The story picks up after Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's wedding. At first, they are blissfully in love, the envy of everyone in the Forbidden City. In the middle, the Mongol princess Nuomin, a third party, carefully plots with the help of political forces at court, driving a deep wedge between them. When the truth comes to light, Yongqi ascends the throne and Xiaoyanzi becomes empress. But as emperor, Yongqi grows obsessive and deranged under the sway of power and his intense love, trying to cage Xiaoyanzi in a gilded prison. Disillusioned, Xiaoyanzi decisively gives up the glory of being empress and leaves to wander the world. After losing her, Yongqi goes through many trials before finally coming to his senses and beginning a journey across mountains and rivers to win her back. In the end, they achieve a happy ending as the only two in each other's lives, for all their days.
