Rose Martial World (玫瑰江湖) is a Chinese-Hong Kong wuxia-romance television series produced by Yu Zheng and directed by Peter Yuen and Wang Shaojie, starring cast members from mainland China and Hong Kong. It was first broadcast in Taiwan in 2008. Yu Zheng later published a novel of the same title during the series' 2009 broadcast in mainland China.
Synopsis
The series is set in the jianghu of early 20th-century Republican China. Chaos and bloodshed ensue when the Ming Castle, a prominent martial arts clan, starts attacking other clans in a bid to unite the jianghu under its control. Jun Qiluo and her father Jun Wuji are collecting weapons from the dead bodies of fallen fighters when they discover Shen Siru, a girl who has survived by hiding among the corpses.
Years later, both girls have grown up and developed different personalities: Jun Qiluo is more rugged and outgoing, while Shen Siru is more gentle and introverted. They meet and fall in love with the same man, Mu Sheng. Although Mu Sheng initially has romantic feelings for Jun Qiluo, he starts distancing himself from her upon realising that he prefers Shen Siru, who takes advantage of the situation to get closer to Mu Sheng. Jun Qiluo ultimately forgives Mu Sheng and Shen Siru for taking away her happiness, and finds solace with Lin Chuyi, a homeless man.
When the Ming Castle's master Ming Bujie holds an audition for a bride, Jun Qiluo and Shen Siru participate, and Jun Qiluo is initially selected. However, Shen Siru, wanting to gain a higher social status, offers to take Jun Qiluo's place. Ming Bujie is violent and abusive towards Shen Siru, who starts having an affair with Ming Bujie's nephew Ming Shaoqing. Together, Shen Siru and Ming Shaoqing conspire to murder Ming Bujie and take control of the Ming Castle.
Shen Siru blames Jun Qiluo for her suffering and imprisons the Jun family. Later, she forces Jun Qiluo to marry Lin Chuyi; Jun Qiluo reluctantly agrees to save her family. After the marriage, Mu Sheng goes to the Ming Castle to confront Lin Chuyi, resulting in a duel between them. They are forced to stop and kicked out of the castle.
Years later, Jun Qiluo learns that Shen Siru has abandoned Ming Shaoqing and married Mu Sheng instead. Feeling resentful towards Shen Siru for stealing her first love, Jun Qiluo plots her revenge against Shen Siru and Mu Sheng with the aid of Lin Chuyi.