TITLE: The Scarlet Lotus Consort
Genre: Romance • Intrigue • Revenge •
Setting: Late Imperial Era – a powerful dynasty filled with palace schemes, martial clans, and forbidden love.
MAIN CHARACTERS
1. Hua Lian (花琏)
Age: 19
Role: Heroine; a brilliant, delicate-looking but strong young woman
Background: Daughter of a disgraced minister framed for treason. She enters the palace disguised as a low maid to uncover the truth.
Traits: Intelligent, calm, secretly trained in martial arts, skilled in medicine.
Goal: Clear her family's name and avenge her father.
2. Prince Long Yichen (龙逸辰)
Age: 23
Role: Cold and feared Crown Prince
Background: Born into power, but surrounded by enemies. Rumored to be ruthless, but hides a kind, lonely heart.
Traits: Sharp, strategic, quiet, secretly compassionate.
Goal: Survive the internal court battles and protect the throne.
3. Consort Mei Rulan (梅如兰)
Age: 22
Role: Main villainess
Background: Daughter of a powerful general; beautiful, manipulative, and willing to kill for power.
Traits: Poison expert, master of deception.
Goal: Become Empress at all costs.
4. General Yan Feng (严锋)
Age: 25
Role: Yichen's loyal childhood friend
Background: Commander of the Imperial Guards
Traits: Brave, hot-tempered, secretly in love with Hua Lian
Goal: Protect Hua Lian even if it leads to betrayal of the crown.
5. The Hidden Master (隐师)
Age: Unknown
Role: Mysterious masked martial arts master
Background: Trained Hua Lian in secret; identity unknown until later (plot twist).
Goal: Protect Hua Lian and destroy the corruption in the court.
MAIN STORYLINE IN BIG SCENES
SCENE 1 — The Execution Night
The drama opens on a stormy night. Hua Lian's father, Minister Hua, is publicly executed after being falsely accused of treason.
Hua Lian watches from the crowd, swearing vengeance.
A masked figure rescues her and tells her:
"If you want justice, enter the palace."
SCENE 2 — Entering the Palace
Hua Lian disguises herself as a palace maid in the Laundry Bureau.
She witnesses corruption, gossip, and cruelty among the high-ranking concubines.
She soon catches the subtle attention of Prince Yichen, who notices her quiet intelligence.
SCENE 3 — The Crown Prince Falls Ill
Prince Yichen is poisoned during a banquet.
Consort Mei blames Hua Lian to get rid of her.
Hua Lian, using her secret medical skills, treats the prince in private.
He survives—creating a bond and a secret alliance.
SCENE 4 — Forbidden Feelings
In the moonlit Imperial Garden, Yichen tells Hua Lian:
"Stay close to me. I need eyes I can trust."
Their chemistry grows, but they both hide their feelings.
General Yan Feng, however, recognizes Hua Lian and vows to protect her—even if it means going against the prince.
SCENE 5 — The Schemes of Consort Mei
Consort Mei spreads rumors, manipulates eunuchs, and hires assassins to eliminate Hua Lian.
She also forges documents to strengthen her power, planning to overthrow Yichen and install a puppet emperor.
SCENE 6 — Attack at the Lantern Festival
During the grand Lantern Festival, assassins disguised among the crowd attempt to kill the prince.
Hua Lian saves him using martial arts she tries to hide.
Yichen realizes she is not an ordinary maid.
Yan Feng grows jealous.
SCENE 7 — The Secret of Minister Hua
Hua Lian discovers documents showing her father was framed because he uncovered a secret alliance between Consort Mei's family and a rebel clan.
She becomes a target.
SCENE 8 — Betrayal of a Friend
Yan Feng, torn between love and loyalty, hides Hua Lian inside a military fortress—but this makes him appear suspicious.
Yichen believes Hua Lian has been kidnapped.
SCENE 9 — The Hidden Master Reveals Himself
The masked master appears and reveals himself as…
Hua Lian's real uncle, thought dead.
He leads her to the final evidence that can bring down Consort Mei.
SCENE 10 — The Burning Palace
Consort Mei sets fire to the inner palace to destroy evidence and kill Hua Lian.
Yichen and Yan Feng fight side by side to save her.
SCENE 11 — The Grand Confrontation
In the throne hall:
Hua Lian presents the true evidence
Mei tries to kill her
Yichen blocks the blade
Yan Feng arrests Mei's allies
Consort Mei screams as she is taken away.
The emperor clears Minister Hua's name.
SCENE 12 — Love or Duty?
Yichen asks Hua Lian to become his Crown Princess.
But she hesitates—she fears becoming another pawn in the palace.
FINAL SCENE — The Scarlet Lotus Bloom
Months later, Hua Lian returns as a respected palace physician.
Yichen meets her alone among blooming red lotuses.
He says:
"The throne can wait. You cannot."
She finally accepts his hand.