Characters
Lau Sam-Ho - Sam-Ho is a kind-hearted maid who took her mother and father's teachings to heart. Her parents taught her to speak kind words, do good deeds, and bear a kind heart. She always cares for and helps everyone in the palace to the best of her abilities. She is very close with Yiu Kam-Ling, with whom she has sworn sisterhood. She is the love interest of both Ko Hin-Yeung and Emperor Lee Yi. Sam-ho started her service in the Department of Embroidery, but was eventually promoted to be the Head of Jewellery Proceedings. She was later chosen as Lee Yi's concubines because she was pregnant with Hin-Yeung's child. Lee Yi made her his concubine to save her.
Yiu Kam-Ling - Kam-Ling initially starts out as a maid in the Department of Jewellery. During her time in the department, she suffers and perpetrates back-stabbing and torture. Her suffering leads her to believe that she has to plot, manipulate, and formulate schemes in order to survive and avoid further suffering in the palace. She eventually marries Emperor Lee Yi and becomes his concubine. She continuously schemes to destroy her competitors. She eventually became delusional and insane after Emperor Lee Yi punished her with lifelong confinement to her palace pavilion for all her evil deeds.
Yuen Chui-Wan - In the beginning, Chui-Wan serves as Deputy Leader of Jewellery Proceedings. Her dedication and hard work are eventually recognized, and she is promoted to serve as Head of the same department. Chui-Wan is a self spoken, wise woman who never accuses anyone without proof. Throughout the series, she is made Head of Furnishing Proceedings and Head of Embroidery Proceedings. She is in a feud with Suet-Ha (Michelle Yim) because she accuses her of tampering with her food by adding an ingredient to which she was allergic. As a result of her sickness, she was not permitted to leave the palace with her lover, General Man. It is later revealed that she has a son with General Man. By series end, it's implied that Bo Gut-chong took their son out of the palace and left him in the care of an outside healer.
Chung Suet-Ha - Suet-Ha starts out as Head of Embroidery Proceedings. She mistakes Chiu-wan for sabotaging her many years ago, causing her permit to leave the palace to be revoked. As a result, she was unable to see her dying mother. This starts a feud between the two friends who have once sworn sisterhood. She always opposes Chui-Wan. They eventually reconcile their differences. She is later promoted to be the Head of Palace Proceedings. When she thinks that Chui-Wan killed her to be husband purposely, she begins to try to make Chui-Wan suffer and wants to get revenge for her to-be husband. They reconciled by the end of the series and remained friends.
Ko Hin-Yeung - The Emperor's personal guard. This role is assigned to him because of his loyalty to the emperor. He is skilled in martial arts, and even taught Lee Yi several moves that save his life. He also saves Emperor Lee Yi twice from the assassins sent by the previous emperor and the grand empress. He is the lover of Sam-ho and later marries her. They have a daughter in the last episode.
Read more about this topic: Beyond The Realm Of Conscience
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