Introduction
What if you were given one more chance to change a fate you had already lived through 33 times? That is the intriguing premise behind the short Chinese historical romcom drama As Promised.
The story follows a young woman trapped in a tragic cycle of reincarnation. In every lifetime, she tries to win the love of a man, only to meet the same heartbreaking fate. But in her 34th life, she decides that this time, things will be different.
Drama Info
Drama title: As Promised (Native title: 如期)
Alternative title: Ru Qi
Genres: Historical, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Aired: 21 Sep, 2026 - 29 Sep, 2026
Episodes: 24 | Duration: 12 min.
Director: Zhang Ao (张敖)
Screenwriters: Wu Huan (吴欢) and Wu Yu Qing (吴雨晴)
Adapted from the web novel "The Villain Teaches Me How to Chase Girls" (反派教我追女生) by Lan San Jiao (蓝三角).
There is no English translation for this novel.
Where to watch: WeTV or iFlix
Trailer
Click on the image to direct you to the official WeTV iFlix trailer.
Synopsis
He Xiao Yuan is trapped in a cycle of thirty-three rebirths. In every lifetime, she tries and fails to win the love of Crown Prince Zhao Jun Yao. After being reborn in the thirty-fourth lifetime, the Seventh Prince, Zhao Bo Qing, reveals the condition for ending the cycle that Zhao Bo Qing must ascend the throne, and He Xiao Yuan must win the Crown Prince’s true love.
Zhao Bo Qing helps He Xiao Yuan develop the skills to get closer to the Crown Prince. However, as feelings gradually grow between Zhao Bo Qing and He Xiao Yuan, new obstacles arise. He Xiao Yuan is unwilling to end the cycle because she wants to reunite with her deceased parents, while Zhao Bo Qing must break the cycle in order to save the people. In the end, they are forced to face a painful choice between country and family. (Source: MyDramaList)
Characters
Main Characters
He Lan Dou (何蓝逗) as He Xiao Yuan
Zhao Yi Qin (赵弈钦) as Zhao Bo Qing / Seventh Prince
Supporting Characters
Zhao Jun Yao (Li Kai Wen) – Crown Prince
Princess Yun Fang (Li Qing Er)
Fu Yang (Wang Yin Xiang) – Zhao Bo Qing’s friend
Mu Ting Ting (Tian Xuan Ning) – courtesan
Yu Fei Lin (Gao Yao Han)
Review
What I Liked
The premise is entertaining
The “33 failed lives + one more chance” setup gives the story momentum. And actually, there are more chances than one.
Knowing this is a Chinese drama, which has strict censorship against reincarnation, I was afraid that in the end it would turn out that everything was just He Xiaoyuan’s dream. However, the premise is really multiple reincarnations.
Historical light
It’s funny without being too heavy. Although there are political intrigues, As Promised is more of a cute palace romance than a serious historical drama. Therefore, fits as a binge between two heavy dramas. At roughly 12 minutes per episode, the 24 episodes go by quickly in 4 hours and 48 minutes.
The main couple has great chemistry and character growth
Zhao Baiqing starts out helping He Xiaoyuan to win the heart of her Crown Prince, but their relationship gradually changes into something much more genuine. They have a sweet, engaging dynamic, with plenty of real kisses.
Surprisingly, even though this is a short drama, Zhao Baiqing and He Xiaoyuan individually undergo character growth.
At the beginning, He Xiaoyuan is timid and naive. Her actions are largely driven by fear of the Seventh Prince and frustration with her bad fate. As the story progresses, she becomes more confident, emotionally stronger, and better at recognizing what she truly wants.
Zhao Baiqing initially approaches everything as a calculated game. He’s intelligent, ambitious, and accustomed to keeping his real thoughts hidden. His relationship with Xiaoyuan gradually challenges his way of thinking.
Good production values
As Promised has good production values for a short-form Chinese historical drama. It may not have the huge sets or elaborate spectacle of a high-budget 30–40-episode C-drama, but it looks polished and carefully produced.
He Xiaoyuan’s royal wedding attire (Source: Sina)
What Disliked
Shallow story depth
Because it’s a short-form drama, don’t expect the character development or palace politics of a 30–40-episode traditional historical C-drama. The story lacks deep world-building of the fantasy part, the reincarnations.
Some unresolved subplots and rushed developments
Side plots, such as background details surrounding the Grand Preceptor and characters from the previous dynasty, are left feeling loose and not fleshed out by the finale.
I like the secondary couple, Princess Yun Fang and Fu Yang, but the drama doesn’t give them much screen time.
And the pairing of the third couple seemed forced with abrupt happy ending.
My Rating
I used my rating system with additional scores of:
- + 0.5 for the main couple’s romance
- + 1.0 for the main couple’s character growth and great chemistry
- + 0.5 for the production value
Total rating 8.0/10.
Conclusion
Overall, As Promised is a charming and entertaining historical romance that succeeds through its engaging premise, likable characters, and strong chemistry between the leading actors. The story combines reincarnation, palace intrigue, humor, and romance in a way that keeps the drama moving without becoming overly complicated.
Although its short format means that some aspects of the plot and world-building could have been developed more deeply, As Promised makes good use of its limited runtime. It is light, romantic, humorous, and easy to binge, making it a particularly enjoyable choice for viewers who prefer a sweet historical romance with a touch of fantasy and intrigue.
Spoilers
What is the ending? [short answer]
Overall happy ending
How does the drama end? [long answer]
The old Emperor demoted the Crown Prince for his rebellious plan, stripped him of his royal title, and promoted Zhao Boqing as his successor. After Zhao Boqing became emperor, he announced that Zhao Jun Yao had died of a long-term illness. However, he secretly let his brother and Mu Ting Ting go. Princess Yun Fang was betrothed to Fu Yang. He Xiao Yuan married to Zhao Boqing and became the Empress.
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