Perish In The Name Of Love (TV Drama)
Encyclopedia
Perish In The Name Of Love was a TV drama series made by TVB. It is based on an old Chinese opera play titled Tai Nui Fa, and takes place during the final years of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

. The story follows the romantic relationship of the Chinese Emperor's daughter, Princess Cheung-Ping (Charmaine Sheh) (which means "Enlasting Peace"), and the son of a Royal Courtier, Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma).

The entire series takes place in a continuing flashback.

Discrepancies

The drama is not faithful to the original opera script and is not considered to be canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...

 because of several discrepancies. Firstly, the sister of Princess Cheung-Ping (Charmaine Sheh) in the series is portrayed as a conniving, evil Princess who betrayed the Ming Royal Family, submitted herself to the Manchu
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....

 forces and aimed to destroy her sister in every way possible. In the original opera, the Princess is very friendly with Princess Cheung-Ping (Charmaine Sheh) and is not portrayed as evil. In the series, the Empress supposedly escaped Beijing with the crown prince. However, this is not true in the opera script as she hanged herself back in the palace.

Also, the ending of the series differed wildly from the original script. In the original script, the Princess and her lover agreed to get married in the Forbidden City
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum...

 after the Manchus gained power in China. However, during the lavish ceremonies, the couple committed suicide in an obscure place inside the palace grounds. In the first episode, it appears that the main characters were to die, similar to the original. However, in the final minutes of the last episode, the couple appeared as normal citizens in a remote town, and viewers discovered that the couple pretended to die in exchange for several concessions for the defeated Ming Forces.

Plot

The beginning shows Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) and Princess Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) growing up together. They were best friends, and it shows how deeply their friendship grew as each day passed by. Unfortunately, Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu), the Queen, was punished for killing Tin Fei's (Jay Lau) child. She was framed for this because Tin Fei (Jay Lau) wanted to become Queen by getting rid of Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu). Therefore, Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu) and her two daughters got kicked out into a place where all the people who used to be concubines lived.

Tin Fei (Jay Lau) tried to kill them once and for all by setting the place on fire, but they escaped. After that, they lived in the country, suffering year by year of over-working themselves just to put a little food on the table. They lived in a small shack.
Chiu Yan's (Sonija Kwok) dream was to become a dancer while Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh), the most loved and respectful daughter, worked extremely hard to help her mother get money. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) moves to another place to work because she needs to make money for her family. She promised her mother she'd bring home a pack of rice each time she was able to go home while her sister, Princess Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok), attended a dancing school. There, Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) meet Cho Sing Hing (Michael Tong), who was the son of the owner who produced cannons. She also found her long-lost friend, Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma), there. She didn't reveal herself, because if she did, her mother was afraid Tin Fei would come after them. Therefore, she went under the name Chu Fai Lei and Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) went under the name Chu Fai Lan. Sing Hing (Michael Tong) liked Fai Lei (Charmaine Sheh), not knowing she was once a princess of the palace. Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) suspected that Fai Lei was Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) because he knew Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) wasn't dead. He found a wish paper stuck in the tree that had her name on it.

