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.… ...

The people commend YIM for her diligence. Unwilling to be outdone and looked down upon by her, KING SUEN swears to be a good king. There are so many memorials to go through that KING SUEN tells YING to pick out those that are most important. And before YING comes back to him, he will go catching fish in the river with CHUN. LAI compliments KWAI and his son, TSAU, for their honorable identity at the banquet he and LORD SHUN YEUNG give together. YIM takes charge of the reading of the memorials again, knowing far very well that it is simply impossible for KING SUEN to be serious about his duties. Some villager has been injured in the water conservancy project yet no compensation is made to him. WAI and KIU reason with KWAI and TSAU, who are contractors of the project. TSAU has a foot injury as they negotiate, and is attacked later on. KING SUEN kicks YIM and WAI out of the palace so as to do TSAU justice.

QUEEN DOWAGER arranges for YIM and CHUN to have cooking and embroidery lessons at Jixia Academy, the most prestigious cooking school in Chai. After graduation, there will also be a competition between them, the winner of which will win a jade heirloom. According to QUEEN DOWAGER, KING SUEN had once been hosted hostage by Yin. As he has since become a week person, she suspects he had been ill-treated in Yin. She hopes YIM can do something to recover his brilliant and astute self. KING SUEN misses CHUN so much that he sneaks into the academy but he soon loses contact with YING. The next thing he knows, he finds himself in front of a spring. In the meantime, KWAI and TSAU have arrived, too, their purpose is to make sure YIM lose the competition. The three of them manage to find a favorable position each to keep a watch on YIM and CHUN. KING SUEN enters the changing room by mistake when YIM is changing.… ...

YIM risks her life to rescue CHUN, who complains to KING SUEN that her feet have gone numb. YIM still feel embarrassed about undressing in front of KING SUEN. WAI can see that YIM has indeed fallen in love with the king. CHUN refuses to see KING SUEN unless he promises not to see YIM again by himself if not necessary. With a view to reminding KING SUEN of the past, YIM cooks for him. Rather unexpectedly, he throws a tantrum in the sight of the dish. CHUN easily outshines YIM in the cooking competition, as her dish not only tastes but also looks better than the Tri-color Corn YIM prepares. KING SUEN would like to give the glowing pearl to CHUN. He looks for it in YIM’s room, setting out a fire carelessly. LAI finds the way KING SUEN handles the fire unusual. He therefore suspects KING SUEN had died in the fire and that the king they now see is a fake. LORD SHUN YEUNG is determined to probe into the matter.

HOI is circulating rumors that KING SUEN has been pretended by boy servant TIN-SHUN. Neither QUEEN DOWAGER nor PRINCESS WAN believes the rumors though, judging from how well KING SUEN has been treating them. KWAI plans to do away with SHUN’s mother. On the other hand, YIM has discovered that SHUN’s mother has disappeared, and that the fire records in the palace are nowhere to be found. YIM has failed to change KING SUEN’s mind. Upset, she goes to the woods to have a walk, where she runs into her master, CHI. YIM needs to go outside. She tells WAI to stay and keep an eye on the king. In the meantime, LAI and LORD SHUN YEUNG grasp the opportunity to deal with KING SUEN. Under the arrangement of LORD SHUN YEUNG, SHUN’s mother, who cannot see, has a confrontation with KING SUEN in the palace. KING SUEN has been sent to prison by LORD SHUN YEUNG. CHUN visits him.

YIM shows up from nowhere to stop PIK-KEUNG from being executed. His life spared, KING SUEN is thrilled to bits. He hugs CHUN in excitement as soon as he sees her. He is thanking YIM for her help when she suddenly passes out. KING SUEN visits YIM with a treasured sword given to him as a gift. He talks sweetly to YIM, which he seldom does. YIM therefore trusts that he has come for something. It turns out that CHUN wants to be Queen of the Eastern Palace. CHUN has moved into the Eastern Palace as she wished. In addition to requesting WAI to bow to her, she tells YIM to leave the memorials, claiming she will take care of them from now on. CHUN’s parents take away the expensive decorations and silk fabric from the Eastern Palace as soon as they have heard that CHUN has become the Queen of the Eastern Palace. WAI bump into them. A fight is put up immediately. YING comes to WAI’s help.… ...

