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| Palace Games Begin: Youku’s New Drama Transfer Gold Hairpin Brings Dual Roles, Romance, and Schemes |
Youku is lining up another period drama for its costume catalogue, and this one comes with a blend of intrigue, mistaken identity, and a double-life twist.
Titled Transfer Gold Hairpin (嫁金钗), the series adapts the popular web novel by author Xiao Jiaren (笑佳人), and it’s already drawing buzz thanks to its leads and creative team.
The story follows Ah Chou, a young girl from the lowest rungs of society, constantly bullied and overlooked—until fate deals her an uncanny advantage.
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Because she happens to resemble Wei Rao, the cherished daughter of the Hou Mansion, Ah Chou suddenly finds herself in a life of deception, married off to Prince Lu Zuo of the powerful Guo Gong Mansion.
But palace life is no fairytale. Wei Rao wants her gone, Lu Zuo mistrusts her every move, and the mansion hides more traps than comforts.
Ambitious and sharp, Ah Chou plays a dangerous game to survive—winning her husband’s loyalty, unravelling her true origins, and ultimately transforming from a bullied nobody into a figure who commands both love and respect.
The hook? Actress Tian Xiwei will pull double duty, playing both Ah Chou and Wei Rao.
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That means viewers are in for layered performances packed with tension, rivalry, and emotional weight.
The production is helmed by director Yang Long, known for The Glory, while the script comes from Zhou Mo, who penned hits like Story of Yanxi Palace.
With Youku set as the broadcaster, Transfer Gold Hairpin is confirmed for 30 episodes.
Filming kicked off in Q4 2024, and with Tian Xiwei and rising star Zhou Yiran locked in as co-leads, expectations are already high that this drama will deliver the kind of period storytelling that balances romance, suspense, and palace scheming.
This is yet another rumoured new drama for Zhou Yiran. He was previously reported to reunite with Zhang Miaoyi in The Wrong Era, which makes his schedule even busier. Fans are excited for the year ahead as they look forward to welcoming his upcoming dramas.