LayarHijau – Bai Lu and Chen Zheyuan have been confirmed as the leads of the upcoming Chinese drama Chaoyu Jie (朝玉阶). The iQIYI project has drawn attention for being developed as an original screenplay, rather than an adaptation of a web novel as previously rumored online.
Chaoyu Jie (朝玉阶), which can be literally translated as “Jade Steps” depending on the context, was filed by Dongyang Huan Yu Film & Television Culture Co., Ltd. in July 2026. The drama does not yet have a confirmed official English title, so Chaoyu Jie is being used as the romanized title.
Rumors previously circulated online claiming that Chaoyu Jie was based on a web novel of the same name. However, producer and screenwriter Yu Zheng denied the claim and emphasized that the drama is based on an original screenplay, rather than an existing literary work.
The screenplay was written by Ren Yanan. Set during the Wei and Jin period, the drama is being developed with an all-female core creative team, including a female director and female screenwriter. Yu Zheng has also revealed that the screenplay has already been completed.
Yu Zheng is additionally involved in the music for Chaoyu Jie, having written the lyrics for the drama’s theme song.
For the leading cast, iQIYI has listed Bai Lu and Chen Zheyuan as the stars of the project. Bai Lu will play Lu Zhaoxi (陆昭熹), also known as Yan Chaochao (严朝朝), while Chen Zheyuan will portray Tu Yin (屠隐).
The two actors were named in iQIYI’s promotional materials for its upcoming slate, which included Chaoyu Jie among the projects being presented for its future programming lineup. Promotional artwork released for the drama also features Bai Lu and Chen Zheyuan as its leads.
The promotional material offers a mysterious glimpse into the drama’s atmosphere. A poem accompanying the poster describes lavish banquets and performances, an unseen force controlling people like puppets, and characters concealing schemes and unresolved motives beneath their elegant appearances.
“Lavish halls and banquets stage a hundred performances, while silk threads secretly bind and control mortal lives. The jade steps conceal countless schemes, and flowing sleeves hide unfinished causes,” the promotional verse reads.
However, iQIYI has yet to release a full synopsis for Chaoyu Jie or provide further details about the characters Lu Zhaoxi, Yan Chaochao and Tu Yin.
With its Wei-Jin setting, original screenplay and leading cast of Bai Lu and Chen Zheyuan, Chaoyu Jie is shaping up as one of iQIYI’s upcoming Chinese drama projects to watch.
