Empresses in the Palace: Side Stories

Empresses in the Palace is a Chinese period drama adapted from Liu Lianzi’s novel The Harem: Empresses in the Palace. Set during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor in the Qing dynasty, it tells the story of life in the imperial harem. At its heart is the tale of how an ordinary young woman, Zhen Huan, rises to become empress amid the harem’s power struggles. The drama features complex palace politics and contests for power, while also portraying the emotional entanglements and hardships faced by the emperor’s many consorts. Its vivid characters and gripping story have made it a favorite with audiences. Through its realistic portrayal of harem life, the series also reveals the ugliness and cruelty of feudal society at the time.