The movie "Lover of the Last Empress" is a 1995 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau and starring Tony Leung Ka-fai, Chingmy Yau, and Valerie Chow. The story is based on the real-life historical figure, Cixi, who was an empress dowager of China during the Qing dynasty.
The story follows a young innocent girl named Yuzhen (played by Chingmy Yau) who is brought to the Forbidden City to become one of the emperor's concubines. Despite her initial reluctance, Yuzhen is drawn into the intrigues and politics of the court as she tries to navigate her way to becoming the emperor's favorite.
Along the way, Yuzhen must contend with the jealousy and scheming of the other concubines and the eunuchs who serve them. She also forms a romantic relationship with the emperor (played by Tony Leung Ka-fai) and becomes pregnant with his child.
However, Yuzhen's rise to power comes at a great cost. She becomes increasingly ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her position and protect her child's future. When the emperor dies, Yuzhen assumes the throne as the empress dowager and rules the land with an iron fist, leading to a reign of terror and bloodshed.
Overall, "Lover of the Last Empress" is a gripping historical drama that showcases the dark side of power and the human toll of ambition and corruption.
