Relic of an Emissary

Background

Plot overview

Production

Development

Casting

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Michael Tse as Ngo Siu-fung — the drama's main protagonist, a cold-blooded and ruthless commander of the Brocade Guards. While on a mission to escort Prince Chun to Jiangnan, Siu-fung loses his memory after an accident, but slowly regains it as the story progresses. Promoted as Brocade Guards deputy general in middle of the drama and lastly as Brocade Guards general.
• Joe Ma as Chu Tai, Prince Yin — the powerful and intelligent fourth son of Hung-mo. Though Prince Yin helps his nephew succeed the throne, his extreme governing methods tend to clash with the Kin-man Emperor's more sympathetic approach to rule. Upset with the young emperor's reign — and believing himself to be the true heir to the throne — Prince Yin begins to secretly plot a coup.
• Sammul Chan as Ma Sam-po — Prince Yin's personal bodyguard and most trusted adviser. The son of a Hui family from Yunnan, Sam-po is a Semu and the descendant of a Persian official who served as Yunnan's governor during the early years of the Yuan Dynasty. When Sam-po was eleven, he was captured by Ming troops and made a eunuch. After Prince Yin overthrows the Kin-man Emperor, he gives Sam-po the name Cheng Wo and fulfills Sam-po's wish by granting him permission to explore the West.
• Kate Tsui as Shum Chin-sam / Wong Chor-chor — a pair of twin female spies working for the Brocade Guards. The elder twin, Chin-sam, goes undercover as a madam and becomes the owner of the Willow Court, an established brothel in the capital. The younger twin, Chor-chor, eventually becomes Prince Yin's concubine, in an attempt to obtain information regarding Prince Yin's plan of rebellion.
• Elanne Kong as Chu Ying, Princess Wing-yeung — Prince Yin's younger sister and Sam-po's best friend.
• Joel Chan as Chu Wan-man, the Kin-man Emperor — the Hung-mo Emperor's eldest and favourite grandson. Wan-man is described as a caring and gentle emperor, who places the well-being of his country and people first. Prince Yin sees Wan-man's compassion as a weakness, unfit for a ruler.

Recurring cast

• Ruco Chan as Chu Kuen, Prince Ning — the cunning and manipulative seventeenth son of Hung-mo. To maintain his superiority and power in court affairs, he purposely creates havoc between Prince Yin and the Kin-man Emperor to worsen their relationship.
• Lau Kong as Dou Hin — a Buddhist monk. He later becomes Prince Yin's strategist, and receives the name Yiu Kwong-hau.
• Gordon Liu as Yim Chun — the Brocade Guard general and Siu-fung's superordinate.
• Skye Chan as Tsui Yee-wah, Princess Yin — Prince Yin's wife.
• Leung Ka-ki as Ma Yan-wai — Wan-man's wife and later Empress. Her marriage to Wan-man is arranged by the Hung-mo Emperor, who believes that Yan-wai possesses the wisdom of a future Empress.
• Sire Ma as Fu Siu-kiu — a maid who serves in the Brocade Guard dormitory. She was once the daughter of a noble, but due to certain legal matters, her family was arrested. She was almost sold to a brothel, but was saved by Princess Wing-yeung.
• Benjamin Yuen as Lee King-lung — a youthful and loyal general who serves for Kin-man Emperor. He falls in love with Princess Wing-yeung.

Historical Inaccuarcies

• Zheng He is depicted in the series as a eunuch with the original name Ma Sampo and is eventually granted the name Zheng He after winning the Jingnan Campaign. The Historical Zheng He's name was originally Ma He ', with the nickname Sanpao being given to him as a reference to the Buddhist Three Jewels during his service under the Prince of Yan '. When the Prince of Yan eventually became Emperor Yongle, Zheng was merely granted a change in surname from Ma to Zheng.
• Yongle and his wife, the eventually Empress Renxiaowen, are depicted to be childless through the series with the future empress miscarrying and eventually adopting a son by the series' conclusion. The historical Empress Renxiaowen had already given birth to seven children by the start of the Jingnan Campaign with three of which being sons, all of whom played some part in their father's rebellion '. The eldest son and eventual Hongxi Emperor, Zhu Gaochi was 20 by the start of his fathers rebellion , while the second son Zhu Gaoxu the Prince of Han was 18 and would not only go on to participate in fighting against his cousin's forces but go on to follow in his father's footsteps by rebelling against his own nephew, albeit unsuccessfully. '
• The series depicts Yongle and the other princes being present during the passing of their father and staying in the capital to aid in the administration of their nephew before the Jianwen Emperor turns on them and requires then stay at the capital under the guise of aiding his court in order to prevent them from accessing their principalities' armies to rebel. In history, Yongle and the other princes where not present in the capital during the death of Emperor Hongwu and would be prevented from arrive to mourn by the succeeding Jianwen whom immediately ordered his uncles stay in their principalities with Yongle in particular being intercepted at Huai'an when he headed for the capital with his army to mourn.
• In the series Yongle is depicted having fiend his insanity to convince Jianwen to permit his return to the Yan principality to recover. In reality, it was Yongle's three sons that were being held hostage at the Ming capital and Yongle fiend his insanity to convince the court to permit his sons' be allowed to go visit him at Beiping. '''
• The series depicts a plot point about Emperor Hongwu's will being stolen and the heir left unclear. In reality Hongwu left not will and Jianwen succeeded his grandfather without the instruction of a will albeit in violation of the Huang-Ming Zuxun. ''''''

Reception

Viewership ratings

Awards and nominations

45th TVB Anniversary Awards 2011

• Nominated: Best Drama