The road to becoming an empress is paved with treachery. Ruyi (Zhou Xun) is a consort who quickly learns to navigate the treacherous politics of the the royal court and move up the ranks.
After becoming Empress, Ruyi still must survive the many conspiracies against her. Her relationship with Emperor Qianlong (Wallace Huo) becomes eroded even when Ruyi is able to overcome the challenges.
Can Ruyi maintain her role as Empress under such difficult circumstances?
“Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace” is a 2018 Chinese drama series directed by Wang Jun. It is adapted from the novel Hou Gong Ru Yi Zhuan by Liu Lianzi and is a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2011 television drama “Empresses in the Palace.”
Gong Sun Li (Dilraba Dilmurat) is the grand-daughter and disciple of military commander Gong Sun Yu. Jing Ke (first disciple, played by Liu Chang) and Sun Li are childhood lovers and were forced to escape when Qin troops attacked.
However, Sun Li’s wall-shattering beauty seizes the interest of the Qin Emperor, Ying Zheng (Zhang Bin Bin), and she’s captured and sent to his palace. It’s then that she discovers she’s pregnant with Jing Ke’s child (Tian Ming). Ying Zheng treats him as if he’s his own child.
The tragic day arrives when Jing Ke tries to assassinate Ying Zheng and dies trying.
Sun Li (known then as Li Ji) also succumbs on the same day, leaving orphan Tian Ming to escape the palace with Han Shen, Jing Ke’s good friend.