Assassinations, Backstabbing & Concubines : Wu Zetian

It’s only been a week and a bit into the 98 episode Wu Zetian with Fan Bing Bing as the titular character and I admit I am hooked. I am always addicted to dramas which feature Chinese harems of past dynasties as the catfights, scheming and plotting have me counting the hours until the next episode. Tiresome? I beg to differ as there’s much to be gleaned.

We all know that Wu Zetian was the only female who ruled China in her own right which probably makes her even more powerful than the famous Dowager Empress Cixi of the Qing Dynasty. The story of Wu Zetian’s rise from lowly concubine to ruler of all China is both engrossing and fascinating.

In the beginning of this drama, we see a bunch of teenagers being brought to the court of second Tang Emperor, Taizong who ruled from 626-649. This was the zenith of the Tang Dynasty when the court was prosperous and the Emperor was said to have a harem of 3000! Even if he spent a night with a different woman, it’d take him years.

As usual, there are naïve girls like the future Empress Wu and scheming would-be concubines related to higher grade concubines. The girls who enter court are just 5th grade concubines and if they are lucky enough to be chosen by the Emperor to spend a night with him, they may be elevated to 3rd grade concubine in which case they enjoy better privileges like their own handmaidens and palaces. Of course, every single girl’s objective is to catch the Emperor’s attention otherwise they might as well languish in the Cold Palace where the cast-off concubines reside and do menial work like the palace laundry.

At first, there are 4 1st grade concubines. The Emperor’s favourite wife was the Empress who died a year ago and he’s still pining for her. It isn’t long before one of the 1st grade concubines causes the miscarriage and suicide of another 1st grade concubine. It’s best to get the competition out of the way fast in order to survive.

That now leaves us with 3 1st grade concubines and of course, there’s one who is outstandingly cruel and conniving. Not my favourite TVB actress from the 80s, Kathy Chow who looks amazing for her age! At 48, she looks like she is 30 at most.

The costumes are so beautiful and those headdresses are just too stunning and regal. There’s s much manipulation going on among these women. You might think one of the concubines is your friend just because you’re the same age and you get along so well together but beware, she can poison you with wine only in this drama, thing are so twisted that the poisoner gets poisoned herself and dies a painful and horrible death.

With so much drama going on in every episode, I am at the edge of my seat every night. Fan Bing Bing is in her element and ethereally beautiful. Once trusting, she has learned her lesson the hard way and I starting to be a little more street smart. Oooooh, can’t wait for the rest of the episodes!