The Secret History of Empress Xiaozhuang

Plot Synopsis

Dayuer, from Horqin Banner in Mongolia, was hailed as the "Most Beautiful Woman of Manchu and Mongolian" since childhood. She and Dorgon, the younger brother of Huang Taiji and the Prince Rui, had been childhood sweethearts and secretly promised to be together for life. However, she was taken as a side consort by Huang Taiji and was titled Zhuangfei of Yongfu Palace, thus becoming Dorgon's sister-in-law, yet their lingering feelings never ceased. When Huang Taiji suddenly passed away, the struggle for the imperial throne was fierce. Dorgon, who held military power, became the biggest rival of Hooge, the eldest son of Huang Taiji. Unexpectedly, he supported Fulin, the son of Dayuer, to ascend the throne. Since then, Dayuer became Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. For the sake of her son's imperial throne, the foundation of the Qing Dynasty and her own reputation as the empress dowager, the once passionate feelings between them were left only with the regret of restraining emotions within the bounds of propriety. D