Jiang Hansheng

Biodata

Background / History

Great Qing

In his past life, Jiang Hansheng was Jiang Yan, better known as Jiang Chengyu: Great Qing's prime minister and later regent. Following Qingming Emperor Li Wenchuan's death, he concealed the news, controlled the imperial clan by detaining the princes, secured the capital with the Imperial Guard, and installed a collateral child on the throne. His methods were feared despite his refined, scholarly appearance 1.

Jiang Chengyu came from humble circumstances and had no conventional schooling as a child, instead listening outside schoolhouses, borrowing books, and copying them by hand. He first encountered the future Qingming Emperor when both were young: Li Wenchuan found Jiang badly beaten and discarded in an alley after he had been denounced as a fraudulent adviser 88 155.

Historical accounts identify Jiang Yan as a minister who served three emperors, governed as regent for forty years, advanced reforms, and sustained Great Qing after the Qingming Emperor's death 14 38. He repeatedly suppressed those urging him to seize the throne, despite possessing enough authority to do so, and helped prolong the dynasty under weak later rulers 162. His later fate was grim: the prime minister's residence was confiscated and his grave desecrated after the emperor he raised came to suspect him 12.

His memories of that life remain centered on Li Wenchuan. Jiang Chengyu alone continued to call the emperor “Yu'an” in private, even after Li Wenchuan ascended the throne 39. He regarded his own attachment to the emperor as an improper desire, but still considered himself Li Wenchuan's most loyal subject 11 24. Yang Empress Dowager discovered his feelings and compelled him to suppress them, using his devotion to Li Wenchuan and the emperor's unfinished ambitions to secure his cooperation after Li Wenchuan's death 156 157.

Modern Life and Acting Career

Jiang Hansheng was born into a scholarly aristocratic family in the modern era, excelled academically, and balanced university studies with an acting career. He rose rapidly after his first film and became one of the industry's youngest Best Actors 5 14.

His paternal Jiang family is politically connected, while his mother, Su He, is a writer. His family background and independent wealth allow him to treat acting as a personal interest rather than a livelihood 190. He initially moved out of the family home because his parents treated him as a child and his irregular work schedule made him reluctant to disturb them 98.

Although highly successful, he works selectively, taking breaks between productions and treating variety-show appearances as a form of “experiencing life” 11 19. His studio represents no other artists, despite his willingness to introduce resources to others 34. In later years, he becomes Su Corporation's president while increasingly adopting a semi-retired pace in entertainment, though major brands continue to seek him out for endorsements 265.

Appearance

Jiang Hansheng is a notably handsome young actor whose smile is often visible in his eyes and brows even when his face is concealed by a mask 10 18.

• Pale complexion, accentuated by gold-rimmed glasses 11
• Often travels casually in a cap and mask without assistants 18
• Wore a black palace robe embroidered with pines and cranes when appearing on You and Me Back Then 5
• Possesses a clear, measured speaking voice and uses his own voice in performances 19
• Presented an unexpectedly convincing feminine appearance while portraying Luo Xiaoxiao, the Crown Princess, despite his conspicuous Northeast China-influenced accent and mannerisms 84 85
• His appearance became roughened, sun-darkened, and visibly worn after extended location work in the Gobi Desert, though he recovered after hospitalization 125 134
• Has broad shoulders and a narrow waist; Li Wenchuan has noted the scratches he accumulated while handling his cats 235

Personality

Jiang Hansheng presents himself as calm, free-spirited, and difficult to predict. He is known for sharp sarcasm and blunt remarks, yet is generally easy to get along with when left unprovoked 5 13. He has little concern for conventional celebrity behavior, casually appearing on variety shows, requesting money from production staff through hand gestures, and choosing the easiest tasks when possible 11 18 19.

Behind this relaxed image is the calculating temperament of Chancellor Jiang. He closely observes Li Wenchuan, tests possibilities rather than acting rashly, and can conceal intense feelings behind a casual demeanor 11 12. His protectiveness toward Li becomes especially apparent when he shuts down Zhao Shiyao's insults and asserts control during the murder-mystery game 35.

