Picture Credit: YOUKU
If you’ve been suffering from a C-drama drought this year, Netflix is about to deliver the perfect cure. We’ve learned that Netflix has picked up the streaming rights to the highly anticipated Chinese historical fantasy series Ashes to Crown, and in even better news, it will be dropping episodes daily starting Monday, June 1st, 2026!
Licensed from Chinese streaming giant YOUKU, Ashes to Crown (native title: 翘楚 / Qiao Chu) has been generating massive buzz overseas. Netflix will release the drama day-and-date with its Chinese rollout.
Here is everything you need to know about Ashes to Crown before it hits Netflix on Monday (we don’t yet have an exact time, but YouKu is streaming new episodes at 12PM (GMT+8), which is midnight EST.
What is the plot of Ashes to Crown?
Adapted from the popular web novel Chu Hou by Xi Xing, Ashes to Crown is an epic tale of second chances. The series follows Chu Zhao, the daughter of a loyal general who marries for love, only to be betrayed and used as a political pawn by Xiao Xun, the ruthless heir of the State of Chu.
After losing both her clan and her life, Chu Zhao is miraculously reborn on the eve of her wedding. Armed with the memories of her tragic past, she vows to rewrite her destiny. Instead of running from the political turmoil, she steps straight into the center of it. Along the way, she crosses paths with Xie Yan Lai, the illegitimate and overlooked son of the Xie family. Chu Zhao brings light into his bleak world, and together, they break free from the fates imposed upon them. With her help, Xie Yan Lai rises from a lowly Imperial Guard to a formidable general defending the nation.
Who is in the cast of Ashes to Crown?
Fans of Chinese dramas will instantly recognize the star-studded lineup here:
- Chen Duling (My Journey to You, Fox Spirit Matchmaker) leads the cast as the fierce and reincarnated Chu Zhao.
- Zhou Yiran (When I Fly Towards You) stars opposite her as Xie Yan Lai, the ruthless yet loyal illegitimate son who rises to power.
- Wang Ruichang plays Xiao Xun, the ambitious and treacherous heir who seals Chu Zhao’s fate in her past life.
- Tang Xiaotian plays Xie Yan Fang.
The supporting cast is rounded out by Wu Shile, Gao Maotong, Zhang Shian, Zhou Ruolng, Han Jing, and Wang Yibei.
How many episodes will there be?
One of the most exciting things about Ashes to Crown is its tight episode count. The series will run for exactly 24 episodes, with each episode clocking in at around 45 minutes.
When do new episodes drop on Netflix?
As we mentioned above, Netflix has secured a daily release schedule for the series.
Episode 1 will debut on Netflix on Monday, June 1st, 2026. Following the premiere, a brand new episode will drop every single day until the 24-episode run concludes. This makes it the perfect daily binge for the month of June!
Note: Regional availability may vary, but the series has already been confirmed to be hitting Netflix in the US, UK, Australia, France, Spain, and several other international territories.
Are you excited to check out Ashes to Crown on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below!
