At a recent event, Yang Zi just confirmed that her newest drama Flourished Peony 国色芳华 will return for another season. It certainly feels like deja vu since the actress’ previous historical drama Lost You Forever also followed a split-season format. In case you didn’t know, Chinese dramas, which can span up to 90 episodes, are subject to a policy limiting their length to reduce “filler” content often added to maximize profit. As a result, Flourished Peony, which was filmed from January to July 2024, has been divided into two seasons.
Yang Zi revealed that the story isn’t over yet, teasing that the second season will explore new chapters for her character, He Weifang. She also confirmed that filming for Season 2 has already wrapped. While Chinese regulations typically require multi-season dramas to air a year apart, rumors suggest that Flourished Peony Season 2, now titled Jin Xiu Fang Hua 锦绣芳华, might premiere as early as summer 2025—pending approval from Chinese censors.
The ongoing first season of Flourished Peony has been widely praised for its authentic portrayal of the plight of women during the Tang Dynasty. In addition to the excitement surrounding Yang Zi and Li Xian, Miles Wei, who plays the ex-husband, has certainly garnered significant attention for his compelling performance.
Source: 1
Anonymous
I am loving this drama so far. The pacing is slow, but it’s not boring to the point where I need to skip fwd. It sucks that season 2 won’t air until next year, but hopefully it will be just as good or even better.
Applefish
lol, notice how they didn’t even mention there were two seasons at the beginning? They wait for basically a week before the first season ends to announce it as ppl will find it weird that the story is no where finished! And as usual, YZ’s series will always try to be longer than it should have been, and they will always try to figure out a way to go around the regulation! Name another drama that do this!
anon
I do find it very deceptive that they were not upfront about having a second season, but how is this going around regulations? I thought it was within the rules to have multiple seasons as long as it’s spaced a year apart? Yang Zi’s dramas aren’t the only ones with multiple seasons.
Anon
Nevermind, I see that it says it might air early in summer 2025. That’s just a rumor though, and nothing is confirmed yet. Wouldn’t jump to saying they “always” trying to go around regulation.
Applefish
lol, they did try to go around the regulation, just that the regulations got on top of it. Like for the case of LYF, they were doing second season right after the first season, and ppl are like that practically make the 40eps rule a joke! N that’s why the regulators made it so that you can’t air two seasons right after one another. So now they are changing the name, n hoping the regulators will let it go, n they can shorten the 1 year gap rule. Otherwise, pls do tell me why the need to change name?!
Another thing, there are like two dramas before that split into 2 seasons n aired another one another, belonged to two different famous idol actors before LYF, but after that, no one bothers with doing drama longer than 40eps, except for YZ. She filmed LYF after the 40eps rules, and then she again film Flourish peony longer than the 40eps rule. It likes her team n the production company determines to make the most out of hiring her, n blatantly ignored the regulation, because they knew they would try everything to get around. Also pls tell me if she didn’t know how long it’ll be when she read the materials 🙄
Anon
I see. I don’t follow her and I haven’t really been able to finish any of her dramas. I’m sure these actors and actresses know. I don’t know anything about FP but some dramas have very lengthy source materials, and it’d be impossible to finish in 40 episodes.
Applefish
Oh of course, lengthy material will need multiple seasons, and I have no problem with seasons. Like JOL, or strange tales, n even for the ingenious one. The audiences aware it’s multiple seasons, the actors n actresses film for the season, then go do something then come back to film another season. That’s fine. And I’m also fine with they have to split into seasons because it was too long, especially for dramas that was filmed before the 40eps limit got put in. My problem is doing it afterward n not being up front about it. At least with LYF, they constantly said it’ll be 2 seasons. Whereas this one, everyone was assuming it was 1 season. You even have her fans gaslighting ppl that they were the stupid one for not realise there are two seasons 🤦♀️ and how they should have done research before watching the series, and it’s all the audiences’s fault for not research enough n smart enough to realise there are two seasons! 🙄
Anonymous
and you are blaming her why?? why don’t you blame the other cast for not also saying it🤦🏾♀️ forced hate for no reason lmao
Applefish
Forced hate? lol! Did you understand common denominator? As I had explained, YZ’s dramas have these icky attributes. Before the split seasons, it was always her dramas that are super long and super water. In fact, so much more than other actresses, that she’s basically the representation of watery drama. Even AOL, where half of it was dedicated to another actress. ZLY was another one, but she voiced her displeasure, unlike YZ, and she, when helming ShenLi, made sure that doesn’t happen.
After all these super long dramas, n YZ’s dramas were on the trend of getting longer n longer, the CCP enforced the rule of 40eps, and what her dramas do? Split into 2! Ppl argue it is to not compromise the story, yet many said the source material doesn’t even have those extra materials in the drama!
Cnetz have been hating on certain actress for taking certain roles constantly, or do something repeatedly. I’m not hating on YZ, I’m simply listing the common occurrence that happened when YZ’s involved. Once – accidental, twice – coincidence, thrice – on purpose. Until she proves otherwise, I look at her and her drama with skepticism. You can believe it or not, but I do believe YZ, her team n the production company (you missed the bit where I also blame the production company) are in it for the money, that’s why they like to make long drama when it has been proven time n time again, long does not make it better! And like I said pls list another actress that is currently still filming drama that longer than 40eps, just to split it into 2! Meanwhile I’m going to bet YZ’s next filming drama will again being split into 2 lol. Do I hate her? Nope. But she does represent the iffy part of c-ent n how they keep trying to get around the rules.
Anonymous
this just screams pain and anger cause I don’t understand how her drama having 2 seasons is affecting you anyways. even on Mdl before the drama aired many knew it would have a 2nd season
accusing her and her drama of ‘water’ is just sad cause eif her views were water she wouldn’t get big budget dramas cause no one wants to lose money
sorry for whoever hurt you and hope you get better, stop spreading fake rumors and be a decent human being
Zoz
love like galaxy was the same
IamAnon
I saw this coming bc didn’t they filmed for more than seven months? So I was already expecting this. I’m not surprised they pulled this trick.
Arduinna
If I had known this beforehand, I wouldn’t have started watching. So far I enjoyed the drama, but will now drop it as I hate open ends and cliffhangers. Having to wait for another year for the 2nd part will just kill the buzz, much as it did for Lost You Forever.
I am sure I’m not the only one feeling this way, so no wonder they kept this quiet.
Anonymous
I really do not under the people in this comment section blaming yang zi instead of the production?? like you all love to jump and say nasty things about a woman for no reason, blame the production or if you want to blame the cast blame all of them amd don’t single out a woman and throw everything on her, it just males you guys look pathetic
Applefish
Say nasty thing for no apparent reason. lol, being deceived is not “no apparent reason”. Considering ZLY has been in this situation before, and I actually don’t like ZLY, she has voiced her displeasure against the production company. Also please show where I said nasty thing about her? I said her dramas are in a sense always have an element of deceit: be it watering down the series to make it longer, where it’s basically bait n switch, you tune in for her, and half of the drama is someone else. Now ppl expect something short, in 1 go, and they keep getting split and have to wait between seasons. Many ppl would prefer to wait for the seasons to finish, give them that choice up front ain’t hard, but they afraid that will hurt her number and subsequently the advertisement revenues, hence the deceit. You gotta be blind to not see it. If it was another actress doing this, you’ll see I’d put her name in here instead of YZ. She’s famous enough that I do believe she can make better choices!
Beans
Didn’t know YZ had so much power in the industry to even fool Chinese censorship! Wow! LOL it’s totally her fault for filming long dramas that require seasons! I mean, at the end of it, she acted, directed, produced, making all the decisions for the shows, right?? Whoa!!
Here with Popcorn
Exactly Beans! Apparently, Yang Zi is also the sponsor and writer for this drama too. Sooo much power, no wonder Applefish is so worried and scared.
