Zhang Ruoyun wasn't the first choice for everyone. When Joy of Life (Qing Yu Nian) was moving from a web novel by Mao Ni to a high-budget C-drama, people had doubts. Fans of the book were picky. They wanted someone who could balance the snark, the modern soul trapped in a historical body, and the sheer ruthlessness required to survive the Southern Qing court. But the second Zhang stepped into the shoes of Fan Xian, the conversation shifted. The Joy of Life cast didn't just adapt a story; they basically hijacked the genre and set a bar so high that most historical dramas are still struggling to clear it years later.
It is rare. Truly. Usually, you get a great lead and a mediocre supporting ensemble, or a legendary veteran actor carrying a bunch of "idols" who can't act their way out of a paper bag. This show is different. It’s a lightning-in-a-bottle situation where the veteran heavyweights like Chen Daoming and Wu Gang decided to play ball with the younger generation, creating a weird, tense, and hilarious chemistry that feels organic.
The Fan Xian Factor: Zhang Ruoyun’s High-Wire Act
Fan Xian is a difficult character. He’s a guy from the modern world who wakes up in a baby’s body in a world that looks like ancient China but definitely isn't. If the actor plays him too "modern," it feels like a cringey comedy. If he’s too "historical," the whole premise of the time-travel (or sci-fi, if we’re being technical) element dies.
Zhang Ruoyun brings this specific brand of "I don't give a damn" energy that makes the Joy of Life cast work. He’s physically expressive. He smirks. He uses his eyes to show he’s thinking three steps ahead of the people around him. Honestly, his chemistry with his "chicken leg lady," Lin Wan'er (played by Li Qin), is the heart of the romance, but his real spark comes from his interactions with his fathers. All four of them.
You’ve got his biological father, his adoptive father, his father-in-law, and the Emperor. Each relationship requires a different version of Fan Xian. With the Emperor, he’s cautious but cheeky. With Fan Jian, he’s a loyal son. This versatility is why the show didn't flop. Without a lead who can pivot from slapstick comedy to "I will burn this city down for my friend," the show would have been a mess.
The Heavyweights: Chen Daoming and the Art of the Terrifying Emperor
Let's talk about Chen Daoming. If you know Chinese cinema, you know he’s a legend. He doesn’t just play the Emperor of Southern Qing; he is the Emperor. Most TV emperors are either cartoonishly evil or boringly stoic. Chen plays him with this disheveled, casual menace. He’s often seen in his inner chambers, hair down, wearing what looks like a bathrobe, tinkering with arrows or reading.
It’s terrifying.
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He doesn't need to scream to show power. He just stares. The way he interacts with the rest of the Joy of Life cast creates a vacuum of tension. When he’s on screen with Wu Gang, who plays Chen Pingping, the head of the Overwatch Council, you’re watching two masters at work.
Wu Gang is equally brilliant. He spends the entire show in a wheelchair. He can only use his face and his voice. Yet, he manages to be one of the most intimidating characters in the entire series. The relationship between the Emperor and Chen Pingping is a masterclass in "frenemy" dynamics. They’ve known each other for decades, they share secrets that could topple the empire, and they clearly don't trust each other. Watching them trade barbs is better than any action scene in the show.
Why the Supporting Actors Aren't Just Background Noise
Most dramas treat the "sidekicks" as comic relief that you want to skip. In Joy of Life, the supporting cast is actually the secret sauce.
Take Tian Yu, who plays Wang Qinian. He’s the greedy, money-loving, wife-fearing clerk who becomes Fan Xian’s right-hand man. He could have been a one-dimensional joke. Instead, he’s the emotional anchor. His comedic timing is impeccable, often breaking the tension right when the political intrigue gets too heavy.
Then there’s the "Grandmother" in the early episodes or the siblings. Song Yi, who plays Fan Ruoruo, turned the "obsessed younger sister" trope into something genuinely charming. She’s smart, she’s a crack shot with a sniper rifle (eventually), and she treats Fan Xian like a god. Her chemistry with Guo Qilin, who plays the younger brother Fan Sizhe, is gold.
Guo Qilin, by the way, is a professional cross-talk (Xiangsheng) performer in real life. That’s why his delivery is so fast and his comedic beats are so precise. He’s not "acting" funny; he inherently understands the rhythm of a joke. When he’s trying to figure out how to monetize a book or complaining about his dad, he steals every scene he's in.
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The Women of Southern Qing
It's not just a boys' club. The women in the Joy of Life cast are terrifyingly competent.
