It feels like Yu Miaohua has been dominating the big screen these past few years. The Legend of the Divine Maiden, The Legendary Yu Miaohua, Bright as the Stars, Moonlight Over My Heart, The Uncrowned Queen, The Yu Sisters… Over six film and TV projects related to Yu Miaohua have already been greenlit this year, with Moonlight Over My Heart being a top-tier SSS-level project. The competition between rising stars Gao Shichun and Xin Yu for the lead role has gotten downright vicious. Can’t the entertainment industry look beyond Yu Miaohua? That era was full of shining stars—there are so many other figures worth adapting! Like Emperor Wu of Qi, Prince Ming, Emperor Wen of Qi, Pei Yueli, Su Yaruo, Yu Miaoping… Especially Emperor Wu of Qi and Emperor Wen of Qi—their popularity and influence aren’t lacking either, right? Emperor Wu of Qi was even the first queen regnant. And Yu Miaoping was the first female general of Great Qi—she played a huge role in expanding our nation’s territory!
1L: Are you talking about the momma’s boy emperor who dug up diaries only to find 90% of them were about praising his own mother? Or Emperor Wen of Qi, who worked his whole life but never got the official title? Or Prince Ming, who would bring back a troupe of handsome men and beautiful women as souvenirs for his mom every time he traveled?
2L: “Souvenirs” has me dead. Prince Ming was truly the epitome of filial piety—no wonder Emperor Wen of Qi would place him under house arrest for months every time he returned from his travels.
3L: Do you think that’s why Emperor Wen of Qi passed the throne to Emperor Wu of Qi? Compared to his son, his daughter was clearly the more reliable choice.
4L: Jokes aside, Emperor Wu of Qi inherited the throne purely because of her innate talent. What surprises me is how smoothly Great Qi accepted a female crown prince—and later, a female emperor. You’d think the court officials would’ve put up a fight.
5L: According to legend, before Emperor Wu of Qi was born, a celestial prophecy foretold her arrival. That’s why the entire kingdom eagerly awaited her.
6L: Were there really gods? Or was this just Emperor Wu of Qi embellishing her own legend? Ancient rulers loved fabricating divine signs.
7L: No matter how many divine signs she had, none compare to her mother, Yu Miaohua. The historical records describe her as a divine maiden—she predicted multiple natural disasters and introduced corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes from overseas. She also brought movable type printing, bamboo papermaking, and solar salt production. She was either a real goddess or a time traveler—there’s no other explanation.
8L: Even a time traveler couldn’t be that comprehensive, could they? If I traveled back, I wouldn’t remember half those details. She must’ve been a real goddess—if she were fake, she’d have been exposed long ago. How else could she become so many people’s beloved figure?
9L: How could there really be gods? Emperor Wu of Qi and Emperor Wen of Qi definitely doctored the records to elevate her status. Yu Miaohua was just a manipulative white lotus who used her beauty to play men like puppets. She was utterly useless—only naive fans would worship such a scheming woman.
10L: Right, right. Emperor Wu of Qi, Emperor Wen of Qi, Pei Yueli, Pei Yuheng, Empress Yang, Wen Qingying, Grand Tutor Yuan, Grand Preceptor Jiang—they were all fools. You’re the only smart one! A person from a thousand years later knows Yu Miaohua better than her own contemporaries. You’re the light, you’re the myth, you’re the one and only truth!
11L: LOL, checked 9L’s profile—turns out you’re a Ceren fangirl. No wonder you hate Yu Miaohua so much. Everyone knows Ceren was hopelessly in love with the divine maiden his whole life, never married, and even became a monk to pray for her. Only true rivals make fangirls this bitter.
12L: Prince Ceren: Stay away from me, you jinx!
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128L: Wow, this thread went on for over a hundred replies? Posts about Yu Miaohua always turn into heated debates. No wonder filmmakers love adapting her—any story set in that era inevitably involves her. Where there’s Yu Miaohua, there’s drama.
129L: She’s the ultimate historical A-lister—tons of fans, tons of haters. The funniest part is how many of those haters’ favorite historical figures were close to Yu Miaohua.
130L: Because they can’t stand that their faves were all Yu Miaohua’s devoted admirers. I have to admire her ability to win people over—just how strong was her charisma to make so many adore her?
131L: Whether Yu Miaohua was genuine or not, if she could keep up the act her whole life, then it might as well be real.
132L: Any discussion about Yu Miaohua derails fast. Let’s bet on which of the upcoming adaptations will be a hit. I’m putting my money on The Yu Sisters—the casting’s solid. Yang Zhao really captures Yu Miaoping’s rebellious energy, and the actress playing Yu Miaohua, though a newcomer, bears a resemblance to her historical portraits. Compared to established actresses, she brings a fresh vibe.
133L: I’m more optimistic about Bright as the Stars. Word is, the investors are from the Pei family.
134L: Seriously? I’ve heard rumors that some historical records were edited. If the Pei family’s really backing this, we might get some shocking revelations.
135L: What could possibly be more shocking? The historians back then had no qualms writing about Emperor Wen of Qi competing in a beauty contest to become the divine consort. If they dared record that, what wouldn’t they write?
