Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace () is a 2018 Chinese television series based on the novel by Liu Lianzi. Starring Zhou Xun and Wallace Huo, it chronicles the marital relationship between the Qianlong Emperor and Empress Nara. The series aired on Tencent Video from August 20 to October 15, 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 TV from December 25, 2018.
The highly anticipated sequel to the popular Empresses in the Palace, the drama's release and plot were affected by Chinese censorship, and it was ultimately a critical disappointment. It generated controversy over the lead actors' pay, its underlying values, and allegations of plagiarism, though it was praised for its elaborate props and lavish sets. In January 2019, after Beijing Daily criticized palace-intrigue dramas for their negative influence, the series was temporarily removed from the Chinese stream service. It was again removed in China on 27 September 2020.
Synopsis The story follows Empress Nara and her life during the Qianlong Emperor's reign.
Originally known as Ula Nara Qingying, the niece of Empress Ula Nara, she is childhood friends with Fourth Prince Hongli and initially chosen to be his primary consort. However, when the Yongzheng Emperor exposes Empress Ula Nara for her role in helping Third Prince Hongshi become a usurper, Hongli is forced to rescind his decision, taking Fuca Langhua as his primary consort instead. Qingying is banished from the imperial palace upon Empress Ula Nara's house arrest. Hongli compromises with the Yongzheng Emperor and is allowed to take Qingying as a secondary consort in exchange for also taking Gao Xiyue as a mistress.
All three women are promoted once Hongli ascends to the throne as the Qianlong Emperor; Qingying becomes Consort Xian, Langhua becomes the empress and Xiyue becomes Noble Consort Hui.
Due to her connection to the Ula Nara clan and her reputation as the Emperor's most favored woman, Consort Xian is not well received in the harem and imperial family. Empress Dowager Chongqing initially distrusts Consort Xian but grants her the name "Ruyi" once trust is later established.
Threatened by Ruyi's favor, Empress Fuca, Noble Consort Hui and her maid A'ruo conspire against her, resulting in Ruyi being blamed for the deaths of imperial heirs. She is demoted and sent to the Cold Palace where the truth about her infertility surfaces and where she forms a friendship with lowly imperial guard Ling Yunche. Ruyi is able to return to the harem with the help of her allies. A'ruo is then banished to the Cold Palace, Noble Consort Hui is abandoned by Empress Fuca and Empress Fuca is isolated from her allies.
Devastated by the deaths of her two sons and forced to marry her only daughter off to Mongolian allies, Empress Fuca falls into water during winter and nearly drowns. On her deathbed, the Emperor confronts her for her evil deeds. In return, she curses his future empress to endure his coldness until her death.
It is revealed that the late Empress and Noble Consort Hui were both manipulated by Consort Jia, a foreign consort who wants to win the love of the head of her tribe. Ruyi's elevation from noble consort to imperial noble consort to step-empress is made uneasy due to Consort Jia's curbing her favor with scathing rumors and an attempt to frame her for adultery. Furthermore, she rallies her maiden tribe and well-known noblewomen to convince the Emperor to name her eldest son as crown prince. Eventually, Consort Jia loses favor and is demoted to a commoner. On her deathbed, to have her confess to her crimes, Ruyi reveals to her that the head of her tribe exposed the fact that she isn't a noblewoman, which is why he never loved her. Ruyi is unaware that Consort Jia's downfall is due to the scheming of the unfavored Consort Ling.
Consort Ling, a former maid who looks similar to Ruyi begins rising in power. Driven by spite against those who had wronged her and financially pressured by her family, Consort Ling grows in favor due to constantly feeding into the Emperor's wants over his needs. Ruyi's differing opinions for his health and reputation begin to clash with his expectations and desires, causing a dramatic decline in their relationship.
Ultimately, a confrontation between them causes Ruyi to cut her hair as a means of symbolically ending their marriage and rescinding her status as empress. This act is seen as a curse against the emperor and empress dowager.
After being promoted to the rank of imperial noble consort, Consort Ling continually offends the Mongolian imperial consorts and abuses her power obnoxiously. Ruyi refuses to be treated for tuberculosis and collects evidence of Consort Ling's crimes. Consort Ling's life comes to an end when her crimes are exposed to the Emperor and she is punished to drink poison daily until her dying day.
Though no longer under house arrest, Ruyi refuses to be involved with the harem and doesn't accept her role as empress. While the Emperor is on a hunt at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, Ruyi finally succumbs to her illness without anyone's knowledge. Despite greatly mourning her death, the Emperor only grants her a small funeral, refuses to give her a posthumous name, orders all records of her to be destroyed and her death to be recorded as merely the passing of an untitled clanswoman. This brings controversy throughout the country and the imperial palace. When the Empress Dowager asks about his decision, he justifies his act by recounting how Ruyi had cut her hair in defiance and how his order was her eternal punishment, but he also explains his wish to free her of the empress title in death. The Emperor spends the rest of his life being haunted by her memory.
A now elderly Emperor cuts a piece of his whitened hair and places it beside the original lock of dark hair that Ruyi had cut in front of him years ago. After the passing of the Emperor, a dead prunus mume plant once nurtured by Ruyi begins to blossom.