- Li Qin (Lin Wan'er): Often called the "Chicken Leg Lady," she starts as a frail love interest but grows into a woman who understands the brutal reality of her family's position.
- Li Xiaoran (Princess Royal): She plays the villain with such a chaotic, beautiful intensity. Her relationship with the Emperor and her obsession with power make her one of the most compelling antagonists in recent years. She’s unhinged, but in a way that feels strategically calculated.
- Xin Zhilei (Haitang Duoduo): The Saintess of Northern Qi who just wants to farm and live a simple life. Her chemistry with Zhang Ruoyun is so good it actually made fans split on who the "endgame" couple should be.
The Season 2 Shakeup: What Changed?
When a show takes years to produce a sequel, you usually lose some people. Fans were worried. When the Joy of Life cast returned for Season 2, there were a few notable absences and replacements, which is always a gamble.
The biggest change was the role of Yan Bingyun. In Season 1, he was played by Xiao Zhan. By the time Season 2 rolled around, Xiao Zhan was one of the biggest stars in the world, and schedules (and likely budgets) didn't align. Jin Chen also joined the cast, taking over the role of Ye Ling'er.
Replacements are risky. They break the "immersion." However, the core group—Zhang Ruoyun, Chen Daoming, Wu Gang, and Tian Yu—remained intact. That’s what mattered. The show’s identity is tied to that specific group of men playing a high-stakes game of chess where the pieces are living people.
The Realism of the Unreal
What makes this ensemble work is that they treat the absurd elements of the script with total sincerity. This is a show where a guy uses a sniper rifle in a medieval setting. There's a blind martial arts master (Wu Zhu, played by Tong Mengshi) who is basically a robot. If the actors winked at the camera or acted like they were in a parody, the show would fail.
Instead, Tong Mengshi plays Wu Zhu with a physical rigidity that is haunting. He doesn't blink. He moves with a mathematical precision. It makes you believe that this character is something "other."
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This commitment to the "bit" is why the Joy of Life cast has such a dedicated following. They aren't just playing roles; they are building a world that operates on its own weird logic.
Common Misconceptions About the Cast
People often think Zhang Ruoyun got the role because of his father (a famous director). While connections help in any industry, Zhang's performance silenced that talk. He famously wrote a long essay to the producers explaining his vision for Fan Xian before he was even cast. He fought for the role.
Another misconception is that the "veteran" actors are just there for prestige. In many C-dramas, older legends are brought in for a few scenes to give the show "face." In Joy of Life, they are the engines of the plot. Chen Daoming isn't just a guest star; he’s the final boss.
How to Follow the Cast Beyond the Show
If you’ve finished the show and have a Fan Xian-sized hole in your heart, you should look at the actors' other works to see their range.
- Zhang Ruoyun: Check out Sword Snow Stride. It’s another high-fantasy adaptation, though a bit slower than Joy of Life. He plays a similar "hidden genius" character.
- Chen Daoming: Watch Hero (2002). He plays the King of Qin. It’s the definitive "Emperor" performance.
- Wu Gang: Look for In the Name of People. He plays a high-ranking official, and his performance became a massive meme in China because of how intense he is.
- Guo Qilin: Watch his variety show appearances. His wit is even faster when he’s not following a script.
The Joy of Life cast succeeded because they balanced the "heavy" and "light" perfectly. They understood that political intrigue is boring if you don't care about the people, and comedy is empty if there are no stakes. By grounding the ridiculousness of a time-traveling, poetry-reciting spy in real emotional weight, they created a masterpiece.
When you watch the show, pay attention to the background characters. Notice how the Ministers react during the court scenes. Look at how the guards flinch when the Emperor raises his voice. It's that attention to detail from the entire ensemble that makes it feel alive.
To truly appreciate the depth of the cast, watch the "making of" clips. You'll see the younger actors hovering around Chen Daoming like students, soaking up his advice on how to deliver a line or hold a fan. That respect translates onto the screen. It creates a hierarchy that feels ancient and authentic.
The next step for any fan is to keep an eye on the production updates for the final chapters. The cast has stayed remarkably loyal to this project, which says a lot about the quality of the script. In an industry where stars usually jump from one project to the next every three months, the fact that these actors keep coming back to these characters is the highest praise possible. Keep watching the news cycles for Season 3 updates, as the production team has hinted that the "original" core team is committed to seeing Fan Xian's journey to the very end.