Set against the backdrop of the Boxer Rebellion and the takeover of the Forbidden City by foreign powers, the empress-dowager Cixi and her notorious chief eunuch fight a losing battle to preserve their corrupt and autocratic regime.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Jiang WenLi Lianying | Li Lianying |
 Xu FanConcubine Zhen | Concubine Zhen |
 Liu XiaoqingEmpress Ci Xi | Empress Ci Xi |
 Zhu XuPrince Chun | Prince Chun |
 Ding JialiNot listed | Not listed |
 Tian Shaojun光绪 | 光绪 |
 Liu Bin崔玉贵 | 崔玉贵 |
 Niu XingliNot listed | Not listed |