Lana
half of what you said is just gibberish and unfounded rumors😂
I didn’t know yang zi has the power to do all these things, what next? she’ll decide the next president of China? or better still maybe run for president since she is powerful enough to ‘water down the series to make it longer’
Applefish
lol, like usual, we will let time tell us. I was not wrong about ZLY being pregnant while her fans were gaslighting ppl (back then her fans were going at me for being a “hater” when I was just analysing the news). And my issue with ZLY’s dramas was the same as YZ, but at least ZLY in her own way show her displeasure n how she’s being used, and ever since you haven’t seen her doing that! YZ – yea… her dramas are still on that trend. But hey, that’s my thoughts over the years of following C-ent. I used to dislike ZLY, but not in the past two years (she’s just an actress to me now, whereas before, quite manipulative of her narratives), maybe YZ will change my mind one day, but so far, nope! Also, you said spread hate, yet you can’t seem to name anyone that is still doing super long drama split into 2 illogical seasons. NOT even ONE! Not even ZLY, your example of MingLan was invalid because it was way before 40eps capped. It’s not hate, it’s just an observation 🙄 also notice how I said nothing bad about YZ personally, just an observation on her dramas. If she keeps doing it, keep picking these kind of scripts, then my POV on her will still be unfavourable.
Zhaolitrashater
The reason why the govt even put that st*pd cap is because of your ZLY who was taking too much salary, the drama is too long but there is 0 plot, too boring but so much keyboard warriors lying and manipulating the truth. Why don’t you share how the heck your ZLY was able to bad mouth that one producer of Princess Agents, and he wasn’t offended but still put her in Legend of Fei so she can stalk WYB as a married woman? The people you like and support, really show what type of person you really are.
Zhaolitrashater
If you think Flourished Peony is being watered down, compare to ZLY’s Minglan, I can condense Minglan entire 70+ episode into 1 single episode. At least in Flourished Peony, each and every episode has lots of things going on, you will never find 2 people talking in the same spot for the entire 40min like what happened in Minglan yet people still foolishly call Minglan a masterpiece when it’s literally trashy each and ever second, all trash.
Applefish
The fact you made another account just to bad mouth ZLY’s drama, and with obvious username speaks volumes about you, and YZ fandom lol. Again, answer my one simple question: name another actress/actor who is still filming a drama that split into 2 crappy seasons? So far, it’s cricket from you guys 🙄
Zhaolitrashater
How come it never speaks volume the fact that none of ZLY fans like her, they always say they don’t like their ZLY but they will praise her lousy works. Then attack other women’s works. Did Yang Zi use thousands of stand-ins and brag that she did all her stunts? Did Yang Zi pocketed 90% of the budget and leave 10% of what’s left to others? Did Yang Zi have the ability to be a producer of crappy trash? NO! NO! NO! You answer your own question. YZ is a worker, she takes order from the above, and she haven’t brag about anything so far. Why are ZLY fans always trying to find excuses to take her down? What ever is crappy in YZ’s works, she already allow everyone to voice their honest opinion? Did she control the media like Zhao the trash, her works are not even good but keeps hiring keyboard warriors to brag and brag and brag and brag and brag to no end? I’m no fan of YZ, but she has work ethics, I won’t turn a blind eye to her resiliency. Tell your idol to use her works to speak, keyboard warriors are nothing to be proud of.
Applefish
lol, to note: did I praise any of ZLY’s work? You are the one that keep bringing Story of MingLan, not me. I didn’t watch it, because I was not her fans. Whether she got the backlash from other producers or not, we don’t know, but she did speak up. And don’t even let me start on ZLY n her doubles, but I had voiced my displeasure with that issue before, and how Princess agent was a lot of her sitting down, back facing audiences (because it’s a double n not her). But that was not the issue here, the issue here is about lengthy drama, not about having body double that do most of the works 😒 stay on the topic! And you seem to again miss my point on how I said it used to be ZLY and YZ, that were the two actresses leading the watery lengthy dramas. However, ZLY is off my list because she hasn’t done so the past 3 years, n she did actually voice her displeasure of being conned. Anyway, I’ll end here, since anyone with a brain can see the differences between you spewing actual hate to prop your idol and just an observation on an actress’s work 🙄
Zhaolitrashater
Yeah yeah, it’s always “only ZLY is a real actress” others are not real actress but nonserious idols… we get it, we get it.
You haven’t tell us how ZLY is so powerful she can offend higher ups. Only ZLY can jump agencies to agencies.
Rich people like Zhao Lusi can’t even change agency. YZ cannot change her agency till very long time. DLRB still stuck in same agency.
When you compare your powerful trash with others, people will talk about how trashy she is and don’t be saying there’s a topic to stay on. ZLY’s trashy Shen Li was long and once again, NO PLOT! And she still winning awards this year for trashy Shen Li, saying she hasn’t done lengthy dramas in past 3 years is crazy.
