Hou Gong Zhen Huan Zhuan

8 DVD

Casts : Sun Li, Ada Choi, Chen Jianbin, Li Dongxue

The focus of this story lies in the realistic depiction of the numerous faceless women lost in China’s imperial history and their life confined in the inner palace. Court politics in drama is unfolded through the feminine lens and also through the unique eyes of over a 100 different characters.

Based on a popular internet novel by the same name, the story traces the trials and tribulations of the beautiful Zhen Huan, who inadvertently becomes a royal consort of the Emperor. Fate has sent her from the peaceful courtyard of her father’s estate to the caged opulence of the Forbidden Palace, then to the darkly austere nunnery, and back to the splendor of the palace again. She transforms from an naive young girl oblivious of the harsh reality into a scheming court lady, and finally ascends to the most coveted position of the inner palace, Empress Dowager. At first, Zhen Huan devotes entirely on her husband, the Emperor. But when she discovers his true colors, her love for him dies with her innocence. Through the selfless love and sacrifice of Prince Guo, Zhen Huan slowly manages to recover from her emotional and physical turmoils. Their blissful happiness outside the palace ends abruptly and Zhen Huan is forced to return to the palace. She gives birth to Prince Guo’s twins, a son and daughter, but the Emperor begins to question the fraternity of her twin children…

“Sun Li plays a scheming court concubine” (translation by xiaolong @ spcnet)
The heroine, Zhen Huan (Sun Li), joined the palace harem with her sister. She was selected to be Emperor Yongzheng’s (Chen Jian Bin) concubine. When Zhen Huan first enters the palace, she is innocent and gullible, but gradually learnd the hard way to fend for herself when she inadvertently becomes caught up in the schemes between the Empress (Ada Choi) and Concubine Hua (Jiang Xin). Through cunning and deceit, Zhen Huan finally succeeds in becoming Empress. However, she arouses Emperor Yongzheng’s suspicion about her loyalty and is forced to poison her true love, 17th Prince. Finally, when Emperor Yongzheng dies and Hong Li ascends the throne, Concubine Zhen Huan becomes Empress Dowager. Though her future seems bright, she lives the rest of her life in sadness and guilt.