Bai Lu's Top 5 Cdrama Masterclass

Bai Lu's (白鹿) rise in costume dramas isn't just about beauty—it's a masterclass in versatility. From the tender restraint of a noblewoman to the fiery swagger of a rebel queen, she molds each role into something unforgettable. Take The Journey of Chong Zi: her character Cui Shiyi, a reserved heiress bound by tradition, contrasts sharply with The Legends of Lu Zhaoyao, a leather-clad warlord who smirks while swinging a sword. Even within a single series, like Song of Youth, she shifts seamlessly from Ming-dynasty elegance in embroidered silk to comedic chaos in slapstick disguises.

Her secret? She leans into extremes. In The Legends, a crimson robe and unapologetic red eyeliner scream "villainess," while in Court Lady, a single red-dress dance scene—all swirling sleeves and defiant glances—cements her as the queen of physical storytelling. No two roles blur; each is a bold, deliberate stroke on a growing canvas of reinvention.

This article highlights her top works, blending rich storytelling, cultural depth, and performances that transcend language barriers.

One and Only 周生如故

• Aired: 2021
• Period Background: Set in a fictional dynasty mirroring the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589 CE), a turbulent era marked by fractured kingdoms, military coups, and rigid Confucian social codes. The royal capital's architecture blends Tang-style palaces with Northern Wei fortress elements, reflecting the story's tension between refinement and brutality.
• Genres: Historical romance, tragedy.
• Main Roles: Bai Lu as Cui Shiyi: The heir to the influential Cui clan, trained in literature and music but trapped in a political marriage; Ren Jialun as Zhou Shengchen: A general sworn to celibacy and loyalty to the throne, renowned for undefeated military campaigns.
• Adapted From: The novel Life and Death in a Single Breath by Mo Bao Fei Bao, known for blending historical rigor with emotional depth.

Cui Shiyi is betrothed to the crown prince as part of her family's power consolidation. Sent to study under Zhou Shengchen—a royal uncle and military icon—she develops forbidden feelings through their intellectual bond. Their relationship thrives in subtlety: shared glances during strategy sessions, Zhou gifting her rare books, Shiyi memorizing his battle maps to feel connected during his campaigns.

The political turning point arrives when the jealous crown prince accuses Zhou of treason. To protect his soldiers' lives, Zhou surrenders and endures a torturous execution via death by a thousand cuts. News of his death reaches Shiyi mid-wedding ceremony. Bai Lu's portrayal of Shiyi's breakdown—freezing mid-step, mechanically removing her bridal headdress—eschews melodrama for chilling realism. In the series' most iconic scene, Shiyi ascends the palace tower, recalls Zhou's promise ("I'll watch over you in every lifetime"), and leaps in her crimson wedding gown. Bai Lu's tearless face and resigned smile here redefine tragic heroism, emphasizing inner devastation over theatrics.

Micro-Expressions:

In Episode 14, Shiyi traces Zhou's battle routes on a map, her fingers lingering on locations where he bled. No dialogue is needed to convey her grief. Shiyi's posture evolves from poised nobility (straight back, controlled gestures) to a broken silhouette (slumped shoulders, trembling hands) post-Zhou's death.

Critics praised Bai Lu for "acting with her spine," referencing how Shiyi's stiffness mirrors her emotional imprisonment.

Zhou's vow of celibacy ("No wife, no heir") stems from loyalty (忠), a Confucian virtue that becomes his tragic flaw.

Shiyi's suicide isn't just personal despair but rebellion against a system that commodifies women. Her final letter—"I choose freedom in death, not bondage in life"—critiques feudal patriarchy.

Costumes replicate Northern Dynasties textiles, with Shiyi's layered silk robes symbolizing her constrained status.

Till the End of the Moon 长月烬明

• Aired: 2023
• Period Background: A mythic realm divided into three factions: Shengxiao Heaven (immortals), Moyu Sea (demons), and the mortal world. The celestial architecture draws from Dunhuang cave paintings, while demonic realms feature jagged obsidian structures inspired by Tibetan geology.
• Genres: Xianxia, fantasy, romance.
• Main Roles: Bai Lu as Li Susu/Lin Miaomiao: A mortal cultivator and the last hope to prevent a demonic apocalypse; Luo Yunxi as Tantai Jin: A tyrant harboring the Devil God's essence, destined to destroy all realms.
• Adapted From: The novel Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script by Teng Luo Wei Qi, a dark fantasy exploring fate and redemption.

Li Susu travels back 500 years to inhabit the body of Ye Xiwu, Tantai Jin's abused wife in his mortal incarnation. Her mission: kill him before he awakens as the Devil God. However, witnessing his traumatic past—a childhood of enslavement, betrayal by loved ones—complicates her resolve.

