Fifteen years after Qing Emperor Jiaxing was crowned, the country appears to be in harmony. However, fights between the imperial concubines escalate.

Beauty never lastes. All the imperial concubines, including the emporer's beloved YUET (TANG SHUI MAN, SHEREN), understand this and become nervous when the triennial imperial concubine election approaches. YUET's position is threatened by an imperial descentdant YING (LAI CHI, GIGI), a powerful eunuch's adopted daughter SHUN (SHEH, CHARMAINE) and an experuenced imperial sercant maid SIN (CHEUNG HO YEE, MAGGIE). They are friends and enemies in the war for emperor's love.

The four beautiful women are either friends or lovers of an imperial physician YEUNG (LAM, BOWIE) and a trooper MO (CHAN HO, MOSES). Plots and lies undermine their love and friendships in the palace.