course, none of those emotions would have worked without convincing performances. 🫰🏻
Bai Lu and Cheng Lei once again showed how much they’ve grown as actors, especially Bai Lu. She often played similar roles, so sometimes I couldn’t differentiate whether she is the character or I just simply watching Bai Lu playing another version of herself in a drama play. But this time, she completely disappeared into Ye Li.
Whenever Ye Li was with Mo Xiu Yao, it always felt as though there was an invisible wall between them, no matter how physically close they were. It’s exactly as Mo Xiu Yao describe that Ye Li always seemed lonely. Even when she acts coquettish or playful, her eyes remained dimmed.
And my heart was breaking whenever she insisted that she was fine. Only after she slowly accepted the past did her eyes begins to show genuine warmth. This might be subtle detail, not as obvious as someone shouting or crying. But Bai Lu, manage to convince me that Ye Li was truly lonely despite being surrounded by so many people.
Meanwhile, Cheng Lei once again plays as a God of War. But unlike his role in Legend of the Female General, this time he wasn’t just a fearless general. You could see Cheng Lei shows a much softer and more vulnerable side this time.
His expression showed a much wider emotional range from shock to joy, from terrifying rage to an overwhelming despair. And every emotion felt authentic and genuine. It really was easy to empathize with Mo Xiu Yao throughout the story.
Cai Zheng Jie who played Mo Jing Li, actually did a good job portraying this multifaceted character. But in my opinion, he fell a little short compared to Bai Lu and Cheng Lei. Making his performance feel overshadowed whenever they appeared together.
Well, I cannot really blame him, though. Bai Lu and Cheng Lei were simply operating in a different level that it’s easy for others to be outshined when standing next to them.
The First Jasmine revealed the past through flashbacks. But it also gave us the perspectives of important characters such as Ye Li, Mo Xiu Yao, or Mo Jing Li. This setup letting me piece together the truth from different sides. We got to see what really happened and understood how each of them felt back then.
I really like this approach because it helped explain each character’s background and motives so I could understand them better. Plus, I absolutely love the inner monologue, especially on Mo Xiu Yao’s part. Cheng Lei’s voice could easily become my favorite audiobook.
One thing that I should praise was the battle and duel scenes between Mo Xiu Yao and Lei Teng Feng, the General of Cangbei. What starting as a duel gradually blended with flashbacks of the battle where Mo Xiu Yao suffered the leg injuries that changed his life.
Those flashbacks unexpectedly become one of the most memorable scenes in the entire drama. This is thanks to Wang De Ming’s hard work as the action director and martial arts choreographer. He managed to create an intense fighting sequence.
The directors, Lin Yu Fen and Liang Shen Quan, also have keen eyes for visual storytelling. Every frame, from the fierce battlefields to the intimate conversations were meaningful.
They also know exactly when to let the actors speak through silence. Whether it was Bai Lu or Cheng Lei, or supporting actors like Yang Shu Yi (Ye Ying), Dong Jie (Empress Dowager), or Zhang Shu Lun (Li Fei Bai). Each one of them managed to convey their emotions through their expressions perfectly without relying on exaggerated dialogues.
As I told you before, this drama is very different from its original novel. However, the story managed to catch my attention thanks to Xiao Xiang Dong Er, the screenwriter. She is also the screenwriter behind famous dramas such as A Moment but Forever, The Demon Hunter’s Romance, and Fate Chooses You.
And if you end up enjoying this drama, you should check Lin Yu Fen and Liang Shen Quan’s other works. Their dramas have warmed my tired night for years. You should try watching Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, Love O2O, The Demon Hunter’s Romance, The Flames’s Daughter, and Love and Destiny.
So, with so many talented people behind this drama, how could I not become invested? The First Jasmine has officially earned a spot in my must-rewatch drama list.
The Story – Not Your Typical Power Couple
The First Jasmine offered me a different side of period drama. While many dramas glorify their power couples as almost perfect people stranded in unfavourable situations, this one choose a different path. Take Pursuit of Jade as an example.