Sai Hin (Steven Ma) continued to investigate until he finally got it out of her mouth that she was Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh).
When the King found out that his wife and children were still alive, he let them back into the palace, but hardly paid attention to them. This is where Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) causes trouble. She joins up with Tin Fei (Jay Lau) to destroy her mother and family, especially her sister, Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh). She is jealous of her sister because she gets all the attention. Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) is arranged to marry Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh).
Then Lee Yuk Han (Annie Man), Sai Hin's fiancee, got angry when she found out Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) and Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) were together, but soon after, she couldn't be angry at Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) anymore. The four of them, Lee Yuk Han (Annie Man), Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh), Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma), and Sing Hing (Michael Tong) were the best of friends. Unfortunately, when Lee Yuk Han (Annie Man) was trying to help Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) prove that the Queen did NOT poison Tin Fei's (Jay Lau) child that day, she got killed accidentally by Tin Fei (Jay Lau). After that, Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) was arranged to marry Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh), while Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) is forced to marry Tong Bo Lun, a somewhat perverted and fierce commander. Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) then goes to war with Sing Hing (Michael Tong) to fight for their country. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) made Sing Hing (Michael Tong) and Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) both promise that they would come back without a hair missing from their heads. Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) harmed her mother so much that she became a servant in the palace. The Emperor still had strong feelings for Chow Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu), but his mother and Tin Fei (Jay Lau) kept on trying to tear them apart.
Then comes the war. The country is in chaos. Tin Fei (Jay Lau) became ill. Ng Sam Kwai (Marco Ngai), who is a very smart and powerful commander did not support the Emperor because he though the Emperor killed his lover, Chan Yuen Yuen (Anne Heung). But it was really that Tin Fei's (Jay Lau) father kidnapped her and made it look like she died in order for the fall of the kingdom because he hated the Emperor. After that, the Emperor (Moses Chan) lost the war. Ng Sam Kwai (Marco Ngai) joined up with the enemy team. Unlike the old version, the Emperor did not chop off Cheung Ping's (Charmaine Sheh) arm or make the Chow Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu) hang herself. He let them go and they decided to meet up somewhere else safer. Unfortunately, on the way, the Emperor (Moses Chan) died and was hung on a tree atop a mountain so people can laugh as they walk by at the bottom.
The Queen was left in charge of the army and the country, along with her son who was pretty much useless as a King. Many opposed because they thought the Chow Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu) was trying to become a Female King. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) supported her mother the whole way. Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) was supposed to be taken to Tong Bo Lun's camp because she attempted to kill Cheung Ping (because she somehow fell in love with Sai Hin). Cho Sing Hing (Michael Tong) was ordered to escort her there. In an attempt to escape and frame Sing Hing (Michael Tong), she ripped her own clothes and poured water in the barrel-like "tub". Then she made it look like Sing Hing (Michael Tong) tried to rape her while she was taking a bath. Tong Bo Lun busted into the room. He made his men beat up Sing Hing (Michael Tong), then break all the bones in his leg. Then Tong Bo Lun left with Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok). Sing Hing (Michael Tong) was left on the streets with nobody to help him.

After this, Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) returned to the palace to stir up some more trouble for her mother. She sided with the enemy and gave them all the maps. One day,Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) followed her out of the castle and caught her betraying her country. Chiu Yan was put into jail. On the day of Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) and Chow Sai Hin's (Steven Ma) marriage, Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) hanged herself in the jail. The Chow Yuk Fung (Maggie Shiu) stopped the wedding and ran down to see what happened. Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) pretended she was half-dead and then surprisingly shot her mother with a pistol. Then she pretended she was still knocked-out so the Queen's bodyguard, who was waiting outside, wouldn't suspect she killed the Queen. After that, the Queen died in bed, making sure that the people of her country would be safe in Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) and Chow Sai Hin's (Steven Ma) hands. The opposing men, Tong Bo Lun and Fok Wong, tried to knock her son off the throne. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) was forced out of the kingdom in order to have a fair fight, because they didn't want him to get any help. Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) was forced not to help him, too. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) lived outside the palace, and met up with Sing Hing (Michael Tong). After many years, he lost the war to Fok Wong. Fok Wong then became the new ruler. While Sai Hin (Steven Ma) was in a temple, he found Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) there, and also, the long-time-no-see Sing Hing (Michael Tong). Sai Hin (Steven Ma)found out what Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) had done to Sing Hing (Michael Tong), and was more than just a little angry with her. Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) became Chiu Yan Ge Ge of the enemy country. Ng Sam Kwai (Marco Ngai) found out that the King never killed Chan Yuen Yuen (Anne Heung) and regretted not helping him. He felt he betrayed the King (Moses Chan) in a very hurtful way and framed him. He and Chan Yuen Yuen (Anne Heung) went back together, and Ng Sam Kwai (Marco Ngai) sent people to kill the man who kidnapped her, and who also caused the fall of the Emperor's kingdom.

Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) decided to join the war on the enemy team. She kidnapped Sai Hin (Steven Ma) and blackmailed Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) to come there. That is when Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) accidentally blurted out that she killed their mother. Now she was going to kill Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) and Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh). They were about to die together, but then the Ching ruler stopped them. He wanted peace and to take over their country without hurting anyone. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) agreed to let him, as long as nobody got hurt and Chiu Yan (Sonija Kwok) was sent to jail for killing the Queen. He agreed to this, and even with Chiu Yan's (Sonija Kwok) pleading, he sent her to jail for life. After that, Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) and Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) were to marry to calm the Han people. Sing Hing (Michael Tong) didn't want them to get married because he knew they would commit suicide under these circumstances. Instead of committing suicide, they made it look like they killed themselves on the wedding night, then ran off into the country and became villagers. The 'death' was to make it look like they died so they could leave and live a peaceful life. The Chings took over after Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) and Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) supposedly 'died'. Sing Hing (Michael Tong), Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh), and Chow Sai Hin (Steven Ma) lived together and passed each day happily. Cheung Ping (Charmaine Sheh) was pregnant, and Sing Hing (Michael Tong) was to become the godfather. Although Sing Hing's (Michael Tong)leg never recovered, he still lived each day happily with his best friends.

