Shen Yiyi (played by Wang Yuwen) lives in the city as an orphan since her childhood and has excellent cooking skills. After being taken by the Shen Family, Yiyi befriends with Shen Dieyi (played by Ji Meihan) and care each other like a sister. However, Dieyi abruptly dies of a cough and her life remains a mystery. In order to repay all of Dieyi and Shen Family's kindness to her, Shen Yiyi replace Dieyi's position and adopt her name, then goes to Chang'an for fulfill the marriage contract with the Tang Family. In there as well, Yiyi wants to find out the truth behind her bestfriend's life.
In order to delay the marriage, Yiyi dresses up like a man and enters the Shangyi School along with Dieyi's fiancé, a handsome flower boy Tang Jiuhua (played by Xie Binbin). In there, they two also meet Yang Zi'an (played by Caesar Wu) who secretly carrying out the Emperor's order for hide his identity, the sweet 2nd Prince Li Xinyuan (played by Qi Peixin) and a high and mighty swordsman Dugu Muxue (played by Liu Yichang). In their education pursuit, they five, who bear secrets of their own learn to trust each other and become bestfriends, solve many strange cases or mysterious case (corrupt officials), face to face with the embassy of the East Kingdom, also form the "Five Students (Sons) of Shangyi" those making them be famous in whole of Chang'an. Beside that, they must ride out the difficulties and bring peace to the Kingdom. [1][5]
A Market Chef. Smart and clever, but outspoken, Shen Yiyi actually was an orphan since childhood, but later was taken home as the member of Shen Family and be good friends with Shen Dieyi, the only daughter (not biological) of the Shen Family, they also take care each other like a sister. In there, Yiyi was taught painting and calligraphy, but her most interest and good at cooking. For pay Dieyi's kindness, Shen Family's nurturing, and Dieyi's life experience after her death, Yiyi replaced Dieyi's identity and replaced her in marriage contract with the Tang Family. Then, in order to postpone the wedding date with Tang Jiuhua, she accepted his proposal and disguised herself as a man and goes to Shangyi School to study. In the entrance examination of Shangyi School, she tried every means to prevent herself from being selected and separated from Tang Jiuhua to delay the wedding, but the less she wanted to come, he would come. In the martial arts test, she is advanced 25 places for helping the elderly on the side of the road while running. During the literary examination, the graffiti on the examination paper provokes the Emperor's anger and after cleverly defending herself, she escapes and makes Longyan rejoice. Therefore, the Emperor name her with Shangyi's first name. She become one of 5 students in Shangyi School, in charge of cooking. She and Yang Zi'an become the most witty and have the highest IQ in Shangyi School. As they two stay and live together, both of them starting like and interest on each other and then get married.
Initially is the Prime Minister's illegitimate son, his real identity is the Imperial Court's supervisory historian and is sent to Shangyi School to investigate a case. Cold-faced but warm-hearted, Yang Zi'an is good at logical reasoning. He and Shen Yiyi who are the most witty and have the highest IQ in Shangyi School, they two later stay and live together. Yang Zi'an is one of the 5 students in Shangyi School, in charge of chess art. He later purchased the Ningxiang Pavilion and gave it to Yiyi, then become the owner of Wuweiju and get married with her.
The only son of the Minister of Army. Initially Shen Dieyi's fiancé and already had a marriage contract her. However, due to her death before they get married, he later befriends with Han Yu'er and later, they live together. He loves musical and dance so much, and become one of the 5 students in Shangyi School, in charge of singing and dancing.
The Second Prince who studying in Shangyi School under a Pseudonym, his real name is Xiao Xinyuan and is Consort Yang's son. Not favored, he likes weird inventions, eat meat and understands Zhouyi's deduction. His favourite is to fly a kite because he feels that he is free when doing this. After his older brother is killed and died, he later chosen as the Crown Prince by the Emperor. He actually has crush on Shen Yiyi, but after knowing and understanding that she loves Yang Zi'an, Xinyuan decides to keep this love in his deep heart and hope Yiyi is happy with Yang Zi'an. He is the one of the students in Shangyi School, in charge of arithmetic.
The only daughter of Prime Minister of War. Innocent and romantic, Han Yu'er using to pretend like a man. She and Tang Jiuhua is a bestfriend and later life together.
The owner of Ningxiang Pavilion whom her true identity is a double agent and an assassin, her real name is Xiaorou. She and Dugu Muxue were childhood sweethearts but are forced to separate due to an accident.
One of the students in Shangyi School and Tang Jiuhua's little follower. He accidentally broke through the sweetness of Shen Yiyi and Yang Zi'an many times and his outlook on life was destroyed.
Xing Yang as Lin Boshi, the Professor of Shangyi School.
Ji Meihan as the real Shen Dieyi
Zhang Youbao as young Shen Dieyi
Actually the orphan of the former Crown Prince, but later become the only daughter of the Shen family. Since child, she and Yiyi growing up together and regards each other like a sister. As Yiyi taught her, Shen Dieyi also become proficient in calligraphy and painting. She has a marriage contract with Tang Jiuhua but before their marriage, she died because of her own illness.
Xie Lirun as Wang Zhaocai
One of the students in Shangyi School, he and Wang Jinbao firstly often bullied and instigated peoples (especially Shen Yiyi and Yang Zi'an).
Xie Lizhou as Wang Jinbao
One of the students in Shangyi School, he and Wang Zhaocai firstly often bullied and instigated peoples (especially Shen Yiyi and Yang Zi'an).
Lu Zhong as Old Master Shen, Shen Dieyi's adopted father.
Tang Family
Wang Nianqing as Tang Jiuhua's father and head of the Tang Family.
Zhang Liqiu as Tang Jiuhua's grandmother.
Jia Shuyi as Tang Jiuhua's mother.
Other
Bai Majing as King Yu
Feng Dalu as Ji Jiu
Lu Wenbo as Envoy Yu
Wang Yuzheng as General Li
Lu Jianwei as Hei Mianshen, the "Black-faced God"
Liu Guannan as the Ex Crown Prince
Peng Yang as the Ex Crown Princess Consort
Luo Yundan as the General's wife
Li Linqing as the General's wife's maid
Zhang Aiyue as Aunt Zhang
Fu Wanjun as Aunt Zhang's husband
Gao Shou as Zhang Gu
Niu Xikui as Eunuch Wu
Yu Xiaotong as Ye Tianshi
Ding Shikun as Wen Tao
Wang Yang as Wu Lu
Ren Feng as Xiao Fengzi
Liu Shenzhi as Lieutenant Gao
Mei Mei as Qiu Yue
Jia Jiayue as a Dancer
Yue Chunyu as the Leader of Snake Head
Zhao Qiang as a Fighter
Lou Zhipeng as Servant of Yu Manor
Zhang Songqiao as Secret guard of An Manor
Apa Erjiang as a Tuoxi Army Commander
Li Xiang as a Tuoxi Army Commander
Lei Da as a Yulin Army Commander
Hai Ou as a Yulin Army Second Commander
Production
This series is the first Wang Yuwen and Caesar Wu working together in the same title,[20] also Caesar Wu's second TV series and first leading role after playing one of the "F4" in Meteor Garden.
This series started filming in March 2019 in Xiangshan Global Studios and finished in June 2020.
