Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

Coming from the Ula Nara clan of Plain Yellow Banner with the birth name Qingying (青樱), niece of Empress Jingren Ula Nara Yixiu. She was the childhood friend and lover of Hongli (who later ascends to the throne as Emperor Qianlong). She later becomes one of Qianlong's secondary wives. When Empress Jingren is deposed for her crimes, Qingying's standing in the palace is affected. So, she has to make amends with Empress Dowager Chongqing.
Wanting to distance herself from the past, Qingying asks the Empress Dowager to give her a new name, to make a fresh start. The Empress Dowager then gives her the name Ruyi; 如懿, meaning 'beautiful and quiet' (美好安靜), reminding her that she must be calm if she wants to have a peaceful life in the palace.
After Hongli ascends to the throne, becoming Emperor Qianlong, Ruyi is granted the position of a consort. Due to events of the past, Ruyi is hated by other wives like Fuca Langhua, Gao Xiyue, and Jin Yuyan. Often targeted by their machinations, she survives with her strength and determination, as well as with the help of her close friends, eventually rising up the ranks in the harem to become Empress. Later on, due to many misunderstandings between her and the Emperor, mainly plotted by Wei Yanwan and Princess Hejing, their relationship is greatly strained.
The last blow to their relationship occurred on one of the Emperor's tours to Southern China when he tries to take a courtesan, Shui Linglong, as a concubine to his harem. Disillusioned, Ruyi cuts her hair, wanting to end the relationship between her and the Emperor and declaring that she no longer wants to be his Empress. This angers the Emperor, who punishes the Empress by putting her under house arrest in Yikun Palace.
In the end, she reveals all of Wei Yanwan's wrongdoings to the Emperor, but she refuses to reconcile with him. She dies not long after from tuberculosis. Her death causes great pain and guilt to Qianlong Emperor up till the day he died.

An unpredictable individual who can be emotional and hide his emotions really well, never truly trusts anyone, which inadvertently hurts many of his wives and sons: from Fuca Langhua, Yonghuang, Yongzhang, his sister Elder Princess Duanshu, to his childhood love Ruyi. As he grew older, he becomes more erratic. When Han Xiangjian appeared, the Emperor lost control and hurt Ruyi. Despite Han Xiangjian's continuous denial of his feelings, Qianlong orders Ruyi to convince Xiangjian to accept him, which hurts Ruyi. Later on, he believes the disparaging remarks and accusations made by Wei Yanwan, Consort Yu Borjigit Eyinzhu, and Sakda Miaoqian. He doubts Ruyi and thinks she committed infidelity with Ling Yunche. He punishes Ling Yunche into becoming a eunuch to serve at Yikun Palace in hopes to humiliate Ruyi, to satisfy his blind jealousy, and to force Yunche to die.
Selfish, with an ego of a ruler, Hongli makes Ruyi completely lose all hope in him. On one of the Emperor's tours to Southern China, he tries to take a courtesan as a concubine. A determined Ruyi decides to end the relationship between her and the Emperor and cuts her hair. When he finally regrets his actions, it is already too late because Ruyi dies from tuberculosis. In his old age, he's tortured with his pain, always reliving the memories of Qingying but he can never see her again.

Embroidery Lady → Lady Hai (Shu fujin) → First Class Female Attendant Hai → Noble Lady Hai → Concubine Yu → Consort Yu → Noble Consort Yu (posthumous)
Hailan was initially an embroidery lady in Qianlong's residence until Ruyi helped her gain the title of Mistress. Gentle yet determined, she is a loyal friend and confidante of Ruyi. She is the mother of Yongqi, the Emperor's favorite son. Hailan is an exceptionally influential consort in the harem and she makes use of her influence to deal with the consorts who stand in Ruyi's way.

Di fujin → Empress
Elegant and dignified, Fuca Langhua was a respected and virtuous Empress who served her role well. However, she envied Ruyi and her intimate relationship with the Emperor. Under the manipulations of Jin Yuyan (Noble Consort Jia), she became embroiled in the inner palace conflicts and collaborated with Gao Xiyue to harm Ruyi. Her misguided actions eventually caused her relationship with the Emperor to deteriorate, and she died a woman with grievances.

Lady Jin (Shu fujin) → Noble Lady Jia → Concubine Jia → Consort Jia → Noble Consort Jia → Concubine Jia → Noble Lady Jia → Concubine Jia → Noble Consort Jia → Second Class Female Attendant Jin → Noble Consort Jia → Commoner → Imperial Noble Consort Shujia (posthumous)
An orphan who was taken in by a Joseon minister, Yuyan's main goal in life is to earn the Emperor's favor and bring honor to her tribe to assist her real love, the "young master" who eventually becomes the King of Joseon. Manipulative, cunning and shrewd, she is skilled in instigating conflicts between the concubines and is the main culprit behind many of the concubines' deaths. Her evil deeds were eventually revealed, and Emperor Qianlong granted her the posthumous title of Imperial Noble Consort Shujia (a homophone for loser).

