Mo Lan's illicit relationship is discovered by her father. Chaos ensues as rumors begin to trickle out to the rest of the Capital. Madame Wang and Sheng Hong cry to the heavens over what to do with this ungrateful daughter. Mistress Lin continues to scheme and push for Mo Lan to marry into the aristocracy. Grandma Sheng becomes absolutely furious at the turn of events. Does Mo Lan get what she wants at the end? Listen to find out!
Jul 19, 2021•46 min
Mo Lan is increasingly agitated to hear that Ming Lan might marry into nobility while their father only made a match with a poor student for herself. So, she decides, with goading from her mother that this is the only way to secure wealth and status, to let go of all humility and shame and throw herself at Liang Han, the son of a Count. Little do they know, it's all going according to Ming Lan's plan.
Jul 13, 2021•34 min
After being let down by Qi Heng, Ming Lan turns her attention to what truly matters - revenge against her mother's death. Countess Wu has her sights on having Ming Lan as a daughter in law and invites her to various events. Ming Lan seizes this opportunity to see what kind of mistake she can force her sister and Mistress Lin to make.
Jul 05, 2021•38 min
The Duke of Qi has gone missing. Qi Heng and his mother try in vain to find him but to no avail. With no other option, Qi Heng heads to the Prince of Yong's estate. The trap was laid for him The Princess Consort threatens Qi Heng with the destruction of Ming Lan's family if he doesn't agree to a marriage with her daughter. He has no other choice but to agree. Ming Lan finds out and is heartbroken. Gu Ting Ye learns the news and immediately offers his services to Qi Heng to help him fight for Min...
Jun 28, 2021•35 min
Ming Lan returns to the Capital and continues her investigation of her mother's death. The women of the Sheng family are invited to a grand banquet at the Gu Manor. The young duke manages to steal some time with Ming Lan to proclaim his love for her. Gu Ting Ye crashes the party later to warn Ming Lan that Qi Heng will not keep his promise. Sure enough, Qi Heng's mother reveals the truth about their family's predicament that will force Qi Heng to choose between his family and Ming Lan.
Jun 22, 2021•39 min
Ming Lan returns to the Capital to hear that Qi Heng, the young duke, has been feuding with his mother to secure his and Ming Lan's marriage. Shortly after, the Lantern Festival celebrations are dashed with the kidnapping of a prominent woman with royal connections, causing fear in the city. Elsewhere, Ming Lan discovers more about her mother's death.
Jun 14, 2021•28 min
Thanks to Ming Lan's efforts, her cousin Shu Lan is able to successfully separate from her despicable husband. Unfortunately, Ming Lan's great aunt passes shortly after. During the funeral procession, the group is attacked by bandits. Ming Lan becomes separated from the group and is rescued by none other than Gu Ting Ye. Does she make it back safely to the Sheng family?
Jun 08, 2021•39 min
Ming Lan and her grandmother make it to their hometown to visit Sheng family relatives. Once there, they discover the abusive marriage one of the cousins, Shu Lan, is currently trapped in and try to help save her. Elsewhere, Gu Ting Ye enters the military to begin building a career for himself.
Jun 01, 2021•36 min
Qi Heng thought his mother would help him propose marriage to Ming Lan but instead, she asked the Sheng daughters to be Qi Heng's sisters. Knowing that this devastated her granddaughter, Grandma Sheng brings Ming Lan on a trip to visit their Sheng family relatives to clear help her head. On the way though, Qi Heng follows Ming Lan via ship and vows he'll marry her, whatever his mother says. Later, Ming Lan's ship is attacked by bandits/pirates. She is saved by none other than Gu Ting Ye.
May 25, 2021•37 min
Gu Ting Ye has left the Capital to search for his son. Elsewhere, Qi Heng prepares thoughtful surprises for his mother's birthday in hopes of securing her permission to marry Ming Lan. Meanwhile, Ming Lan finally reaps the benefits of her long laid trap to rid her household of spies.
