Shangguan Wan'er

Born into a distinguished family and blessed with extraordinary talent, she was made a servant in the palace from the time she was an infant.

Her family was slaughtered, and she swore vengeance. Though she bowed her head and obeyed, a dangerous tide surged beneath the surface.

In the bloom of youth, her heart first stirred with love. She adored Crown Prince Li Xian, yet was forced to send him to his doom with her own hands.

She faced Prince Ying Li Xian’s tender infatuation, the unrestrained flirtation of Lotus Six, the ambitious Wu Sansi using love as bait, and the handsome Cui Shi advancing step by step… In the end, she rose to the summit of power, handling the ministries’ memorials and taking part in state affairs. She established the Xiuwen Academy and judged the worth of the realm’s scholars. Though she never held the title of chancellor, she wielded the power of state and maneuvered through the political arena. At the same time, she was caught in a whirlpool of love and desire…

From lowly palace servant to the woman who wielded power without a title, this was the extraordinary life of Shangguan Wan’er, the first female official of the Daming Palace.