A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College (2021) [/]
May 13 2026
A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College is a Chinese drama-romance set in ancient times and running 30 45-minute episodes. Sang Qi (Zhao Lu Si, who I've seen in many series and I like her performances), a noble's daughter, is the first female student ever at the Imperial College and has to deal with the usual bullying for violating social norms. Two people on her side are childhood friend Zhuo Wen Yuan (Ren Hao), who is also the top student, and vice principal Yan Yun Zhi (Xu Kai Cheng), who promised Sang Qi's brother he'd help her though he does so secretly and in bullying way.
The romance is between these three. Once Sang Qi starts to realize Yan Yun Zhi is actually helping her she starts to develop an affection for him. Similarly Yan Yun Zhi interacting with Sang Qi all the time leads him to fall for her (which leads to one theme for the OPFOR -- if the people attracted to the two leads split them apart and then force them to be around them through enforced marriage love will develop because of constant close proximity). Meanwhile Zhuo Wen Yuan has always secretly loved Sang Qi so he starts competing with Yan Yun Zhi and it's kind of obvious why but Sang Qi is quite oblivious to Zhuo Wen Yuan's feelings for her.
Besides the romance the main drama is a smuggling ring that Yan Yun Zhi, helping the investigating authorities, is trying to crack. But every time he gets close the villains get away or something else happens and half of it is because Zhuo Wen Yuan's family secretly runs the smuggling ring (or they're the senior partner to the public-facing rebels who do the all the dirty work). Zhuo Wen Yuan is sort of heir presumptive so doesn't lead the ring but as the series goes on he takes more and more control bringing him into conflict with mom because he's getting distracted trying to win Sang Qi's love.
I really liked the beginning of the series which is more based in the college and college life (half way through they graduate and become junior officials). Here it shows off Sang Qi as a tough intelligent woman who cleverly avoids bullying attempt and eventually wins over at least some of the student body. Meanwhile she's also sparring with Yan Yun Zhi and although probably comes off a bit worse she holds her own. I think that kind of goes away in the second half of the series and Sang Qi is much more often a victim that needs to be rescued and I kind of disliked that part.
Also with thirty episodes and only one villain group it's always "you defeated a minor boss but there's a bigger boss next up the chain" and there's an inordinate amount of "I'm the only witness so what I say is true" even if there was another witness but he's dead now so what he said doesn't count. The last few episodes I was just waiting for it to be over.
Overall I don't regret watching this series as it's quite good at times but not consistently good to bring it above average.
The romance is between these three. Once Sang Qi starts to realize Yan Yun Zhi is actually helping her she starts to develop an affection for him. Similarly Yan Yun Zhi interacting with Sang Qi all the time leads him to fall for her (which leads to one theme for the OPFOR -- if the people attracted to the two leads split them apart and then force them to be around them through enforced marriage love will develop because of constant close proximity). Meanwhile Zhuo Wen Yuan has always secretly loved Sang Qi so he starts competing with Yan Yun Zhi and it's kind of obvious why but Sang Qi is quite oblivious to Zhuo Wen Yuan's feelings for her.
Besides the romance the main drama is a smuggling ring that Yan Yun Zhi, helping the investigating authorities, is trying to crack. But every time he gets close the villains get away or something else happens and half of it is because Zhuo Wen Yuan's family secretly runs the smuggling ring (or they're the senior partner to the public-facing rebels who do the all the dirty work). Zhuo Wen Yuan is sort of heir presumptive so doesn't lead the ring but as the series goes on he takes more and more control bringing him into conflict with mom because he's getting distracted trying to win Sang Qi's love.
I really liked the beginning of the series which is more based in the college and college life (half way through they graduate and become junior officials). Here it shows off Sang Qi as a tough intelligent woman who cleverly avoids bullying attempt and eventually wins over at least some of the student body. Meanwhile she's also sparring with Yan Yun Zhi and although probably comes off a bit worse she holds her own. I think that kind of goes away in the second half of the series and Sang Qi is much more often a victim that needs to be rescued and I kind of disliked that part.
Also with thirty episodes and only one villain group it's always "you defeated a minor boss but there's a bigger boss next up the chain" and there's an inordinate amount of "I'm the only witness so what I say is true" even if there was another witness but he's dead now so what he said doesn't count. The last few episodes I was just waiting for it to be over.
Overall I don't regret watching this series as it's quite good at times but not consistently good to bring it above average.