The Secret History of Xiaozhuang tells the sweeping story of Da Yu'er. Born into the Horqin Banner of Mongolia, Da Yu'er is acclaimed as the most beautiful woman among the Manchus and Mongols. She and Dorgon grow up together and pledge themselves to each other, but she is taken by Huang Taiji as his secondary consort. After Huang Taiji's death, Dorgon helps Da Yu'er's son Fulin ascend the throne, while he himself becomes regent. Caught between her lover and her beloved son, Da Yu'er faces an agonizing choice and ultimately sacrifices love for family. Heartbroken and despairing, Dorgon dies. Grief-stricken by the death of his beloved consort, Fulin wants to shave his head and become a monk, but Da Yu'er cannot dissuade him. In the end, she places her young grandson Xuanye on the throne, ushering in the Kangxi era and laying the foundations for a golden age of the Qing dynasty.