May 20, 2021•35 min
Gu Ting Ye gets into an argument with his father over his marriage proposal with catastrophic consequences - his father passes away. His beloved stepmother takes this opportunity to reveal that she was lying about her affection to Gu Ting Ye all these years in order to kick him out of the family which she and Gu Ting Ye's older brother are effectively able to do. To add insult to injury, Gu Ting Ye also discovers that his mistress was also lying about everything and was in fact a gold digger all...
May 12, 2021•37 min
Ming Lan gets to showcase her skills in preventing her best friend, Yu Yan Ran from being bullied by Man Niang - an outside mistress of Gu Ting Ye. Ming Lan immediately sees through Man Niang's character as a Green Tea B**** and puts her in her place. This prevents Gu Ting Ye from successfully proposing to Yan Ran but at least it's a satisfying display of Ming Lan's ability to stand her ground in matters of the household.
May 03, 2021•42 min
After a triumphant display at the polo match, Ming Lan comes face to face, alone, with the young Duke of Qi. He professes his intentions to marry her which surprises her but she recognizes that her status does not befit his station. Regardless, he is willing to try to marry her as his wife. Back home, she is reprimanded by her father for participating in the polo match while Mistress Lin tries to get Sheng Hong to match her daughter with the Duke.
Apr 26, 2021•32 min
Countess Wu hosts a grand event! Everyone from the capital is in attendance! The main event of the episode is a polo match. Ming Lan attends with her family and decides to spend time with her best friend Yu Yan Ran. The Young Duke, Qi Heng, and Gu Ting Ye are also at the event. Yan Ran discovers that a prize for winning a polo match is actually one of her deceased mother's possessions and joins the polo match to try and win the prize from her own sister. Ming Lan, wanting to help her friend, rep...
Apr 20, 2021•34 min
Ming Lan is given a mini promotion after both Madame Wang and Mistress Lin committed egregious errors in the last episode. With no suitable candidate to run the Sheng family household, Grandma Sheng recommends Ming Lan. This is the first time we see Ming Lan starting to stand up for herself and we are here for it!
Apr 13, 2021•27 min
Gu Ting Ye learns some devastating news from his father. He will have to find another career as he will not be able to take any more Imperial Exams until the age of 50. Dejected, he plans to leave the capital with his mistress and their children. His mistress Man Niang though seems to have other plans. In the Sheng family, the master, Sheng Hong is summoned by the Emperor and confined in the Palace. Madame Wang tries to seize an opportunity and dispose of her rival Mistress Lin but fails. Sheng ...
Apr 05, 2021•43 min
In this episode, we first discuss what the Chinese Imperial Exam is all about before seeing how Chang Bai, Chang Feng, Qi Heng and Gu Ting Ye fair in their first ever Metropolitan exam.
Mar 30, 2021•31 min
The Sheng daughters finished their lessons with Kong Mo Mo and are now back with Scholar Zhuang studying with the young men. In this episode, there is a spirited debate by the students on who is better - the eldest or the most capable. We dissect each historical example raised by the students and discuss Ming Lan's insightful conclusion.
Mar 22, 2021•31 min
The Sheng daughters learn 3 of the 4 arts of life prominent during the Song Dynasty. But these skills are not the only things they learn. After tensions blow up between 5th daughter Ru Lan and 6th daughter Mo Lan, Kong Mo Mo, a formidable woman, reprimands not just the daughters, but their parents as well.
Mar 14, 2021•36 min
Gu Ting Ye brings his nanny to care for his mistress and two young children. After she arrives, she shares that Gu Ting Ye's mother was tricked into marrying his father and was treated very poorly because she came from a merchant family whereas the Gu family is of nobility. Gu Ting Ye's mother's dowry was used to repay the heavy debts that the Gu family incurred. This story deeply angers Gu Ting Ye. Elsewhere, the ladies of the Sheng family start taking lessons with Kong Mo Mo, an old friend of ...
