Yuanming Garden), the film stars Tony Leung Ka-fai as the Xianfeng Emperor and Liu Xiaoqing as a young noble consort, Cixi.

Since then the imperial couple had enjoyed their married life in the Yuanming Garden, where the Emperor often teaches the noble consort how to reply to reports from regional officials.

Yulan's first attempt to directly interfere with government affairs proves successful, as the Emperor accepts her proposal and orders a peace talk at Tungchow, where a heavy Qing Army is stationed.

The fall of Palikao putting Peking at imminent risk, the Xianfeng Emperor has no choice but to flee to the Summer Resort in Jehol along with the imperial court and to appoint Prince Gong to be in charge of negotiations.

Although Qing resistance is too weak against the firearm-equipped Western powers, a peasant family volunteers to defend the city and kills many soldiers of the joint expeditionary force.