The Secret Life of Empress Dowager Cixi

Hui Yulan (played by Chiu Shuk-cheng) comes from the distinguished Yehe Nara clan and is favored by the emperor to be selected as a beauty in the palace. Her wet nurse seeks a fortune-teller's advice, but he predicts that this girl will bring calamity to her husband, family, and country. While searching for a cat in a temple, Yulan unexpectedly encounters the Sixth Prince Yi Luo (played by Leung Ka-fai), and the two form an inexplicable bond. Later, both Yulan and her wet nurse are robbed by bandits but are saved by the Sixth Prince. Yi Luo wishes to propose, only to discover that Yulan is already his brother's woman, prompting a heartfelt farewell. On the day she enters the palace, Yulan is accompanied by Xiao Anzi An Dehai (played by Chen Guobang), but accidentally falls out of the sedan chair, embarrassing herself and coincidentally meeting Emperor Xianfeng (played by Yu Rongguang), who is captivated by her charm. Xianfeng also takes a special interest in Yulan. At the same time, Yulan makes enemies with the noble ladies Li Guiren (played by Weng Hong) and Yun Guiren (played by Qian Jun). The empress (played by Zhou Jialing), despite her kind heart, is childless, leading the noble ladies to exert every effort to compete for favor, hoping to bear a prince. However, Yulan is not very adept at navigating court intrigues and faces constant exclusion...