Two Storylines, Onstage and Off

With the ancient city fallen, the drums and gongs at Fenghua House never cease. Renowned opera star Su Yanqiu takes the stage in the role of an old male character, singing tales of loyal martyrs for the Japanese invaders. The world condemns her for bowing to the enemy, unaware that the opera house is a covert resistance hub, where every lilting note and measured step carries a secret signal. Together with Lu Shiheng, a wealthy businessman working undercover, she uses the opera world as a shield, outmaneuvering the collaborationist regime and passing along intelligence. The opera troupe members cast off their makeup and conceal their true strength, risking their lives for their country amid the glitter and drama. Onstage, they sing of loyalty through the ages; offstage, they compose a tragic ballad in a world at war.