He also values freedom. As a child, he wished to run a small shop that could open and close entirely on his own terms 26. His apparent aloofness partly stems from an “old-man mentality” carried over from his previous life: he finds many entertainment-industry conflicts childish and avoids unnecessary socializing 237.

Despite his habit of appearing indifferent, Jiang Hansheng is deeply attentive to the people he accepts as his own. He supports Li Wenchuan's career while deliberately avoiding actions that could cause the younger actor to be viewed only through Jiang's influence 222. He is also easily embarrassed by direct displays of affection, unwanted pursuits, and his own increasingly obvious feelings for Li Wenchuan 92 236.

Abilities & Skills

Acting

Jiang Hansheng is an acclaimed actor capable of moving in and out of demanding roles almost instantly.

• Became one of the entertainment industry's youngest Best Actors 5
• Played Prime Minister Jiang Chengyu in Deliverance, a film that exceeded one billion at the box office within two days 12
• Can stop crying immediately after a director calls “Cut,” then return to relaxed conversation 12
• His portrayal of Prince Chen in the murder-mystery game was so convincing that others assumed his poisoned hallucinations were deliberate acting 41 42
• Uses his natural voice rather than dubbing, supported by strong vocal foundations 19
• Took on his first cross-dressing role as Luo Xiaoxiao, the Crown Princess, and turned genuine panic during a romantic scene into a performance praised by the director as profoundly layered 84 92
• Guided Chen Danyan's acting during filming and helped her improve her portrayal of Xiao Liangyuan 88
• Underwent physical hardship and altered his appearance for a realist Gobi-set production, demonstrating his willingness to prioritize a role over comfort 125 150
• Impressed director Li Qingluan through his professionalism and chemistry with Li Wenchuan after joining her film as Li's co-star 247
• Accepted the role of Jiang Yan in a later production after Li Wenchuan persuaded him to work 246

Political Insight and Deduction

His experience as Chancellor Jiang gives him exceptional skill at reading motives and reconstructing situations.

• In his former life, he could perceive the schemes of court officials, and even the young emperor feared him 42
• Quickly deduced that his behavior during the murder-mystery game had been caused by poisoning rather than normal roleplay 42
• Uses indirect probing and patience when investigating Li Wenchuan's identity and history 11 12
• Reads the implied expectations of powerful figures with exceptional precision, as demonstrated when he navigates Li Zhengyuan's unspoken tests and formalities 200
• Possesses a detailed understanding of Great Qing court history and can verify Li Wenchuan's recovered memories of later emperors from his own experience 218 219
• Retained enough authority as regent to openly challenge Emperor Li Ji and control how their confrontation would be recorded in the official history 218

Practical Skills

• Learned basic cotton carding while filming a movie 26
• Can sing, though he avoids copying another guest's performance gimmick 44
• Maintains a strict body clock and exercises through morning runs 41
• Began learning video editing himself after a hired editor refused to make a compilation of him and Li Wenchuan 154 155
• Can manage cats, though his own pets routinely leave him scratched and covered in fur 235
• Demonstrated considerable hand strength by snapping ivory chopsticks barehanded while reacting to Li Wenchuan's cooking 190

Health

• Has a weak stomach; alcohol and fruit caused him to dry-heave after he had already eaten Hand-Blue Mushroom 37
• Hand-Blue Mushroom poisoning caused hallucinations, memory loss, and behavior he could not recall the next morning 37 41
• While poisoned, he imagined himself as a prince with a “Phoenix Bloodline” and mistook Li Wenchuan's chicken, Coo Coo, for his heir 34 38
• Was injured during a crew explosion after being stranded in the Gobi Desert by a sandstorm 122
• Suffered throat damage from inhaling sand and dust, leaving him temporarily unable to speak properly during his hospital recovery 125
• Recovered from the Gobi incident and resumed work after his hospitalization 134
• Li Wenchuan continues to monitor his diet and discourage him from eating recklessly because of his stomach condition 163

Equipment / Personal Items

• Gold-rimmed glasses 11
• A heavily annotated, aging copy of History of Qing, bearing Jiang Yan's seal 38
• A notebook or work materials kept through his studio and manager, Yang Xuan 11 34
• Several cats, which have effectively turned his villa into a cat café and damaged much of its furniture and bedding 235
• A blue diamond ring worn on his ring finger in a photograph that triggered public proposal speculation 219

