Chinese lit. ‘Startling by Each Step’ is a Chinese series based on the novel by Bu Bu Xin by Tong Hua. Directed by Lee Kwok-lap. Starring Cecilia Liu, Nicky Wu, Kevin Cheng, Yuan Hong, Lin Gengxin.
A woman , Zhang Xiao time travels from 21st century to the Qing Dynasty during the Kangxi Emperor’s reign, where she as her previous incarnate Ruoxi encounters the Emperor’s sons, who were involved in a lengthy battle for the throne.
It was a commercial & critical success across Asia. It propelled Liu Shishi to stardom & revitalized Nicky Wu’s career. The two leading stars eventually married in 2015.
A sequel , Scarlet Heart 2 , was aired in China on 22 April 2014. A film version ‘Time to Love’ with different cast was released in 2015. A Korean version , Moon Lovers : Scarlet Heart Ryeo, aired in 2016. A Thai version was announced in 2024.
In the sequel Zhang Xiao returns to her own time following the death of Ma’ertal Ruoxi. It does not involve time travel & is set in the present, resolving the loose ends left by the first series’ cliffhanger.
Not written by the original author, the story continues to be interesting. One day she meets a man identical to the fourth Prince . He is Yin Zheng, the stepson of Zhentian Corporation’s Chairman.
She becomes a designer at Zhentian.
In 2014, at the 6th China TV Drama Awards, Nicky Wu was awarded as Actor with the Most Media influence, Liu Shishi as the Most Commercially Valuable Actress & the Most Promising actor for Sun Yizhou.
I could n’ t help but wish for the Korean sequel. If the Chinese could manage it. they should have followed.
Looking at the Fourth Prince & Ruoxi, I could n’t watch them without being reminded of Lee Joon gi & IU.
I am going to watch the entire season 2 & get full satisfaction.
Asian Entertainment 