Main •
Bai Lu as Jiang Xuening / Jiang Ning • Jiang Xuening: Second daughter of the Jiang family. In her previous life, she married Shen Jie and became the empress of Qian. However, after the rebellion she committed suicide and returned back to the past. • Jiang Ning: The author of
Story of Kunning Palace. After writing the original ending of the story she was dissatisfied with it. As a result, she decided to rewrite the fate of Jiang Xuening by sending her back to the past with the memories of her previous life. •
Zhang Linghe as Xie Wei / Xie Ju'an : A civil servant who used to work for Chen Ying, the minister of the Ministry of Justice. • Zhou Junwei as Yan Lin : Heir of Yan family. In Xuening's previous life, his whole family was killed during his coming of age ceremony. He later joined forces with Xie Wei to rebel against the Emperor Shen Jie.
Supporting Royal family •
Liu Xiening as Shen Zhiyi : Eldest daughter of Xue family. She is a vicious woman who can do anything for the sake of power. She later becomes the consort of Emperor Shen Lang. In Xuening's previous life, she was the noble consort of Emperor Shen Jie. •
Hu Yunhao as Shen Lang : Emperor of Qian and elder brother of Shen Jie and Shen Zhiyi. • Tu Hua as Empress Zheng • Lu Yanbei as Noble Consort Qin • Liu Jin Yan as Fang Miao : Daughter of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau Head. She entered the palace as one of the study partners of Princess Shen Zhiyi. She later becomes the consort of Shen Jie. • Zong Fengyan as Former Prince Pingnan
Jiang mansion • Lu Xingyu as Jiang Boyou, Jiang Xuening's father •
Yvonne Yung as Madame Meng, Jiang Xuening's mother • Yu Zhongli as Jiang Xuehui : Biological daughter of Jiang Boyou and his concubine Wanniang. After her birth, she was switched with Jiang Xuening by Wanniang. As a result she became the legitimate and first daughter of the Jiang family. She later becomes the concubine of Shen Jie. • Geng Liming as Wan Niang : Concubine of Jiang Boyou and biological mother of Jiang Xuehui. • Gong Fangni as Tang'er • Zhong Baoer as Lian'er
Xue family • Huang Haibing as Xue Yuan : Head of Xue family and brother of Empress Dowager Xue • Zhou Tishun as Xue Ye : Second son of Xue family. • Jin Xuze as Xue Dingfei
Others • Tang Mengjia as You Fangyin : Third daughter of the You family. In Xuening's previous life, she was Xuening's loyal attendant at the palace. • Qin Tianyu as Lu Xian : Xie Wei's subordinate. •
Eddie Cheung as Yan Mu : Head of the Yan family and Yan Lin's father • Xia Minghao as Gong Yicheng • Tan Jianchang as Gu Chunfang • Cai Zhuoyin as Yao Xi : Daughter of the Yao family who was betrothed to Zhang Zhe. She entered the palace as Princess Zhiyi's study partner. • Wang Yani as You Yue : Second and legitimate daughter of the You family. She entered the palace as Princess Zhiyi's study partner. • Yu Miaoxin as Wang Xinyi • Lei Pengyu as Ren Weizhi, a salt merchant • Fan Jingwen as Zhou Baoying • Yang Gen as Zheng Bao : A palace eunuch. In Xuening's previous life, he was very loyal to Emperor Shen Jie. In current life, he becomes loyal to Jiang Xuening. • Chen Junan as Chen Ying, minister of Ministry of Justice • Jiang Xiaolin as Dao Qin, Xie Wei's subordinate ==Soundtrack==