Inside The Forbidden City

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Inside The Forbidden City
The Hong Kong movie poster.
Directed by	Li Kao
Written by	Li Kao Chang Cheh
Starring	Ivy Ling Po
Distributed by	Shaw Brothers Studio
Release date(s)	1965
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Mandarin
IMDb profile

Inside The Forbidden City (Song gong mi shi) is a 1965 Hong Huangmei opera musical film. The action focuses on events at the court of Emperor Renzong, specifically around the choice and identity of Renzong's successor.

1 Synopsis
2 Cast
- 2.1 Huangmei opera dubbing
3 Characters
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After aiding in relief efforts of a famine at Chenzhou, Lord Pao made his way back to the capital. At Caiqiao bridge, a strange wind detained him. As the wind died down, a poor villager, Fan Zhonghua, sought an audience on behalf of his blind mother. Intrigued, Lord Pao made his way to the humble abode to listen to the blind woman's story.

The blind woman was discovered to be Li, a concubine of the late Emperor Renzong. 20 years ago, during a feast to celebrate his prosperous and peaceful reign, she informed Renzong that she was with child. Her rival, concubine Liu, fearing for her own position, pretended to be pregnant as well. A delighted Renzong then announced that whomever gave birth to the awaited heir would be the Empress.

Months later, Li gave birth to a son. Conspiring with eunuch Gao Hua, Liu had the child switched with a dead cat. She then ordered her maid, Kou Zhu, to drown the prince at the Jinshui river. The midwife being killed in secret.

At Jinshui river, Kou Zhu was in a dilemma. Eunuch Chen Li, delivering birthday gifts to the Emperor's brother, stopped her before she completed her task. He was shocked to learn of what Liu intended. Just then, they noticed Liu approaching with Gao Hua and hurriedly came up with a plan. With divine intervention, Chen Li was able to bear the child away safely to the Emperor's brother who adopted the baby, Jinzong.

An angry Renzong banished Li to Yu Chen Palace upon learning of the monster she had given birth to. 10 years later, with no heirs in sight, Liu adopted Jinzong as her son. One night, he accidentally came upon Li at the forbidden palace. Liu happened to come upon them and was both suspicious and displeased. She questioned Kou Zhu who had charge of the boy. Determined to rid Li once and for all, she convinced Renzong that Li was cursed. The order was then given to burn the forbidden palace.

Kou Zhu immediately ran off to warn Li and was interrogated harshly by Liu when she returned. Her suspicions fully aroused, Liu summoned Chen Li for closer questioning, forcing him to whip Kou Zhu to prove he was telling the truth. To prevent the secret being forced from Chen Li, Kou Zhu killed herself. This appeased Liu who warned Chen Li to keep silent on the whole matter.

When Gao Hua and the soldiers went to Yu Chen palace to carry out the burning order, they were told Li had committed suicide and showed a hanging body. Unknown to them, eunuch Yu Zhong had sacrificed himself on Li's behalf with supervisor Qing's collaboration. Dressing Li in Yu Zhong's robes, Qing helped her to escape from the palace.

Lord Pao had Li and her adopted son secretly brought to the capital. During the court session, he informed Jinzong of a disturbing visitation of ghosts and asked for permission to investigate further. As Jinzong remembered the maid, Kou Zhu, he allowed the case to be looked into. Chen Li fully supported Lord Pao when he knew Li was still alive. Lord Pao used the opportunity of the Lantern Festivital procession to tell a story which greatly disturbed Jinzong who asked Lord Pao for an explanation. Hence, the truth was finally told.

Gao Hua was tricked into delivering himself to Lord Pao's court but he stubbornly refused to confess. Playing on Gao Hua's fear of 'Kou Zhu's restless spirit and the supernatural, Lord Pao finally had his confession. Empress Liu was ordered to kill herself as Jinzong welcomed Li back to the palace.