1. Episode 1
2012-02-27
45m
KING SUEN of CHAI and his ministers are preparing for the upcoming soccer competition between Chai and Yin. He complains about the poor skills of his younger brother, LORD SHUN YEUNG, and AN YING, his adviser. TUEN-MUK CHING, who is a chronicler, can see that YING is not actually as bad as he seems but he prefers to keep his mouth shut. QUEEN DOWAGER intends to find a wife for KING SUEN at her birthday banquet, which is around the corner. KING SUEN suffers a crushing defeat at the soccer competition against PRINCE of YIN. As a result, he needs to give the latter a city as penalty. Unwilling to admit defeat, however, he agrees to have another match with PRINCE of YIN. KING WOON, his grandfather, accuses him of practicing soccer night and day. He tells KING SUEN to look for a sage in Shiu Yee Mountain. YING’s younger sister, AN KIU, blames him for failing to make a good adviser as their ancestors did when he is home.… ...
2. Episode 2
2012-02-28
45m
Both TUEN-MUK and QUEEN DOWAGER are of the opinion that KING SUEN should keep his words. Despite KING SUEN’s deep resentment against YIM, QUEEN DOWAGER insists that he marries YIM one month after his birthday. LORD SHUN YEUNG tells LADY TSU about KING SUEN and YIM’s wedding. In fact, LADY TSU has been appointed the task of teaching YIM etiquette. TIN FOON, who is under the supervision of TIN HOI, tries to rape CHUN in the kitchen. Starving, YIM goes to the kitchen to see what she can eat. This is how she meets CHUN and becomes friends with her. CHUN goes to the storeroom to get some salt and runs against FOON and MADAM MEI acting intimately. FOON prevents her from leaving. MADAM MEI dies amid the confusion. FOON accuses CHUN of killing her. YIM tells KING SUEN about CHUN’s case of injustice after visiting her in prison. The king gives YIM three days to investigate into the case. If she fails to digs out the truth…
3. Episode 3
2012-02-29
45m
The case has been resolved. KING SUEN tells TUEN-MUK to take the case down so as to carve a niche for himself in history. Worried that the ghost of MADAME MEI will return to revenge, CHUN offers sacrifices to her ghost in the garden. HOI shows up suddenly, accusing her of bringing him back luck. KING SUEN keeps a watch on YIM using a special instrument but he is soon mesmerized by CHUN when he sees her back. He tells YING to check out her identity in no time. With the help of YING, KING SUEN spends a romantic evening with CHUN. He decides to make CHUN the queen. YIM goes to make him promise he will not go back on his word. At one point, she even wants to let CHUN be the queen but YING and other officials do not let her. Taking the advice of YING, KING SUEN decides to crown YIM the Queen of the Eastern Palace and CHUN the Queen of the Western Palace.
4. Episode 4
2012-03-01
45m
QUEEN DOWAGER summons YIM and CHUN, her two future daughters-in-law, and tells them to help KING SUEN rule. YIM offers to give KING SUEN a hand as she sees how reluctant he is to read the memorials to the throne. He therefore assigns YING and TUEN-MUK to her assistance. As she goes through the documents, she notices that a considerable amount of money has been spent on relief operations and the constructions of water dams. KING SUEN spends all the time playing with CHUN. She worries that YIM will feel being neglected. The ambassador of CHIU has paid a visit to KING SUEN. CHUN did not know until then that KING SUEN is intending to marry his younger sister, PRINCESS WAN, to the KING of CHIU as a diplomatic tactic. Unfortunately, PRINCESS WAN has come down with an unknown disease recently. Dressed up as a man, YIM goes out with CHUN and PRINCESS WAN.… ...
5. Episode 5
2012-03-02
45m
CHUN tells KING SUEN about the rumor that he loves YIM more than she when he visits her. He denies, and orders to enlarge the Western Palace. The water conservancy project has been shelved. YIM checks out with YING, who tells her it is because the money meant for the water conservancy project has been used on the extension of the Western Palace. LADY TSU is throwing a banquet for YIM and CHUN but the latter is absent due to sickness. LADY TSU hints that she is suffering from a psychological illness. KING SUEN has written a poem to please CHUN. On the other hand, he gives YIM a glowing pearl. YIM is very pleased. CHUN missies her family very much. When he learns about this, KING SUEN swears to look for her family members, no matter how many resources it is going to involve. CHUN’s parents refuse to pay for their meals after they have learnt that CHUN has become the queen. YIM catches them on the spot. HA KWAI wants to molest WAI.