Bai Lu navigates dual roles:

Li Susu: A righteous cultivator torn between duty and empathy. Her conflict peaks in Episode 20, where she shields Tantai Jin from heavenly lightning, screaming "I can't let you die, but I can't let you live!"

Lin Miaomiao: A comedic alter ego in a parallel arc, where Susu's soul splits. Miaomiao's slapstick antics (e.g., accidentally enchanting a teapot to chase Tantai Jin) provide levity without undercutting the main plot's gravity.

The couple's relationship evolves through symbolic gestures. In Episode 12, Susu teaches Tantai Jin to smile by gently lifting his cheeks—a stark contrast to his later manic grins as the Devil God. The series' most visually stunning sequence occurs in Episode 30: Susu and Tantai Jin duel atop a crumbling sky bridge, their powers intertwining as cherry blossoms morph into blood-red maple leaves.

As Susu, her movements are precise and martial (inspired by wuxia swordplay). As Miaomiao, she adopts exaggerated facial expressions and clumsy stumbles. In Episode 25, Susu's tearful confession ("I love you, but I must kill you") is delivered with a sword at Tantai Jin's throat—Bai Lu's trembling voice and unblinking stare capture unbearable resolve.

Susu's battle armor integrates Dunhuang flying apsara motifs with glowing Taoist talismans. Tantai Jin's demonic form features a crown of black crystals, symbolizing corrupted divinity. The "Dreamweaver Realm" arc uses watercolor-style animation to depict Susu's psyche, while the Devil God's final form—a skeletal titan wrapped in chains—draws from Buddhist naraka (hell) imagery.

Narrative Ambition:

The drama deconstructs xianxia tropes. Tantai Jin isn't a villain by choice but a victim of systemic abuse and cosmic manipulation.

The ending subverts expectations: instead of a grand battle, Susu defeats the Devil God by severing her own spiritual roots, paralleling Tantai Jin's mortal sacrifice.

Story of Kunning Palace 宁安如梦

• Aired: 2023
• Period Background: Fictional dynasty with Ming-inspired court politics and martial arts factions.
• Genres: Historical fantasy, political intrigue, romance.
• Main Roles: Bai Lu as Jiang Xuening: A scheming "black lotus" heroine seeking redemption through rebirth; Zhang Linghe as Xie Wei: A cunning scholar with a dark past.
• Adapted From: The novel Kunning Palace by Shi Si Ye.

Jiang Xuening, a sharp-witted commoner-turned-royal-consort whose ascent from obscurity to the inner sanctum of power masks a desperate quest: to rewrite the tragedies of her past life. Her journey intertwines with Xie Wei, a brilliant but enigmatic imperial tutor whose icy intellect conceals a vendetta against the corrupt nobility that destroyed his family.

The imperial court buzzes with lethal sophistication, where scholar-officials clad in silk robes trade poetry as veiled threats and ink-stained memorials double as weapons. Factions led by the cunning Grand Secretary Xue and the battle-hardened General Yan vie for the emperor's ear, their alliances shifting like sand. Yet beyond the vermillion walls, martial sects—the righteous Qingxuan Sect and the shadowy Blood Moon Alliance—manipulate the realm's underbelly, their loyalty for sale to the highest bidder. When a cache of letters implicating the crown prince in treason surfaces, Xie Wei and Jiang Xuening form a reluctant pact to navigate the storm, unaware their fates are bound by secrets older than the palace itself.

As Jiang Xuening plays a dangerous game of deception—charming the narcissistic Prince Zhou, outmaneuvering the emperor's scheming concubines, and confronting her growing feelings for Xie Wei—she uncovers a conspiracy linking the court's poisoned chalices to the martial world's bloodied blades. Meanwhile, Xie Wei's obsession with justice blurs into ruthlessness, forcing him to confront whether he has become the monster he seeks to destroy.

Characters of Depth and Duality

Bai Lu delivers a career-defining performance as Jiang Xuening, a heroine who defies categorization. Labeled a "black lotus" for her ruthless cunning, Xuening's journey is one of redemption, but not through simplistic moralizing. Her manipulation of court factions—such as forging letters to implicate rivals or leaking counterfeit cosmetics to expose a noble family's graft—reveals a mind sharpened by decades of survival. Yet Bai Lu infuses her with vulnerability, particularly in quiet moments, such as her hollow stare after failing to save her maid You Fangyin, a scene that underscores the cost of her ambitions.