Xie Zheng remains an unrivalled general even though his body is covered in wounds. He stays level-headed and somehow still managed to enjoy life. While Fan Chang Yu, lost both of her parents and has to work tirelessly to support herself and her younger sister. despite carrying such a heavy burden and grievances, she still faces everything with remarkable optimism.
This kind of situation where the main leads were stuck in a difficult situation but remain mentally strong is pretty common in Cdramaland. Usually, it’s the supporting characters (like Qi Min) who struggle from trauma or mental illness.
As far as I know, the main characters may suffer from illness, injuries, poverty, or whatever life throws at them, but rarely from physiological wounds. So having Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao, who are both intelligent and scheming, yet emotionally fragile is something new for me.
And they’re the reason why this drama stands out.
Ye Li is someone who always put a cheerful and fearless front but quietly hiding her fears and scars. She would always answer, “I am perfectly fine,” whenever someone asks if she is alright. She rarely acknowledges her own pain, choosing to carry on as if yesterday’s murder attempt were just another inconvenience.
She dismissed her own suffering. Her optimism isn’t a sign that she’s unbreakable. It’s a mask she wears to keep herself moving forward. She endures everything, until her mind can no longer bear the burden.
Mo Xiu Yao, on the other hand, carries a bitter past of his own. After his legs were severely injured in the battle and his brother was branded as traitor, he was thrown into prison. There, he endured humiliation at the hand of Marquis Muyang and his accomplices.
The guilt, anger, resentment, regret, helplessness, and grief were buried so deep that they become scars he carried every day. Those wounds quietly shaping the man he would become: bitter, guarded, and distrustful of others. At the same time, they also made him far more patient and calculating when dealing with his enemies.
Watching two wounded people slowly heal each other made the slow pacing pay off. 😁
Their relationship developed slowly despite the history between them. It was obvious that Ye Li already like him. It was Mo Xiu Yao’s side which more interesting. He gradually fell for Ye Li because she became the light in his bleak life. Her cheerfulness and optimism start to affect him too. Watching Ye Li and her antics became his daily dose of happiness. However, this part was actually easy to predict, which make me a little disappointed. 😕
In the novel, both Ye Ying and Mo Jing Li are incredibly irritating characters. One is greedy, the other is a hypocrite. This drama is much kinder to them. Ye Ying is portrayed as a gullible and stubborn young woman who blindly devotes herself to Mo Jing Li.
Instead of finding her unbearable, I ended up feeling sorry for her. After all, she wasn’t born foolish. Ye Ying never chose to be raised by a greedy, manipulative mother who taught her all the wrong lessons about life. In many ways, she was just another victim of her upbringings.
Mo Jing Li on the other hand, is certainly no saint. But unlike in the novel, the drama gives him a reason that is too difficult to miss. He never wanted to abandon Ye Li in the first place. He was afraid of dragging her down.
However, because he was weak-willed and easily manipulated, he ended up become a political tool for others. I was angry at him for being such a douchebag, but at the same time, I could understand why he ended up that way.
My favorite side relationship in the drama is Feng Zhi Yao and Ling Yun. They came from completely different world, yet they fit each other perfectly. The relationship between them develops from mutual respect.
Feng Zhi Yao didn’t know her real identity, but he loved her anyway. Ling Yun felt the same. Even though she probably knew their relationship had a little chance of succeeding, she still loved him anyway.
Despite the side story, this drama never loses sight of its main focus, the relationship between Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao. The political intrigue was secondary. And for those who still wants some classic Cdrama tropes, fret not.
The First Jasmine still have jealous love rivals, ill-fated relationships, toxic families, and unnecessary misunderstanding between the couple. It also has the legendary “black hair turned grey overnight”. Thankfully, this drama gives a believable for it instead of turning one’s hair completely white as if it was some kind of magic.
The political intrigue centers on the power struggle between Empress Dowager Guo Jin and the late Crown Prince, Mo Jing Li’s father. Lishan Academy was dragged into it because it has close ties with the late emperor and the Crown Prince. That’s why Ye Li was originally engaged to Mo Jing Li.
