Profile
is communing with the dead
don't look at me like that. you know i only did what i had to.
charismatic . ambitious . calculating
A successful actress with a mysterious past, Mingzhu is known for her outgoing and charming demeanor, especially among Shanghai's upper class. Despite her extroverted personality, she seldom allows people to get too close to her. Mingzhu likes to carefully consider all of her available options before making any decisions or taking any risks. She knows what her goals are and is willing to do anything to achieve them—even if it means getting her hands dirty.
the silver screen .
{ historical . horror }
A silver tongue for the chosen one
Heavy magnum in your side
Or a bloody thorn
Skating bullets on angel dust
In a dead sea of fluid mercury
dazzle - siouxsie and the banshees
alias
mrs. qin
gender
female
pronouns
she/her
orientation
lesbian
age
28
ethnicity
han chinese
residence
shanghai
occupation
film actress
design
@crowesn (twitter) | $45
code
words of sin, masks of hypocrisy.
o n e . Early Life
Mingzhu was born in a small village in Henan province to a family of poor farmers. As the youngest of four children and one of two daughters, her life was not particularly fulfilling. Most of her time was spent working on her family's farm, and she knew that once she was of age, she would be married off to a neighboring family's son. Every year, their harvest grew smaller, and her parents were desperately in need of the dowry the marriage would bring them.
From an early age, she began to see ghosts and spirits surrounding the village, often of the recently deceased. Many of them were willing to speak with her, telling her tales about the glamour of city life.
Bolstered by their words, Mingzhu became determined to escape from the poverty that surrounded her and make a life for herself. With the help of a traveling merchant and some of the spirits, she taught herself how to read and write using stolen books. Several of these were stageplays, and she quickly developed a fascination for the theatrical arts.
t w o . Adulthood
When Mingzhu was 18, a young Shanghainese businessman named Xie Zhiming visited her village alongside his father, who was supervising the construction of a new factory. Seeing him as an opportunity to escape her family, Mingzhu enlisted the help of a few spirits to craft a magical tonic.
One night, Mingzhu slipped the tonic into his drink, and he immediately became smitten with her. The two spent much of their time together, and Mingzhu was relieved to finally have a link to the outside world. He showered her with gifts and even took her to see a number of silent films, which she became captivated by.
After a year, Zhiming proposed to her, and she hastily agreed. Against her parent's wishes, the two eloped and moved to Shanghai.
t h r e e . Rise to Fame
Upon their arrival in Shanghai, Zhiming became an investor for the Meihua Film Company. Meanwhile, Mingzhu befriended other Shanghainese aristocrats and continued to study theatrical arts in her free time, attending several plays and even earning a few small roles. Her appearance and charming mannerisms caught the attention of one of the directors working at the Meihua Film Company, who then offered her an audition for their upcoming film titled The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. She earned the role of the female protagonist, the titular weaver girl Zhinü, and the film premiered in 1922 to critical acclaim.
Not long after, Zhiming discovered the truth about the tonics that Mingzhu had continued to feed him. In a violent rage, he turned on her and tried to attack her, but the spirits quickly came to her aid. He was killed and his death was reported as a heart attack, leaving Mingzhu with a considerable fortune.
At a party in 1924, Mingzhu met He Qiuyue, a well-known singer and actress from a rival film company and the daughter of one of Shanghai's most prominent aristocratic families. Despite her young age, Qiuyue already had an established career and was extraordinarily popular. Mingzhu was instantly envious and a little resentful that all of her opportunities had been handed to her.
Due to the success of her first role, Mingzhu continued to star in a number of other productions by the Meihua Film Company, including Wisdom of the Stars and Gods and Men.
f o u r . Present Day
Mingzhu and Qiuyue continued to encounter each other at events hosted by Shanghai's upper class. Rumors began to circulate that Qiuyue was only attracted to women, as she'd rebuffed the advances of every single male suitor who approached her. Qiuyue was aware of Mingzhu's jealousy towards her, but merely found it amusing.
Slowly, however, they began to grow closer and open up to one another. Both of them confided their fears about surviving in a cutthroat industry where they could easily be replaced, and Qiuyue spoke of her parents' increasing insistence that she get married and have children.
Mingzhu was enamored by the other woman, even if she refused to admit it. One night, the two of them had a bit too much to drink and eventually shared a kiss. They began a romantic relationship, and in 1928, Mingzhu and Qiuyue moved in together under the pretense of "living as roommates" in order to prepare for their roles in an upcoming film starring both of them.
Although Mingzhu is more successful than ever before and her life with Qiuyue seems idyllic, the spirits in Shanghai are growing more and more restless with each passing day. Even after all these years, Zhiming's apparition still continues to haunt her. She can't help but worry that something horrible is bound to happen.
mbti
entj
temperament
sanguine
gemstone
pearl
flower
peony
tarot
the empress
chinese zodiac
tiger
Trivia
- • She was born on April 22nd, 1902.
- • Tends to be frugal with money due to her upbringing.
- • Her favorite drink is oolong tea.
- • Her name translates literally to "shiny pearl."
art by @ honeyhauntart
Design Notes
- • Stands at 5'4" (163 cm).
- • Angular face with prominent cheekbones.
- • Small, round nose with a shallow brow ridge.
- • Thin, penciled eyebrows.
- • Dark eyes with monolids.
- • Prominent beauty mark under lips.
