The Great Eunuch Li Lianying

Emperor Tongzhi is seriously ill, and Li Lianying (played by Jiang Wen) strongly recommends Cixi (played by Liu Xiaoqing) to listen behind the curtain for the second time. Tongzhi dies soon after, and Cixi becomes emperor and continues to control the government. In 1882, Li Lianying accompanied Prince Chun on an inspection tour of the Beiyang Navy. After returning to Beijing, he was impeached by the Metropolitan Procuratorate and dismissed from his post. At Cixi's suggestion, Li Lianying was reinstated as the chief manager of the harem. In order to give his niece a good home, Li Lianying brought her into the palace. Unexpectedly, she only ended up as a slave. He felt full of guilt. As Guangxu grew up, he was unwilling to be manipulated by Cixi. He tried to seize power from Cixi but was suppressed forcefully. Li Lianying was afraid of Cixi's power and was ordered to execute Concubine Zhen. Not long after the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded, the Qing army lost consecutive battles. Li Lianying fled with Cixi incognito, and stopped at a farmer's home on the way. The peasant woman's words made Li Lianying and Cixi realize something...