6. Episode 6
2012-03-05
45m
The water conservancy project has been shelved. Successful salt merchant YIM LAI sends LORD SHUN YEUNG a piece of jade as a gift. By doing so, he hopes he will have a finger in the pie in future projects. TUEN-MUK calls on YING’s family. KIU and her mother are very screwed up, as An Village will be demolished soon because of the changing of the river course. YING decides to tell the king the effect the project will have on his people. WAI encourages YIM to express her love for KING SUEN but she refuses to do anything to please him. Despite this, she cooks him a special dish of chicken. KIU and other villagers confront with government officials. As the state has already made compensation to and built new houses for the affected villagers, KING SUEN refuses to withdraw the project. YIM turns to QUEEN DOWAGER for help. CHUN suggests KING SUEN hand out food in the flood stricken areas so as to rebuild his reputation.… ...
7. Episode 7
2012-03-06
45m
The people commend YIM for her diligence. Unwilling to be outdone and looked down upon by her, KING SUEN swears to be a good king. There are so many memorials to go through that KING SUEN tells YING to pick out those that are most important. And before YING comes back to him, he will go catching fish in the river with CHUN. LAI compliments KWAI and his son, TSAU, for their honorable identity at the banquet he and LORD SHUN YEUNG give together. YIM takes charge of the reading of the memorials again, knowing far very well that it is simply impossible for KING SUEN to be serious about his duties. Some villager has been injured in the water conservancy project yet no compensation is made to him. WAI and KIU reason with KWAI and TSAU, who are contractors of the project. TSAU has a foot injury as they negotiate, and is attacked later on. KING SUEN kicks YIM and WAI out of the palace so as to do TSAU justice.
8. Episode 8
2012-03-07
45m
QUEEN DOWAGER arranges for YIM and CHUN to have cooking and embroidery lessons at Jixia Academy, the most prestigious cooking school in Chai. After graduation, there will also be a competition between them, the winner of which will win a jade heirloom. According to QUEEN DOWAGER, KING SUEN had once been hosted hostage by Yin. As he has since become a week person, she suspects he had been ill-treated in Yin. She hopes YIM can do something to recover his brilliant and astute self. KING SUEN misses CHUN so much that he sneaks into the academy but he soon loses contact with YING. The next thing he knows, he finds himself in front of a spring. In the meantime, KWAI and TSAU have arrived, too, their purpose is to make sure YIM lose the competition. The three of them manage to find a favorable position each to keep a watch on YIM and CHUN. KING SUEN enters the changing room by mistake when YIM is changing.… ...
9. Episode 9
2012-03-08
45m
YIM risks her life to rescue CHUN, who complains to KING SUEN that her feet have gone numb. YIM still feel embarrassed about undressing in front of KING SUEN. WAI can see that YIM has indeed fallen in love with the king. CHUN refuses to see KING SUEN unless he promises not to see YIM again by himself if not necessary. With a view to reminding KING SUEN of the past, YIM cooks for him. Rather unexpectedly, he throws a tantrum in the sight of the dish. CHUN easily outshines YIM in the cooking competition, as her dish not only tastes but also looks better than the Tri-color Corn YIM prepares. KING SUEN would like to give the glowing pearl to CHUN. He looks for it in YIM’s room, setting out a fire carelessly. LAI finds the way KING SUEN handles the fire unusual. He therefore suspects KING SUEN had died in the fire and that the king they now see is a fake. LORD SHUN YEUNG is determined to probe into the matter.
10. Episode 10
2012-03-09
45m
HOI is circulating rumors that KING SUEN has been pretended by boy servant TIN-SHUN. Neither QUEEN DOWAGER nor PRINCESS WAN believes the rumors though, judging from how well KING SUEN has been treating them. KWAI plans to do away with SHUN’s mother. On the other hand, YIM has discovered that SHUN’s mother has disappeared, and that the fire records in the palace are nowhere to be found. YIM has failed to change KING SUEN’s mind. Upset, she goes to the woods to have a walk, where she runs into her master, CHI. YIM needs to go outside. She tells WAI to stay and keep an eye on the king. In the meantime, LAI and LORD SHUN YEUNG grasp the opportunity to deal with KING SUEN. Under the arrangement of LORD SHUN YEUNG, SHUN’s mother, who cannot see, has a confrontation with KING SUEN in the palace. KING SUEN has been sent to prison by LORD SHUN YEUNG. CHUN visits him.
