Against the Current — Shen Jialan becomes a maid in her former fiancé’s home
Against the Current is a Chinese period drama about a woman who goes from a distinguished family to life as a maid. Tan Songyun plays the heroine living under the names Shen Jialan and Xu Lanxiang; Liu Xueyi plays her former fiancé Lin Jinqi. WeTV synopsis
This guide covers the opening story and character relationships, without revealing the ending. It includes references to execution, suicide and coercion.
- Original title
- 兰香如故 / Lan Xiang Ru Gu
- Country / genres
- China · Period, family drama, romance
- Premiere / length
- September 11, 2026 · 47 main episodes on WeTV
- Official listing
- WeTV ↗ · Paid episodes included
A new family, a new name and a servant’s status
Shen Jialan, a grand scholar’s granddaughter, loses her family when her grandfather is accused of treason, and the Lin family breaks her engagement. Xu Wanquan and Xue Guihua, who previously received help from Jialan and her mother, take her in. She adopts the identity of their daughter Xu Lanxiang, who has died of illness. Apple TV: episode 1 · HK01 opening guide
Lanxiang begins a new life with her adoptive parents in Jinling, but the Xu family are bondservants of the Lins. An order bringing her into the Lin household makes her a maid of the lowest rank in her former fiancé’s home. Apple TV: episode 3
Serving her former fiancé’s wife
After the broken engagement, Jinqi marries Zhao Xingtang. Lanxiang serves Xingtang while concealing her past. WeTV synopsis
Lanxiang uses her education in writing and painting to survive. She recognizes a genuine work hidden beneath a supposed fake and realizes that an apparent religious text is a financial ledger. Apple TV: episode 2 · Apple TV: episode 4
Xu Wanquan (Chen Chuang) and Xue Guihua (Guo Keyu) are Lanxiang’s adoptive parents. Their care for their daughter and wish to free her from bondage develop alongside the conflicts inside the Lin residence. HK01 opening episode guide
Household lives and the look of Jiangnan
Adapted from He Yanshan’s novel Lan Xiang Yuan, the series is directed by Huang Yingshang and Chen Dan and written by Tong Hua and Xiao Lou. Xinhua reports that the production drew on Ming painter Qiu Ying’s Nandu Fanhui Tu to depict both Jiangnan gardens and street life. Novel and production credits · Xinhua production report
Maids’ wages, obligations to their families and the ability to choose a husband matter alongside Lanxiang’s own story. Pixel Twelve’s Rika Vale singles out her adoptive family and the maids’ financial and marital concerns as strengths, ahead of the romance. Rika Vale review·Later-episode spoilers
WeTV availability and the official trailer
The series began airing on September 11, 2026, and has 47 main episodes. On October 30, WeTV’s Korean-language page marked episodes 2–47 as VIP. Special videos and interviews are separate; playback, subtitles and subscription conditions may vary by account and region. WeTV series page
The official final trailer includes scenes beyond the opening setup. WeTV English official trailer
Praise for family stories, reservations about the romance
Korean personal blogger Hea welcomes Lanxiang’s rebuilding of her life and the circumstances of the female characters, while finding the family relationships complicated and the romantic progress potentially slow. Pixel Twelve’s Rika Vale also praises the adoptive family and the maids’ everyday concerns. Hea·October 15, 2026 · Rika Vale·October 10, 2026
Vale finds the coercive marriage and the later lighter tone damaging to the romance’s credibility. Red Star News writer Li Ruifeng acknowledges the supporting women’s stories and contributions, but argues that their new lives depend too heavily on Lanxiang’s intervention. Pixel Twelve review · Li Ruifeng·October 7, 2026·Republished by ifeng
Jianpian Gongchang’s Zhang Libu praises the acting and art direction while criticizing the presentation of the women’s mass suicide in the opening and the values conveyed. The linked reviews contain later developments and ending spoilers. Zhang Libu·September 27, 2026·Republished on The Paper
If you’re looking for similar stories
Love Like the Galaxy · WeTV — Raised apart from her parents, Cheng Shaoshang must navigate family relationships and marriage. It may appeal if Against the Current’s connection between a young woman’s daily life and her household’s pressures interests you.
Sources and image credits
- WeTV · Korean title listing, cast, 47 episodes and access markers
- CNSA · September 10, 2026 · Novel, production credits and premiere
- Disney+ Taiwan · Opening episode synopses; this does not establish Korean availability.
- HK01 · Updated October 8, 2026 · Early family life and entry into service. Linked article contains finale spoilers.
- Xinhua · Bai Ying · September 11, 2026 · Visual design reference
- Pixel Twelve · Rika Vale · October 10, 2026 · Reproduced official character images, stills and cast cross-check. Linked review contains finale spoilers.
- Pixel Twelve · additional character images and scene still
Promotional images and video originate from WeTV / Tencent Video. Captions link to the pages reproducing the images. Information checked: October 30, 2026.
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