Age: 34
female
Zhou Dongyu is a celebrated Chinese actress, born on January 31, 1992, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. She gained prominence for her role in Zhang Yimou's film "Under the Hawthorn Tree" (2010), which marked her debut in acting despite having no prior experience. Her performance earned her critical acclaim and several awards, establishing her as a rising star in Chinese cinema. Zhou has since starred in numerous successful films, including "Soul Mate" (2016), which won her the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress, and "Better Days" (2019), which earned her both the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress and the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress. She is recognized as one of the "Four Dan Actresses of the Post-90s Generation" in China, alongside Zheng Shuang, Guan Xiaotong, and Yang Zi.
A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the Emperor's attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. Young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the Emperor a gift he can never forget. Mei's intelligence and curiosity, the same traits that make her an outcast among the other concubines, impress the Emperor. But just as she is in a position to seduce the most powerful man in China, divided loyalties split the palace in two, culminating in a perilous battle that Mei can only hope to survive.