Both YIM and WAI have been upset by love. They share with each other how they feel about the man they love. The soldiers of Yin have injured the people of Chai. YIM is still mad at KING SUEN for letting Yin’s soldiers enter Chai. WAI is of the view that YIM should dress up to please the king. PRINCESS WAN covers YIM’s birthmark on the face with make-up. As expected, KING SUEN finds YIM dazzling. CHUN tries hard to ruin YIM’s plan when she finds out that the latter is trying to please the king. PRINCESS WAN takes her caterpillars to bask in the sun. TUEN-MUK, who is responsible for the writing of the princess’ biography, kills one of the caterpillars by mistakenly stepping on it. HUNG-MUI, a close maid of QUEEN DOWAGER’s, tells the queen that KING SUEN does not like YIM because of her face. QUEEN DOWAGER orders KING SUEN to stay at YIM’s place for the night.… ...

YING and TUEN-MUK see an assassin as they are leaving YIM’s palace. YIM breaks QUEEN DOWAGER’s charm as she is running after the assassin. QUEEN DOWAGER faints at the news. Someone unknown to CHUN comes to assistance. She is grateful for his help. CHI does not turn up until CHUN has gone. She blames her junior, CHUNG SHUN-CHI, for driving a wedge between CHUN and YIM. KING SUEN and CHUN are attacked as they go out. As a result they both fall into the sea. CHUN visits YIM. She promises she will not compete with YIM again if she saves KING SUEN. YIM and WAI turn to CHI for help. CHI figures out the direction of which the king is now it. The KEUNG’s of Chai has saved KING SUEN but he prefers to remain anonymous for reason of personal safety. LORD SHUN YEUNG feels like sitting on the edge of his seat now that the body of KING SUEN is still to be found.… ...

The KEUNG’s of Chai and the villagers want to burn KING SUEN to death. YIM comes to his rescue before too late. YIM takes the king to an abandon temple to rest. The assassin sent by LORD SHUN YEUNG follows them closely. YIM is injured by the assassin’s poisonous concealed weapon. The KEUNG’s of Chai comes to her help. After a discussion, LORD SHUN YEUNG and LAI come to the conclusion that if the former is to take over the throne, they will have to win the support of the officials. LORD SHUN YEUNG agrees that QUEEN DOWAGER should be informed about the news of KING SUEN’s disappearance, and that it is up to her decision whether a new king should be crowned. CHUN is unhappy that her father and brother are trying to toady to LORD SHUN YEUNG. On the other hand, her mother thinks that it is time she plans for her own future. LORD SHUN YEUNG likes CHUN but she refuses to remarry so as to remain loyal to KING SUEN.… ...

LORD SHUN YEUNG takes charge of the worship ceremony in his capacity as king. TUEN-MUK records that although KING SUEN’s life is still uncertain, LORD SHUN YEUNG insists on coming to the throne. KING SUEN returns to the palace safe and sound. Meanwhile, LORD SHUN YEUNG’s accession ceremony is taking place in the audience hall. CHUN cannot wait to tell KING SUEN what she has suffered while he was away, but before she can do so, he shares with her what he has seen outside the palace and what has happened to him and YIM. LORD SHUN YEUNG has resigned the kingship. LADY TSU rebukes him for spending his days drinking. YIM and KING SUEN read the memorials together. An official reports that his jurisdiction is suffering from an epidemic and so is badly in need of financial support. KING SUEN is put out. YIM reminds him of PRINCE of YIN’s IOU written after he had been defeated in the football competition.… ...

KING SUEN finds something in the cakes CHUN sent. He visits her at the Western Palace right away. LADY TSU has been staying at her sister’s for a few days now but LORD SHUN YEUNG never visits her. LAI, her brother-in-law, is of the view that she should support LORD SHUN YEUNG. CHUN and SHUN-CHI decide to teach LADY TSU a good lesson with ointment. To thank her for her contribution to the state, QUEEN DOWAGER intends to erect a statue to YIM. YIM suggests holding a “Virtuous and Talented Woman Contest”. YIM’s birthmark is ulcerating. She tells KING SUEN it is the result of the ointment he gave her. It turns out that LADY TSU is to blame. CHUN wins her trust by defending her. The “Statue of Virtue and Talent” has been made. KING SUEN finds that it looks too much like YIM. He tells the craftsmen to make another one in reference to CHUN’s looks.