11. Episode 11
2012-03-12
45m
YIM shows up from nowhere to stop PIK-KEUNG from being executed. His life spared, KING SUEN is thrilled to bits. He hugs CHUN in excitement as soon as he sees her. He is thanking YIM for her help when she suddenly passes out. KING SUEN visits YIM with a treasured sword given to him as a gift. He talks sweetly to YIM, which he seldom does. YIM therefore trusts that he has come for something. It turns out that CHUN wants to be Queen of the Eastern Palace. CHUN has moved into the Eastern Palace as she wished. In addition to requesting WAI to bow to her, she tells YIM to leave the memorials, claiming she will take care of them from now on. CHUN’s parents take away the expensive decorations and silk fabric from the Eastern Palace as soon as they have heard that CHUN has become the Queen of the Eastern Palace. WAI bump into them. A fight is put up immediately. YING comes to WAI’s help.… ...
12. Episode 12
2012-03-13
45m
Both YIM and WAI have been upset by love. They share with each other how they feel about the man they love. The soldiers of Yin have injured the people of Chai. YIM is still mad at KING SUEN for letting Yin’s soldiers enter Chai. WAI is of the view that YIM should dress up to please the king. PRINCESS WAN covers YIM’s birthmark on the face with make-up. As expected, KING SUEN finds YIM dazzling. CHUN tries hard to ruin YIM’s plan when she finds out that the latter is trying to please the king. PRINCESS WAN takes her caterpillars to bask in the sun. TUEN-MUK, who is responsible for the writing of the princess’ biography, kills one of the caterpillars by mistakenly stepping on it. HUNG-MUI, a close maid of QUEEN DOWAGER’s, tells the queen that KING SUEN does not like YIM because of her face. QUEEN DOWAGER orders KING SUEN to stay at YIM’s place for the night.… ...
13. Episode 13
2012-03-14
45m
YING and TUEN-MUK see an assassin as they are leaving YIM’s palace. YIM breaks QUEEN DOWAGER’s charm as she is running after the assassin. QUEEN DOWAGER faints at the news. Someone unknown to CHUN comes to assistance. She is grateful for his help. CHI does not turn up until CHUN has gone. She blames her junior, CHUNG SHUN-CHI, for driving a wedge between CHUN and YIM. KING SUEN and CHUN are attacked as they go out. As a result they both fall into the sea. CHUN visits YIM. She promises she will not compete with YIM again if she saves KING SUEN. YIM and WAI turn to CHI for help. CHI figures out the direction of which the king is now it. The KEUNG’s of Chai has saved KING SUEN but he prefers to remain anonymous for reason of personal safety. LORD SHUN YEUNG feels like sitting on the edge of his seat now that the body of KING SUEN is still to be found.… ...
14. Episode 14
2012-03-15
45m
The KEUNG’s of Chai and the villagers want to burn KING SUEN to death. YIM comes to his rescue before too late. YIM takes the king to an abandon temple to rest. The assassin sent by LORD SHUN YEUNG follows them closely. YIM is injured by the assassin’s poisonous concealed weapon. The KEUNG’s of Chai comes to her help. After a discussion, LORD SHUN YEUNG and LAI come to the conclusion that if the former is to take over the throne, they will have to win the support of the officials. LORD SHUN YEUNG agrees that QUEEN DOWAGER should be informed about the news of KING SUEN’s disappearance, and that it is up to her decision whether a new king should be crowned. CHUN is unhappy that her father and brother are trying to toady to LORD SHUN YEUNG. On the other hand, her mother thinks that it is time she plans for her own future. LORD SHUN YEUNG likes CHUN but she refuses to remarry so as to remain loyal to KING SUEN.… ...
15. Episode 15
2012-03-16
45m
LORD SHUN YEUNG takes charge of the worship ceremony in his capacity as king. TUEN-MUK records that although KING SUEN’s life is still uncertain, LORD SHUN YEUNG insists on coming to the throne. KING SUEN returns to the palace safe and sound. Meanwhile, LORD SHUN YEUNG’s accession ceremony is taking place in the audience hall. CHUN cannot wait to tell KING SUEN what she has suffered while he was away, but before she can do so, he shares with her what he has seen outside the palace and what has happened to him and YIM. LORD SHUN YEUNG has resigned the kingship. LADY TSU rebukes him for spending his days drinking. YIM and KING SUEN read the memorials together. An official reports that his jurisdiction is suffering from an epidemic and so is badly in need of financial support. KING SUEN is put out. YIM reminds him of PRINCE of YIN’s IOU written after he had been defeated in the football competition.… ...
