White Lily

Nearly a century ago, in the Forbidden City, China's last emperor reigned from his dragon throne. Although he was only a boy, the imperial decrees issued in his name echoed in every corner of the country, enforcing traditions and regulations. Every man had to shave his head and wear a single pigtail to symbolize his submission to the emperor, and every woman was regarded as second in importance to the men in her family, expected to obey her father and brothers and later her husband in arranged marriages, with no encouragement for education or independence. Into this world, White Lily was born in a village in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Despite a happy childhood, she was forced to undergo the painful procedure of foot binding at the age of four, a requirement for all females of her social class. However, White Lily harbored aspirations beyond traditional roles and, with the support of her elder brother, devised a plan to defy tradition and convince their father to allow her feet and mind to develop freely.