The ending sequence states that no woman from the Ula Nara clan entered the harem after Ruyi's death.
Cast Main Leading protagonists Actor Character Residence Introduction Zhou Xun Ula Nara Qingying/Ruyi (乌拉那拉·青樱/如懿) Prince Bao's MansionYanxi PalaceYikun Palace Step-Empress Nara (那拉继后)Lady Ula Nara (格格) → Secondary Consort (侧福晋) → Consort Xian (娴妃) → Noble Lady Xian (娴贵人) → Commoner (庶人) → Consort Xian (娴妃)→ Noble Consort Xian (娴贵妃) → Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃) → Empress (皇后) → Mistress of Yikun Palace (翊坤宫娘娘)
Childhood sweethearts with the Qianlong Emperor, she is initially chosen to be his primary consort before her family's reputation is compromised. Her real name is Qingying, until she is granted the name Ruyi by the Empress Dowager, meaning "beautiful and quiet", to remind her that she must be calm if she wants to have a peaceful life in the palace. Due to her deep relationship with the Qianlong Emperor, she is despised by the women of the harem and suffers trials and tribulations as a result. Ruyi survives through these challenges with her strength and determination, as well as the help of her closest friends. She loves Qianlong sincerely and she desires no favor or power from him, just to be by his side. The great love between them begins to weaken as years pass and Ruyi is dragged by the multiple calculations in the palace, making the Emperor suspicious of her and she becomes disappointed in him. After a big argument, Ruyi cuts her hair in front of Qianlong, which is taken as a great offense and it prompts him to lock up Ruyi and depose her from the Empress seat. During her confinement she is diagnosed with tuberculosis and the physician tells her she will die soon. Later her injustice is revealed and Qianlong restores her position as Empress, but she rejects it and dies shortly after. Wallace Huo Aisin Gioro Hongli (爱新觉罗·弘历) Prince Bao's MansionYangxin Hall Emperor Gaozong of Qing (清高宗)Fourth Prince (四阿哥) → Prince Bao of the First Rank (宝亲王) → Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝) → Emperor Emeritus (太上皇)
He is the fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor and keeps a tense relationship with his adoptive mother Niohuru Zhen Huan, the Empress Dowager. Childhood sweethearts with Ruyi and her one and only love, he wanted to make her his main wife but his father the Emperor opposes and he is forced to take her as a secondary consort. Although he is initially a benevolent and fair young man, as well as a talented and politically capable ruler, he is revealed to be weak, insecure and selfish as time passes. His suspicious nature makes him distrust Ruyi, despite her showing her sincerity and love for him multiple times. Ruyi is disappointed in him after several instances of him not trusting her. His great jealousy and distrust cause him to end up deposing Ruyi as Empress, and after her death, he spends the rest of his days in deep bitterness and remorse.
Secondary protagonists Actor Character Residence Introduction Janine ChangKeliyete Hailan (珂里叶特·海兰) Prince Bao's MansionXianfu PalaceYanxi Palace Noble Consort Yu (愉贵妃)Embroidery Maid (秀娘) → Lady Keliyete (格格) → First Class Attendant Hai (海常在) → Noble Lady Hai (海贵人) → Concubine Yu (愉嫔) → Consort Yu (愉妃) → Noble Consort Yu (愉贵妃)
She entered the palace as an embroidery maid, but thanks to Ruyi, she becomes a Mistress. Hailan is the mother of Prince Yongqi, the Emperor's favorite son. A gentle yet determined woman, she is a loyal friend and confidante of Ruyi, whom she always calls "sister." Although she was initially weak and despised by the other concubines, over time she becomes strong and an exceptionally influential consort in the harem, and usually deals with the imperial consorts standing in Ruyi's way. Her nervous and timid personality changes over time, becoming a very determined woman who does not hesitate to be ruthless and even hurt herself, if that means protecting Ruyi. Vivian Wu Niohuru Zhenhuan (钮祜禄·甄嬛) Yongshou PalaceShoukang PalaceCining Palace Empress Xiaoshengxian (孝圣宪皇后)Noble Consort Xi (熹贵妃) → Empress Dowager Chongqing (重庆皇太后)
Although she appears to share a civil relationship with her adopted son, they are wary and suspicious of each other. In order to ensure her continued increase in power within the court, she places concubines under her command at Qianlong's side to spy on him. She initially dislikes Qinying because of her familial relationship with Empress Ula Nara, but later grows to respect her, appreciating her wit and prudence and granting her the name Ruyi. Jing Chao Ling Yunche (凌云彻) Imperial Guard of the Cold Palace (冷宫侍卫) → Imperial Guard of Kunning Palace (坤宁宫侍卫) → Lanling Imperial Guard (蓝翎侍卫) → Imperial Guard of the Third Rank (三级禁卫军) → Slave (奴) → Imperial Guard of the Second Rank (二级禁卫军) → Imperial Guard of the First Rank 一(级禁卫军) → Eunuch of Yikun Palace (翊坤宫太监)
An imperial guard who helps Ruyi survive in the Cold Palace, and Consort Ling's first love. When Consort Ling ended their relationship, he began to develop feelings for Ruyi due to her kindness towards him.