In the first half of the eighteenth century, the Qing dynasty entered the era of its last long-reigning emperor. Hongli (Wallace Huo), in the prime of his life, formally ascended the throne and named his reign Qianlong. At the same time, Ruyi (Zhou Xun), his side consort, who had been his childhood sweetheart and closest companion, entered the palace with him and was named Consort Xian. Suddenly thrust into the heart of political strife, the two kindred spirits gradually experienced a profound rift between them. The Empress Dowager (Vivian Wu) held a deep grudge against Ruyi's Wula-Nara family, and naturally regarded Consort Xian as a thorn in her side. On the political stage, power was carved up from every direction by palace factions and overbearing old ministers. In the palace, where undercurrents ran deep, the emperor and Consort Xian...