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489L: Holy crap, has anyone watched Bright as the Stars? That “Consort Yu” is actually from the Yu family? So she’s Yu Miaohua’s sister? How dare the screenwriter make up this plot—aren’t they afraid of backlash from Yu Miaohua and Yu Miaoping’s fans?
490L: Oh, they’ve already raged. The official Weibo shut down comments, and the director and screenwriter’s parents have been dragged through the mud. I salute the director’s audacity—this plotline is wild!
491L: Can’t blame the fans for being mad. Everyone tuned in for Yu Miaohua, but the first episode barely featured her, instead hyping up some fictional Mary Sue. Even as a neutral viewer, I can’t stand it.
492L: Unbelievable. In this show, Emperor Wu of Pei falls for Yu Miaohua’s sister (who’s been exiled to the cold palace) at first sight. Within half a year, she’s promoted to Noble Consort, and within a year, she’s one of the Four Imperial Consorts. Two years later, she’s the Imperial Consort! A childless, meritless concubine rises purely on favoritism. They’ve turned my brilliant Emperor Wu of Pei into a lovesick fool. Do they think his fans are dead?
493L: Hah, next episode’s preview is even worse. She gets named Imperial Noble Consort—while the empress is still alive! Who’s this insulting? And Crown Prince Pei (future Emperor Wen of Pei) just tolerates it? Ugh, this character must be the screenwriter’s pet.
494L: More like the screenwriter’s ancestor! I’ll keep watching just to see how this Mary Sue gets written out.
495L: So many fanbases are reporting this drama, and for once I’m siding with the fans. Hope they succeed. Who claimed last year that this drama was funded by the Pei family?
496L: I’m confused too. How come the Pei family didn’t intervene? Two years ago, there was a time-travel drama where the female lead went back to Great Qi and romanced Emperor Wen of Qi, while portraying Yu Miaohua as the villainess. That drama got taken down, and the director and screenwriter were sued by the Pei family—they lost everything.
497L: Maybe because "Bright as the Stars" doesn’t slander Yu Miaohua in later episodes, so they’re turning a blind eye? I wonder how the screenwriter will handle the relationship between this "Consort Yu" and Yu Miaohua. But there’s something odd—in the first episode, this Mary Sue doesn’t even have a name. Everyone just calls her "Lady Yu."
498L: Probably to make it easier for viewers to self-insert, lol.
499L: The original Mary Sue in "Bright as the Stars" is so infuriating. I’ve decided to rewatch "The Yu Sisters" a few more times. That drama is so good—I’d recommend it with both hands and feet!
...
548L: It’s been ten episodes. When is this original Mary Sue going to exit? The fans are so useless—they still haven’t managed to get this disgusting drama taken down. It’s clear now that Yu Miaohua isn’t the female lead of "Bright as the Stars." The fans were completely misled.
549L: I’ll say it quietly… I actually think it’s pretty good. The chemistry between Consort Yu and Emperor Wu of Qi is great, and so is her dynamic with Empress Yang. You three should just focus on living happily together.
550L: Pfft, this drama has thrown logic out the window just to hype up this Mary Sue’s charm. There’s no way Empress Yang would like a romantic rival who threatens her position! Do they really think this "Consort Hui" is some kind of succubus?
551L: The preview shows the Empress Dowager might fall for her too. Ugh, I’m so mad!! When is Yu Miaohua finally going to appear?
552L: The screenwriter’s real name was dug up—Pei Baoshu. She’s actually from the Pei family? How is she not afraid of getting scolded by her elders for writing this?
553L: …Well, I think there might have really been such a consort in history.
554L: What? You’re just accepting this? The Pei family can just slander their own ancestors like that?
555L: Yu Miaohua hasn’t even shown up yet—maybe she won’t be vilified? Let’s wait and see…
556L: Unbelievable. Who’s even watching "Bright as the Stars"? How did it actually become the top-rated show?
557L: Hides… It’s kind of entertaining, though. Self-inserting as the female lead is so satisfying—I wish I could jump in and act out an episode myself. As a trash-panda viewer, I can’t resist this kind of harem-everyone-loves-me Mary Sue plot.
558L: OMG! Have you seen the new photo the screenwriter posted?
559L: What photo?
560L: The imperial edicts from Emperor Wu of Qi appointing Lady Yu—from Talented Lady, to Noble Lady, to Consort Hui, to Noble Consort Hui, to Imperial Noble Consort… Every single edict is there. The screenwriter said these were historical artifacts the Pei family discovered two years ago…
561L: They’re not props???
562L: They seem real… The Capital Museum reposted it—these edicts will be exhibited there next month. I dropped my melon in shock.
563L: ??? So the original Mary Sue I’ve been ranting about for dozens of posts actually existed? Yu Miaohua had an older sister? Sorry, screenwriter—I take back all my harsh words. I’m the clown here.
564L: Now I’m even more curious about this drama. What was this Imperial Noble Consort’s actual historical fate?
565L: All the historians on my feed are losing it. This has to be the most groundbreaking archaeological discovery in years. The Pei family actually waited until this drama aired to reveal it.
566L: So Emperor Wu of Pei was really a love-struck fool? My worldview is shattered…