Applefish
There you go again, putting random words in my mouth. I never said ZLY was the only real actress, nor did I say anything else you claimed I said. You are muddy the water again. And again, dodging my one very simple question: name another actress who is still filming a series that is longer than 40eps, just to split it into 2 weird seasons! Many cdrama are in seasons, but every one knows straight off the bat it’s season 1, or because it’s so good, there is season 2. But not the we will film extra n we will split it, and we won’t be upfront to ppl!
Pauline
Why are you very hurt about shows that deserve long episodes and 2 seasons? Flourished Peony was not watered down.
If I must compare to all of ZLY’s works, they are all watered down, none of her works ever have any substancial storyline either, also, NO CONCUSLION what-so-ever. If you want to complain, pls complain about her and that’s more legit.
For people who work hard, their works always have good pacing and storyline, leave them alone and stop trying to put them in trouble when they shouldn’t have to.
avarachika
I remember that this drama had a lot of episodes passing 50 and she was on the film set for a long time.
I mean If she’s getting paid good and willing to film that long then I see no problem as to why she shouldn’t do it. If the show is good, then she got lucky, but If the show was bad then all that filming would have gone to waste.
Honestly, like someone said, I have a hard time finishing Yang Zi’s drama and I haven’t even started on this drama.
Applefish
lol, im a nobody, how she picked her script/does her business has nothing to do with me. At the end of the day, I voiced my opinion here, not on x nor on weibo with her name tagged to it. It’s an observation, I don’t bother with her dramas since I tried a few different one and frankly, they are all pretty meh to me. If ppl like to watch her, I’m not stopping them, all I’m saying is it’s not a surprise to see her dramas doing these kind of tactics, the statistics isn’t lying lol. Same goes with many scams, still the same kind of scams, years after years still hook in thousands of ppl! 🤷♀️
avarachika
lol, I don’t mind you voicing your opinion. I’m just voicing the other opinion.
Zhaolitrashater
OH MY GOSH, how dare Yang Zi not speak ill of her upper management because they split the dramas into 2 seasons? She is such a nasty person because of that!
She can never do shameless things that Zhao Liying dares to do!
Yeah yeah yeah, we get it, Zhao Liying has all those power to talk nasty of others. She markets so nasty about each and every actress, no matter how old or young they are, how seasoned or new they are.
:)
To all the beautiful ladies, I don’t understand why you all fighting for the actresses when you are paying and watching these series. Fighting over these actresses is silly. They are here to entertain us. If you don’t like it don’t watch it. Just chill.
Applefish
lol, I’m not fighting over any actresses, I’m just trying to voice an observation I have. It’s just her fans, acting like a bunch of angry wasps 🤣🤣🤣 if you think I’m fighting for ZLY, then oh dear, their gaslighting works 🤦♀️
Beans
Your observations are very stupid and baseless. I hope you know that. LOL
Reza
I used to think ZLY was ok, but I witnessed how Zhang Yimou passed a rumor he’s interested in working with Yang Zi then ZLY marketed how Yang Zi cannot compare to her. Then she used her connection to approach Zhang Yimou and had a dinner date with him, paying papparzzi to stalk them and take photos as evidence they had dinner. Zhao Liying had the ability to change her character into a mute one, she only appeared 15 minutes. She was the first to market the movie before anyone else did and leaked her photos. She also want the C-position all the time although she was not the lead. Her marketing drove Zhang Yimou nuts. After taking a photo next to Ma Li, she also marketed that Ma Li’s face looks displeased and “jealous” of her. Then she markets how Yang Mi and Yang Zi cannot play a mute like how she can. If that is what Applefish calls a “real actress”, I can see why she has so much displeasure with the real professionals. Lies after lies.
Applefish
lol, please re-read my comment, and point out where I said ZLY is a real actress. If you guys like to gaslighting, at least do a better job. The issue isn’t about which actress is better in term of acting, the issue is one is still doing questionable practice regarding the series’s length. One continually have the “coincidentally her series is always long, before and after 40 eps” and now her series always split into 2, rather than doing two proper seasons 🤔 it’s good for thoughts. Whereas whatever you claimed on ZLY, god knows, it’s all rumours lol, you don’t know a thing or have any evidence, nor was there any repeat occurrence unlike your beloved YZ lol