[Palace intrigue, not an exclusive romance + winning him over + devoted love later]
In the very first scene after transmigrating as an insignificant concubine, Xi Chixue is publicly thrown out of Zichen Hall by the emperor for being “hideously ugly.”
The palace concubines laugh at her: “His Majesty has impossibly high standards. What makes you think you have a chance? Go look in a mirror!”
Xi Chixue gazes into the bronze mirror at her delicate, decidedly not ugly face and understands.
Compete in schemes and cruelty with these battle-hardened palace-intrigue champions?
She chooses a different path:
Compete in outfits, compete in atmosphere, and work her way into the emperor’s heart!
When the emperor sits on the lotus terrace admiring the moon, she transforms into a lotus fairy amid the vast, misty waters, gliding over the waves like a dream.
When the emperor warms himself by the fire and admires plum blossoms in winter, she puts on a scene of seeking plum blossoms in the snow, standing alone in white and looking utterly captivating.
When the emperor holds a banquet to admire peonies, she becomes a carefree beauty, reclining among the flowers with a smile and a wine cup in hand, outshining everyone.
When the emperor plays polo in the imperial garden to lift his spirits, she becomes a spirited heroine in red, riding a fiery steed and vanishing in a single crack of her whip, her brilliance unmatched.
At first, the other concubines scoff: “Such attention-seeking behavior is completely improper. How could women of distinguished families like us ever imitate her?”
That is, until they witness her growing favor with the emperor and rising step by step.
Her personal maid hurriedly shakes her mistress awake: “Your Highness, stop talking! Consort Xi has outdone everyone and become empress!”
Later, the new emperor looks at the concubines throughout the palace, all of them studying the art of atmosphere day and night, and rubs his forehead in exasperation. “All I wanted back then was to enjoy the moon in peace...”