Cast

Imperial family
Cast Role Description
Lai Suen
黎宣
Empress Dowager
Moses Chan
Moses Chan
Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited...

Chu Yau-kim
Chongzhen Emperor
The Chongzhen Emperor was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious".- Early years :...


朱由檢
Emperor
Maggie Shiu Chow Yuk-fung
周玉鳳
Empress
Lau Kam-Ling
劉錦玲
Tin Choi-deep
田彩蝶
Consort Tin
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...

Chu Fai-nei
Princess Changping
Princess Changping , birth name Zhu Meicuo , was a princess of the Chinese Ming Dynasty.-Biography:Changping was born to the Chongzhen Emperor and Consort Wang Shun. As Consort Wang died from illness not long after Changping's birth, the princess was raised by Empress Zhou...


朱徽妮
Princess Cheung Ping
Emperor's daughter
Steven Ma
Steven Ma
Steven Ma Chun-wai is a Hong Kong actor and singer. In 1993, Ma won a record deal after winning first place at an annual singing contest in Hong Kong, later releasing his debut album, Lucky for Meeting You , that December...

Chow Sai-hin
周世顯
Princess Cheung Ping's husband
Sonija Kwok
Sonija Kwok
Sonija Kwok is a Hong Kong actress, currently working for TVB.She was born in Hong Kong and is of mixed Cantonese and British parentage. Kwok immigrated to Vancouver, Canada from Hong Kong. She initially attended the University of British Columbia but she transferred to Simon Fraser University and...

Chu Fai-lan
朱徽蘭
Princess Chiu-yan
Emperor's daughter
Ellesmere Choi
Ellesmere Choi
Ellesmere Choi Chi Kin is a Hong Kong television actor for TVB. He attended TVB's training classes in 1993.-TV series:*In the Eye of the Beholder *His True Father...

Chu Chi-siu
朱慈炤
Emperor's son
Kenny Wong Chu Yau-song
朱由崧
Emperor's cousin

Other cast
Cast Role Description
Annie Man
Annie Man
Annie Man Chung-Han , born 20 July 1976, is an actress from Hong Kong. She started her career in television series in 1993 at the age of 16 at ATV...

Lee Yuk-han
李玉嫻
Marco Ngai
Marco Ngai
Marco Ngai Chun Kit is a successful actor in Hong Kong and has been in many TV series such as Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain 1997 , To Catch the Uncatchable and one of the favourites, Armed Reaction 1,2,3,4 .He is married to Zhang...

Ng Sam-kwai
Wu Sangui
Wu Sangui was a Ming Chinese general who was instrumental in the succession of rule to the Qing Dynasty in 1644...


吳三桂
Anne Heung
Anne Heung
Anne Heung Hoi Lam, born 2 October 1974, is a Hong Kong actress for TVB. In 2008, she announced her retirement from the entertainment industry.-Biography:Anne often stars in action, comedic and political TVB drama series...

Chan Yuen-yuen
Chen Yuanyuan
Chen Yuanyuan , born Xing Yuan , lived near the end of the Ming Dynasty, and was a concubine of Wu Sangui. Her courtesy name was Wanfen . Her actual historical significance is disputed, although it is largely believed that Chen was pivotal in Wu Sangui's campaigns after the fall of the Ming. She...


陳圓圓
Lo Mang
Lo Mang
Lo Mang is a Hong Kong based veteran martial artist who was born as Lo Hin Lam in Hong Kong on 23 July 1956. Primarily known for starring in Shaw Brothers kung fu movies in the latter part of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s...

Li Chi-sing
李自成
Michael Tong
Michael Tong
Michael Tong Man Lung is a Hong Kong actor.-TV series:*Return of the Cuckoo *In a Realm of Success...

Cho Sing-hing
楚聖卿
Lau Kong
Lau Kong
Lau Kong is a Hong Kong actor who works on the network TVB.-Biography:Little is known of Lau's private life, but he has been acting since 1976, when he first joined the now defunct network Commercial Television, he later joined RTV Lau Kong (劉江) is a Hong Kong actor who works on the network...

周奎 Empress's father
Wong Wai-leung
王偉樑
Si Ho-fat
Shi Kefa
Shi Kefa , style names Xianzhi and Daolin , was a government official and calligrapher of the late Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. Shi Kefa was born in Xiangfu and claimed ancestry from Daxing County, Shuntianfu . He was mentored by Zuo Guangdou...


史可法

External links

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