Relationships

• Li Wenchuan — His former emperor in Great Qing and his modern-day co-star, variety-show partner, and romantic partner. Jiang Hansheng recognized traits of the Qingming Emperor in Li, deliberately sought him out, and remains intensely protective of him 11 24 35 39. Their former ruler-subject relationship gradually developed into an openly affectionate modern relationship, which Li Zhengyuan ultimately accepted 190 224 231.
• Yang Xuan — His manager and friend. Yang Xuan investigates Li Wenchuan at Jiang Hansheng's request and is frequently baffled by Jiang's decisions 6 11 34. He later struggles to manage Jiang Hansheng and Li Wenchuan's relationship, as well as Jiang's unexpected interest in CP-video editing 154 224.
• Tang Jingran — Fellow This Is Life guest. They are competitive during games, though Tang Jingran admires Jiang Hansheng's acting ability 22 35.
• Zhao Shiyao — Fellow guest whom Jiang Hansheng openly rebukes when she targets Li Wenchuan 35.
• Coo Coo — Li Wenchuan's pet chicken. While hallucinating, Jiang Hansheng mistakes her for a child carrying his bloodline 34 41.
• Su Mingwei — His cousin and a fellow entertainment-industry figure. She contacted Li Wenchuan for help when Jiang Hansheng was injured in the Gobi Desert 121.
• Su He — His mother, a writer who worries over his health but accepts and supports his relationship with Li Wenchuan 124 126 190.
• Li Zhengyuan — Li Wenchuan's father. He initially tested Jiang Hansheng and offered him one hundred million to leave Li Wenchuan, but eventually accepted their relationship 190 200.
• Lin Yu — A fellow award-winning actor whom the public mistakes for Jiang Hansheng's rival. Lin Yu privately regarded Jiang as his best friend after Jiang treated him without prejudice early in his career 235 236.
• Yang Luo'er — An excessively persistent admirer who invested in Jiang Hansheng's production for a minor role and repeatedly pursued him despite Jiang's obvious discomfort 236.
• Chen Danyan — A younger actress whom Jiang Hansheng coached during filming, helping her improve her acting 88.
• Li Qingluan — A director who recognizes Jiang Hansheng's professional ability and later directs him and Li Wenchuan as co-stars 238 247.

Story Role / Major Arcs

*You and Me Back Then*

Jiang Hansheng appears as the program's mysterious guest, challenges the contestants with randomly assigned scripts, and surprises the audience by praising Li Wenchuan's performance 5. He later interrupts Jin Yue's attempt to approach Li and leaves the venue with Li, prompting rumors that they met privately at night 6.

He publicly clarifies on Weibo that he was merely passing by and asks people not to make malicious assumptions, calming much of the backlash aimed at Li Wenchuan 7.

*Deliverance* and the Cinema Meeting

Jiang Hansheng asks Yang Xuan to investigate Li Wenchuan after recognizing something familiar in his performance 11. He follows Li to a cinema under the guise of coincidence, buys him a drink, and watches a historical drama with him 11.

During the screening of Deliverance, he discusses the historical Jiang Chengyu with Li Wenchuan and probes why the prime minister remained loyal rather than claiming the throne 12. Their late-night outing becomes another online trending topic 12 13.

*This Is Life*

Jiang Hansheng joins the rural variety program as an opportunity to spend time near Li Wenchuan 11 19. The pair repeatedly end up on the same team, share accommodations, discuss village life, cook together, and develop an increasingly comfortable rapport 22 24 26 32 33.

Hand-Blue Mushroom Incident

After unknowingly eating Hand-Blue Mushroom, Jiang Hansheng hallucinates that he is a prince and treats Li Wenchuan as his consort 33 35. His unusually earnest declarations during the murder-mystery game reveal feelings that Li initially mistakes for method acting 35 36.

The poisoning escalates into delirium, memory loss, and illness. During this state, he calls Li Wenchuan “Yu'an,” exposing the connection between Jiang Hansheng and Jiang Chengyu 37 38 39. Upon awakening with no memory of the night, he realizes the extent of his behavior and panics over what he may have revealed 41 42.

