The Shadow Sovereign (2026)

SERIES

20261 Season8.0

Drama

TMDB8.0

Votes4

Your rating

Genre: Drama
Origin: CN

About

A low-born scholar rises to power to avenge his father, only to find an unexpected alliance and deep love with the defiant princess he once vowed to destroy.

Where to watch

Region

Stream

Rakuten Viki

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Rakuten Viki

Availability from JustWatch via TMDB.

Details

Director: Deng Zhanneng
Writing: Chu Chu
Status: Ended
First aired: Jul 23, 2026
Network: bilibili
Studio: Shanghai Kuanyu Digital Technology Co., Ltd.

Time to finish

14 hrs

18 episodes. About 2 weeks at an hour a night.

View on IMDb ↗

Cast

Li Hongyi

Shen Xiao

Kong Xue'er

Princess Zhaoyang

Liu Xuwei

Cui Jinzhi

Hana Lin

Princess Anle

SERIES

20261 Season8.0

Drama

TMDB8.0

Votes4

Your rating

Genre: Drama
Origin: CN

About

A low-born scholar rises to power to avenge his father, only to find an unexpected alliance and deep love with the defiant princess he once vowed to destroy.

Where to watch

Region

Stream

Rakuten Viki

With ads

Rakuten Viki

Availability from JustWatch via TMDB.

Episodes

0 of 0 watched

E1 · Airs Jul 23, 2026 · 32m
The Beautiful Man turns into the Top Scholar
Princess Zhaoyang, acting on the Crown Prince's orders, destroys the examination papers of humble scholars, cutting off their path to official office. Left with no other choice, the humble scholar Shen Xiao disguises himself as a courtesan to approach Zhaoyang in the hope of securing her recommendation.
E2 · Airs Jul 23, 2026 · 25m
Impeachment in Court
At the Scholar's Banquet, the new Top Scholar, Shen Xiao, impeaches Zhaoyang for being extravagant and suggests the Crown Prince take charge of repairing the Yongtong Canal for disaster relief. The suggestion is accepted by His Majesty.
E3 · Airs Jul 23, 2026 · 23m
Kill Three Birds with One Stone
The Crown Prince is furious at Zhaoyang because of the Yontong Canal. To ease the Crown Prince's suspicions, Zhaoyang proposes a plan for him to replace money with grains. Not only can she use this chance to drive a wedge between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, but she can also use this chance to eliminate Qing Luo, the mistress who set her up.
E4 · Airs Jul 24, 2026 · 24m
Princess from the Cold Palace
Shen Xiao learns from the Recluse Le Sheng that Zhaoyang once struggled to survive in the Cold Palace, leaving him even more intrigued by her. As he honors his promise to spend every night with Zhaoyang, he finds himself relentlessly pursued by Princess An Le.
E5 · Airs Jul 24, 2026 · 23m
Your Highness, Will You Protect Me?
Shen Xiao mourns his father. Zhaoyang hints that his father's death is suspicious. Shen Xiao decides to investigate the truth.
E6 · Airs Jul 25, 2026 · 25m
Private Treasury Break-Ins
Shen Xiao notices that the Crown Prince is pocketing the grains given for the canal repair. He decides to investigate the Crown Prince's private treasury.
E7 · Airs Jul 25, 2026 · 29m
More than a Male Companion
When Shen Xiao finds out about the past between Zhaoyang and Cui Jinzhi, he understands that the marriage is out of self-preservation. The Seventh Prince returns to the capital and gains favor from the Emperor with three gifts. It sends the Crown Prince's faction on alert.
E8 · Airs Jul 26, 2026 · 25m
Blade and Trap
Ordered by the Emperor to lead the grain donation effort, Zhaoyang finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place. To get out of the predicament, she devises a scheme that provokes Shen Xiao into seizing the grain.
E9 · Airs Jul 26, 2026 · 27m
If I Die, Will You Mourn Me?
Shen Xiao is thrown into prison, and the Second Prince shifts the blame onto him to protect himself. To clear her own name, Zhaoyang is ordered by the Eastern Palace to enter the prison and silence Shen Xiao forever.
E10 · Airs Jul 28, 2026 · 30m
The Princess Is Imprisoned
Shen Xiao knows that Le Sheng is the Seventh Prince. He also finds out that Zhaoyang is the person who's secretly funding those from humble families. Zhaoyang admits it and gives Shen Xiao a hint about where the Crown Prince's granary is.
E11 · Airs Jul 29, 2026 · 29m
Before Falling Off the Cliff
Cui Jinzhi finds out that the Crown Prince is planning to silence Zhaoyang. He then intervenes to save her and take the blame for the crime. The Yongtong Canal is finally completed. Zhaoyang, Shen Xiao, and the Seventh Prince have officially formed an alliance.
E12 · Airs Jul 30, 2026 · 29m
Letting You Use Me Was My Own Choice
Zhaoyang and Shen Xiao survive a fall from a cliff. On a rainy night, they finally confess their feelings to each other. After learning of Zhaoyang's fall, Cui Jinzhi realizes his feelings for her. After nearly losing her, he tries to repair their marriage.
E13 · Airs Jul 31, 2026 · 27m
No Dignity Left
Shen Xiao and Le Sheng trespass into the Princess Residence to rescue Zhaoyang. Realizing she can't just sit back and await her fate, Zhaoyang decides to enter the palace at night to meet the emperor.
E14 · Airs Aug 1, 2026 · 25m
Shen Xiao, I Found You a Good Marriage
To maintain the Cui family's support, the Crown Prince forces his younger sister, Princess An Le to marry Cui Jinzhi.
E15 · Airs Aug 2, 2026 · 25m
Levee Breach
The levee repaired by the Crown Prince is breached. Zhaoyang sees it as an opportunity to get rid of him. Shen Xiao prioritizes the flood victims. Both of them argue over this.
E16 · Airs Aug 4, 2026 · 25m
Refusing the Marriage
Shen Xiao defies the imperial decree by refusing the marriage and requests a demotion, volunteering to accompany the Seventh Prince to the Yellow River to tackle the flood crisis.
E17 · Airs Aug 5, 2026 · 31m
Faking His Death
An Le poisons Emperor Zheng Yuan to help the Crown Prince take over the throne. Cui Jinzhi confines Zhaoyang and tells her that Shen Xiao is dead. Zhaoyang tries to escape but is surrounded by the Crown Prince's troops.
E18 · Airs Aug 6, 2026 · 29m
The Dust Hasn't Settled
Emperor Zheng Yuan appoints the Seventh Prince as the Crown Prince. The noble families try to kill Shen Xiao by accusing him of forging an edict.