Love of Nirvana (ธารธารารักนิรันดร์, 流水迢迢) has taken the drama world by storm, holding the #1 spot across multiple platforms for three straight weeks. This Chinese period drama is a gripping blend of love, vengeance, political intrigue, and mind-bending twists that leave viewers guessing at every turn.
The series stars Ren Jialun as Wei Zhao, a ruthless and cold-hearted court official who enjoys the Emperor’s favor, and Xu Zhengxi as Pei Yan, the son of a former imperial consort with his own agenda. Caught between them is Li Lanting’s Jiang Chi, a determined young woman whose life takes a dangerous turn after witnessing an assassination. With each episode, the stakes grow higher, and the characters’ fates become increasingly entwined.
Jiang Chi’s troubles start when she accidentally climbs the wrong tree—literally—and stumbles upon a secret murder plot orchestrated by Wei Zhao, disguised as a masked assassin. His first instinct? Silence her. What follows is a harrowing few episodes where he injures her, poisons her, and subjects her to cruel tortures, seeming to forget he’s supposed to be the hero. Yet, despite his brutal methods, Jiang Chi’s fate becomes inseparably linked with his, raising questions about their relationship and whether she’s falling prey to Stockholm syndrome.
Pei Yan steps in as her savior, but unbeknownst to him, Wei Zhao—the very man he’s hunting—is the masked assassin responsible for the crime. Jiang Chi, meanwhile, is forced to keep this secret, threatened by Wei Zhao to protect her beloved teacher. As their paths continue to cross, emotions become tangled, and what starts as hate slowly morphs into something more complex.
At the same time, the political stakes escalate. Wei Zhao is not just any official—he’s seeking vengeance for a royal murder that has haunted his family for two decades. His father, disgraced and falsely accused, pushes him into a dark web of conspiracies. Pei Yan, with ambitions of his own, seeks to win Jiang Chi’s heart, but Wei Zhao is determined to resolve his family’s shame and discover the true killer behind the murder that started it all.
The series is adapted from the novel 流水迢迢 by Xiao Lou (箫楼), and fans have been raving about its intricate plot, sharp dialogue, and breathtaking costumes. Directed by Zhou Jingtiao, known for hits like Legend of Chusen 2, Love of Nirvana delivers one heart-pounding moment after another, with every episode full of shocking revelations. It’s no wonder fan groups have been warning each other to brace for heartache—and to keep the tissues close by—because this show is anything but a lighthearted escape.
As Love of Nirvana builds towards its climax, the complex relationships between love and revenge, loyalty and betrayal, grow ever more tangled. With twists still lurking and hidden truths yet to be revealed, this drama is a must-watch for anyone who craves intense, high-stakes storytelling.
