Robynn Yip, one of the contestants on the popular reality show The Voice, had China’s social websites buzzing all weekend after it was revealed the bob-haired 28 year-old vocalist is none other than the granddaughter of Marshal Ye Jianying, a PLA General and Chairman of the National People’s Congress, China’s Parliament from 1978 to 1983.

Competing with another woman under the name Robynn & Kendy from Hong Kong, the duo had three of four chairs turned after their rendition of a Chinese song and the Black Eyed Peas’ Where Is The Love.

Most online users were shocked by Yip’s low-key style and down-to-earth demeanor in contrast to some of the more flashy offspring of China’s revolutionary heroes. Yip, also known as Ye Qingqing, graduated from Northwestern University majoring in Psychology and worked as a language therapist for autistic children. In university, Ye won an acoustic music competition and was invited to perform in Singapore and Taiwan, reported Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao.

While Ye’s appearance was gossip worthy unto itself, a few sharp netizens focused on the complicated relationship behind one of the show’s judges, Wang Feng and Ye’s family.

Weibo user 王小呆 who claims to be an online entertainment commentator, wrote: “Ye Qingqing is the granddaughter of Ye Jianying. Her stepmother is Zhao Xinyu, a famous socialist in Beijing. Back then Zhao had a falling out with Zhang Ziyi (actress and now Wang Feng’s girlfriend) who orchestrated the now infamous 2010 “Ink Gate” scandal, which hurt Zhang’s career. Not sure what Wang Feng’s reaction was when he saw the daughter of his girlfriend’s nemesis on the stage. He is also the only judge that did not turn his chair.”

The post was reposted close to 6,000 times and was liked by more than 1,500 people by the end of Sunday on Sina Weibo.

Still, some doubted if Ye’s family background had any influence over the show. Maitreya 2022 said: “Hong Kong female group Robynn & Kendy competed in The Voice but what the media and everybody was talking about was lead singer Robynn rather than their singing skills…Some online users said, ‘Ye’s family has controlled power in China for half a century, and accumulated massive wealth. She studied in the US, and holds a Hong Kong passport, and lives in a luxurious house there. The winner of the show hasn’t been fixed already? Now you want to control the reality tv as well?’”

Ye Jianying was a towering figure in China’s modern history and had built a strong power base in Guangdong Province. We don’t know if his granddaughter will fare as well on The Voice, but the last princeling we knew that had a penchant for music – Lin Liguo, son of Ye’s fellow comrade Marshal Lin Biao, who sang Beatles songs in a military compound, did not end well. He died tragically with his parents in 1971 in a plane crash after his father’s failed coup to oust Chairman Mao.

Photos: Xinhua; Zhejiang TV