Series synopsis
War and Beauty, also known as 金枝慾孽 is a drama television series that premiered on TVB Jade on August 23, 2004. It ended on October 1, 2004. It was created by Jonathan Ki-Yee Chik. It stars Maggie Cheung Ho-Yee, Charmaine Sheh Sze-Man, Gigi Lai Chi and Sheren Tang Shui-Man.
Fifteen years after Qing Emperor Jiaqing was crowned the country appears to be in harmony. However, fights between the imperial concubines escalate. All the imperial concubines including the emperor's beloved Yu-Yue understand this and becomes nervous when the triennial imperial concubine election approaches. Yu-Yue's position is threatened by an imperial descendant, Yuk-ying, a powerful eunuch's adopted daughter, Yi-Sun, and an experienced imperial servant maid On-Seen. They are friends and ene ...
Premise
Fifteen years after Qing Emperor Jiaqing was crowned the country appears to be in harmony. However, fights between the imperial concubines escalate. All the imperial concubines including the emperor's beloved Yu-Yue understand this and becomes nervous when the triennial imperial concubine election approaches. Yu-Yue's position is threatened by an imperial descendant, Yuk-ying, a powerful eunuch's adopted daughter, Yi-Sun, and an experienced imperial servant maid On-Seen. They are friends and enemies in the war for the emperor's love. The four beautiful women are either friends or lovers of an imperial physician Sun Bak Yeung and a trooper Kong-Wu. Plots and lies undermine their love and friendships in the palace.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Maggie Cheung Ho-Yee as 苏完瓜尔佳·安茜
- Charmaine Sheh Sze-Man as 董佳·尔淳
- Gigi Lai Chi as 侯佳·玉莹
- Sheren Tang Shui-Man as 钮祜禄·如玥
- Bowie Lam Bo-Yee as 孙白飏
- Moses Chan Ho as 孔武
- Jade Leung Tsang as 纳兰·福雅
- Rebecca Chan as 钮祜禄氏
Supporting cast
- Maria Chen as 宝婵
- Kenny Wong Tak-Ban as 常永禄
- Willie Wai Ga-Hung as 陈爽
- Chen Hung-Lieh as 孙清华
- Lo Hoi-Pang as 徐万田
- Felton Law Gwan-Joh as 曹镇南、工头
- 朱婉儀 as 芷兰
- Catherine Chau as 白兰
- June Chan Kei as 郭络罗·淑宁
- Iris Wong Yat-Tung as 葆蕙
- Renee Yan as 明珠
- Cheung Pui-Sai as 娉婷
Guest cast
- Fanny Ip as 妓女
- JoJo Shum Po-Yee as 妓女
- Hoffman Cheng as 钱有财手下
- Jason Lam as 钱有财手下
- Oscar Li Ka as 钱有财手下
- Chang Kin-Ming as 故衣店老板
- Adam Ip as 侯府下人
- Luo Zhen Yue as 周师爷
- 何仲源 as 侍卫、工人、高参领
- Pang Hao-Feng as 工人、黑衣人、侍卫、落难护军
- Irene Wong Lam as 陆皓雪
- Joe Summer as 小樱子
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 30 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 30 | August 23, 2004 | October 1, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Concubine CHAN tries but fails to sneak out of the Palace and Concubine YUE, on behalf of the Queen, decides to have her executed. CHAN keeps cursing the pregnant YUE until she draws her last breath. District Officer HUNG MO and his cousin CHAN SONG have been assigned to deliver the gifts for Emperor JIAQING back to the capital city. Along the way, they meet some members of the Tin Lee Sect who are trying to kidnap a group of xiu-nus – girls who are to attend the Imperial Concubine Selection in Peking (now known as Beijing). MO has mistakenly killed a man when he is trying to rescue SONG. The girls manage to persuade MO and SONG to escort them to the Palace. In order to break away from the Tin Lee Sect members, MO decides to leave the gifts aside. Xiu-nu YUKYING is a beautiful but arrogant young girl. She is on bad terms with everyone except for YEESHUN, another xiu-nu who once saved her life…… |
August 23, 2004 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Royal Maid ON-SIN is shocked to discover that YING has got into CHAN’s room. She means to make a fool of YING so that YUE may let her off. YING blames SIN while SIN, as an experienced royal maid, teaches the girl a lesson about how to survive in the Palace. Like SHUN, xiu-nus YUEN-KEI and SHUK-NING are the adopted daughters of a eunuch TSU MAN-TIN. TIN sends them into the Palace hoping that they will help maintain his position. MO goes to gamble at a brothel and wins a lot of money. But his luck does not last. He loses everything eventually and gets severely beaten up. MO and SONG try to seek help from YING’s family, but in vain. They are therefore very disappointed. Imperial Physician SUEN CHING-WAH frowns when he is checking YUE’s pulse. YUE secretly summons another Imperial Physician SUEN PAK-YEUNG…… |
August 24, 2004 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 SIN will have to spend one more year in the Palace before she can return home. She has been very much looking forward to this day. MO and SONG are to renovate a hall of the Palace. SONG grumbles about the strict and complicated palace rules while MO has no feeling at all. YEUNG tries to cure YUE with acupuncture. TIN not only invites YEUNG to dinner but also gives him a great present. YEUNG is aware of his intention and reveals to him that YUE’s position is still strong. WAH is YEUNG’s father. YEUNG’s mother died some years ago and YEUNG believed that WAH was responsible for her death. Their relationship has broken down since then. WAH criticizes YEUNG for being too desperate for fame and success. He further points out that YEUNG should not have tried acupuncture which is strictly forbidden in the Palace. YEUNG refutes his allegations, leaving him unable to respond. YING twists her ankle while having the etiquette lessons…… |
August 25, 2004 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | TVB Jade |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 23, 2004 |
| Last aired | October 1, 2004 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |