Veil of Shadows (2026): Cast, Characters, Where to Watch & Everything You Need to Know

Step into the mysterious world of Veil of Shadows (月鳞绮纪), a captivating drama that blends intrigue, emotion, and hidden truths. With a compelling storyline and visually stunning scenes, the series follows characters whose lives are intertwined by secrets, ambition, and fate. As the story unfolds, each episode reveals deeper layers behind the shadows, keeping viewers hooked and eager for more. Whether you're drawn to romance, suspense, or character-driven storytelling, Veil of Shadows promises an unforgettable journey.

Breaking: #1 Hot Search on Weibo Before Premiere

Before the first episode even aired, Veil of Shadows (月鳞绮纪) already made waves — hitting the #1 hot search on Weibo. This is a massive achievement that shows just how highly anticipated this drama was among Chinese drama fans.

For context, Weibo's hot search rankings are driven by millions of users searching and discussing topics in real-time. Landing the top spot means Veil of Shadows generated more buzz than any other topic in China at that moment — beating out entertainment news, celebrity gossip, and trending events.

This level of pre-airing hype is rare and speaks to the star power of the cast, especially Ju Jingyi whose massive fanbase helped drive the drama's visibility. Combined with director Guo Jingming's reputation for visually stunning productions, it's no surprise that audiences couldn't wait to tune in.

Record-Breaking Premiere

1. Ju Jingyi's character Lu Wu Yi

On the very first day of airing, Ju Jingyi's character Lu Wu Yi hit 98 million on Youku's character heat index — a staggering number for a debut day.

2. Platform Heat & Speed Records

Veil of Shadows didn't just trend — it broke almost every record on Youku. The drama hit 10,000 on Youku's heat index in just 52 hours, making it the fastest drama to reach this milestone on the platform in 2026. To put that in perspective, it reached 4,404 heat within the first hour of airing, crossed 7,000 by day two, and smashed through 10,000 by day three — the fastest growth for any solo-broadcast drama on Youku.

3. Viewership & Playback Records

On its premiere day alone, Veil of Shadows pulled in over 27.47 million playback views, ranking #1 among all solo-broadcast dramas in 2026 and #1 among all fantasy dramas. Within days, it crossed 100 million cumulative views across the network.

4. Character & Actor Milestones

Ju Jingyi's character Lu Wu Yi became the first character in Youku's history to surpass 100 million on the platform's character heat index. That's the power of Ju Jingyi's fanbase and her incredible performance in this role and then on the same day she also drop red envelop total of 49999.99yuan which is about 7000$ on her Weibo account. 🔥

5. Ju Jingyi's Character Lu Wuyi

Ju Jingyi continues to dominate! Her portrayal of Lu Wuyi just claimed the #1 spot on Huan's Daily Top 10 Popularity Index for currently airing drama characters. Honestly, no one's surprised at this point — she's been absolutely killing it in Veil of Shadows.

Key milestones in the drama’s production timeline:

• Filming Start: On December 2, 2024, the production officially held its opening ceremony. Main cast members including Ju Jingyi, Zeng Shunxi, and Tian Jiarui attended the event.
• On-set Incident: On March 20, 2025, a fire broke out during filming in Hengdian, destroying a thatched hut set. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
• Filming Wrap: After approximately four months of production, the drama officially announced completion on April 11, 2025.

The series is directed by Guo Jingming, adapted from the Painted Skin IP, and incorporates elements from the Classic of Mountains and Seas worldview. It was later released on April 1, 2026, on the Youku platform.

Synopsis:

Lu Wu Yi, the youngest nine-tailed fox of the organization Wu Xiang Yue, is on a mission to find the great demon Xiao Wei. Disguised as a priest, she enters Wei Manor in Luo'an and discovers that others are also hunting Xiao Wei. Among them are Wu Shi Guang, a vengeful demon; Wu Wang Yan, her cunning nine-tailed fox sister; and Ji Ling, an innocent-looking priest with a mysterious past. All of them seek the Dragon Deity's power, but their motives vary: some want to protect, others to kill. As they navigate battles, friendships, and romance, they face obstacles and make sacrifices to protect peace and change their fates.

Details:

• Episode: 29
• Duration: 45mn
• Native Title: 月鳞绮纪
• Also Known As: Hua Pi , Moon Scale , Painted Skin: The Resurrection , The Resurrection Painted Skin , Yue Lin Qi Ji , 月鱗綺紀 , 画皮 , 画皮:月鳞绮纪

Main Cast:

• Ju Jing Yi: Lu Wu Yi / Di Zhu / Jiu Ying
• Joseph Zeng: Wu Shi Guang / Cang Hao
• Chen Du Ling: Wu Wang Yan / Qing Yi
• Tian Jia Rui: Ji Ling / Chi Wen Dragon Deity / Man Man

Veil of Shadows Episode Schedule

Veil of Shadows airs 2 episodes daily with a total of 29 episodes.

Where you can watch Veil of Shadows

• Youku (Chinese)
• Youku (English)
• Netflix
• Kisskh

Why You Should Watch Veil of Shadows

If you're a fan of Ju Jingyi, Chen Duling, Tian Jia Rui, or Joseph Zeng — you definitely need to watch this drama.

As a huge Ju Jingyi fan, I waited so long for this drama to air, and her acting absolutely did not disappoint. She delivers a powerful performance as Lu Wu Yi, and the visuals and costumes throughout the series are absolutely stunning. Every scene looks like a painting.

The Couple

Now, if you're wondering about the pairings — Ju Jingyi is paired with Tian Jia Rui, while Chen Duling is paired with Joseph Zeng. Chen Duling and Joseph Zeng also have great chemistry. Their storyline adds a nice contrast to the main couple.

If you ask me which couple is my favorite, it's definitely Ju Jingyi and Tian Jia Rui — their chemistry is great and their scenes together are full of emotion. That said, part of me still wishes Ju Jingyi was paired with Joseph Zeng, since I loved them both together in Rebirth For You!

What I Love (and What's Confusing)

One thing I really love about Veil of Shadows is the plot. Each episode keeps you hooked — there's always something happening, and it never feels boring. However, the storyline can get a bit confusing at times, especially with so many characters and their hidden motives. If you're the type who pays close attention to details, you'll enjoy piecing everything together.

My Rating

I'm giving Veil of Shadows a 10/10. The combination of Ju Jingyi's incredible performance, beautiful visuals, and an engaging plot makes this one of my favorite C-dramas. If you haven't started watching yet, what are you waiting for?

Similar Dramas You Might Like

• Fangs of Fortune -- Also Starring Chen Du Ling and Tian Jia Rui. ~~ Adapted from the classic text and the mythology and geography collection "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (山海经).
• Rebirth For You -- Also starring Ju Jingyi and Joseph Zeng. A romance drama with time-travel elements and great chemistry between the leads.
• My Journey to You -- 2024 Chinese Drama Starring Yu Shuxin & Zhang Linghe & Ryan Cheng & Lu Yu Xiao. The series tells the story of Yun Wei Shan, a spy longing for freedom, who infiltrates the Gong residence to complete a mission. In the eerie and treacherous Gong residence, she encounters love and friendship, embn to move forward. Together with the rebellious nobleman Gong Zi Yu, they grow and mature through their shared experiences.