Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty is in power in 1722 China. Of all the women in his harem, Hua's consort is his favorite and regularly acts as a concubine. The emperor's wife leaves Hua in the shadows, but this is seen through by Hua. The Empress therefore sends her husband to expand his harem with younger girls, hoping to defy Hua's popularity. The young and beautiful Zhen Huan is chosen and taken into the harem. She soon becomes part of the infighting between the women in the emperor's life.