Song Zu'er (宋祖儿) has already won hearts with her roles in hits like The Demon Hunter's Romance (无忧渡). Now, she is ready to dominate screens again. With three unreleased dramas waiting in the wings—spanning ancient romance, fantasy, and even a villainous turn—her fans have every reason to celebrate. Each role brings a fresh look, a new challenge, and a story that hooks you from the start. Let’s break down what makes each of these projects a must-watch.
Marry My Cousin (表妹万福)
In Marry My Cousin, produced by Tencent Video as an S+ period drama, she plays Zhen Jiafu (甄嘉芙), a merchant’s daughter in the Ming Dynasty (明). Her family tries to force her into an arranged marriage. Instead of crying or obeying, she takes a bold step: she deliberately schemes to wed Pei You’an (裴右安), a stern military officer from the Shen Ji Ying (神机营, a elite artillery corps). He is distant and cold at first. But as dangers arise, their forced union slowly turns into a bond of life and death.
Zhen Jiafu is no fragile flower. She is lively, sharp, and quietly stubborn. The script avoids the tired “submissive wife” trope. Instead, it shows a woman who uses her wits to break free and grow. Her emotional scenes—especially the crying ones—hit hard. One early clip shows her in a white veil and lotus pose, looking fragile yet fierce. That single image made fans call it “a god-level moment.”
The costume team did serious research on Ming Dynasty artifacts. She has 36 different looks in the series, each tied to historical evidence. The white headscarf with a lotus, the red wedding robe with a phoenix crown, the gold-embroidered Mamian (马面) skirt—everything screams authenticity. You don’t just watch the drama; you step into a living Ming painting.
Si Gong Ling (司宫令)
Next comes Si Gong Ling, written by Wang Hong (汪洪), the same mind behind the hit Rattan (司藤). The story mixes Southern Song Dynasty (南宋) palace cuisine, political scheming, and a woman’s rise from nothing. She plays Wu Zhenzhen (吴蒖蒖), an orphan who starts as a lowly cook in the streets. Through her knife skills and clever palate, she enters the Six Bureaus and Twenty-four Departments, the real female official system of the time. She eventually becomes the top seal-holding female officer.
Her co-star Ding Yuxi (丁禹兮) plays the Second Prince Zhao Ai (赵皑). Together, they form a “dual-strong” alliance. While she cracks court mysteries with her cooking, he cleans up corrupt officials. There is no silly romance here—just two smart people respecting each other’s strengths. The show also downplays the usual harem catfights. Instead, it highlights political wisdom and female agency. That is a fresh angle for period dramas.
Her outfits in Si Gong Ling already sparked heated debates online. In plain kitchen clothes with a red hairband, she looks innocent and lively. Later, in a purple silk robe, she turns elegant and noble. And when she puts on the official’s uniform, her presence fills the entire hall. Each costume reflects her changing status. You see her grow not just in rank but in her very aura.
Liao Zhai (聊斋)
Finally, she surprises everyone with a guest role in the newest adaptation of Liao Zhai. For the first time, she plays a pure villain: the thousand-year-old tree demon from the “Nie Xiaoqian (聂小倩)” chapter. This is no old, wrinkly hag. The reimagined demon is young, beautiful, and twisted by a deep obsession from a past love. The production calls her “a demon rooted in heartbreak.”
Leaked set photos revealed six stunning looks. One shows her in a blue ancient dress with flower-shaped forehead makeup, radiating cold elegance. Another has her in white with red lips—innocent on the surface but deadly beneath. Then there is the black-and-gold embroidered gown, wild and bewitching. Her stylists focused on sharp side profiles and high buns, making netizens exclaim, “She looks like an oil-painting goddess!”
Playing a villain is a brave move for an actress known for sympathetic heroines. But she seems to relish it. The tree demon does not just cackle and kill. Her evil comes from a place of pain. That depth could make this short appearance one of the most memorable parts of the new Liao Zhai. For fans who only saw her as a cute or tragic figure, this role will shatter that image completely.
