{ "id": "ep8hqjw933", "slug": "secret-of-the-three-kingdoms", "title": "Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia", "label": "East Asian drama series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials", "label": "East Asian web and streaming serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "label": "Titles My to So", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "label": "China · 2001 to 2020: Titles My to So", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001", "label": "China · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials", "label": "East Asian web and streaming serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "label": "Titles My to So", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊, The Secret Dragon in the Abyss) is a 2018 Tencent Video web drama adapted from Ma Boyong's novel, starring Ma Tianyu as twin brothers Liu Xie and Liu Ping, with Elvis Han and Wan Qian; 54 episodes, 200 million yuan investment.", "snippet": "Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊, The Secret Dragon in the Abyss) is a 2018 Tencent Video web drama adapted from Ma Boyong's novel, starring Ma Tianyu as twin brothers Liu Xie and Liu Ping, with Elvis Han and Wan Qian; 54 episodes, 200 million yuan investment.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "markdown": "# Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊)\n\n**Secret of the Three Kingdoms** (三国机密之潜龙在渊; English title *The Secret Dragon in the Abyss*) is a 2018 Chinese historical spy-intrigue web drama adapted from Ma Boyong's (马伯庸) novel of the same name, in which a commoner secretly replaces his dying twin brother, [Emperor Xian of Han](https://www.edgepedia.org/emperor-xian-of-han), to keep the [Han dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/han-dynasty) alive. It was produced by Penguin Pictures and Tangren Media, directed by You Dazhi and Zheng Weiwen, written by Chang Jiang, and streamed exclusively on [Tencent Video](https://www.edgepedia.org/tencent-video) from March 27 to May 24, 2018 in 54 episodes of about 45 minutes each.[1](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0328/c14677-29894382.html) • [2](https://bangumi.tv/subject/223899) • [3](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms/aZmC6JIGZMVqK2X5pCRXl6/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original run | March 27 to May 24, 2018, Tencent Video exclusive, 54 episodes of about 45 minutes[1](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0328/c14677-29894382.html) • [3](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms/aZmC6JIGZMVqK2X5pCRXl6/) |\n| Source | Ma Boyong's novel *三国机密之潜龙在渊*; screenwriter Chang Jiang, who also wrote *The Advisors Alliance*[1](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0328/c14677-29894382.html) • [4](https://m.21jingji.com/article/20180328/herald/3f475dd81ec7fe61d4f6b0be74bab89f_zaker.html) |\n| Lead cast | Ma Tianyu as Liu Xie and his twin Liu Ping; Elvis Han as Sima Yi; Wan Qian as Empress Fu Shou; Tse Kwan Ho as Cao Cao[5](https://www.cpophome.com/secret-of-three-kingdoms-ma-tianyu-elvis-han/) |\n| Budget and sale | Total investment 200 million yuan; sold to Tencent Video for 400 million yuan, about 7.4 million yuan per episode[4](https://m.21jingji.com/article/20180328/herald/3f475dd81ec7fe61d4f6b0be74bab89f_zaker.html) |\n| Viewership | Over 100 million views within 3 hours of launch; 292 million views in the first half of 2018, fifth among Chinese web dramas[4](https://m.21jingji.com/article/20180328/herald/3f475dd81ec7fe61d4f6b0be74bab89f_zaker.html) • [6](https://qccdata.qichacha.com/ReportData/PDF/65f804327192a0761f8a58bd82fdd88b.pdf) |\n| Ratings | Douban 6.7 from about 1,900 users on the day after launch; IMDb 7.9[7](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html) • [8](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms) |\n| Awards | Annual outstanding drama at the China TV Drama Production Industry Association 2018 commendation; annual IP-adapted web drama at the 3rd Golden Bone Network Film and TV Festival (January 2019)[9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpnynI3SQ_Y) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nThe story is set at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. Emperor Ling's favored concubine, Lady Wang, bears twin sons; persecuted by Empress He, she announces only one son, [Liu Xie](https://www.edgepedia.org/liu-xie), while the other boy, [Liu Ping](https://www.edgepedia.org/liu-ping), is smuggled out of the palace and raised outside under the Yang family name. Eighteen years later, with warlords fighting each other and the puppet emperor Liu Xie gravely ill, he secretly summons Liu Ping to the palace to take his place and sustain the Han house. Liu Ping, who has never known his own identity, enters the court alongside his childhood friend [Sima Yi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sima-yi). As Cao Cao's trusted men Man Chong and Guo Jia investigate the emperor's identity, Liu Ping survives crisis after crisis with the help of Empress Fu Shou and others.