Zhang Linghe's Xie Wei is equally compelling, a scholar whose serene demeanor masks a turbulent past. His role as a mentor to Xuening evolves into a partnership fraught with tension, as his own history as the mastermind behind the Pingnan Rebellion comes to light. Xie Wei's moral ambiguity—poisoning allies to prevent larger wars, or manipulating emperors to stabilize the throne—challenges viewers to question whether ends justify means. His chemistry with Xuening is electric, rooted in shared trauma and mutual respect rather than fleeting passion.

The romantic subplot avoids harem drama clichés by centering Xuening's agency. Her three suitors represent facets of her identity: Yan Lin (Wang Xingyue), her childhood friend, embodies unwavering loyalty and the innocence she lost; Zhang Zhe (Zhou Junwei), the upright official she once betrayed, symbolizes her quest for redemption; and Xie Wei mirrors her complexity, offering a partnership of equals. The series deftly avoids reducing her choice to mere romance—it becomes a reflection of her evolving priorities, whether to reclaim her humanity or embrace power.

Pivotal Arcs and Political Masterstrokes

The Blood Crown Ceremony arc exemplifies the series' strategic storytelling. Xuening's efforts to save Yan Lin's family involve a risky gambit: fabricating evidence to redirect blame onto a corrupt minister, all while covertly allying with Xie Wei to sway the emperor's favor. This arc also delves into Yan Lin's tragic descent from a radiant youth to a tormented soldier, his idealism shattered by betrayal.

The Pingnan Rebellion arc raises the stakes, blending espionage and emotional revelation. Posing as deserters, Xuening and Xie Wei infiltrate rebel ranks, only to uncover his dual identity as the rebellion's architect. The climactic siege of Kunning Palace is both a physical and ideological battle, as Xie Wei confronts his past and Xuening must decide whether to uphold the empire or dismantle it.

Song of Youth 玉楼春

• Aired: 2021
• Period Background: Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 CE), focusing on aristocratic family dynamics in the fictional Sun household. The series highlights gender inequality and bureaucratic corruption through comedic yet critical lenses6.
• Genres: Historical comedy, family drama.
• Main Roles: Bai Lu as Lin Shaochun: A resourceful woman posing as a tutor to clear her father's name. Her wit and resilience challenge patriarchal norms; Wang Yizhe as Sun Yuhou: The Sun family's heir, whose naivety contrasts with Shaochun's cunning.
• Adapted From: An original script inspired by Ming domestic dramas, blending Dream of the Red Chamber-style family politics with slapstick humor.

Lin Shaochun's infiltration into the Sun family is driven by a personal vendetta—to clear her father's name after his wrongful execution for exposing a conspiracy. Her investigation leads her to the Suns' clandestine counterfeit cosmetics operation, a scheme that mirrors real Ming-era scandals where elites profited from toxic beauty products.

Drawing on her father's teachings in herbalism, Shaochun discovers that the Suns' popular "Everlasting Bloom" face powder contains lead, causing disfigurement among noblewomen. To expose them, she engineers a public demonstration at a banquet, secretly substituting the counterfeit powder with a harmless blend. When a Sun family ally's face erupts in rashes, chaos ensues, forcing the authorities to investigate. This arc not only highlights Shaochun's intellect but also critiques the exploitation of women's insecurities for profit, a nod to historical Ming merchant abuses.

Romantic Subversion: Love as a Strategic Game

While Sun Yuhou, the Sun family's heir, becomes infatuated with Shaochun, the series cleverly subverts romantic tropes. Their dynamic begins with slapstick comedy—Yuhou mistakes her for a thief during her covert search of the family archives, leading to a chase involving overturned ink pots and a torn scholar's robe. However, as Shaochun's mission intensifies, their relationship evolves. In a pivotal scene, Yuhou discovers her true identity but chooses silence, recognizing her cause as just. Their bond deepens into mutual respect, symbolized by Yuhou gifting her a jade hairpin—a family heirloom traditionally reserved for brides—not as a romantic gesture, but as a token of alliance. This arc challenges the "enemies-to-lovers" cliché, framing their connection as a partnership of equals rather than a distraction from her goals.

Female Solidarity: Uplifting the Voiceless

Within the Sun household, Shaochun forms covert alliances with marginalized women, each representing facets of systemic oppression. The most poignant is her bond with Third Madam Li, a concubine framed for stealing a jade pendant. Shaochun deduces the theft was orchestrated by the First Madam to eliminate a rival, and she stages a counter-plot: planting the pendant in the First Madam's quarters and leaking rumors of a "haunting" to pressure her into confession. Meanwhile, she mentors Yuhou's younger sister, Sun Meiling, a poetry prodigy forbidden from scholarly pursuits. Shaochun smuggles her texts by disguising them as embroidery patterns, culminating in Meiling anonymously publishing a verse criticizing patriarchal norms—a risky act that sparks discourse in literati circles. These arcs underscore the series' theme of collective resistance, showing how marginalized women leverage stealth and wit to dismantle oppression.

