War and Beauty (金枝慾孽) was a 30-episode TV series broadcast in Hong Kong in 2004 by TVB Jade starring Charmaine Sheh, Gigi Lai, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, Sheren Tang, Rebecca Chan, Bowie Lam, and Moses Chan.
Synopsis
This show was set in the Forbidden City, in Qing Dynasty China in the late years of Emperor Jiaqing's rule. It focused on the power struggle between various Royal concubines trying to secure the Emperor's favor, with corruption, intrigue and outright deceit being the weapons of choice. These women were willing to manipulate, betray and even kill just about anyone in order to get what they wanted.
Throughout the later parts of the series, the inevitable results of this corruption become increasingly apparent. The main characters start to lose everything they care for, while being forced to conclude that they have only themselves to blame. In the meantime, corruption takes its toll on the outside world as well: the entire empire is destabilizing.
But none of that is a deterrent to the scheming women. On the contrary: even when the rebels make their way into the Forbidden City, the manipulators' first thoughts are as to how this situation may be used to their advantage. In the end, corruption itself is the only clear winner and many of those involved die or are forced to flee the City forever.
Cast
Sheren Tang- Lau Ku Luk Yu-Yuet (如玥, Rǔ Yuè), an initially favored concubine who eventually fell out of favor with the Emperor after losing a power struggle with the Empress.
Gigi Lai Chi- Hau Kai Yuk-Ying (玉瑩, Yù Yǐng), a Manchurian who was treated quite badly by her father before entering the palace.
Bowie Lam Bo Yee- Suen Bak Yeung (孫白颺, Sūn Bái Yǎng), a palace doctor who caters to the need of all concubines. Was romantically involved with Yuk-Ying, who bore his child and posed it as the Emperor's child.
Moses Chan Ho- Hung-Mo (孔武, Kóng Wǔ), a soldier who gained the favor of the Emperor after saving his life. Was responsible for the safety of Yi-Shun and Yuk-Ying on their way to Beijing. His fraternal brother, Chan Song, was expelled from the palace after he was found stealing, and joined rebel forces at the end of the series.
Charmaine Sheh Si Man- Dung Kai Yi-Shun (爾淳, Ěr Chún), a Han posing as a Manchurian in order to get into the palace and save her adoptive father from death.
Maggie Cheung Ho Yee- On-Sin (安茜, Ān Qiàn), a palace maid who, after knowing that her grandmother was killed by the Empress, actively gained the Emperor's favor to take revenge.
Rebecca Chan- the Empress of the Qing Dynasty, she was initially out of favor, but regained it after winning a power struggle with Yu-Yuet.
Ending of Main Characters
At the end of the series, many things come to a head. As the corruption of Qing Politics became all the more prevalent, the people of the country has an armed rebellion. The fact that these rebels were going to invade the palace opened up some interesting opportunities, especially for the Empress who tried to kill off opposition while blaming the rebels.
Dr Suen made an attempt to use the situation to escape with Yuk-Ying. However the Empress was already aware of their affair, and while the two were in Yuk-Ying's residence the Empress' guards boarded up the entrances and set it on fire, causing both to be burned alive.
On-Sin, whose plan to exact revenge on the Empress for her grandmother's death was aborted, hatched plans to leave the palace with Hung-Mo and Yi-Shun (who had lost all will to live in the Palace after her adoptive father died).
Yu-Yuet had also been invited to leave by the trio, but she refused to because she entered the palace at the age of 16, and was unaccustomed to civilian life. Having survived an attack by several guards dressed up as rebels and having realized the true fate of Dr Suen and Yuk-Ying, she went on to confront the Empress directly. She appeared to be in a superior political position, and one of her most famous lines are "From the beginning it was I who could compete with you. It was that way in the past, the present, and it would continue in the future!"
All was not over for the ones who left. As the trio tries to leave the palace, On-Sin was shot by a stray arrow which she would die of soon afterwards. Both sadly and romantically fitting, she died on Hung-Mo's shoulder while escaping in a horse cart. In the end, only Hung-Mo and Yi-Shun succesfully left the palace and, as hinted by the film, started a new life.
Some analysists believe that the rebellion represents a fall of order. In an ordered society, backstabbing and deceit are considered 'normal', but when the order fails human violence and compassion finally takes a definite shape; as opposed to the vague ambition and purpose the women has displayed throughout the show.