KING SUEN has been waiting for YIM for the unveiling of the “Statue of Virtue and Talent” but she is nowhere to be seen. When she finally appears, the king is astonished to see her in plain clothes. TSAU takes liberties with KIU. YAN beats him and his men up so as to help her out. YIM appoints YAN Deputy Commander, making him second only to HOI. LORD SHUN YEUNG goes out early in the morning and returns very late recently. LADY TSU takes her sister’s advice and follows LORD SHUN YEUNG. KIU runs into KWAI and TSAU again. WAI wants to fight them off to avenge KIU. KWAI can see that TSAU likes KIU, just that he does not think his son has the ability to win her heart. YING tells WAI he has been put on a wife-jinxing curse, which means he is destined to bring back luck to his wife. She does not care a bit though. CHUN appears shortly after YAN has begun to play the ocarina. KING SUEN introduces YAN to her.

YAN is so captivated by CHUN’s beauty and charm that he drops his ocarina. KING SUEN does not blame him though, because CHUN is a true beauty. HOI reminds YAN that Chai is a defeated state, and that he is YAN’s superior. PRINCESS WAN expresses her love for TUEN-MUK with a revised poem. To her disappointment, he cannot get her meaning. KING SUEN misses YIM a lot. She strongly opposes his idea to betroth KIU to TSAU. PRINCESS WAN is doing a lot better. KING SUEN and QUEEN DOWAGER are both very pleased. The Prince of Chiu’s ambassador has come to propose to PRINCESS WAN on behalf of the prince again. To everyone’s surprise, she agrees to his proposal. YIM helps PRINCESS WAN run away from the palace overnight. CHI stops YIM. It is thundering and lighting when KING SUEN is trying to prevent PRINCESS WAN from eloping. And before they know it, KING SUEN and YIM’s identities have been swapped.

YIM body has been swapped with that of KING SUEN's. She decides it is a golden opportunity to withdraw his idea to betroth PRINCESS WAN to the PRINCE of CHIU. KING SUEN feels uncomfortable being YIM. The humiliation of CHUN's family makes the experience even more painstaking. YIM tells KING SUEN their spirits have been transferred, and that her master is working hard to help them return to their original state. PRINCE of CHIU visits Chai. LAI tells him about KING SUEN's plan to marry another princess to him. PRINCE of CHIU heckles KING SUEN in the presence of other guests at a banquet thrown by KING SUEN. An assassin sneaks into the banquet, turning the banquet upside down. PRINCE of CHIU holds CHUN hostage in the middle of the disorder, forcing KING SUEN to keep his word. He adds that 100,000 troops are now surrounding the city. YIM manages to make WAI join CHUN's rescue with a trick.… ...

KING SUEN wants to make YIM smile but has not got a clue about what she likes. When he is about to express his love for her the news that CHUN has twisted her legs comes. YIM, whose spirit is trapped in the king's body, inquires after CHUN's condition unwillingly. KING SUEN, on the other hand, wishes to kiss CHUN. QUEEN DOWAGER has been ill for some time. The spring water of the Filial Son Spring is believed to have healing power. CHUN and LADY TSU suggest her to give it a try. KING SUEN thinks that YIM is not doing a good job playing him. The two decide to have a competition. LAI is selling bamboos to Yin. He invites KWAI and TSAU to join his venture. Their conversation is overheard by a thug, who blackmails them with the contract by which CHUN sells herself. YAN has a fight with the thug as he is getting back the contract for CHUN.… ...