A Narrative of Nuance and Rebellion

Bai Lu's physical comedy elevates tense moments—e.g., Shaochun disguises herself as a male physician to enter the Sun estate, complete with a comically oversized mustache that nearly slips during a crucial diagnosis. Her sharp wit also shines in verbal sparring, such as outsmarting jealous in-laws with a riddle: "What has roots no one sees, yet grows taller than trees? Answer: The mountain." The crowd's bafflement masks her covert message about hidden truths.

Costumes meticulously replicate Ming aesthetics, like Shaochun's beizi (a cross-collared jacket with wide sleeves) layered over a mamianqun (horse-face skirt) adorned with peony motifs, signaling her disguised nobility. Sets immerse viewers in Ming material culture, from the Sun family's scholar garden—featuring hexagonal pavilions and lotus ponds—to bustling market scenes where street vendors hawk zongzi and silk fans.

The series confronts gender inequities through layered narratives. A widow ostracized for remarrying is revealed to have done so to protect her daughter from a predatory uncle, while a subplot involving a female physician barred from practicing medicine parallels Ming-era restrictions on women's professions. Shaochun's defiance becomes a rallying cry, proving that systemic change begins with individual rebellion.

Lin Jiang Xian 临江仙

• Aired: 2025 (expected)
• Period Background: Song Dynasty-inspired xianxia realm with warring immortal sects.
• Genres: Xianxia, romance, political fantasy.
• Main Roles: Bai Lu as Li Qingyue: A healer torn between saving her lover or the mortal world; Zeng Shunxi as Bai Jiusi: A vengeful immortal seeking redemption.
• Adapted From: Original script expanding on Song Dynasty poetry and folklore.

Lin Jiang Xian explores the cyclical struggles of Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi across three reincarnations, each era intensifying their conflict between personal desire and societal obligation.

1st Life: Healer vs Strategist

Bound by her medical oath, Qingyue sacrifices herself to contain a plague caused by her own cure, burning her scrolls to protect strategist Jiusi's honor—unknowingly dooming his army.

2nd Life: Noblewoman vs Rebel

Reincarnated during dynastic collapse, Qingyue poisons rebel leader Jiusi in a forced political alliance, only to discover his orchestrated suicide absolves her guilt—a heart-wrenching twist cementing their "BE aesthetics."

3rd Life: Sect Master vs Disciple

Now an ice-cultivation sect leader, Qingyue battles her defiant disciple Jiusi in a glacial duel, her ascension to immortality crystallizing their cycle: she gains eternal power, he guards their shattered memories. Each lifetime weaponizes devotion, their souls reforged in fires of sacrifice yet never united—a haunting metaphor for love that transcends lifetimes but never destiny.

This marks Bai Lu's first collaboration with Zeng Shunxi (The Ultimate Notes), and early glimpses reveal intense on-screen dynamics. In released stills, their characters' longing gazes and charged interactions—such as a rain-soaked confrontation where Jiusi clutches Qingyue's half-burned scroll—hint at a partnership blending tenderness and turmoil.

The drama's visual language draws from classical Chinese ink-wash art (水墨画), with misty mountain vistas and calligraphic shadowplay. Sets replicate the bustling markets and intricate architecture of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, immersing viewers in a Song-era-inspired world. Costumes, like Qingyue's gradient-dyed robes resembling ink spills, mirror her inner conflict between duty and desire.

The production team meticulously recreated historical details, such as Song-style tea houses and Ming-inspired pleated skirts (mamianqun). The cultivation sect's headquarters, modeled after qingming landscapes, blends realism with fantasy—a nod to China's artistic heritage.

Bai Lu's costume drama portfolio thrives on contrast. Whether she's cloaked in The Legends' blood-red armor or Song of Youth's delicate pastels, her choices feel intentional, never safe. Consider her breakout role in The Legends: while others might shy from a morally gray antihero, Bai Lu leans into Lu Zhaoyao's ruthless charisma, making her both terrifying and magnetic. Even in quieter moments—like Cui Shiyi's tearless grief in The Journey of Chong Zi—she opts for subtlety over melodrama.

As she steps into projects like Till the End of the Moon, where her dual roles span celestial grace and mortal fury, one thing's clear: Bai Lu doesn't wear costumes—she weaponizes them. Each outfit, from a warrior's battle-scarred leather to a noble's jade-studded hairpin, becomes a narrative device. And that's why her top five aren't just shows—they're case studies in how to own a genre.