LayarHijau.com – Chinese actress Meng Ziyi is once again capturing attention for her role as Jiang Taohua in the newly released costume drama The Princess' Gambit (桃花映江山). But what truly made headlines wasn’t just her performance — it was her unfiltered and candid reason for accepting the role, which had netizens laughing and praising her sincerity.
During a livestream promotional event for the drama, Meng Ziyi was asked why she chose to star in The Princess’ Gambit. Her response was as honest as it gets:
“At the time, there weren’t many good scripts to choose from. This was a female lead role, and after reading the script, I thought I could handle the part — so I accepted it.”
Her frank and down-to-earth answer quickly went viral, with viewers both amused and impressed by her authenticity.
Meng Ziyi rose to greater fame following her role in Blossom (九重紫) and previously played Hong Shu in Sword Snow Stride (雪中悍刀行). She also made a brief but memorable appearance in Love in Pavilion (淮水竹亭), starring Liu Shishi.
In The Princess’ Gambit, she plays Jiang Taohua, a royal princess from Beiyuan who marries Shen Zaiye, the Prime Minister of Qi, portrayed by Liu Xueyi. Their marriage is not based on love, but a strategic alliance to investigate Prince Mu Wuyin and political conspiracies at court. Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye pretend to be a loving couple to provoke the Prime Minister’s official wife, Meng Zhenzhen, who is secretly aligned with the enemy.
A fan-favorite scene involves Jiang Taohua adorably threatening to never eat shrimp again unless her husband peels it for her — a moment that reveals both her charm and the couple’s comedic chemistry. Shen Zaiye begrudgingly complies, much to the viewers’ delight.
According to Upmedia, Meng Ziyi’s candid response during the livestream was seen as a refreshing change in an industry often dominated by rehearsed answers. Many fans applauded her for staying grounded despite her rising popularity and for taking pride in choosing roles she believes in, rather than simply chasing fame.