The Legend of Xiao Chuo (2020)

We’re all up for a wee bit of history lesson in Tiffany Tang Yan and Shawn Dou Xiao’s newest drama, The Legend of Xiao Chuo 燕云台. The 48-episode long series draws inspiration from the real life legendary Liao empress herself and stars Tiffany Tang as the titular Khitan empress Xiao Chuo with Shawn Dou portraying her childhood sweetheart Han Derang. Charmaine Sheh also stars as Xiao Chuo’s sister Xiao Hunian and actor Jing Chao as the Liao Emperor Yelu Xian who Xiao Chuo was forced to marry.

There’s something quite Mulan-esque about the drama’s poster with Xiao Chuo seated astride a horse with her flowy red robes. For indeed like Mulan herself, the empress Xiao Chuo (or Xiao Yanyan in history books) can definitely be considered as one of those badass gals in history. Clever and instinctive in nature, the passionate Xiao Chuo was loved by both her parents and her childhood sweetheart Han Derang. However by a hand of fate, Xiao Chuo was forced to enter the palace to become queen consort to emperor Yelu Xian. Despite the circumstances of her marriage, she succeeds in proving her worth to her husband and finally wins his love and trust.

In the years following Yelu Xian’s death, Xiao Chuo was entrusted to preside over the country as regent and succeeds in implementing change, making her mark as one of the Liao dynasty’s most important women. Of course this being a drama, don’t you worry because Xiao Chuo also gets the happy ending she finally deserves.

The Legend of Xiao Chuo is based on the novel of the same name written by author Jiang Shengnan and also stars Kevin Tan Kai, Liu Yijun, Lu Shan and Ji Chen.

PS. Keep an eye out for the gorgeous cinematography and the richly elaborate Khitan costumes all the actors were wearing in the drama.