@liu.mengrui: The Portrait of a "Sweet-Anguished, Unhinged Beauty in the Cold Palace" Today, seeing Princess Ying (荧公主), played by Liu Meng Rui, make her appearance in Love and Crown (Fèng Huáng Tái Shàng), the immediate impression is: a very fresh take on the "sweet-anguished, unhinged beauty confined to the Cold Palace." As the adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager, Princess Ying is an open secret and a well-known taboo within the Imperial Palace—an unnamed great fire stole her normal life, leaving her mentally unstable ever since. Only the Cold Palace (where banished or disgraced members of the royalty are kept) allows her to find moments of peace. Liu Meng Rui’s entrance immediately conveys a sense of aloofness and coolness. Dressed in simple white garments, her eyes are vacant yet conceal fragmented paranoia, making her look like a shattered beauty who has stepped out of an ink painting. Every expression and smile carries a fundamental tone of sadness. She is not a tragic figure in the traditional sense. The trauma left by the fire makes her sometimes unhinged and willful, and at other times, purely innocent like a child. This contrast of being "unhinged yet adorable" is perfectly captured by Liu Meng Rui. • When the Emperor (Xiao Huan) got married, no one invited her, yet she secretly sneaks out to watch. • She says she "hates everyone connected to Xiao Huan," but when someone tells her, "I hate Xiao Huan too," she immediately changes her attitude like a child. • After ordering someone to leave, she can be easily provoked by simple taunts, immediately showing off her "erudition" because she wants recognition and praise. • Upon hearing, "This jade pendant was given to me by my master," she genuinely says, "Your master is so kind to you," instantly showing envy that someone else is cared for. Though others call her mad, the fact that she can ask, "You have hands and feet, why do you say you don't have a choice?" makes one realize the child also possesses her own distinct worldview. The contrast of "unhinged yet adorable" is the soul Liu Meng Rui gives to the character. Princess Ying's "madness" is not hysterical frenzy, but a pure, child-like sincerity mixed with paranoia—she can suddenly leap for joy over a small matter, and then instantly reveal an "inner devil" due to her obsession. Her madness is an instinctive protest against her past trauma and a silent accusation against the confines of the palace walls. Liu Meng Rui precisely controls the magnitude of this "madness." Instead of overly exaggerated body movements, she uses subtle facial changes and a soft yet stubborn tone of voice, which adds a degree of endearing clumsiness to the character's instability. Princess Ying in the Cold Palace is like a flower stubbornly growing in a desperate situation, with the thorns of madness but a soft heart hidden beneath. Liu Meng Rui’s portrayal gives the character both a sense of brokenness and vitality, making her a contradiction that blooms atop a tragic foundation. #liumengrui #luumongnhue #xiaoxiliucambodia #loveandcrown #phoenixstage

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