[5](https://www.cpophome.com/secret-of-three-kingdoms-ma-tianyu-elvis-han/) • [10](https://www.litv.tv/drama/watch/VOD00150125)\n\nThe ending departs from history by design: Liu Ping concludes that the change of era cannot be reversed and wins his greatest victory by not fighting, while Sima Yi, with different political views and harsher methods, takes another road. In the finale Liu Ping, having stabilized the Central Plains, practices medicine and teaches children with Fu Shou among the common people.[5](https://www.cpophome.com/secret-of-three-kingdoms-ma-tianyu-elvis-han/)\n\n## Production\n\nFilming began at [Hengdian World Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/hengdian-world-studios) in March 2017 and wrapped after four months of shooting.[11](https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H2_AN201708140799062631_1.pdf) The drama was a large commercial commitment for its producers: Tangren Media's 2017 half-year report put the total investment at 200 million yuan, and Tangren founder Cai Yinong, who served as chief producer with Penguin Pictures' Fang Fang, said the purchase price was 400 million yuan, about 7.4 million yuan per episode. It was one of Tangren's most important works of 2018 and a key asset while the company was preparing an IPO.[4](https://m.21jingji.com/article/20180328/herald/3f475dd81ec7fe61d4f6b0be74bab89f_zaker.html)\n\n**Design and training.** Guan Qiwen designed nearly 2,000 costumes, drawing on excavated artifacts of the [Three Kingdoms](https://www.edgepedia.org/three-kingdoms) period, with embroidery sewn by hand; the two empresses' headdresses weighed 20 jin each and the ceremonial robes 50 jin. During filming, both lead and background actors received systematic training in Han-dynasty etiquette.[12](https://m.tvmao.com/drama/aSkpHy0%3D/playingtime) Reviewers noted the armor and court dress as broadly faithful to Han and Jin styles, with the sets described as detailed and substantial.[7](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html)\n\n## Adaptation approach\n\nMa Boyong described his novel as not a restoration of real history but \"a legend, a conjecture, a historical novel of what 'might once have happened'\", written out of affection for Emperor Xian, whom he wanted to give \"a chance to shine, even if only in imagination.\"[7](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html) The drama keeps that premise: the timid Emperor Xian of the historical record becomes a resolute ruler who, dying, has his twin secretly take his place; Sima Yi is a martially skilled, commanding elder-brother figure; [Guo Jia](https://www.edgepedia.org/guo-jia) has a romance with Diao Chan; and Empress Fu is a resourceful strategist. Director You Dazhi said the series is not a strict historical drama but a reasonable invention set against the historical background.[13](https://www.sohu.com/a/226530449_247520)\n\nBecause the novel is short, the production expanded the emotional storylines, deepening the romance and the bond between the two male leads.[12](https://m.tvmao.com/drama/aSkpHy0%3D/playingtime) Screenwriter Chang Jiang gave the plot a strong espionage flavor: the series opens with Liu Ping being smuggled into the palace to replace the dead emperor, and the Han and Cao camps maneuver against each other throughout.[7](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html) The perspective is also unusual for the genre: instead of [Zhuge Liang](https://www.edgepedia.org/zhuge-liang) or the Liu-Guan-Zhang trio, the story centers on Emperor Xian and the Eastern Han royal house, the least prominent figures in most Three Kingdoms fiction.[1](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0328/c14677-29894382.html)\n\n## Reception\n\nThe launch was commercially strong: viewership passed 100 million within three hours, and cumulative views on Tencent Video reached 120 million by the morning of March 28, 2018.