Queens of Diamonds and Hearts

KING SUEN of CHAI and his ministers are preparing for the upcoming soccer competition between Chai and Yin. He complains about the poor skills of his younger brother, LORD SHUN YEUNG, and AN YING, his adviser. TUEN-MUK CHING, who is a chronicler, can see that YING is not actually as bad as he seems but he prefers to keep his mouth shut. QUEEN DOWAGER intends to find a wife for KING SUEN at her birthday banquet, which is around the corner. KING SUEN suffers a crushing defeat at the soccer competition against PRINCE of YIN. As a result, he needs to give the latter a city as penalty. Unwilling to admit defeat, however, he agrees to have another match with PRINCE of YIN. KING WOON, his grandfather, accuses him of practicing soccer night and day. He tells KING SUEN to look for a sage in Shiu Yee Mountain. YING’s younger sister, AN KIU, blames him for failing to make a good adviser as their ancestors did when he is home.… ...

Both TUEN-MUK and QUEEN DOWAGER are of the opinion that KING SUEN should keep his words. Despite KING SUEN’s deep resentment against YIM, QUEEN DOWAGER insists that he marries YIM one month after his birthday. LORD SHUN YEUNG tells LADY TSU about KING SUEN and YIM’s wedding. In fact, LADY TSU has been appointed the task of teaching YIM etiquette. TIN FOON, who is under the supervision of TIN HOI, tries to rape CHUN in the kitchen. Starving, YIM goes to the kitchen to see what she can eat. This is how she meets CHUN and becomes friends with her. CHUN goes to the storeroom to get some salt and runs against FOON and MADAM MEI acting intimately. FOON prevents her from leaving. MADAM MEI dies amid the confusion. FOON accuses CHUN of killing her. YIM tells KING SUEN about CHUN’s case of injustice after visiting her in prison. The king gives YIM three days to investigate into the case. If she fails to digs out the truth…

The case has been resolved. KING SUEN tells TUEN-MUK to take the case down so as to carve a niche for himself in history. Worried that the ghost of MADAME MEI will return to revenge, CHUN offers sacrifices to her ghost in the garden. HOI shows up suddenly, accusing her of bringing him back luck. KING SUEN keeps a watch on YIM using a special instrument but he is soon mesmerized by CHUN when he sees her back. He tells YING to check out her identity in no time. With the help of YING, KING SUEN spends a romantic evening with CHUN. He decides to make CHUN the queen. YIM goes to make him promise he will not go back on his word. At one point, she even wants to let CHUN be the queen but YING and other officials do not let her. Taking the advice of YING, KING SUEN decides to crown YIM the Queen of the Eastern Palace and CHUN the Queen of the Western Palace.

QUEEN DOWAGER summons YIM and CHUN, her two future daughters-in-law, and tells them to help KING SUEN rule. YIM offers to give KING SUEN a hand as she sees how reluctant he is to read the memorials to the throne. He therefore assigns YING and TUEN-MUK to her assistance. As she goes through the documents, she notices that a considerable amount of money has been spent on relief operations and the constructions of water dams. KING SUEN spends all the time playing with CHUN. She worries that YIM will feel being neglected. The ambassador of CHIU has paid a visit to KING SUEN. CHUN did not know until then that KING SUEN is intending to marry his younger sister, PRINCESS WAN, to the KING of CHIU as a diplomatic tactic. Unfortunately, PRINCESS WAN has come down with an unknown disease recently. Dressed up as a man, YIM goes out with CHUN and PRINCESS WAN.… ...

CHUN tells KING SUEN about the rumor that he loves YIM more than she when he visits her. He denies, and orders to enlarge the Western Palace. The water conservancy project has been shelved. YIM checks out with YING, who tells her it is because the money meant for the water conservancy project has been used on the extension of the Western Palace. LADY TSU is throwing a banquet for YIM and CHUN but the latter is absent due to sickness. LADY TSU hints that she is suffering from a psychological illness. KING SUEN has written a poem to please CHUN. On the other hand, he gives YIM a glowing pearl. YIM is very pleased. CHUN missies her family very much. When he learns about this, KING SUEN swears to look for her family members, no matter how many resources it is going to involve. CHUN’s parents refuse to pay for their meals after they have learnt that CHUN has become the queen. YIM catches them on the spot. HA KWAI wants to molest WAI.

The water conservancy project has been shelved. Successful salt merchant YIM LAI sends LORD SHUN YEUNG a piece of jade as a gift. By doing so, he hopes he will have a finger in the pie in future projects. TUEN-MUK calls on YING’s family. KIU and her mother are very screwed up, as An Village will be demolished soon because of the changing of the river course. YING decides to tell the king the effect the project will have on his people. WAI encourages YIM to express her love for KING SUEN but she refuses to do anything to please him. Despite this, she cooks him a special dish of chicken. KIU and other villagers confront with government officials. As the state has already made compensation to and built new houses for the affected villagers, KING SUEN refuses to withdraw the project. YIM turns to QUEEN DOWAGER for help. CHUN suggests KING SUEN hand out food in the flood stricken areas so as to rebuild his reputation.… ...