Lady Gao (Shu fujin) → Noble Consort Hui → Imperial Noble Consort Hui → Imperial Noble Consort Huixian (posthumous)
Due to her father's position as a highly ranked officer, Xiyue is arrogant and defiant. She hated Ruyi and chose to submit to the more powerful Empress Fuca Langhua, collaborating with her to plot against Ruyi. Due to her naivety, she was often goaded by the Empress' attendant, Sulian, to commit many evil deeds in place of the Empress. Xiyue was later discarded by Empress Langhua after she lost the Emperor's favor. She then discovered that the Empress was the one who caused her to be infertile. On her death bed, she exposed Langhua's evil deeds to Qianlong and gave him scabies.

Palace maid of Consort Chun → Palace Maid of the Royal Garden → Palace Maid of Consort Jia →Palace Maid of the Yangxin Palace→ Second Class Female Attendant Wei → First Class Female Attendant Wei → Noble Lady Ling → Concubine Ling → Consort Ling → Second Class Female Attendant Wei → Noble Lady Ling → Concubine Ling → Consort Ling → Noble Consort Ling → Imperial Noble Consort →Imperial Noble Cosort Lingyi (posthumous)
Yanwan was born a noble lady of the Yellow Banner, but was reduced to being a palace maid after her father was tried for treason. Her first love was Ling Yunche, but she abandoned him after Qianlong took notice of her (due to her close resemblance with Ruyi). She is an ambitious, cruel, and treacherous woman who sees Ruyi as her biggest foe. She would resort to all kinds of underhanded methods to climb up the ranks, hoping to be Empress one day. Yanwan is responsible for the deaths of many imperial consorts, royal children, and Ruyi's ultimate demise. Eventually, her evil deeds and past relationship with Ling Yunche were exposed to Qianlong, and she was slowly poisoned to death as punishment for her crimes.

Lady Su (Shu fujin) → Concubine Chun → Consort Chun → Noble Consort Chun → Imperial Noble Consort
Lüyun is a naive woman who treated everyone with kindness and was manipulated often. She loved her sons dearly and would do anything for them. She has a good relationship with Ruyi and Hailan since their days in Prince Bao Manor. Lüyun lost Qianlong's favor when he found out she wanted to take the position of Empress for herself. She later died of illness.

Musician of South Manor → Second Class Female Attendant Mei → First Class Female Attendant Mei → Noble Lady Mei → Concubine Mei
A yueqin/pipa player hailing from Suzhou, Ruiji, was the first woman to be taken into the inner palace after Qianlong's ascension to the throne. She was actually sent in by Empress Zhenhuan to spy on Qianlong. After Ruiji lost her child, her health gradually weakened and she eventually lost the Emperor's favor. She was manipulated into thinking her child was killed by Empress Fuca Langhua, and was used as a chesspiece by Jin Yuyan (Noble Consort Jia) to cause the Empress' death.
When her identity was revealed, Ruiji was used as a scapegoat by Qianlong to weaken the Empress Dowager's control of the imperial harem by poisoning Muping's health to the point that she becomes infertile. She died a death with grievances after realizing she took revenge on the wrong person.

Noble Lady Shu → Concubine Shu → Consort Shu
A talented lady of noble birth, Yihuan was recommended into the palace by the Empress Dowager Zhenhuan. Despite being one of Empress Zhenhuan's chess pieces, she fell in love with Qianlong at first sight during one of his outings. She is extremely dedicated to him. Straightforward and good-natured, Yihuan keeps herself out of the palace inner conflicts and is good friends with Ruyi.
Unbeknownst to her, Qianlong personally gave medicine that would prevent her from bearing healthy children due to her affiliation with Zhenhuan. She becomes mentally unstable after her son died in infancy, and commits suicide soon after discovering Qianlong's true intention.

Palace maid of Ruyi → Imperial palace maid → First Class Female Attendant Shen → Noble Lady Shen → Concubine Shen → Commoner
Aruo was originally a personal maid that entered Qianlong's residence as part of Ruyi's dowry, she secretly sided with the Empress Langhua, Gao Xiyue and Jin Yuyan in an effort to climb up the ranks. Arrogant, superficial, and sharp-tongued, she appeared to be favored by Qianlong but was actually used by him as a charade partner. She was eventually sent to the Cold Palace and committed suicide there.