But after the death of the late emperor followed by the fire in Eastern Palace (the Crown Prince’s residence), Guo Jin emerged as the victor. She ruled as regent while her son, Mo Yan Xi, was still too young to govern the country.
This was when her conflict with Lishan Academy began. Ye Li’s grandfather, the headmaster of Lishan Academy, refused to support Guo Jin. To make his stance clear, he closed the academy’s door to the outside would. In response, the imperial guards were stationed around the mountain, forbidding anyone from leaving.
The conflict involving Mo family, Guo Jin, Marquis Muyang, and Lishan Academy is actually one of the drama strongest points. It wasn’t just a simple fight over the throne.
It was a clash of ideals, where every side believed they were doing what was right. Unfortunately, near the end, the conflict wrapped up very quickly. After spending so much time building the tension, I expected a much more satisfying ending for the villains.
And I really glad that the story gave me the happy ending I deserved. I mean, I’d already investing my time and emotions shipping Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li. I also burned plenty of calories cursing at Mo Jing Li and the rest of the villains. If I hadn’t gotten the happy ending like I always wanted, all those calories would have burned to nothing.
The Visual – Gloom Never Looked This Good
I love the visuals of The First Jasmine. The shots are pleasing to the eyes, and every frame tells a story. The camera movements are dynamics. You could immediately tell what the focus of each scene is because the subject is often placed right in the center of the frame.
For instance, when two people are talking, the directors like to put the camera behind one of them instead filming from the side, like many dramas do. I really like this setup because it keeps my attentions on one character only. I could clearly see every emotion written on their faces.
As I told you before, The First Jasmine uses a muted color palette to make creates its gloomy atmosphere. You can feel it right from the beginning. To distinguish the past from the present, the directors use different color tones to the flashback scenes. The present is dominated by cool hues.
But when the story shifted to Ye Li’s teenage years, the contrast becomes much richer. The sunlight feels warmer and the green grass looks brighter. It feels as though you can breathe the fresh air and feel the scorching sun on you. Then, the story shift back to the present. And so does the heavy, gloomy atmosphere.
Beside the cinematography, the drama also uses some CGI in a few scenes, especially those involving the monkeys. However, the effects was a bit distracting because they didn’t blend perfectly with the live-action footage.
But that’s only a minor complaint from me. Overall, The First Jasmine really did a good job visually. The detailed sets, fluid camera work, and the elegant costumes are exactly my cup of tea. Thank you, directors!
The Characters
Ye Li (Played by Bai Lu)
Ye Li is the first daughter of the Ye family from the second branch. Her father is Ye Wen Hua. Although the Ye family is a scholarly family, but the Xu family holds a much higher status. And since Ye Li was raised under the teaching of Lishan Academy, it’s no surprise that she is exceptionally intelligent. She is also a skilled Go player, making her and excellent strategist.
Since she was young, Ye Li has lived by the Xu family’s principle of loyalty and righteousness. She is brave but also kindhearted, cheerful and compassionate on the outside, yet lonely on the inside. Ye Li appears composed and gentle.
But underneath the calm exterior is someone who is lonely. Ye Li is also difficult to read. She may seem straightforward, but her mind is anything but simple. Ye Li keeps everything to herself, making her actions hard to predict.
Ye Li is also a good businesswoman, so money is rarely a problem for her. She is a simple person who doesn’t ask for much in life. She can endure hardships. Even living on nothing but fruits and bamboo shoots is enough for her, as long as she can survive.
Mo Xiu Yao / Prince Ding (Played by Cheng Lei)
Mo Xiu Yao is the second son of Duke Ding and the emperor’s cousin. The Mo family is a military family. Mo Xiu Yao and his brother, Mo Xiu Wen, serves as war generals guarding the country’s borders. His loyalty to the empire was never in question.
Unfortunately, his family was dragged into the center of the power struggle and paid a hefty price for it. leaving Mo Xiu Yao bore the brunt of that tragedy for years. Once a determined and spirited general, he gradually became a bitter and emotionally wounded man. Yet, the painful experiences also shaped him into someone mature, patient, and calculating when dealing with enemies.
