The Vendetta of An

After his family is wiped out, Xie Huai'an spends a decade in the shadows before slipping back into Chang'an under the modest identity of a registrar. He moves quietly among martial clans and court factions, trading patience and careful observation for chances to unravel the conspiracy that cost him everything. His role requires small daily duties, coded conversations and precise timing as he gathers allies and tests loyalties. As he re-enters the dangerous worlds of jianghu skirmishes and palace politicking, shifting alliances and betrayals complicate his plans. The series favors gradual, tense maneuvering and keeps key outcomes withheld. He also wrestles with how far he is willing to go, as personal revenge collides with the fragile stability of the realm.

Created by Cui Shi Xuan and directed by Pan Anzi, the series premiered in 2025. It features Cheng Yi, Liu Yijun, Wang Jinsong, Zhou Qi and Tong Mengshi, with art direction and choreography that shape its period atmosphere.

As of its initial release the series hasn't collected major industry awards, but it has attracted attention from critics and festival programmers. Early year-end lists and specialist outlets have highlighted the show's production design and lead performances, and several critics singled out its leads.

Fan communities have been active since the premiere, sharing scene breakdowns, fan art and theories about the power dynamics at the series' core. Conversations on social platforms focus on costume detail, fight staging and the chemistry between leads, helping revive interest in political martial narratives, including cosplay and soundtrack shares.

Critical response skews positive, with an 8.833/10 viewer average from early ratings and frequent praise for Cheng Yi and Liu Yijun. Reviewers note the show's deliberate pacing and focus on stratagems, highlighting themes of loyalty, identity, the moral cost of vengeance and how political ambition corrodes private life.