Shu fujin → Second Class Female Attendant Wan → First Class Female Attendant Wan → Noble Lady Wan → Concubine Wan → Consort Wan → Noble Consort Wan (posthumous)
A timid lady who never formed cliques, and always kept to herself. She was not favored by the Emperor and chose to express her love for the Emperor through drawings. She has a good relationship with Ruyi. She unknowingly played a part in Qianlong and Ruyi's separation due to Wei Yanwan's manipulations.

Concubine Ying → Consort Ying → Noble Consort Ying
A spirited young lady who is of royal Mongol descent, and is described as the “Southern beauty” by Qianlong. She despised Wei Yanwan and Jin Yuyan, and ended up becoming good friends with Ruyi.

Noble Lady Ke → Concubine Ke
A descendant of Mongolian royalty. She is very close to Barin Meiruo, dislikes both Wei Yanwan and Jin Yuyan, and stays loyal to Ruyi.

Noble Lady Rong → Concubine Rong → Consort Rong
A beautiful woman who was taken into the palace by General Zhaohui after her tribe was conquered by the Qing Dynasty. Xiangjian's only goal was to assassinate Qianlong in order to take revenge for her lover. She is on good terms with Ruyi, whom she is grateful toward.

First Class Female Attendant Qing → Noble Lady Qing → Concubine Qing → Noble Lady Qing → Concubine Qing → Consort Qing → Noble Consort Qing → Imperial Noble Consort Qinggong (posthumous)
A daughter of the Deputy Minister from the Court of Sacrificial Worship, she was sent in by the Empress Dowager and acts as her spy. She was set-up by the Emperor, causing her to lose the ability to bear a child. After falling out of favor with the Emperor, she chose to submit to Wei Yanwan.

Personal maid of Langhua → Shu fujin → Noble Lady Yi → Concubine Yi (posthumous)
Originally a maid under Langhua, she was promoted to the position of Mistress after Qianlong took advantage of her.
Empress Fuca Langhua and Xiyue despised Qiying for stealing the Emperor's affections and caused her to miscarry her baby. She was manipulated into believing that Ruyi was the culprit, and attempted to assassinate the latter when they were living in the same quarters.

Concubine Yu → Consort Yu
A descendant of Mongolian royalty, and an early favorite of Qianlong. However, she leaked secret political messages for her people and intended to use a banned drug on Qianlong to increase his interest in bedroom affairs. She was under house arrest and cold-shouldered by Qianlong. Later to earn the Emperor's favor, she started coming up with lies, including framing Ruyi of having an affair with Ling Yunche. She was sent to the torture chambers after she was found to have lied about Ruyi and Ling Yunche's affair.

First Class Female Attendant Gong → Noble Lady Gong
A lady of Lin descent who entered the harem along with Concubine Ke. Originally sided with Jin Yuyan, she is close to Barin Meiruo, hates Wei Yanwan, and stays loyal to Ruyi.

Entered the palace at the same time as Eyinzhu. She is sided with Wei Yanwan.

A lady of Sirin Gioro descent who entered the harem along with Concubine Ke. Originally sided with Jin Yuyan, she is close to Barin Meiruo, hates Wei Yanwan, and stays loyal to Ruyi.

Palace Maid → Second Class Female Attendant Kui → First Class Female Attendant Kui
Entered the palace when Ruyi was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. She is sided with Wei Yanwan.

Second Class Female Attendant Xiu → First Class Female Attendant Xiu
Promoted from Second Class Female Attendant Xiu to First Class Female Attendant Xiu when Ruyi was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort.

Lady → Second Class Female Attendant Ping → First Class Female Attendant Ping
Entered the palace when Ruyi was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort.

Entered the palace at the same time as Eyinzhu.

Entered the palace at the same times as Eyinzhu.

She is sided with Wei Yanwan.

She is sided with Wei Yanwan.

Imperial guard of the Cold Palace → Imperial guard of Kunning Palace → Royal Lanling Imperial guard → Royal Imperial guard of 3rd rank → Slave → Royal imperial guard of 2nd rank → Royal imperial guard of 1st rank → Eunuch of Yikun Palace
Wei Yanwan's first love, Miaoqing's husband.
A loyal and empathetic man who helped Ruyi while she was banished to the Cold Palace. He gradually becomes attracted to Ruyi, and helped her through her most difficult times in the palace. He is later accused of having an affair with Ruyi, then castrated and subsequently ordered to serve in Ruyi's palace as a form of humiliation. He was killed by Hailan when the latter realized he would pose a threat to Ruyi's position as the Empress.