The First Jasmine (莫离) Cast, Plot & Where to Watch: Bai Lu's 2026 Revenge C-Drama

The First Jasmine (莫离) is one of the most anticipated Chinese drama premieres of 2026 — a period revenge-romance led by Bai Lu (白鹿), with reservations on Tencent already past 4 million before a single episode aired. Here's everything that's actually confirmed: cast, premise, where to watch, and the novel behind it. (The drama premieres June 9, 2026, so this guide sticks to the official synopsis — no spoilers, because there aren't any yet.)

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Quick facts

• Chinese title: 莫离 (Mò Lí) · English title: The First Jasmine
• Leads: Bai Lu (白鹿) and Cheng Lei / Ryan Cheng (丞磊)
• Premiere: June 9, 2026
• Episodes: 40 (~45 min each)
• Platform: Tencent Video (腾讯视频) in China; international via WeTV and Disney+ in select regions
• Genre: Historical / period romance · court intrigue (权谋) · revenge (复仇) · "married first, love later" (先婚后爱)
• Director: Lin Yufen (林玉芬), a veteran of high-profile costume dramas
• Source: adapted from the web novel 《盛世嫡妃》 (Shèngshì Dí Fēi) by Feng Qing (凤轻)

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What does the title mean?

The Chinese title 莫离 (Mò Lí) literally means "never part" (莫 = "do not," 离 = "leave/separate"). It's a deliberate near-homophone of 茉莉 (mòlì), "jasmine" — and in Chinese romantic tradition, jasmine is gifted with the blessing "送君茉莉，愿君莫离" ("I give you jasmine, wishing we never part"). That double meaning — the jasmine flower and the vow not to be separated — is exactly what the English title The First Jasmine is reaching for. We break the title and every character name down in What 莫离 Means: The First Jasmine Title & Character Names Explained.

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The Cast

Bai Lu (白鹿) as Ye Li (叶璃)

Bai Lu is one of C-drama's most bankable leading ladies, fresh off hits like Till the End of the Moon (长月烬明) and Story of Kunning Palace (宁安如梦). She plays Ye Li (叶璃), the eldest legitimate daughter (嫡女) of the Ye household — outwardly serene, inwardly carrying a long plan. For a full guide to her career, see Bai Lu Best Dramas & Career Guide.

Cheng Lei / Ryan Cheng (丞磊) as Mo Xiuyao (墨修尧)

Cheng Lei plays Mo Xiuyao (墨修尧), the Prince of Ding (定王) — once celebrated as the empire's youngest "war god" (战神) until an injury crippled his legs and earned him the cruel nickname "the useless prince" (废物王爷). The pairing of Bai Lu with a rising male lead is a familiar C-drama play: a star actress anchoring a vehicle that raises her co-star's profile.

Supporting cast

The ensemble includes Cai Zhengjie (蔡正杰) as the scheming Prince Jing Li (黎王, 墨景黎), Yang Shuyi (杨舒伊) as Ye Li's sister Ye Ying (叶莹), veteran Dong Jie (董洁) as the Empress Dowager, and Qiu Xinzhi (邱心志) as Ye Li's father Ye Wenhua (叶文华). (Some international romanizations are still settling — check the official Tencent/WeTV listing for the finalized supporting lineup.)

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The Plot (official synopsis)

Ye Li, a descendant of Lishan (骊山后人) who spent eight years in confinement, is married off by imperial decree (赐婚) to the disabled Prince of Ding, Mo Xiuyao. On the very same day, her sister Ye Ying marries the ambitious Prince Jing Li. Behind Ye Li's placid composure is a single purpose: to bring down the people who destroyed her clan.

Her new husband is no simple invalid, either — Mo Xiuyao nurses a revenge plan of his own, and at first he suspects her motives. What begins as a wary political marriage slowly turns into an alliance of two formidable minds (the "dual-strong leads," 双强, that fans love), as Prince Jing Li's plot to seize the throne (篡位) pulls everyone toward a reckoning.

A note on the source: the novel Shengshi Difei frames its heroine as a modern special-forces soldier who transmigrates into the past. Whether the drama keeps that framing or plays it as a straight historical isn't yet confirmed — we'll update once it airs. The setting is a fictional imperial China, not a specific named dynasty.

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Where to Watch

The First Jasmine streams on Tencent Video in mainland China, with international distribution via WeTV (English subtitles) and Disney+ in select regions, starting June 9, 2026, releasing on a daily schedule.

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Why the hype?

Two things. First, Bai Lu's name — she's a ratings powerhouse with a large international following, and her premieres reliably trend. Second, the "married-first, love-later + mutual revenge" formula is one of C-drama's most reliable engines when both leads are strong. With 4M+ reservations banked before launch, The First Jasmine is positioned as one of summer 2026's biggest period dramas.

Going deeper on the language and culture behind it:

• The First Jasmine — Chinese Idioms for Its Revenge & Palace Intrigue
• Learn Chinese Watching The First Jasmine: Period C-Drama Words & Chengyu
• What 莫离 Means: Title & Character Names Explained