Mar 07, 2021•33 min
The Sheng family receives unexpected guests which makes at least one of the Sheng daughters curious. In the end, the 3 Sheng daughters sneak to the main hall for a peak at the Countess and her son. Elsewhere, Gu Ting Ye is embroiled in rocky family dynamics now he's returned to the Capital City
Mar 01, 2021•35 min
The Sheng children have arrived in the capital city and are off to school! Years pass and we finally get to meet our main cast! A handsome young duke Qi Heng studies with the Sheng family and he is quite smitten with Ming Lan. Unfortunately, Ming Lan's two older sisters Mo Lan and Ru Lan are quite jealous of any show of affection from the young duke. Ming Lan has no choice but to avoid Qi Heng. Gu Ting Ye, who has been away for a few years studying at another academy, returns to study with the S...
Feb 22, 2021•39 min
The presumed dead Gu Ting Ye appears at his grandfather's funeral, dashing some family members' plans to steal his inheritance. Ming Lan's mother goes into labor but the devious Mistress Lin doesn't aid the suffering woman. Ming Lan tries desperately to find a doctor but by the time she does, it's too late. Master Sheng and Madame Wang are furious at the turn of events and punish the servants. Grandma Sheng decides to raise Ming Lan under her care. The family leaves for the capital as Master She...
Feb 15, 2021•37 min
In this episode, little Ming Lan tries to improve her mother's living conditions after winning favor with her father. Her father Sheng Hong is outraged to find the destitute living conditions she and her mother lives in and tries to investigate. However the devious Mistress Lin is one step ahead and artfully implicates an innocent maid. On a peaceful boat ride, bandits try to assassinate two young boys. What happens to one of them?
Feb 08, 2021•26 min
The drama begins by introducing us to two main conflicts. The first is that young Ming Lan, the main character of the show, and her mother are unable to secure coal to help them through the winter. The second, is that Ming Lan's oldest sister, Hua Lan's engagement party is almost ruined. Their brother drank too much and almost loses his sister's betrothal gift in a bet. We are introduced to the dynamics of the Sheng household and some interesting traditions of Chinese marriage during the Song Dy...
Feb 01, 2021•45 min
Set in the Northern Song Dynasty, this drama depicts the life of the 6th daughter of the Sheng family, Sheng Ming Lan. Though not of high birth, she is able to use her intelligence and perseverance to secure happiness in this interesting time period. This podcast episode provides the historical background of this drama, the Story of Ming Lan/ 知否知否硬是绿肥红瘦 and introduces the 2 main leads.
Jan 25, 2021•25 min
We conclude our discussion of Empresses In The Palace with our final thoughts. We discuss the historical figures the key characters are based off of and fun facts about the cast and crew. Lastly, we share our thoughts on the impact of this drama.
Jan 18, 2021•35 min
Zhen Huan is filled with hatred towards the Emperor after the death of the 17th Prince. Ning Pin schemes to slowly poison the Emperor. Zhen Huan seizes power in the Palace as the failing Emperor's suspicions towards the 6th prince reignites. In a final confrontation between the Emperor and Zhen Huan, Zhen Huan reveals her hatred towards the Emperor. The drama ends with Zhen Huan taking the mantle as Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty as her adoptive son, the 4th Prince, ascends the throne.
Jan 11, 2021•39 min
The Emperor has finally caught on to the 17th prince's feelings towards Zhen Huan and sets multiple traps for the 17th prince to confirm his suspicions. Unfortunately, the 17th prince falls directly in those traps and the Emperor forces Zhen Huan to kill her beloved in an act of jealousy. In their final meeting, the 17th prince drinks the poison she wanted for herself to protect Zhen Huan one last time.
Jan 03, 2021•33 min
The Empress and Emperor meet for one final showdown. The Empress finally confesses to her crimes but how will the Emperor react? What will happen to the Empress? The Emperor also has to deal with growing unrest in the Empire as a familiar face comes back to stir trouble for Zhen Huan
Dec 29, 2020•26 min
