Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (, literally: The Legend of Ruyi) is a 2018 Chinese television series based on novel Hou Gong Ru Yi Zhuan by Liu Lianzi. Starring Zhou Xun and Wallace Huo, the series chronicles both the romantic and marital relationship between Emperor Qianlong and Empress Nara.
The series are the sequel to the critically acclaimed drama Empresses in the Palace. It aired on Tencent Video starting 20 August to 15 October 2018; during which it was streamed more than 18.9 billion times. It later went on national broadcast and aired simultaneously on Jiangsu Television and Dragon Television from 25 December 2018.
Despite receiving initial mixed reviews from viewers about the plot and the characters, the series eventually won acclaim for its exquisite props, ornate lavish sets and stellar cast and has a grand total score of 7.5 points on Douban.
Synopsis
The story follows Step Empress Nara and her life during the Qianlong Emperor's reign as his consort until her death.
Originally known as Lady Qingying, the niece of Empress Xiaojing, she is childhood friends with Prince Hongli and initially chosen to be his primary consort. However, when Yongzheng Emperor exposes Empress Xiaojing in making Prince Hongshi a usurper against him, Prince Hongli is forced to rescind his decision, taking Lady Fuca Langhua as his primary consort instead. Lady Qingying is banished from the Imperial Court upon Empress Xiaojing's house arrest. Prince Hongli compromises with Yongzheng Emperor to take Lady Qingying as the former's secondary consort in exchange of also taking Lady Gao Xiyue as his concubine as well. All three women are promoted once Prince Hongli became Qianlong Emperor; Lady Qingying becoming Consort Xian, Lady Fuca becomes Empress and Lady Gao becoming Noble Consort Hui.
Due to her involvement with the Ula-Nara clan and her reputation as Qianlong Emperor's most favored wife, Consort Xian was initially not well received in the Imperial Harem and Imperial Family. Dowager Empress Xi initially distrusted Consort Xian but granted her the name "Ruyi" once trust was later established. Threatened by Ruyi's favor among both mother and sons, Empress Fuca, Noble Consort Hui, and her maid Aruo conspired against her, resulting in Ruyi being blamed for the deaths of royal heirs. She is demoted and sent to the Cold Palace where the truth about her infertility surfaced and where she formed an alliance with lowly bodyguard Ling Yunche. Ruyi was able to return to the Imperial Harem with the help of her allies and, with her sister-wife, Consort Yu's help, Aruo was banished to the Cold Palace, Noble Consort Hui was abandoned by the Empress, and the Empress was isolated from her allies. Devastated by the deaths of her sons and forced to marry her daughter off to the Mongol allies, Empress Fuca nearly drowned. On her deathbed, Qianlong confronted her for her evil deeds done during her reign towards the harem. In return, she cursed him with an Empress who would endure his cold demeanor until her death.
It is revealed that Empress Fuca and Noble Consort Hui were both manipulated by Consort Jia, a favored consort from Joseon who wanted to win the love of the Joseon Crown Prince. Ruyi's ascension from Consort to Imperial Noble Consort to Step Empress was made uneasy due to Consort Jia's attempt to curb her favor with scathing rumors and an attempt to frame her for adultery. Furthermore, she rallied her maiden clan and well known Duchesses to convince Emperor Qianlong to name her oldest son as Crown Prince. Eventually, Consort Jia lost favor and demoted to a Commoner due to her constant scheming and manipulations. On her deathbed, to have her confess to her crimes, Ruyi revealed to her that Joseon Crown Prince exposed the fact that she was a commoner, which was why he never loved her. Ruyi was unaware that Consort Jia's downfall was due to the scheming of unfavored Consort Ling.