The Long Ballad


The Long Ballad is a 2021 Chinese television series based on the manhua of the same name by Xia Da. It is directed by Zhu Ruibin, and stars Dilraba Dilmurat, Wu Lei, Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning. Set against the backdrop of the Tang dynasty, during the reigns of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong, it tells the story of an imperial princess who seeks revenge for her family, and in doing so, her fate intertwines with that of a tribal prince. Although the series features many real historical figures, most of the relationships between the characters and plotlines are fictional.

Plot

The story starts in Chang'an in the year 626 and revolves around Li Changge, one of the daughters of Li Jiancheng.
Her peaceful life turns upside down after her family is brutally massacred during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, a coup d'état instigated by her uncle Li Shimin, who later becomes Emperor Taizong. Traumatized by the sudden loss of her mother and the betrayal of her uncle, Li Changge's anguish evolves into a burning intent for vengeance.
With her mind firmly fixed on revenge, she sets off on a journey to overthrow Li Shimin. Along the way, she unexpectedly meets Ashile Sun, who is later revealed to be a valiant general of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and Tegin of the Eagle Division. Through countless events, their fates become increasingly intertwined, and together they soon discover the forces working behind the scenes that could jeopardise the safety and peace of everything they love.

Cast

Main

Tang

The Long Ballad is based on Xia Da's manhua Chang Ge Xing, which was published from 2011 to 2016. The manhua has received numerous awards such as the Golden Dragon Award for Best Girls' Comic and the Newcomer Award at the first Sino-Japanese Youth Exchange Cartoon Festival.

Original soundtrack

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

It is available for streaming on Netflix, YouTube and Viu.

Reception

The Long Ballad was well received both at home and overseas. According to the overseas distributors of the series, the first 20 episodes of the English and Vietnamese versions accumulated over 20 million views online as of April 6, 2021, just a little over three weeks after it began airing.