It was love at first sight. When Mongolian Princess Meili (Sheng Li) arrives in Beijing with her father, a Mongolian Prince, Prince Jingxuan (Mickey He) of the Qing Dynasty saves her from falling. They part ways without learning each other's names. Meili and her father visit the Grand Empress Dowager (Yin-Tze Pan) in the palace, and the Grand Empress Dowager takes an immediate liking to Meili.