The power of the flower

Directed by Ding Ziguang, the story begins as He Weifang is forced into a marriage with a prestigious family of officials. The union is intended to secure a rare lifesaving medicine for her ailing mother that is given exclusively by the emperor to government officials. Due to her background, He endures her husband's constant disdain, as society at the time considered merchants inferior to officials.

Her subsequent journey during this feudal era, when men held dominance over women, becomes the stuff of legends. Using her wit to obtain a divorce — an extremely difficult feat for women in ancient China — she wins the appreciation and financial support of Jiang, who is actually working under the cloak of corruption to secretly gather intelligence for the national benefit.

The heroine uses her skill at growing peonies to earn herself a fortune, and becomes a successful entrepreneur, with a thriving business. Along the way, she helps other women struggling with their own dilemmas, from a victim of domestic violence to a talented female doctor facing gender discrimination.

"When we took on this project, we spent a long time researching because we wanted every detail — from the costumes to the architecture and etiquette — to align with historical records of the Tang Dynasty as closely as possible," says Ding.

Eight months before filming, the art department began preparations, constructing key sets such as He's courtyard, which brims with the fragrance and vibrancy of flowers, and the luxurious Jiang family mansion.

"The palettes of the sets were carefully chosen to reflect the personalities of the different characters," Ding explains.