[4](https://m.21jingji.com/article/20180328/herald/3f475dd81ec7fe61d4f6b0be74bab89f_zaker.html) Over the first half of 2018 it recorded 292 million views, ranking fifth among web dramas, behind titles such as *[The Flame's Daughter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-flames-daughter)* and *The Legend of Xiao Chuo*-era competitors on the same chart.[6](https://qccdata.qichacha.com/ReportData/PDF/65f804327192a0761f8a58bd82fdd88b.pdf)\n\nCritical reception was mixed. The first Douban score, released on March 28, was 6.7 from about 1,900 users.[7](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html) A Jiemian review praised Wan Qian's Empress Fu as the standout performance, noted Ma Boyong's own praise of her acting, and called the costumes and sets refined, but judged the pacing weaker than that of historical dramas and found the double-lead dynamic of the gentle Liu Ping and the forceful Sima Yi closer to a costume idol drama than a court-intrigue piece.[7](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html) A Beijing News review argued the drama courted young viewers so deliberately that it pleased neither audience, and that the density of Three Kingdoms dramas that season, following *The Advisors Alliance*, produced viewer fatigue; it credited the script's structure while criticizing the lead performances and some coarse dialogue.[14](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/155152796514949.html)\n\nThe series later received institutional recognition: it was named an annual outstanding drama at the China TV Drama Production Industry Association's 2018 commendation ceremony (December 20, 2018) and won annual IP-adapted web drama at the 3rd Golden Bone Network Film and TV Festival on January 12, 2019.[9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpnynI3SQ_Y)\n\n## International release\n\nThe drama was exported abroad during 2018. From September 3, 2018 it aired on Hong Kong's TVB Jade with [Cantonese](https://www.edgepedia.org/cantonese) dubbing, and it had already been sold to South Korea and Vietnam, where it drew noticeable audiences and favorable local press.[15](https://www.scdnews.com/images/paper/180906/180906B.pdf) It later streamed internationally under the English title *Secret of the Three Kingdoms*, holding an IMDb rating of 7.9.[8](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms)\n\n## References\n\n1. [《三国机密之潜龙在渊》腾讯视频开播, 人民网](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0328/c14677-29894382.html)\n2. [三国机密之潜龙在渊, Bangumi 番组计划](https://bangumi.tv/subject/223899)\n3. [Secret of the Three Kingdoms (2018), Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms/aZmC6JIGZMVqK2X5pCRXl6/)\n4. [《三国机密》3小时播放破亿 出品方唐人影视正接受上市辅导, 21世纪经济报道](https://m.21jingji.com/article/20180328/herald/3f475dd81ec7fe61d4f6b0be74bab89f_zaker.html)\n5. [Secret of Three Kingdoms, CPOP HOME](https://www.cpophome.com/secret-of-three-kingdoms-ma-tianyu-elvis-han/)\n6. [2018H1 网剧播放量排名, 西南证券行业报告](https://qccdata.qichacha.com/ReportData/PDF/65f804327192a0761f8a58bd82fdd88b.pdf)\n7. [\"马伯庸IP剧\"来袭，脑洞大开的《三国机密》或难被接受, 界面新闻](https://www.jiemian.com/article/2028101.html)\n8. [Secret of the Three Kingdoms, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms)\n9. [6周年《三国机密之潜龙在渊》开播发布会cut（获奖记录）, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpnynI3SQ_Y)\n10. [三國機密之潛龍在淵 第4集, LiTV 立視線上影視](https://www.litv.tv/drama/watch/VOD00150125)\n11. [唐人影视公告（2017-23）：横店开机与杀青记录](https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H2_AN201708140799062631_1.pdf)\n12. [三国机密之潜龙在渊播出时间及幕后, 电视猫](https://m.tvmao.com/drama/aSkpHy0%3D/playingtime)\n13. [《三国机密之潜龙在渊》：新鲜视角演绎\"不一样\"的三国, 搜狐/综艺报](https://www.sohu.com/a/226530449_247520)\n14. [《三国机密》一场不太成功的讨好, 新京报](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/155152796514949.html)\n15. [中国影视 Daily News（2018年9月6日）：翡翠台播出与海外发行](https://www.scdnews.com/images/paper/180906/180906B.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles My to So*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊)](https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms](https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Secret of the Three Kingdoms (三国机密之潜龙在渊)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-of-the-three-kingdoms. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Secret of the Three Kingdoms is a 2018 Tencent Video web drama adapted from Ma Boyong's novel, starring Ma Tianyu as twin brothers Liu Xie and Liu Ping, with Elvis Han and Wan Qian; 54 episodes, 200 million yuan investment." }