The Empire's Curse: The Secret History of King Zhou and Daji

This story portrays the passionate, ruthless, warlike, and unrestrained life of Zixin, a generation-spanning tyrant known as King Zhou. Su Daji's tender devotion softened the emperor's cold, suspicious heart of stone. Yet the ruthless struggle for survival at court spread into the imperial harem. To stay alive, Su Daji plotted against Nine, the emperor's favorite consort, slowly drawing back the veil on the harem's secret power struggles. The extravagance of wine pools and meat forests, with naked revelers chasing one another; the brutal torture of loyal officials by burning them at the stake and cutting open pregnant women to watch their babies; and the costly wars and crushing taxes that left the people seething with resentment all weakened the dynasty. The Zhou people seized their chance, and the Yin-Shang Empire came crashing down. Zixin set fire to himself at the Star-Picking Tower, giving his life for his country.