KING SUEN leans over to hug YIM, only to find the woman in front her is CHUN. On the other hand, YIM is shocked to discover that her spirit has taken over CHUN's body. CHI asks SHUN-CHI why she has to meddle in YIM and CHUN's affair. The latter confesses to trying to revenge on CHI and to prove that she is capable of outdo her. CHUN asks for SHUN-CHI's help. SHUN-CHI lies to her, telling her YIM was the mastermind behind the spirit transfer. YING helps KING SUEN with the administration. He learns by chance about YIM and CHUN's spirit transfer. LAI throws a banquet for KWAI and TSAU, who falls into LAI's trap and hands over him their seal. HOI shows YAN the thug's body, adding that LORD SHUN YEUNG is also in the know. KING SUEN is puzzled about CHUN's recent attitude. CHUN wants to break YIM and KING SUEN's keepsake, only to be given a harsh telling-off by the king.

KING SUEN and YIM look for CHUN outside the palace and find to their horror that she is hanging in a tree. CHI tries to bring CHUN back to life with medicine. CHI is on a retreat. WAI deputizes for her as supreme master for the time being. It comes as a shocking surprise to CHUN-CHI that CHI is practicing the "Heavenly Silkworm Technique", the signature technique of the sect. It is very likely that YIM and CHUN's spirits will return to their original bodies. YIM is very excited. But KING SUEN fears that YIM will not wake up after the transfer. SHUN-CHI agrees to give CHI a hand in transferring YIM and CHUN's spirits, in the hope that she will then master the "Heavenly Silkworm Technique". YING and TUEN-MOK suggest inviting the imperial sorcerer to practice a magic on YIM. KIU and PRINCESS WAN want to make YIM a patchwork quilt. To be able to do so, they need to collect loose cloth from the people.… ...

KING SUEN is pleased that CHUN and YIM have become amicable with each other. QUEEN DOWDAGER is overjoyed at the imperial sorcerer's prediction that CHUN is pregnant with a boy. KING SUEN complains to YING and other officials as they chill out together. YING's mother, MADAME AN-CHU, has fallen ill. WAI visits her. She deduces from the large quantity of cosmetics YING has bought that he is in love with someone. The fact that YIM has woken up from her coma and that CHUN is pregnant with a boy worry LORD SHUN YEUNG. He discusses with LAI as to how to prevent CHUN's baby, who will become KING SUEN's successor, from being born. CHUN miscarries. KWAI and his wife are convinced that YIM is to blame. TUEN-MUK's investigation finds that CHUN's miscarriage was the result of the YIM's home-made rice crackers. Though unwillingly, KING SUEN puts YIM under house arrest.

There have been many requests that YIM be executed. KING SUEN tries to persuade her into revealing the inside story but to no avail. CHUN does not accept YAN's explanation and demands to break off with him. LORD SHUN YEUNG stabs the secret envoy of Yin. Moreover, he warns YAN not to help YIM anymore, or else he will make open CHUN's secret past. CHUN visits her unborn child's grave. LORD SHUN YEUNG appears out of nowhere, inviting her to work with him in dealing with YIM. The imperial sorcerer wants to retire. He requests LORD SHUN YEUNG to pay him his pension. He gets so furious in the middle of their negotiation that he rakes up their ploy in the past. LADY TSU overhears their conversation. HOI tries to prove that YIM has an affair with YAN with some poems. CHUN provokes KING SUEN by adding fuel to the flames.… ...

KING SUEN has been very downhearted since he sentenced YIM to death. So much so that he has assigned LORD SHUN YEUNG to take care of the administration of the state. The troops of Yin have crossed the border. KING SUEN frets that there are not enough imperial guards to tackle an attack. LORD SHUN YEUNG proposes that the king takes command of the imperial guards. Chai has been defeated utterly, while KING SUEN's whereabouts is unknown. Reporting the defeat to the court, LORD SHUN YEUNG announces that he will take charge of the rescuing operation of the king. YIM's body is found. WAI and YING take it back to Shiu Yee Mountain in the hope that CHI and SHUN-CHI will be able to bring YIM back to life. The fact that YIM's spirit is missing makes the mission rather impossible. It turns out that her spirit has travelled out of her body to plead CHUN to rescue KING SUEN. LORD SHUN YEUNG appears in the camp ground safe and sound.… ...