Mo Xiu Yao’s heart is clear as day. When he hates someone, he hates them wholeheartedly. And when he loves someone, he loves her deeply. You can see it from the way he looks at Ye Li.
Every glance is filled with gentleness. He is also incredibly protective of her and easily get jealous when he saw another young man get too close to her. After meeting Ye Li, Mo Xiu Yao slowly realized that the world isn’t as cruel as he once believed. Because it brought them together.
Mo Jing Li / Prince Li (Played by Cai Zheng Jie)
Mo Jing Li is the son of the late Crown Prince. Making him Emperor Mo Yan Xi’s nephew. Mo Jing Li is handsome and gentle. He is famous for his artistic talents and had become the ideal husband by many noble ladies in the capital.
Beneath that refined appearance, lies an ambitious yet weak willed and selfish man. Mo Jing Li deliberately hides his abilities because the Emperess Dowager keeps him on constant watch.
Right now, Mo Jing Li is surrounded by his late father’s followers. They were the one who advised him to keep a low profile and pretend to be an incompetence prince. That is the best way to survive. However, Mo Jing Li also has ambitions of his own. He wants both power and Ye Li. Ironically, his feelings for Ye Li were genuine.
Ye Ying (Played by Yang Shu Yi)
Ye Ying is Ye Li’s younger half-sister. Her mother, Madam Wang, was originally a concubine before being promoted to become Ye Wen Hua’s second wife. Ye Ying grew up surrounded by love of her parents. They also spoiled her, making her dependent on others.
Ye Ying is gullible, naïve, stubborn, and just a little bit foolish. She believed that marrying well is a woman’s greatest achievement. She is blindly devoted to Mo Jing Li, that’s why she hates Ye Li so much. And because of her personality, Ye Yins ends up being both frustrating and pitiful at the same time.
Han Ming Xi (Played by Lin Mu Ran)
Han Min Xin is a member of Tianyi Pavillion. His brother, Han Ming Yue, is the leader of the group. The Han family remained loyal to the late Crown Prince. After Marquis Muyang punished the entire family, only the two brothers survived the journey of exile.
Unlike his brother, Han Ming Xi is a carefree soul. He didn’t like being bound to the past. All he wants is to live the life he chooses. He might appear easy going and careless, but beneath that relaxed personality is someone kind-hearted and deeply devoted to the people he cares about.
Han Ming Xi carries the confidence and a slight arrogance of a young master. But whenever he’s with Ye Li, he becomes an obedient person.
Empress Dowager Guo Jin (Played by Dong Jie)
The Empress Dowager is the late emperor’s former concubine and the mother of the current emperor. After the late emperor died and the fire in Eastern Palace killed the Crown Prince, her son ascended throne.
Then, Guo Jin become the most powerful person in the empire. Guo Jin has Marquis Muyan as her strongest supporter. The two shared control over the court. Guo Jin always appears as gentle and graceful person. But beneath that calm exterior is an incredibly ambitious woman.
She rarely rules through anger. Instead, she believes every decision she makes is for the sake of the empire. Guo Jin is confident, decisive, and fearless. She genuinely sees herself as the most capable person to hold the empire together.
The Conclusion
The First Jasmine might not everyone’s cup of tea, but it really went far beyond my expectations. The plot unfolds at a slow pace, and characters are far from perfect.
But somehow, this drama managed to keep me glued to the screen all day long. And surprisingly, its slower pace gave me a much-needed break from all the fast-paced dramas I’ve been watching lately.
If you enjoy a drama with unique story and plot twists, this one is perfect for you. If you are here for the romance and want to see strong chemistry between the main leads, this one is perfect for you. And if you are only here for Cheng Lei, well, this one is also perfect for you because the directors didn’t forget to include his bathing scenes.
Anyway, I think this drama deserves a chance. Just be a little patient in the beginning and let the story settle in. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself just as invested in Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao’s journey as I was. Thankyou for stopping by dear readers, I’ll see you in another drama review. Until then, goodbye!
