Su Lan'er is the lowliest maid in the Imperial Laundry Bureau, but her unsurpassed Su embroidery, a lost art, draws her into the treacherous struggles of the imperial harem.
Consort De wants her as a pawn to secure the emperor’s favor, displaying her skills before him;
Consort Mi sees her as a stepping stone, using her to test the strength of her rivals;
even the shrewd chief eunuch considers her a pawn worth investing in, placing his bets among the various factions.
They all think this helpless little palace maid is a pawn they can discard at will.
Then one day, Su Lan'er discovers that she is connected to a great secret from the previous dynasty. She is the “key piece” in this game, the one who will decide everyone’s fate.
If they are all pawns, why can’t she be the one who moves the pieces?
See how a lowly palace maid uses extraordinary intelligence and insight to turn the harem consorts, the Son of Heaven, and even the future emperor into pieces in her hands. With every move carefully planned, she ultimately takes control of the whole game and becomes the true power behind the Forbidden City!