Market Incident

Jiang Hansheng and Li Wenchuan struggle to earn money at the market, then become involved in confrontations with dishonest vendors and a larger public brawl 44 45 48 50. The incident trends online under the topic “Jiang Hansheng Takes Part in Group Brawl” 50.

Scam Investigation

Jiang Hansheng and Li Wenchuan assist the police in catching Wang Qiao and Wu Chen, con artists who target elderly people with fraudulent health supplements. The police credit them with helping capture Wang Qiao, who had previously avoided arrest through counter-surveillance 51.

During the aftermath, Li Wenchuan reveals that he understood Jiang Hansheng's identity as Jiang Chengyu during the mushroom incident. Their former ruler-subject dynamic resurfaces, but Li rejects Jiang Hansheng's excessive formality and insists that their old identities no longer need to govern their modern lives 51.

*The Crown Prince Goes on Strike*

Jiang Hansheng accepts his first cross-dressing role as Luo Xiaoxiao, the Crown Princess, opposite Li Wenchuan's Crown Prince Tang Xiao. Although apprehensive about the unfamiliar role, he commits to it as a new acting challenge 84.

His gender-disguised character's romantic scenes force him to confront feelings he had suppressed across two lifetimes. His genuine panic at the prospect of a kiss is interpreted by the production team as exceptionally immersive acting 92. He also helps Chen Danyan improve her performance while filming 88.

Gobi Film Accident and Recovery

While filming in the Gobi Desert, Jiang Hansheng becomes stranded by a rare sandstorm and is injured in a crew explosion. Li Wenchuan rushes to the hospital and confronts paparazzi who harass medical staff and patients 122.

Jiang Hansheng temporarily loses his voice due to sand and dust inhalation and requires prolonged care. Li Wenchuan stays with him, feeds him porridge, assists with his recovery, and remains by his side through physically and emotionally awkward moments 125 126. Jiang Hansheng later recovers and returns to work 134.

Relationship Development

As Jiang Hansheng and Li Wenchuan work and travel together, their relationship becomes increasingly intimate. Jiang Hansheng begins seeking out and attempting to edit videos of the two of them, while Li Wenchuan gradually recognizes Jiang's feelings and his own 154 166 247.

Their frequent outings, shared hotel rooms, and visibly close behavior generate repeated dating rumors, though the public initially interprets them as unusually affectionate friendship 168 169. Jiang Hansheng nevertheless avoids public confirmation because he does not want his greater fame and status to overshadow Li Wenchuan's independent career 222.

Li Zhengyuan ultimately confronts Jiang Hansheng, offers him one hundred million to leave Li Wenchuan, and then accepts their relationship after Jiang refuses 190. By the time their managers discover the truth, Jiang and Li are already openly affectionate in private and agree to keep the relationship from the public for the time being 224 231.

Later Film Work

Jiang Hansheng joins Li Qingluan's film as Li Wenchuan's co-star after replacing Meng Yihan. His professionalism and natural chemistry with Li Wenchuan impress Li Qingluan, who regrets not casting him earlier 246 247.

He later returns to the set to support Li Wenchuan during cold-weather filming, personally wrapping him in a coat and providing warmed heat packs 251 252. Although Jiang increasingly treats entertainment work as optional after reaching the top of his profession, he continues to accept projects that interest him or that Li Wenchuan asks him to join 246 256.

Notable Quotes

“It’s fine. Don’t be afraid.” 11

“When have I ever been acting?” 36

“I was passing by. Please do not make malicious assumptions.” 7

“But now I understand. Heaven wanted me to find you, Your Majesty.” 98

Trivia

• Jiang Hansheng's fans are largely rational or career-focused, in part because he posts on Weibo very rarely 7.
• His and Li Wenchuan's pairing has a fan group known as “Cold River” 14.
• He enjoys his own films enough to joke that he would make everyone in his company watch Deliverance at least once 10.
• His fans have long found his romantic history unusually empty; some eventually concluded that learning he liked men would be less surprising than discovering he did not like people at all 209 247.
• He operates a creator account under the name “Chuan Shang Duo Wangshi,” where he posts videos intermittently 246.
• His cats have damaged the sofas, curtains, and bedding in his villa so extensively that Li Wenchuan compares the home to a cat café 235.