Dayuer is a
Khorchin Mongol princess who is deeply in love with
Dorgon, a son of the
Later Jin khan
Nurhaci. Yet, she soon becomes the concubine of Dorgon's half-brother
Huangtaiji. Huangtaiji has already married Dayuer's aunt,
Jerjer, to secure an alliance between the Khorchin Mongols and Later Jin. Huangtaiji initially has feelings for Dayuer, but realises that she only loves Dorgon, so he directs his affection to her sister,
Harjol. With support from Dorgon and his brother
Dodo, Huangtaiji succeeds their father as khan and establishes the
Qing dynasty to replace the Later Jin. However, Dorgon and Huangtaiji have a strained relationship because of Dayuer and the forced suicide of Dorgon's mother,
Lady Abahai. After Huangtaiji's death, Dayuer's son
Fulin takes the throne while Dayuer becomes empress dowager, with Dorgon ruling as regent. As Fulin grows older, he becomes increasingly distrustful of Dorgon after discovering his mother's ongoing secret affair with Dorgon. After Dorgon's sudden death, Fulin strips him of his honours. Fulin himself dies shortly after the passing of his beloved concubine,
Consort Donggo, leaving his young son,
Xuanye, to succeed him as emperor. Now grand empress dowager, Dayuer provides guidance and support to her grandson. == Cast ==