The Rise of Phoenixes has released first stills of the main cast, led by Chen Kun (Beautiful Accident), Ni Ni (Suddenly Seventeen), Zhao Lixin (Chinese Style Relationship) and Ni Dahong (Intrude the Widow Village at Midnight).

The drama’s historical backdrop is set to the late Tang/Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era, a chaotic time period that heralded the establishment of several independent kingdoms by regional military governors.

In the Tiansheng Kingdom, Feng Zhiwei (Ni Ni) cross dresses as a man to enter the Qingming Academy and then begins a political career under the alias Wei Zhi. While an official, she meets Ning Yi (Chen Kun), the Prince of Chu, a power-hungry prince who keep his ambitions hidden by masquerading as a loyal advisor of the Crown Prince.

Wei Zhi and Ning Yi begin as political opponents, and eventually become friends and then lovers. Of course, their romance doesn’t last long, as Feng Zhiwei is tricked into believing he and the Emperor (Ni Dahong) were the culprits behind her family members’ deaths.

Also featured below is Xin Ziyan (Zhao Lixin), head of the Qingming Academy and leader of Ning Yi’s secret network of supporters. He’s a trusted mentor to the prince, and also plays a part in the main couple’s eventual separation.

The 70 episode drama is co-directed by Shen Yan and Liu Haibo (Chinese Style Relationship) and is planning to film until the end of December.

Finally, a cross-dressing female lead who actually looks the part.