The First Jasmine: Is Bai Lu’s New Royal Drama Worth the Watch?

Can love heal old wounds while revenge reshapes an empire? That question sits at the heart of The First Jasmine, one of the most anticipated Chinese historical dramas of 2026. Starring Bai Lu and Cheng Lei, the series combines political intrigue, hidden identities, royal conspiracies, and a slow-burn romance that has already sparked intense discussion among viewers.

Adapted from the beloved novel Sheng Shi Di Fei, The First Jasmine arrived with huge expectations thanks to its star-studded cast and acclaimed production team. But does it live up to the hype? Here’s our full review.

🌸 The First Jasmine Drama Details

• Title: The First Jasmine
• Chinese Title: Mo Li
• Country: China
• Genre: Historical Romance, Revenge, Political Drama
• Network: Tencent Video, CCTV-8
• Release Date: June 9, 2026
• Starring: Bai Lu, Cheng Lei, Cai Zhengjie, Yang Shuyi, Dong Jie

📖 The First Jasmine Plot Summary

The story follows Ye Li (Bai Lu), the eldest daughter of the Ye family and a descendant of the prestigious Li Mountain lineage. After spending eight years isolated from the outside world, she is finally allowed to leave the mountain when an arranged marriage sends her to the declining Ding Prince Manor.

Her husband, Mo Xiuyao (Cheng Lei), is a once-powerful prince whose family has fallen from grace. Confined to a wheelchair and burdened by past betrayals, he hides his true ambitions beneath a calm exterior.

While their marriage appears political on the surface, both secretly pursue their own revenge plans.

As court conspiracies deepen and enemies emerge from every direction, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao slowly move from suspicion to trust, forming one of the most compelling power couples in recent costume dramas.

🎭 The Cast: Star Power vs. Technical Execution

The The First Jasmine cast is drawing immense scrutiny across global platforms:

• Bai Lu (as Ye Li): Lauded by fans as a “guilty-pleasure streaming queen” following her massive successes with Bai Yue Fan Xing, Bai Lu brings intense agency to Ye Li. She presents a sharp corporate-style planner in historical robes, single-handedly reclaiming her mother’s stolen dowry from a toxic stepmother in episode one.
• Cheng Lei (as Mo Xiuyao): Cheng Lei handles the “beautiful, broken, but dangerous” archetype with immense presence. His transition from a quiet, wheelchair-bound noble to an aggressive mastermind delivers a masterclass in controlled restraint. His chemistry with Bai Lu during the early domestic friction has been highly praised.
• Cai Zhengjie (as Mo Jinglie): Playing the deceptively theatrical Prince Li, he adds a dangerous, unpredictable layer as a close friend who turns into a major political antagonist.

👑 Bai Lu Returns as Another Strong Female Lead

Bai Lu has become one of the most recognizable faces in Chinese historical dramas, and The First Jasmine gives her another opportunity to showcase a clever and strategic heroine.

Ye Li is not a passive character waiting for rescue. She enters the Ding Prince Manor with her own agenda, carefully planning every move while uncovering secrets connected to her family’s past.

Her intelligence and calm determination make her one of the drama’s biggest strengths.

While some viewers remain divided about Bai Lu’s performance, many fans praise her ability to portray a heroine who balances vulnerability with strength.

⚔️ Cheng Lei Steals Scenes as Mo Xiuyao

If there’s one breakout element of The First Jasmine, it may be Cheng Lei’s portrayal of Mo Xiuyao.

At first glance, he appears broken and defeated. However, beneath that image lies a calculating strategist waiting for the perfect moment to strike back against those who destroyed his family.

Cheng Lei brings emotional depth to the role, making Mo Xiuyao both sympathetic and intimidating.

Many viewers have highlighted his performance as one of the drama’s strongest aspects so far.

❤️ Chemistry Between Bai Lu and Cheng Lei

One reason viewers were excited before the premiere was the pairing of Bai Lu and Cheng Lei.

Their characters begin as reluctant allies bound by marriage, but their relationship gradually develops through shared struggles and mutual trust.

The series avoids rushing their romance, allowing emotional moments to build naturally.

Fans of:

• Marriage-of-convenience romances
• Slow-burn relationships
• Mutual healing stories
• Strong power couples

will likely find plenty to enjoy here.

🏯 Production Quality and Visuals

Visually, The First Jasmine looks impressive.

The production team behind several successful costume dramas delivers:

• Elegant costume designs
• Rich palace interiors
• Beautiful cinematography
• Detailed historical aesthetics

Many scenes feel cinematic rather than television-like, helping the world feel immersive and grand.

The visual presentation is easily one of the drama’s biggest strengths.

💥 The Verdict: Google Discover’s Biggest Debate

If you open the comment sections or deep dive into audience reactions, The First Jasmine is suffering a massive ideological rift.

👍 The Praise: High-Stakes Banter and Lavish Aesthetics

For audiences craving a premium, fast-moving “power couple” romance, the series hits all the right targets. The production quality is undeniably high-end. With styling overseen by Golden Horse winner Liang Tingting, the costumes and architectural compositions capture an authentic, grounded historical weight. The steady “Tiki-Taka” banter between Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao as they test each other’s boundaries provides continuous entertainment, pulling the narrative away from standard historical romance filler.

👎 The Critique: Dialogue Flaws and Cliché Tropes

Conversely, critical viewers have slammed the production on severe technical points. A significant number of viewers have expressed deep frustration with Bai Lu’s vocal performance, pointing out that her original voice dubbing feels flat, lacking emotional layer shifts and rhythmic variation.

Furthermore, multiple critics have called out the intense, “social-media filter style” post-production lighting, arguing that the excessive beauty-blurring choices wash away natural facial expressions. Some audience members on platforms like Douban note that the plot relies heavily on generic coincidences and slow-motion tropes, making the execution feel formulaic despite the powerful source material.

The First Jasmine may not reinvent the historical romance genre, but it successfully combines revenge, political intrigue, and emotional storytelling into a compelling watch.

The biggest highlight is the partnership between Bai Lu and Cheng Lei, whose characters evolve from cautious allies into a formidable force capable of changing the fate of an empire.

If you enjoy historical Chinese dramas featuring intelligent protagonists, royal conspiracies, and slow-burn romance, The First Jasmine deserves a place on your watchlist.

⭐ Final Verdict

The First Jasmine may not reinvent the historical romance genre, but it successfully combines revenge, political intrigue, and emotional storytelling into a compelling watch.

The biggest highlight is the partnership between Bai Lu and Cheng Lei, whose characters evolve from cautious allies into a formidable force capable of changing the fate of an empire.

If you enjoy historical Chinese dramas featuring intelligent protagonists, royal conspiracies, and slow-burn romance, The First Jasmine deserves a place on your watchlist.

Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Have you tuned in to Tencent Video or CCTV-8 to watch the premiere? Are you living for Ye Li’s ruthless revenge strategy, or do you feel the technical execution takes you out of the story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!