道光年间，西林春 (胡静 饰)的父亲鄂硕因不愿参与宠妃全妃的后宫之争而惨遭迫害，西林春为了替父亲讨回公道而决定入京参加选秀。克服了母亲的重重阻挠而在进京赶考的安雪臣(黄维德 饰)的帮助下进入皇宫的西林春却不想自己已被从秀女名单上除名，而她更是因为不小心卷入全妃(傅艺伟 饰)和祥嫔(伊能静 饰)的权利之争而被发配辛者库，开始了艰苦的奴隶生活。为了报仇西林春开始了步步为营的隐忍计划，更是在这场纷杂的宫廷之争中结识了各自肩负使命入宫的景珍(陈炜 饰)，兰轩(陈秀丽 饰)，三人虽各怀心思却结成了好姐妹。而就在西林春一步步的实行着自己的计划，自己又陷入了与荣广海(陈浩民 饰)，安雪臣三人的纠葛感情之中。就这样，众人就在这场勾心斗角的后宫生活中为了各自的目的挣扎的生存着。

道光年间，西林春 (胡静 饰)的父亲鄂硕因不愿参与宠妃全妃的后宫之争而惨遭迫害，西林春为了替父亲讨回公道而决定入京参加选秀。克服了母亲的重重阻挠而在进京赶考的安雪臣(黄维德 饰)的帮助下进入皇宫的西林春却不想自己已被从秀女名单上除名，而她更是因为不小心卷入全妃(傅艺伟 饰)和祥嫔(伊能静 饰)的权利之争而被发配辛者库，开始了艰苦的奴隶生活。为了报仇西林春开始了步步为营的隐忍计划，更是在这场纷杂的宫廷之争中结识了各自肩负使命入宫的景珍(陈炜 饰)，兰轩(陈秀丽 饰)，三人虽各怀心思却结成了好姐妹。而就在西林春一步步的实行着自己的计划，自己又陷入了与荣广海(陈浩民 饰)，安雪臣三人的纠葛感情之中。就这样，众人就在这场勾心斗角的后宫生活中为了各自的目的挣扎的生存着。

Star, a suicidal teen now too old for foster care, develops a candid rapport with An, a student from Shanghai who is assigned to watch her while she is in hospital. A nightly exchange of secrets, text messages and possessions quickly expands the boundaries of their relationship, altering their inner chemistry. 　　Gilded by a soundscape that interweaves work by emerging and pioneering electronic musicians, Queens of the Qing Dynasty is an offbeat ode to neurodiversity and genderqueer individuals who refuse to conform. Director Ashley McKenzie’s blend of formalism and gritty realism does not fail to surprise and treats the audience to flashes of visual and conceptual poetry. Her cast is entirely composed of first-time actors who convincingly convey how unique every individual is, both in how they see the world and how they relate to others. Ziyin Zheng in the role of An graciously embodies a mix of idiosyncrasy and frankness that makes them an ideal confidante for Star (Sarah Walker). They have what it takes to be on the receiving end of the scrutinising gaze of Star, who sees through conventions and never ceases to be amazed at life’s bewildering events. Veering on slapstick, Walker’s performance will not go unnoticed.

Star, a suicidal teen now too old for foster care, develops a candid rapport with An, a student from Shanghai who is assigned to watch her while she is in hospital. A nightly exchange of secrets, text messages and possessions quickly expands the boundaries of their relationship, altering their inner chemistry. 　　Gilded by a soundscape that interweaves work by emerging and pioneering electronic musicians, Queens of the Qing Dynasty is an offbeat ode to neurodiversity and genderqueer individuals who refuse to conform. Director Ashley McKenzie’s blend of formalism and gritty realism does not fail to surprise and treats the audience to flashes of visual and conceptual poetry. Her cast is entirely composed of first-time actors who convincingly convey how unique every individual is, both in how they see the world and how they relate to others. Ziyin Zheng in the role of An graciously embodies a mix of idiosyncrasy and frankness that makes them an ideal confidante for Star (Sarah Walker). They have what it takes to be on the receiving end of the scrutinising gaze of Star, who sees through conventions and never ceases to be amazed at life’s bewildering events. Veering on slapstick, Walker’s performance will not go unnoticed.

