It is 1964, and René Gallimard is an official at the French Embassy in Beijing. After attending a performance of Madama Butterfly, he falls in love with Song Liling, the opera’s lead performer, and becomes romantically involved with her, neglecting his wife, Jeanne, and his friend Frau Baden, a member of the German Embassy staff. Song is a gentle, modest, and reserved woman who also helps René deepen his knowledge of Chinese culture. Thanks to the esteem and support of Ambassador Toulon, he rises to the position of vice-consul, much to the envy of his colleagues. His advice and opinions on the presence and policies of Westerners in Beijing are highly regarded, particularly as Mao Zedong is on the verge of consolidating absolute power. However, René fails to realize that he has fallen into an incredible trap: Song Liling is a man and, moreover, a spy for the Chinese secret service.