道光年间，西林春 (胡静 饰)的父亲鄂硕因不愿参与宠妃全妃的后宫之争而惨遭迫害，西林春为了替父亲讨回公道而决定入京参加选秀。克服了母亲的重重阻挠而在进京赶考的安雪臣(黄维德 饰)的帮助下进入皇宫的西林春却不想自己已被从秀女名单上除名，而她更是因为不小心卷入全妃(傅艺伟 饰)和祥嫔(伊能静 饰)的权利之争而被发配辛者库，开始了艰苦的奴隶生活。为了报仇西林春开始了步步为营的隐忍计划，更是在这场纷杂的宫廷之争中结识了各自肩负使命入宫的景珍(陈炜 饰)，兰轩(陈秀丽 饰)，三人虽各怀心思却结成了好姐妹。而就在西林春一步步的实行着自己的计划，自己又陷入了与荣广海(陈浩民 饰)，安雪臣三人的纠葛感情之中。就这样，众人就在这场勾心斗角的后宫生活中为了各自的目的挣扎的生存着。

“弘皙逆案”爆发，京师四大家族赵、王、李、薛均受牵连。李家最先被抄家籍没，赵頫父子前去拜见弘皙，请求援助李家。弘皙将李家的罪产藏于自己府中，还觊觎四大家族的财产，想将其作为自己事业的经济支撑。赵家因此卷入皇室矛盾，如惊弓之鸟。赵王氏为保全赵家，棒打鸳鸯林颦儿（舒畅 饰），骗赵芹（迟帅 饰）与薛家联姻……

这是一幕发生在清朝的大家族悲剧，其历史背景是：清朝年间，雍正皇帝猝死，生前曾有圣谕，宝亲王弘历、理亲王弘皙均有可能入继大统。但遗诏不翼而飞，王公权臣斡旋之下，弘历胜出登基为乾隆帝，其子永琏为储君，依约定永琏如有不测，弘皙则依序可即位。不料三岁的永琏于乾隆3年病卒，乾隆岂容弘皙似有即位之可能，史称“弘皙逆案”。京师四大家族赵、王、李、薛，既是姻亲，又是政治同盟。李家首被抄家籍没，赵頫父子谒见弘皙，请援李家。弘皙将李家罪产藏匿于府中，并觊觎四大家族的财产，为自己事业经济支持所用。赵家被卷入皇室矛盾，如惊弓之鸟、战战兢兢。赵王氏为保赵家，棒打鸳鸯林颦儿，骗赵芹与薛家联姻。牵连之下，元妃（赵頫之女）被查出曾是弘皙府上人，赵府被抄没，赵府一门在封建皇权之下，满门悲凉，人亡财散 。

明朝年间，朝廷为充实冷清的后宫，在全国开展宫女海选。孤女紫云为报答富商邵仲的收留之情，代替其女儿春华入宫成为宫女。她和柏含香一同在浣衣局洗衣，二人结为了无话不谈的好友。不久后发生宫变，太子朱见深被发配，宫女万贞儿始终不离不弃。后来朱见深继位，封万贞儿为贵妃，凌七巧也依仗贵妃的权势成了其身边的红人。此时，已是宫廷乐师的含香和春华同时爱上了为复仇混入宫廷的杨永。妃嫔含香、清姿怀上龙子，遭到万贵妃的妒忌与怨恨，春华决心设计相助，却不料引发了新一轮的后宫争斗……

明英宗末年，太子朱见深选妃充实后宫，在民间广征民女，十三岁少女李紫云，父母早逝，投靠叔父，虽寄人篱下，苦不堪言却仍旧仁厚、乐观。为救助生病乞丐，被叔母当街虐打，幸得富商邵仲解围、收留。紫云为报恩，冒名顶替，代其女邵春华入宫做宫女，认识了父为犯官、被没入浣衣局、性情柔弱的柏含香，两人结成好友，同时入宫。土木堡之变，太子朱见深被发配南门，宫女万贞儿悉心照料。朱见深继位，封万贞儿为贵妃。凌七巧仗姑母成为万妃身边红人。春华与含香成为乐师，同时恋上伺机入宫向西厂太监汪直报杀兄之仇的乐工杨永。含香、清姿被封妃嫔，身怀六甲，遭万贵妃妒恨。春华为保护两人，遭七巧恶意挑拨，使春华与清姿关系破裂、万妃欲杀春华。宫外曾受春华恩惠的汪直向帝求情，与春华成为对食。无奈春华与杨永早生情愫，汪直欲杀杨永。清姿遭万妃陷害，向春华求救。春华献计，清姿产下一子，两人冰释前嫌。含香病重，春华安排她与杨永相见，被万妃发现后判死刑。汪直火烧囚房，春华出宫。宪宗念含香之情，赦免杨永。杨永与春华终成眷属。

十九世纪初，莎菲从义大利被送到鄂柏图赫米特二世的后宫中，担任太监纳迪尔的所手下的侍女之一，不过，纳迪尔和莎菲间的关系十分要好，甚至迅速地对彼此产生了不可抗拒的吸引力，但纳迪尔为了要攀升权位，纳迪尔希望莎菲可以成为皇帝的最爱，于是莎菲藉著表演皇帝最爱的歌剧来获得他的喜悦， 这样的举动深深吸引了苏丹皇帝的目光，而且变成了皇帝的爱妾，但是，在莎菲心中这一切都是为了纳迪尔，越是争取外在权力的同时，便是对两人内心爱情世界产生无比挣扎的考验，却也加深两人的爱意，仅管这段恋曲可能必须承受极大的风险和禁忌的规范和纳迪尔生理上的缺陷。